NYT: Bush Faces Rising Complaints About Handling of Disaster

[sabra]

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/04/national/nationalspecial/05cndbush.html?ei=5094&en=614dd5664c0ecd2f&hp=&ex=1125892800&partner=homepage&pagewanted=print

Bush Faces Rising Complaints About Handling of Disaster


WASHINGTON, Sept. 4 - President Bush faced increasingly bitter complaints today from local and state officials in the battered Gulf Coast region as he struggled to exert control over a disaster that almost surely claimed thousands of lives.

Senator Mary Landrieu of Louisiana, a Democrat, said today that she was so angry about federal failures and second-guessing that if she heard any more criticism of local efforts, even from the president, she might "punch" him.
The New Orleans mayor, C. Ray Nagin, said matters were improving but remained a "disgrace."

The president of a local Louisiana parish, Aaron Broussard, broke down sobbing on the NBC program "Meet the Press" today as he talked about an elderly woman who drowned while awaiting repeatedly promised help.

....

The first major opinion poll since the disaster showed ambivalent feelings toward Mr. Bush's handling of it, far less positive than the near-universal support he received in the days after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks. An ABC poll found that 46 percent of Americans approved of Bush's handling of the crisis, almost exactly half his 91 percent approval rating after Sept. 11, 2001.

[mike_c]

1. 41 percent approval is proof that this country is lost...

...or on the road to civil war. Nearly half the U.S. population are such diehard repig true believers that they will NEVER see the truth or change their thinking. Bush could personally eat their children and they would spin up a reason to approve of it.

[sabra]

5. his numbers will be in the 30's soon, now that the truth is unfolding

at least I hope so. :-(

[mwb970]

21. His REAL numbers have been in the 30s for some time.

This should send him well down into the 20s, although they will never report it!

[distantearlywarning]

11. My husband and I were speculating last night

about what could possibly happen to this country that might wake the sheeple up. Because 1 week's footage of thousands of American citizens starving to death and dehydrating combined with Fox News reporters in tears, blatant lies from the administration, and a predicted death toll of 100K apparently isn't enough to sway them.

I suggested that perhaps if Bush purposefully nuked Salt Lake City and Fox News faithfully covered the pictures of all the little fresh faced blond Christian girls lying dead of radiation poisoning in the streets that maybe 5% or so might change their minds about him. My husband is more cynical. He thinks they might still find some way to blame it on Clinton's blow job. Neither of us could come up with any other disaster that might even have a chance of melting the ice in the freeper hearts.

I truly, truly hate these people. And I am not alone. This country is heading for a civil war and the thought of that bothers me a lot less this week than it did the last.

ETA: I was having trouble sleeping last night thinking about these poll numbers and what serious bad trouble our country is in if they are true. I am pretty damn cynical and still I would NEVER have believed someone if they told me two weeks ago that this many people could die on national television with a poor govt. response and people would still express their unwavering support for that smirking asshole.

[anitar1]

18. I think sociopathic personalties may be drawn to each other.

There is something very, seriously wrong with the RW fundies. They are unable to perceive reality.

[XanaDUer]

37. My uncle is a RWer, not a fundie

and he's a freaking psychopath.

[ninkasi]

70. I think you're right...

His largest base now is those who hate...everybody and everything, and find satisfaction in inflicting misery on others. They will be his supporters til the bitter end, because he gives their hatred an official seal of approval.

The rest of us will suffer, until we decide we have had enough of the hatred and misery and greed, and see that the ones who are causing it are brought to justice.

[calimary]

30. Can't say I find much to dispute in your post. Not much AT ALL.

I, too, find it mighty hard not to despise those who still support him and keep blindly, unquestioningly, adoringly giving him the benefit of the doubt. Is it gonna take THEIR houses and lives and children destroyed before they finally get it? (Probably.)

Which means the rest of us have to
VISUALIZE IMPEACHMENT!!!!!!!!
And then go DO something about it.

[blue state liberal]

76. The only way out for our nation

is to try to replace the repubs in Congress with Dems in 2006 and begin Inquiries into IMPEACHMENT once and for all for the Bushista mafioso cabal !! We cannot endure 3 1/2 more years of this monster or the USA will be even more totally screwed than it is now. IMPEACH in 2006 !!!

[mdelaguna2000]

35. very well put...

the only comfort as that somehow these polls ARE rigged, and far less approve than they are reporting. Not much to go on... more speculation I guess.

[reprobate]

61. A poll (AVG I think) two weeks ago had his approval at 36%.

I'd be willing to bet that it's now well under 30%.

But hell, what will it take for the Dems in charge of the party to DO something?

