New Orleans - The beginning of the end?

[Greg Wagner]

The image I am left with is of a deeply divided society where the prosperous survive and the poor are left to their own devices. No wonder law and order appears to have broken down in New Orleans? It is clear that they have got the message. It is every man for himself.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

That's trickle-down economics (TDE) for you. The problem is that very little ever trickles down.

TDE is an economic system where wealthy individuals and corporations basically have carte blanche to do as they will, the argument being that if the rich get richer, it will benefit society as a whole thereby raising everyone's standard of living: "If the horse has better hay to eat, the birds will eat better" (it being understood that birds eat manure). If the rich do well, benefits will "trickle down" to the rest. Lower taxes on high income or capital gains will benefit most of the population, etc.

It is, like most economic theory, brilliant and invaluable in explaining the forces that drive markets, build societies, and create wealth that propels the upward surge of living standards for everyone. Trouble is, like all economic models, it only works that way in theory. Economic models don't get along with real societies very well, as implementation of said models never quite works as well in the real world as it does in the vacuum of academia.

One of the big problems with the thinking of supply-siders like the current occupant of our White House is that their TDE vision, as implemented via the fiscal and monetary policies of their administrations, fails to account for the unethical and immoral actions of so many (not all) at the top of the food chain. Does anyone seriously believe that they allow any more to trickle down than absolutely necessary? Much of the additional benefit TDE provides to a society is offset by the damage companies do to the environment (there are 3 gross examples of this just in the State of Ohio) and the political systems (which they have taken control of and corrupted). Providing value to society as a whole through TDE assumes a degree of ethical behavior by the decision makers who run things. I trust that I don't need to start going through the enormous list of unethical, immoral, and illegal activities of so many American business leaders. Enron, Tyco, WorldCom, Wal-Mart, Adelphia and so on are simply the high profile ones. There are dozens more. And these are only the ones that we know about.

I’m all for people attaining wealth and being successful. I don’t begrudge the rich for being rich and there are certainly wealthy people and companies that are wonderful, ethical members of our community- but they are certainly in the minority. I'm not anti-business and I believe in capitalism and free markets, but the fact is that greed wins out over ethics all the time. This requires a government and a media that keeps business honest. That sets appropriate boundaries and enforces them. That protects those who cannot protect themselves. That works for what is best for the nation as a whole- this includes the working class and the poor. Unfortunately, the U.S. Government and the Media no longer work for the People. They work for Corporate America. As John said, it's every man for himself.

BTW, where is all that Christian morality that is so close to Mr. Bush’s heart and that was so helpful in getting him elected? Where are those values now? They are certainly not doing much to help those in New Orleans. But then again, the people that ended up stranded and in need probably didn’t vote for him.

Edited September 2, 2005 by Greg Wagner

[Mark Stapleton]

I don't want to sound like a doomsday prophet but there's another one forming southeast of Florida--named Lee.

It's incredible but New Orleans is gone. And this might not be the end of it. From my recent understanding, the water temperature of the Gulf of Mexico is the problem. An ocean temperature of 27.5C is required before sufficient evaporation provides conditions suitable for the creation of a hurricane. A large section of the Gulf is now 30C.

Edited September 2, 2005 by Mark Stapleton

[Dawn Meredith]

.

According to a report in my newspaper, the American Society of Civil Enginners have been warning the government for years that this disaster was likely to happen. They pointed out that over the last 50 years over 1,500 square miles of natural coastal barriers in the area has been eroded.

The US Corps of Army Engineers have been arguing that they needed to strengthen some of the levees but last year they were refused funding by the White House, which ordered the money to be used for homeland security against terrorism.

___________________

I cannot watch much of this horrible story on tv because when the one commentator who is even bothering to ask "Where is the National Guard we need them here?" (Anderson Cooper on CNN) I am at once both crying hysterically and boiling mad at W and his filthy illegal war. THAT"S where our Guard is.

I read the article earlier this morning about the US Corps of Army Engineers being refused funding by the WH and I am now beyond anger.

There's your "terrorist": Sitting in the WHite House.

America needs to wake up and FAST.

Disgraced today to call myself an "American".

