Bush’s assumption of responsibility is too late

Re “Bush Accepts Blame for Slow Hurricane Response,” Sept. 14

If President Bush had immediately accepted responsibility for the federal emergency response failures for Hurricane Katrina, I might have believed him. But accepting responsibility weeks after this national tragedy, while under enormous criticism for his lack of leadership, makes me wonder if he’s more interested in saving his political life and that of Republicans.

I am left with a sick feeling of doubt about his sincerity.

DONALD A. BENTLEY

La Puente

As a displaced resident of New Orleans currently staying in Los Angeles, I am proud to have Ray Nagin as my mayor. The Bush administration has tried to pass the blame to the lower officials who did everything they could to urge everyone to leave the area at least three days before the storm hit. Nagin wanted to issue a mandatory evacuation 24 hours earlier but legally couldn’t do so because he would then become responsible for the safe evacuation of every resident, for which he did not have the resources.

Nagin’s plan to evacuate those who had no transportation was a plea to residents to look in on their neighbors and help them if they could not evacuate. But in many New Orleans neighborhoods, everyone is poor and without transportation. Putting 900 people on an Amtrak train would have helped, but what about the 50,000 others left behind? Our federal government failed to help us in our greatest time of need. The buck stops there.

GABRIEL BORDENAVE

Los Angeles

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Re “Fret Over the Dog? Kids Need Help First,” Sept. 11

I want to acknowledge Steve Lopez’s outstanding reporting from New Orleans. My family has a dog; we love her dearly. I wouldn’t hesitate to save a human life if the choice were between a person and a dog. In my values hierarchy, human life takes precedence. The outcry aimed at Lopez for his decision not to assist an unknown stray dog indicates a skewed value system.

TONY COLE

Redondo Beach