They Really Dropped the Ball..

[GypsySorcerer]

START THE PUMPS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

17th Street Canal breach fixed


Great news. Nagin think it will take weeks, instead of months, to pump the water out. I hope he's right.

[strandinthewind]

Great news. Nagin think it will take weeks, instead of months, to pump the water out. I hope he's right.

One of the largest problems is the surface/earth is not smooth like a bowl. In other words, when the several feet of water are drained, it is possible little mini levees will appear because the earth is higher there and the when 20 feet of water was there that taller earth did not matter, but it could act as a dam when draining. So, I think, barring another breach in the levees, the water will dain down to a few feet or less and from there it will be harder to drain. Also, the debris makes the draining harder as does the treatment of the water (assuming they are still doing that) prior to its expulsion.

[strandinthewind]

Orleans Breaking News


Monday, September 05, 2005

New Orleans staggers to its feet for next step on long road
By Ron Thibodeaux and Gordon Russell
Staff writers

In a city in dire need of some divine intervention from the most catastrophic week in its history, the first post-Katrina Sunday in New Orleans was infused with the sounds of military helicopters and sporadic gunfire instead of lilting hymns and Gospel readings.

On the seventh day of this disaster of biblical proportions, the last evacuees from the fetid conditions of the Superdome and the Convention Center rested with New Orleans in the rearview mirror of the buses taking them to clean, safe havens far away.

In the city they finally left behind, churches were empty, bells did not peal, Sunday services were not held and the Saints, the football version, were said to be pondering their own evacuation, possibly a permanent one, to San Antonio, Texas.

Entergy workers made their first foray into New Orleans to begin the gargantuan task of assessing the damage to the city's electrical system. Their arrival was a glimmer of encouragement in the vista of despair that confronts those charged with rebuilding the city.

Meanwhile, in adjacent Jefferson Parish, authorities braced for a Labor Day invasion of evacuees expected to return for a first look at their homes.

Search and rescue operations continued and during the late afternoon, helicopters using Interstate 10 as a landing pad were pulling people from rooftops in Mid-City and other parts of town.

Law enforcement agencies fielded about 1,000 distress 911 calls Saturday from people still trapped in attics of buildings surrounded by water, State Police said Sunday.

For the city's police officers in particular, Sunday was the first day to get something like a breather after working around the clock for the past eight days.

"Today is the first day you will see a smile on some of the officers' faces," said NOPD Capt. Marlon Defillo, who was taking a break on the neutral ground of Loyola Avenue with Detective William Charbonnet. "This has been a tremendous challenge for members of the police department, but they've held their ground. They've given their hearts and souls."

New Orleans Police officers sent up a cheer at one point Sunday at a report that their colleagues had engaged in a shootout with an armed group on the Danziger Bridge in eastern New Orleans, with several of the suspected marauders - but none of the police officers - being hit. Deputy Police Chief W.J. Riley said police shot eight people, killing five or six of them.

Defillo said police morale had hit a low point around Wednesday or Thursday in terms of the stress on officers, who had to try to keep the city safe without a working communications system amid increasing anarchy . While it was harrowing, reports that hundreds of police officers abandoned ship are false, he said.

"There was a report that 60 percent of our officers bugged out and hadn't been seen since Monday night. It is totally untrue," Defillo said.

What happened, according to Defillo, was that the NOPD's communications system crashed in the wake of the storm, making it impossible for officers to contact one another.

"We had to work on the buddy system, two guys staying together," he said. Defillo acknowledged that "there were some people who bugged out" but he didn't have an estimate of their numbers.

Defillo himself was feeling better after shaving for the first time in a week and taking an impromptu bath in the green, leafy water of a backyard swimming pool. He was wearing a clean pair of acid-washed jeans and a polo shirt that he "found."

The scene was more intense in flood-ravaged St. Bernard Parish, where rescue efforts still lag behind those of New Orleans. Sheriff Jack Stephens authorized his haggard deputies to shoot to kill looters or anyone else who poses a threat.

Small gangs of heavily armed career criminals are roaming the parish's isolated eastern half and looting buildings, Stephens said.

"These are the same a------- who have been testing us for 20 years," Stephens told his SWAT team at a security briefing. "Today is the day they are going to listen to us or we're gonna take 'em out."

As National Guard troops and utility workers launched their patrols through the abandoned neighborhoods of New Orleans on Sunday morning, federal, state and local authorities intensified their finger-pointing at one another over the breakdowns in last week's rescue efforts.

U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff struggled on NBC's "Meet the Press" to explain why federal agencies were so slow to react to the crisis and sought to deflect at least part of the blame toward the evacuation plan confected by city and state officials.

Later in the same program, a ragged Jefferson Parish President Aaron Broussard broke down as he told the national audience how a colleague's elderly mother died in her home Friday after waiting four days for rescuers that never arrived.

With thousands of federal troops finally assisting in what had been an ineffective, disorganized operation, 19,000 people were removed from the Convention Center in less than 24 hours and the final evacuees from the Superdome boarded a bus for somewhere, anywhere.

Hundreds of people continued to mill around the outside of both facilities, arriving on foot in hopes of getting a ride out of town.
Col. Henry Whitehorn, superintendent of Louisiana State Police, estimated that 2,000 people, many of them with serious medical problems, were still housed inside the terminal at Louis Armstrong International Airport.

A busload of 160 people that the state Legislative Black Caucus arranged to deliver to Alexandria ended up at a shelter there, not in facilities at the former England Air Force Base as the lawmakers had intended.

Angry that thousands of Louisianians are being bused out of state because of an apparent lack of shelter space, the black caucus members had called on the federal government Saturday to make Louisiana's military installations available.

Jefferson Parish officials prepared Sunday for a huge influx of residents expected to return today to see what Katrina did to their homes. Hours after the storm hit, Broussard had decreed that evacuated Jefferson residents stay away only for a week to give parish authorities a fighting chance to get control of the destruction and bedlam there.

Many parish officials are skeptical about the decision to let residents return even this soon, but Broussard stood by his decision, saying residents need to see for themselves how bad things are so they can move on with their lives.

"I am the only elected official who is in favor of doing this, but people need to understand that they're not coming back to Wally Cleaver's neighborhood," he said Sunday. "I am doing this to jumpstart the economy, not the economy of Jefferson Parish. That is destroyed. I want to jumpstart the economies of the residents of Jefferson Parish, who need to find new jobs, new places to live."

Long lines are expected today at checkpoints where parish authorities will verify that returnees live in Jefferson Parish before letting them in.

The 1 million-plus number of homes and businesses that lost power in the area was down to 643,000, Public Service Commissioner Jimmy Field said. LSU researchers testing the floodwaters for contamination levels also reported that they had taken the first water samples from canals draining into Lake Pontchartrain and expect to have the results in about two days.

Entergy was able to send a 12-member assessment team, flanked by National Guardsmen, into the city to inspect storm damage.
"The main thing we were trying to find out is what needs to be done to restore power to the Central Business District," utility spokesman Chanel Lagarde said.

In St. Tammany Parish, Cleco reported it has restored power to 5,000 of its 80,000 customers, beginning with hospitals, other essential locations and sites along the parish's main traffic arteries.

In San Antonio, where New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson had been conspicuously silent about the impact of Katrina on his football team's hometown and its residents, reports surfaced that the team's management is considering pulling out of the city and relocating, perhaps permanently, to San Antonio, where Benson has a business interests and a ranch outside of the city.

www.nola.com

[strandinthewind]

Goldie - is this what you were talking about? - from www.wdsu.com

Nearly 70 Percent of Gulf Oil Production Still Shut In

POSTED: 2:01 pm CDT September 5, 2005
UPDATED: 2:15 pm CDT September 5, 2005

BATON ROUGE, La. -- Nearly 70 percent of the Gulf of Mexico's normal daily oil production is still blocked from market Monday because of offshore platform evacuations forced by Hurricane Katrina.

The United States Minerals Management Service said that 228 of the 819 staffed production platforms in the Gulf are shut down, delaying production of one million barrels of oil, or 69.6 percent of the region's normal daily production of 1.5 million barrels.

On August 30, the day after Katrina hit, 95 percent of the Gulf's normal daily production was shut down. Since Katrina first threatened Gulf platforms, 12 million barrels of oil and 64.1 billion cubic feet of natural gas have been delayed from reaching market.

Katrina marks the fourth time that Gulf production has been interrupted since the hurricane season began.

[strandinthewind]

Bless their hearts, they need to get out of there - but still, I admire their spirit in the face of this :laugh:

Decadence Parade Continues Despite Hurricane Hit
POSTED: 9:45 am CDT September 5, 2005
UPDATED: 11:04 am CDT September 5, 2005

NEW ORLEANS -- Not even Hurricane Katrina could prevent the Decadence Parade from being staged in the French Quarter.

The annual Labor Day gay celebration drew about two-dozen people.

As street musician Matt Menold explained, "It's New Orleans, man. We're going to celebrate."

and another

Yes, you can still get a drink in New Orleans

NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana (Reuters) -- At least two bars in New Orleans' fabled French Quarter are honoring the tradition that drinking establishments in the boisterous tourist district stay open during hurricanes, even apocalyptic monsters like Hurricane Katrina.

Molly's at the Market shut down the evening of August 28 as Katrina bore down on New Orleans. The storm struck the city with damaging winds that night, then floodwaters began to seep in through levee breaches on the north end of town the next day.

Except for wind damage, the Quarter stayed high and dry and so did Molly's and Johnny White's. And both were back in business Monday, August 29, with little apparent damage despite a lack of electricity and running water.

"That's our job. That's just what we do," Molly's owner Jim Monaghan, 47, said.

Molly's somehow managed to serve iced drinks Sunday to a mixed crowd of die-hard locals, visiting authorities and the media gaggle. Monaghan wouldn't say where he got the ice, and any inquisitors didn't much care.

"This is gold," said Sonny Fyler, 45, a builder who chatted over a well-iced vodka and cranberry cocktail. "This is definitely gold. I'm coming in here every day."

While Molly's stays open only during daylight hours and caters to a varied clientele, the customers at Johnny White's were different. A late-night visit found a group of dedicated, mostly intoxicated, locals who drank uncooled cocktails by candlelight in the bar at the corner of Orleans and Bourbon in the heart of the Quarter.

The open-air joint has no doors, so the proprietors decided to hang on for as long as possible.

New Orleans police, normally ambivalent about the public drunkenness that occurs most nights throughout the district, seemed strangely intolerant of it over the weekend even as it seemed they had bigger problems at hand, such as mass deaths and destruction throughout the region.

"We have a makeshift jail. You cross this line, and we'll take your ass there," a policeman, drawing an imaginary line at the doorway, screamed at a drunken middle-aged woman who had stumbled out the door momentarily.

A few minutes later, the woman collapsed to the floor in an alcoholic stupor.

If he can give folks, whether they're locals or visitors, a short respite from the despair gripping New Orleans, Monaghan said his bar on Decatur Street on the Quarter's edge is doing a public service.

"I believe this city is coming back," he said. "I wouldn't have stayed open if I didn't think that."

Find this article at:
http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/09/05/katrina.bars.reut/index.html

[gldstwmn]

Rumour has it and I do underscore rumour, that President Bush in a private meeting with Governor Blanco tried to get her to sign a document taking some of the responsiblity off of FEMA, Homeland Security and himself. Reportedly, she refused to sign. As soon as I have more concrete information on this, you can bet your bippy I will post it. :lol:

CONFIRMATION from the Washington Post:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/03/AR2005090301680.html

Behind the scenes, a power struggle emerged, as federal officials tried to wrest authority from Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Babineaux Blanco (D). Shortly before midnight Friday, the Bush administration sent her a proposed legal memorandum asking her to request a federal takeover of the evacuation of New Orleans, a source within the state's emergency operations center said Saturday.

The administration sought unified control over all local police and state National Guard units reporting to the governor. Louisiana officials rejected the request after talks throughout the night, concerned that such a move would be comparable to a federal declaration of martial law. Some officials in the state suspected a political motive behind the request. "Quite frankly, if they'd been able to pull off taking it away from the locals, they then could have blamed everything on the locals," said the source, who does not have the authority to speak publicly.

A senior administration official said that Bush has clear legal authority to federalize National Guard units to quell civil disturbances under the Insurrection Act and will continue to try to unify the chains of command that are split among the president, the Louisiana governor and the New Orleans mayor.

Louisiana did not reach out to a multi-state mutual aid compact for assistance until Wednesday, three state and federal officials said. As of Saturday, Blanco still had not declared a state of emergency, the senior Bush official said.

"The federal government stands ready to work with state and local officials to secure New Orleans and the state of Louisiana," White House spokesman Dan Bartlett said. "The president will not let any form of bureaucracy get in the way of protecting the citizens of Louisiana."

Blanco made two moves Saturday that protected her independence from the federal government: She created a philanthropic fund for the state's victims and hired James Lee Witt, Federal Emergency Management Agency director in the Clinton administration, to advise her on the relief effort.


Click the link for the full article.

[dissention]

Go to cnn.com for video of Sean Penn and Douglas Brinkley's take on what they saw:

I agree with them in the sense that if you have a shallow bottom boat and are willing and know what the hell you are doing go and volunteer.

Having said that, many have done just that and the autorities in the area like the Coast Guard are going a great job and are to be commended. There are just not enough of them and people are dying as a result.

Poor Sean Penn, the man means well and he's one helluva man, but he didn't plug his boat before he went on his rescue mission. :laugh:

[gldstwmn]

Goldie - is this what you were talking about? - from www.wdsu.com

Nearly 70 Percent of Gulf Oil Production Still Shut In

POSTED: 2:01 pm CDT September 5, 2005
UPDATED: 2:15 pm CDT September 5, 2005

BATON ROUGE, La. -- Nearly 70 percent of the Gulf of Mexico's normal daily oil production is still blocked from market Monday because of offshore platform evacuations forced by Hurricane Katrina.

The United States Minerals Management Service said that 228 of the 819 staffed production platforms in the Gulf are shut down, delaying production of one million barrels of oil, or 69.6 percent of the region's normal daily production of 1.5 million barrels.

On August 30, the day after Katrina hit, 95 percent of the Gulf's normal daily production was shut down. Since Katrina first threatened Gulf platforms, 12 million barrels of oil and 64.1 billion cubic feet of natural gas have been delayed from reaching market.

Katrina marks the fourth time that Gulf production has been interrupted since the hurricane season began.

No, I specifically heard missing. Appears to be just another rumour at this point.

[dissention]

Rumour has it and I do underscore rumour, that President Bush in a private meeting with Governor Blanco tried to get her to sign a document taking some of the responsiblity off of FEMA, Homeland Security and himself. Reportedly, she refused to sign. As soon as I have more concrete information on this, you can bet your bippy I will post it. :lol:

They've been supposedly trying to get her to sign such a document for days. They also wanted to her sign a document that would give total control to the federal government and allow them to declare marshal law, which she refused to sign.

[strandinthewind]

They've been supposedly trying to get her to sign such a document for days. They also wanted to her sign a document that would give total control to the federal government and allow them to declare marshal law, which she refused to sign.

It also gives them control over the oil in a roundabout way. Isn't it convenient of them always to wind up in control of oil. Think about it.

[strandinthewind]

. . .

"The federal government stands ready to work with state and local officials to secure New Orleans and the state of Louisiana," White House spokesman Dan Bartlett said. "The president will not let any form of bureaucracy get in the way of protecting the citizens of Louisiana. . . ."

Then why bother to get her to sign the document?

[strandinthewind]

Poor Sean Penn, the man means well and he's one helluva man, but he didn't plug his boat before he went on his rescue mission. :laugh:

Bless his giving heart :laugh:

that is why I mentioned that the people should volunteer only if they know a little bit about what the hell they are doing :nod:

[amber]

Then why bother to get her to sign the document?
You know the White House loves itself some Martial Law and total control...Maybe I'm paranoid, but I can only infer nefarious reasons for the gov't to want that signed.

[dissention]

Bless his giving heart :laugh:

that is why I mentioned that the people should volunteer only if they know a little bit about what the hell they are doing :nod:

Macy Gray flew herself from LA to Houston to volunteer at the Astrodome. I thought that was lovely.

[strandinthewind]

You know the White House loves itself some Martial Law and total control...Maybe I'm paranoid, but I can only infer nefarious reasons for the gov't to want that signed.

I remember hearing FEMA or some Fed. declared martial law. I specifically remember hearing that because they mentioned it was the first time since Pearl Harbor. But, maybe I am wrong as a whole bunch of stuff has been misreported in recent days.

[dissention]

You know the White House loves itself some Martial Law and total control...Maybe I'm paranoid, but I can only infer nefarious reasons for the gov't to want that signed.

Besides for oil reasons, I think they also wanted her to sign so that they could save face and protect their own asses. That way they could wave that document in front of the American public and say "This is why we weren't there earlier, she only just gave us control and now look at how lovely we are for getting these people out." Bastards.

[strandinthewind]

Besides for oil reasons, I think they also wanted her to sign so that they could save face and protect their own asses. That way they could wave that document in front of the American public and say "This is why we weren't there earlier, she only just gave us control and now look at how lovely we are for getting these people out." Bastards.

and she could wave the ones I posted before and can be found in those links I posted earlier. Plus, FEMA has been saying they were in charge and at the direction of the Pres. since like Tuesday and maybe before. So, good luck with this latest effort Rove.

[dissention]

and she could wave the ones I posted before and can be found in those links I posted earlier. Plus, FEMA has been saying they were in charge and at the direction of the Pres. since like Tuesday and maybe before. So, good luck with this latest effort Rove.

Well, if the polls are any indication, Rove has a shot at succeeding with his latest dastardly maneuver.

[amber]

Besides for oil reasons, I think they also wanted her to sign so that they could save face and protect their own asses. That way they could wave that document in front of the American public and say "This is why we weren't there earlier, she only just gave us control and now look at how lovely we are for getting these people out." Bastards.
Oh, good, I'm not paranoid. I thought of additional reasons as well. None of them good. :shocked:
Good for her -

[strandinthewind]

Oh, good, I'm not paranoid. I thought of additional reasons as well. None of them good. :shocked:
Good for her -

Do not let her meek appearance fool you. Her political career suggests she is one savy woman.

[amber]

I remember hearing FEMA or some Fed. declared martial law. I specifically remember hearing that because they mentioned it was the first time since Pearl Harbor. But, maybe I am wrong as a whole bunch of stuff has been misreported in recent days.
Right - I thought the governor was involved with that, too, though. We'll know in awhile....

[amber]

Do not let her meek appearance fool you. Her political career suggests she is one savy woman.
I can tell. And you'd have to be to sift through the mass of corruption that is LA, and everywhere else and go that far... :nod:

[strandinthewind]

Right - I thought the governor was involved with that, too, though. We'll know in awhile....


I think once the Pres. declares it a Fed. Disaster Area - that shifts the control to FEMA, who Blanco specifically requested help from on Aug. 28 in that letter I posted a link to. Moreover, could you imagine W making the argument, "well, Gov. Blanco did not specifically ask us to be there after that - so we thought we'd wait and see" :eek:

[dissention]

Has there been anything said about Oily Dick at all? Has he bought the farm?

[strandinthewind]

I can tell. And you'd have to be to sift through the mass of corruption that is LA, and everywhere else and go that far... :nod:

LOL - suffice it to say I think LA politics are no more corrupt than just about any other state's politics. They are just more open about it :laugh:

[dissention]

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/article309222.ece

Some people seized on the chaos caused by Hurricane Katrina to add to it by looting abandoned homes and stores while law enforcement agencies were busy trying to help those struck by the storm.

