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09/07/2005 12:50:29 PM · #276 |
Originally posted by theSaj:
Olyuzi,
I'll agree that there needs to be a review. But issues are spread out on many levels. If the President had indeed suggested to the governor to begin the evacuation 2 days before the hurricane and she waited 24 hours before ordering it. And then also delayed granting the "Federalization" of the National Guard inside the State of Louisiana then a lot of blame lies there.
Also, much of the blame lies on the mayor who seems to want to run around in front of cameras seeking publicity, laying blame and !@#$% about race when obvious events lead one to question whether the mayor acted responsibly.
A single photo puts doubt into my mind that the mayor utterly failed his responsibilities. When I saw an image showing nearly a 1,000 school buses flooded in water and then statements about how they needed vehicles and support to move everyone. Right there in that photo was probably enough vehicles to move 20,000-40,000 if not more people. Why wasn't it done? |
I agree, responsibility will probably be shared at all levels of government. As for the school buses, it's very possible that NO did not have the man power to drive the buses because many people had already left. These are some of the things that will have to be investigated.
However, neither the state, nor the city, has the resources of the federal government to deal with a disaster of this magnitude. It appears from the small article that I posted above about the leaked memo that not only was there an extremely slow and untimely response from FEMA, but that they had already gotten authorization to enter the region.
Message edited by author 2005-09-07 12:53:34. |
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09/07/2005 04:09:32 PM · #277 |
I know the old saying is that "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." I thought of that when I read this article today.
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09/07/2005 04:18:19 PM · #278 |
Originally posted by Olyuzi:
However, neither the state, nor the city, has the resources of the federal government to deal with a disaster of this magnitude. It appears from the small article that I posted above about the leaked memo that not only was there an extremely slow and untimely response from FEMA, but that they had already gotten authorization to enter the region. |
FEMA...perhaps. And I think FEMA has repeatedly been shown to be a bloated slug.
But the criticism regarding the National Guard. The President cannot activate them to operate within a state border without the Governor's okay, or a declared national state of martial law, as I understand it.
*shrug* |
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09/07/2005 05:03:13 PM · #279 |
The delivery of the assistance of the the federal government, whether with troops or money or materiel, or whatever is not dependent on whether or not a state official officially asked for it, of filled out the paperwork!!
The federal government has an explicitly defined duty to respond to natural disasters. Period.
As it turns out, George Bush himself was officially asked for help days before the hurricane hit, by the Governor of Louisiana, but it matters not a whit!
This whole pointing the finger of blame on state officials ( to justify the inadequancies of the Bush administration and FEMA) is a bogus and disgusting propaganda campaign from Karl Rove himself.
Aided shamelessly, IMO, by some in this forum, who delight in making distinctions without difference. And who pass along the same demonstrated falsehoods as the White House and Fox News spinmeisters. :( :(
Message edited by author 2005-09-07 17:05:49. |
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09/07/2005 05:17:54 PM · #280 |
| A Katrina Timeline of who did (or failed to do) what, and when. |
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09/07/2005 05:39:03 PM · #281 |
| George W. Bush heading up an "investigation" of this matter is akin to making Michael Milkin head of the SEC. |
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09/07/2005 05:46:48 PM · #282 |
Originally posted by Judith Polakoff:
A Katrina Timeline of who did (or failed to do) what, and when. |
Thank you, Judith! Good stuff.
(RonB, you might want to check out the second item on the list - it is a Department of Defense documentation of the Governor of LA specifically asking for Troops, yes troops . Ahem....)
Here is another timeline, from TPM Cafe, which was posted to refute the propaganda machinations of the Karl Rovian School of Political Smearing, who are attempting to convince people that that Bush had to "beg" Blanco in order to let him help out.
Friday, 26 August 2005, Governor of Louisiana declares state of emergency
Saturday morning, 27 August 2005, Governor of Louisiana asks President Bush to declare a state of emergency and requests Federal Assistance "to save lives and property". Note, the letter was published on 27 August 2005 on Lexis Nexis but was dated 28 August 2005. Bush received the letter on Saturday and responded on the same day by declaring a State of Emergency. Note, per the NRP, William Lokey was designated as the Federal Coordinating Officer for Federal recovery operations in Louisiana.
