Obama Speaks About BP Oil Spill From New Orleans May 28

Update: See video here.

Update May 28: Obama stayed in the gulf longer than scheduled and his podium awaits It's 2:48 pm eastern.

Obama leaves Chicago and arrives in New Orleans at 11:10 am eastern. He'll meet with Govs. Bobby Jindal, Florida's Charlie Crist, Alabama's Bob Riley, and others. Obama will visit a boom beach.
Thad Allen will brief Obama at 1:10 pm and at 1:30 pm, Obama will make a statement. Fingers crossed.
Obama heads back to Chicago at 2:25 pm to spend the weekend with his family--Bo too.
On Monday, Obama speaks at the Lincoln National Cemetery at 12:25 pm eastern.
Tuesday, Obama meets again with Netanyahu.
Wednesday, it's Paul McCartney.

Today Show Interviews Tyren Scott Who Asked Obama About Hate

His mother was nervous when Tyren asked the question. "A child can say anything," she said. Indeed.
Tyren set an example for all of us with his simple question. If you missed Obama answering his question, check it out here.

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Media Hammers Obama For Lack of Progress in New Orleans

Obama said it in his town hall--people expect him to have already solved world hunger.
The Morning Joe crew laments Obama didn't spend enough time in New Orleans and they say his response to a town hall question on Katrina wasn't good enough, that he was professorial. But Katrina wasn't at the forefront of the town haller's minds. There was only one question at the town hall on Katrina. The rest of the questions were about national issues, such as health care.
Then, the talking heads with sad faces went on to say there was no progress in New Orleans. They are dead wrong. See below.
Here's the deal. Obama has people. He's not a one-man show, despite the fact that he's here, there and everywhere.

He has people, such as Craig Fugate, head of FEMA, who has been getting sterling praise for getting things done in New Orleans. FEMA has a staff of people. Obama has staff who visit New Orleans.

FEMA has been coordinating with the Department of Homeland Security.
This video is just a bunch of talking heads trying to pretend like they truly care. "Let's name New Orleans Goldman Sachs." Ridiculous. Perhaps the talking heads do care. But they haven't done their research. All anyone has to do to find out what FEMA is doing in New Orleans is visit FEMA.gov:

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In August, FEMA announced major funding for New Orleans:

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Louisiana Recovery Authority (LRA) announced an additional $260.3 million for projects throughout the New Orleans area, including funding to Dillard University, Templeman Prison I and II and the Gaslight Apartments. These announcements bring the total public assistance funds obligated for Louisiana recovery projects since Jan. 20, 2009 to more than $1 billion.

"FEMA is working closely with our state and local partners to push money down into the hands of locals as quickly as possible," said FEMA's Louisiana Transitional Recovery Office Acting Director Tony Russell. "Our recent funding reflects these efforts to provide tremendous support so that projects can move toward completion." Read more here

Here is what FEMA is doing for railroad recovery:

Mayor Nagin gives an update in August:

Here's a list from Homeland Security on the accomplishments in Louisiana so far this year:

2009 Accomplishments in Louisiana*

Public Assistance
w Two joint teams established to resolve disputed Public Assistance Projects
w 73 disputed projects resolved
w $895 million in total Public Assistance funding in these sectors:
w Education: $404 million
w Public Works: $130.2 million
w Public Safety & Protection: $49.7 million
w Health Care: $54.5 million
w Public Infrastructure: $217 million
w Debris Removal/Emergency Protective Measures: $40.2 million

Mitigation
w $9.5 Million of a total of $23 Million granted to elevate and retrofit homes for 48 families in Orleans Parish.
w $1.2 Million granted for a floodwall to reduce the risk of flooding for Dozier Elementary School
w More than $2 Million for the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry to harden and retrofit buildings in Baton Rouge and Hammond


Individual Assistance
w 3,260 of households transitioned to permanent housing
w In June, FEMA announced very-low-cost mobile homes and park models through its Sales-to-Occupants program, ensuring that many more occupants would qualify to purchase their homes.