Dawn

[Mark Knight]

OK...here's one to ponder:

With the seriously-depleted National Guard fighting a war in both Afghanistan and Iraq, and now stretched to the limits just to respond to a natural disaster in the Gulf Coast states...who's "got our backs"?? Who's minding the store, where are our defenses, who's available in case of , heaven forbid, a serious military attack on American soil?

The solution to the disaster should be self-evident: give Halliburton a no-bid, no-ceiling contract to clean up the mess, and it'll be handled so quickly it'll make your head swim. Of course, there's no money in the budget to pay them, but when have deficits ever stopped this forward-thinking nation? Just take the money out of what's left of the Social Security fund, and then tell the boomers, "OOPS! 2032 came early!" Just like private accounts, by taking THIS money out of Social Security as well, it should help make Social Security even MORE secure, right? And if we take ALL the money out of Social Security, it should be the most secure government program ever...extrapolating out the current administration's "logic."

So how do we fund the rebuilding? Let's cut taxes again, and see if we have more money THIS time! Unfortunately, the budget is looking like the board the kid brought to my high-school shop teacher, complaining, "I've cut this board twice, and it's STILL too short!" Unfortunately, the intellectual heir of this shop student now occupies the highest office in the land.

As far as the US economy, as far as US defense, the distaster in New Orleans and surrounding states may well be "the straw that broke the camel's back." When gasoline prices rise 30% in one day, as they did here on Tuesday, the extra money spent on gasoline is money that can't be spent on other consumer goods. Lower spending equals lower consumption; lower consumption eliminates jobs; fewer jobs means even less spending. No man is an island, and every transaction has ripple effects. When John can't buy the new Ford he wants because he's spending all his money to buy gasoline and groceries and heating oil, Joe at the Ford plant will eventually lose his job. And when those depending on Joe's income for their own living can't count on their incomes, THEY cut back...and others down the line are affected. [Traditionally, Republicans have never grasped this concept; they apparently can't see past the immediate higher profits that higher prices bring.]

Unfortunately, Democrats are no better. In the tragedy that is New Orleans in the past several days, I've heard no Democrats stand up and offer any significant leadership...although a friend emailed me a Michael Moore rant this morning [heavy on criticism, absent any suggestions to solve the crisis].

[Bernice Moore]

Thankyou Houston Texas, and the other cities, and states who have and are taking in, survivors...all the way to Oklahoma..many have arrived...and are being well cared for...

Saturday -- they predicted that Katrina was a category 5, Hurricane, the largest ever to be coming onto shore, somewhere along the coast....she landed late on Sunday at a category 4...The Government.. were also very aware that in 69, a point 3 Hurricane had hit the same general area, and what an enormous toll was paid...It was reported on Saturday as well that the storm surge would be over 20 feet and that N.O is on average around 9 feet below sea level. That makes approximately 30 feet of water. It hit at 29 feet..The levees, have needed work for many years, the governemt of Louisianna has been presenting bill after bill for years to have the Federal Gov, provide funds for the upkeep and rebuilding in some areas, as they when enforced some years ago, were built to with stand a Hurricane of a 3 level...The funds that were to be set aside, by the Federal Gov, for the levees,for the past three and a half years under the Bush Adm..has been used for anything but....and now towards the war in Iraq...

Surely emergency procedures should have begun to be mobilized right there and then......on Saturday..

There should have been hundreds of helicopters taking in soldiers with supplies.Ready to start to move in by Tues.in Mss. and Lou..The military should have been in charge of this mobilization, as they are the masters of logistics....

Soldiers landing first to keep order.. and organize...then proceed after to land

with supplies. Then search and rescue..hundreds,of Helicopters, with scores of Portapotties going in and out on a rotation basis, to try to deffer desease,Small boats ,inflatable, by the hundreds to get people from point A to dry land point B where tents should have been set up.

If Mr.Bush and his government had been invading N.O in order to spread freedom, then he would have had the needed military, plus all equipment..immediately availble..

The helicopters and men were not readily available, because of personal being unavailable, as their being deployed over in Iraq, at a cost of 5 Billion dollars a week..