Sunday, 28 August 2005, Mayor of New Orleans orders Mandatory Evacuation.
(Note: In Governor Blanco's request on the 27th, there is a specific request for help with evacuation and a specific request for help to "save lives and protect property". )
Monday, 29 August 2005, FEMA Director Brown requests DHS Secretary Chertoff's help in getting 1000 DHS employees ready to deploy to the disaster within 48 hours.
Under the National Response Plane (see p. 93, Figure 11), once the President declares a State of Emergency the Department of Homeland Security is supposed to implement the Plan. Initially, DHS is supposed to deploy an Emergency Response Team to the State to provide expertise in assessing needs and determining appropriate courses of action. Moreover, on p. 52 of the NRP the President may act proactively under the Stafford Act.
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09/07/2005 06:19:40 PM · #283 |
It gets worse....
FEMA packed with W's pals
Campaign pros get top jobs
By KENNETH R. BAZINET
DAILY NEWS WASHINGTON BUREAU
WASHINGTON - The three top jobs at the Federal Emergency Management Agency under President Bush went to political cronies with no apparent experience coping with catastrophes, the Daily News has learned.
Even if Bush were to fire embattled and suddenly invisible FEMA Director Michael Brown over his handling of Hurricane Katrina, the bureaucrat immediately below him is no disaster professional, either.
While Brown ran horse shows in his last private-sector job, FEMA's No. 2 man, deputy director and chief of staff Patrick Rhode, was an advance man for the Bush-Cheney campaign and White House. He also did short stints at the Commerce Department and Small Business Administration.
Rhode's biography posted on FEMA's Web site doesn't indicate he has any real experience in emergency response.
In addition, the agency's former third-ranking official, deputy chief of staff Scott Morris, was a PR expert who worked for Maverick Media, the Texas outfit that produced TV and radio spots for the Bush-Cheney campaign. In June, Morris moved to Florida to become FEMA's long-term recovery director.
"The Bush administration has apparently transformed FEMA from a professional, world-class emergency responder into a dumping ground for former campaign staff and political hacks," said Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-Manhattan).
FEMA also is hampered by several midlevel and regional director's jobs currently held by acting directors.
"Just like our military, FEMA should be immune to this kind of political staffing. It should be run by career emergency response professionals," Maloney added.
Traditionally, the Commerce and Labor departments have long been Washington's dumping ground for presidential pals and campaign operatives - not the disaster relief agency.
Government sources blame Bush's first FEMA director, Joe Allbaugh, with turning FEMA into a patronage shop.
He was chief of staff when Bush was Texas' governor and later headed the 2000 Bush-Cheney campaign.
"He stacked the deck with political appointees," a knowledgeable source said of Allbaugh, who had a reputation for running an efficient FEMA operation until he left the job in March 2003.
FEMA is overseen by the Department of Homeland Security. Officials at both agencies did not return phone calls or E-mails yesterday.
Originally published on September 7, 2005
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09/07/2005 07:00:08 PM · #284 |
Hurricanes do not sneak up on people. Unlike tornadoes, hurricanes donât just
reach down out of the dark storm clouds to wreak havoc on humanity. Hurricanes
are tracked, named, have warning flags dedicated to them, and all coastal cities
have long-standing plans for dealing with them. Nearly everyone in the world
knew Katrina was going to hit Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama, and yet so
many have died in New Orleans. Why?
Hurricane Katrina struck the tip of southern Florida as a category 1 hurricane
and made a beeline for the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico. For three days
Katrina churned her way across the Gulf, growing in size and strength until it
was a monster storm. With sustained winds of over 175 mph, Katrina bore down on
the city of New Orleans. Literally, at the last possible moment, Katrina was
pushed, ever-so-slightly, by dry air from the Midwest, off to the East and
dropped from a category 5 to a high category 4 with sustained winds of 150 mph.
Katrina was still a killer storm by anyoneâs description. For three long days,
the governor of Louisiana and the mayor of New Orleans watched Katrina bear down
on their state and city respectively but took very little action to protect
their citizens other than to state the obvious: âLeave town.â No assistance was
offered to the poor or elderly.
