CNN BREAKING: Contentious meeting between house leaders and bush cabinet

[sabra]

Rep senators proclaiming the cabinet all gets failing grades. Also talking about the memo exposing Brown didn't react until after storm. Also Delay is trying to push the blame on local govt.

[valerief]

1. I wonder how many members of Congress are afraid of being Wellstoned

[DoYouEverWonder]

2. Well at least something is happening in DC

Can't wait to see what the next few days bring. This could get interesting.

[Rose Siding]

20. That IS good- They must be getting an EARFUL from constituents

[Bernardo de La Paz]

37. They know who voted Tax cuts and Levee appropriation cuts

[Carla in Ca]

25. As if you need a reminder...but

here is the AP story.
<http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050907/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/katrina_disaster_response>

This is our mantra: Cronyism

How many people are on the payroll because they helped with *'s campaigns? AND, they have no experience for the job they get.

Bolton
Roberts
Albaugh
Brown (and his 2 underlings)
* also did another recess appointment last Wednesday to the Criminal Dept. of DOJ. She worked with Chertoff on Clinton's impeachment.

Who else? Let's make a list and pass it around. Give me more names and I'll make a list. Let's show the the world what has happened here.

The R's know how to win an election, but they don't know how to govern.

[FourStarDemocrat]

32. Chertoff told cong. last night: "Superdome wasn't as bad as reported"

That statement "raised many eyebrows" in the room, according to CNN reporters.

[MADem]

54. YEAH, who are you gonna believe, Doctor Death or your own lying eyes! nt

[kansasblue]

3. The rebellion will begin on the Right?

cuz the Dems ain't doing much. (not that thats such a bad thing to let Bush cook in his own juices. A loud Dem response would just be accused of being for partisan political gain)

[laureloak]

9. The only way we're going to get anywhere is for the RIGHT

to rebel. Dems stand up for Dems unless they are criminals, correct?

[Beelzebud]

14. Exactly. Republicans helped bring Nixon down.

[Greyhound]

36. That was a different party.

I'm afraid all we can expect from this lot is more of the same.

[laureloak]

50. We have to win over SOME support from the right to bring

the Administration down and I think it is very possible.

[Melodybe]

67. Agreed, actually get out and talk to people about this.

Please folks, it is our duty to inform those that do not know the truth, give them a list of the cronyism, their eyes will pop.

Americans are figuring out that once you hate Bush, everything makes sense again.

We really just have to make the effort to get the word out.

[MADem]

55. And it was BARRY GOLDWATER who delivered the fatal blow

He was the guy who went to the WH and told Tricky the game was up, that he did not have the votes to beat back impeachment.

And he was hardly a moderate figure in those times, though through the lens of history, he was a pussycat compared to the fanged bastards roaming the corridors of power today.

[Wilber_Stool]

44. It's a sorry state we're in

America begging on street corners for pennies to save ourselves and Democrats looking to republicans to save the country.
Jesus fucking Christ.
I'm going to go look at some porn.
By now.

[laureloak]

51. We have to win over some voters from the right to become

the majority.

[MADem]

57. Or, they merely have to reach such a level of disgust that they

pull the lever against their historical biases as a PROTEST, or they simply stay home.

[me b zola]

4. Here's my letter to Congress! Enjoy

Congressman/Senator________________,


I am writing to you with deep sorrow and intense outrage for what was done to the people of New Orleans. Untold numbers have died in New Orleans not from Katrina, but from gross incompetence, & criminal negligence.

All of this was entirely preventable. A US Naval ship followed Katrina to shore, prepared to assist with fresh water, food, and medical assistance. It sat there waiting for orders that never came. Aid and assistance was turned away repeatedly. Boats, busses, police officers, firefighters, rescuers, medical assistance, food & water were all turned away by FEMA in too many separate incidents to count. No water or food assistance came until Mr. Bush came, five days later, for a photo-op. That is criminal.


The failure of FEMA and the agency that it works under, Homeland Security, is well documented. The failure of Mr. Bush to immediately remove those who are responsible for untold deaths by their incompetence is criminal negligence. While the people of New Orleans were suffering in a living hell, Mr. Bush attended a birthday party, played golf, made political speeches, and made a stop to sell his agenda. It wasn’t until Mr. Bush began to feel the political heat did he shorten his vacation by one day. .