There could have been and should have been a deployment plan, ready and waiting, as they knew the size of Katrina, and no matter where she was going to hit.... Florida first then New Orleans, Mississippi, and Alabama, there could have been a huge effort to move the residents inland.....Now there is probably a million Louisianans and more than likely as many more from elsewhere, displaced, homeless , without food, water,or bathrooms,

Bush again was on holidays, he has spent 20% of his Presidency at the Ranch..he did not cut them short till Wed, when he finally returned to the White House...

New Orleans, is 67 % black.....50 % are the poor who live at and below the poverty level....subsisting on minimum wage and less..

Most of those did not and have not the monies, to afford a bus ,nor an air transportation ticket.....when the warning came to evacuate, by a Governor, who had not made any contingency plans, for neither the poor, nor the elderly nor the ailing, to be able to leave the city...they were forgotten....the rich and those that were able ,left...There were no arrangements made whatever for those left behind....When Katrina hit, there were only 4,000 reserves in all of Louisianna..

I have watched this tragedy since Mon. on the telly, here safe and dry ..many have cried for the peoples of New Orleans, our help offered all week, from every Province was at first accepted but then one by one the return calls were made, that no we and our teams , who have sat, some since Tues, hydro, telephone, search and rescue, supplies, our Red Cross,would not be allowed in,not till the Federal Gov, and Fema,had made that decision....Our Prime Minister finally got through to Mr. Bush yesterday, he has been told, thanks for the offer, we will probably take you up on some.....today the some has finally been called upon, three frigates, loaded to the gills with supplies, and specialists that will sail to the Gulf, off shore, to help.....I do not know about any of the rest, except that the Red Cross, I heard is on it's way.....There are also many other countries who have offered their help all week, even Shri Lanka ,none were accepted as of this morning...5 days later..perhaps next week..?

Our impression is and has been, that until Fema and Mr. Bush.....finally moved their "arses" as the Mayor of New Orleans, told them last night,on a radio show,and arrived, no one else, was going to make that first impression, no one but he was going to arrive first, for his tour to-day that was all co-ordinated to be at the same time as the "cavalry" finally started to arrive..they have moved out many survivors today since arrival....it has begun..

To-night they still wait, at the Convention Centre, the Dome,on the roads, the overpasses, the streets,and hide from the killers, rapists, and thieves, the "cavalry" have left the streets for the night of darkness, as it is unsafe....they have road blocks so that anyone, who has been walking down the highway to reach where they are camped, at the airfield, cannot get through and have been turned back..there they sit and wait...Geraldo cried on Fox News tonight, at the Convention Centre, where it is packed, filthy,reeking, no supplies,but some water,no washrooms functioning,and one meal today, their first in 5 days.....they are next on the list apparently, is the latest..

The Lou.Coast Guard, did and have done a tremendous job, there were there,and stayed, they have pulled so many from roofs, attics..and saved so many lives.....during the daylight hours.....The Doctors and nurses in the Tulane and Charity Hospitals, and another unamed, who stayed and cared for the very ill, who could not be released, to the streets and the weeks hell, and who kept each other going by administering each intraveinous....as well as to patients, as they also had no water nor food, and were also subjected to break ins at the Hospital's drug supply areas,as the armed drug addicts, raided for anything...

Half the NOPD have deserted, this past week..as they faced unbeatable and unbearable odds, as they have also lost all, and their families as well.....a sign has been made that hangs over the entrance to the Police Station, it reads," Fort Apache"....the rest are still there, trying, being shot at by snipers, and looters, which continues this evening....and the fires still burn also...the gangs this evening in their pickups, loaded for bear, still roam the streets..

The dead are piled in different areas,around the city, hospital stairways, convention unoperating freezers, and on the streets, and overpasses..and floating in the waters....disease had been and is a immediate great concern...the Doctors have been preaching this great possibility all week....the people who were and are trapped in their attics,surrounded by water and have not had the wherewithall, nor strength to have broken out, are still there, alive or dead.....after five full days...and black out nights...in weather that is up to 105 degrees during the day, and the humidity is overwhelming....what is it in an attic....?