Aerial views of New Orleans have shown pictures of hundreds of buses, left
parked and unused. Why didnât the mayor of New Orleans activate those buses to
move the people out of the city those who wanted to leave but had no way out?
Why was this golden opportunity to save lives left parked, only to be lost to
the floodwaters? This from the Louisiana disaster plan, pg. 13, paragraph 5,
dated 01/00: âThe primary means of hurricane evacuation will be personal
vehicles. School and municipal buses, government-owned vehicles and vehicles
provided by volunteer agencies may be used to provide transportation for
individuals who lack transportation and require assistance in evacuating'...â
Why was the cityâs own disaster plan for using those buses to evacuate people
not implemented? Governor Blanco and Mayor Nagin had three days to evacuate the
poor and elderly from New Orleans but they did not.
Why?
While the governors of both Mississippi and Alabama put in a formal request for
federal assistance before Katrina even made landfall, the governor of Louisiana
refused to relinquish any of her power for the good of the people. Now she and
her party point the finger of blame at the White House.
Liberal blogs and websites are pointing to the Department of Homeland Securityâs
website which states that it can take control in any disaster, natural or
otherwise, but this is not true. The Department of Homeland Security can only
work with the state and local officials in organizing relief efforts such as
food, water, and shelter. There is no military arm of the Department of Homeland
Security or the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and the military is
what was needed and everyone knew that.
Instead of asking why the Democratic leaders of Louisiana failed the people,
these sites post disgusting pictures of floating bodies with the message:
âGeorge Bush did nothing.â The truth is, the Democratic governor wouldnât allow
Bush to do anything. That floating body belongs to Governor Blanco. She is the
one who âdid nothing.â
Roving bands of violent criminals quickly took control of the streets. While
Mayor Nagin did declare martial law, it was a toothless declaration. The New
Orleans police department was instantly overwhelmed. Many policemen just threw
up their hands and walked off the job. Some joined the looters and were
videotaped by MSNBC âshoppingâ in the local Walmart. The handful that was left
on the job did their best but the best they could do was try to stay alive in a
now lawless and dying city.
Because there was no one in charge, the initial rescue operations were feeble at
best and there was chaos. The scope and magnitude of the disaster, which covers
an area the size of Great Britain, still had not been realized by Governor
Blanco who steadfastly refused to declare martial law and officially request
that the federal government âsend in the troops.â
It has come to light that all during the night on Friday, September 2, the
president of the United States was forced to ânegotiateâ with Governor Blanco
for the lives of the suffering and dying people of New Orleans. She feared that
allowing the federal government to take control would make her administration
appear as though it had failed. How she would be judged was more important to
her than the lives of those people who were dying in the squalor. How many died
as Blanco maneuvered to protect her reputation?
The Posse Comitatus Act prevents, by federal law, the president of the United
States from sending federal troops into any state without the direct request of
the elected governor of that state. A frustrated President Bush could only stand
by and watch as the horror unfolded until he received the request for help.
Despite the finger-pointing at President Bush, there was little that he could do
until he was formally asked for assistance. No matter how loudly the liberals
scream, they know full well that the president was helpless to do much of
anything.
As the death toll rose and the animalistic behavior of some of those who chose
to remain within the city became public knowledge, it was obvious that
authorities needed to regain control. As the scenes from New Orleans, now a
national disgrace, were being beamed around the world, a shameless Governor
Blanco only cared about her own political image.
There is reason to believe that President Bush, running out of patience with
Blanco by Saturday morning, used the only option that remained to him. It is
being reported that Bush went around Blanco and utilized the Insurrection Act to
federalize the National Guard and send in active military troops to take over
the rescue and put down the lawlessness that had taken over New Orleans. The
forces that Bush had poised to move into the city, swung into action. It was no
accident that the major, organized rescues began when the sun came up on
Saturday morning. At 6:30 AM, when the sky over New Orleans was suddenly filled
with military helicopters and military convoys poured into the streets, they
were there because of President Bush, not Governor Blanco.
The largest military evacuation the world has ever seen moved with the precision
and efficiency that is only seen within the military. With men like Lt. General
Russel Honore, 1st Army Commander and Army Brigadier General Mark Graham in
charge, law and order was quickly restored, and an endless line of helicopters
and boats began removing the stranded people and taking them out of the
hell-hole called New Orleans. Those forces were ready to act because the
President of the United States had positioned them to be ready.