IMPEACH THE BASTARD!!!

[sescob]

50. Sadly, I think you are right.

If the images of thousands of American dying on our soil doesn't sway them...there is no hope.

[savemefromdumbya]

57. they are happy

the GOP are happy that Katrina is covering up all the other 'skeletons that are coming out of the closet' about the Bush administration! You begin to wonder whether they ordered the hurricane?

[iamjoy]

26. What They Believe, Why It Is Nonsense

I thought it odd that nearly half the country approves of the job Dubya is doing. Apparently, these people have such a distroted view of reality. here is what they believe and why I believe what they believe is BS:

1) LEVEES NOT IMPROVED BECAUSE LOCAL OFFICIALS STOLE THE MONEY - The reason they were not improved is because the local officials in NOLA were so corrupt, they pocketed the money that should have gone to levee contruction. WHY THIS IS BS: the levees would have been an Army Corps of Engineers project, not a grant given to the city or state.


2) SENDING FEDERAL AID - Our national guard couldn't go in because things were so chaotic in NOLA, it wasn't safe. It is up to the local authorities to hold things together until the feds can get in. WHY THIS IS BS (several reasons): Even if we assume the violence truly was widespread, we have the finest trained military in the world. They can surely handle a crowd of desperate if unruly American civilians to get the majority the help and protection they need. The local authorities couldn't hold things together, and knew this before the storm hit. This is why Gov. Blanco requested aid two days before the storm. Reports of looting were coming out Monday and Tuesday, but nothing about the chaotic violence until Wednesday or Thursday. The guard had plenty of time to get there and establish order before things were too out of hand.

3) THIS IS LOCAL GOVERNMENT FAILURE - They should have evacuated people, should have declared a state of emergency sooner. They should have had adequate supplies at the Superdome for the people. They should have evacuated those who wanted to leave and couldn't. WHY THIS IS PARTIALLY TRUE: Yes, there were things the NOLA mayor & LA gov could have and should have done earlier. A good evacuation plan should have been worked out. However, per the Department of Homeland Security's website, they are responsible for large scale emergencies. As for supplies, initially they had plenty of food and water at the Superdome, but as more and more people were brought from their flooded homes to the crowded Superdome, it is easy to see how supplies and accomodations could quickly dwindle, especially over several days. Supplies cost money and need to be stored someplace. This can be a large burden for a municipal or state government.

4) NO ONE KNEW THE LEVEES WOULD FAIL - Are they actually pleading ignorance? If they didn't know, why the hell not? If they didn't think a hurricane could do it, did they ever think what their response would be if terrorists detonated explosives along the levees? Can you imagine how much worse that would have been if there was no warning and a million people were in the city when the water rushed in? You mean the federal government wouldn't care if a million people died and a city crucial to transport and oil was destroyed? WHY THIS IS BS ANYWAY - Worse case scenarios in natural disasters have been discussed by emergency management officials for years. These are disasters that officials know (or knew) would happen sooner or later, and all just hoped/prayed it would be later. These catastrophes included: A hurricane causing the breach of NOLAs levees and an 8.0+ earthquake hitting San Francisco. So, it is okay if most people outside New Orleans didn't know this was a possibility, but any one who has taken an oath to protect and defend the people of the United States should have known, at the very least they should have known the moment there was a remote possiblity the storm could hit NOLA

[KitSileya]

82. Good rebuttals!

You've really done a good job at rebutting the fundie talking points.

[lancdem]

40. This poll was a one-day poll of about 500 people

done the day after Bush visited Miss., Ala. and La. He probably got a temporary respite, but a lot of worst news is yet to come.

[girl gone mad]

42. The stories just haven't come out yet.

The bodies haven't begun to be counted.

If the truth is allowed to come out, his support will decline.

[Name removed]

69. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[yorkiemommie1]

73. ' Bush eating their children'

yep, he is, in Iraq. Mr. Quall's says it's just fine by him. Lost one son and willing to sacrifice the others on the altar of BUSH.

[Iowa]

87. I tend to agree...

There is a chasm between the two sides that is so fundamental, so powerful, that it won't go away in my lifetime. It is literally a fight to maintain our way of life, and possibly, our survival. And this isn't just about Bush and the neocons; it's about the people who continue to prop him up... and among those who are complicit are some of our neighbors, our family members, our religious leaders, our co-workers, and even some of our Democratic politicians.

[stray cat]

2. How could anyone approve of Bush's handling of it?

[madame defarge]

7. Those who live in the Bush Bubble...

and I've got neighbors like that. Absolutely clueless about just about anything that doesn't affect them personally and financially...

