My fundy mom today: "Did you know the governor of Louisiana still hasn't

[Ladyhawk]

declared a state of emergency?"

:eyes:

That's almost the first thing she said to me today. I had to set her straight and show her Washington Post article: "Many Evacuated, but Thousands Still Waiting: White House Shifts Blame to State and Local Officials" A correction appears at the top of the page: "A Sept. 4 article on the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina incorrectly said that Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Babineaux Blanco (D) had not declared a state of emergency. She declared an emergency on Aug. 26."

My mother is doing everything she can to absolve her hero the weed of all blame...and it's pissing me off.

[BrklynLiberal]

1. ...

too much

[spuddonna]

36. "OH YEAAAHHH!"

Sorry, I keep wanting to do a cartoon of the Kool-Aid man beating Bush senseless, saying "Why couldn't you have used Coke?! DAMN YOU!!!"

[ThoughtCriminal]

2. Fending Off Shame

I'm getting the feeling that many supporters, especially people that have been really vocal about Jr's "Sainthood", are terrified that they share responsibilty by putting him there. So they are going to cling to any talking point.

[Erika]

8. I agree with you 100%

They don't want accountability for the calibre of "leader" they elected. I had a co-worker defending W and Condi's other priorities during this time. He said they also have lives and should be able to lead them. We are no longer talking.

[txindy]

10. Exactly what I've been thinking. They've been complicit and they're guilty

They are twitching under that guilt and it's making them cling to the talking points even harder than before. I have no sympathy for them. I do, however, feel *some* sympathy for those who have seen the light because of this. It takes courage to change and admit you've been wrong. The ones who cling to Junior even now have no courage, moral or physical.

[Gemini Cat]

13. They do share responsibily for putting him there.

I couldn't cut them any slack before 29August. Now there's even less to give. They have the collective guilt of their fearless fucker right there on them!

[mitchum]

22. I share your contempt for them

they truly deserve it

[Cleita]

3. Apparently she went to church today to get told what to think.

Otherwise she probably wouldn't have been able to parrot that remark. Too bad that people like your mother are so brainwashed.

[benburch]

4. I am not sure I would have been able to keep a relationship like that.

As much as I loved my late mother, had she been defending a monster like Bush, I don't think I would have been able to maintain any relationship with her at all.

[Ladyhawk]

7. I really don't have a choice, benburch.

I'm disabled. Since my surgery, I haven't been able to function very well. It was either let the fundy family in or starve. I chose to eat. :shrug:

She also had to tell what great things corporations like Wal*Mart and Coca-Cola are doing: giving millions of dollars and free bottled water. And she had to take a moment to rail against those who chose to stay. I tried to tell her that most of the people couldn't leave because they had no way to leave, but she still insisted on blaming those who couldn't leave. She tried to say, "I don't mean we don't help them. It's just that it's their fault."

Someone give me strength.

[txindy]

12. Tell her about all of the tourists and wealthy folks trapped in the hotels

The ones whose flights were cancelled and found themselves trapped in NO because the bus station closed, the rental cars were gone, and the taxi stands empty. Ask her if it's their fault that THEY 'chose' to stay, too. Then tell her of the people who DID leave in their cars and were stuck in gridlocked traffic for an entire day only to be ordered BACK to NO by the police to take shelter from the incoming Katrina. They were then stuck, as well. Ask her if THEY 'chose' to stay as well.

Then of course there are the nursing homes and senior citizen apt. complexes full of elderly who were just left behind. Darn those old people for their foolish choices! :eyes:

My sympathies, Ladyhawk. :hug: You're in a tough situation. You've shown far more patience than I'm capable of, believe me. :hug:

[AspenRose]

26. I was listening to a football game on the radio today

Unfortunately it is a RW station (they play Rush, Sean, etc.)

They had a commercial for the local morning show, and in the clip the guy was doing the same thing, defending himself against being called racist for suggesting WHY these people didn't leave.

He needs to hear your response!

[benburch]

16. Damn I'm sorry!

I promise when I win the lottery, I'll help you move out.

[Ladyhawk]

29. I wanted to move to the coast, but when the next quake hits I would

die in the aftermath if I didn't die during the quake itself. Chimpy can hardly wait until a big quake hits the blue areas of California. I bet he's wetting himself thinking of all the people he can make die.