* January 20, 2009 – August 7, 2009

“The Town of Grand Isle has been working closely with FEMA, and throughout our determination we have acquired a good working relationship. FEMA sees our needs firsthand and does the best to see that our goals are accomplished. Our progress is moving along thanks to the dedication, persistence and hard work that our elected officials and FEMA have done.”

Grand Isle Mayor David Camardelle

Public Assistance and Mitigation Grant Funding for Major Projects
FEMA and DHS announced the following funding in 2009

January
w $3.7 million: St. Bernard Grand Ballroom
w $3 million for 20 reconstructions: City of Slidell Reconstruction grant
w $1.1 million: Slidell sewer system cleaning

February
w $3.8 million: Louisiana State University Modular Dental Clinic
w $46.5 million: Plaquemines Parish Pump Stations

March
w $9.5 million: Orleans Parish elevations of 48 homes
w $1.3 million: Xavier University hazard mitigation funding

April
w $13.1 million: Recovery School District building
w $8 million: Holy Cross Schools
w $3.5 million: SUNO mold remediation
w $2.7 million: Lakefront Airport Terminal Building repairs
w $15 million: Canal Street complex repair and mitigation efforts
w $2.2 million: Orleans Parish installation of 5,000 water meters
w $1.2 million: Celebration Christian School and Daycare replacement of contents
w $1.4 million: City of New Orleans Emergency Operations Center communication network
w $7.8 million: South Cameron High School and Elementary School replacement/consolidation
w $1.7 million: Louisiana Facility Planning and Control
w $1.1 million: Carrollton Water Treatment Plant
w $2.2 million: North and South Florissant Drainage Pump Stations
w $3.4 million: St. Bernard construction and demolition debris removal
w $4 million: Plaquemines Parish canals debris & sediment removal
There's lots more here.

Release from Homeland Security:

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano yesterday joined President Obama, Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan, Department of Education Secretary Arne Duncan and White House Council on Environmental Quality Chair Nancy Sutley in New Orleans to see Hurricanes Katrina and Rita recovery efforts firsthand—her third visit to the Gulf Coast since January.
At the University of New Orleans, Secretary Napolitano joined President Obama, Secretary Donovan, Secretary Duncan and Chair Sutley at a town hall meeting to hear directly from Louisiana residents about ongoing rebuilding efforts.
During the town hall, President Obama highlighted the Long Term Recovery Working Group, co-chaired by Secretary Napolitano and Secretary Donovan, which will provide operational guidance for recovery organizations and help ensure a more resilient nation.
Additionally, Secretary Napolitano attended the National Fusion Center Directors Meeting to discuss the Department’s progress toward becoming the single focal point of information on homeland security threats for state and local law enforcement officers.
She also visited the Vessel Traffic Center, a U.S. Coast Guard-operated interagency facility responsible for managing 20 miles of complex waterways on the Lower Mississippi River, and received a briefing on current Coast Guard maritime operations.
Secretary Napolitano’s trip highlights DHS’ continued commitment to providing federal support for rebuilding and security efforts throughout the Gulf Coast through coordination with federal, state, local and tribal partners.

Obama's Town Hall in New Orleans Oct. 15

After the town hall, Obama visited MLK Charter school. Read about his visit here.
Update Oct 20: Full New Orleans video:
Transcript
At the town hall Bobby Jindal was seriously booed but Obama gave Jindal props, calls him a "hard working man."

A fourth grader asks why people hate Obama. Well, small boy, it's like this, some people are intolerant and rotten (that's my answer). Obama tries to explain politics and says people feel frustrated because of the economy. He's so level headed:

Watch CBS News Videos Online

Obama Town hall in New Orleans Oct. 15

Obama and Sasha at Jefferson Memorial

UPDATE Oct. 15: SEE VIDEO OF THE TOWN HALL HERE.

Note the time is Louisiana time (it's at 2:15 eastern). There will be live audio here.