I've got a new vow: I'm working my butt off in the '06 elections. We've got to cut Boy George off at the knees. I don't think impeachment is an option; I think rendering him absolutely powerless is the answer and we can only do that by taking back control of Congress right now as well as work like hell to stop his Supreme Court nominees.

I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore!!! :grr:

[Skittles]

15. with all due respece, unless they are filthy rich

how could they not be affected personally and financially? I am sickened by what I am seeing on TV; are they so devoid of humanity it doesn't bother them? They can look at it and approve of the way the government has handled it? What about job raises, gas prices - they HAVE to be affected.

[smtpgirl]

28. I am not..

worried about gas, what about all of the people affected by Katrina. The Federal Government is soley responsible. It is not FEMA, the onus is at the top. These people should have been helped on THURSDAY. Too many hours wasted on photo-ops. The TAX CUTS came in 2001, I personally have felt this even today. Who knows, some of us will lose our jobs over this.

[calimary]

32. Welcome to DU.

These people should have been helped on WEDNESDAY. Even sooner.

Glad you're here, though!

Now get busy!

[belle]

16. People who freak at the idea of criticizing auTHORitah, I bet.

Bush is Big Daddy. You don't say bad things about Daddy. he might get mad.

[DrZeeLit]

17. Yep, my mom. She's 80 and there is no talking to her. And the worse

thing --- she is coming to visit on Saturday for nine days.

And I love my mom. But she will not listen to reason. She will not listen at all.
She'll be spouting the spin and I don't think I can keep my mouth shut.

It's going to be a test of my patience.

One day I told a friend, "I've been praying for patience, actually saying a special prayer, for most of my life.

She said, "When you pray for patience, you know what you get, don't you?"

I said, "What?"

She said, "You don't get patience. You get SITUATIONS."

I said, "Well, that explains my life."

[Radio_Lady]

52. DrZeeLit, I pray for your sanity. We had to drop a couple of friends

whom we were fairly close to -- because they were Republicans. My husband went to lunch with her husband and it didn't work out in 2002. (This friend was running for a Republican seat in the state government, but he lost.) I couldn't stomach being with them as they touted Bush and his cronies. We just let the friendship fade to black.

I know you can't do that with your mother. What I used to say to MY mother when she was alive -- but I didn't agree with her on (whatever the subject) -- was "You may be right." However, that will not work in this political situation.

Don't turn into an axe murderer... (black humor hole...) I hope you have something to help you get through the nine days.

In peace,

Radio Lady

[calimary]

31. Welcome to DU!

Glad you're here! We need you to get busy...

[Amonester]

74. Make sure the corrupt criminals won't use their paperless

vote robber-machines first and foremost!

[ECH1969]

3. NYT has been a great ally

They have been fighting for the cause for the past several years.

Now the rest of the media is moving that way.

[mike_c]

4. um-- it's hard to reconcile that with Judith Miller's constant shilling...

...for war against Iraq!

[JoFerret]

8. Their editorials the Katrina debacle, David Sanger yesterday

and Elisabeth Bumiller today --- the tide is shifting.

Frank Rich is good today, Maureen Dowd was good yesterday, and Paul Krugman was good on Friday.

[DURHAM D]

9. No. NYT great ally - more like a great alley. eom

[Media_Lies_Daily]

27. LOL!! Since when??

[JoFerret]

6. May it rise until bursting point

.

[gratuitous]

10. But, but, but, Chimpy said he understands disasters!

It's always worked for him in the past: Whatever has happened, no matter how corrupt or incompetent he or his administration has been, Chimpy always comes out and says, "I unnerstan'" whatever it is that's just blown up in his face.

And the media clap each other on the back, rejoicing and pirouetting like Annie Sullivan as little Helen Keller finally understands that "wa-wa" means water! He understands! The president understands that people die in war or that natural disasters are a, uh, disaster! Praise Jebus! This calls for another cocktail. Presidential medals all around.

But this time, it seems that merely possessing the mentality of a four-year-old isn't quite going to cut it for Chimpy. Gee George, we're really happy that you "unnerstan'" that people will drown under 20 feet of water or die when they don't have their prescriptions. Bully for you, really. But in this case, a lot of people died while you were trying to sound out the long words "e-mer-gen-cy re-lief."

[smtpgirl]

29. Chimpy

doesn't understand a blow job

[amber dog democrat]

38. I know he'd say a blow job is hard work

and additionally he is gong to commiserate and hug with the 'murkin people until the cows come home... as long at there are network tv crews present.

This may well be one of many things that will come to be his final undoing. After this only dogmatized crazies will support this lying weasel. Does anyone besides me wonder if he tires from the effort of keeping up his act.?