Imagine the CEO of a company patting on the back a manager working for him that was responsible for the deaths of thousands of people due to his gross incompetence. If you were a shareholder would you demand the resignation of that CEO? The simple answer is do not focus on the manager who created such devastation. Get rid of the CEO who continues to place faith in such a manager. The new CEO will replace whom ever needs to be replaced.

Mr. Bush has repeatedly refused to fire those whose blatant incompetence has cost the lives of untold numbers of our fellow citizens. We will never know how many of those people died as a result of the criminal neglect of the federal government. I urge you to use your voice to force the resignation or impeachment of the entire Bush administration. There needs to be a congressional investigation in addition to a criminal investigation, but first the safety of our nation and it’s citizens must be secured. The evidence that we are not in capable hands is overwhelming. Our national security depends on strong and competent leadership, leadership that does not currently exist in our Executive Office.



Thank You,

XXXXXXX

[Roy]

6. NICE!

nt

[Obamanaut]

15. Here's mine. New at this. Only 6 letters to congress, ever - and

all of them this week.

6 September 2005

Sir

I just read the press release of September 1, 2005 from Senator Martinez’ office and was surprised by the following statement “While no one could have predicted or prevented the extent of Hurricane Katrina’s damage…” I am amazed, truly amazed! I have appended my earlier email to you on this very subject. I like to think that the “no one could have predicted…” mindset is not a belief that is held Senate-wide. Predictions were everywhere, monies were channeled elsewhere (one of my favorites is the $200+ million bridge between islands in Alaska), but nowhere is there anyone stepping forward to assume responsibility.

I have read that the President is going to conduct an investigation. Might I suggest this is similar to the fox telling the farmer that the henhouse has been robbed of hens and eggs, and that he, himself, will look into it for the farmer. I recommend a full Senate investigation to determine what went wrong with the planning, what went wrong with the implementation of what turned out to be a faulty plan (FEMA officials were in Greece for a wedding for heaven’s sake!), and issue indictments against those who are found culpable.

.

Respectfully

usnret88
Fl


<for this post, I've only included two paragraphs from earlier mailing>

Perhaps you’ve also heard or read words from various members of the administration that there was no way the partial collapse of the New Orleans levee system could have been predicted. Surely you are aware of the disaster simulation “Hurricane Pam” which addressed not only that scenario but also the need to evacuate thousands of displaced citizens and the use of the Superdome as a shelter. Note also that the Times-Picayune of New Orleans ran a multi-part series on that and the reduction of funding to the Army Corps of Engineers for that very project (levee upgrade and repairs.)

If there is an investigation into the rumors listed in my first paragraph, or even if not, can we not suggest an investigation at least into why all levels of government seemed so woefully ill prepared to deal with this hurricane. We suspected that the hurricane would make landfall somewhere along the Gulf Coast as soon as it had passed over the southern tip of Florida. We knew that it would strengthen as it traveled slowly over the warm waters of the Gulf. The predicted eye landfall was narrowed to a strip approximately 100 miles long 24 hours prior to that landfall. The “Hurricane Pam” simulation is germane here.

[ignatius 2]

52. Only 6 letters and all of them this week..Good for you,welcome aboard

friend..let's give our congress critters somethin' to talk about!

[Roland99]

31. Mind if I borrow that and send to my elected "leaders"?

[me b zola]

60. I don't mind at all, Roland, use it at will!!

Let them be "flooded" with letters that show that their constituents know the truth. We were watching. The whole world was watching. Now we need action from them.

It is not enough to demand the resignation of Brownie. Oust the CEO who continues to place faith is such a failure of a manager!

[Left Brain]

38. mbz, you hit 'em

right where they live. Nice.

[snot]

39. Great letter! nt

[bleever]

46. Superb letter.

[Sapphire Blue]

48. May I also use your letter, slightly revised....

Today I write with deep sorrow and intense outrage for what was done to the people of New Orleans. Untold numbers have died in New Orleans, not from Katrina, but from gross incompetence and criminal negligence of the federal government and the Bush Administration.

Mr. Bush has steadily cut funding for numerous vital programs and services throughout his presidency. He cut FEMA funding; funding for which the mayor of New Orleans begged in order to prevent the catastrophic aftereffects of a devastating hurricane such as the one that we have just witnessed. Much of the catastrophic aftermath, the catastrophic flooding, might have been averted had Mayor Nagin’s pleas not been ignored, had FEMA funding not been cut under this brutal Administration.