While Condi Rice, the Secretary of State , remained on holidays in New York, where she shopped for new shoes in one of the most expensive stores the other day, and was confronted by one brave woiman, who yelled at her, that she aught to be ashamed of herself,for shopping for shoes, while people were dying in N.O., she was grabbed and taken away by the SS..

She then took in the theatre, she was first seen on the TV, this morning, at a news conference, she finally arrived back in Washington from her Holidays....I hope her new expensive shoes rub, and she has blisters from hell....

God,and the powers that be,help the people of New Orleans, who are saying they were abandoned,and still are.... a God Bless for the people for their ingenuity,stamina, bravery,caring,and perseverence amidst all the horrendous tortures of the past week....most have survived and they are and should be such a great example to us all....as none of us know what tomorrow may bring....they must get them all out ,it has to be over soon...it just has to be...

B..

Edited September 4, 2005 by Bernice Moore

[John Simkin]

It is embarrassing, not only embarrassing, but disgusting. Disgusting that the government can spend billions of dollars on killing in Iraq, but cannot spend an equal amount on saving their own citizens within their own country. If the situation does not change within the next 24 hours, the government will have a lot to answer for.

I am reminded of the time when the American police used to attack with clubs and dogs those who were protesting against Civil Rights injustices and the Vietnam War. The protesters would chant: “The whole world is watching. The whole world is watching.” These images had a tremendous impact on world opinion. No one could forget the dignified response of people like Martin Luther King and the expressions of hatred and ignorance on the faces of the police chiefs who were interviewed on the television. It was watching these scenes that helped turn me into a political activist. I believe that these scenes in the 1960s helped change political events. I suspect the same is true of what is happening in New Orleans.

Scientists have been warning the US for several years about the impending disaster in New Orleans. George Bush has ignored these reports. As with the issue of Global Warming, Bush refuses to take heed of what the scientists have to say. He prefers the claims made by his carefully selected advisers (usually provided by the oil industry) who tell him that there is not a link between economic activity and changing weather conditions.

In a report published by the National Academy of Sciences in March, it was argued that the raising temperatures of the oceans was going to result in more and more dangerous hurricanes. The report pointed out that New Orleans was particularly vulnerable. It predicted that unless effective evacuation plans were put into place, 65,000 people would die if it suffered a category three hurricane. This was the last of many warnings presented to Bush. All have been ignored. In fact, Bush has constantly redirected funds set aside for building up the flood defences to security measures against terrorism. This terrorism has itself been caused by an inept and expensive foreign policy that has meant that the country has not had the resources available to defend its own people.

The major crime committed by George Bush was that when he knew Operation Katerina was on its way, no effort was made to devise an evacuation plan. This always happens in Cuba. The government uses an army of busses to get its people out of the way of hurricanes. If Cuba can do it, why can’t the United States? The only answer is that it did not believe it important enough. It is a question of priorities. It warned the people that the hurricane was coming and those with the necessary funds got out. Those who could not afford it, stayed behind and took their punishment.

I believe that what has happened in New Orleans is a revolutionary event in history. The American people will no longer accept its current style of government. In future, American governments will be expected to protect all its people, not just those with money.

[Adam Wilkinson]

John, you are right. I believe that this event on New Orleans will lead to a revolution. The majority of the Americans will have an increased awareness of the subdivisions within society and will not stand for it. I really think that this event, as well as Iraq, should force George W Bush to stand down as president. He has failed his role of president to serve and to protect, and is America's poorest excuse of a president.

[Tim Gratz]

Now that we've had the rhetoric, let's look at the facts.

From an essay in National Review by James S. Robbins:

So is the war in Iraq causing troop shortfalls for hurricane relief in New Orleans?

In a word, no.

A look at the numbers should dispel that notion. Take the Army for example. There are 1,012,000 soldiers on active duty, in the Reserves, or in the National Guard. Of them, 261,000 are deployed overseas in 120 countries. Iraq accounts for 103,000 soldiers, or 10.2 percent of the Army.