[AlamoDemoc]

12. Fuck the NYT

In a September 2 article headlined "Government Saw Flood Risk but Not Levee Failure," The New York Times printed without challenge President Bush's false claim, originally made on ABC's Good Morning America, that "I don't think anyone anticipated the breach of the levees" surrounding New Orleans as a result of Hurricane Katrina...


http://mediamatters.org/

[t73rvo]

13. Halliburton Hired for Storm Cleanup!

Houston Chronicle reports:

Sept. 1, 2005, 8:30PM

AROUND THE REGION


CONSTRUCTION
Halliburton hired for storm cleanup
The Navy has hired Houston-based Halliburton Co. to restore electric power, repair roofs and remove debris at three naval facilities in Mississippi damaged by Hurricane Katrina.


Halliburton subsidiary KBR will also perform damage assessments at other naval installations in New Orleans as soon as it is safe to do so.

KBR was assigned the work under a "construction capabilities" contract awarded in 2004 after a competitive bidding process. The company is not involved in the Army Corps of Engineers' effort to repair New Orleans' levees.

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/business/3335685



Medical workers asked to VOLUNTEER....Halliburton PAYED!!!!!

[AlamoDemoc]

14. I guess now we know why we haven't heard from Dick

he was busy putting together more contracts for Halliburton.

[chomskysright]

19. GET THE GOP OUT OF THE SOUTH NOW: The Kingfish DO:

THE KINGFISH DO:

(paraphrased from Randy Newman's song, Kingfish: Good Ole' Boys: 1974: about Governor Huey P. Long, populist, who booted the Federales out of NOLA, 1928, when they drug their lard-asses taking care of business when the Mississippi flooded the city: THE KINGFISH DO)

NEVER FORGET NEW ORLEANS

There's a hundred-thousand BushMen in New Orelans
In New Orleans there are BushMen everywhere
But your house could fall down
Your baby could drown
Wouldn't none of those BushMen care.

Everybody gather round
Loosen up your suspenders
Hunker down on the ground
I'm a cracker
And you are too
But don't I take good care of you

(HERE WE'D NEED TO SUBSTITUE WHAT BLANCO/ MAYOR NOLA, LANDREAU ARE DOING)

Who built the highway to Baton Rouge?
Who put up the hospital and built you schools?
Who looks after shit-kickers like you?
The Kingfish do.

Who gave a party at the Roosevelt Hotel?
And invited the whole north half of the state down there for free.
The people in the city
Had their eyes bugging out
Cause everyone of you
Looked just like me

Kingfish, Kingfish
Everybody sing
Kingfish, Kingfish
EVERY MAN A KING

Who took on the Standard Oil men
And whipped their ass
Just like he promised he'd do?
Ain't no Stnadard Oil men gonna run this state
Gonna be run by little folks like me and you

Kingfish, Kingfish
Friend of the working man
Kingfish, Kingfish
The Kingfish gonna save this land.

[mark11727]

20. One too many "Pearl Harbors" for *, I guess...

...fool us twice, we won't get fooled again.

[Botany]

22. Either ....

.....deliberate or negligent homicide .

Funny t.v. crews could get to the victims but the guard, fema, red cross,
us army, and others couldn't ....

[Old Vet]

23. I honestly cant fanthom someone thinking * is doing a good job??

[savemefromdumbya]

24. How are we supposed to survive a major terrorist attack?

If Bush can't prepare for a major hurricane - what hope have we if we have a major terorrist attack? When GOP senators are complaining then they are admitting what a 'cock up' Bush's response has been. Besides it doesn't surprise me since he didn't appear for days after 911. Bush should be known as the 'late president'

[IndyJones]

72. Exactly!!

This is the question everyone should be asking. If the administration has it's head up it's behind for an event with a two day notice where they were already well aware of the destruction that would occur with reports given to them years ago, what will they do after a terrorist attack?

This is a disgrace!

[Name removed]

25. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[ClintonTyree]

33. If they're going to continue to site that ABC poll..........

they ought to tell people that only slightly over 500 were polled in the survey. I can't really believe that 46% of Americans support his handling of this catastrophe. He's bungled it at every turn and his gutting of FEMA is reprehensible, stupid and dangerous.
When America finds out exactly what this MOST SECRETIVE OF ADMINISTRATIONS has done to weaken this nation he'll be lucky to hold onto his most ardent supporters.
If his bungling, irresponsible mismanagement doesn't get him impeached then this country deserves to be in the constant danger it's in. Every man woman and child in this country is at peril with this charlatan at the helm. Our ship of state is adrift.

