Please post what the Democrats are doing

[Onlooker]

The Democrats don't seem to be doing much, but maybe the right-wing media is just not giving them any attention. What is Hillary doing and saying? Liberman? Kennedy? Feingold? Dean? etc.

What are the Democrats doing to get Bush and FEMA to do their job and protect and save American lives?

[Deja Q]

1. Or even denouncing their own in the cities and states where they govern?

Seems unfair to be completely anti-repuke for once. Both sides are guilty, though * has been head-shakingly pathetic in his delays and then his idiot comments about not spending on gas.

Next he'll tell us not to buy food if we don't have to. :eyes:

[KingFlorez]

2. Nothing that I know of

The response from the Democratic top brass is zero

[BlueJac]

3. Big Goose Egg for the Dems

Nothing ventured nothing gained. Play it safe Dems :sarcasm:

[SofaKingLiberal]

4. No shit, where the fuck is Dean?

[Pirate Smile]

10. Dean had a statement out. I heard them play it on AAR.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2052217

Dean cancels Phoenix fall meeting and all fundraisers next week.
http://www.reachm.com/amstreet /
September 1, 2005
Dean cancels DNC meeting scheduled for next week
In a hastily-called conference call with DNC members, Gov. Dean said that a time of national tragedy is not the right time to have a political meeting. He cancelled the DNC meeting set for Sept. 8-9 in Phoenix as well as all DNC fundraisers.

Dean mentioned that at least two DNC members had missing family members and that one employee’s family had finally been rescued from their rooftop by the Coast Guard.

He said that several DNC staffers wanted to go to the Gulf Coast to help and that the DNC would continue to pay their salaries so they could. Saying that relief workers (and money) are the most important needs, he urged those that could to go help out. He encouraged the rest of us to send money.

“These are our people,� Dean said. “New Orleans is a Democratic city; many of the worst hit are poor and African American.�

He mentioned that Ben Jeffers, who had served on his transition team, was busy driving a bus evacuating people.

Dean did say that the Democrats would not be taking time off, however. “We will continue to defend ourselves.�

The meeting will be rescheduled in the coming months.

By Jenny Greenleaf 3:50 pm No Comments Party Process: Dems

He was also scheduled in Florida in Duval County and Tallahassee. I assume they are canceled as well.

[SoCalDem]

5. cue crickets

chirp chirp

[wli]

6. Nothing that I'm aware of. n/t

[LoZoccolo]

7. Here. Go use it.

http://www.google.com/news

[Pirate Smile]

8. self delete

[graywarrior]

9. We are on our own.

Abandoned, hoodwinked, fucked over.

[Katidid]

11. I thought I heard today that Pelosi

requested that Congress reconvene immediately... did anyone else hear that this morning or last evening?

[VADem11]

13. She did

Shw was calling for it while Hastert was hesitating. The democrats are preparing a bill to shield the victims of the hurricane from bankruptcy law and are requesting donations for hurricane victims.

[Katidid]

21. Thanks, VaDem

I wasn't sure if I was hallucinating . . . good to know I wasn't.

[jillan]

12. I've gotten email from all of them (except Lieberman) asking to

please donate to Red Cross, Salvation Army

Also got the same from Dean and Clark.

[MaineDem]

14. Expect to hear from Dean shortly

Regarding the RNC pushing the repeal of the death tax when so many are dying.

Regarding the President's lacadaisical (or however you spell it) approach to this disaster.

Regarding plans for next week's DNC meeting in Phoenix.

Edited to correct a word I really know how to spell.

[cally]

15. I have been asked to donate to hurricane relief

by Kerry, moveon, DNC, DFA, Calif Dems, and local dems. I think I got one from Clark also. I haven't donated to all these folks but I'm on the lists. Dems are trying to help with money and supplies.

[Paul Dlugokencky]

16. Seriously...

"What are the Democrats doing to get Bush and FEMA to do their job and protect and save American lives?"

How much influence do you think Democrats have with Bush or any of his agencies?

Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid has publicly released a letter he sent to Majority Leader Bill Frist "Reid to Frist: Drop estate tax push, focus on helping suffering families" (http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2052155)

I have received emails from DNC Chair Howard Dean, Senators Clinton, Kerry, Kennedy, and Richard Morrison (former candidate for the House seat currently held by Tom DeLay) indicating how individuals can help. I would venture to guess that others are doing the same (these are just the ones I get regular subscription emails from).

[Mr_Jefferson_24]

17. It's certainly...

...understandable that the Dems would, under these circumstances, want whatever actions they take or commentary they offer to be a contributing rather than hindering influence. Withholding criticism is understandable, in this light, at least to a point. We were way past that point by Tuesday afternoon when it became painfully obvious how inadequate the federal response had been. Now it's Thursday evening, people are still stranded, some have died from dehydration and lack of medical care, and STILL NOTHING from the Dems. I don't think they're being ignored, I think, as a group, they're without a spine. The good news is, and I refuse to give up on them, that this may change over time. We'll see.

[The Wielding Truth]

26. This is not time for political ruffling. People are dying . WE MUST

HELP THEM NOW.I agree Bush can't run a marble game let alone a country but the FEMA power is in the hands of those fascists and we have to try to get past them to save these gulf coast souls.We are the Dems . What are we doing? Sending money and working in the guidelines of our leader. Yea. What a mess.

[Mr_Jefferson_24]

32. I agree wholeheartedly.

My remarks were not aimed at rank and file Dems.

[Stinky The Clown]

18. I have an inbox full of e-mail begging for money ........

I can't find the link to the thread on DU right now ...... but it seems only Clark has spoken out strongly to speak truth to power about the complete lack of leadership by the idiot son of a ciminal 'don'.

[McCamy Taylor]

19. Dems should take this opputunity to call for withdrawl from Iraq,

turn operations over to UN and get our troops back here to protect the people devestated by the hurricaine and start rebuilding. It is a very simple message.

Wny not e-mail your Congressperson and suggest it?

[rockymountaindem]

20. Senator Ken Salazar, his wife and daughter were at the Red Cross center

in Denver today. They met with voulnteers and tried to draw attention to the need for material and monetary donations as well as voulnteers. Apparently, the Denver branch of the Red Cross is recieving a major portion of the calls involving the disaster and is a major distribution point for the region.

[KoKo]

22. I have NOT seen a response...but I assume that James Carville's response

since this whole thing began. But..no..I've tried to watch every bit of this coverage...and I haven't heard anything from any Dem..except Carvill who has "family in NO."

One has to be aware though, with Carville, that his wife (Mary Matalin) works for Cheney. :shrug:

It might be that he's teeny biased. He does have two daughters to support. You gotta do...what you gotta' do to survive in these times.

It might be that our Dems understand that it's not in THEIR PLACE to question Bush's emergency management.

And...we do have Bill Clinton sitting next to Poppy Bush where they are sort of looking like they are "chumming it up."

I don't wan't to be judgemental...but I think the Dem Party thinks that Bush is doing the best he can ..even though he's faced with hard times.

Who am I to criticize. Our Dems know the "hard task" he's faced with.

After all ...who could have ever anticipated a "Category 5" Hurrican would EVER hit New Orleans. Well it's just beyond anything anyone would have thought...just like "9/11" How in the world could we have EVER been PREPARED for anything like this devastation.

Emergency Prep's are doing ALL THEY CAN...given the "SAFETY QUESTIONS."

Nuff Said. :puke:

[LibraLiz1973]

23. that sound is the sound of nothingness

[LibraLiz1973]

24. that sound is the sound of nothingness

[NashVegas]

25. Democracy For America Website Front Page

Today, we join so many others in heeding the call to help those affected by Hurricane Katrina. Community support and activism is what we are about, and this is a time when we must all step up to the plate.

Tens of thousands of newly homeless families are competing for area shelters, hotels, motels and cars. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Red Cross are working endlessly to find shelter for the displaced, as well as medical attention, food, clothing and all of life's necessities.