Much of the horror occurring as a result of the catastrophic flooding was entirely preventable. A US Naval ship, prepared to assist with fresh water, food, and medical assistance, followed Katrina to shore. It sat there waiting for orders that never came. FEMA repeatedly turned away aid and assistance. FEMA turned away boats, busses, police officers, firefighters, rescuers, medical assistance, food, and water in too many separate incidents to count. Water and food assistance were withheld until Mr. Bush arrived, five days later, for a photo-op. That is criminal. It is a crime against humanity.

The failure of FEMA and Homeland Security, the agency under which it works, is well documented. Mr. Bush’s failure to fire the parties responsible for untold deaths is criminal negligence. While the people of New Orleans were suffering and dying in a living hell, Mr. Bush attended a birthday party, strummed a guitar, played golf, made political speeches, and made a stop to sell his agenda. It wasn’t until Mr. Bush began to feel the political heat that he shortened his vacation by one day. One day. Meanwhile, our fellow Americans were dying.

Mr. Bush has historically refused to fire those under him who exhibit gross incompetence; instead, he promotes them and honors them with medals. During the catastrophic aftermath of Katrina, Mr. Bush affectionately patted Michael Brown on the back, saying "Brownie, you're doing a heck of a job." Such a remark to a man responsible for the deaths of hundreds, possibly thousands, of our fellow Americans, so many of them poor and black, might be expected from a grand wizard of the Ku Klux Klan. It is reprehensible that our president would utter such a grievous insult.

We must have an independent criminal investigation, as well as a Congressional investigation. But first the safety of our nation and its citizens must be secured. The evidence that we are not in capable hands is overwhelming. Our national security depends on strong and competent leadership, leadership that does not currently exist in our Executive Office.

I urge you to use your voice to force the immediate resignation or impeachment of the entire Bush administration.

I look forward to your response.

Respectfully

[me b zola]

59. Of course you can use my origional and revise how ever you like

Your version is *very* nice!!!!!!! :applause:

[Sapphire Blue]

64. I've sent it my Rep & Senators, also Reid, Pelosi, Landrieu, Conyers

... and will send to more.

[CitrusLib]

58. Very nice. May I borrow for mine?

Granted I live where it's red, red, red, so it won't amount to much, but it feels so good to at least send something. Thanks!

[me b zola]

62. Feel free to use it.

But don't just stop at your representatives, contact as many members of Congress as you can!!! Let them all hear the ground swell of outrage and the demand for action!!!!

After I had written the letter, I heard one of the leaders (at this moment I cannot remember who) use the same analogy of the CEO as I used in my letter. It could be a coincidence, but ya never know.

[mnmoderatedem]

61. regarding the Naval ship that was turned away.

is there an online link to this story?

[me b zola]

65. Yes. The story was in the Chicago Tribune, here's the link

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0509040369sep04,1,4144825.story

Here's the link to the DU thread that posted the story:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1752290



They followed the storm to shore to assist in rescue operations. They awaited orders that never came. :mad: :cry:

[Name removed]

66. Deleted message

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

[cynatnite]

5. Are they turning on each other?

Kinda sounds like it. The repukes have to do something to keep their jobs in '06.

[FreedomAngel82]

16. Interesting

Maybe they aren't trying to save Bush's ass. Maybe they're going to sarcrafice him. I wonder if people will still vote for them though.

[sabra]

7. more

Chernoff: "the scenes at the convention center wasn't as bad at it seemed"!

[me b zola]

11. No?! Really?! He said that?! n/t

[HR_Pufnstuf]

8. When the middle turns, the extreme is cornered.

And change should occur.

[chicagiana]

10. .5 decent Republicans .5 Scarred shitless assholes ...

I think they are seeing the writing on the wall here that Bush is going to get skewered on this. And THEY cannot back him. There is an election NEXT YEAR.

We can run a election AGAINST BUSH. And these people can get taken down in the process.

Expect Michael Brown to soon announce that he has accepted some VP position and some freeper corporation.

[Prodemsouth]

53. We are going to have to go after the "decent" Republicans too

There will be no majority to do anything against Bush if voters in Maine and RI return Chafee and Snowe. That is a big loss for Dems because those are blue states and we need those state's Senate seats to stop Bush. Returning Snowe and Chafee is a Bush victory. So don't excuse any Republican who has only half hearted criticism of Bush to offer us once in a blue moon and just a bone or two thrown on hate crimes and stem cell research. Too many progressives rake people like Lieberman and others over the coals when they have a better voting record than Snowe or Chafee. Yet they are willing to go gaga over a Repug that does the right thing three times a year. That kind of thinking is why progressive ideas are going nowhere.