[babywatson]

34. Bush is the biggest f'ing halfwit I've ever seen

Saw him talking in New Orleans yesterday and he actually had the nerve to make some sort of smirky remembering of his party days in New Orleans. And when you picture this with bodies piled up nearby...the man is an utter moron with no feeling for others at all.

[Usrename]

68. HE IS NOT A HUMAN BEING

I had forgotten that. It is so gruesome. What do they see that I'm missing?

[lancdem]

41. And this was done the day after he visited

That's why the results aren't worse. Buck up!

[Art_from_Ark]

44. So who did they survey?

The "haves" and the"have-mores"?? :crazy:

[XanaDUer]

36. Kicked and nominated!

...

[BootinUp]

39. I think they misinterpreted Sen. Landrieu in the last para.

She wasn't warning about the next hurricane, she was talking about previous warnings that went unheeded. IIRC. Saying we are already going to pay for that mistake.

[GOPFighter]

43. If 46% of the people polled said Bush did a good job...

...then it may be time to leave the country. There is something very scary going on in this country!

[dxstone]

45. Fuck their bullshit polls, excuse my French...

I don't believe 'em. I've NEVER believed 'em. Polls exist to SHAPE popular perception; they're bullshit, it's like believing in voodoo...

I know there are some stupid people in America.
But with gas over $3 and rising daily, I DON'T BELIEVE that many people could still have ANY good view of Butch.
Myself, I estimate it at 20% or so, and STILL falling...

Other than that, good post, sabra... I hope we'll be seeing those complaints multiplying far and wide, and SOON!...

Cuz we are seriously down to the line here.
d

[Rainscents]

46. Where the FUCK is REPUBLICAN SENATOR from Louisiana???

Only one's so far I've seen is Democrat Senator!!! I thought every states had TWO senators???????????????????????????

[Usrename]

64. Sen John Breaux (D) is leaving the Senate

his seat will be open (good) because I saw him on FAUX this afternoon and he actually used the phrase "monday morning quarterbacking". He's either a dumbshit or a traitor (or undercover). I think he's just letting his fucking mouth get ahead of the facts.

[Moloch]

66. David Vitter has been mostly silent...

although, fwiw, he said he gave the federal gov't an F for its response to the disaster.

[spartan61]

47. What will his poll numbers be after his "Do Over" on Monday?eom

[mellow]

48. The blame game

There's a humorous take on this included in Bush vows to fight hurricanes in Iraq":

Brown took aim at New Orleans residents, criticizing their choice to lack transportation out of the city and their illegal looting of food, water and medicine.

He also criticized New Orleans officials for failing to convince the Bush administration to fully fund flood projects.

"But," Brown said graciously, "Now is not the time to way bwame."

Cheney agreed, adding that those who criticize the president's second failure to heed warnings and protect America would "politicize the disaster, harm the morale of our troops, and embolden the enemy hurricanes."

"Now that the president has returned from his vacation, the disaster has struck, and the president has begun strutting, we expect his approval rating to rise dramatically," Cheney said. "Just like last time."

"We are working on the Mission Accomplished banner as we speak," Cheney said.

[savemefromdumbya]

55. I expect this is taking the heat off KARL ROVE?

The GOP must be thinking - how convenient, a little hurricane to take the public's mind off that nusisance impending indictment on KArl Rove et al over the Val PLame wilson leak (& don't forget those Downing St Memos).

[Drewskie]

49. 46% ? Hogwash....

I don't believe that figure for a second. Bush's numbers have to be plummeting right now.

[forintegrity]

51. Because 9-11 was an inside job they were prepared

but a natural disaster is another matter, even though they had several days before it hit! * true colors are bleeding all over the place!!!

The truth is...we are MORE vulnerable than ever under this administration and Homeland Security is a frickin' joke! Katrina just proved it!

WE HAVE NO LEADERSHIP!!!

WE'RE SO SCREWED!!


:cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:

[savemefromdumbya]

53. half the population 'buy' GOP spin

there is something the matter if half the population 'buy' GOP spin. The GOP assume that the majority are 'the herd' Too bad half of 'we the people' see through all of Bush's garbage?

[Usrename]

58. Nobody - nobody is buying it anymore

The MSM is still spinning but I just looked in over at freeperville. They know what happened and the spin is having no effect. It's over, except for the mourning, which will never be over.

[cliss]

85. It sure looks that way.

I hosted a garage sale this weekend with a neighbor. We had lots of people come up and look at the stuff for sale.

Almost EVERY ONE was critical of Bush. They would say things like, "Can you believe what's going on in Louisiana? God, that Bush is really incompetent". "Why isn't he doing something?" "He's really asleep on the job".

And so on.

The American public GETS IT.