We've joined MoveOn in launching an emergency national housing drive to connect your spare rooms, empty beds and comfy couches with hurricane victims who desperately need a place to stay. You can post your offer of housing and search for available housing online at:

http://www.hurricanehousing.org

Obviously, housing is most needed within the Southeast area, especially New Orleans, so please forward this message to anyone you know in the region who might be able to help.

Every action—big or small—makes a difference. So please offer what you can.

The process is simple:

# You can sign up to become a host by posting a description of whatever housing you have available, along with contact information. You can change or remove your offer at any time.

# Hurricane victims, local and national relief organizations, friends and relatives can search the site for housing. We'll do everything we can to get your offers where they are needed most. Many shelters actually already have Internet access, but folks without 'net access can still make use of the site through case workers and family members.

# Hurricane victims or relief agencies will contact hosts and together decide if it's a good match and make the necessary travel arrangements. The host's address is not released until a particular match is agreed on.

If you are unable to offer housing, then we urge you to volunteer or donate to the Red Cross.

[The_Casual_Observer]

27. What would you suggest? Call back the National Guard?

End the Iraq War? Perhaps you forget that the rw controls all 3 branches of government right now, you and I have as much say so as they do.

[Sgent]

28. One Democrat

Bennie Thompson D-MS, Trent Lott's congressman, was calling for hearings into the actions or lack of them by FEMA and Homeland Security. He didn't come right out and call them calous bastards, but he was not happy about the relief efforts either. This was this afternoon on Mississippi Public Radio.

[FrenchieCat]

29. I can tell you what one Democrat is "doing" and "saying"

OMG! WES CLARK calling out BUSH'S handling of KATRINA!
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2051179&mesg_id=2051179

Then just this morning, the President claimed that no one could have anticipated the levee breaches we've seen in New Orleans after Katrina hit.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4204754.stm

That's not leadership, that's an excuse.

In fact, people have predicted this kind of disaster for many years, including President Bush's own FEMA in 2001, when they ranked hurricane flood damage to New Orleans among the three likeliest, most catastrophic disasters facing America. Instead, funding was significantly cut back, leaving key engineering projects on hold. Instead,

this Administration focused on the war in Iraq, tax cuts, and private sector economic growth without asking the American people to make needed sacrifices for the good of the country. Again I ask you, where is the leadership?

http://www.tpmcafe.com/story/2005/9/1/123536/7907

and

New Orleans, Gulf Coast Displaced Family Connections at http://securingamerica.com/ccn/node/280

and he sent a letter to those signed up to his website....

Dear XXXXX,

Like you, I have been moved by the images coming out of the Gulf Coast in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. This terrible disaster affects all of us as Americans, no matter where we live, regardless of whether or not we actually know someone who suffered directly. I've seen it everywhere Ive been this week in Washington, DC, in New York, in Arkansas, in Wisconsin, and in Iowa. People everywhere are talking about it, worrying about it, and wondering how best they can help.

It's times like these when our true spirit as Americans is most apparent. The first response that we all have is "How can I help?". And that reaction is just one of the things that makes our country so special. Despite our many political, personal, and religious differences, were all united as Americans, looking out for our fellow citizens in their time of greatest need.

Our friends and neighbors in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, and throughout the South are in our thoughts and prayers. I urge you to help in whatever way you can, by contributing to the Red Cross, the Salvation Army, and many other worthy charitable organizations who are on the frontlines of this disaster, bringing needed relief and supplies to this devastated area. And if you can help more locally, through your church or other organizations, now is the time to do it.

Let us all do whatever we can to help our neighbors across the Gulf Coast during this devastating time.

Sincerely,

Wes Clark

[hopein08]

30. Kerry and Edwards both sent out "Donate to Red Cross" emails n/t

[mzmolly]

31. So have Kennedy and others.

The media doesn't ask for Democratic commentators in situations like this, but the time will come.