Everyone demands answers and everyone wants to put the blame for this
catastrophe on someone. The most convenient person to blame is President Bush.
In truth, he is the least responsible on the local level. While the liberals
feel this is the perfect time to make political hay because so many
African-Americans are involved, the first line of defense for those people, the
mayor of New Orleans, and governor of Louisiana, both Democrats, are the leaders
that failed them. The people of New Orleans were abandoned by an arrogant
governor and a hapless mayor as both struggled to save their own political
careers. But, because they are both Democrats, the leftists want these
ineffective leaders seen as helpless victims of a thoughtless and racist Bush
who ignored their repeated pleas for help.
Mayor Nagin has been reduced to babbling about how the CIA is out to kill him
because he âspoke his mind,â and Governor Blanco has become the invisible woman
hoping that no one will notice that her gross incompetence and arrogance cost
lives. But the left marches on, blaming President Bush because it knows it can.
Most Americans are not aware of the laws preventing the federal government from
âtaking overâ a city or a state.
The Democrats have closed ranks around their incompetent members and blame the
president who was forced to âdealâ with an inept governor. Governor Blancoâs
thanks is to point the finger of blame back at the president when she knows the
fault is her own.
The Democratic Party could not possibly sink much lower than it has this past
week. The mayor, the governor, and all those liberal websites, blogs, and
shrieking leftist politicians should jump into the sewer water that now flows in
the streets of New Orleans. Thatâs where they belong, with the rest of the
floating waste. The Democratic or âProgressiveâ Party should be buried with the
dead. Cause of death: Gross incompetence, asphyxiation from lies, and the
failure to accept responsibility for the deaths of thousands of American
citizens because power meant more to them than lives.
TOPICS: Culture/Society; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; US:
Louisiana
KEYWORDS: BLANCO; KATRINA; KATRINAFAILURES
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09/07/2005 07:06:07 PM · #285 |
These endless finger pointing rants from the anti-Bush liberals remind me of the death throes of a man choking to death on his own vomit. For all their venting all they can produce is more vitriolic rhetoric. They seem incapable of producing anything of substance that paints the target of their hatred as being any worse than his predecessor, and his before him.
The last article derides FEMA Director Brown by pointing out that his last "private sector" job was running horse shows. Why his last privat-sector job is mentioned is not clear. But it is inconsistant to mention it without pointing out that his predecessor under Clinton, Jame Lee Witt, held, as HIS last private-sector job, running a Construction firm. Does one or the other translate into making an individual more qualified?
Note: I'm not defending Brown, just ridiculing the rhetoric of the left. |
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09/07/2005 11:59:50 PM · #286 |
Ex-FEMA Chief Tied to Hurricane Relief Lobbying
And the website TalkingPointsMemo is reporting that the former head of FEMA, Joe Allbaugh, may stand to profit from the catastrophe in the Gulf region through his various lobbying efforts. President Bush tapped Allbaugh to head FEMA after he served as Bush's campaign manager during the 2000 election. He headed FEMA until March 2003 just as the U.S. was launching its invasion of Iraq. Then Allbaugh helped form a lobbying firm called New Bridge Strategies in order to help clients "take advantage of business opportunities in the Middle East following the conclusion of the U.S.-led war in Iraq." New Bridge Strategies was also formed by several top executives from the lobbying firm then known as Barbour Griffith & Rogers. The head of that firm was Haley Barbour who is now the Republican governor of Mississippi. Earlier this year Joe Allbaugh signed on as a lobbyist for Halliburton subsidiary KBR in order to "educate the congressional and executive branch on defense, disaster relief and homeland security issues." Just last week the federal government announced that Halliburton would be hired to repair the Gulf Coast military bases damaged by Katrina. And now the Washington Post is reporting that Allbaugh is also helping Louisiana "coordinate the private-sector response to the storm."
DemocracyNow.org |
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09/08/2005 12:10:23 AM · #287 |
Originally posted by RonB:
These endless finger pointing rants from the anti-Bush liberals remind me of the death throes of a man choking to death on his own vomit. For all their venting all they can produce is more vitriolic rhetoric. They seem incapable of producing anything of substance that paints the target of their hatred as being any worse than his predecessor, and his before him.