That’s all? Yes, 10.2 percent. That datum is significant in itself, a good one to keep handy the next time someone talks about how our forces are stretched too thin, our troops are at the breaking point, and so forth. If you add in Afghanistan (15,000) and the support troops in Kuwait (10,000) you still only have 12.6 percent.

So where are the rest? 751,000 (74.2 percent) are in the U.S. About half are active duty, and half Guard and Reserve. The Guard is the real issue of course — the Left wants you to believe that the country has been denuded of its citizen soldiers, and that Louisiana has suffered inordinately because Guardsmen and women who would have been available to be mobilized by the state to stop looting and aid in reconstruction are instead risking their lives in Iraq.

Not hardly. According to Lieutenant General H. Steven Blum, chief of the National Guard Bureau, 75 percent of the Army and Air National Guard are available nationwide. In addition, the federal government has agreed since the conflict in Iraq started not to mobilize more than 50 percent of Guard assets in any given state, in order to leave sufficient resources for governors to respond to emergencies.

In Louisiana only about a third of Guard personnel are deployed, and they will be returning in about a week as part of their normal rotation. The Mississippi Guard has 40 percent overseas. But Louisiana and Mississippi are not alone in this effort — under terms of Emergency Management Assistance Compacts (EMACs) between the states, Guard personnel are heading to the area from West Virginia, D.C., New Mexico, Utah, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, Alabama, Washington, Indiana, Georgia, Kentucky, and Michigan. Thousands have already arrived, and more will over the next day or so.

The New York Times has called the military response “a costly game of catch up.” Catching up compared to what, one wonders. National Guard units were mobilized immediately; 7,500 troops from four states were on the ground within 24 hours of Katrina — a commendable response given the disruptions to the transportation infrastructure. The DOD response is well ahead of the 1992 Hurricane Andrew timetable. Back then, the support request took nine days to crawl through the bureaucracy. The reaction this time was less than three days officially, and DOD had been pre-staging assets in anticipation of the aid request from the moment Katrina hit. DOD cannot act independently of course; the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is the lead agency. Requests for assistance have to be routed from local officials through FEMA to U.S. Northern Command and then to the necessary components. In practice, this means state officials have to assess damage and determine relief requirements; FEMA has to come up with a plan for integrating the military into the overall effort; DOD has to begin to pack and move the appropriate materiel, and deploy sufficient forces. This has all largely been or is being accomplished. Seven thousand mostly Navy and other specialized assets are currently in the area directly supporting hurricane relief, and a much larger number of other forces are en route. The process has been functioning remarkably smoothly under the circumstances.

It is hard to understand what more should, or realistically could have been done up to this point. A disaster of this magnitude is certain to be politicized, but it seems early in the game to be assessing blame for a response effort that has only been underway a few days in a crisis that is still developing; particularly such a rapid response. Moreover, it is simply not plausible to use the situation to critique the force structure in Iraq. The Guard is demonstrating that it can fulfill both its state and federal responsibilities, as it was designed and intended to do. Of course, it is impossible to win in these situations; critics will always find a way. A year ago after Hurricane Charley, the president was accused of responding too quickly, allegedly to curry favor with Florida voters. Back then only a few fringe characters tried to make the Iraq/Guard connection. It is a shame that the Times has drifted in their direction.

— James S. Robbins is senior fellow in national-security affairs at the American Foreign Policy Council, a trustee for the Leaders for Liberty Foundation, and an NRO contributor.

[Dawn Meredith]

John, you are right. I believe that this event on New Orleans will lead to a revolution. The majority of the Americans will have an increased awareness of the subdivisions within society and will not stand for it. I really think that this event, as well as Iraq, should force George W Bush to stand down as president. He has failed his role of president to serve and to protect, and is America's poorest excuse of a president.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

John and Adam,

I think you are so right. Watching this is like seeing mass murder. It is CLEAR that our government not only does not care about these poor people, it's far worse: this government wants them to die. Everyone with whom I spoke yesterday told me that FINALLY ALL of the tv commentators are really speaking up about this.

But will people actually "revolt"? Demand change? Time will tell.

