I am going nuts here! *BAD DAY AT WORK*

[TornadoTN]

Alright, last week the office was abuzz with "how the hell can this happen?" and "The government failed us." One of our managers, who is a rabid bush-bot that spews "well at least gays can't marry" and "God wouldn't approve of a Democrat" was strangely silent during all of last week.

Today, she is running around the offices trying to get anyone that will listen to hear her reasons why this is happening. They include "they should have left, they knew it was dangerous" as well as the scores of apologies on behalf of Bush. "He couldn't do anything, they never asked for his help", "He took charge and led the army into New Orleans on Friday, he had enough!". I finally got so pissed that I walked out of my office and said "I'm tired of the bullshit from people that don't know a damn thing other than what the White House tells them".

It got very quiet after that, but I am just very pissed at the fact that so many people out there are so damn stupid and so damn set in their own twisted view of "morality" that they can't see what is happening to our country and our own people. They refer to the people of New Orleans as "those people" and seperate themselves or put themselves higher than those who are sufferring. Because they are black, poor and stand as living proof of the failure of our government and of the neocon movement as a whole.

You can't trumpet your moral superiority and the virtues of having "NO ABORTION" and "NO GAY MARRIAGE", when your own leaders kill thousands of people by sheer negligence.

Are we living in a damn vaccum?

[JuniperLea]

1. I've been out of work for six weeks

And just took a temp-to-hire position... I'm not talking about anything but WORK with anyone there! I need the money. And I don't need the frustration.

[TornadoTN]

4. Understandable

That is how I normally handle my affairs here, since a good portion of the workforce are either Neocons or old-party Republicans.

It just gets to a point where you can't stand the insanity. I honestly feel like I am going insane here today.

[electropop]

2. Your manager sounds desperate.

My brother sounds about the same. When I sent him the list of quotes from newspapers and experts that gave the lie to Bush's "Nobody could have predicted this," he labeled it an "analysis." Sorry, it's not analysis, it's cold hard facts and it spells the end of the Bush regime.

[TornadoTN]

6. Luckily, she's not my manager

I am a director in another department, but my office is in the same area as hers. When she goes on one of her little trips, she broadcasts it to the entire office. I normally just let it ride, but today is a different story.

[wakeme2008]

3. Read what happens to you if you are WHITE and in Miss.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2066886

:grr:

[WilliamPitt]

5. READ THIS

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=4658981&mesg_id=4658981

As for "He couldn't do anything, they never asked for his help", try this:

Could it have been avoided? Let’s ask the National Weather Service, which sent out this alert on Sunday, August 28th: “A hurricane warning is in effect for the north central gulf coast from Morgan City Louisiana eastward to the Alabama/Florida border, including the city of New Orleans and Lake Pontchartrain. Maximum sustained winds are near 160 mph with higher gusts. Katrina is a large hurricane. Coastal storm surge flooding of 18 to 22 feet above normal tide levels, locally as high as 28 feet, along with large and dangerous battering waves, can be expected near and to the east of where the center makes landfall. Some levees in the greater New Orleans area could be overtopped.”

“Some levees in the greater New Orleans area could be overtopped.” That was Sunday. Monday passed, and then Tuesday, and then Wednesday, and then Thursday, and then Friday, and then the weekend came, before any action of any significance whatsoever was taken to protect the lives of the citizens of that city.

Also on Sunday the 28th, Governor Blanco of Louisiana dispatched a letter to Bush formally requesting help for the horror she saw rolling towards her state over the southern horizon. “Under the provisions of Section 401 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 5121-5206 (Stafford Act), and implemented by 44 CFR §§ 206.36, I request that you declare an expedited major disaster for the state of Louisiana as Hurricane Katrina, a Category V hurricane approaches our coast south of New Orleans; beginning on August 28, 2005 and continuing,” read the letter. She went on in great detail over four full pages to list a series of requests that, had they been granted, would have spared thousands of people from death.

She was flatly ignored. Forget the fact that a hurricane hitting New Orleans has been on the danger list for decades. The Bush folks got the word on Sunday, not once but twice, and instead of swinging into action, they literally ate cake.

[leftchick]

7. They are racists when they say "they should have left"

and you should point that out to them. Very sick people.

[buzzard]

20. Hi Leftchick, I am just trying to understand why they are racist when they

say people should have left. I think it is more lack of concern over people who are trying to protect what little they have left, so while I think there are plenty or racists I think this has more to do with the uncaring treatment of impoverished people and a lack of understanding.

[Dora]

26. I think that if these stranded victims were white

then we would not be hearing "they should have left" as frequently, and with as much sanctimoniousness as we're hearing right now.

