House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL) said that rather than rebuild New Orleans with federal assistance, "it looks like a lot of that place could be bulldozed."
Hastert, showing the savvy of someone asking Mrs. Lincoln whether she enjoyed the play, made his comments yesterday to the Daily Herald of Arlington Heights, Ill. You know he would never dare say such things in the presence of anyone from the Crescent City.
In a transcript supplied by the suburban Chicago newspaper, Hastert said there was no question that the people of New Orleans would rebuild their city, but noted that federal insurance and other federal aid was involved. "We ought to take a second look at it. But you know we build Los Angeles and San Francisco on top of earthquake fissures and they rebuild too. Stubbornness.''
The cost of rebuilding could total $75 billion, according to one expert.
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This evening, Hastert tried to spin his comments, saying: "I am not advocating that the city be abandoned or relocated." But Hastert did not apologize for his earlier insensitivity, as had been sought by Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco.
Blanco, a Democrat, said it's an insult to even suggest that "one of the most historic cities is not worth an investment" of federal dollars.
Also responding to Hastert was Louisiana Sen. Mary Landrieu, who issued a statement to "disagree strongly'' with Hastert.
While I disagree strongly with Speaker Hastert’s comments regarding the city of New Orleans, he raises a debate that we can address at some time in the future. Right now, however, we have important work to do," said Landrieu, a Democrat. "I encourage Speaker Hastert and our colleagues to focus time and attention today and tomorrow on providing Louisiana with the local, state and federal security resources.
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This article first appeared at Journalists Against Bush's B.S.
Article comments
1 - patriot
House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL) said that rather than rebuild New Orleans with federal assistance, "it looks like a lot of that place could be bulldozed.
I would recommend bulldozing Washington instead.
2 - Dave Nalle
Sorry, the best solution might really be to relocate or bulldoze and radically redesign the city. Shame on Hastert for speaking the politically incorrect truth!
Dave
3 - Marc
I would agree Dave. The city has been under siege for decades both by beach erosion and the city itself sinking. And much of the blame being layed at Bush's feet now is nonsense and should be directed to the local officials who have been dragging their feet for decades.
BUT Hastert is damn stupid for making the comment at this time. That's something to be discussed months from now.
4 - Silas Kain
Hastert was totally ignorant in making the statement right now. That being said, though, he's right. Before anyone raises the first frame of construction, planning is in order. For all intents and purposes we have a blank canvas upon which to create something beautiful. I've said several times that this is an opportunity. Why doesn't anyone see what I see? Or is it me that's delusional?
5 - Nancy
Hastert's GOP foot is in his mouth, as usual, but this time I think he's right: rebuilding New Orleans on it's current site would be a fools' act. When the city was founded, in the very early 18th cent., it was no big deal to relocate a few hundred inhabitants & wooden buildings every time they got swept away; but with the whole 'nother world of modern cities & their required infrastructures, to rebuild there again would be beyond stupid. By all means, keep the French Quarter & historic pieces, but the actual city? Move it to higher ground.
6 - Silas Kain
Again, Nancy, I want to stress that this is an opportunity for New Orleans and the entire ravaged area. The city will need a new electrical grid system. Roads that were needed can be made, while those that weren't can be removed. This is an urban planners' dream to be able to start with a clean slate and make it better. Corporations that have been developing alternative sources of energy and other technologies will have an opportunity to apply them here and make them work. And then there are those military bases that are closing. Let the Pentagon open them up and create new communities for those displaced. Fifty years from now Americans can talk about the days when New Orleans was destroyed and how America came together and made it better than anyone ever dreamed possible. That's the way it should be for the folks in Lousiiana, Mississippi and Alabama. This is a chance to do something great. I just hope people can stop the bickering to do the job.
7 - Nancy
I agree wholeheartedly. IMO, 'they' ought to clean up the city & then let it go back to the grasslands & bayous they robbed in order to build it - which is partially why it got flooded so badly this time around. Rebuild on higher ground. But they wooooon't. We both know that. Lawyers & banks are already involved, so nothing will go anywhere, & it will happen again.
8 - Silas Kain
It doesn't have to happen again, Nancy. All of America has a vested interest in New Orleans and everything in between all the way to Mobile, Alabama. This is about national security. This is about saving fellow Americans. This is the true test of America's 'morality'. What I see as totally immoral is how so many are at each other's throats screaming left, right, Republicans, Democrats. Give me a break. The day will come when we can offer advice on what to do with the area. In the meantime, let's get these people to safety and help them rebuild their lives.