I expect we're instead going to hear a lot of blaming the victims. Those who had no means to leave NO, those who did as ordered by the police and went to the convention center. It's already begun. I am wanting to know more about FEMA. How large an operation is this? 20 people? Are they all in Iraq too? Seeing people on tv in Mississippi last night where no one has yet shown up to help was heartbreaking. Hard to blieve this is AMERICA!!!.

As for Condi Rice...like her boss, she simply does not care. This is a fine example of their "Christianity" in action.

Dawn

[Dawn Meredith]

[quote=Tim Gratz,Sep 3 2005, 08:17 AM]

Now that we've had the rhetoric, let's look at the facts.

From an essay in National Review by James S. Robbins:

So is the war in Iraq causing troop shortfalls for hurricane relief in New Orleans?

In a word, no.

A look at the numbers should dispel that notion. Take the Army for example. There are 1,012,000 soldiers on active duty, in the Reserves, or in the National Guard. Of them, 261,000 are deployed overseas in 120 countries. Iraq accounts for 103,000 soldiers, or 10.2 percent of the Army.

That’s all? Yes, 10.2 percent.

So if this is true Tim, that only 10.2% of the guard are deployed overseas, then where were they all this week????? Why did the so called commander-in-chief not have them IMMEDIATELY dispatched to help these poor people?

You cannot dare answer this question yourself, so you will just offer up another right wind editiorial. Can you actually watch this national nightmare and not feel ashamed to be a human being? Or will you still just defend your "leaders" as if this is just all some triffling matter, when in fact the deficits in moral character from the administration have not EVER been more blatant.

Dawn

[Mark Knight]

Dawn wrote [to Tim]:

...so you will just offer up another right wind editiorial.

Freudian, but appropriate.

Back in the long-ago, Harry Truman's desk had a plaque that stated: The Buck Stops Here. Far removed from the Truman era, you can bet this administration won't take the hit for the failure of FEMA--or Homeland Defense, depending upon which jurisdiction finally accepts responsibility--to get food and supplies rolling in a timely manner. Even though they're PART of this amninistration, it'll be "those guys" who are at fault. Taking a cue from Nixon's policies, the president has acknowledged that "mistakes were made." But you can bet your bottom dollar he'll never say "WE made some mistakes." Contrast that with JFK's response to the failures at the Bay of Pigs, where he took responsibility. Different era, different level of character...a level we'll probably never see again.

And the 7,500 troops on the ground within 24 hours that Tim's quoted piece cites? Obviously, it wasn't nearly enough, quickly enough, to even keep order...never mind that they evidently brought no food or water [which apparently didn't arrive until Friday?]. And 7,500 troops where 40,000 were requested? That's a DAMN poor response.

Does FEMA NOT have emergency supplies stockpiled somewhere? Did they have to gather the food and water AFTER they got the call? If that's how America plans for an emergency [second letter in the FEMA acronym], something's drastically wrong.

Of course, I understand about the funds for the Army Corps of Engineers's requested repairs to the levees being diverted to Homeland Security instead. Has anyone besides me read the stories of Homeland Security grants to local communities being used for such things as lawn-mower races? [True story.] Obviously, the lives lost in New Orleans weren't as important as these activities, and knowing that the federal government has set lawn-mower races as a higher security priority than securing a community from what was inevitably going to be a flood disaster without federal intervention, makes me sleep more securely at night...how 'bout you?

[Nancy Eldreth]

Well I Did hear that Bush wants to make war now on Mother Nature?

Like to know how in the world he intends to do that..........

All of the equiptment in the world isn't going to solve this problem and or the problem of a bigger hurricane that hit China. It did more damage than what went on in New Orleans at the same time. SO, what is happening and we are about to get hit with more of them. Several more out into the ocean forming now.

OK BUSH what is your plan of attack????

Maybe it should be tell the truth about 9/11 or tell the truth about your dad and his involvement into the past historical wrong doings and dealings? Tell the truth about the Gulf war the real untold truth that is?

So if you can't plan an attack on Mother Nature then plan something more into what you can do? Like tell the truth on issues for once.

God, I wish Bush could read this one message. He sounds so stupid saying he can do something about it when he can't. Mother Nature will chase him all right. It should.

God help us all under Bush's and the bin Laden.

