NOLA, and other disasters

[oldfolkie]

As the week has gone by and I\'ve watched the horror increase in a place I love, I have scanned the news from all the sources I could think of to learn of what was being done to help. I even did my tiny bit by making a donation to the Red Cross, since I can\'t be on the spot to lend a hand.

One of the most moving pleas I have seen both specifically addresses NOLA/Katrina and more generally addresses the current political regime in the USA.

The good folks over at Perceval Press say in their contact instructions that they don\'t want to be contacted over anything but publishing matters. However, I think their efforts deserve a wider circulation, and today\'s message posted by Viggo Mortensen really struck to my heart.

http://www.percevalpress.com/home.html

Travis, you know Viggo. The next time you see him, please say "Thank you".

[dirtface]

And I thank you for drawing this to my attention. I have to admit that I echo Viggo\'s sentiments. What has been allowed to transpire goes beyond the pale.  :\'(

[phartacus]

what a glistening jewel of mass ignorance, you people dont give 2 shits about those hurricane victims all you care about is how you can use this to bash bush. read this dummies......

http://www.cityofno.com/SystemModules/PrintPage.aspx?portal=46&tabid=26

you lefties are just plain sick and the whole country knows it, dont plan on winning many elections anytime soon

[phartacus]

oh yea and dont let this little nugget of truth get in the way of your pass the buck bash bush mentality either

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050828/ap_on_re_us/bush_katrina_2


look real closely at the DATE....i especially like this....

The president\'s emergency declaration authorizes the FEMA to coordinate all disaster relief efforts and to provide appropriate assistance in a number of Louisiana parishes, or counties.


im assuming since the mayor of NO and the governor of LA are libtards they are immune from ANY criticism on this matter?

[dirtface]

Your comments really don\'t deserve response but I will waste a few keystrokes anyways. What is at issue is the extreme delay and huge lack of coordination of the relief effort. People are dying because of mismanagement. The real question at hand is "where is the leadership in FEMA". I guess your link sums it up pretty good in the statement

"The president\'s emergency declaration authorizes the FEMA to coordinate all disaster relief efforts and to provide appropriate assistance in a number of Louisiana parishes, or counties."

Being as you like sharing links and obviously like to read you may wish to read this tidbit on how priorities have been handled recently.

or this story regarding where the delays occurred and again, as you said, make sure to take note of the dates mentioned. You may also notice the fact the questions being raised cut across political spectrums.

Then again, you likely will not enjoy it much.

[gkg]

Three days into the aftermath and FEMA still did not have a command and control center - that\'s just insane - i don\'t normally have many issues with FEMA, they usually do reasonably good work - but that was just insane.

They have known this problem was coming for years - and yet they syphoned off funds that were supposed to go toward securing and working on the levees.  Instead they spent it on the "war on terror" - but Al Qaida could easily have breached a levee using a bomb like the one that breached the Cole in Yemen, or using depth-bombs like the British used to break a German hydroelectric dam in WWII.

This is a Homeland Security Department planning issue, not just FEMA.  Bush is all hat and no cattle, all mouth and no trouser - all show and no substance - you kid yourself all you like, phartacus, but the truth is showing the world what an ass your heroic president really is, and just how clueless his administration is.  We (the world, not just the US) will be decades, a quarter or even a half century cleaning up the mess he\'s created and continues to heap upon this nation.

This might interest you...
The following completely staged Bush-comforts-two-young-black-women transcript comes about 1 minute 40 seconds into this CNN video. It\'s unbelievable.
 
Warning: I had to sit through a US Army recuiting commercial before the CNN news video started.

CNN video transcript

http://www.cnn.com/video/player/player.html?url=/video/us/2005/09/02/vo.bush.biloxi.families.cnn:

Bush to women: "There\'s a Salvation Army center that I want to, that I\'ll tell you where it is, and they\'ll get you some help. I\'m sorry... They\'ll help you...
Woman 1: "I came here looking for clothes..."
Bush: "They\'ll get you some clothes, at the Salvation Army center..."
Woman 1: "We don\'t have anything..."
Bush: "I understand... Do you know where the center is, that I\'m talking to you about?"
Guy with shades: "There\'s no center there, sir, it\'s a truck." ...
Bush: "There\'s trucks?"
Guy: "There\'s a school, a school about two miles away..."
Bush: "But isn\'t there a Salvation center down there?"
Guy: "No that\'s wiped out..."
Bush: "A temporary center? "
Guy: "No sir they\'ve got a truck there, for food."
Bush: "That\'s what I\'m saying, for food and water."
Bush turns to the sister who\'s been saying how she needs clothes.
Bush to sister: "You need food and water."
Bush plays completely to the cameras.
 