The last article derides FEMA Director Brown by pointing out that his last "private sector" job was running horse shows. Why his last privat-sector job is mentioned is not clear. But it is inconsistant to mention it without pointing out that his predecessor under Clinton, Jame Lee Witt, held, as HIS last private-sector job, running a Construction firm. Does one or the other translate into making an individual more qualified?
Note: I'm not defending Brown, just ridiculing the rhetoric of the left. |
Apparently the only substantive action the administration can take is to cry "don't blame us." Please give us a timeline when we are allowed to start "blaming" those who screw up. Does it have to wait for them (and us) to die first, or can we possibly hold them accountable while they are still alive to suffer (hah!) the consequences?
Yes, I'd say that experience in managing construction projects has just a little bit more to do with disaster assesment and recovery than managing a horse-breeding association. |
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09/08/2005 01:44:18 AM · #288 |
Originally posted by Judith Polakoff:
A Katrina Timeline of who did (or failed to do) what, and when. |
That is very well done, everyone should read this to get their facts straight.
Also this from Democracy Now (Pentagon telling the BBC, while I have yet to see it in any of the US main stream media outlets.):
Pentagon: USS Bataan Waited Days For Orders to Help Out
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.
Message edited by author 2005-09-08 01:47:26. |
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09/08/2005 01:46:03 AM · #289 |
Originally posted by laurielblack:
I know the old saying is that "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." I thought of that when I read this article today. |
You should read this Katrina Timeline made up of highly credible sources Judith posted. |
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09/08/2005 02:21:05 AM · #290 |
Today's useless fact - What financial obligations do the president and first lady have while living in the White House? Is everything free?
We visited the links in the U.S. Presidents category to answer your question. As far as we can tell, a U.S. president and his squeeze don't have to pay one thin Roosevelt dime during their four to eight years at the White House. Add up all the presidential perks and subtract the wars, natural catastrophes, and economic disasters, and it seems like a pretty sweet gig. Title 3 of the U.S. Code is what governs the cash at the president's disposal. Here's the basic package: For starters, he makes a salary of $400,000 a year, plus a $50,000 expense account to defray costs relating to the "discharge of his official duties." Traveling expenses: $100,000 per year. Entertainment: $19,000. As for taking up residence in the White House (including use of its bowling alley and movie theater), trips on Air Force 1, meals, and vacations at Camp David...all are comped.
By law, the prez is also entitled to "use of the furniture and other effects belonging to the United States and kept in the Executive Residence at the White House." Mr. Lucky Ducky is also appropriated up to $1 million each fiscal year to spend at his discretion for "unanticipated needs" related to the national interest. Then of course there are the gifts. Finally, when his term of office is up, he is entitled to an annual pension of $157,000 per year, plus office space, administrative help, and Secret Service protection.
So get your resumes ready -- 2008 is just around the corner. |
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09/08/2005 06:51:59 AM · #291 |
Originally posted by gusto:
Hurricanes do not sneak up on people. Unlike tornadoes, hurricanes donât just
reach down out of the dark storm clouds to wreak havoc on humanity. Hurricanes
are tracked, named, have warning flags dedicated to them, and all coastal cities
have long-standing plans for dealing with them. Nearly everyone in the world
knew Katrina was going to hit Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama, and yet so
many have died in New Orleans. Why? |
Is this your own work?
If not, please cite your source.
-Terry
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09/08/2005 07:34:10 AM · #292 |
Originally posted by ClubJuggle:
Is this your own work?
If not, please cite your source.
-Terry |
Are we writing research papers now like in Junior English? Let me get all my notecards and footnotes ready. Sheesh.