More like false prophets and anti-Christ.

I will silently duck out don't want to hear the comments back to me but this is hidden feelings I have had for so long now.

[Richard J. Smith]

So if this is true Tim, that only 10.2% of the guard are deployed overseas, then where were they all this week????? Why did  the so called commander-in-chief not have them  IMMEDIATELY dispatched to help these poor people?

You cannot dare answer this question yourself, so you will just offer up another  right wind editiorial. Can you actually watch this national nightmare and not feel ashamed to be a human being? Or will you still just defend your "leaders" as if this is just all some triffling matter, when in fact the deficits in moral character from the administration have not EVER been more blatant.

Dawn

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Tim said:

"75 percent of the Army and Air National Guard are available nationwide. In addition, the federal government has agreed since the conflict in Iraq started not to mobilize more than 50 percent of Guard assets in any given state, in order to leave sufficient resources for governors to respond to emergencies.

In Louisiana only about a third of Guard personnel are deployed, and they will be returning in about a week as part of their normal rotation. The Mississippi Guard has 40 percent overseas."

These figures are correct. Where I disagree is that 7500 troops were called out and on the ground within a day. They obviously weren't, and weren't seen until Friday. Something was dreadfully wrong with this picture. I agree with CNN's Jack Cafferty, who said "the government fell flat on its face". There was no excuse for the reaction(or lack thereof).

From one of the most conservative newspapers in America, the New Hampshire Union Leader:

"A better leader would have flown straight to the disaster zone and announced the immediate mobilization of every available resource to rescue the stranded, find and bury the dead, and keep the survivors fed, clothed, sheltered and free of disease. The cool, confident, intuitive leadership Bush exhibited in his first term, particularly in the months immediately following Sept. 11, 2001, has vanished. In its place is a diffident detachment unsuitable for the leader of a nation facing war, natural disaster and economic uncertainty. Wherever the old George W. Bush went, we sure wish we had him back."

From the New York Times:

"George W. Bush gave one of the worst speeches of his life yesterday, especially given the level of national distress and the need for words of consolation and wisdom. In what seems to be a ritual in this administration, the president appeared a day later than he was needed. He then read an address of a quality more appropriate for an Arbor Day celebration: a long laundry list of pounds of ice, generators and blankets delivered to the stricken Gulf Coast. He advised the public that anybody who wanted to help should send cash, grinned, and promised that everything would work out in the end."

RJS

[Robert Howard]

Here's the thing I dont get, what is Clinton playing at, going to bat for Bush, doesn't he realise these are the guy's that spent eight years trying to shaft him?Can you imagine if the boot was on the other foot, GHW giving Kerry his support, never going to happen. The Democrats should be dancing on Shrub's grave.....

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Here in Dallas there are plans for 25,000 Louisiana refugees to stay here until things become more organized. I agree wholeheartedly with the sentiments being expresed on this thread. The mayor of New Orleans who has IMO understandably been in a practical rage over the (PAINFULLY) slow help coming was quoted as saying that maybe the CIA would be coming after him because of his comments so if anything happened to him American's would know what happened. What is most interesting is that the recently announced plan to send 20,000 troops to Iraq to help when the new constitution goes into effect, has been scrapped, because of hurricane Katrina and its tragic aftermath. If there can be a silver lining in this (besides getting these unfortunate people back on their feet and repairing the damage A.S.A.P) it is the possibility that this terrible tragedy may prevent us from invading Iran. I know it sounds ludicrous but I monitor an intelligence website here that talks about it all the time, and I believe that the Neo-Cons are chomping at the bit to "go in."

[Bernice Moore]

Here's the thing I dont get, what is Clinton playing at, going to bat for Bush, doesn't he realise these are the guy's that spent eight years trying to shaft him?Can you imagine if the boot was on the other foot, GHW giving Kerry his support, never going to happen. The Democrats should be dancing on Shrub's grave.....