[faithnotgreed]

12. i will kick for that

[FreedomAngel82]

13. How can we stop this?

We all know who's to blame and this shows it even more! Look at them scramble!

[Pirate Smile]

17. I called my Senators and House Rep today. Has everybody already

called and demanded an independent investigations?

I commiserated with the person who answered Harkin's phone re Bush doing his own investigation and sending Cheney down to check things out, how funny it would be if it wasn't so tragic.

Grassley and Leach's offices just took notes, and my name and address.

I was surprised that I got through on the first try within 2 or 3 rings at each office. I was hoping they were just being overloaded with calls. They did say they had gotten quite a few calls.

Everybody Call - especially the Republicans.

Along with calling for the Independent investigation (no whitewash like the Senate Intelligence Investigation), I demanded they show more loyalty to their Country then to their Party, which has been the case for the past 5 years. I think I also went off on how we can't trust our government at all anymore, not even to give us water if we are dying.

[xyboymil]

18. saw the story break on CNN. Republicans are pissed off at Cabinet.

There is not other way to say it. They want answers and their criticism in particular of Michael Brown was reportedly "blistering" on both sides of the aisle.

Well, Bush got what he wanted..unity. But it may be a unity that will cart his sorry ass right out of office. Could such a miracle occur?!

[Quixote1818]

21. I think Republicans want to retain control of Congress and

Bush is fucking up so badly they are worried! Looks like Mutiny on the Republican Bounty coming up!

:popcorn:

[Garbo 2004]

22. Yup, that's my take too. All politics are local. Bush's coattails may be

more like an anchor for a drowning man right now.

[randr]

19. One of these mutants needs to crawl out of this cess pit

in order to save his soul sooner or later.
When will enough be enough for these toadies?

[spuddonna]

23. God, I would have loved to be a fly on the wall for that...

I hope these Senators/Reps know that Bush & Pals will be the Albatross 'round their necks that destroys them. If they have any hope of keeping the Republican party alive, they need to get MANY sacrifical lambs to the slaughter...

I'll be satisfied when they ALL resign, or are in jail... Either way, I'm not picky... :mad:

[Zen Democrat]

24. We must demand an Independent Criminal Investigation.

That is what is called for here. Not some puny Congressional hearings with everyone thanking everybody else for their benevolent testimony, ad nauseum, or a sham internal investigation -- a White House Whitewash.

What if 50,000 people are dead? What if this is the Vietnam War in one week. Look at Bush. He's scared. I'll bet Rove is scared. There's too much on the books for this one to go away or be covered up or lied about.

Oh, sure, the usual suspects are spinning like mad, and I hear some people parrot that crap. But EVERYBODY KNOWS.

When Tom DeLay came out from that Joint Congressional/Cabinet meeting at the White House this evening, I was struck by the desperation in his voice when he specifically blamed the local authorities and applauded the federal effort, and that he was all by himself.

[berni_mccoy]

26. I AGREE!!!

Start a seperate Topic on this!!!

[bushisanidiot]

27. Funny how repukes don't want to "play the blame game", but

they're all out in force all over the media blaming local government and not taking any responsibility at all for their inaction after the storm hit..

[rucky]

28. Anything to cover their own asses (& assets). n/t

[snappyturtle]

29. Please forgive...

I've just found this thread--excellent! I'm ready to click off here and get to work writing Senators and Representatives. One thing I might add--if there's any doubt or you need a source--is to read the December 2004 National Response Plan (NRP). It irrefutably gives the sequence of responsibility in disaster response....it's all there. Why didn't the President do it?? GHU

[kansasblue]

30. see if you can find anything about this today

[snappyturtle]

42. I've tried....

but haven't found it yet!! I did called 9 Congressmens' offices and my two US Senators' offices and asked them to READ this plan...I would hope they already had but............also asked the reps to start impeachment hearings for * and pork chop!:)

[mod mom]

47. Here is a link to a great DU Post on the National Response Plan:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=4668155

[ThoughtCriminal]

33. Some of them have to be saying...

to themselves if not to Jr and Gang:

YOU STUPID MORONS MISSED A PERFECT OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE US LOOK GOOD! Instead we have this PR nightmare! Holy crap, was the vacation that good you lazy-ass suits? How the hell are we going to kill the Estate Tax now?