[gratuitous]

17. Well, as long as you're in enforced close proximity to Mumsy

Keep feeding her with facts and the truth. What did she have to say when you pointed out that she was dead wrong? Just move on to the next talking point?

Sooner or later, you'll have an effect. Check in often and keep stocked up on facts and truth. We'll help as we can.

[NRaleighLiberal]

5. I think it becomes a matter of embarassment and of pride.

If she or other supporters admit his failure, it is an admission of being gullible, ....sad but true.

[TomInTib]

6. Give her the facts...she might melt like the Wicked Witch of the

West against a bucket of water...depends on how fond you are of her if you want to do it or not. Or just keep quiet and let her watch O'Reilly, and she'll be quite fine and family harmony will be restored. It's a while 'til Thanksgiving.

[OKDem08]

9. I can relate

me & my mom had an argument on Thurs & I haven't spoken w/her since. You only have to look back 1 generation in my family for overtly disgusting racist attitudes.

[Pirate Smile]

11. I just don't have a shred of patience for anyone who will defend these

monsters any more.

[mitchum]

23. Nor do I

[Iris]

34. me either.

In fact, I consider it downright immoral to let people flap on like this.

[Rainscents]

14. Go to Randi Rhodes, there is link to Letter to Bush that was written

by Governor on AUG 28th! This will be a mayor proof!

[LibertyorDeath]

15. Take that Washington Post roll it up nice & tight

& whack her upside the head with it hard enough to knock the

bullshit Rove talking points out.

Repeat as necessary.

[Lithos]

18. One more point to this argument

Bush declared an emergency disaster on Aug 29th which freed up funds, but more importantly put the federal government in charge of the area for disaster management. Thus Bush and his group were fully in charge (by their own declaration) for 5 days before they did anything about it.

But of course you can argue that the Feds were in charge when Blanco declared an emergency on the 26th. Gov. Barbour (Miss) did the same on the 27th, Gov. Riley on the 28th.

L-

On Edit: the link to the Governor's Press Release for the 26th...

http://gov.louisiana.gov/Press_Release_detail.asp?id=973

[Frances]

19. I am sorry about your mom

I have Bush supporting relatives too. It's very hard.

But good for you for showing her the article.

Since so many fundies support Bush because they believe he is a man of faith, it seems to me that we have to convince them that Bush is less like Jesus than any president in my memory.

Jesus said "As you do unto the least of these so you do unto me."

Bush has taken from the poor and given to the rich via his tax cuts. That is the opposite of what Jesus asked us to do.

Bush has sent our soldiers into a war on false pretenses (Jesus said to turn the other cheek) and without proper planning or equipment.

I don't know if any of these arguments will work but good luck.

[Porcupine]

20. A navy ship sat offshore of NOLA and did nothing to help....

beyond helicopter rescues. This ship was packed with boats, supplies, food, water and trucks. They held off because they couldn't get authorization. These people were murdured.

[hlthe2b]

21. Lordy... she wouldn't have gotten past the "....still hasn't"

before I'd have jumped down her throat. I'm glad you are more patient....eyes:

[Redstone]

24. Disown yourself from her. Now, before it's too late

and she drives you nuts.

Redstone

[Imagevision]

25. Bush did this before Katrina hit!

[Iris]

27. How can someone who considers herself religious defend this bull shit?

I just don't get it.

[Ladyhawk]

28. Why would my mother even mention people who "chose to stay"?

This is a RW talking point. Yes, maybe SOME people chose to stay, but so what? Does this make them feel better about chimpy not helping the entire region, including those too poor, too sick, etc., to leave?

Ungh.

[OKDem08]

30. it's racism

I've seen it in my own family recently. They focus on the looting to justify their perception that 'these people' are not like us, they are barbarians, thus unwarranted of compassion & assistance. Some people, I have come to believe, will never see the truth.

[Iris]

32. I know what you mean, but I'm going to keep speaking out whenever

I'm confronted with this. Remember about a dozen years ago when there was a big push for people to speak out against racist remarks and "humour"? Whatever happened to that?

[Robeson]

31. Did she black out when you showed her the truth.....

...or start going "lah lah lah, lah lah lah, lah lah lah"?

[Garbo 2004]

33. Tell her "now is not the time to point fingers." ;-) n/t

[tabasco]

35. Don't give up on her. One of my former freeper cousins ...

is now a dedicated liberal. He realized the republicans tell you one thing and do another. So it is possible to change hearts and minds!