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Here in Dallas there are plans for 25,000 Louisiana refugees to stay here until things become more organized. I agree wholeheartedly with the sentiments being expresed on this thread. The mayor of New Orleans who has IMO understandably been in a practical rage over the (PAINFULLY) slow help coming was quoted as saying that maybe the CIA would be coming after him because of his comments so if anything happened to him American's would know what happened. What is most interesting is that the recently announced plan to send 20,000 troops to Iraq to help when the new constitution goes into effect, has been scrapped, because of hurricane Katrina and its tragic aftermath. If there can be a silver lining in this (besides getting these unfortunate people back on their feet and repairing the damage A.S.A.P) it is the possibility that this terrible tragedy may prevent us from invading Iran. I know it sounds ludicrous but I monitor an intelligence website here that talks about it all the time, and I believe that the Neo-Cons are chomping at the bit to "go in."

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Hi Robert:

The lastest is that only 10 thousand reserves will be leaving for Iraq....

Perhaps that shall put a dent in his plans..somewhat.....??

And they have allowed the Canucks to go in finally with all their offered help..

teams and whatevers..and they have left and are also on their way to help in any possible way they can...I am pleased to say....

Now,when you are in danger, and obviously need all the help you can possibley get, is it not natural to accept help from your neighbors...?? Or could this possibley be Presidential Pride that has gotten in the way ??? and we all know what happens when it does.........crash....

I do not know as yet about the other countrys..offers...

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Tim:

At least they have finally arrived, after 6 days..Thank them, not him nor his,they are finally doing the job, that now they have been finally sent in to do, and they will do it...no thanks to he whose name is disgusting, and who held them back...who never gave the order....

I listened to Gen. Honare, who is finally in charge, and guess what, he will get the job done, but there was more "damage control" from him, they did get to him mighty quick, they did....wonder when he retires ??

It seems that all Mr. Bush has...are excuses, and trying to do damage control..big time Damage Control..and you shall see more and more of the same thing..put on a smiley face, and deny,deny deny,like What ?? and DUH !! those long blank stares you get back when a member of Government is asked a direct question from the press core....or the shuffle around, the old ,approach it and change it to a different subject, as quickly as possible,another way of denial......as the week-end and the next week progresses, this will get to the point where they hope within a month, people will be saying, slow effort to respond... What do you mean by Slow??

It is not going to work, the brain washing to dumb down the population, nor the rest of the world,not this time.....

I have yet to see him stand up and be a man nor act like a President, never mind him saying ,it's was his lack of action, no, he has said it is Fema's fault..in all this,as he pointed his finger at them...as they and many are pointing now their fingers at each other, and they are.....and that it is all "unexceptaable"" ...and where was he? well he was strumming his guitar at the ranch with the Presidential seal upon it, the day they were drowning in N.O...and his photo was taken, and printed in the papers, and the news sites..instead of making a direct flight back to the WH and recalling all...

What a sorry word, Unexceptable,?? now, after all that has happened, that is the most pathetic word he could have chosen, in a situation like this.....but never fear...the cavalry is here, and he is returning to show all he is still leading them there....

He is returning on Monday to the destruction...for more "damage control"....aw well that is expected, after all Laura also tried to do, the same yesterday, looking clean, starched, fresh and coiffed...and untouchedable....neither hungry nor thirsty, no, Academy Award for either of them two...

She was way out of her league, at practicing any type of such "damage control"..but she did....use the wife when things are getting really bad...always a great plan of action, he is calling up HIS reserves.

As the WH is shocked mind you, Shocked at the criticism they have received, via gov. newspapers,TV, and from the people.....amazing....they might actually feel something...??

Miss Laura stood there while all around her looked so horrendous, and dirty,well she looked so out of place, and in MO was, and is...

Perhaps if they has used a little less hair spray, and allowed such to blow around a little....

This is not going to go away Tim, not for him nor for the rest of his crowd, not this time.....it simply doesn't matter what they nor their press have to say nor their followers...it is too damn late....He dropped the ball big time..and it has bounced all around the world..In charge Bush ?? God help the people..it is the People that are seeing this and the People who are complaining, stop reading just republican literature, and start listening to the People, whose country it is....you happen to be one of them..Do you hear them Do you Hear a Crash.?..I do.....

IMO....

Barf..

B..

Edited September 4, 2005 by Bernice Moore