More detail and links here...
 
http://www.blah3.com/article.php?story=20050903214041794
 
German TV apparently is reporting that the "Salvation Centers" are opening just before Bush\'s press convoy arrives and then these "resources" are folded up after the press convoy leaves.

[dirtface]

Is it not factual that FEMA has been disassembled and absorbed into the Homeland Security department? The previous mechanisms first put in place by President Carter and strengthened to start to act instead of react by President Clinton have been broken and a dysfunctional bureaucracy has been installed under the premise that the only clear and present danger to our well being currently lies on Arabian soil. FEMA was a target for destruction from the start of the current administrations reign. Bush\'s first appointment to head FEMA, Allbaugh, testifying before Congress in 2001, that \'he was concerned that federal disaster assistance had become "an oversized entitlement program"\'. There you have it. Some people should simply not be entitled to live per this statement. The current director is just another figure head. Look up his credentials if you are curious. The ultimate blame should rest with the person who is holding the top position but I suspect this will not happen. I suppose a hurricane isn't really a valid reason to stop vacationing and beside it appears that the administration is planning to cover itself by faulting Governor Blanco. The Federal government has the authority to commandeer vehicles in a time of crisis. This happened for both the wars in Iraq with aircraft. It should have happened instantly with every available bus and helicopter within a reasonable radius as soon as it became known the levies were in trouble. I realize we live in a Republic but I believe I am correct in saying that in this situation no legal barrier was there to stop vehicles from being brought into the area. If WalMart could get tractor trailers into the city (as they were spotted doing so no latter than Thursday morning) why couldn't our federal government.

I suppose you have all heard this already but in case someone hasn\'t you may be interested in the comments of the Mayor of NOLA on this.

[gkg]

The previous mechanisms first put in place by President Carter and strengthened to start to act instead of react by President Clinton have been broken and a dysfunctional bureaucracy has been installed under the premise that the only clear and present danger to our well being currently lies on Arabian soil.

I believe you to be correct but unfortunately hadn\'t had the chance to do enough research to state such a thing myself.  In those cases I prefer to stay away from saying something from the gut that could be wrong.  Thank you for setting me straight - I appreciate that!  Now I have yet another item to research and expand my brain on.  

Here\'s a start on my research - and I\'m sadly not surprised to hear it...

http://business.bostonherald.com/businessNews/view.bg?articleid=100857

Yikes!  I hadn\'t realized they\'d lost SO much control and had so LITTLE a voice in their own training and use!  Yet again, the geniuses who brought us meaningless "Homeland Security" fucks up.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050906/ap_on_go_pr_wh/katrina_warnings_3

[phartacus]

you missed the point entirely, i dont disagree that there were fumblings from the local level to the top. the point im trying to make is that the blame game helps nobody and that idiots like viggo just need to shit the fuck up, stick to making art, and let grown folks do grown folks work. i see corruption, scandals, and ineptitude in all flavors of the political spectrum but not once have any of you wacked out, hate filled lefties criticized anything to do with UN oil for food, clintons numerous scandals etc etc. get over it YOU LOST bush is not running for another term. meanwhile i\'ll be enjoying my tax cut that allowed me to donate a pretty sizable amount of cash to hurricane relief rather than having it taken from me by the gubmint and used for some pork barrel bullshit. GKG and dirtface how much have you 2 donated?  

[gkg]

first of all - the blame game, as you put it, is quite the point.  FEMA was torn to shreds and allowed to be headed by a horse show director by whom?  your hero.

Viggo actually has a great deal more right than many to say what he likes - the man has a degree in government - do you?

how much have i given?  i have given 1/3 of what was in my closet & dresser, 1/2 of what was in my partner\'s closet & dresser - as well as cash and blood (i\'m 0+ - do you give blood?  they need that too).  i have also collected clothes and money from neighbors and friends. all of this is being shipped to people we know who lost everything and yet are volunteering their time at distribution centers, day cares and hospitals in Baton Rouge where they wound up.

what have you given, smart ass?