Update: The president will arrive at Louis Armstrong International Airport at about 11:30 a.m. and likely travel by Interstate 10 to New Orleans, where he will stop about noon at Martin Luther King Charter School in the Lower 9th Ward. He will proceed to the University of New Orleans for a town hall meeting at 1:15 p.m. Shortly after 2 p.m., the president's entourage will return to the airport. NOLA

The town hall should be live streamed at cnn.com, msnbc.com or whitehouse.gov/live. I'll post details on time and place when they're up. In New Orleans...

With the president will be Secretaries Napolitano, Donovan, and Duncan, who "will each participate in events throughout the community to review recovery progress."

From New Orleans, POTUS heads to San Francisco for a DNC fundraiser that evening, and then Friday he flies to College Station, Texas, for a Presidential Forum on community service hosted by former President George H.W. Bush and the Points of Light Institute at the George Bush Presidential Library Center on the campus of Texas A&M University. Politico

Bobby Jindal will be on hand:

"The president's administration has achieved some truly great things in the short time since taking office," Landrieu said Thursday evening. "If this visit is too brief, it will not afford the president the opportunity to see first-hand the impact that an effective and committed administration can have on rebuilding neighborhoods and communities."
Earlier in the day, Vitter sent a letter to Obama, cautioning, "If the town hall is the only major event of the visit, I truly think it will be deeply disappointing to most citizens."

The White House Thursday evening indicated that plans for the president's trip are still being finalized, and would not confirm that a town hall was on the agenda, leaving open the possibility that a different and perhaps more extensive itinerary was in the works.

Regardless of the president's precise plans for his trip, Gov. Bobby Jindal's office said Thursday that he would be in New Orleans for the president's visit. So too will Reps. Anh "Joseph" Cao, R-New Orleans, and Steve Scalise, R-Jefferson.
But Rep. Charlie Melancon, D-Napoleonville, the only Democrat in the Louisiana House delegation, will not be in New Orleans with Obama.NOLA

Some Lack Money to Evacuate New Orleans

Update: 90% evacuated. Wow.

Update 8-29: Bush urges evacuation. He and Cheney pass on convention.

  

Lack of money shouldn't prevent evacuation. This is what Obama means when he criticizes Bush for the "ownership society," as in you're on your own. Too poor. Too bad.
McCain uses it as a campaign stop. A recount of McCain's Katrina history.

CNN: "You gotta make as much money as you can, because when we shut down -- and we're gonna shut down -- that's it for a long while," the 26-year-old said, exhaling, a dribble of sweat rolling into his mouth.

"The thing is," he continued, "most people don't have cars to leave, don't have money for gas. Pay for a hotel for that long? I mean, you have to do whatever you have to do, and I guess I'm gonna stay and work."

Though Maspero wasn't doing half the business it usually does, customers were still coming in for $2 clam buckets. A few packs of tourists, identifiable by their slightly off-kilter walk and gigantic hot pink test tubes of booze, ambled down St. Louis Street, peeking into bars and asking, "You still open?"

Most were, up until the hour that Mayor Ray Nagin told the public to run for their lives.

"It's the storm of the century," he said.

What really happened in New Orleans.

Obama on New Orleans and Vice President

during an indiana town hall, a questioner, who spent spring break building homes in new orleans (kudos to him), asked obama what he would do about new orleans.
here's obama's answer:
1) he will appoint someone who is in charge of the rebuilding process in new orleans. each week they'll report to him the status.
2) strengthen the levies
3) help homeowners get insurance
4) cut out the no-bid contracts and the corruption. halliburton and others were getting huge contracts and no one knew where the money was going.

what type of qualities are you looking for in a vice president?
"I got to win indiana before i start thinking about vice president."
but he offered his criteria for his cabinet:
1) competence, no more heads of the arabian horse association in charge of fema.
2) integrity, too many going into public service to cash out later.
3) independence, i want people who are going to argue and tell me when i'm wrong.
4) people that understand that power comes from the people

Obama in New Orleans Video

primary and caucus dates/locations


his plan to finish rebuilding new orleans. i knew he'd have one: Imagine President Obama
obamabarack obamadelegatessuperdelegatesTurbo Taggernew orleansTurbo Tagger