I'm pretty sure this reflects their "real" concerns about the "situation".

[DeepModem Mom]

34. sorry -- misposted

[DeepModem Mom]

35. Where is further coverage of this today? Anybody seen or heard? nt

[sabra]

40. here

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=1759675&mesg_id=1759675

[DeepModem Mom]

45. Thanks, sabra! nt

[snappyturtle]

41. I just...

called the eight House Reps from MN and Congressman Pelosi's office and the two MN Senators offices. I feel so-o good! I asked them to read the National Response Plan and for the impeachment of * and pork chop. They can't know unless we speak up. :)

[snappyturtle]

43. One more thing..

here's a link to get the gist of the National Response Plan---looks fairly straight forward to me......
http://www.noquarter.typepad.com/my_weblog/2005/09/criminal_neglig.html

[napi21]

49. Thanaks for all for the link to the NRP. Here's what I sent to my

twop Senators and one Rep. They are both Pubs, but I hope they pay a little attention to the spot THEY are in!

Gentlemen:

Hurricane Katrina was a catastrophic disaster, and couldn't have been prevented by anyone. However, the response to it's devastation should have been handled better than we respond to tragedies in foreign lands. IT WASN'T! When I saw thousands of people stranded for days without access to food and water, it looked like we were the equivalent of Bangladesh, or Somalia! My God, we dropped food and water in lands 5,000 miles away, faster than we managed to get to the Gulf Coast of the US!

Now, all I hear is EVERYBODY screaming, "It's not MY fault!" Enough already!

I just reread my copy of the National Response Plan dated December 2004. It appears that a lot of people in the Federal Government have forgotten what's in that plan, or perhaps never read it before. If any of you are included in that group, here's a link to it. You better read it, and advise your fellow Senators and Representatives to do so as well!

http://www.dhs.gov/interweb/assetlibrary/NRP_FullText.pdf

Here are just a few highlights:

RESPONSIBILITIES OF STATE AND LOCAL OFFICIALS

The "basic premise of the NRP is that incidents are generally handled at the state and local level." (NRP, 15). However, the plan specifically recognizes the possibility that the FEDERAL government bears primary responsibility:


When an incident or potential incident is of such severity, magnitude, and/or complexity that it is considered an Incident of National Significance, the Secretary of Homeland Security initiates actions to prepare for, respond to, and recover from the incident." (NHP, 15)


Additionally, the NRP explicitly gives the President a fiduciary duty in the handling of a disaster:


"The President leads the Nation in responding efficiently and ensuring the necessary resources are applied quickly and effectively to all Incidents of National Significance." (NHP, 15)
While the state and local officials then still have to try and implement their plans and coordinate with the feds, it is crystal clear that the NRP recognizes that when, say, a hurricane comes and wipes your city off the map, it is the President and his administration which MUST respond proactively.



Now, generally, the DSCA will be deployed when requested by a Governor. (NRP, 42). But the plan states that the Secretary of Defense can deploy the troops under his imminent response authority. (NRP, 42).


Imminently serious conditions resulting from any civil emergency may require immediate action to save lives, prevent human suffering, or to mitigate property damage.

When such conditions exist and time does not permit approval from higher headquarters, local military commands and responsible officers from the DOD are authorized by DOD directive and pre-approved by the Secretary of Defense to take necessary action to response to the request of civil authorities. (NPR, 42)
Gentlemen, our Federal officials have been telling the American people their FIRST responsibility is to protect the people from harm, and they WILL NOT be unprepared AGAIN as they were on Sept. 11th. I view Katrina as a test, and YOU ALL FAILED IT!

I want all of you to call for independent investigations NOW! Obviously, if you thought the US was prepared to respond to emergencies, you were wrong, and we need to correct that problem immediately.

My husband & I, as two of your constituents, insist that incompetent people be FIRED, holes in our systems be filled, and get these Departments prepared to do their jobs!

Remember, you also can and will be replaced for incompetence!

Sincerely,

[theboss]

56. 2006 must be scaring them now

Which is, I guess, a good thing.

Frankly, it shouldn't take a Biblical disaster to make 2006 interesting and I don't really feel good about it. But the political part of my brain sees why the Repubs are scared.

[Lost-in-FL]

63. Sorry to crash the party...

But I don't expect anything positive from it but the same old cover up operation between Repubs.