Now we need to GET HIM OUT.

[Usrename]

54. forintegrety - Buck up, we have our heros, real heros, true patriots.

I know many of the leaders were fools. But others were never fooled and they will take the lead. They must, their country needs them and they will asnwer the call. I know it with all I believe in.

<edit>posted wrong place - can't get used to this new fangled stuff. sorry

[No Blood for Hubris]

56. Smoking guns are the many providers of services who were

deliberately withheld from helping New Orleans. One cannot imagine why.

NorCom, as they were tasked, tracked the hurricane and potential damage from the day before it hit. It had 9 million meals ready to eat, plus the troops to deliver them. Plus ships tracking into New Orleans to dock AFTER the storm had hit.

But they needed authorization from the President of the United States before they could move in.

And that authorization didn't come--for days and days and days and for the ships, as of today, it STILL hadn't come.

Oh yeah. These are PRO-LIFE people, un huh. Oh yeah. Ptui.

[Usrename]

62. This is difficult to believe, but

they intentionally witheld food and water until the "black folk" went nuts. People will do that. A few days is all it takes. Don't read any further if you are disturbed by this.

The 'plan' was to institute marshal law to control a population of "black folk" that were out of control. Disease should have broken out by now, the true miracle is that it hasn't. Cholera from the feces and dead bodies would justify a quarantine. Once the quarantine was in place, people could be treated and leave.

But the purpose of this part of the exercise is to provide a method of employing what has been termed the Schwarzkopf doctrine ("we don't do body counts"). This doctrine was effectively employed during the first Gulf War. An event that would normally invoke outrage (here and abroad) was accepted because there were no bodies. (Consider that the first act of the current administration was to start exhuming bodies in Iraq. Many had been buried for decades but were used as a propaganda tool promote the war.

With Cholera, Halliburton could pour concrete over the whole mess and the main stream media would say "oh well, what else can be done".

Yes "OUR" President has ensured his place in history.

[sidd]

59. Our Troops Are Stationed in the Wrong Gulf

Our Troops Are Stationed in the Wrong Gulf
Dennis Kucinich speaking from the Floor of the House

Link to this entry in the Congressional Record
Sep 2, 2005

Speaking in support of H.R. 3645, Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act to Meet Immediate Needs Arising from the Consequences of Hurricane Katrina, 2005, Congressman Kucinich said:

"Mr. Speaker, the amount of money that the House just appropriated is only a fraction of what is needed, and all Members know that. Let it go forward quickly, with bipartisan cooperation and with heartfelt thanks to those helping to saving lives with necessary food, water, shelter, medical care and security.

"Congress must also demand accountability with the appropriations because until there are basic changes in the direction of this government, this tragedy will multiply to apocalyptic proportions.

"The administration said yesterday no one anticipated the breach of the levees. Did the administration not see or care about the 2001 FEMA warning about the risk of a devastating hurricane hitting the people of New Orleans? Did it not know or care that civil and Army engineers were warning for years about the consequences of failure to strengthen the flood control system? Was it aware or did it care that the very same administration which decries the plight of the people today cut from the budget tens of millions needed for Gulf area flood control projects?

"Countless lives have now been lost throughout the South in the cost of hundreds of billions in ruined homes, businesses and the destruction of entire physical and social infrastructure.

"The President said a couple of hours ago that the Gulf Coast looks like it has been obliterated by a weapon. It has. Indifference is a weapon of mass destruction. Our indifferent government is in a crisis of legitimacy. If it continues to ignore its basic responsibilities for the health and economic welfare of the American people, will there ever be enough money to clean up after their indifference?

"As our government continues to squander the human and monetary resources of this country on the war, people are beginning to ask: Is it not time we begin to take care of our people here at home? Is it not time that we rescue our own citizens? Is it not time that we feed our own people? Is it not time that we shelter our own people? Is it not time that we provide physical and economic security for our own people? And is it not time that we stop the oil companies from profiting from this tragedy?

"We have plenty of work to do here at home, and it is time for America to come home and take care of its own people who are drowning in the streets, suffocating in the attics, dying from exposure to the elements, oppressed by poverty and illness, racked with despair by hunger and thirst.

"The time is now to bring back to the United States the 78,000 National Guard troops currently deployed overseas. Many of our troops are already stationed in the wrong Gulf.

"The time is now to bring back to the U.S. the equipment needed to search and rescue for clean up and reclamation. The time is now for Federal resources, including closed Army bases, to be used for temporary shelter for those who have been displaced by the hurricane. The time is now to plan massive public works with jobs going to the people of the Gulf Coast States to build new levees, bridges, roads, libraries, schools, colleges and universities, and to rebuild all public institutions, including hospitals. Medicare ought to be extended to everyone so every person can get the physical and mental health care they need as a result of the disaster.

