Prove It!

Everybody who gave a shit enough to appear as if they cared got to log their sentimental moment and perfect sound byte this week in New Orleans (well, truth be told several chose to issue statements while keeping a safe distance).

Now prove it - who is going to truly own and passionately act on the need to rebuild our Gulf Coast?

You decide if you think any of these peoples' words are worth a damn red cent:

Dems
Obama
Hillary
Edwards
Richardson
Dodd

Repubs
Guiliani
McCain
Hunter

I was unable to find any mention whatsoever of our Gulf Coast from the following:
Joe Biden, Mike Gravel or Dennis Kucinich
Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee or Ron Paul

You form your own opinion on why that might be.


Yes, there are some other candidates out there, but they are so insignificant to me that I can't even remember their names.

There was a mere 3 minute clip on the Today show reminding everyone of the devastation of the Gulf Coast , and then they had to get back to the important news - Craig's sex-in-the-bathroom debacle was apparently more important.

Yes, two years have passed - S-O W-H-A-T!!!

People are still just as homeless and just as destitute and just as desperate for money and a return to normal life as they were before.

There is a massive diaspora of Gulf Coast residents all across the country.

Long time Gulf Coast residents - people who were once proud of their long and varied heritage - have abandoned their cities and neightborhoods who need them back so badly.

And even two years later, there are still *new reports* of neighborhoods just now getting back on their feet with electricity and basic utilities.

They are mixed in with tales of lawlessness and insanity.

There are still mold-infested houses that are completely uninhabitable - only now they have to share space with the FEMA trailers that seem like inescapable tombs to so many people.

The fact that two years have passed and this is still the condition of the Gulf Coast is not only disgraceful, it is *criminal*.

Bush actually went out of his way to appear concerned about the Gulf Coast this morning, but where was his concern for the region during his State of the Union address?

While extolling the virtues of his new initiatives (and that excellent surge plan), where was his compassion for the Gulf Coast and its meager grip on existence?

The time to act in restoring the dignity, safety, and viability of the region is long overdue.

Do any one of these would-be leaders actually have the integrity and passion for humanity to do anything at all??

Please allow me to share with you some photos of the region from when I was there (Last June I was able to travel with Collins to rebuild homes in Gulfport, Mississippi):

The remains of what used to be the bridge between Ocean Springs and Biloxi, Mississippi

A shattered bridge at sunset

One of thousands of houses along the Gulf Coast that have been rendered utterly useless by the floods

The empty shell of what used to be a small market on the shores of the Gulf of Mexico

This used to be the yacht club at Lake Pontchartrain, in New Orleans

The remains of a dozen boats, after Lake Pontchartrain flooded its banks

Some of the boats made it out of the water and into the streets and neighborhood next to the Lake. That is my sister's car parked in front of some of the boats.

People, these photos were taken almost one year after the disaster!

Why are there still boats in the streets of the city almost a year later?

Why are there still people unable to rebuild today??

Can anyone make any sense of this?

Whatever happened to each of us being our brother's keeper?

For God's sake, please do something.

Write to whoever you believe is going to be the next President and implore them to make the Gulf Coast a priority by taking *action* and not just espousing fluffy words. Our President today has failed us in our most dire hours of need; don't let the next leader do the same.

I've written to various people and media outlets, including multiple letters and emails to the one I think will be President.

Join me!