Reports from several devastated communities said police had already arrested people for looting and 1,600 members of the Mississippi National Guard were being deployed, in part, to deter thieves. CNN showed gangs of looters in New Orleans trying to break into buildings.

A local television channel said police with automatic weapons were called to a grocery store after looters went on the rampage, pulling apart a cash dispenser and taking groceries. The store was ransacked.

Haley Barbour, the Governor of Mississippi, said: "I have instructed the Highway Patrol and the National Guard to treat looters ruthlessly. Looting will not be tolerated and rules of engagement will be as aggressive as the law allows."

That's just plain wrong.

[amber]

LOL - suffice it to say I think LA politics are no more corrupt than just about any other state's politics. They are just more open about it :laugh:
Weren't you the one that posted the article about more gov't endightments (sp) and police corruption (and worse - assault, rape, theft,) arrests and convictions second only to - actually, I can't remember if it was second to anyone...
Yes, they are much more open about it. :shocked: :laugh:

[gldstwmn]

Then why bother to get her to sign the document?

Indeed. :lol:

[gldstwmn]

Has there been anything said about Oily Dick at all? Has he bought the farm?

He showed up on the same day that Rehnquist's death was announced.

[stargazer99]

Ah. Perhaps we should compile a list of things one is not allowed to do within a certain number of days after a disaster, which also needs to be determined. I am sure Josh can help us with this.

I'm slowly making my way through this thread, so I apologize if I'm beating a dead horse here...

When it comes to a high-ranking government official, I think the answer is that perhaps you should postpone your vacation until after such a catastrophic disaster has been dealt with, rather than spending $1,000's on shoes and attending broadway plays while tens of thousands are stranded, wondering if they will die before being rescued. Perhaps her time would be better served actually doing something to help those people. Or maybe that sounds too much like doing her job. At the very least, this doesn't exactly give an impression of someone who cares about the people who were enduring this tragedy. Of course, she's not alone. It took the president 2 days to finally decide maybe it would be best to cut his 5-week vacation short by a full 2 days. (Oh yeah... I forgot, he can supposedly handle crises from anywhere. I guess 4 days is their idea of effectively handling a crisis.)

Perhaps these are some of the reasons why so many Americans right now view this administration as uncaring. I mean, what does it say when the president can cut his vacation short to keep alive a brain-dead woman against her husband's wishes, but he can't be bothered for 2 whole days to cut his vacation short to help those whose lives could have actually been saved? Maybe it's things like this that have so many people outraged. Yeah, you can say how we should be focusing on the fact that people have finally been rescued out of there. Wow, I'm impressed that those in charge finally got around to doing what should have been done days ago! Sorry if that ihnitial lack of response is a little hard to overlook. And it seems like the outrage is what finally got them to get off their a**es and got some help to those people. I'd hate to think how long it might have taken if there weren't people out there screaming in outrage.

- Mary

[strandinthewind]

Hmmmmmmm - these are unstaged - wonder is W will get as great a reception - somehow I doubt it and I doubt he will be going here.

Times-Picayune


Monday, September 05, 2005

Celebrities bring some cheer to Houston
Monday, 5:55 p.m.

By Tara Young
Staff writer

HOUSTON—A star-struck Phyllicia Winchester stood behind the barricades with her family and watched Oprah Winfrey and the talk show host’s entourage leave the Reliant Astrodome Monday afternoon.

A few minutes before, the 16-year-old spied Jada Pinkett Smith. The Rev. Jesse Jackson had just left the building. And at one point Monday, she was close enough to touch U.S. Sen. Hilary Rodham Clinton, D-New York, who was in town visiting storm survivors with her husband, former President Bill Clinton.

She hadn’t seen Macy Gray but heard the singer was on the grounds volunteering, and Dr. Phil held an impromptu talk show at the dome Sunday, she said.

The visits have been a welcome diversion for Winchester, a high school junior, who is afraid of what she’ll find upon returning to her home in Harvey this week to survey storm damage with her family.

On Monday the guests wouldn’t stop coming as a virtual who’s who of political, social and pop culture idols flooded the Reliant Park Complex, which houses the Astrodome, the Reliant Center and the Reliant Arena, where more than 20,000 New Orleans area residents are now being sheltered.

The day started with a security sweep and a bomb-sniffing dog at the Reliant Center, where Clinton and another former president, George Bush, appeared to announce the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund to assist hurricane victims. The two compared the fund to the tsunami relief effort they spearheaded earlier this year.

Their entourage included Hilary Clinton, Barbara Bush, U.S. Sen. Barak Obama, D-Illinois, and last but not least, former New Orleans Mayor Marc Morial, president of the National Urban League.

It was sensory overload for Karen Wilson of Treme Monday morning when Morial entered the cavernous hall where she and a couple thousand more residents were staying. She clung to Morial like a long lost friend.

When President Clinton entered the room, Wilson said she was moved to tears.

“They hugged me! Both of them,” said Wilson, smiling. “I was just amazed. It made me feel happy. It made me feel good.”

For some, like Wilson, a hug, or a simple touch was all they needed. Others, like Linda Jeffers, a 7th Ward resident, forced visiting celebrities and politicians to listen to stories about missing relatives, slow emergency response time after the storm and their fears of never being able to return home.

Jeffers, who is known in the dome by the straw hat she wears, made it a point Monday to get Jackson’s attention as he stepped on the ground floor with state Sen. Cleo Fields, D-Baton Rouge.

Before touring the facility, Jackson and Fields said they were concerned about Louisiana residents being shipped away to states outside of the South. The two spoke about establishing “tent cities,” opening up cabins and lands at Louisiana State Parks for evacuees and, lastly, creating temporary residential areas at closed military installations, like England Air Force Base in Alexandria.

Jeffers, who heard relocation offers to Michigan, Minnesota, Kansas and West Virginia Monday, said she wanted to make sure that Jackson would help fight to bring Louisiana residents back home.

“They are sending us to places that we know not of,” said Jeffers, who cornered Fields until he provided her with his contact information. “Who do we know in Kansas?”

Jackson, however, was all but forgotten when Oprah Winfrey arrived at the dome.

By far, Winfrey received the warmest reception of the day by evacuees who were kept at bay by Houston Police officers who escorted her around the dome. But security did not keep Winfrey from reaching out and touching several residents during her visit.

“She said my daughter was the prettiest storm survivor there is,” said Karen Matthews, hugging her little girl, Kaytrell.

Matthews said Winfrey also asked about Kaytrell’s father, who hasn’t been seen since the storm.

Matthews said seeing people like Winfrey gives her hope. “It makes me feel overjoyed to know that people care,” she said.

Winchester, who still couldn’t believe she met Jada Pinkett Smith Monday at the Astrodome, agreed.

“She didn’t come down here with her nose up in the air,” Winchester said of her favorite actress who is married to actor Wil Smith. “She was hugging and touching. She was signing autographs. It was breathtaking.”

www.nola.com

[irishgrl]

what does it say when the president can cut his vacation short to keep alive a brain-dead woman against her husband's wishes, but he can't be bothered for 2 whole days to cut his vacation short to help those whose lives could have actually been saved?

excellent point:nod:
I personally think that Monkey Boy has NO CLUE how to handle a disaster. Why else would he get his dad and Clinton on board? Its just more of his "to heck with the little guy" Standard Operating Procedure.

[GypsySorcerer]

I'm slowly making my way through this thread, so I apologize if I'm beating a dead horse here...

When it comes to a high-ranking government official, I think the answer is that perhaps you should postpone your vacation until after such a catastrophic disaster has been dealt with, rather than spending $1,000's on shoes and attending broadway plays while tens of thousands are stranded, wondering if they will die before being rescued. Perhaps her time would be better served actually doing something to help those people. Or maybe that sounds too much like doing her job. At the very least, this doesn't exactly give an impression of someone who cares about the people who were enduring this tragedy. Of course, she's not alone. It took the president 2 days to finally decide maybe it would be best to cut his 5-week vacation short by a full 2 days. (Oh yeah... I forgot, he can supposedly handle crises from anywhere. I guess 4 days is their idea of effectively handling a crisis.)

Perhaps these are some of the reasons why so many Americans right now view this administration as uncaring. I mean, what does it say when the president can cut his vacation short to keep alive a brain-dead woman against her husband's wishes, but he can't be bothered for 2 whole days to cut his vacation short to help those whose lives could have actually been saved? Maybe it's things like this that have so many people outraged. Yeah, you can say how we should be focusing on the fact that people have finally been rescued out of there. Wow, I'm impressed that those in charge finally got around to doing what should have been done days ago! Sorry if that ihnitial lack of response is a little hard to overlook. And it seems like the outrage is what finally got them to get off their a**es and got some help to those people. I'd hate to think how long it might have taken if there weren't people out there screaming in outrage.

- Mary

Excellent post. Well said.

[michelle2677]

this is not really a critical issue, and may have already been brought up, but they discussed this on CNN today

why did Bush just now (yesterday) have the flags flown at half-staff for the death of Rehnquist, but not last week after this tragedy???

like I said..not really a critical issue...just wondering :shrug:

[strandinthewind]

You're completely right. At the moment it is such a relief to hear all the reports of the day and at this point that is what matters but people have every right to be outraged. I think I said earlier too that it's the huge public (media) outrage that *sped* this whole thing up. To condescend to those who have every right to be furious and if anything only added in some tiny way to the cause that sped this up, it's far too easy and unacceptable.

It is also very, very unfair to the hundreds of first reponders who have been working 24/7 on this. They are exhausted and have done a GREAT job pulling people off of their roofs, etc. I think W and crewe will try to confuse that great job, which is to their creidt, with the horrendous follow through by W and his cronies, which was the belated evacuation of these people once the terrific first responders deposited them at the Convention Center, where tens of thousands waited for up to five days without food, water, medical supplies, etc. (many of them dying) - while FEMA turned away instant such help and instead took five or so days to organize on its own. The latter is where the tragedy of last week was and I hope someone, preferably W, is held accountable.

[strandinthewind]

Reopening Gulf Refineries a Slow Process

Monday, September 05, 2005



JACKSON, Miss. — As half of the Gulf Coast refineries damaged by Hurricane Katrina begin to ramp up production this week, industry experts have this message: be patient.

"What you've got are a whole series of requirements and processes and that takes days, if not weeks," said John Felmy, chief economist for the American Petroleum Institute.

The going is also slow for the restoration of offshore oil and gas production. Almost 70 percent of normal oil production and half of the natural gas output remains shut down, according to the U.S. Minerals Management Service (search), which said activity is slowly recovering.

Eight major refineries that produce gasoline, diesel and jet fuel and heating oil were knocked out of commission and the output at two others was cut by last week's killer hurricane and the flooding that followed. That cut overall U.S. refining capacity by more than 10 percent and contributed to a surge in retail gasoline prices and spot shortages around the country.

Motiva Enterprises LLC (search), Marathon Oil Corp. (search) and Valero Energy Corp. (search) said that they hope to restart, and in some cases make fully operational, four of those refineries this week.

Motiva, a joint venture between Royal Dutch Shell PLC and Saudi Refining Inc., said its Convent, La., refinery restarted on Sunday and its refinery in Norco, La., is expected to get started by mid-week. Both are located west of New Orleans.

Marathon said over the weekend that its Garyville, La., refinery west of New Orleans should be fully operational early this week. Valero said it's still hoping to restart this week its St. Charles refinery about 15 miles from New Orleans.

When running at 100 percent capacity, these four represent slightly more than 1 million barrels of refined oil product a day.

In contrast, Chevron Corp.'s (search) 325,000 barrel-a-day refinery in Pascagoula, Miss., and ConocoPhillips' (search) 247,000 barrel-a-day facility in Belle Chasse, La., south of New Orleans have suffered major damage and are unlikely to resume production for some time, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

The ConocoPhillips facility, along with Exxon Mobil Corp.'s (search) Chalmette, La., refinery and Murphy Oil Corp.'s (search) facility in Meraux, La., also have no power. They represent nearly 690,000 barrels a day of refined oil products.

But industry experts say that even after power is restored, restarting an oil refinery is a tricky and time-consuming process. Crews must be meticulous with repeated inspections, checking and rechecking for leaks. They must also ensure that all saltwater has been cleared or risk igniting a fire.

"What you have is an important set of steps in terms of these are high-temperature, high-pressure facilities," Felmy said. "And that's if you have not had any damage, and we know from preliminary reports that's not the case."

There are also work force issues. With communication lines either down or overloaded, many companies have not been able to locate displaced employees.

Last week Shell Oil and Valero spoke out about efforts to locate and assist employees. In some cases, it may require providing shelter near the refineries.

Valero estimated that almost 1,000 of its employees may have been affected by the storm, including 550 at its St. Charles refinery, scheduled to restart by week's end.

On Monday afternoon, the company said it had heard from all but nine of its employees from the St. Charles work force. The company has set up a large air-conditioned tent equipped with a catering operation, according to Valero spokeswoman Mary Rose Brown.

Additionally, the company has also dispatched 50 mobile homes to St. Charles for workers who may need temporary housing.

"It appears a lot of our employees probably lost their homes," Valero Chief Executive Bill Greehey told employees last week at the company's San Antonio, Texas, headquarters. "Rest assured, we are going to take care of our employees. Whatever financial help they need, they will be taken care of by Valero."

Cal Hodges, an Houston-based energy consultant, said companies may need to recruit retired workers for stopgap help. "We need to get the workers back, but we may need to be creative, too, in getting people to the refineries," Hodges said. "That's one way to do it."

Refineries also will receive a boost from the Department of Energy, which agreed to lend oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. Exxon Mobil, Valero, Placid Refining Co. LLC, BP PLC, Marathon and Total SA will collectively receive 12.6 millions barrels of oil.

More is available. Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman (search) offered 30 million to be provided beginning Tuesday. The reserve supply, however, must be replenished by the companies once conditions return to normal.

The Gulf of Mexico normally produces 1.5 million barrels of crude oil a day, or about a quarter of the United States' domestic output, according to the U.S. Mineral Management Service.

The agency on Monday afternoon reported that about 70 percent of oil production remains shut in.

Other developments critical to the Gulf's recovery include:

— The Louisiana Offshore Oil Port, the nation's largest oil import terminal, has been unloading tankers, operating at about 75 percent capacity. It may hit full capacity this week.

— Colonial Pipeline Co., which transports refined products from Houston to as far away as the Northeast, is operating at 76 percent capacity, up 3 percent from its weekend report.

— Kinder Morgan Energy Partners' Plantation Pipe Line Co., which transports fuel from refineries to Eastern markets, has been capable of full capacity operations once it receives fuel from downed refineries.

— Shell Pipeline Co.'s Capline pipeline system, which transport crude oil into the Midwest, is operating at approximately 40,000 barrels per hour; the normal rate is 45,000 barrels per hour.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,168517,00.html

[strandinthewind]

Hmmmm - well if not the editorial page of the NY TImes, what about the editorial page of every other paper in the country, Fox News, and Joe Scarborough? :eek:
______________________________________________________________

Clinton: Government 'failed' people

HOUSTON, Texas (CNN) -- Former President Bill Clinton on Monday said the government "failed" the thousands of people who lived in coastal communities devastated by Hurricane Katrina, and said a federal investigation was warranted in due time.

"Our government failed those people in the beginning, and I take it now there is no dispute about it," Clinton told CNN. "One hundred percent of the people recognize that -- that it was a failure." (See interview -- 2:32 )

He and former President George H. W. Bush have launched the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund to help raise money for those left homeless by the storm. (Full story)

Clinton is just the latest in a long line of critics who have blasted the federal government for not moving fast enough to help people in the immediate aftermath of Katrina, which slammed into the Gulf Coast one week ago as a Category 4 hurricane.

He said that the utmost priority was saving people now -- and evaluating the mistakes in the months to come.

"We've got the departments on the ground, we've got the military on the ground, we've got a chance to do it right now, and we should do it right," he said. "And then in an appropriate time we should analyze what went wrong and why and what changes should be made."

As with the 9/11 commission charged with looking at the events leading up to and after the September 11, 2001 attacks, Clinton suggested a bipartisan Katrina commission be formed. It would investigate what went wrong and determine "what is the best structure and what are the best personnel decisions" to make in emergency management, he said.

The elder Bush echoed Clinton's sentiment, telling CNN's Larry King that he is "not satisfied" with the handling of the hurricane's aftermath.

Nonetheless, he defended his son's performance.

"What can he do? He can just go out and do what he's doing today, showing that the federal government's involved, has been involved, will continue to be involved ... He cannot listen to every critic from the editorial page of The New York Times," the elder Bush said.

Find this article at:
http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/09/05/clinton.katrina/index.html

[gldstwmn]

He cannot listen to every critic from the editorial page of The New York Times," the elder Bush said.



He doesn't seem to listen to anyone, unfortunately.

[strandinthewind]

He doesn't seem to listen to anyone, unfortunately.

unless its Rove telling him the answers to the "tough quesions" (read those requiring more than a yes or no for an answer) through his inner ear device.

[gldstwmn]

BTW, I was wondering if Haley Barbour or Jeb Bush were asked to sign any papers before they could get help for their states?

[strandinthewind]

BTW, I was wondering if Haley Barbour or Jeb Bush were asked to sign any papers before they could get help for their states?


SNAP AND ZIIIIINGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG

but, if so, let's see them and how they are worded. Again, Gov. Blanco did the required paperwork and FEMA acknowledged such by coming into action and taking over with the help of the state. If they were never requested, why were they there and why did they have drills over the last few decades to practice this scenario :shrug:

[Nixxxed]

Did Babs really say tonight that, in the end, Katrina was a good thing for the New Orleans poor? It's posted on my fave blog, but I can't get the link to work...

[macfanken]

According to that old hag, Bar Bush, things are working out "very well" for the refugees!


Barbara Bush: Things Working Out "Very Well" for Poor Evacuees from New Orleans
By E&P Staff

Published: September 05, 2005 7:25 PM ET updated 8:00 PM

NEW YORK Accompanying her husband, former President George H.W.Bush, on a tour of hurricane relief centers in Houston, Barbara Bush said today, referring to the poor who had lost everything back home and evacuated, "This is working very well for them."

The former First Lady's remarks were aired this evening on National Public Radio's "Marketplace" program.

She was part of a group in Houston today at the Astrodome that included her husband and former President Bill Clinton, who were chosen by her son, the current president, to head fundraising efforts for the recovery. Sen. Hilary Clinton and Sen. Barack Obama were also present.

In a segment at the top of the show on the surge of evacuees to the Texas city, Barbara Bush said: "Almost everyone I’ve talked to says we're going to move to Houston."

Then she added: "What I’m hearing is they all want to stay in Texas. Everyone is so overwhelmed by the hospitality.

"And so many of the people in the arena here, you know, were underprivileged anyway, so this--this (she chuckles slightly) is working very well for them."

[heyjupiter678]

Did Babs really say tonight that, in the end, Katrina was a good thing for the New Orleans poor? It's posted on my fave blog, but I can't get the link to work... Yep. Her exact quote:

"And so many of the people in the arena here, you know, were underprivileged anyway, so this (she chuckles slightly)--this is working very well for them."

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001054719

[strandinthewind]

Did Babs really say tonight that, in the end, Katrina was a good thing for the New Orleans poor? It's posted on my fave blog, but I can't get the link to work...

I am watching it now and I have not heard her say that.

Babs and former Pres. Bush are doing a good job, but they are spinning it to concentrate on everything but the five day delay for the evacuation, which they acknowledge was unacceptable.

[GypsySorcerer]

"And so many of the people in the arena here, you know, were underprivileged anyway, so this--this (she chuckles slightly) is working very well for them."
:eek: :mad:

[GateandGarden]

I am watching it now and I have not heard her say that.Christ, I hope she didn't actually say that.

[Nixxxed]

According to that old hag, Bar Bush, things are working out "very well" for the refugees!


Barbara Bush: Things Working Out "Very Well" for Poor Evacuees from New Orleans
By E&P Staff

Published: September 05, 2005 7:25 PM ET updated 8:00 PM

NEW YORK Accompanying her husband, former President George H.W.Bush, on a tour of hurricane relief centers in Houston, Barbara Bush said today, referring to the poor who had lost everything back home and evacuated, "This is working very well for them."

The former First Lady's remarks were aired this evening on National Public Radio's "Marketplace" program.

She was part of a group in Houston today at the Astrodome that included her husband and former President Bill Clinton, who were chosen by her son, the current president, to head fundraising efforts for the recovery. Sen. Hilary Clinton and Sen. Barack Obama were also present.

In a segment at the top of the show on the surge of evacuees to the Texas city, Barbara Bush said: "Almost everyone I’ve talked to says we're going to move to Houston."

Then she added: "What I’m hearing is they all want to stay in Texas. Everyone is so overwhelmed by the hospitality.

"And so many of the people in the arena here, you know, were underprivileged anyway, so this--this (she chuckles slightly) is working very well for them."
Oh

My

God

(thanks Mac & Mikki!)

[macfanken]

Christ, I hope she didn't actually say that.


Remember, this is the woman who asked why she should waste her beautiful mind worrying about something like dead soldiers in Iraq. Now we know where Dubya gets his compassion. :laugh:

[dissention]

Yep. Her exact quote:

"And so many of the people in the arena here, you know, were underprivileged anyway, so this (she chuckles slightly)--this is working very well for them."

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001054719

:shocked:

I'm not entirely surprised, considering she said this at the start of the Iraq war:

"Why should we hear about body bags and deaths? It's not relevant. So why should I waste my beautiful mind on something like that?"

[heyjupiter678]

Now we know where Dubya gets his compassion. :laugh: They're both sociopaths.

[BombaySapphire3]

I actually think the old bat Babs Bush looks more Presidential than her husband or son .She is looking more and more like George Washington.

[dissention]

I usually check the Blondie site every once in awhile to read Chris Stein's blog entries and I found this particular observation on the whole looting brouhaha (http://blondie.net/chris_stein_20050901.shtml) to be especially noteworthy:

also i am continually astonished at well meaning individuals who express their shock and dismay at rioting and looting; Tiger Woods saying he "doesnt understand the concept..." and why "they are not all pulling together..." was one of several i just saw... we have people in the supposed richest most powerful nation in the world who are living in the ****tiest of meager conditions, maybe not full on third world poverty level but close, daily they are bombarded by images of what they are missing: the full-on greed media spectacle, and then when what little they have is pulled out from under them and they explode in frustration people act surpised, yes its a big ****ing mystery

And this screencap he managed to get was priceless:

http://blondie.net/images/chris_stein/cs_121-2121_IMG_fox_news.jpg
"good 'ol fox new tells you how to help..."

[Nixxxed]

Did anyone watch Countdown tonight? I want to have Keith Olbermann's babies.


http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2005/9/5/205428/2030

On-Air Editorial by Keith Olbermann:

SECAUCUS — Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff said it all, starting his news briefing Saturday afternoon: "Louisiana is a city that is largely underwater..."
Well there's your problem right there.

If ever a slip-of-the-tongue defined a government's response to a crisis, this was it.

The seeming definition of our time and our leaders had been their insistence on slashing federal budgets for projects that might’ve saved New Orleans. The seeming characterization of our government that it was on vacation when the city was lost, and could barely tear itself away from commemorating V.J. Day and watching Monty Python's Flying Circus, to at least pretend to get back to work. The seeming identification of these hapless bureaucrats: their pathetic use of the future tense in terms of relief they could’ve brought last Monday and Tuesday — like the President, whose statements have looked like they’re being transmitted to us by some kind of four-day tape-delay.

But no. The incompetence and the ludicrous prioritization will forever be symbolized by one gaffe by of the head of what is ironically called “The Department of Homeland Security”: “Louisiana is a city…”

Politician after politician — Republican and Democrat alike — has paraded before us, unwilling or unable to shut off the "I-Me" switch in their heads, condescendingly telling us about how moved they were or how devastated they were — congenitally incapable of telling the difference between the destruction of a city and the opening of a supermarket.

And as that sorry recital of self-absorption dragged on, I have resisted editorial comment. The focus needed to be on the efforts to save the stranded — even the internet's meager powers were correctly devoted to telling the stories of the twin disasters, natural... and government-made.

But now, at least, it is has stopped getting exponentially worse in Mississippi and Alabama and New Orleans and Louisiana (the state, not the city). And, having given our leaders what we know now is the week or so they need to get their act together, that period of editorial silence I mentioned, should come to an end.

No one is suggesting that mayors or governors in the afflicted areas, nor the federal government, should be able to stop hurricanes. Lord knows, no one is suggesting that we should ever prioritize levee improvement for a below-sea-level city, ahead of $454 million worth of trophy bridges for the politicians of Alaska.

But, nationally, these are leaders who won re-election last year largely by portraying their opponents as incapable of keeping the country safe. These are leaders who regularly pressure the news media in this country to report the reopening of a school or a power station in Iraq, and defies its citizens not to stand up and cheer. Yet they couldn't even keep one school or power station from being devastated by infrastructure collapse in New Orleans — even though the government had heard all the "chatter" from the scientists and city planners and hurricane centers and some group whose purposes the government couldn't quite discern... a group called The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

And most chillingly of all, this is the Law and Order and Terror government. It promised protection — or at least amelioration — against all threats: conventional, radiological, or biological.

It has just proved that it cannot save its citizens from a biological weapon called standing water.

Mr. Bush has now twice insisted that, "we are not satisfied," with the response to the manifold tragedies along the Gulf Coast. I wonder which "we" he thinks he's speaking for on this point. Perhaps it's the administration, although we still don't know where some of them are. Anybody seen the Vice President lately? The man whose message this time last year was, 'I'll Protect You, The Other Guy Will Let You Die'?

I don't know which 'we' Mr. Bush meant.

For many of this country's citizens, the mantra has been — as we were taught in Social Studies it should always be — whether or not I voted for this President — he is still my President. I suspect anybody who had to give him that benefit of the doubt stopped doing so last week. I suspect a lot of his supporters, looking ahead to '08, are wondering how they can distance themselves from the two words which will define his government — our government — "New Orleans."

For him, it is a shame — in all senses of the word. A few changes of pronouns in there, and he might not have looked so much like a 21st Century Marie Antoinette. All that was needed was just a quick "I'm not satisfied with my government's response." Instead of hiding behind phrases like "no one could have forseen," had he only remembered Winston Churchill's quote from the 1930's. "The responsibility," of government, Churchill told the British Parliament "for the public safety is absolute and requires no mandate. It is in fact, the prime object for which governments come into existence."

In forgetting that, the current administration did not merely damage itself — it damaged our confidence in our ability to rely on whoever is in the White House.

As we emphasized to you here all last week, the realities of the region are such that New Orleans is going to be largely uninhabitable for a lot longer than anybody is yet willing to recognize. Lord knows when the last body will be found, or the last artifact of the levee break, dug up. Could be next March. Could be 2100. By then, in the muck and toxic mire of New Orleans, they may even find our government's credibility.

Somewhere, in the City of Louisiana.

[Nixxxed]

I knew there was a reason I've always liked Chris Stein.

And that screencap - :lol::lol::lol:

[gldstwmn]

"And so many of the people in the arena here, you know, were underprivileged anyway, so this--this (she chuckles slightly) is working very well for them."

She looks like she had a facelift. That's the only nice thing I can say about her. :o

[gldstwmn]

Remember, this is the woman who asked why she should waste her beautiful mind worrying about something like dead soldiers in Iraq. Now we know where Dubya gets his compassion. :laugh:

He is, from all accounts, his mother's son. :nod:

[gldstwmn]

I actually think the old bat Babs Bush looks more Presidential than her husband or son .She is looking more and more like George Washington.

See, I think she's had work done. She doesn't have the deep wrinkles that she used to. :shrug:

[dissention]

He is, from all accounts, his mother's son. :nod:

I guess they are the definitive proof that assholism is hereditary.

[Nixxxed]

He is, from all accounts, his mother's son. :nod:
It's now being reported that Editor & Publisher actually "softened" Babs' quote:

"What I'm hearing which is sort of scary is that they all want to stay in Texas. Everybody is so overhwlemed by the hospitality. And so many of the people in the arena here, you know, were underprivileged anyway so this (chuckle)--this is working very well for them."

MP3 Link: http://mywebpages.comcast.net/duncanblack/bmind.mp3

I'm saving it to my hard drive - if the link's bandwidth bombs, PM me & I'll e-mail it to anyone who wants it. (It's only 500k...)

[BombaySapphire3]

originally posted by Gldstwmn See, I think she's had work done. She doesn't have the deep wrinkles that she used to. yeah but I still thinks she looks like a man.AColonial era Man.

[gldstwmn]

Has there been anything said about Oily Dick at all? Has he bought the farm?
Funny you should mention that. It appears he bought something. But it's not a farm, it's an estate:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/04/AR2005090401391.html

Where the Rumsfelds Retreat, The Cheneys Soon Could Follow

By Dan Morse
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, September 5, 2005; Page B01

ST. MICHAELS, Md. -- They've grown used to having a secretary of defense in their midst -- the way his weekend estate is tucked behind a bend in the road, how he takes casual walks tailed by dark SUVs. Now, residents of this Eastern Shore retreat are preparing for someone even bigger to buy a house down the road: the vice president.

"I'd heard it was going to close either Tuesday or Wednesday of this week," Carroll Hurley, a funeral home owner, said Saturday, seated with his breakfast gang at the Carpenter Street saloon and restaurant.

Whether it's true -- that Dick and Lynne Cheney are buying an estate here -- could not be confirmed. Those closest to the deal -- Cheney's office, the purported sellers, the listing agent -- aren't talking. Hurley admits he's not certain: "All I have is hearsay. It wouldn't stand up in court."

Still, a nosy visit here leaves a person with one of two possibilities: Either the Cheneys are coming or a lot of people have bad information. Police Chief Ed Henry -- who breakfasted along with Hurley -- even referred to the lot in question as "Cheney's house."

The house, listed at $2.9 million, backs up in spectacular fashion to an inlet of the Chesapeake Bay. "Right out by [Defense Secretary Donald H.] Rumsfeld's," said Charles Mangold Sr., whose Benson & Mangold agency brokers high-end estates in the area. "It's under contract, but he hasn't settled yet."

(snip)
.

Rumsfeld bought a weekend house in St. Michaels two years ago, reportedly for about $1.5 million. He gets generally good reviews here for his desire to blend in -- even if that means taking a walk with his wife, Joyce, down a rural stretch of road tailed by SUVs. Residents say he doesn't like to pose for pictures alone, preferring to ask people to stand next to him and have a brief chat.

(snip)

Cheney seemingly has spent far less time here. He, his wife and the Rumsfelds did dine on April 16 at 208 Talbot, a high-end restaurant in central St. Michaels.

"Cheney had the lamb," said Deborah Miller, seated behind the hostess stand.

She knew something was up that day when security agents showed up in the afternoon to scout out the place. An attache of Cheney's then arrived, saying he'd prefer a table among the regular diners -- rather than in a back room. No one bothered their table, and the foursome couldn't have been more pleasant, Miller recalled. But she didn't know whether Cheney was buying a place.

And the owner of the house in question declined to comment, saying politely from the end of its long driveway that he didn't want to talk about anything.

The estate goes back to 1930 and was said to be built by one of Thomas Edison's daughters, according to Robert Snyder, the Coldwell Banker agent who is listing the property.

The nine-acre lot includes extensive gardens, ornamental pools and spectacular views of the water behind it. Deer and osprey can be seen.

Snyder, who is vice president of the St. Michaels town commission, declined to say when any deal might close and whether the Cheneys were going to move in. "It truly is a magnificent piece of property," he added.

[SuzeQuze]

I remember hearing FEMA or some Fed. declared martial law. I specifically remember hearing that because they mentioned it was the first time since Pearl Harbor. But, maybe I am wrong as a whole bunch of stuff has been misreported in recent days.

Martial law was declared by the mayor on Tuesday when the city flooded and the looting began. To say otherwise is a lie.

Also, Randi Rhodes discussed a 4 page letter that governor Blanco sent to FEMA which states, in plain English, EXACTLY what will be needed. This was an itemized list, four pages long. To say they did not get aid because they did not ask for it is also a lie. She sent this 2 days before the hurricane hit.:shocked: You can probably see the details of this at http://www.therandirhodesshow.com

[SuzeQuze]

Yep. Her exact quote:

"And so many of the people in the arena here, you know, were underprivileged anyway, so this (she chuckles slightly)--this is working very well for them."

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001054719

What disturbs me most about this is the inappropriate chuckle. :shudders:

[DrummerDeanna]

yeah but I still thinks she looks like a man.AColonial era Man.


:nod: :laugh: I've long thought that Babs Bush was becoming more and more mannish as the days pass!

[strandinthewind]

Martial law was declared by the mayor on Tuesday when the city flooded and the looting began. To say otherwise is a lie.

Also, Randi Rhodes discussed a 4 page letter that governor Blanco sent to FEMA which states, in plain English, EXACTLY what will be needed. This was an itemized list, four pages long. To say they did not get aid because they did not ask for it is also a lie. She sent this 2 days before the hurricane hit.:shocked: You can probably see the details of this at http://www.therandirhodesshow.com

I think I posted it in the Katrina thread. Also, any suggestion that FEMA was not in charge is unfounded because FEMA itself repeatedly said it was since Sunday and the Pres. backed that up many times by asssuring Americans that FEMA was handling the matter with his supervision. So, anything said contrary to that is BS. I mean if FEMA was not in charge, then why did FEMA refuse the numerous supplies offered and opt instead for their own belated effort on Friday :shrug:

Regarding Babs Bush - I do not think her comment is so horrible in that I think her intent was good. But, others will disagree. Her is cnn's take on it:

Barbara Bush: Relocation 'working very well' for poor

HOUSTON, Texas (AP) -- Former Presidents Bush and Clinton got smiles, hugs and requests for autographs when they met with refugees from Hurricane Katrina -- but it was Bush's wife who got attention for some of her comments.

Barbara Bush, who accompanied the former presidents on a tour of the Astrodome complex Monday, said the relocation to Houston is "working very well" for some of the poor people forced out of New Orleans.

"What I'm hearing, which is sort of scary, is they all want to stay in Texas. Everyone is so overwhelmed by the hospitality," she said during a radio interview with the American Public Media program "Marketplace." "And so many of the people in the arena here, you know, were underprivileged anyway, so this is working very well for them."

Her comments came as the two former presidents visited with hundreds of the 23,600 hurricane refugees and announced the creation of the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund.

"We're most anxious to roll up our sleeves and get to work," George H.W. Bush said. "It will take all of us working together to accomplish our goal. This job is too big for any one group."

Clinton said he thinks the federal government's response to the tragedy should be examined. But for now, he said, the focus should be on helping the refugees restart their lives.

"There is still a lot of anger. There is still a lot of confusion, but I don't think we should be surprised," Clinton said. "These people lost everything and the experience they had in the Superdome or the convention center was horrible."

The elder Bush said he doesn't like the criticism leveled at his son, President Bush, but added, "As a president it goes with territory."

As the Bushes entered a shelter set up at the Reliant Center with Texas Gov. Rick Perry, Perry and Barbara Bush immediately gravitated toward two children, while former president Bush shook hands with a group of men.

After a brief exchange with one girl, Barbara Bush grabbed her hand and took her to meet her husband. Barbara Bush placed her arm around the girl's back and the child smiled widely as she talked with the former president.

Clinton toured the shelter with his wife, Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York, and Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois.

Obama, picked up a little girl who brought him a small heart she had made in a makeshift daycare center at the shelter.

"What's your name, sweetie? You look so pretty," Obama said to the girl. "You made this heart and you decided to give it to Bill Clinton, didn't you?"

The little girl, named Kearra, shook her head affirmatively.

"Well, I give you my heart," Clinton said, giving the tiny toddler a hug. "You're beautiful. Thank you for the heart."

Find this article at:
http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/09/06/katrina.presidents.ap/index.html
______________________________________________________________

Please also note the apparent warmness of the Clintons as opposed to the Bushs :eek: little Brown Ones indeed :eek:

[GypsySorcerer]

Cut the red tape, Lott says
Criticizes FEMA for holding up 20,000 trailers 'sitting in Atlanta'

Monday, September 5, 2005; Posted: 9:12 p.m. EDT (01:12 GMT)

POPLARVILLE, Mississippi (CNN) -- Sen. Trent Lott berated both the Federal Emergency Management Agency and his own state's emergency management, MEMA, for being mired in red tape at a time of urgent need given the devastation left by Hurricane Katrina.

Lott said he has been trying to get FEMA to send 20,000 trailers "sitting in Atlanta" to the Mississippi coast, and he urged President Bush during a meeting Monday to intervene. He said FEMA has refused to ship the trailers until contracts are secured.

"FEMA and MEMA need to be saying, 'Yes' to Mississippi's needs, not, 'No.," the former majority leader said in a written statement.

"Mississippians are homeless, hungry and hurting."

Similar stories of governmental red tape have been reported elsewhere, including a case of 100 surgeons and paramedics hindered from caring for hurricane victims in rural Mississippi. (Full story)

"This is an emergency situation without peer, like nothing our generation has ever encountered," Lott said. "If suffering people along the Gulf Coast, from Mobile to New Orleans, are going to recover as soon as possible, we'll need an unprecedented public and private effort that can't be hampered by a process geared toward much lesser disasters."

His own home, in Pascagoula, was among the thousands destroyed in the storm. (Full storm)

Bush visited Poplarville, Mississippi during a tour of the region Monday. He told a group of community workers assisting in relief efforts that the region will be rebuilt.

"I understand the damage, I understand the devastation, I understand the destruction, I understand how long it's going to take. And we're with you," Bush said. (Full story on his Gulf Coast visit)

Lott said he appreciated Bush's visit, but stressed to the president the need to cut through the bureaucracy.

Earlier in the day, former President Bill Clinton told CNN the government "failed" the people in the coastal communities in the immediate aftermath of the hurricane. He called for a federal investigation into the handling of the disaster in the weeks ahead. (Watch interview -- 2:32)

In a reprise of their fund-raising efforts during the Asian tsunami, Clinton and former President George H. W. Bush have launched the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund to raise money for the people Katrina left homeless. (Full story)

Although officials have not put a price tag for the damage in Mississippi, it's expected to be in the billions.

http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/09/05/katrina.lott/index.html?section=cnn_latest

______________________________________

I doubt he'd be saying this had Mississippi not been hit.

[DavidMn]

You got me :mad:

[strandinthewind]

Rove is a peice of shiitte - I mean they are all blabbing that this is not the time for politics - yet that is exactly what they are doing here. Slime.

www.nola.com

Orleans Breaking News


Tuesday, September 06, 2005

Bush, Blanco spar over military, visit
Blanco says Army brought attitude, not resources

By Bill Walsh Robert Travis Scott and Jan Moller
Staff writers

BATON ROUGE - Even as teams of engineers worked to patch ruptured levees in New Orleans, a political breach opened between Gov. Kathleen Blanco and President Bush over who is in charge of the post-Hurricane Katrina recovery effort.

One flashpoint came over the weekend, when Blanco said she rebuffed an attempt by the White House to seize control of the mounting military presence in Louisiana, including thousands of state National Guard forces under her authority. Then Bush made an unusual return visit to the state Monday, just days after surveying the damage - a trip that members of Blanco's staff said caught them by surprise and caused a certain level of consternation.

"We had no idea the president was coming," said Blanco's communications director, Robert Mann, adding that the governor was forced to cancel a trip to visit evacuees in Houston so she could meet with Bush.

The high-level tug-of-war came as recriminations mounted over the pace of the response to the devastation, particularly in the New Orleans area, where survivors were still being rescued Monday from floodwaters a week after the storm hit land.

In the face of fierce criticism, the White House launched a public relations counteroffensive over the weekend to deflect blame, some of which bounced to state and local officials. The effort, The New York Times reported, was being orchestrated by Bush's political director, Karl Rove, and communications director, Dan Bartlett.

In an interview Monday, Bartlett said there was no coordinated strategy to shift blame to Louisiana officials.

"Quite the contrary," he said. "There was a spirit of cooperation in the room today" when Bush and Blanco met.

In the game of political maneuvering for control between Blanco, a Democrat, and Bush, a Republican, the biggest chess pieces are the 13,268 National Guard troops from 29 states under the governor's command - with another 7,845 on the way - and the 7,000 active-duty troops who began arriving Monday under command of the regular Army and the president.

On Monday, two parallel command structures were in place. Major Gen. Bennett Landreneau, head of the Louisiana National Guard, had control of all of the guard forces massed in the state. U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Russel Honore was in charge of the active-duty forces, including soldiers from the 82nd Airborne division and the 1st Calvary.

Blanco said that when the plain-spoken, cigar-chomping Honore showed up in New Orleans late last week, she thought that her worries about a lack of federal troops and resource were over. Honore quickly became a media darling and the take-charge face of the federal government in New Orleans, barking out orders to surprised National Guards members who aren't even under his control.

Blanco said she liked Honore's style, but was surprised that he arrived with only a few aides in tow.

"He didn't bring any resources," Blanco said. "I just kind of expected, based on my conversations with the White House, that we could be getting a surge of equipment, and we did not."

Friday night, the White House moved to take charge of all the troops in Louisiana. At home, Blanco received a memorandum of understanding from the White House asking her to cede control of the National Guard. According to her staff, Blanco was asked to sign and return the document right away. Blanco consulted with her legal counsel, Terry Ryder, and then refused the request.

"They wanted to take over my National Guard," Blanco said in an interview. "A governor has to have the final say on what's going to happen."

Bartlett said the request was made for efficiency's sake to streamline the chain of command and improve the efficiency of the recovery. He dismissed suggestions that it was done because Blanco is a Democrat.

"We were in the same discussions with (Republican Mississippi Gov.) Haley Barbour," Bartlett said. "This was not about politics."
In what some saw as a not-so-subtle snub, Blanco over the weekend hired a former Clinton administration disaster response chief, James Lee Witt, as an adviser.

The parallel command structure in Louisiana isn't without precedent. After Hurricane Andrew in 1992, federal troops dispatched to Florida to help in the relief and recovery effort were kept under federal control. The governor, meanwhile, retained authority over the National Guard forces. The only major glitch, according to an official from the Florida National Guard, was when the 82nd Airborne Division from Ft. Bragg, N.C., showed up with weapons. Under federal law, only state forces have policing authority, so the weapons were sent back to the base and the soldiers were given humanitarian and relief duties.

When it comes to domestic security, state forces generally take the lead. At a G-8 summit last year in Georgia, state authorities were given control over federal forces, according to John Goheen, a spokesman for the National Guard.

"The reason is that Guard commanders generally have a better working relationship with local authorities," Goheen said. "Guard forces can also perform law enforcement functions. That mission was seen as a harbinger of the future."

Despite the dust-up between Blanco and Bush over command of the boots on the ground, top military commanders at both the state and federal level said they were satisfied with the separate forces.

Landreneau called the military command "very integrated" and said there was no advantage to putting all troops under his control. Adm. Timothy Keating, commander of active-duty forces in North America, agreed. "From our perspective," he said Monday, "it would not have provided an advantage over the current situation."

Brig. Gen. Mike Fleming of the Florida National Guard, who oversaw rescue and recovery efforts through four hurricanes last year, has been called into Louisiana as an adviser. Fleming said the twin command is workable if adequately coordinated. He said some important personal ties bind the separate state and federal military commands: Honore, known as the Ragin' Cajun, is a Louisiana native and has known Landreneau for years. Honore's son serves in Iraq for the Louisiana National Guard, which is under Landreneau's command.

While the military chiefs may have been in step, the political leaders clearly weren't.

Early Monday morning, Blanco was in Baton Rouge preparing to fly to Houston to meet with thousands of Louisiana refugees when she received news that Bush was on his way. Blanco Chief of Staff Andy Kopplin called the White House and got word from Bush Chief of Staff Andrew Card that the president was planning to return to Louisiana in a few hours to follow up on his Friday visit.

The White House notified the media Sunday about the trip. But Blanco aide Bob Mann said Blanco was assured Sunday by the Federal Emergency Management Agency that Bush was not coming. FEMA spokeswoman Nicol Andrews said agency Director Michael Brown knew about the Bush visit but that many lower-level officials didn't, and that was probably why the Blanco administration wasn't notified.

Bartlett said "there was outreach" to the governor's office, "e-mails sent, messages left."

"We apologize if there was any confusion," he said. A Bush visit to Louisiana at a time when Blanco was out of the state would have been a major embarrassment for the governor. It could also have sent the message that Bush, who has been criticized for not moving quickly enough to help Louisiana, was in charge on the ground.

Blanco abruptly canceled the trip to Houston. Bush downplayed suggestions of a state-federal spat.

During a visit to the Bethany World Church in Baton Rouge, which was doubling a shelter for evacuees, Bush said, "Laura and I have come back down to Louisiana ... to let the good people of this region know there's a lot of work to be done, and we're going to continue working with the local and state people to get it done."

[strandinthewind]

God Destroyed the City
ACT OF GOD DESTROYS NEW ORLEANS
DAYS BEFORE "SOUTHERN DECADENCE"

PHILADELPHIA, PA. September 1 /Covenant News Wire Service/ -- Just days before “Southern Decadence”, an annual homosexual celebration attracting tens of thousands of people to the French Quarters section of New Orleans, an act of God destroys the city.

“Southern Decadence” has a history of filling the French Quarters section of the city with drunken homosexuals engaging in sex acts in the public streets and bars. Last year, a local pastor sent video footage of sex acts being performed in front of police to the mayor, city council, and the media. City officials simply ignored the footage and continued to welcome and praise the weeklong celebration as being an “exciting event”. However, Hurricane Katrina has put an end to the annual celebration of sin.

On the official “Southern Decadence” website (www.SouthernDecadence.com), it states that the annual event brought in “125,000 revelers” to New Orleans last year, increasing by thousands each year, and up from “over 50,000 revelers” in 1997. This year’s 34th annual “Southern Decadence” was set for Wednesday, August 31, 2005 through Monday, September 5, 2005, but due to massive flooding and the damage left by the hurricane, Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco has ordered everyone to evacuate the city.

The past three mayors of New Orleans, including Sidney Barthelomew, Marc H. Morial, and C. Ray Nagin, issued official proclamations welcoming visitors to “Southern Decadence”. Additionally, New Orleans City Council made other proclamations recognizing the annual homosexual celebration.

“Although the loss of lives is deeply saddening, this act of God destroyed a wicked city,” stated Repent America director Michael Marcavage. “From ‘Girls Gone Wild’ to ‘Southern Decadence’, New Orleans was a city that opened its doors wide open to the public celebration of sin. May it never be the same,” he continued.

New Orleans is also known for its Mardi Gras parties where thousands of drunken men revel in the streets to exchange plastic jewelry for drunken women to expose their breasts. This annual event sparked the creation of the “Girls Gone Wild” video series.

“Let us pray for those ravaged by this disaster. However, we must not forget that the citizens of New Orleans tolerated and welcomed the wickedness in their city for so long,” Marcavage said. “May this act of God cause us all to think about what we tolerate in our city limits, and bring us trembling before the throne of Almighty God,” Marcavage concluded.

“[God] sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust”. (Matthew 5:45)


CONTACT:
REPENT AMERICA
Michael Marcavage
P.O. Box 30000
Philadelphia, PA. 19103
1-800-3-REPENT
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.repentamerica.com

http://www.covenantnews.com/repent050901.htm
___________________________________________________________

:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

[GateandGarden]

^^ Someone posted a link to that in another thread a few days ago. It may have been the day after it hit. I was so disgusted. They didn't waste any time, did they?

:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

[dissention]

^^ Someone posted a link to that in another thread a few days ago. It may have been the day after it hit. I was so disgusted. They didn't waste any time, did they?

:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

The fundies are already blaming this on man-on-horse sex, fags, and the stuff going on in Israel. It's amazing. :nod:

[SuzeQuze]

The fundies are already blaming this on man-on-horse sex, fags, and the stuff going on in Israel. It's amazing. :nod:

Yes, the Repent America Website is disturbing, these people are nucking futs!

http://www.repentamerica.com/index.php?face=3%3A25%3A59+PM&on=1

[Keith]

Just days before “Southern Decadence”, an annual homosexual celebration attracting tens of thousands of people to the French Quarters section of New Orleans, an act of God destroys the city.

Hmm.. interesting. If I'm correct, the French Quarter of New Orleans was left in pretty good shape. I was watching the news earlier, and they even showed a bar opened in the French Quarter serving warm drinks.. no ice.

So, according to America Repent, God destroyed the city of New Orleans but didn't flood the French Quarter, where the 'Southern Decadence' takes place.

[BombaySapphire3]

Uh oh the Folsom Street fair is coming up in a coupleof weeks .I guess we'll be next on God's hit list.Time for the Big One. :eek:

[SuzeQuze]

Just days before “Southern Decadence”, an annual homosexual celebration attracting tens of thousands of people to the French Quarters section of New Orleans, an act of God destroys the city.

Hmm.. interesting. If I'm correct, the French Quarter of New Orleans was left in pretty good shape. I was watching the news earlier, and they even showed a bar opened in the French Quarter serving warm drinks.. no ice.

So, according to America Repent, God destroyed the city of New Orleans but didn't flood the French Quarter, where the 'Southern Decadence' takes place.

Plus, the gays weren't there yet so they all survived! That shoots many holes in that theory, don't ya think? Oh it doesn't merit being debated, its stupid ignorant baloney.

I'm listening to Randi's replay on bostonsprogressivetalk.com right now. She's talking about how they were locked in to die. :distress:

[wondergirl9847]

I won't be popular for saying so, but I don't think there should be a Southern Decadence thing. Celebrating, fine, but doing sexual things out in public (no matter WHAT your sexual preference) is disgusting.

God didn't cause this tragedy, He was there with the people...comforting, helping babies survive, giving people strength and courage. God gives us free will, and He's always there in the midst of chaos.

That's my belief and I'm stickin' to it. :)

[BombaySapphire3]

Yes, the Repent America Website is disturbing, these people are nucking futs!

http://www.repentamerica.com/index.php?face=3%3A25%3A59+PM&on=1
These people really drink form the same idealogical toilet as the Islamic extremist .They are the only two groups I'm aware of that are celebrating this catastrophy.Al Quieda and Bush's constituents the religious right.

[dissention]

http://media.vmsnews.com/MonitoringReports/090605/549440/H000361890/

From the mouth of Rick Santorum:

"I mean, you have people who don't heed those warnings and then put people at risk as a result of not heeding those warnings. There may be a need to look at tougher penalties on those who decide to ride it out and understand that there are consequences to not leaving."

[amber]

http://media.vmsnews.com/MonitoringReports/090605/549440/H000361890/

From the mouth of Rick Santorum:

"I mean, you have people who don't heed those warnings and then put people at risk as a result of not heeding those warnings. There may be a need to look at tougher penalties on those who decide to ride it out and understand that there are consequences to not leaving."
:mad: :mad:
Consequences for not leaving?! Uh, I think there's been enough "consequences".
What a tool. :mad:

[dissention]

:mad: :mad:
Consequences for not leaving?! Uh, I think there's been enough "consequences".
What a tool. :mad:

I think it just adds more to the valid argument that these career politicians are out of touch with the reality that we live in. To be honest, a lot of their comments are so ridiculous that they're funny. It's just a shame that the people whose lives were ruined by this travesty have to put up with hearing such offensive things from their own government.

[macfanken]

http://media.vmsnews.com/MonitoringReports/090605/549440/H000361890/

From the mouth of Rick Santorum:

"I mean, you have people who don't heed those warnings and then put people at risk as a result of not heeding those warnings. There may be a need to look at tougher penalties on those who decide to ride it out and understand that there are consequences to not leaving."

They just don't get it... how does a poor person, without money or a car, evacuate a city? Our government is completely out of touch.

[BombaySapphire3]

Anyone who reads that should just roll their eyes but it's the offensive nature of the remark that is appalling. The fact that it's not even just a news reporter, an official elected to represent people kicking them while their down (dying) through situations that are no fault of their own, such a remark should have one booted from their position.
This country is becoming more and more of a facist police state.I have walked around spontaneously crying this past week and prior to this catastrophy I had cried maybe a grand total of 2 minutes in my entire adult life.It seems to me that this is not the America I thought it was and the realization of that is horrible.This country has been guilty of slavery in the past as well as mass genocide .I thought we had moved past that.All the progress I believed had been made was stripped away to me when I looked into the faces of these people ,these Americans in New Orleans.I think real empathy and compassion are not part of the agenda in this current political climate here .I just have this sinking feeling that the heart and soul have been ripped out of my country and it will never be the same.

[SuzeQuze]

This country is becoming more and more of a facist police state.I have walked around spontaneously crying this past week and prior to this catastrophy I had cried maybe a grand total of 2 minutes in my entire adult life.It seems to me that this is not the America I thought it was and the realization of that is horrible.This country has been guilty of slavery in the past as well as mass genocide .I thought we had moved past that.All the progress I believed had been made was stripped away to me when I looked into the faces of these people ,these Americans in New Orleans.I think real empathy and compassion are not part of the agenda in this current political climate here .I just have this sinking feeling that the heart and soul have been ripped out of my country and it will never be the same.

We can fight them. It is going to be impossible for them to spin this. Please do not lose hope. It is abominable what has happened, I am sickened. I could feel the death in the air when the winds came up here, it was awful. What they have been through, no one should have to go through. In America? How does it even happen? Massive and blatant incompetence. My heart is broken too, I'm terrified of what will be revealed when the waters recdede. Those poor families. How could they have been neglected in this disgusting manner? Those cold, heartless bastards.

[strandinthewind]

http://media.vmsnews.com/MonitoringReports/090605/549440/H000361890/

From the mouth of Rick Santorum:

"I mean, you have people who don't heed those warnings and then put people at risk as a result of not heeding those warnings. There may be a need to look at tougher penalties on those who decide to ride it out and understand that there are consequences to not leaving."

I agree with him if they were able bodied and with means. Sadly, SanFU*Ktoilet did not mean that :mad:

On edit - FEMA, whi had taken charge, agreed they should go to the dome - so they have no argument there. Also, SanFU*Ktoilet knows the public will not make the distinction I drew - he is playing politics and should be called out for it.

[dissention]

Has anyone seen the video Aaron Broussard on Meet the Press? :shocked: I just saw it on http://www.crooksandliars.com . They have some great video on that site. Russert, once again, proves he's not human.

[markolas]

Have we already discussed Barbara Bush's comments?

[dissention]

I agree with him if they were able bodied and with means. Sadly, SanFU*Ktoilet did not mean that :mad:

On edit - FEMA, whi had taken charge, agreed they should go to the dome - so they have no argument there. Also, SanFU*Ktoilet knows the public will not make the distinction I drew - he is playing politics and should be called out for it.

Have you been reading about the documents that were leaked about Brown and Chertoff? Shocking. :rolleyes:

[dissention]

Have we already discussed Barbara Bush's comments?

Yep. That sick bitch is a real piece of work.

[SuzeQuze]

Has anyone seen the video Aaron Broussard on Meet the Press? :shocked: I just saw it on http://www.crooksandliars.com . They have some great video on that site. Russert, once again, proves he's not human.

No but I heard audio, Springer just aired it. :(

[dissention]

I check that site every day, if you go back in the calender too they have all the *best* bits and many great articles. That particular one was linked to a few times around the place but there's no harm in repeating.

It's a fantastic site. Did you watch the one of Jack Burkman? I saw that live on MSNBC and couldn't wait for it to be posted on there for you to see. Those are the kinds of people we're dealing with: sociopaths.

Have you heard about Bush leading the investigation into what went wrong with the federal relief response? What a fecking joke.

[strandinthewind]

Have you been reading about the documents that were leaked about Brown and Chertoff? Shocking. :rolleyes:

Heart breaking - I cannot believe it. I am unsure if I posted this publicly - but I will now because I feel it is warranted - and please read carefully if you (general) think five days is acceptable:

SPOILER -- VERY GRAPHIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!










My brother saw a woman miscarry in line rather than lose her and her unborn child's place in line to get to evacuate to food, water, and medicine . The poor woman was so famished and weak, she did not understand what was going on until the child died in her arms. She then put her 6 month or so bloody and limp child/fetus in a plastic bag. Her husband had to be carried onto the bus. My brother could not stand after that - who could.

I hope you are sobbing - I am too. Damn anyone who caused that. FIVE FU**ING DAYS caused that and how is that for perspective.

[dissention]

No but I heard audio, Springer just aired it. :(

Earlier in the week, he came across as a man made of steel. For him to be essentially scoffed at by Russert after breaking down like the broken man he was, it was nothing short of disgusting. I don't understand this lack of emotion and empathy.

[SuzeQuze]

Earlier in the week, he came across as a man made of steel. For him to be essentially scoffed at by Russert after breaking down like the broken man he was, it was nothing short of disgusting. I don't understand this lack of emotion and empathy.

He scoffed at him. :shocked: The audio I heard was just the breakdown, but that woman waited day after day, "are they coming"? How could you not breakdown? These people cut themselves off from their emotions thinking they're so strong when really they just can't handle them. Bloody cowards.

[BombaySapphire3]

We can fight them. It is going to be impossible for them to spin this. Please do not lose hope. It is abominable what has happened, I am sickened. I could feel the death in the air when the winds came up here, it was awful. What they have been through, no one should have to go through. In America? How does it even happen? Massive and blatant incompetence. My heart is broken too, I'm terrified of what will be revealed when the waters recdede. Those poor families. How could they have been neglected in this disgusting manner? Those cold, heartless bastards.
Thank you SuzeQuze for your from the heart response .I just saw that 3 Duke university students that had never been to New Orleans before had driven down there and stolen press passes to get to the convention center and drove people up to Baton Rouge in their Alantra 2 days before official help arrived .These boys said it was nothing but 'red tape' that was keeping those people in those hellish conditions .As more and more stories like this surface it's going to become increasingly difficult for DeLay ,Bush and others to sweep this under the carpet.

[strandinthewind]

He scoffed at him. :shocked: The audio I heard was just the breakdown, but that woman waited day after day, "are they coming"? How could you not breakdown? These people cut themselves off from their emotions thinking they're so strong when really they just can't handle them. Bloody cowards.

I did not get that he scoffed - I thought he was speechless and cut away out of mercy. But, to each their own.

BTW - Harry Connick if so impressive. He has done so much for these people. If you have any extra cash, he is spearheading the Habitat for Humanity effort in NOLA. I know it is needed and I feel he, as a beloved and loving native son, will make sure it is put to good use.

[dissention]

Heart breaking - I cannot believe it. I am unsure if I posted this publicly - but I will now because I feel it is warranted - and please read carefully if you (general) think five days is acceptable:

SPOILER -- VERY GRAPHIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!










My brother saw a woman miscarry in line rather than lose her and her unborn child's place in line to get to evacuate to food, water, and medicine . The poor woman was so famished and weak, she did not understand what was going on until the child died in her arms. She then put her 6 month or so bloody and limp child/fetus in a plastic bag. Her husband had to be carried onto the bus. My brother could not stand after that - who could.

I hope you are sobbing - I am too. Damn anyone who caused that. FIVE FU**ING DAYS caused that and how is that for perspective.

How can this happen in our country? I can't comprehend it. I don't understand how these beautiful people can be left to die and suffer. Don't worry, because in the end, there will be a reckoning and those responsible for this travesty will pay for it. I loathe to say it, but this is worse than 9/11 because it's our own country who murdered these people by their complete disregard for them. There can be no forgiveness.

[SuzeQuze]

Heart breaking - I cannot believe it. I am unsure if I posted this publicly - but I will now because I feel it is warranted - and please read carefully if you (general) think five days is acceptable:

SPOILER -- VERY GRAPHIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!










My brother saw a woman miscarry in line rather than lose her and her unborn child's place in line to get to evacuate to food, water, and medicine . The poor woman was so famished and weak, she did not understand what was going on until the child died in her arms. She then put her 6 month or so bloody and limp child/fetus in a plastic bag. Her husband had to be carried onto the bus. My brother could not stand after that - who could.

I hope you are sobbing - I am too. Damn anyone who caused that. FIVE FU**ING DAYS caused that and how is that for perspective.

Monstrous. That poor woman and her husband. So unreal I had to read three times to understand what you were saying. I'm sorry your brother had to see that. Oh man, this is the worst thing to ever happen here. How will that woman go on? I'm so angry, I want Brown's head. It's just going to get worse. Are people's stories being published anywhere? I want to read those, even though they are heartbreaking, because people have to know.

[dissention]

I did not get that he scoffed - I thought he was speechless and cut away out of mercy. But, to each their own.

I thought he was as cold as ice. He went after the poor man when it came to persecuting the mayor and the governor, yet had no response when the man bared his soul to him.

BTW - Harry Connick if so impressive. He has done so much for these people. If you have any extra cash, he is spearheading the Habitat for Humanity effort in NOLA. I know it is needed and I feel he, as a beloved and loving native son, will make sure it is put to good use.

Connick Jr. is a saint. What a beautiful man. I gave to HFH after seeing him on Larry King because I had completely forgotten about them.

[strandinthewind]

Monstrous. That poor woman and her husband. So unreal I had to read three times to understand what you were saying. I'm sorry your brother had to see that. Oh man, this is the worst thing to ever happen here. How will that woman go on? I'm so angry, I want Brown's head. It's just going to get worse. Are people's stories being published anywhere? I want to read those, even though they are heartbreaking, because people have to know.

It took him 30 minutes to tell me the story and he is not that emotional a person. As sick as this is, I wish they could have filmed it (though rumor is someone did) and then play it at the Congressional hearing. Better yet - mail it to Hannity for perspective.

[SuzeQuze]

How can this happen in our country? I can't comprehend it. I don't understand how these beautiful people can be left to die and suffer. Don't worry, because in the end, there will be a reckoning and those responsible for this travesty will pay for it. I loathe to say it, but this is worse than 9/11 because it's our own country who murdered these people by their complete disregard for them. There can be no forgiveness.

There is that and then also the death toll may be 3x as great. Let's hope not.

[GateandGarden]

Heart breaking - I cannot believe it. I am unsure if I posted this publicly - but I will now because I feel it is warranted - and please read carefully if you (general) think five days is acceptable:

SPOILER -- VERY GRAPHIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!










My brother saw a woman miscarry in line rather than lose her and her unborn child's place in line to get to evacuate to food, water, and medicine . The poor woman was so famished and weak, she did not understand what was going on until the child died in her arms. She then put her 6 month or so bloody and limp child/fetus in a plastic bag. Her husband had to be carried onto the bus. My brother could not stand after that - who could.

I hope you are sobbing - I am too. Damn anyone who caused that. FIVE FU**ING DAYS caused that and how is that for perspective.
I don't even know what to say to that. Your brother must be very strong. I think I would lose the ability to do other things besides standing. Horrible.

[dissention]

I'm yet to download any today but I will be. It's a little more confusing for me because I'm not familiar with the reporters and most of the politicians but you get a general idea with the blog comments. As for the Bush investigation, well America has come on a long journey and you're so close, fascism is just a few streets away. I saw these two articles:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050906/ap_on_go_pr_wh/katrina_washington_44
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-amato/breaking-bushs-private-_b_6947.html

I.........no comment yet.

What's so wrong about his entire investigation is that others have been pressuring to have an independent commission formed to investigate what went wrong, just like the 9/11 commission, and he said no because he didn't want to "place blame." Now, a day later, he's heading an investigation into how his federal government f*cked up. It's a mockery.

[strandinthewind]

I don't even know what to say to that. Your brother must be very strong. I think I would lose the ability to do other things besides standing. Horrible.


SPOILER -- VERY GRAPHIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!








There is more - she was wearing her already filthy clothing that she had to put back on afterward and wear for at least six hours to Houston and then who knows how long.

Words fail me.

[SuzeQuze]

It took him 30 minutes to tell me the story and he is not that emotional a person. As sick as this is, I wish they could have filmed it (though rumor is someone did) and then play it at the Congressional hearing. Better yet - mail it to Hannity for perspective.

Yes, he should see that. Then the image should haunt him forever.

[dissention]

There is that and then also the death toll may be 3x as great. Let's hope not.

They're now saying to prepare for 40,000 altogether. Who knows how accurate it is, but that's what they're saying.

[GateandGarden]

SPOILER -- VERY GRAPHIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!








There is more - she was wearing her already filthy clothing that she had to put back on afterward and wear for at least six hours to Houston and then who knows how long.

Words fail me.I really can't think of any words for that, either.

[dissention]

SPOILER -- VERY GRAPHIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!








There is more - she was wearing her already filthy clothing that she had to put back on afterward and wear for at least six hours to Houston and then who knows how long.

Words fail me.

:(

Reminds me of the mothers who are being handed two diapers and being told to scrape them off and reuse them once they get soiled.

[SuzeQuze]

They're now saying to prepare for 40,000 altogether. Who knows how accurate it is, but that's what they're saying.

If that's not genocide, I don't know what is. Where did that number come from? Oh god...

[strandinthewind]

:(

Reminds me of the mothers who are being handed two diapers and being told to scrape them off and reuse them once they get soiled.


I am sure this poor woman would have licked that soiled diaper clean instead of what happened.

I am so angry right now I cannot type.

[GateandGarden]

They're now saying to prepare for 40,000 altogether. Who knows how accurate it is, but that's what they're saying.I really hope that's inaccurate. I remember we had larger numbers for 9/11 initally, truly outrageous numbers, actually. I remember the reality being fewer than we feared. I hope the same is true for this. Not that it obviously isn't too many as it is.

[markolas]

Yep. That sick bitch is a real piece of work.

Somebody should've given her a hysterectomy when she was 12.

[dissention]

If that's not genocide, I don't know what is. Where did that number come from? Oh god...

http://www.t-g.com/story/1116806.html

[BombaySapphire3]

How can this happen in our country? I can't comprehend it. I don't understand how these beautiful people can be left to die and suffer. Don't worry, because in the end, there will be a reckoning and those responsible for this travesty will pay for it. I loathe to say it, but this is worse than 9/11 because it's our own country who murdered these people by their complete disregard for them. There can be no forgiveness.
God I hope that you are right .

[strandinthewind]

not to mention it is widely rumored that corpses were removed from the Convention Center behind peoples' backs so FEMA could say only like 10 died there.

Its like a river - neverending.

[SuzeQuze]

It is another 9/11 and should be treated as such. In fact if I were over there I'd consider it scarier. It's one thing to know that you are a target for foriegn hatred but it's another to know that you are completely exposed by your own government, that in a worst case scenario, they won't be there to help. It's like neglected children who cannot rest in the knowledge of safety provided by their parents.

As for Jason's comments........well there's no excuse good enough. I don't think it's murder but without a doubt manslaughter, which comes with severe repercussions. No stupid f*cking press statement about how personally upset one is will erase what was done, or not done. The ought to be treated like a common man and punished like the common man would be if he was responsible for mass manslaughter.

Someone asked for other stories, I don't have any but I keep looking at this site (for friends, relatives and just anyone who knows of the missing) and wondering: http://www.nola.com/weblogs/nola/index.ssf?/mtlogs/nola_nolaview/archives/2005_09.html#076307

That was me, thanks for the link. You are right, someone should serve time for this. Thousands of life sentences. If I hear that no one was to blame and it was a systemic problem one more time I'm going to do something very bad to "them". Okay, not really, but I will fantasize about it.

[Mad4stevie]

The AP is now reporting that the New Orleans mayor has now ordered the police to forcibly remove those remaining in New Orleans. At gunpoint, if necessary.

[strandinthewind]

The AP is now reporting that the New Orleans mayor has now ordered the police to forcibly remove those remaining in New Orleans. At gunpoint, if necessary.

Its about time IMO.

[Macfanforever]

They're now saying to prepare for 40,000 altogether. Who knows how accurate it is, but that's what they're saying.


oh my god. I hope not. thats the population of my hometown. what is the total population of New Orleans.

[GateandGarden]

oh my god. I hope not. thats the population of my hometown. what is the total population of New Orleans.It was about 484, 674 according to www.city-data.com.

[strandinthewind]

Bush, Congress Promise Probes Of Katrina Response

UPDATED: 10:52 pm CDT September 6, 2005

WASHINGTON -- Internal documents show the government's disaster chief waited roughly five hours after Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast before asking Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff to dispatch 1,000 agency employees to the region.

The documents show the volunteers were given two days to arrive.
In a memo to Chertoff, Michael Brown, director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, said that among duties of these employees was to "convey a positive image" about the government's response for victims.

A Homeland Security Department spokesman said Brown had positioned front-line rescue teams and Coast Guard helicopters before the storm.

The memo aimed to assemble a federal work force to coordinate various operations, the spokesman said.

www.wdsu.com
_________________________________________________

rope for a noose

[dissention]

rope for a noose

If you think that's bad:

http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=05/09/06/149235

Criticism of the federal government's response is also coming from some unlikely sources including the Pentagon. Lt. Commander Sean Kelly, a Pentagon spokesman for Northern Command, revealed on the BBC that NorthCom was prepared to send in search and rescue helicopters from the USS Bataan almost immediately after the hurricane hit. He said, "We had things ready. The only caveat is: we have to wait until the president authorizes us to do so." That authorization didn't happen for days even though the ship was docked just outside New Orleans. On board the ship had doctors, hospital beds, food and the ability to make up to 100,000 gallons of water a day.

[amber]

If you think that's bad:

http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=05/09/06/149235

Criticism of the federal government's response is also coming from some unlikely sources including the Pentagon. Lt. Commander Sean Kelly, a Pentagon spokesman for Northern Command, revealed on the BBC that NorthCom was prepared to send in search and rescue helicopters from the USS Bataan almost immediately after the hurricane hit. He said, "We had things ready. The only caveat is: we have to wait until the president authorizes us to do so." That authorization didn't happen for days even though the ship was docked just outside New Orleans. On board the ship had doctors, hospital beds, food and the ability to make up to 100,000 gallons of water a day.
uh oh. that is bad.

[dissention]

uh oh. that is bad.

More:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0509040369sep04,1,4144825.story

While federal and state emergency planners scramble to get more military relief to Gulf Coast communities stricken by Hurricane Katrina, a massive naval goodwill station has been cruising offshore, underused and waiting for a larger role in the effort.

The USS Bataan, a 844-foot ship designed to dispatch Marines in amphibious assaults, has helicopters, doctors, hospital beds, food and water. It also can make its own water, up to 100,000 gallons a day. And it just happened to be in the Gulf of Mexico when Katrina came roaring ashore.

The Bataan rode out the storm and then followed it toward shore, awaiting relief orders. Helicopter pilots flying from its deck were some of the first to begin plucking stranded New Orleans residents.

But now the Bataan's hospital facilities, including six operating rooms and beds for 600 patients, are empty. A good share of its 1,200 sailors could also go ashore to help with the relief effort, but they haven't been asked. The Bataan has been in the stricken region the longest of any military unit, but federal authorities have yet to fully utilize the ship.

[SuzeQuze]

If you think that's bad:

http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=05/09/06/149235

Criticism of the federal government's response is also coming from some unlikely sources including the Pentagon. Lt. Commander Sean Kelly, a Pentagon spokesman for Northern Command, revealed on the BBC that NorthCom was prepared to send in search and rescue helicopters from the USS Bataan almost immediately after the hurricane hit. He said, "We had things ready. The only caveat is: we have to wait until the president authorizes us to do so." That authorization didn't happen for days even though the ship was docked just outside New Orleans. On board the ship had doctors, hospital beds, food and the ability to make up to 100,000 gallons of water a day.

Bastard. An independent entity should investigate this. We should hire a firm that can be neutral. Is that a pipe dream? Probably. The government shouldn't even touch it, they've proven time and again they can't do anything effectively.

[gldstwmn]

I think it just adds more to the valid argument that these career politicians are out of touch with the reality that we live in.

Honey, I sat in a meeting tonight with a woman who was a nurse, a labor and delivery nurse and she was yapping away about "Why didn't they just leave?" If it wasn't business, I would have told her off but instead I just went into calm voice and tried to explain why they didn't just leave. She was from Colorado Springs, home of Dobson, et al, so I shouldn't be too surpirsed.

[GateandGarden]

More:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0509040369sep04,1,4144825.story

While federal and state emergency planners scramble to get more military relief to Gulf Coast communities stricken by Hurricane Katrina, a massive naval goodwill station has been cruising offshore, underused and waiting for a larger role in the effort.

The USS Bataan, a 844-foot ship designed to dispatch Marines in amphibious assaults, has helicopters, doctors, hospital beds, food and water. It also can make its own water, up to 100,000 gallons a day. And it just happened to be in the Gulf of Mexico when Katrina came roaring ashore.

The Bataan rode out the storm and then followed it toward shore, awaiting relief orders. Helicopter pilots flying from its deck were some of the first to begin plucking stranded New Orleans residents.

But now the Bataan's hospital facilities, including six operating rooms and beds for 600 patients, are empty. A good share of its 1,200 sailors could also go ashore to help with the relief effort, but they haven't been asked. The Bataan has been in the stricken region the longest of any military unit, but federal authorities have yet to fully utilize the ship.
:mad::mad::mad:

[gldstwmn]

They just don't get it... how does a poor person, without money or a car, evacuate a city? Our government is completely out of touch.

You're right. We've got to figure out a way to make this country whole again. :distress:

[gldstwmn]

This country is becoming more and more of a facist police state.I have walked around spontaneously crying this past week and prior to this catastrophy I had cried maybe a grand total of 2 minutes in my entire adult life.It seems to me that this is not the America I thought it was and the realization of that is horrible.This country has been guilty of slavery in the past as well as mass genocide .I thought we had moved past that.All the progress I believed had been made was stripped away to me when I looked into the faces of these people ,these Americans in New Orleans.I think real empathy and compassion are not part of the agenda in this current political climate here .I just have this sinking feeling that the heart and soul have been ripped out of my country and it will never be the same.

December 12, 2000. They took it from us that very day.

[dissention]

Honey, I sat in a meeting tonight with a woman who was a nurse, a labor and delivery nurse and she was yapping away about "Why didn't they just leave?" If it wasn't business, I would have told her off but instead I just went into calm voice and tried to explain why they didn't just leave. She was from Colorado Springs, home of Dobson, et al, so I shouldn't be too surpirsed.

You're a strong person, because I don't know what I would have told that woman.

[gldstwmn]

Have we already discussed Barbara Bush's comments?

I think so. But I'll say it again. Like mother, like son.

[gldstwmn]

Have you been reading about the documents that were leaked about Brown and Chertoff? Shocking. :rolleyes:

What dear?

[dissention]

What dear?

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050907/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/katrina_disaster_response

[GateandGarden]

You're a strong person, because I don't know what I would have told that woman.Even if every person there was someone who actually refused to leave (that is absurd and of course I don't believe it in the least) I still can't understand why someone would be yapping about it. Who cares, lady? You think they should be left there because of that? Is that what you're getting at?

Yeah, Chris, I don't know how you were able to take that.

[dissention]

Bastard. An independent entity should investigate this. We should hire a firm that can be neutral. Is that a pipe dream? Probably. The government shouldn't even touch it, they've proven time and again they can't do anything effectively.

This is quite apropos:

A little piece of you
The little peace in me
Will die
For this is not America

Blossom falls to bloom
This season
Promise not to stare
Too long
For this is not a miracle

There was a time
A storm that blew so pure
For this could be the biggest sky
And I could have
The faintest idea

Snowman melting
From the inside
Falcon spirals
to the ground
So bloody red
Tomorrows clouds

A little piece of you
The little piece in me
Will die
For this is not America

There was a time
A wind that blew so young
For this could be the biggest sky
And I could have the faintest idea

This could be the biggest sky
This could be a miracle
This could be etc

[gldstwmn]

There is that and then also the death toll may be 3x as great. Let's hope not.

They're talking about mass graves Suze. If they do that, we will never know the true death count.

[gldstwmn]

not to mention it is widely rumored that corpses were removed from the Convention Center behind peoples' backs so FEMA could say only like 10 died there.

Its like a river - neverending.

*GRAPHIC*









What about all the bodies they found in the freezer?

[dissention]

*GRAPHIC*









What about all the bodies they found in the freezer?

From what I've heard, they're still in there (the freezer isn't working, obviously) and there are between 30-40.

[amber]

More:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0509040369sep04,1,4144825.story

While federal and state emergency planners scramble to get more military relief to Gulf Coast communities stricken by Hurricane Katrina, a massive naval goodwill station has been cruising offshore, underused and waiting for a larger role in the effort.

The USS Bataan, a 844-foot ship designed to dispatch Marines in amphibious assaults, has helicopters, doctors, hospital beds, food and water. It also can make its own water, up to 100,000 gallons a day. And it just happened to be in the Gulf of Mexico when Katrina came roaring ashore.

The Bataan rode out the storm and then followed it toward shore, awaiting relief orders. Helicopter pilots flying from its deck were some of the first to begin plucking stranded New Orleans residents.

But now the Bataan's hospital facilities, including six operating rooms and beds for 600 patients, are empty. A good share of its 1,200 sailors could also go ashore to help with the relief effort, but they haven't been asked. The Bataan has been in the stricken region the longest of any military unit, but federal authorities have yet to fully utilize the ship.

If I was one of the people in NO, i swear I would riot upon hearing this.

[amber]

This is quite apropos:

A little piece of you
The little peace in me
Will die
For this is not America

Blossom falls to bloom
This season
Promise not to stare
Too long
For this is not a miracle

There was a time
A storm that blew so pure
For this could be the biggest sky
And I could have
The faintest idea

Snowman melting
From the inside
Falcon spirals
to the ground
So bloody red
Tomorrows clouds

A little piece of you
The little piece in me
Will die
For this is not America

There was a time
A wind that blew so young
For this could be the biggest sky
And I could have the faintest idea

This could be the biggest sky
This could be a miracle
This could be etc

what's that from?

[gldstwmn]

Even if every person there was someone who actually refused to leave (that is absurd and of course I don't believe it in the least) I still can't understand why someone would be yapping about it. Who cares, lady? You think they should be left there because of that? Is that what you're getting at?

Yeah, Chris, I don't know how you were able to take that.

She was a nurse! :shocked: WTF? :confused:

[estranged4life]

It was about 484, 674 according to www.city-data.com.

that NOLA is smaller than OKC, Never would have known that before.

[dissention]

If I was one of the people in NO, i swear I would riot upon hearing this.

I probably would, too. It cannot be defended even by the most radical of neocons.

[dissention]

what's that from?

David Bowie. :)

[Nixxxed]

From what I've heard, they're still in there (the freezer isn't working, obviously) and there are between 30-40.
They were just talking about this on Countdown. They said they were still in the freezer, plus in other places in the CC.

Plus, they showed video (yes, video) of bodies left in the chapel and rooms of Mercy Hospital. At least 18, before the reporters couldn't take it any more and stopped counting.

[gldstwmn]

David Bowie. :)

The Falcon And The Snowman soundtrack?

[SuzeQuze]

They're talking about mass graves Suze. If they do that, we will never know the true death count.

We should know according to the missing then. It shouldn't be this way.

[gldstwmn]

They say they are going to knock the Superdome down. I mean, what else can they do?

[amber]

David Bowie. :)
very nice. Touching.

[Nixxxed]

that NOLA is smaller than OKC, Never would have known that before.
Isn't that just NO proper (city limits)? Including all the surrounding parishes, I keep hearing that the total area population is close to 2 million.

[dissention]

The Falcon And The Snowman soundtrack?

Yes. I hauled it out earlier and it made me cry.

[gldstwmn]

Yes. I hauled it out earlier and it made me cry.

I've been thinking about that song for a few days now. :nod:

[estranged4life]

*GRAPHIC*

What about all the bodies they found in the freezer?

and they showed a report about searching inside a hospice, that was abandoned when the waters rose...

They found 8 victims who were left to die in that hospice, I understand how a hospice works (I am married to a nurse) but that was the absolute worse way to die...Alone :distress:

[estranged4life]

Isn't that just NO proper (city limits)? Including all the surrounding parishes, I keep hearing that the total area population is close to 2 million.

that is the actual NOLA population excluding the suburbs...The OKC metro it is also way above the 1 million mark in total population once you add the suburbs (Which includes Norman 20+ miles South of downtown OKC)

[gldstwmn]

and they showed a report about searching inside a hospice, that was abandoned when the waters rose...

They found 8 victims who were left to die in that hospice, I understand how a hospice works (I am married to a nurse) but that was the absolute worse way to die...Alone :distress:

So many were left to die that way-and not just in hospices. I hope their souls haunt those responsible for this five lifetimes down the road.

[GateandGarden]

I gathered it was the city limits. The largest city in the world is Mt Isa in Australia with a population of 22 000.You must have that number wrong. New Orleans was 484, 674 in the year 2000. 22,000 isn't that much to speak of.

[GateandGarden]

They were just talking about this on Countdown. They said they were still in the freezer, plus in other places in the CC.

Plus, they showed video (yes, video) of bodies left in the chapel and rooms of Mercy Hospital. At least 18, before the reporters couldn't take it any more and stopped counting.Off topic (actually, it's not) but great sig, Chuck. When I first saw that I thought it was just brilliant.

[amber]

Off topic (actually, it's not) but great sig, Chuck. When I first saw that I thought it was just brilliant.
I was just thinking that four seconds ago when I read it. It's brilliant and hilarious.
:xoxo: to chuck.

[Nixxxed]

Off topic (actually, it's not) but great sig, Chuck. When I first saw that I thought it was just brilliant.
Thanks Hillary and Amber! It's from The Daily Show tonight. I laughed all the way through the commercial after they aired it, and just couldn't resist.

My fave: "Unicyclists, Nuclear" :lol: Not to mention the Osama Luvs Jenna stuff...

I really needed a pick-me-up after volunteering at the Red Cross shelter today. The look in those people's eyes... I cried all afternoon after I got home.

[heyjupiter678]

http://www.sltrib.com/utah/ci_3004197

Frustrated: Fire crews to hand out fliers for FEMA
By Lisa Rosetta
The Salt Lake Tribune

ATLANTA - Not long after some 1,000 firefighters sat down for eight hours of training, the whispering began: "What are we doing here?"

As New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin pleaded on national television for firefighters - his own are exhausted after working around the clock for a week - a battalion of highly trained men and women sat idle Sunday in a muggy Sheraton Hotel conference room in Atlanta.

Many of the firefighters, assembled from Utah and throughout the United States by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, thought they were going to be deployed as emergency workers.

Instead, they have learned they are going to be community-relations officers for FEMA, shuffled throughout the Gulf Coast region to disseminate fliers and a phone number: 1-800-621-FEMA.

On Monday, some firefighters stuck in the staging area at the Sheraton peeled off their FEMA-issued shirts and stuffed them in backpacks, saying they refuse to represent the federal agency.

Federal officials are unapologetic.

"I would go back and ask the firefighter to revisit his commitment to FEMA, to firefighting and to the citizens of this country," said FEMA spokeswoman Mary Hudak.

The firefighters - or at least the fire chiefs who assigned them to come to Atlanta - knew what the assignment would be, Hudak said.

"The initial call to action very specifically says we're looking for two-person fire teams to do community relations," she said. "So if there is a breakdown [in communication], it was likely in their own departments."

One fire chief from Texas agreed that the call was clear to work as community-relations officers. But he wonders why the 1,400 firefighters FEMA attracted to Atlanta aren't being put to better use. He also questioned why the U.S. Department of Homeland Security - of which FEMA is a part - has not responded better to the disaster.

The firefighters, several of whom are from Utah, were told to bring backpacks, sleeping bags, first-aid kits and Meals Ready to Eat. They were told to prepare for "austere conditions." Many of them came with awkward fire gear and expected to wade in floodwaters, sift through rubble and save lives.

"They've got people here who are search-and-rescue certified, paramedics, haz-mat certified," said a Texas firefighter. "We're sitting in here having a sexual-harassment class while there are still [victims] in Louisiana who haven't been contacted yet."

The firefighter, who has encouraged his superiors back home not to send any more volunteers for now, declined to give his name because FEMA has warned them not to talk to reporters.

On Monday, two firefighters from South Jordan and two from Layton headed for San Antonio to help hurricane evacuees there. Four firefighters from Roy awaited their marching orders, crossing their fingers that they would get to do rescue and recovery work, rather than paperwork.

"A lot of people are bickering because there are rumors they'll just be handing out fliers," said Roy firefighter Logan Layne, adding that his squad hopes to be in the thick of the action. "But we'll do anything. We'll do whatever they need us to do."

While FEMA's community-relations job may be an important one - displaced hurricane victims need basic services and a variety of resources - it may be a job best suited for someone else, say firefighters assembled at the Sheraton.

"It's a misallocation of resources. Completely," said the Texas firefighter.

"It's just an under-utilization of very talented people," said South Salt Lake Fire Chief Steve Foote, who sent a team of firefighters to Atlanta. "I was hoping once they saw the level of people . . . they would shift gears a little bit."

Foote said his crews would be better used doing the jobs they are trained to do.

But Louis H. Botta, a coordinating officer for FEMA, said sending out firefighters on community relations makes sense. They already have had background checks and meet the qualifications to be sworn as a federal employee. They have medical training that will prove invaluable as they come across hurricane victims in the field.

A firefighter from California said he feels ill prepared to even carry out the job FEMA has assigned him. In the field, Hurricane Katrina victims will approach him with questions about everything from insurance claims to financial assistance.

"My only answer to them is, '1-800-621-FEMA,' " he said. "I'm not used to not being in the know."

Roy Fire Chief Jon Ritchie said his crews would be a "little frustrated" if they were assigned to hand out phone numbers at an evacuee center in Texas rather than find and treat victims of the disaster.

Also of concern to some of the firefighters is the cost borne by their municipalities in the wake of their absence. Cities are picking up the tab to fill the firefighters' vacancies while they work 30 days for the federal government.

"There are all of these guys with all of this training and we're sending them out to hand out a phone number," an Oregon firefighter said. "They [the hurricane victims] are screaming for help and this day [of FEMA training] was a waste."

Firefighters say they want to brave the heat, the debris-littered roads, the poisonous cottonmouth snakes and fire ants and travel into pockets of Louisiana where many people have yet to receive emergency aid.

But as specific orders began arriving to the firefighters in Atlanta, a team of 50 Monday morning quickly was ushered onto a flight headed for Louisiana. The crew's first assignment: to stand beside President Bush as he tours devastated areas.

[email protected]

[amber]

Thanks for posting, Mikki. Yet more sickening news. I like how some of the firefighters refused to represent FEMA.

[dissention]

"I would go back and ask the firefighter to revisit his commitment to FEMA, to firefighting and to the citizens of this country," said FEMA spokeswoman Mary Hudak.


:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

[GateandGarden]

Ha, no I know, it's nothing. But the point was that it is the largest city in terms of land mass, the area is the largest in the world. This was related to what he was suggesting about the city limit population not being an accurate account, that city limits are random or not all encompassing, or in this particular case, far too encompassing.Ah! Now I see. Had to have it explained to me but now I understand.

[GateandGarden]

Thanks Hillary and Amber! It's from The Daily Show tonight. I laughed all the way through the commercial after they aired it, and just couldn't resist.That was one of the best Daily Shows I've seen in awhile.

[estranged4life]

Off topic (actually, it's not) but great sig, Chuck. When I first saw that I thought it was just brilliant.

A Queer revolt? Voldemort? (Isnt that Cheney when he isnt working?) WWIII? Yep, Check that since it has started already...Yam shortage??? Oh now that is hitting below the belt, Bush must be impeached for that one offense alone!!!

Brian "SOS-Save our SweetPotatoes" j.

[GateandGarden]

A Queer revolt? Voldemort? (Isnt that Cheney when he isnt working?) WWIII? Yep, Check that since it has started already...Yam shortage??? Oh now that is hitting below the belt, Bush must be impeached for that one offense alone!!!

Brian "SOS-Save our SweetPotatoes" j.Love your sig too, Brian.

[estranged4life]

Love your sig too, Brian.

I picked it over the following one I considered since it was a choice of good taste of tackiness:

<div align=center><img src="http://z.about.com/d/politicalhumor/1/0/H/f/bush_no_missionaccomplished.jpg"></div>

[irishgrl]

Why has somebody not decided to take a pop at him?

well.......

[SuzeQuze]

...
Instead, they have learned they are going to be community-relations officers for FEMA, shuffled throughout the Gulf Coast region to disseminate fliers and a phone number: 1-800-621-FEMA.

... But as specific orders began arriving to the firefighters in Atlanta, a team of 50 Monday morning quickly was ushered onto a flight headed for Louisiana. The crew's first assignment: to stand beside President Bush as he tours devastated areas.

[email protected]

Finally, they sent some help. What? To hand out flyers? Hmm, those people do not even have f*cking phones!!! And 50 to stand behind the president? Well, of course. It is all about how things seem, not how they really are, with that "man".

[irishgrl]

Finally, they sent some help. What? To hand out flyers? Hmm, those people do not even have f*cking phones!!! And 50 to stand behind the president? Well, of course. It is all about how things seem, not how they really are, with that "man".
Man? hes the missing link!
the difference between 9/11 and NO is that 9/11 played right into his agenda. He needed a plausible excuse to get into the middle east with our military. he drew imaginary lines and fabricated ghost stories. Here, there is no political gain, no economic gain, only the bare truth that Monkey boy is a bumbler, that he has no clue, that he frankly doesnt give a rats ass.

having said that, I want to point out that I agree with the current evacuation order. Conditions are deteriorating and even those who think they have water/food/sound structure to sustain them are in danger because of the toxic water, the gas leaks and the potential for several diseases now. The area is a cesspool and there is also the danger of fire breaking out from the gas leaks. Personally, I sympathize with the survivors, but they really should leave until the city is made safe again. Ultimately, people need to realize that their lives are more important than "things".

[strandinthewind]

*GRAPHIC*









What about all the bodies they found in the freezer?

I think they put them there not to hide them, but to stop the smell, disease portential, etc. a make shift grave if you will.

[strandinthewind]

Hopefully, this will help shed light on why FEMA is mostly responsible

__________________________________________________

Sen. Clinton defends call for independent commission

Wednesday, 7:45 a.m.

Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-New York, dismissed any speculation Tuesday that her call for an independent commission to investigate the response to Hurricane Katrina was politically motivated.

Clinton also said she believes the bulk of the investigation should be on the federal level because of the presidential declaration signed two days before Katrina struck.

That declaration put the federal government in the lead to coordinate the response to the disaster.

"I'm primarily interested why the federal government was not more ready, not more able, not more willing" to handle the response to the disaster, she said.

She said an independent commission, one similar to the body organized after 9/11, is crucial because such a commission can include independent experts with different types of expertise to analyze what did and what should have happened in response to the storm.

Clinton also has called for FEMA to be removed from part of the Department of Homeland Security. She said she believes FEMA has slipped over the years because of budget cuts, lost personnel and people in charge who do not have the right kind of experience and expertise.

"Pick one, pick them all," she said. "They added up."

www.nola.com

[dissention]

Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-New York, dismissed any speculation Tuesday that her call for an independent commission to investigate the response to Hurricane Katrina was politically motivated.


:rolleyes:

The only ones who speculated that were the die-hard neocons and the Bush Crime Family/Administration.

[strandinthewind]

:rolleyes:

The only ones who speculated that were the die-hard neocons and the Bush Crime Family/Administration.

Do you ever notice how the Bush Admin. and their puppets like Hannity always always start by saying - "this is politically motivated" and then never explain why the actions that are the subject of the matter are good in any way. Sadly, it seemingly has worked for a long time with them. Look at the dissent on the war in Iraq. The facts as we know now and the Bush Admin. knew then were solidly behind that dissent. Yet, rather than own it, they attack the motivations of the dissenters. Classic Rove.

[strandinthewind]

Imagine DeLay doing something like this :rolleyes:

Delay points to local officials

House cancels hearings; joint panel to look at Katrina response

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The House majority leader late Tuesday tried to deflect criticism of the federal response to Hurricane Katrina by saying "the emergency response system was set up to work from the bottom up," then announced a short time later that House hearings examining that response had been canceled.

Rep. Tom DeLay, R-Texas, said House Republican leaders instead want a joint House-Senate panel set up to conduct a "congressional review" of the issue.

Tempers flared Tuesday during a contentious closed-door meeting between House members and Cabinet secretaries in charge of directing Katrina relief efforts. A Republican representative stood up and said, "All of you deserve failing grades. The response was a disaster," CNN was told by lawmakers emerging from the meeting.

But DeLay countered that assessment later in a news conference by saying that the onus for responding to emergencies fell to local officials.

"It's the local officials trying to handle the problem. When they can't handle the problem, they go to the state, and the state does what they can to, and if they need assistance from FEMA and the federal government they ask for it and it's delivered," DeLay said.

He added that Alabama and Mississippi did a much better job of responding quickly than Louisiana. Alabama and Mississippi have Republican governors.

The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee said Tuesday it has begun an investigation into the government's response to the tragedy. Chairwoman Susan Collins, R-Maine, said she expects public hearings to start next week.

Critics argue that the government took far too long to mobilize aid, causing thousands of storm victims to languish for days in the New Orleans Superdome without food, water and other necessities.

Michael Chertoff, secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has come under intense criticism for the federal response to Katrina. The hurricane and subsequent flooding have devastated the city of New Orleans.

Chertoff, who is heading the federal response to the storm, argued for days after the disaster that no one foresaw such a combination of events -- even though, in fact, lawmakers, scientists, and reporters had long warned that if a major hurricane hit the city it would be a disaster.

Earlier Tuesday, House leaders met with President Bush.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of California told media afterward that she was upset with the Katrina rescue effort and felt that Michael Brown, director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), should shoulder much of the blame, and lacked the credentials to do his good job.

"Michael Brown, the head of FEMA, brings nothing to the table for the level of competence and accountability," Pelosi said. "He should not continue in that job unless we want a continuation of the shortcomings that we have had in the response."

In a memo dated August 29 -- the day Katrina made landfall -- Brown asked Chertoff for 1,000 DHS volunteers willing to deploy as soon as possible "for a two-week minimum field assignment" in hurricane-struck states.

The memo was obtained by the media Tuesday.

In it, Brown writes, "We anticipate needing at least 1,000 additional DHS employees within 48 hours and 2,000 within 7 days."

According to Natalie Rule, a spokeswoman for FEMA, the employees were needed to answer phones, do community relations and help set up field hospitals, what she called "non-emergency tasks." They are not first-responders, she said.

"We already had all of our first-responder teams pre-deployed -- 32 teams in all -- who went in and staged in and around the hurricane zone and were ready to go by Sunday. This is deployment that requires that the governor make a request to the federal government," Rule said.

In closing, Brown says in the memo, "Thank you for your consideration in helping us meet our responsibilities in this near catastrophic event." Attached to the memo is a list of requirements for employees heading to the hurricane area, including personal supplies, contact points and physical requirements.

One part of the attachment advises employees to "convey a positive image of disaster operations to government officials, community organizations and the general public."

Find this article at:
http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/09/07/katrina.congress/index.html

[strandinthewind]

outrages bolded :eek:

FEMA Chief Waited Until After Storm

Wednesday, September 07, 2005

WASHINGTON — The top U.S. disaster official waited hours after Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast before he proposed to his boss sending at least 1,000 Homeland Security workers into the region to support rescuers, internal documents show.

Part of the mission, according to the documents obtained by The Associated Press, was to "convey a positive image" about the government's response for victims.

Acknowledging that such a move would take two days, Michael Brown (search), director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (search), sought the approval from Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff (search) roughly five hours after Katrina made landfall on Aug. 29.

Before then, FEMA had positioned smaller rescue and communications teams across the Gulf Coast. But officials acknowledged the first department-wide appeal for help came only as the storm raged.

Brown's memo to Chertoff described Katrina as "this near catastrophic event" but otherwise lacked any urgent language. The memo politely ended, "Thank you for your consideration in helping us to meet our responsibilities."

The initial responses of the government and Brown came under escalating criticism as the breadth of destruction and death grew. President Bush and Congress on Tuesday pledged separate investigations into the federal response to Katrina.

"Governments at all levels failed," said Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine.

Homeland Security spokesman Russ Knocke said Brown had positioned front-line rescue teams and Coast Guard (search) helicopters before the storm. Brown's memo on Aug. 29 aimed to assemble the necessary federal work force to support the rescues, establish communications, and coordinate with victims and community groups, Knocke said.

Instead of rescuing people or recovering bodies, these employees would focus on helping victims find the help they needed, he said.

"There will be plenty of time to assess what worked and what didn't work," Knocke said. "Clearly there will be time for blame to be assigned and to learn from some of the successful efforts."

Brown's memo told employees that among their duties, they would be expected to "convey a positive image of disaster operations to government officials, community organizations and the general public."

"FEMA response and recovery operations are a top priority of the department and as we know, one of yours," Brown wrote Chertoff. He proposed sending 1,000 Homeland Security Department (search) employees within 48 hours and 2,000 within seven days.

Knocke said the 48-hour period indicated for the Homeland employees was to ensure they had adequate training.

"They were training to help the lifesavers," Knocke said.

Employees required a supervisor's approval and at least 24 hours of disaster training in Maryland, Florida or Georgia.

"You must be physically able to work in a disaster area without refrigeration for medications and have the ability to work in the outdoors all day," Brown wrote.

The same day Brown wrote Chertoff, Brown also urged local fire and rescue departments outside Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi not to send trucks or emergency workers into disaster areas without an explicit request for help from state or local governments. Brown said it was vital to coordinate fire and rescue efforts.

Sen. Barbara Mikulski (search), D-Md., said Tuesday that Brown should resign.

After a senators-only briefing by Chertoff and other Cabinet members, Sen. Charles Schumer (search) said lawmakers weren't getting their questions answered.

"What people up there want to know, Democrats and Republicans, is what is the challenge ahead, how are you handling that and what did you do wrong in the past," said Schumer, D-N.Y.

Meanwhile, the airline industry said the government's request for help evacuating storm victims didn't come until late Thursday afternoon. The president of the Air Transport Association (search), James May, said the Homeland Security Department called then to ask whether the group could participate in an airlift for refugees.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,168634,00.html

[SuzeQuze]

...

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The House majority leader late Tuesday tried to deflect criticism of the federal response to Hurricane Katrina by saying "the emergency response system was set up to work from the bottom up," then announced a short time later that House hearings examining that response had been canceled...

A Republican representative stood up and said, "All of you deserve failing grades. The response was a disaster," CNN was told by lawmakers emerging from the meeting.

Now the Republicans are not united because this incompetence was so blatant.

[Livia]

WTF? Firemen are being called in to do PR for FEMA? WTF? :mad:

[gldstwmn]

I think they put them there not to hide them, but to stop the smell, disease portential, etc. a make shift grave if you will.

I just meant that they would have to include those in the death toll in the Dome.
There are 94,000 people reported missing, according to the Red Cross.

[strandinthewind]

WTF? Firemen are being called in to do PR for FEMA? WTF? :mad:


Welcome to the world of Karl Rove.

[dissention]

Good christ. These nutjobs are down there trying to recruit people and spread the word of Hubbard.

http://www.pressbox.co.uk/detailed/International/Scientology_Official_Help_Hurricane_Katrina_35674.html

http://www.scientology.org/en_US/news-media/briefing/2005/vm/katrina/050906.html

Assists operate on the principle that one tends to withdraw mentally or spiritually from an injured area. Only by restoring communication with this area can one bring the spiritual element into healing, thereby greatly speeding the healing process. Assists are used to alleviate stress and physical aches and pains, or to orient a confused or distraught individual to his present environment. Assists are not "massages." They are techniques developed by L. Ron Hubbard to alleviate the spiritual component of physical pain, shock and emotional trauma.

http://www.pressbox.co.uk/detailed/International/The_NCHRA_Denounces_Scientology_Inc._s_Efforts_to_Prevent_Help_Katrina_Victims_35638.html

The National Coalition of Human Rights Activists has received a copy of a Scientology email that urges Scientology customers and salespeople to rush to Baton Rouge and prevent victims of the disaster from receiving some relief services.

In an email dated Thursday, September 01, 2005 9:33 AM and titled "VMs in Baton Rouge," Scientology Inc.'s email called for Scientology customers to "keep at bay" some relief workers so that Scientology salespeople could get at the disaster refugees to sell them books, specifically "Dianetics."

The secret internal email tells Scientology customers to rush to the disaster site and pose as "grief counselors" before the victims can receive real counseling. The fake "counselors" claimed they have set up a bright yellow tent to attract victims to them. This behavior is called "Casualty Contacting" [1] by the Scientology business, and it is designed to find more customers for the business among the fearful and the desperate.

[strandinthewind]

Even John - lap dog - Gibson is somewhat turing on W :eek:

Louisiana and New Orleans Were Derelict in Their Duty to Their Own People

Tuesday, September 06, 2005

By John Gibson



On Monday I suggested George Bush (search) might want to think about firing some people, perhaps starting with FEMA director Mike Brown (search), mainly for the offense of spending so much time on TV with his foot in his mouth over the slow response to the disaster.

Howls of protest showed up in the e-mail: "How dare you blame Bush. How dare you blame FEMA (search)."

Well, ok, let me be as clear as I can.

The state of Louisiana and the city of New Orleans were absolutely derelict in their duty to their own people. Everybody who lives in a disaster zone knows you can't count of the feds for three days. Forget it, the feds can't get there any faster with any significant relief.

Cities have to get along on their own for a little while. New Orleans knew it and Louisiana knew it.

Yet no state or city official parked a few truckloads of water and MREs [Meals Ready to Eat] at the Superdome or at the convention center, where they knew flood refugees would congregate.

Why do you think the Astrodome in Texas was all set up for thousands of refugees? Because the Astrodome is always set up to take thousands of refugees from Galveston, another place everybody knows will get hammered again someday.

So the pitiful leadership of the Democrat administration in Louisiana and New Orleans gets most of the blame. Nobody should have known better than the locals how vulnerable the city of New Orleans was.

Having said that, I will repeat what I think a lot of people sense: The president has to backstop basket case cities and woefully inadequate mayors and governors.

Sorry, Democrat or Republican, he just does. You can't have Cuba offering assistance to American flood victims.

National Guard or Military choppers should have landed at crowded evacuation points and put water and food on the ground.

But, ultimately, the horror in New Orleans is not as much the fault of George Bush as it is the fault of the governor and the mayor. They are always primarily responsible for their city and they let their city down.

However, Bush should still fire some people. They let the rest of us down, especially the people of New Orleans. And, by the way, they let the president down.

I've been fired a few times. It's not the end of the world. So George, fire somebody.

That's My Word.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,168633,00.html

[dissention]

Even John - lap dog - Gibson is somewhat turing on W :eek:


He is? He places the blame squarely on local officials and then says Shrub should fire the people who let him down. It's a sick read. Did we read the same thing?

[strandinthewind]

He is? He places the blame squarely on local officials and then says Shrub should fire the people who let him down. It's a sick read. Did we read the same thing?

That is why I said somewhat. For Gibson even to question W's decisions in putting faith in the heads of FEMA to me suggests even Fox cannot bury this thing. I get that it is spin away from W, but considering the source, it is tantamount to an attack on W - I mean this a$$ wipes W's a$$ after W's takes a shiitte :laugh:

[SomeKindaMother]

We don't have 'TV' (the kids call it 'channel tv') at home, and my home computer crashed. We have my college daughter's laptop here for a minor repair, so I have just been catching up on all these atrocities. It sickens and repulses me.

We have a small 2 bedroom seperate basement home on our property completely furnished, with kitchen and bathroom... and I want to bring someone here...a small family. I have good friends who called some agency (sorry, don't know who) and offered to go bring a family to live with them, but the offer was refused and they were instead told to send money. I wonder if we can just drive somewhere, pick people up and bring them back? I don't mean to sound stupid, I'm really curious. Do you all think this is a bad idea? I have 5 kids, one in college--4 still at home. We have never done anything like this before, but I don't know really how else to help. What is the best way to help? I could possibly go volunteer somewhere for a week or so? What is the best thing to do?

Kelly

[hayley]

We don't have 'TV' (the kids call it 'channel tv') at home, and my home computer crashed. We have my college daughter's laptop here for a minor repair, so I have just been catching up on all these atrocities. It sickens and repulses me.

We have a small 2 bedroom seperate basement home on our property completely furnished, with kitchen and bathroom... and I want to bring someone here...a small family. I have good friends who called some agency (sorry, don't know who) and offered to go bring a family to live with them, but the offer was refused and they were instead told to send money. I wonder if we can just drive somewhere, pick people up and bring them back? I don't mean to sound stupid, I'm really curious. Do you all think this is a bad idea? I have 5 kids, one in college--4 still at home. We have never done anything like this before, but I don't know really how else to help. What is the best way to help? I could possibly go volunteer somewhere for a week or so? What is the best thing to do?

Kelly
I read about a site that's helping to arrange housing in an article about Curt Schilling's family taking in a family of nine.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2005/09/06/schilling_family_is_hosting_nine_from_new_orleans/

www.openyourhome.com

[SuzeQuze]

We don't have 'TV' (the kids call it 'channel tv') at home, and my home computer crashed. We have my college daughter's laptop here for a minor repair, so I have just been catching up on all these atrocities. It sickens and repulses me.

We have a small 2 bedroom seperate basement home on our property completely furnished, with kitchen and bathroom... and I want to bring someone here...a small family. I have good friends who called some agency (sorry, don't know who) and offered to go bring a family to live with them, but the offer was refused and they were instead told to send money. I wonder if we can just drive somewhere, pick people up and bring them back? I don't mean to sound stupid, I'm really curious. Do you all think this is a bad idea? I have 5 kids, one in college--4 still at home. We have never done anything like this before, but I don't know really how else to help. What is the best way to help? I could possibly go volunteer somewhere for a week or so? What is the best thing to do?

Kelly

There's a lot of info on oprah.com with organizations to talk to. I would get on the phone and talk to these orgs to see what you can do. You are very kind-hearted to think to do this.

[heyjupiter678]

Have you guys read this yet? It's a partial transcript from yesterday's White House press briefing. Poor McClellan. :laugh:

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001055403

[dissention]

We don't have 'TV' (the kids call it 'channel tv') at home, and my home computer crashed. We have my college daughter's laptop here for a minor repair, so I have just been catching up on all these atrocities. It sickens and repulses me.

We have a small 2 bedroom seperate basement home on our property completely furnished, with kitchen and bathroom... and I want to bring someone here...a small family. I have good friends who called some agency (sorry, don't know who) and offered to go bring a family to live with them, but the offer was refused and they were instead told to send money. I wonder if we can just drive somewhere, pick people up and bring them back? I don't mean to sound stupid, I'm really curious. Do you all think this is a bad idea? I have 5 kids, one in college--4 still at home. We have never done anything like this before, but I don't know really how else to help. What is the best way to help? I could possibly go volunteer somewhere for a week or so? What is the best thing to do?

Kelly

Bless your heart if you take a family in. I have a huge place, it's too big for just myself, and was considering doing the same. My landlord said he had no problem with it and said he had a vacant apartment in another building that he had available, but Romney canceled all of the incoming relocations for my state yesterday night. You can go to http://www.openyourhome.com and submit your information and the available space that you have, that's what I did. Just remember that it's a matter of where you live; I'm in MA, so the chances are slim that anyone is going to want to relocate up here. The same would go with Idaho and places like that (they actually relocated a busload of people to Idaho without telling them).

[strandinthewind]

Have you guys read this yet? It's a partial transcript from yesterday's White House press briefing. Poor McClellan. :laugh:

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001055403

Q But, Scott, more concretely, an officer of the Northern Command is quoted as saying that as early as the time Hurricane Katrina went through Florida and worked its way up to the Gulf, there was a massive military response ready to go, but that the President did not order it. It could have been ordered on Sunday, on Monday, on Tuesday -- the call didn't come. Why not?

MR. McCLELLAN: Bill, let's point out a couple of things. There were a lot of assets that were deployed and pre-positioned prior to the hurricane hitting. And you have to look back --

Q These assets were deployed, but the order to use them never came. The Bataan was sitting off behind the hurricane.

MR. McCLELLAN: I know these are all facts that you want to look at and want to determine what went wrong and what went right. I'm not prepared to agree with your assessment just there. There is a much larger picture here that we have to take a look at, and --

Q It's not mine, it's an officer in the Northern Command.

MR. McCLELLAN: -- in terms of the President, the President issued disaster declarations ahead of time so that we could make sure we're fully mobilizing resources and pre-positioning them. But this was a hurricane of unprecedented magnitude.

Q Right, but the military can't go into action without his order.

MR. McCLELLAN: I'll be glad to talk to you about it, but I've got to have a chance to respond to --

:shocked: :eek: :shocked: :eek:

[strandinthewind]

^^^^^^^

Q Well, the President has said that this government can do many things at once: It can fight the war on terror, it can do operations in Iraq, and aid and comfort people in Louisiana. Can it not also find time to begin to hold people accountable? It sounds, Scott, as if the line that you're giving us -- which is, you don't want to answer questions about accountability because there's too much busy work going on --

MR. McCLELLAN: Wrong. No, wrong.

Q -- is a way of ducking accountability.

MR. McCLELLAN: You don't want to take away from the efforts that are going on right now. And if you start getting into that now, you're pulling people out that are helping with the ongoing response, Terry. Not at all. The President made it very clear, I'm going to lead this effort and we're going to make sure we find out what the facts were and what went wrong and what went right. But you don't want to divert resources away from an ongoing response to a major catastrophe. And this is a major catastrophe that we -- and we must remain focused on saving lives and sustaining lives and planning for the long-term. And that's what we're doing.

Q And there are people in Louisiana and Mississippi who are doing that job very well. Your job is to answer the questions.

MR. McCLELLAN: And I have.

Q By saying you won't answer.

_______________________________________________________________

SHEEBUS :eek:

[SuzeQuze]

^^^^^^^

Q Well, the President has said that this government can do many things at once: It can fight the war on terror, it can do operations in Iraq, and aid and comfort people in Louisiana. Can it not also find time to begin to hold people accountable? It sounds, Scott, as if the line that you're giving us -- which is, you don't want to answer questions about accountability because there's too much busy work going on --

MR. McCLELLAN: Wrong. No, wrong.

Q -- is a way of ducking accountability.

MR. McCLELLAN: You don't want to take away from the efforts that are going on right now. And if you start getting into that now, you're pulling people out that are helping with the ongoing response, Terry. Not at all. The President made it very clear, I'm going to lead this effort and we're going to make sure we find out what the facts were and what went wrong and what went right. But you don't want to divert resources away from an ongoing response to a major catastrophe. And this is a major catastrophe that we -- and we must remain focused on saving lives and sustaining lives and planning for the long-term. And that's what we're doing.

Q And there are people in Louisiana and Mississippi who are doing that job very well. Your job is to answer the questions.

MR. McCLELLAN: And I have.

Q By saying you won't answer.

_______________________________________________________________

SHEEBUS :eek:

They've used this bullsh*t repsonse, "now is not the time..." before, but the time never seems to come, does it? Well, this may be the time, this may be it. The media does not want to let the president off the hook.

[dissention]

Q But, Scott, more concretely, an officer of the Northern Command is quoted as saying that as early as the time Hurricane Katrina went through Florida and worked its way up to the Gulf, there was a massive military response ready to go, but that the President did not order it. It could have been ordered on Sunday, on Monday, on Tuesday -- the call didn't come. Why not?

MR. McCLELLAN: Bill, let's point out a couple of things. There were a lot of assets that were deployed and pre-positioned prior to the hurricane hitting. And you have to look back --

Q These assets were deployed, but the order to use them never came. The Bataan was sitting off behind the hurricane.

MR. McCLELLAN: I know these are all facts that you want to look at and want to determine what went wrong and what went right. I'm not prepared to agree with your assessment just there. There is a much larger picture here that we have to take a look at, and --

Q It's not mine, it's an officer in the Northern Command.

MR. McCLELLAN: -- in terms of the President, the President issued disaster declarations ahead of time so that we could make sure we're fully mobilizing resources and pre-positioning them. But this was a hurricane of unprecedented magnitude.

Q Right, but the military can't go into action without his order.

MR. McCLELLAN: I'll be glad to talk to you about it, but I've got to have a chance to respond to --

:shocked: :eek: :shocked: :eek:

Don't be so shocked and ready to use that eeking emoticon, my love. This is Scott McClellan we're talking about, Bush's ultimate bitch. His job is to keep hammering away at the same illogical points, no matter what the question is, and not to deviate from the script that says a whole lot of nothing in a jumble of small and stupid words.

However, it's f*cking fantastic to see the Press Corps. finally growing some cajones and firing away.

[SuzeQuze]

Don't be so shocked and ready to use that eeking emoticon, my love. This is Scott McClellan we're talking about, Bush's ultimate bitch. His job is to keep hammering away at the same illogical points, no matter what the question is, and not to deviate from the script that says a whole lot of nothing in a jumble of small and stupid words.

However, it's f*cking fantastic to see the Press Corps. finally growing some cajones and firing away.

Right! Where were those fabulous organs for the past 5 years!!!??? Well, they're here now, hopefully to stay.

[strandinthewind]

Don't be so shocked and ready to use that eeking emoticon, my love. This is Scott McClellan we're talking about, Bush's ultimate bitch. His job is to keep hammering away at the same illogical points, no matter what the question is, and not to deviate from the script that says a whole lot of nothing in a jumble of small and stupid words.

However, it's f*cking fantastic to see the Press Corps. finally growing some cajones and firing away.

That Esprit de Corps is what the :shocked: and :eek: were for.

[strandinthewind]

They've used this bullsh*t repsonse, "now is not the time..." before, but the time never seems to come, does it? Well, this may be the time, this may be it. The media does not want to let the president off the hook.

and HELLO - we and hopefully they can chew gum and walk at the same time :shrug: I mean the Pres. can obviously multi-task enough to go to a Repub. fundraiser while citizens he has sworn to protect are dying :shrug:

[dissention]

That Esprit de Corps is what the :shocked: and :eek: were for.

Well, in that case:

:shocked: :eek: :shocked: :eek: :shocked:

[dissention]

and HELLO - we and hopefully they can chew gum and walk at the same time :shrug: I mean the Pres. can obviously multi-task enough to go to a Repub. fundraiser while citizens he has sworn to protect are dying :shrug:

He can't even eat a pretzel and watch a football game at the same time, honey.

[GypsySorcerer]

True Majority is joining forces with Community Labor United (CLU) to create a People's Hurricane Fund, which will be administered by the New Orleans evacuees themselves. Here is the link: https://secure.truemajority.org/03/clu

[dissention]

http://www.nola.com/weblogs/print.ssf?/mtlogs/nola_Times-Picayune/archives/print076556.html
Bush visit halts food delivery
By Michelle Krupa
Staff writer

Three tons of food ready for delivery by air to refugees in St. Bernard Parish and on Algiers Point sat on the Crescent City Connection bridge Friday afternoon as air traffic was halted because of President Bush’s visit to New Orleans, officials said.

The provisions, secured by U.S. Rep. Charlie Melancon, D-Napoleonville, and state Agriculture Commissioner Bob Odom, baked in the afternoon sun as Bush surveyed damage across southeast Louisiana five days after Katrina made landfall as a Category 4 storm, said Melancon’s chief of staff, Casey O’Shea.

“We had arrangements to airlift food by helicopter to these folks, and now the food is sitting in trucks because they won’t let helicopters fly,” O’Shea said Friday afternoon.

The food was expected to be in the hands of storm survivors after the president left the devastated region Friday night, he said.

[amber]

http://www.nola.com/weblogs/print.ssf?/mtlogs/nola_Times-Picayune/archives/print076556.html
Bush visit halts food delivery
By Michelle Krupa
Staff writer

Three tons of food ready for delivery by air to refugees in St. Bernard Parish and on Algiers Point sat on the Crescent City Connection bridge Friday afternoon as air traffic was halted because of President Bush’s visit to New Orleans, officials said.

The provisions, secured by U.S. Rep. Charlie Melancon, D-Napoleonville, and state Agriculture Commissioner Bob Odom, baked in the afternoon sun as Bush surveyed damage across southeast Louisiana five days after Katrina made landfall as a Category 4 storm, said Melancon’s chief of staff, Casey O’Shea.

“We had arrangements to airlift food by helicopter to these folks, and now the food is sitting in trucks because they won’t let helicopters fly,” O’Shea said Friday afternoon.

The food was expected to be in the hands of storm survivors after the president left the devastated region Friday night, he said.
:eek:
Aaaaaand it just keeps getting better.

[SuzeQuze]

FEMA lost all the records for who in NO was on foodstamps. I hate that "org". Brownie and Bushie have a special place in hell all their own.

[dissention]

FEMA lost all the records for who in NO was on foodstamps. I hate that "org". Brownie and Bushie have a special place in hell all their own.

Oh, not to worry, silly! They're all getting debit cards with two grand on them. Them poor colored people are rich now!

:rolleyes:

[strandinthewind]

Oh, not to worry, silly! They're all getting debit cards with two grand on them. Them poor colored people are rich now!

:rolleyes:

Well, the debit cards are a good thing :shrug: Sorry, if I misundertood the implication.

[dissention]

Well, the debit cards are a good thing :shrug: Sorry, if I misundertood the implication.

Give them three acres and a mule or two and they'll be all set.

Something about it reeks to me. Homeland Security is "organizing" it. It'll be interesting to see what the fine print is and how these cards actually go down.

[strandinthewind]

Give them three acres and a mule or two and they'll be all set.

Something about it reeks to me. Homeland Security is "organizing" it. It'll be interesting to see what the fine print is and how these cards actually go down.

I guess I saw it as a good thing because of the help cash can provide. But, I agree, let's see the fine print.

[Livia]

Police looting vid - in case it hasn't been posted already and/or you haven't seen it yet. It's both amusing AND appalling! :cool:

http://www.zippyvideos.com/8911023771013466/countdown-looting-in-walmart/400k

[amber]

Something about it reeks to me. Homeland Security is "organizing" it. It'll be interesting to see what the fine print is and how these cards actually go down.
What do you mean? The people here get cards instead of paper food stamps. :confused: Or are you just questioning that they will actually get these cards? Or some other point that I missed?

[estranged4life]

Good christ. These nutjobs are down there trying to recruit people and spread the word of Hubbard.

Assists operate on the principle that one tends to withdraw mentally or spiritually from an injured area. Only by restoring communication with this area can one bring the spiritual element into healing, thereby greatly speeding the healing process. Assists are used to alleviate stress and physical aches and pains, or to orient a confused or distraught individual to his present environment. Assists are not "massages." They are techniques developed by L. Ron Hubbard to alleviate the spiritual component of physical pain, shock and emotional trauma.
[/I]

but my local news (Channel 5 KOCO Oklahoma City) has been down there since 2 days before the hurricane reached shore (They showed some unbelievable footage of the storm surge that looked as deadly as anything I have ever seen Mother nature produce) and the scientologists were there even then hocking their "massages".

The bad thing channel 5 showed were children receiving these "assists".

[dissention]

What do you mean? The people here get cards instead of paper food stamps. :confused: Or are you just questioning that they will actually get these cards? Or some other point that I missed?

I'm questioning how these cards are going to go down and be distributed, considering that it's the federal government issuing them. I'd like to see the fine print, because it's pretty much a guarantee that these won't be issued with no strings attached.

[dissention]

but my local news (Channel 5 KOCO Oklahoma City) has been down there since 2 days before the hurricane reached shore (They showed some unbelievable footage of the storm surge that looked as deadly as anything I have ever seen Mother nature produce) and the scientologists were there even then hocking their "massages".

The bad thing channel 5 showed were children receiving these "assists".

Gawd, it's sickening. How those ****tards can see this as a business opportunity is a mystery to me.

[estranged4life]

What do you mean? The people here get cards instead of paper food stamps. :confused: Or are you just questioning that they will actually get these cards? Or some other point that I missed?

you get a card (Instead of the old paper food stamps) that looks identical to a credit/debit card, And you can view how much of a balance is left once you make your purchase.

Again my local news last night showed a NOLA citizen, who has been contacting FEMA for help...To no avail., He did not even know about the cards until the journalist told him, his reply was simple & to the point:

"How are the citizens supposed to find out anything from them (FEMA) when they dont even have a clue..."

[amber]

I'm questioning how these cards are going to go down and be distributed, considering that it's the federal government issuing them. I'd like to see the fine print, because it's pretty much a guarantee that these won't be issued with no strings attached.
well, if they are already food stamp recipients, I don't see huge problems. I actually think they will be no strings. But you are right, we'll see.

[dissention]

you get a card (Instead of the old paper food stamps) that looks identical to a credit/debit card, And you can view how much of a balance is left once you make your purchase.

Again my local news last night showed a NOLA citizen, who has been contacting FEMA for help...To no avail., He did not even know about the cards until the journalist told him, his reply was simple & to the point:

"How are the citizens supposed to find out anything from them (FEMA) when they dont even have a clue..."

It's recently been reported that FEMA lost all public assistance records for LA. How they managed that is a mystery.

[estranged4life]

Gawd, it's sickening. How those ****tards can see this as a business opportunity is a mystery to me.

religion is a business...And a f**ktarded one too (That's why I havent been to a church, on my own accord for over 17 years...Aint planning on changing it. Oh, And I am NOT condemning all religions and/or churches, Just the ones that are in my area, The ones I call the "hypocrite brigades".)

Speaking of crap locally, I saw a piece on channel 5 where a certain town here in Oklahoma is concerned with the possible of influx of the citizens of NOLA to their town (Who will be staying at a local rescue mission) bringing in "trouble makers & drug dealers who may burn the town down"...Utter & unbelievably asscracking B.S.!!!!

[SuzeQuze]

It's recently been reported that FEMA lost all public assistance records for LA. How they managed that is a mystery.

I don't believe them. Though I'm not sure what the motivation would be for hiding them.

[dissention]

I don't believe them. Though I'm not sure what the motivation would be for hiding them.

I don't believe them, either, we'll just have to wait and see. Ed Schultz reported it less than an hour ago when he had a rep from AZ on.

[SuzeQuze]

I don't believe them, either, we'll just have to wait and see. Ed Schultz reported it less than an hour ago when he had a rep from AZ on.

Geez, I heard Ed say that about the food stamp records but I didn't realize it was ALL records. Ed is pissed, he is usually very fair in not spinning things but there isn't any spin this time anyway. They really effed up, as everyone knows now. Ed is just pissed that they are even trying to put a positive spin on things. If anyone wants to hear him, he's streaming from his site http://www.bigeddieradio.com/. He used to be a righty.

[strandinthewind]

It's recently been reported that FEMA lost all public assistance records for LA. How they managed that is a mystery.

Maybe they are with W's missing military service records :rolleyes: Do they really think the public is going to fall for this crap :mad:

[dissention]

Geez, I heard Ed say that about the food stamp records but I didn't realize it was ALL records. Ed is pissed, he is usually very fair in not spinning things but there isn't any spin this time anyway. They really effed up, as everyone knows now. Ed is just pissed that they are even trying to put a positive spin on things. If anyone wants to hear him, he's streaming from his site http://www.bigeddieradio.com/. He used to be a righty.

He tore that AZ rep a new asshole, did you hear it? :lol:

"THIS IS SOCIAL ENGINEERING!!!!!"

[SuzeQuze]

He tore that AZ rep a new asshole, did you hear it? :lol:

"THIS IS SOCIAL ENGINEERING!!!!!"

Oh no, I didn't. I love this man, he looks like a righty, speaks like a righty (meaning he's a tough middle-aged white man who will say what he wants), but he's one of us. :nod: I wish I caught that, I keep switching to music, back and forth, cuz I can't get anything done listening to talk radio! My job entails a lot of reading.

[dissention]

Video clip: http://www.canofun.com/blog/videos/pelosibushdangerous.wmv

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050907/ap_on_go_pr_wh/katrina_washington_35

At a news conference, Pelosi, D-Calif., said Bush's choice for head of the
Federal Emergency Management Agency had "absolutely no credentials."

She related that she had urged Bush at the White House on Tuesday to fire Michael Brown.

"He said 'Why would I do that?'" Pelosi said.

"'I said because of all that went wrong, of all that didn't go right last week.' And he said 'What didn't go right?'"

[amber]

Video clip: http://www.canofun.com/blog/videos/pelosibushdangerous.wmv

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050907/ap_on_go_pr_wh/katrina_washington_35

At a news conference, Pelosi, D-Calif., said Bush's choice for head of the
Federal Emergency Management Agency had "absolutely no credentials."

She related that she had urged Bush at the White House on Tuesday to fire Michael Brown.

"He said 'Why would I do that?'" Pelosi said.

"'I said because of all that went wrong, of all that didn't go right last week.' And he said 'What didn't go right?'"
:shocked: :shocked: :shocked:
The people who were in the zones are going to be sooooo much more pissed when they find all of this out. Not only did they live through it, but our gov't is saying the most ignorant, hateful things about it, as well.

[Moony]

Jason, is it absolutely necessary to have a sig that takes up half the page?!!! :wavey: :laugh:

[strandinthewind]

Jason, is it absolutely necessary to have a sig that takes up half the page?!!! :wavey: :laugh:


Well, the message is impt. :laugh:

I think I have it resized now with much help from :angel: Amber

But, if anyone can make it half that size - please do so. I tried with no success!!!!!!

[Moony]

Well, the message is impt. :laugh:

I think I have it resized now with much help from :angel: Amber

But, if anyone can make it half that size - please do so. I tried with no success!!!!!!
:laugh: it looks fine now

And he said 'What didn't go right?'"
Well, there's a huge shock.

[dissention]

In case anyone is interested and wants to watch some good news, Anderson Cooper is doing his show on families looking for their loved ones and families being reunited tonight. Should be a good show.

[amber]

Well, the message is impt. :laugh:

I think I have it resized now with much help from :angel: Amber

But, if anyone can make it half that size - please do so. I tried with no success!!!!!!
I think it looks fine, too, but I could make it a little smaller. The thing is, you can barely read the Mark Twain quote as it is. :shrug:

[SuzeQuze]

In case anyone is interested and wants to watch some good news, Anderson Cooper is doing his show on families looking for their loved ones and families being reunited tonight. Should be a good show.

Speaking of Mr Cooper http://www2.oprah.com/tows/slide/200509/20050907/slide_20050907_109.jhtml

[SuzeQuze]

Well, the message is impt. :laugh:

I think I have it resized now with much help from :angel: Amber

But, if anyone can make it half that size - please do so. I tried with no success!!!!!!

Here you go sweetie, resized and optimized.

On edit: Actually, it looks like this is the same size Amber's was. You can crop it and then just type the quote below it.

[dissention]

Speaking of Mr Cooper http://www2.oprah.com/tows/slide/200509/20050907/slide_20050907_109.jhtml

Oh, I <3 him so. He's practically a hero. I saw him on Oprah and they put together a bunch of clips of his coverage of this; it was very good. He was also on Nancy Grace last night and said he wasn't leaving any time soon because he wanted to document the unbelievable things going on.

[amber]

Oh, I <3 him so. He's practically a hero. I saw him on Oprah and they put together a bunch of clips of his coverage of this; it was very good. He was also on Nancy Grace last night and said he wasn't leaving any time soon because he wanted to document the unbelievable things going on.
Very cool. I don't have cable so I never get to see him. How was Oprah today? I usually don't get home from work till 4:50

[BTFLCHLD]

Here you go sweetie, resized and optimized. On edit: Actually, it looks like this is the same size Amber's was. You can crop it and then just type the quote below it.

maybe this will work...good luck!

[dissention]

Very cool. I don't have cable so I never get to see him.

Oy, he's the best. I always loved him before, but damn, his coverage of this has me positively smitten with him as a journalist and fellow human being.

How was Oprah today? I usually don't get home from work till 4:50

It was another great show. :nod: Her site will have parts of the show on it tonight just like yesterday, no doubt.

[gldstwmn]

That Esprit de Corps is what the :shocked: and :eek: were for.

That sig is fantastic.

[gldstwmn]

:shocked: :shocked: :shocked:
The people who were in the zones are going to be sooooo much more pissed when they find all of this out. Not only did they live through it, but our gov't is saying the most ignorant, hateful things about it, as well.

Ugh. I'm convinced he's drugged, delusional or both.

[gldstwmn]

In case anyone is interested and wants to watch some good news, Anderson Cooper is doing his show on families looking for their loved ones and families being reunited tonight. Should be a good show.

Did you see when he held up the t shirt that someone had made with Hotel Rwanda written on it?

[dissention]

Did you see when he held up the t shirt that someone had made with Hotel Rwanda written on it?

Yes. :nod:

Did you see the piece on the blind woman who they wouldn't allow to take her seeing eye dog? I couldn't believe that. Thank heavens she refused to go until they let her dog go with her. And when Anderson interviewed the doctor and stressed how mothers and children and babies died because the response to this was so atrocious? Hoo boy.

Have you seen that video of Charmaine Neville that's floating around? It will chill you to the bone.

[SuzeQuze]

Sean Penn said that he and his group saved about 40 people from the waters of NO. He said the boat never sank as was reported. He waded in the water to get to some.

He refrained from placing blame for the lack of help, which he said he was doing while very conflicted, because the Lt Governor thought that was best and Sean has admired how he's handled things. He was on Larry King.

So was Anderson Cooper. Larry asked him if he needed a break, he said he and everyone else down there was committed to the story and he wouldn't be leaving any time soon. He had a surgical mask hanging around his neck.

John Walsh said that he hopes the American media doesn't tire of the story in a few days because it is very important to document everything and help as many people as possible.

Macy Gray was singing Redemption Song to close the show.

[gldstwmn]

Yes. :nod:
Have you seen that video of Charmaine Neville that's floating around? It will chill you to the bone.

I've only heard the audio.

[gldstwmn]

Macy Gray was singing Redemption Song to close the show.

It was gorgeous. :nod:

[gldstwmn]

http://www.thehill.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/Frontpage/090705/witt.html

Witt makes presence known in La.
t didn’t take long for James Lee Witt, the former head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to throw his weight around in hurricane-ravaged Louisiana.

Witt, who headed FEMA during the Clinton administration, has been hired by Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco (D) to help coordinate state and federal responses to the natural disaster.

Blanco introduced Witt to President Bush on Monday, according to a source who has spoken with Witt. Bush promised Witt whatever support he needed and said that Mike Brown, FEMA’s embattled director, is his man in charge.

Andrew Card, Bush’s chief of staff, called Witt to give him his home phone number and reiterate Bush’s support.

According to the source, Witt told Brown, “Mike, you’re going to do your job, and I’m going to make you do your job. And I’m going to show you how to do your job.”

Many lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are pleased that Witt, who contributed thousands of dollars to congressional Democrats last year, is involved in the disaster-relief effort.

Over the past several years, GOP lawmakers have sought Witt’s counsel, including Reps. Bill Shuster (Pa.), Christopher Shays (Conn.) and Jerry Lewis (Calif.).

“James Lee Witt was an outstanding director of FEMA and is a good choice by the governor, regardless of the activities of FEMA,” said former Rep. Bob Livingston (R-La.), who is now a top lobbyist.

Witt met with Shuster and Shays earlier this summer to discuss the fallout of removing FEMA’s emergency-preparedness function from its mission.

As fires raged in his congressional district in 2003, Lewis — who had chaired the appropriations subcommittee that funds FEMA when Witt was FEMA’s chief — became frustrated with the agency because it did not respond to the disaster as quickly as it should have, said Lewis spokesman Jim Specht.

“[Lewis’s] biggest concern was that FEMA hadn’t been able to come up with a plan” to prepare for a disaster, Specht added.

Lewis relied on Witt to help cajole FEMA’s bureaucracy to plan for what could have become a federal disaster area. Lewis and Brown eventually toured the vicinity in a helicopter.

After a week of mixed signals and non-communication, state and federal officials began holding joint press conferences, set up a joint command structure, worked to restore cell-phone coverage to the area and prepared to restore electrical power in New Orleans by stationing an additional 1,000 firefighters in case there were fires when the power came on.

For the first 45 to 60 days, Witt is working on a pro-bono basis for the state of Louisiana. After that, a contract will be negotiated, said a spokeswoman for Witt.

The spokeswoman added, “Witt is going to be the Bush administration’s knight in shining armor.”

“FEMA has never been without criticism, but it was once much more nimble, as it needs to be, and now is apparently becoming a responsive afterthought,” said former Rep. Ken Bentsen (D-Texas), who often dealt with FEMA when tropical storms and hurricanes flooded Houston and who credited Joe Allbaugh, Bush’s first FEMA director, for responding effectively to Tropical Storm Allison in 2001.

“Congress should look into this quickly and employ some management expertise to boot,” Bentsen said.

Witt left the government in 2001 to start his own consulting and lobbying shop.

[Mad4stevie]

There are 10,000 people who are refusing to evacuate?????!!!!! :shocked:

My God. I had no idea that many were left in the city.

[gldstwmn]

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/wn_report/story/344004p-293718c.html

FEMA packed with W's pals

[amber]

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/wn_report/story/344004p-293718c.html

FEMA packed with W's pals
So obvious, so disgusting.

[amber]

That is completely devastating.
I knew before, but the psychological impact for all the people who've seen what they have is going to be incomprehensible.

[strandinthewind]

Here you go sweetie, resized and optimized.

On edit: Actually, it looks like this is the same size Amber's was. You can crop it and then just type the quote below it.


Mucho Mucho!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[strandinthewind]

That sig is fantastic.

and you KNOW the real sheep(s) - They sooooo love the Towers :laugh:

[strandinthewind]

Congressman Reports More Than 100 Died In A Warehouse, Waiting For Rescue

POSTED: 2:00 pm CDT September 7, 2005
UPDATED: 2:13 pm CDT September 7, 2005

NEW ORLEANS -- Even as crews in New Orleans try to find and count the corpses that are decaying in the 90-degree heat, reports of the extent of the tragedy are starting to emerge.

A Louisiana congressman said more than 100 people died at a warehouse along a New Orleans dock. U.S. Rep. Charlie Melancon said they died as they waited for rescuers to take them to safety.

And a state lawmaker says 30 people died at a flooded-out nursing home just outside New Orleans.

Nita Hutter said the staff had left the residents behind in their beds.

A rescue that was supposed to take place never happened.

www.wdsu.com

:eek:

[Moony]

Congressman Reports More Than 100 Died In A Warehouse, Waiting For Rescue

POSTED: 2:00 pm CDT September 7, 2005
UPDATED: 2:13 pm CDT September 7, 2005

NEW ORLEANS -- Even as crews in New Orleans try to find and count the corpses that are decaying in the 90-degree heat, reports of the extent of the tragedy are starting to emerge.

A Louisiana congressman said more than 100 people died at a warehouse along a New Orleans dock. U.S. Rep. Charlie Melancon said they died as they waited for rescuers to take them to safety.

And a state lawmaker says 30 people died at a flooded-out nursing home just outside New Orleans.

Nita Hutter said the staff had left the residents behind in their beds.

A rescue that was supposed to take place never happened.

www.wdsu.com

:eek:

that is absolutely disgusting.