"The time is now for the Federal Government to take seriously the research of scientists who have warned for years about the dangers of changes in the global climate, and to prepare other regions of the country for other possible weather disasters until we change our disastrous energy policies. The time is now to change our energy policies, to end the domination of oil and fossil fuel, and to invest heavily in alternative energy, including wind and solar, geothermal and biofuels.

"As bad as this catastrophe will prove to be, it is in fact only a warning. Our government must change its direction. It must become involved in making America a better place to live, a place where all may survive and thrive. It must get off the path of war and seek the path of peace, peace with a natural environment, peace with other nations, peace through a just economic system."

[Usrename]

67. I posted something earlier this week that I heard on CSPAN.

A reporter asked Lt. Gen. John Vines a question about leaves for the 10,000 troops stationed in Iraq that hail from the area affected by the disaster. He (Gen) said leaves will be determined on a case-by-case basis. I hope they let them return.

[ninkasi]

71. I love that man

I wish he were our president.

[Strawman]

60. Newt is a fucking shitball

"Newt Gingrich, the former House speaker, said that Mr. Bush's handling of the crisis could, if it is seen to improve, re-energize his plans. Otherwise, "it swamps the rest of his agenda."

All they care about is perception and politics. How can Chimpy get some juice out of this....Shitball.

[beltanefauve]

88. Interesting use of the word, "swamp" nt

[Bonhomme Richard]

63. I think you have to understand that.......

30% of the people in any nation are going to believe in anybody that is going to tell them what they want to here. And 30% are going to be against what the Gov. tells them.
Always and all the time. They are the extreme right and left wingers. I probably fall in the left 30%. The problem is that middle 40% that generally will follow what AUTHORITY tells them. It isn't a factor of thinking. It's that this is what those I place in authority are saying therefore it must be true. Just let my mundane life go on as it is without any unforeseen problems come into it and I am satisfied and go on with my daily existence.
That 40% has finally been shown the truth this week and they will be afraid and respond.
I've spoken with quite a few of shrub defenders this week and not one of them are willing to defend him now. Not one. Though I have to say that a machinist I know started to blame the people on NO for the problems and I blew my stack. Had to walk away from him and said that I couldn't talk to him anymore. He then jumped out from behind the Bridgeport and said he couldn't also understand why those people could not get any food or water. Got very defensive because he knew that he didn't have any foundation to stand on. Finally he said that he didn't give a damn and had done enough for the country.(Ex. navy seal retired.) Actually the truth came out.

[Fight_n_back]

90. Huzzahs

You are correct. The magic 30% in every poll. the same 30% that thinks Elvis lives.

The whole reason landslides happens isn't that the winner dips into the other 30%, its that they get have of the middle, all of their own and the other 30% stay home. That is why no election will ever be more than 70-30 unless it is in a dictatorship.

This is not the last tragedy. there will be another hurricane this year, a bad winter, at least a recession as the evacuees start to become a drag on the local economies and the loss of those ports becomes real, there is the Plame investigation and continuing Iraq news.

There is little Bush can do to save his party unless he resigns and that would be "blinking".

[kaygore]

65. Katrina's aftermath showed the U.S. to be a paper tiger

Congratulations, Republicans, we are a much weaker nation under Bush and Republicans.

[cliss]

86. Yes. I think the world is seeing that.

I believe the war in Iraq has showed us to be a "Hologram Empire". Because of Bush, we've squandered untold billions in the Middle East and bankrupted ourselves.

The world is watching. We have many, many enemies. Real ones, not the people in Iraq. They're watching us, trying to decide what do do when we tip over with rigor mortis.

"The Beast Bleeds", according to Stan Goff.

[vard28]

75. I watched Mr. Broussard's interview on MTP this morning...

... I was heartsick for that man as he sat there sobbing and begging for help. He said it best when he said he was sick of Bush's press conferences and that Bush has to SHUT UP and SEND HELP NOW. I sure hope he gets some soon...

[Trevelyan]

77. Big request here, for all of you, pleez.

As I mentioned, I called members of the Congressional Black Caucus today, to thank them for standing up and speaking truth to power.

I'm very DISTRESSED to report that their offices are getting hammered by hate calls, and yes, death threats. One staffer cried when I thanked her, and said the death threats are hard to take, and I was the first one who called to thank them.

Another staffer said I was only the second supportive call they'd had. These people are really under fire, and I ask you to take a few minutes and please call and let them know we support them, pleeeez.

