Bush Bushwacks Burma

You would think Laura Bush, being given the podium at the White House Press Room to appeal for help for hundreds of thousands of victims of Friday's killer cyclone that struck Myanmar, would have known better than to mindlessly repeat the toothless US policy positions on a government we disapprove of.

Most of us in the relief business have strong views pro or con about the governments of countries whose people we help. But when disaster strikes, a bad or ineffective local government is an obstacle to be danced around not bludgeoned to death thus guaranteeing it will not allow the entry of urgent humanitarian aid for its people.

Laura Bush read the administration's long-standing talking points on Myanmar while simultaneously demanding that its government accept a team of US disaster officials to make an independent assessment of its needs. That the International Red Cross, the United Nations, the European Union and a number of highly competent relief agencies were already on the ground doing exactly that did not seem to matter. Giving Laura a mike and a little halo seemingly was the intent, especially with George W. Bush's popularity hovering at 27% in the polls.

The Burmese constitutional referendum set for Saturday, the still-under-house-arrest democracy activist Aung San Suu Kyi, the generalized brutality of the military junta -- all were targeted by The First Lady while giving lip service to making a provisional offer of US assistance to storm victims.

Whether it's a hurricane or a cyclone, somehow one Bush or another flies too far above the clouds to feel the pain.

Richard Walden is President and CEO of Operation USA, www.opusa.org, a 29 year old international relief group based in Los Angeles.

Related: Laura Bush Discusses Jenna's Wedding During Myanmar Press Conference

Follow Richard Walden on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Rwalden63

Comments

[Kenny2k]

As you can see the whole Bush family is a joke.

[bronceye]

She has illustrated the great failure of our election system. We can see with what Obama has been going through as further proof. We don't debate the issues, we condemn the people. Our process gives us people who can campaign, not govern. Bush is the least able pres. that we have ever had. He has never, ever stopped campaigning. He is a lame duck and instead of trying to create a legacy, he's trying to campaign for one by using his family. We have 2 of 3 candidates who are pro-war with one threatening to wipe Iran from the face of the earth and 70% of the people want us out of Iraq. We create these people, they mold themselves to our thoughts, fears and prejudices. They are us and we are sick.

[marymansour]

When anyone in the Bush administration, even the lackluster Laura, mentions any other nation's problems with repression, it makes me wince. How can we, after 8 years of this woman's gruesome husband at the bow of our country, say anything in the face of the fact that we have invaded Iraq which had done nothing to us and was not a part of 9/11. Laura, get back to your chain smoking and wedding details for the wedding that has garnered the least amount of interest in the history of White House nuptials.

[djthedj]

Why did they choose to trot out Laura for this? I'm guessing W was way too hammered so they sent her out there.

[RobtBrock]

She is getting the junta mixed up with Ray Nagin. She needs to return to Stepford.

[wakupmagy]

Here is a comment on a small aspect of this post.
I am a committed supporter of Barack Obama and believe George Bush's legacy will be the worst of any president in history. I hate the war in Iraq and weep for the families who have lost sons and daughters there. What happened in Katrina is an outrage and George Bush is the most destructive president I have seen in my lifetime.

BUT on the very insignificant , narrow side issue of Jenna Bush and her wedding, it strikes me that the daughter of this Republican president has gone to Africa on an AIDS mission, written a book for children and gotten married in a quiet, private ceremony in her own home.

Chelsea Clinton, who I'm sure is a nice enough girl, is the daughter of a Democratic president whose first job was with Mark Penn's PR firm and now works at a hedge fund run by a wealthy supporter of her parents. She does no public good works except to occasionally be photographed at New York ballet society fundraisers.

When she gets married it's a safe bet Elton John will sing, the venue will be Madison Square Garden and big donors will get their own seating behind red ropes. If the unthinkable happens, and her mother actually steals this election, the guest who give the best presents will sleep over in the Lincoln Bedroom.

[mnnice]

We're talking about a president who killed three thousand of his own people on 9/11 (google patriots question 9/11).and 650000 iraqis.Did you really expect any better?

[sawdustinhershoes]

You have swallowed the bait hook, line and sinker. Jenna Bush has decided to settle down after behaving in truly Bush-like fashion for many years. She exposed her vagina for all the world to see on more than one occasion and has numerous photos of herself falling down drunk blasted all over the world internet. She did not care about anyone, not even her own father. She is shameful and she gives the US further embarassment from her family.

Now, in order to clean up her very sullied image, we're treated to lots of fanfare around Jenna on AIDs trips to Africa, and her supposedly writing childrens' books. And the fact that she's having a "quiet" wedding at the Faux ranch in Crawford somehow makes her suddenly tasteful and intimate.

Ironically, given the fact that they should behave much better given their money and heritage, the Bushes are not well-bred, or well-mannered people. In fact, if they didn't have all the money and political connections, I'd imagine Laura would be teaching in a small school somewhere in a small deadend town and she'd be supporting her drunken husband and her young grandchildren. The two girls would already have a couple of kids between them and one or two teenage marriages. They'd probably have std's - they might for real.

Don't waste your time supporting the effort to recreate the Bushs girls' history. These people are white trash and no amount of money or power can erase their genetics.

[Jonahson]

It shows a lack of compassion to those suffering. Must everthing be link to polictics? This is a time to help and not to lecture, whatever you want to be link to the inefficiency of the Myanmar Government can be done much later. If you see a small child about to walk across a busy road your instinct is to hold the child back and not to lecture their parents. That instinct is what make us humans. It is what we should be cultivating.
In 2005 when the Tsunami hit Sumatra and brought dead to tens of thousands of people, US was the first country to response to the disaster. A nearby US ship brought relief and her crew worked tirelessly to save as many people as they could. That is what we appreciate and the sign of a true leader. Not a country that declare enemy with almost every other country in the world and send her army on a destruction spree.

[zanzig]

"a team of US disaster officials"

Would that be the same team that worked on the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina?

[peterg76]

It sounds like Burma has enough disaster already.

[larryfishkorn]

Cha-CHING!

[kdubbg]

As soon as there is a hurricane around George goes into hiding, he must have an awful big fear of 'em seeing how he thinks they're God's punishment and all.

[Henry]

Does Chevron have anything to do with the desparation of the Bushwa cabal in Burma?

[newzzzjunkie]

Just seemed odd to me that Laura Bush would mention Myanmar's devastation when they practically ignored what happened in the US because of Katrina. Any one else noticed that?

[Leebot]

Definitely, especially when she criticized the leadership for not alerting the people in time. I actually said to my husband "Where do they get off lecturing Myanmar after their dismal efforts with Katrina?"

[sawdustinhershoes]

These people appear to be trying to recreate history.