*** RELEASE ***
March 7, 2006
The Hammond, La., Ledger, a thrice-weekly newspaper, has obtained a
copy of the text of the President's remarks to be given in Hammond on
Wednesday, March 8, 2006. He is expected speak after touring some of
the devastated areas and rebuilt portions of New Orleans, and its
environs. Though the speech is subject to revision, our source tells
us that it will closely cover the topics reprinted here.
Copies may be requested at: http://www.hammondledger.com
Kyle Schwitters
Managing Editor
The Hammond Ledger
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Good Morning, Ms. Governor, and fellows, and fellow-women citizens.
It's a pleasure to be here today, to be able to see for myself what a
great job our government, especially the FEMA, is doing to rebuild this
great area.
I am particularly pleased to see that the lovely brown waters of the
lake in New Orleans' Ward Nine have been cleaned up and stocked with
carp and other game fish. This symbolizes what determined people can
do when federal, state and local governments get together and
coordinate their efforts.
The good Mayor of New Orleans, Ray, has shown me around the town, and I
noted the temporary trailers are still in place, keeping our homeless
folks safe from weather's harm. I agree that we should consider
letting the people keep these shelters, since I don't need to tell
you that we're a bit short of money, what with fighting terrorists in
Iraq and Afghanistan and facing down evil countries like Iran and North
Korea. Plus we're also working several other hot spots around the
globe. So, just hang in there, and I assure you someday soon those
trailers will be dressed up with flowers and lawns and New Orleans will
be back on track.
You know, my mother and dad are here with me, along with former
president Clinton, and our FEMA chief. They've all been really
supportive of our efforts to restore the coast, and they helped raise
millions of dollars for relief efforts.
Like my mom says, "Sometimes no good is good enough!" God bless her!
Bill Clinton has been warmly greeted by so many New Orleansers. And
he's tapped several college coeds to help make our stay here
comfortable.
I also want to thank brother Jeb, in Florida, for selflessly arranging
for those nice cruise ships to house the homeless and dispossessed in
the wake of the floods and devastation. They sure have helped.
The Army Corps of Engineers also comes in for praise for the great job
they're doing to temporarily restore those broken levees and filling
in more of those massive bayous and swamps that contributed so much to
the heavy flooding. And I'm pleased to report the Corps is diverting
some of its fifteen-billion-dollar allocation for rerouting the upper
Mississippi to relocating some of those temporary trailers to higher
ground.
My dad, God bless him, says "You can always count on the Corps of
Engineers to spend tax dollars wisely and well."
You know, four-score and forty-odd days ago, our Heavenly Father
brought forth upon this area a new hurricane, dedicated to the
proposition that all things are created equal. Now we are met on some
high ground of that region, testing whether that nation, or that
nation, or any nation so dedicated and bifurcated can long endure. But
in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot
hollow this ground. The poor people, drowned and homeless, who gave
their lives and homes here, are beyond our poor power to add or
subtract. But let us take new resolve, that, when in the course of
human events, in our determination to extend the pursuit of happiness,
we shall not perish from the earth.
Thank you all for coming out today. And give my regards to those who
couldn't make it here for one reason or another. As a great general,
General Eisenhower once said, "I shall return" -- in the
not-too-distant future to see how you're doing down here. In the
meantime, take care, and may the Lord bless you real good.
And God bless America.
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