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09/08/2005 08:03:27 AM · #293 |
Last night (as said in earlier post) I watched the movie CRASH. For those who haven't seen it I highly sugguest you do.It shows alot of things that go on that most people don't think does. A lot of people think the rescue efforts from katrina were slowed because of the victims races and incomes. This is something I kinda agree with. I was in a store the other day where some people were talking and a small crowd was forming, 95% of them think that Bush is the Anti-christ and that we are in the mist of(sorry here)some christian belief thing where the world cleans it's self and the anti-christ tells everyone that he will fix everything(Bush), Sorry can't think of the name of it. I don't know about all that but I do know that something is terrible wrong with our country right now, in goverment and out. I'm not in the goverment and so I can not say what's what. It really doesn't do any good to finger point either because we all know it won't amount to anything. I'm also not very comfortable with all the racial tension that this tragedy is stirring up. It is a very sensitive issue for me, one I have a lot of strong issues about. My mom's uncle stated on his death bed(before she was even preg with me)that a great race war would divide our country and I would be torn. So I try to sit that stuff out, but I think as a people we are blind to how things really are and we need to open our eyes and help make our country what we think it is but isn't. We need to use Katrina as a lesson to make us stronger and not let racial issues and govermental finger pointing rip us apart even more.
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09/08/2005 08:21:20 AM · #294 |
LOL...as far as Bush being the anti-christ, I know he will bring 'peace' to the middle east, but I don't think bush has done that...
Not to mention, I believe the bible says that he will rise from a European country? I could be wrong, but I plan to start studying the bible...I think I have one somewhere. Do you think one of the local churches would mind if I went on a Sunday and borrowed a bible for a while? I mean it'd be for my own biblical studies.
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09/08/2005 09:09:45 AM · #295 |
HMM, Don't know much about that, have read the bible a few times but have a bad memory. As far as borrowing a bible,I think that's funny because I was just watching a movie this morning where they borrowed one from a motel. It's killing me that I can't remeber what they called it, OH OH I know "The Rapture"
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09/08/2005 10:19:58 AM · #296 |
Originally posted by MadMordegon:
Originally posted by Judith Polakoff:
A Katrina Timeline of who did (or failed to do) what, and when. |
That is very well done, everyone should read this to get their facts straight.
Also this from Democracy Now (Pentagon telling the BBC, while I have yet to see it in any of the US main stream media outlets.):
Pentagon: USS Bataan Waited Days For Orders to Help Out
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. |
"The only caveat is: we have to wait until the president authorizes us to do so."
Who in turn had to wait for the Governor's okay before he could send in military forces. |
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09/08/2005 11:10:23 AM · #297 |
Originally posted by "mystical_princess":
I'm also not very comfortable with all the racial tension that this tragedy is stirring up. |
Neither am I...and frankly, I'm getting sick and tired of the race card played left and right. Almost no one I know was thinking "race" while watching all this go down.
As for President Bush, I find it funny that the president who has put more African-Americans into office and sent more aid to Africa than any other past is pointed out by politicos as being anti-african. I don't ever remember seeing a black secretary of state under Clinton. Let alone TWO of them.
But sadly, I will agree with you that we have a major racial problem brewing. And I believe, it has been exasperated by the past 15 yrs of teaching "racial pride" in schools. Which from my own personal experience only created it's synonym "racism".
In the 80's there was much progress and we were heading in the right direction. But people wanted more, and faster. So they instituted "multi-cultural education" which in fact was a mono-cultural education. Strong emphasis was put on teaching african-americanism but instead of included it within the scope it was seperated and distinguished. Instead of teaching true multi-culturalism where all cultures share their histories - it was focused on just one.
It is not that an understanding of such should not have been learned but that it should not have learned alone. Without understanding a history of abuses that Italian and Irish immigrants experienced, without understanding the situation of Chinese. Or understanding the slavery many Russians experienced until the early 1900's.
So what we had instead was a course on everything bad that happened (and seldom the focus on any of the good). The result, the first african-american generation NOT to experience most of the crap is the one most filled with hate. Filled with hate over that which they never experienced. Sadly, they are also very ignorant of other cultures unaware that they are NOT alone in the sufferings they experienced. And even more sad, so many are so determined to make others likewise suffer. Filled with hate and anger. They often fail to take advantage of opportunities presented to them and in their blind anger they fall. Hatred of Asian-Americans within the African-American community is extremely high. Why? These immigrants suffer much of the same problems as they (skin color, being different, impoverished, and have on top of that the language barrier) but they excel. Because the one thing they are missing is the hatred and anger.