Racism runs deep in our national bloodstream. I think Leftychick has a good point. If thousands upon thousands of poor white people were stranded, in lines seeking shelter, dying in the street, looting for food and medical supplies, then most of us would defend them much more readily than we have defended the poor black population of NO now.

I think the subconcious mindset is that if you're black and stuck, then you were too stupid to leave, but if you're white and stuck, then you're a victim of circumstance.

It's a sorry truth. We can proclaim ourselves as liberal and non-racist, etc., but I think that 80 percent of the white people I know would check their wallets or clutch their purses a little tighter when walking down the street after dark and passing a man of color.

Ending racism is about changing more than our policies, our words, and our behavior. It's about changing the way we think.

[leftchick]

28. very well said Dora

I don't think I need to add anything. I also thought this whole week showed very clearly how racist america still is after all of these years. The world certainly sees it that way.

[buzzard]

30. Thanks for the reply I see what you are saying now and it is another

example of mans inhumanity to to man.

[GreenPartyVoter]

8. Dang. I don't envy ya *hugs*

------------------------------------------------------
Save the Gulf, then save the nation!
http://timeforachange.bluelemur.com/electionreform.htm

[KyndCulture]

9. I'd put a cap on that politico speak in the office.

You don't have to listen to this shit!!! Find another manager if there is one.

[underpants]

10. "those people" toot toot

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=103&topic_id=152276&mesg_id=152276

[bushisanidiot]

11. Great post! Where's the high and mighty "christian right" today?

are they opening their homes to evacuees or are they all jacking eachother off over the demise of New Orleans?

[TornadoTN]

15. The answer is obvious

Around here, it seems that all the "Christian" right wants to do is put the blame of the hurricane on the "culture" of New Orleans. They want to put the blame of the deaths on "those people". They want to excuse our President by saying, "He did all he could, he is a moral man! It was the mayor and governor that caused the deaths!"

If there is any time in history where the differences in the Neocon ideology and the liberal ideology are so clear and apparent, it is now.

[GOPFighter]

12. I saw a poll last night...

...that says 40% of the people think Bush was not to blame for New Orleans. I was so pissed, but by this morning I realize we will never reach those 40%. They will go to their graves worshiping Bush and singing his praises. It's the other 60% we need to concentrate on (53% said he screwed it up and 7% wasn't sure). The majority of Americans have now turned against Bush, and a large number like you and me ans almost every at DU DESPISE him. That's good enough for me. We must now write letters to our Representatives and to the media, every day if necessary. Many people don't realize the letters to the editor - even those that don't get published - show the newspaper what their readers are feeling and it can make a difference - especially if they make good sense.

Try not to let the assholes upset you. Keep speaking up like you did and that's all you can do. :-)

[LSK]

13. she asked for help on Sunday, Aug 28

http://gov.louisiana.gov/Disaster%20Relief%20Request.pdf

Im so sick of this lie.

[stanwyck]

14. Rove and Co. have effectively polarized our country

(and Reagan helped). With our media no longer having to be fair and balanced (done away with during the Reagan administration), right wing media can outright lie. And they do. So, the wingers tune in only to hate radio and Faux. They really do not know facts. They won't read. They won't look for a variety of sources.
If Rush said it, they believe it. And their mind slams shut.
I used to believe, don't waste your time. Now, I want the truth on record. I believe those of us who can (and not all have the latitude...you don't want to lose your job because of your opinions. My husband is in sales and he has to be diplomatic) should always speak up. We've been too polite. I've found there are more of us than people realize. And the wingers always spout off while we remain mute.
No longer. We're speaking up and others are joining in. Many on the right are shocked to find out their co-workers, friends, and business acquaintances don't share their Bush worship. It's a revelation.

[TornadoTN]

18. Speaking up

Yes, those of us with latitude should speak up diplomatically whenever possible. Thats the problem here at my office. I am in upper management, and I am in the minority politically speaking. There are several that are moderate, that really don't affiliate either way, then there are the vocal Neocons that run around bullying others with their "opinions".


This country is so polarized and split, it is tearing our country apart. One side is afraid to speak up and the other is afraid to let anyone else speak a view that is different than their own.

What happened to the country that our founding fathers envisioned? What happened to the scenes of patriotism and freedom of expression that Norman Rockwell brought to canvas?

Thanks to the Neocon movement, those days are distant memory.

[Clark2008]

16. I'm also in Tennessee. What part of the state are you in?

I'm in the conservative part - East Tennessee - and, thus far, there has been NO ONE who is standing up for the Shrub.