[dirtface]

you missed the point entirely, i dont disagree that there were fumblings from the local level to the top. the point im trying to make is that the blame game helps nobody and that idiots like viggo just need to shit the fuck up, stick to making art, and let grown folks do grown folks work. i see corruption, scandals, and ineptitude in all flavors of the political spectrum but not once have any of you wacked out, hate filled lefties criticized anything to do with UN oil for food, clintons numerous scandals etc etc. get over it YOU LOST bush is not running for another term. meanwhile i\'ll be enjoying my tax cut that allowed me to donate a pretty sizable amount of cash to hurricane relief rather than having it taken from me by the gubmint and used for some pork barrel bullshit. GKG and dirtface how much have you 2 donated?  

Let me guess. You consider yourself the voice of reason right? Before you submit that answer maybe you should perform a spell check at the very least (a head check might be in order too as it sounds like you have blown a gasket or two). While you enjoying that "tax cut" just be sure and remember where that money came from and what it could have been used for if it had been spent wisely.

[phartacus]

first of all - the blame game, as you put it, is quite the point.  FEMA was torn to shreds and allowed to be headed by a horse show director by whom?  your hero.

bush is not my hero

Viggo actually has a great deal more right than many to say what he likes - the man has a degree in government - do you?

no i have the first amendment, and regardless of his degree he has no more or less right than anyone and i didnt say he HAD to shutup i said he SHOULD shutup

how much have i given?  i have given 1/3 of what was in my closet & dresser, 1/2 of what was in my partner\'s closet & dresser - as well as cash and blood (i\'m 0+ - do you give blood?  they need that too).  i have also collected clothes and money from neighbors and friends. all of this is being shipped to people we know who lost everything and yet are volunteering their time at distribution centers, day cares and hospitals in Baton Rouge where they wound up.

i think you are lying, but if im wrong then i commend you on your effort

what have you given, smart ass?

several hundred dollars of US currency via the US red cross, which is what they stated they needed most

[gkg]

bush is not my hero

glad to hear it although i\'m surprised after your various statements.
 

no i have the first amendment, and regardless of his degree he has no more or less right than anyone and i didnt say he HAD to shutup i said he SHOULD shutup

who the hell are you to say someone should shut up when they choose to exercise their rights?
 

i think you are lying, but if im wrong then i commend you on your effort

f\'ck you, i don\'t need your condescending commendation, most certainly not after that accusation!  i am not lying.  what an assumption to make - really shows who you are.
 

several hundred dollars of US currency via the US red cross, which is what they stated they needed most.

good for you - we all do what we can.

[phartacus]

Let me guess. You consider yourself the voice of reason right? Before you submit that answer maybe you should perform a spell check at the very least (a head check might be in order too as it sounds like you have blown a gasket or two). While you enjoying that "tax cut" just be sure and remember where that money came from and what it could have been used for if it had been spent wisely.

wow attack my spelling at half past 7 AM before the first cup of coffee is consumed...thanks professor

first of all no i dont consider myself "the voice of reason" it just pisses me off that people turn a natural DISASTER into a flippin politicaL event. i stated in my post that i saw a poo poo response from the bottom up (meaning LOCAL, STATE, and FEDERAL) but i see from you people is bush this, bush that, bush is hitler, bush is killing black people and on and on and on.

but the thing that pisses me off more than anything dirtface is your question about "tax cuts"...  "While you enjoying that "tax cut" just be sure and remember where that money came from and what it could have been used for if it had been spent wisely." seriously dude are you insane? remember where the money came from? i am reminded 8 hours a day 5 days a week where that money came from when i am at work bleeding, sweating, and just good old fashioned busting my ass for it!!!!! but if it were up to you im sure half MY money that i EARNED would better spent to keep some methadone clinic in seattle operational. man you got some iron testicles making comments like that. as for me i know how socialists operate, but go tell joe six pack who puts in a solid 40 hrs a week building houses he could never hope to afford that drivel and see what happens.    

[phartacus]

f\'ck you,

now now now, this isnt the compassionate, understanding liberalism i was brought up to believe existed

all jokes aside i by nature am skeptical of any claims made by anyone on internet bulletin boards. rather than saying i was skeptical i "knee-jerked" and called you a liar which was a lack of judgement on my part and for that i apologize. now if you wanna debate like adults im all for that but please dont use profane language toward me.