Sadly, there is a group today which is focused on "me, me, me" instead of "we, we, we". These individuals filled with hate look on anyone of different color or skin than themselves and they "hate on them". A young white kid who never did anything (who may even be a recent immigrant from eastern europe and have no relation to the slavery of the past) to them is the enemy - for the simple reason that his skin color is white.
And if anything is done, or not done to them - it is obvious that it must have occurred because of racial prejudice. And not for any other reason.
In truth, until people learn to forgive it will only grow worse. In growing up, I experienced an immense amount of racism. I grew up poorer than most African-Americans I know. Now, we can either both choose to use those facts to relate to and understand one another. Or we will simply divide further apart and fill ourselves with greater hate.
Originally posted by "mystical_princess":
We need to use Katrina as a lesson to make us stronger and not let racial issues and govermental finger pointing rip us apart even more. |
Very much agreed....
Originally posted by "mystical_princess":
I was in a store the other day where some people were talking and a small crowd was forming, 95% of them think that Bush is the Anti-christ and that we are in the mist of(sorry here)some christian belief thing where the world cleans it's self and the anti-christ tells everyone that he will fix everything(Bush)
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Okay, ROTFLMAO...
So let me get this straight:
1) All these stupid brain-washed imbicilic christians are supposed to blindly be following and supporting George W. Bush
2) While at the same time 95% of talking about the anti-Christ (regarding the President) and the tribulation & rapture.
Somehow those two just don't quite meet and co-exist. (And yes, there will always be some who think the current president IS the "anti-Christ". A bunch thought Clinton was, a bunch thought Bush Sr. was, a bunch thought Reagan was...okay...so not many thought Carter was... *shrug*
You have to realize that the "anti-Christ" will be a extremely popular leader (think 80%+ in the polls). |
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09/08/2005 12:26:36 PM · #298 |
Originally posted by theSaj:
Originally posted by MadMordegon:
Originally posted by Judith Polakoff:
A Katrina Timeline of who did (or failed to do) what, and when. |
That is very well done, everyone should read this to get their facts straight.
Also this from Democracy Now (Pentagon telling the BBC, while I have yet to see it in any of the US main stream media outlets.):
Pentagon: USS Bataan Waited Days For Orders to Help Out
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. |
"The only caveat is: we have to wait until the president authorizes us to do so."
Who in turn had to wait for the Governor's okay before he could send in military forces. |
The Gov gave the "okay" the 26th and 27th. You should read the timeline that was posted above, as there is alot of misinformation going on, as usual.
Saturday, August 27
FEDERAL EMERGENCY DECLARED, DHS AND FEMA GIVEN FULL AUTHORITY TO RESPOND TO KATRINA: âSpecifically, FEMA is authorized to identify, mobilize, and provide at its discretion, equipment and resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the emergency.â |
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09/08/2005 12:30:20 PM · #299 |
I have not had a opportunity to completely read all of this thread however I have something to say.
1)The altimate responsibility of survival is the responsibility of the individual. How can anyone blame someone for there decission to stay put. I dont care if your poor or not. If your bed ridden all it would have taken was a phone call to get out. The people that stayed made the decission to stay put and you cannot blame anyone else for that.
2) There are processes for assistance. The mayor had the control. Then it goes to the Governor. If there is any blame to be had, that is where to start.
3) I am appalled by the actions of a few who took advantage of the situation and looted. I can see taking food and water, but that is it! Anyone who was photgraphed or caught should be prosecuted to the fullest.
4) People somtimes can be ignorant, for those that stayed against the recommendations of the local government, cannot or should not blame anyone for there issues!. If I was asked to go and decided to stay. That is my decission and no one elses.
5)Now after everyone is safe, the repair process will take time and effort from all forms of government. A entire city has to be rebuilt and it will not be easy and not quick. There will be lots of opportunities for the unemployed to get to work. I wonder how many people who were unemployed are now looking for work on the rebuild? People who were on welfare and assistance should be pounding down there doors looking to help rebuild there city. Stats on this would be interesting.
6) Once the process is complete I would like to see how we could improve on the response time. There is alot to learn from this experience.
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09/08/2005 12:46:24 PM · #300 |
| A little video from MSNBC showing the disconnect of the Bush administration. |
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