The people I heard speaking (may not be all of them, as CNN cut away) are:
Rep. Elijah Cummings
Rep. Jesse Jackson
Rep. Carolyn Kirkpatrick
Rep. Stephanie Tubbs-Jones was there, didn't hear her speak.

Again, the toll-free number is: 1-888-355-3588. Please, I'm really pleading here. We finally have some legislators standing for justice, they are getting hammered, and we need to let them know they have support.

Thank you very much, and please spread this word!

[Pierogi_Pincher]

79. Called the Congressional Black Caucus

Their mail box was full, so I could not leave a message of support. Praying that it's full of positive messages and not the opposite of that. Our family is sick and burdened of heart witnessing the suffering of our fellow brothers and sisters. Mom is 89 and tonite she said she couldn't watch any more programs about it; her voice trembled sounding like the flood-gates were about to break. We cannot fathom what it has been like for these people to experience what they have. We are not directly affected, but it has left us with emotions felt when loved ones are in dire straits or have died.

I wonder if those 'leading' us have read in THEIR Holy Scriptures where it reads "GOD will not be mocked."?
OR, that "Vengeance is Mine", thus saith the Lord, "I WILL repay."?

[OneGrassRoot]

84. I called that 888 number.........

but it was a general switchboard. I was given the number 202-775-8882, but it rang and rang and rang. I'll try again later.

[AZBlue]

78. Another request....

These people have been through enough....now they have to lose their pets too????

From helpinganimals.com: "...federal authorities are forcing everyone, including elderly residents who have stayed in water-logged residences for 5 days just to safeguard their beloved animals, to now leave them behind to starve. In some cases people are told that they must choose between bringing vital medicine and their dog. This is illegal..."
http://www.helpinganimals.com/f-disasterupdate.asp


Please contact your congressional representatives and senators or anyone you can think of to stop this! At least let these poor people have their animals!!!


For more reading on the issue:
http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/09/04/katrina.pets.ap/index....

[PinkyisBlue]

83. Helping Animals

Left e-mails for my two senators and my rep. Hope it helps! These people have lost so much, they shouldn't have to lose their pets too!

[nariel]

80. RE: All those who offered help and were refused...

like Daley in Chicago, and the water tankers for fires, etc. Is there a list of all those who offered to help and were turned away by FEMA? It might make more of an impact if the refusals were presented together, no?

[NYC]

89. There is a thread trying to compile all the refusals and blocking of help

by Homeland Security's FEMA. The search function is not working now, so the best I can give you is this:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1756375

A Canadian newspaper:
http://dominionpaper.ca/international_news/2005/09/06/fema_turne.html

Subtitle: Agency draws ire of frustrated volunteers and donors

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, several witnesses have alleged that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) turned away volunteers who were ready to help New Orleans residents people trapped in their flooded homes. Other witnesses have said that FEMA turned away offers of aid, prevented water and fuel from reaching people on the ground, and cut emergency communications lines.

The agency has cited security and safety concerns...

...20 deputies and six emergency medical technicians–all volunteers–turned around and came back (from New Orleans)...

...up to 500 airboat pilots...boaters, who spent thousands of dollars stocking their boats to help in the rescue effort, "are physically sick, watching the New Orleans coverage and knowing that the resources to help these poor people is sitting right in our driveways...

...Jefferson Parish President Aaron Broussard said that "we had 1,000 gallons of diesel fuel on a Coast Guard vessel docked in my parish. The Coast Guard said, 'Come get the fuel right away.' When we got there with our trucks, they got a word. 'FEMA says don't give you the fuel.'"

Broussard also said that FEMA cut "all of our emergency communication lines."

...Chicago is "ready to provide more help than they have requested."

"We are just waiting for their call," Daley was quoted as saying. They mayor said he was "shocked" that no one seemed to want the help.

According to Daley, the city offered "36 members of the firefighters' technical rescue teams, eight emergency medical technicians, search-and-rescue equipment, more than 100 police officers as well as police vehicles and two boats, 29 clinical and 117 non-clinical health workers, a mobile clinic and eight trained personnel, 140 Streets and Sanitation workers and 29 trucks, plus other supplies."

------
There are a lot more people complaining they were turned back.

[desertrain55]

81. Homeland Insecurity and Incompetence

Gees, if squabbles about "who's in charge" and the slow response to the Gulf Coast's forseen disaster are demonstrations of what the FEMA and Homeland Security have been spending bzillions of dollars on since 9/11--then we are really sinking!

Massive transfer of our funds to Halliburton, KBR, and the like... with pitiful results when push came to shove. Get those lying SOBs out and get someone who can respond appropriately to crises in. Bush and Co are the disaster!