Bush orders Flags Half-Staff for Katrina Victims

[RamboLiberal]

I was incensed that he ordered flags at half-staff immediately after that racist Rehnquist died. Guess someone whispered in Dear Leader's ear it was unseemly not to give same honor to hurricane victims.

<snip>

Yesterday, Bush ordered all U.S. flags on federal property and vessels flown at half-staff until Sept. 20 in memory of Katrina's victims.

Rest of article is good rehash by local Pittsburgh Post Gazette writer on *'s damage control.

<snip>

The administration's talking points, repeated again and again on TV talk shows, focused on subtle accusations that the local governments had failed to prepare and respond well. But those charges melted away as reporters documented long-standing local requests for better emergency communications equipment, stronger levees and state-of-the-art flood control measures that had been sidetracked at the federal level.

In addition, overwhelmed local police were seen on TV begging for help from the National Guard but getting none for days.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05250/566845.stm

[LisaM]

1. It seems as if the flag is ALWAYS at half staff now

Month after month after month.

[bmcatt]

11. If I had a flagpole...

the flag would be permanently at half-staff - in memory of the great American experiment and its untimely death at the hands of the neocon fascists.

[whatever4]

2. Oh yeah, right

At this point in time, it's just an insult. A week later, what a fucking joke. Sorry. But it is. The words get stronger as the day goes on.

[RedEarth]

3. Seems a late for a show of sympathy....f......king idot

[berni_mccoy]

4. Like His Response to the Hurricane Itself

TOO DAMN LATE:

The flags were lowered yesterday for Rheinquist, BEFORE they EVEN THOUGHT of lowering the flag for the VICTIMS.

This is a PERFECT ECHO of Bush's performance!

[Danmel]

5. They should have been at half staff before Rehnquist died

for Katrina victims.

The 10 day period of half staff for Rehnquist is statutory.
It is U.S. Code Sec. 175:


m) The flag, when flown at half-staff, should be first hoisted to the peak for an instant and then lowered to the half-staff position. The flag should be again raised to the peak before it is lowered for the day.
On Memorial Day the flag should be displayed at half-staff until noon only, then raised to the top of the staff.

By order of the President, the flag shall be flown at half-staff upon the death of principal figures of the United States Government and the Governor of a State, territory, or possession, as a mark of respect to their memory. In the event of the death of other officials or foreign dignitaries, the flag is to be displayed at half-staff according to Presidential instructions or orders, or in accordance with recognized customs or practices not inconsistent with law. In the event of the death of a present or former official of the government of any State, territory, or possession of the United States, the Governor of that State, territory, or possession may proclaim that the National flag shall be flown at half-staff.

* The flag shall be flown at half-staff thirty days from the death of the President or a former President;

* ten days from the day of death of the Vice President, the Chief Justice or a retired Chief Justice of the United States, or the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

* from the day of death until interment of an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, a Secretary of an executive or military department, a former Vice President, or the Governor of a State, territory, or possession;
* and on the day of death and the following day for a Member of Congress.

The flag shall be flown at halfstaff on Peace Officers Memorial Day, unless that day is also Armed Forces Day. As used in this subsection-

1. the term ''half-staff'' means the position of the flag when it is one-half the distance between the top and bottom of the staff;
2. the term ''executive or military department'' means any agency listed under sections 101 and 102 of title 5; and
3. the term ''Member of Congress'' means a Senator, a Representative, a Delegate, or the Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico.

(n) When the flag is used to cover a casket, it should be so placed that the union is at the head and over the left shoulder. The flag should not be lowered into the grave or allowed to touch the ground.
(o) When the flag is suspended across a corridor or lobby in a building with only one main entrance, it should be suspended vertically with the union of the flag to the observer's left upon entering. If the building has more than one main entrance, the flag should be suspended vertically near the center of the corridor or lobby with the union to the north, when entrances are to the east and west or to the east when entrances are to the north and south. If there are entrances in more than two directions, the union should be to the east.

SOURCE (June 22, 1942, ch. 435, Sec. 3, 56 Stat. 378; Dec. 22, 1942, ch. 806, Sec. 3, 56 Stat. 1075; July 9, 1953, ch. 183, 67 Stat. 142; July 7, 1976, Pub. L. 94-344, Sec. 1(6)-(11), 90 Stat. 810, 811; Sept. 13, 1994, Pub. L. 103-322, title XXXII, Sec. 320922(b), 108 Stat. 2131.

§ 176. Respect for flag

[KyndCulture]

6. day late and a dollar short as usual for the weed.

[nonconformist]

7. Someone must have informed his dumbass that people died

Which was probably shocking, since he thinks everything is going great.

[KyndCulture]

10. They probably gave him the "official" number of 71...

[NRaleighLiberal]

8. the misadmin always a dollar short and a day late....to say the least.

Tremendously inadequate cast of characters in all respects. They will be a black blot on our history forever - absolutely the worst president possible, with the worst cabinet. A world wide embarrassment, with the added minor issue that it is costing lots and lots of lives and doing irreparable damage.

All for electing a stupid, spoiled child - whoops, sorry - for PLACING IN OFFICE a stupid, spoiled child.

[Spazito]

9. The order for the flags to be lowered to half staff for Rhenquist

was done Sept. 4. The order for the flags to be lowered to half staff ( which they already were for Rhenquist) was on Sept. 5.

The order for the flags to be lowered for the victims of 9/11 was on 9/11. Immediately.

The order for the flags to be lowered for the victims of Hurricane Katrina was September 5. 7 days later, if you want to give him the day of the hurricane, or 8 if you don't.

[LisaM]

12. Does that mean that the Katrina mourning is being folded in w/Rehnquist?

If the Rehnquist period is statutory until September 15th, I'm not going to count this.

[LynneSin]

13. Wait, Katrina happened on August 29th

and they're now lowering the flags

:grr: