43rd President of the United States lands in NOLA to help evac efforts

[JazmenFlowers]

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

Well, considering they had a gay hooker in their for a few years, you might want to use gloves

"Lord chile, that's just turrible - I be so embarrased behind what I had did" - Shirley Q. Liquor

[Brwn_eyes0511]

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

I agree, but your inability to say that W screwed up is a little hard to take - and mind you I defended his initial actions through FEMA, which were great and I stand by that. But, all this "let's all work together" talk is sort of to me the ostrich's head in the sand. If we did not complain, W would have done as little as he could. That is frighteningly obvious in that he could not be bothered to send in the calvary for five days. To put it in perspective, people were able to drive to NOLA on Tuesday and many many offers of help on Monday were just ignored or refused by FEMA. So, it is a little hard for everyone to work together when the big dog doesn't want to continue unless public opinion forces him to

And, I agree, though he is doing a great thing, Gore looks odd as he always does.

I really do understand what you are saying...and you prehaps are the most open minded individual here at the ledge...and you have always been since I have been around here! I am just honestly not trying to place the blame anywhere...I think we all realize that things could have worked out better and actions could have been taken to better prepare for this disaster (starting years ago!)...and also better steps could have been taken after the hurricane had past, to rescue those left behind! I just would like to see everyone safe right now...

[strandinthewind]

Originally Posted by Brwn_eyes0511

I really do understand what you are saying...and you prehaps are the most open minded individual here at the ledge...and you have always been since I have been around here! I am just honestly not trying to place the blame anywhere...I think we all realize that things could have worked out better and actions could have been taken to better prepare for this disaster (starting years ago!)...and also better steps could have been taken after the hurricane had past, to rescue those left behind! I just would like to see everyone safe right now...

Thanks for the compliment

I guess I can, to quote Bill Maher, "chew gum and walk at the same time" (obvious levity ) - I mean I want everyone to be safe as well. However, I truly believe had it not been for the enormous public outcry, these tens of thousands of evacuees would still be sitting in exccrement (theirs and others') waiting for longer than the five outrageous days they had to wait. So, the outcry has been productive and helped achieve the goal of safety rather than hinder it

I remember when people were getting accused of being traitors for daring to speak out against the invasion of Iraq. Well, it turns out they were correct on all accounts. I now wish in hindsight more had complained and maybe that error could have been prevented. But, in all that complaining, I wanted the troops to be safe, etc. The two are mutually exclusive to me.

[irishgrl]

The Monkey Boy is a disgrace. someone needs to take away ALL the bananas.
The way I see it, those dunderheads that called the war protestors "traitors" must have known deep down we were right because their knee jerk reaction was so infantile.

I live smack in the middle of conservative country here, and you wouldnt believe the crap they spew in defense of the poseur. And all the Bush/Cheney bumperstickers...and the ubiquitous "support our troops" ribbons, good grief!

Im tellin ya, the EMPEROR HAS NO CLOTHES!!!

[dissention]

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

Thanks for the compliment

I guess I can, to quote Bill Maher, "chew gum and walk at the same time"

Chew gum and walk at the same time? It's too bad Shrub can't even eat a pretzel and watch a football game at the same time.

[dissention]

For anyone who missed it, here's the transcript of Celine. As annoying as that woman can be when she sings, you really had to see her on Larry King last night; she was incredibly moving and forcefully expressed what most don't have the balls to on national television. It was comforting to see her break down and weep like that.

KING: Joining us now is an old and dear friend, Celine Dion, the musical superstar. She's in her dressing room at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas. She will go on stage in about a half hour. She and the director of her wonderful show, a show I've seen, Franco Dragone, have donated by the way, pledged $1 million to the American Red Cross.

What has been your response, Celine, to this? I especially ask this because you're French Canadian from Montreal and New Orleans is a mostly French city.

CELINE DION, SINGER: Correct and I've been there a few times. We've stayed there. I've, you know, filmed videos there and so Rene and I, we've been to New Orleans. And, I have to say, Larry, that and state it as the rest of the world if I may I was watching you behind, there's a television right now, I'm watching and I'm especially waiting like the rest of the world.

I'm waking up in the morning. I'm having a coffee. I barely can swallow it. I come here at Caesar's Palace every night to perform. I barely can sing. But for respect the people who come I am still singing. When I come home at night, my son is waiting for me. I watch television.

Yes, we gave $1 million but what we expect, what I want to look like the rest of the world, I open the television there's people still there waiting to be rescued and for me it's not acceptable. I know there's reasons for it. I'm sorry to say I'm being rude but I don't want to hear those reasons.

You know, some people are stealing and they're making a big deal out of it. Oh, they're stealing 20 pair of jeans or they're stealing television sets. Who cares? They're not going to go too far with it. Maybe those people are so poor, some of the people who do that they're so poor they've never touched anything in their lives. Let them touch those things for once.

The main thing right now it's not the people who are stealing. It's the people who are left there and they're watching helicopters flying over their heads and they're praying. How come it's so easy to send planes in another country to kill everyone in a second, to destroy lives?

We need to serve our country and for me to serve our country is to be there right now to rescue the rest of the people. We need the cash. We need the blood. We need the support. Right now we need the prayers.

You know when I was hearing a couple of days ago that these things are not reachable it's too full of water, maybe I'm too much like my -- I'm not thinking with my head. I'm talking with my heart. Nobody can open any roofs? The helicopters flying in take two people at a time, take a kayak. Go into those walls.

There's kids being raped at night. They hear gunshots, big guns, what's that? Those people are praying. They're walking. They're like this, hello, do you see us? We're still alive but we're dying. It's terrible.

KING: Celine.

DION: I do not want to talk to you about money.

KING: How do you explain it to your young son?

DION: Well, I have to (INADUIBLE).

KING: Are you OK?

DION: Yes, Rene Charles knows because sometimes he watches televisions with me and I'm saying to him those people went through a big storm and they will be fine because I know at the end they'll be fine and I hope and we're all praying for them. I'm trying not to put to Rene Charles something so dramatic and that's why I'm sorry for crying so hard because I'm holding it for the last week and I'm trying to tell my son that everything is going to be OK. But I see those mothers over there, they're like (INAUDIBLE).

KING: But look at this thins way, Celine, though a lot of people, we've been doing the show now for two and a half hours. We've been asking a lot of people how they can help, how you can help? A lot of people all over the world want to help. You gave $1 million.

You're going to help a lot of people live and survive. You should take great pride in that, one, that you've attained the ability to be able to do that, to be able to give $1 million. You should take pride in that.

DION: I understand it. I understand it's very important because eventually they will need that money but it's just very frustrating that Franco and (INAUDIBLE) and me oh $1 million. This is one thing.

In three months, in six months they will need that money. Right now they're praying for water so we need to send them the water. They don't care about my check. So, it's just frustrating because in our part of the world we're trying our best and we're expecting those people -- I'm sorry.

KING: Your check will turn into something. I know you got to go on soon but we couldn't spend any time with you without asking you, do you have any kind of thing you would like to sing that fits this moment? Is there any song?

DION: Oh, my gosh.

KING: Even if you did a little of it. I don't want to...

DION: Well, the only song that comes to my mind right now is definitely a prayer. I did sing that song a few weeks -- a few years back with Andrea Bocelli.

KING: Ah, yes.

DION: And I cannot think -- I cannot think about a song but a prayer. I will do my very best and I'll do my best.

(CELINE SINGS "THE PRAYER")

DION: God bless them all.

KING: Thank you, Celine. Celine Dion, she'll go on stage in 20 minutes. There's a trooper.

[trackaghost]

Everything Celine said was spot on.

Honestly I don't care if I get people's backs up because I'm not from the US, but what has been going on, or rather not going on, in New Orleans is disgraceful.

Five days is unacceptable in my eyes. Bush should be ashamed at his response to this crisis. Everyone has been watching what's going on the US here in the UK and it's just unbelievable to us the government of the world's richest nation cannot help its own people. There is no reason why these people should have been without food and water for five days, and that things should have lapsed into this chaos.

I don't know what the political climate is like over there in the States right now (your news and everything is so different to ours), but is there the feeling that this will be the end of Bush?

[dissention]

Originally Posted by trackaghost

I don't know what the political climate is like over there in the States right now (your news and everything is so different to ours), but is there the feeling that this will be the end of Bush?

People here are just as furious that the government that we fund with our own pocketbooks is allowing the death and sufering that's going on down there. This country should be ashamed of itself. We have Guardsmen playing card games down in New Orleans while people are being beaten, raped, mugged, and dying painful deaths. That being said, I don't think that it will really be the end of Bush, it will more than likely be the end of any political power or leverage that he had before this happened. There's going to be a reckoning for all of this and his second-term agenda is going to be obliterated.

I can only imagine what the effects of this will be in terms of how the rest of the world sees us. I literally pray that no one thinks that the people of this country are as coldhearted and unloving as our government, because that's not the case.

[trackaghost]

Originally Posted by dissention

I can only imagine what the effects of this will be in terms of how the rest of the world sees us. I literally pray that no one thinks that the people of this country are as coldhearted and unloving as our government, because that's not the case.

I don't think anyone thinks that, it's the government's response which is bewildering to us. It's in times of crisis that great leaders really shine and I think this has just shown Bush to be incapable of helping his own people IMO.

[gldstwmn]

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

I agree,

Actually, under Clinton's FEMA director James Lee Witt, the levee project was getting worked on and implemented. I've got the links, if you want to read them.

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

And, I agree, though he is doing a great thing, Gore looks odd as he always does.

True, it's not the greatest picture of Al but I sure didn't see any pictures of Bush breaking a sweat like that.

[gldstwmn]

Originally Posted by Lux

And what exactly is the point of tax in this case? What is the point of having a government here? Of course I know the point, the actual answers to those questions but when it comes to the time that the government is not doing the job it exists to do, what is its point?

Well you see Lux, we keep cutting taxes and our government is in more debt than it ever has been and the war in Iraq is costing us a fortune.
I think your question may be better served if it is changed to 'What is the point of this administration?' Ya know?

[gldstwmn]

Originally Posted by JazmenFlowers

I'm not putting it on Bush alone.

Once he declared a state of emergency and mobilized FEMA, it was his responsiblity to the citizens of NOLA and the other afflicted areas to see that the mission was carried out. We have had many, many reports of help being turned away? Why?

[gldstwmn]

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

Thanks for the compliment

I guess I can, to quote Bill Maher, "chew gum and walk at the same time" (obvious levity ) - I mean I want everyone to be safe as well. However, I truly believe had it not been for the enormous public outcry, these tens of thousands of evacuees would still be sitting in exccrement (theirs and others') waiting for longer than the five outrageous days they had to wait.

FYI, I'm still watching them being plucked off their rooftops this morning.

[gldstwmn]

Originally Posted by trackaghost

I don't know what the political climate is like over there in the States right now (your news and everything is so different to ours), but is there the feeling that this will be the end of Bush?

Yes.


10 10 10

[gldstwmn]

http://www.knoxnews.com/kns/local_ne...054083,00.html

Haven from fury Mercy Flight Brings Evacuees to ET
Gore accompanies about 140 arrivals from New Orleans but declines to take credit

By ROBERT WILSON, [email protected]
September 4, 2005


They saw nature's unmatched fury up close.
Now they would see unbridled human compassion.

About 140 people - mostly elderly and infirm - arrived Saturday at McGhee Tyson Airport on a chartered mercy flight from hurricane-ravaged New Orleans, welcomed to East Tennessee by a bright sun and a host of medical professionals straining at the reins to help their fellow human beings without regard to whether they were on the clock.

The displaced hurricane victims came to Tennessee on a hastily arranged flight, accompanied by doctors and carrying whatever they had in boxes, bags or, in one case, an old suitcase tied up with rope.

Former Vice President Al Gore arranged the flight and was on board, but he declined to take credit for the airlift, fearing it would be "politicized."

The patients and evacuees arrived aboard an American Airlines MD-80 about 3:15 p.m. The unloading process took almost two hours, as some walked hesitantly down a staircase beneath the rear of the aircraft. Others were rolled down a ramp from the front of the plane to waiting wheelchairs. Personnel from Rural/Metro and the Tennessee Air National Guard volunteered their services, as did others, to get the patients and evacuees loaded onto buses or ambulances for the ride to area hospitals to be assessed medically before going to a Red Cross shelter.

On hand to help with the operation were Knox County Mayor Mike Ragsdale and his wife, Claudia, still decked out in orange from having attended the University of Tennessee football game against Alabama-Birmingham. The county's first couple assisted medical staff in shuttling patients from the ramp to buses.

One of the doctors on board the flight was Dr. Anderson Spickard of Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, who said he had a "personal and professional" relationship with Gore.

Spickard said Gore called him about 11 p.m. Friday to ask him to participate in the flight.

"The jet was chartered," he said. "It was a private effort."

Gore chartered the plane, but, Spickard said, "we'll decide who pays for it later."

The doctor said the patients on the plane traveled well and added that he was "pleased" with Knoxville and Knox County's response to the call for help.

The patients, he said, "didn't know what kindness" they would receive here.

Spickard said the plane would leave McGhee Tyson Saturday evening for Dallas, where he would spend the night before making another mercy flight, possibly to Chattanooga, Nashville or Chicago.

The plan had been to make two flights Saturday, Spickard said, but delays in getting to Knoxville meant that the plane could not get back to New Orleans before dark. And there are no landing lights at New Orleans International Airport.

Mayor Ragsdale said he was touched by some of the heart-wrenching stories the people told him as they disembarked from the plane.

One, he said, was a man of 80-plus years who described being on his roof for three days before being rescued. Another was in an attic that almost filled with water. A third was a man who got off the plane barefooted and with obvious skin trauma to his lower legs, who told the mayor of having to stand in water for 2-3 days.

"Some folks are mentally exhausted," he said. And, the mayor said, he has been notified that the Knoxville area can expect as many as 1,500 more evacuees in coming days.

Ragsdale said a meeting was held Friday afternoon - before the mercy flight was announced - that included representatives of his staff and Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam's, all area hospitals, Knoxville's Community Development Corporation, Child and Family Services, the Red Cross, the Salvation Army and the Knox County Health Department to come up with a plan to mobilize in case of such an emergency.

"We didn't know this would happen," Ragsdale said. "It is fortunate we had the meeting."

He called Saturday "a very successful day."

Gore chose not to speak to the assembled media, but he was seen in a black T-shirt and jeans moving rapidly from one side of the plane to the other assisting with the off-loading operation.

Forty people aboard the plane were uninjured evacuees, mostly family members of the elderly patients. Two or three children and a dog also were on board.

Participating in the operation were the Knoxville Fire Department, the Blount County Rescue Squad and the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency. Cruisers from the Tennessee Highway Patrol escorted the buses to hospitals.

Additional medical personnel within the regional emergency system also were on standby.

Units at the airports included at least 10 ambulances, a phalanx of buses, fire trucks and other equipment.

All those aboard the mercy flight were taken to hospitals for evaluation, including the University of Tennessee Medical Center, St. Mary's, Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center, Parkwest, the Baptist Health System, Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge, Blount Memorial Hospital, Jefferson Memorial Hospital, Fort Sanders Loudon and Children's Hospital of East Tennessee.

Air National Guard personnel donated their time to help move patients and others to buses and provide liquids, said Capt. Lisa Godsey, public information officer for McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base. Also coordinating the event was Rebecca Huckaby, public information officer for the airport.

The crew for the plane was made up of volunteers led by Capt. E.W. Evans.

Mayor Ragsdale said the effort "could not have had better cooperation" and that the response was "heart-warming."