Of course, most of the conservatives in East Tennessee are paelo-cons and have only tolerated Shrub, anyway. They don't like his threatening to take away states rights, they don't like his spending like a drunken sailor and their frustrated about the Iraqi war. I think this major faux pas will have some of the paelo-cons here voting Libertarian in the next few elections.

[TornadoTN]

19. Eastern Tennessee as well

Tri-Cities to be exact.

I can tell you that many people are opposed to Bush and have been for a while. Many held their noses and voted for him because of the rhetoric and smear campaign that was used to dismantle our candidate(s). Now they see that that rhetoric was exactly that - rhetoric - and we truly are not better off now than in the previous 4 years.

[Clark2008]

22. Yeah, I think the Tri-Cities has more neocons than

Knoxville, which is where I am.

There are, of course, more neocons here than I'd like, but at least they're confined to the more rural areas of Knox County. The city of Knoxville, where I live and work, is blue. With ORNL and the university, we get a healthy influx of thinking people in this city.

BTW, I hope you've told Ms. "Can't Blame Bush For This" about the fact that poor people don't have cars, Gov. Blanco asked for help BEFORE the hurricane, the military has confirmed they never received orders from the federal government to go in until days after the fact and that, while the mayor and the governor do share in some minor blame, that they have both admitting to any of the mistakes they've made and have been trying desparately to correct those mistakes, but are being thwarted by an incompetent FEMA.

Also let her know that the Army Corps of Engineers ASKED for $150 million to fix the levees, but BushCo. only gave them $40 because they needed the cash to fight their elective war.

She won't be able to respond to all that until after Rush comes on. :)

[aintitfunny]

36. I am a native - from Johnson City

and you are right. Many moons ago the state of Tennessee was solidly democrat, except for East Tennessee, particularly Upper East Tn. We used to joke that the democrats had to meet in a phone booth. Sadly, the rest of the state turned.

[JHB]

17. I'd have left too if I'd known ahead of time that...

...the Republicans had been so spectacularly incompetent as to take a top-notch disaster planning-and-response agency and reduce it to an underfunded leaderless Soviet-grade patronage mill.

But the Elephant People have had the reverse Midas touch: they try to turn every bit of government gold into a pile of sh**.

[Touchdown]

21. I feel for you.

There's only a few Bushbots at my work. they moved my desk around a lot, and there's been times I sit next to mouth breathers, but not now. You should see their faces when they see my "Every time you vote for a Republican, God kills a kitten" printout on my desk. Thanks to some DUer for making that one up!:hi:

Now, I sit around some pretty lefty people. We're passing around a printout on what that old hag Barbara Bush said the other day, and NOBODY around me believes the bullshit coming out of hate radio, or the White House.

I got lucky with these folks...this time.:D

[screembloodymurder]

23. I erupted in response to the FOXbots in my poker club.

They're blinded by their own prejudice and the reinforcing FOX rhetoric they listen to all day. They need to be shouted down at every opportunity.

[Lochloosa]

24. Give her a copy of this

http://gov.louisiana.gov/Disaster%20Relief%20Request.pd...

Edit: on second thought: make 100 copies of this and just hand it to anyone that wants to defend the heartless bastard.

[Iris]

40. When I went to the link it says it has been removed.

[truebrit71]

42. Copy and paste the URL and then add 'f' to the end...

...the last three letters should be 'pdf'....

[terip64]

25. If they are talking then TALK! Don't yell just say it like it is.

It is the same idea as when you are in a class and don't want to ask a question. You are not the only one that has questions and even if no one agrees with you, you WILL make them think. The last thing we need to do right now is to be quiet. Maybe think about 2 or 3 sentences and just say them and walk away.

Such as
When there were riots in LA the National Guard didn't hesitate to go in.

or

Bush was having birthday cake with John McCAin while people were drowning in NO.
or even better

Do you think Osama Bin Laden sees how vunerable we are right now? Do you really feel safer, because your not.

And then walk away. Say I don't want to talk about it if they get in your face, it upsets me too much. BUT HAVE YOUR SAY!

[peekaloo]

27. How good is your throwing arm?

Staplers hurt like a bitch when tossed properly.

[SammyWinstonJack]

29. So now we have to ask the President(puke) for help when we are

struck by a natural disaster? If we don't *ask* for help, he'll just sit back and watch us suffer and die? I want a new President, a REAL President! JHC! some people will let this asshole get away with anything! Wonder what they would say if this had been a terrorist attack, because it's apparent the response/results would have been the same.