9 - voiceofreason
For gods sake do not rebuild that city! Move it to stable ground or start over some where else. The entire city is sinking. If a home was sinking you could shore it up but not a whole city. Move on and get over it. The whole place smelled like pee anyway.
10 - cc
Dennis Hastert should be forced to resign. What kind of a leader of the house is this who would rather think economically than humanly about his fellow Americans? Do we ask those who build on the fault lines not to build? Do we ask those who live near volcanic sites not to build? Our Irish, German and Italian ancestors came to New Orleans to build our future. They worked hard and long hours, faced many obstacles but achieved much. To abandon New Orleans now would be an insult to their dream, our dream and the future of our children. New Orleans has its problems, yes, but does anyone out there live in a uptopia? And please remember fellow citizens, disaster can strike in any town, any state, any country...so just because the city of New Orleans is below sea level and you may agree with pompous Dennis, it is a place where prosperity can once again reign--what makes me feel more unsafe than a hurricane is that we have a person with such a dark heart leading the house of representatives of this country. I say he should resign immediately!
11 - Dave Nalle
Yes, he told the politically incorrect truth - ride him out of Washington on a rail!
Dave
12 - Eric Berlin
No, it's not the truth.
America won't abandon one of its great cities.
13 - billy
hastert touches a raw nerve every time he speaks and allows oxegyn to escape from the fat chimney he calls a neck.
14 - Dave Nalle
Sometimes raw nerves need to be touched. Sometimes people need a kick in the ass or a slap on the cheek.
Dave
15 - Eric Berlin
Sometimes, yes.
In this case, it was ugly and mean-spirited.
16 - Silas Kain
Sometimes raw nerves need to be touched. Sometimes people need a kick in the ass or a slap on the cheek.
I agree, Dave. Sometimes raw nerves need to be touched to get an apathetic electorate to open their eyes. Americans are either too lazy to get involved in their government or too damn stupid to realize that things done in Washington do affect lives right down to the poor elderly person in New Orleans.
Like it or not, Hastert told the truth -- to a point. It's still too early in the game to make decisions and I think it's up to those who want to return to NOLA to take part in the discussion. The rest of America, however, should be able to give suggestions if the Federal government is involved in footing a major portion of the bill. America doesn't need a repeat of Boston's Big Dig. What America needs is leaders that will be financially prudent and responsive to the citizenry.
17 - Heloise
Cafe du Monde, Audobon Park, French Quarters, Jackson Square (in the french quarters) are all the places my family met during our family reunion--I could auction the T-shirt--and believe it or not these places are all virtually untouched!
The 9th ward and Desire are NOT historical places. They are only landmarks of one of the poorest and UGLIEST urbans areas not only in this country but maybe in the world.
I also thought some of it might need to be bulldozed, but who would I dare tell?
I also used to live near Arlington Heights IL because Chicago is my second home town, or first, don't know, but anyway we Chicagoans know that racial segregation was INVENTED right in the windy city. My nickname is Chicago.
Heloise
18 - Dave Nalle
>>What America needs is leaders that will be financially prudent and responsive to the citizenry.<<
Having a couple like Hastert who are willing to speak the truth isn't such a bad thing.
Dave
19 - Eric Berlin
What truth did he speak? It's his opinion that New Orleans might not be worth rebuilding.
I'd be willing to bet an admittedly small fortune (ain't rich like Denny, I'm afraid) that D Hastert is dead wrong.
20 - Dave Nalle
That's not what he said. He said that it looked like an awful lot of it could be bulldozed, and he's right. Those poor neighborhoods that are below sea level ought to be razed and new housing ought to be built for the poor on higher ground.
Dave
21 - Eric Berlin
Spin aside, he originally said that rebuilding New Orleans "doesn't make sense to me."
22 - Diana Herlot
He also mentions Los Angeles and San Francisco. We've spent more rebuilding Florida last year than has been spent in California. So, why not abandon Florida and California. The Carolinas, Texas, Alabama, and Missisippi get hurricanes too. So, let's bulldoze those statest too. Oh, and any place prone to tornados.
What an idiot...
23 - nic peach
i think that the city of new orleans shoouldn't be rebuilt because the sam ething is going to cause this country to spend lots of federal mon ey that can be use to send the victims to a new state and help them get on their feet after all that has happened to them over the last year