[nashville_brook]

31. i've had a migraine for days and have wondered how many other

people have hurricane sickness brought on by the stress of watching our world crumble around us.

i feel your pain for having to sit with people like that in your midst and who control your livlihood.

yes, we are living in a vacuum. an evolutionary vacuum. i totally believe there is something wrong with those people who insist on blaming the victim. they are not acting in a way that benefits the survival of our species. perhaps they are another species. at any rate, they are dangerous and should be avoided, deneutered, and ignored. they are lizards.

[truebrit71]

32. Okay, a couple of things....

1) See the thread referencing the Aug 26th statement by Lt AWOL declaring a Federal Emergency in NO. That would be ONE FULL WEEK before anything actually got to NO.

2) It sounds like your manager is a woman. To prepare her for the upcoming societal changes due in the US after John Roberts gets appointed as CJ of the SCOTUS, tell her to shut the hell up, fetch you another beer, then get back in the kitchen, and cook you a turkey pot-pie.

Stupid cow.... :eyes:

[TornadoTN]

35. Priceless!

That really is an excellent insight into the things to come. But of course, using their logic that would be A-OK as long as "Gays can't marry", "Abortion is made illegal" and the "war on the church" is stopped. (When in reality, this is a myth that is spread to bolster support)

[txindy]

33. How does she feel about all of the white tourists & rich folks stranded?

The ones stuck in the hotels? Those are the people who had their flights cancelled, all rental cars taken, no taxis available, and the bus station closed. A lot of those people were managers like her, conventioneers. Tell her that that could've - WOULD'VE - been HER if she'd been at one of those conventions. The hotels told those guests to break into nearby stores for food and they gladly did so in order to eat. Tell her she would've been one of those 'looters' she derides.

Tell her it's amazing she can live with herself.

[TornadoTN]

37. She qualifies her views by saying

things like "God doesn't support immoral people like Democrats", or "If you don't agree with me then you have the blood of little babies on your hands!"

The typical right-wing nonsense that we so often. It's like banging your head against the wall.

I'm just sufferring a bit from "Hurrican Sickness". I can't believe people will attempt to justify these senseless deaths and the negligence of our government.

[txindy]

38. Well, then, she's hopeless. She wants to announce, not discuss.

Slap her silly. Just kidding. Well, no, not really... ;)

She's not human. There's no compassion or empathy. Forget about her. Think of her as a particularly obnoxious dinosaur on the verge of extinction. Her kind is currently writhing in the tar pits, refusing to believe that this is the end. They're bellowing and snapping at anyone near them who isn't in the same fix they find themselves.

[Iris]

39. Doesn't God have a few things to say about judging other people?

Oh, and there's also the stuff about feeding and clothing the poor.

but good for you for standing up to her. It's the only way we'll ever get our side out.

[newportdadde]

34. "They could have left" - its hard for those who have money to understand

the plight of someone who does not.

Your co-worker like many others doesn't understand how someone could NOT leave. For instance I have two dependable cars and several credit cards with no balances. I could get up right now from my office and be out of town in just a few hours if I had to. For many thought that is not an option. Your coworker does not understand how someone could not even have money for a few tanks of gas to get out of the state much less money for a hotel etc.

So instead of putting ourselves in their shoes, desperately wanting to leave but not being able too we judge them as incompetent and I think that is doing many of our fellow Americans a huge diservice.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

41. Even if all of that is true, what if this were a terrorist attack and they

were so slow?

[Kazak]

43. I guess they finally got the talking points memo out?

:shrug:

[pursuivant]

44. Give them the facts that they'll understand:

Screw the kook-aid drinker, just present the facts to the people she's bothering. Eventually, if you convince the convincable, they'll turn on the Bush-bot and tell her to shut up. Being a good little conformist, she'll fold like a wet paper towel.

1) Show them the documents that show:

a) FEMA is supposed to be in charge.
b) Governors can only use federal resources on the approval of the president.
c) Gov. Blanco (LA governor) requested aid on SUNDAY (for Katrina hit).
d) The forecast from the National Weather Service on Sunday predicting that levees in NO could be overtopped:

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2005/pub/al122005.public.025.shtml?

2) Show them pictures of just what Bush was doing this week: eating cake, playing guitar, flying *over* NO in Air Force 1 on Tuesday, etc.

3) Show them the news stories that show that Bush's visits to NO actually interfered with rescue efforts.

3) Sweetly ask how they'd feel if it was Terrorists that breached the levees in NO? Ask questions about what happened to all those billions the nation pumped into Homeland Security. Ask why the president isn't doing more to get gas prices under control. Wonder aloud why the head of FEMA was the failed head of a horse-breeders association rather than a professional emergency management specialist.

Right now, all the kook-aid drinkers have is "hope". Once it becomes obvious that their hope is/was misplaced, they'll start to get angry at the people who betrayed them.