NPR Reports: GW to Blanco"I'll send in the troops if you answer to the WH"

[demo dutch]

Shocking!! on NPR
A must hear ... especially what took place during the 90 min mtg between Blanco, Nagin and Bush onboard Airforce One, during which GW said "I'll send in the troops if you answer to the WH"

Audio of the "Katrina Timeline Unexecuted plans" which aired on All Things Considered a bit ago is now posted at
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4839666

NPR-Brief on Katrina Timeline: Unexecuted Plans

All Things Considered, September 9, 2005 · Just days before Hurricane Katrina hit, officials from state, local and federal agencies were hearing that this could very likely be the big one -- the one they knew could devastate the city.

They spent the weekend in almost non-stop conference calls -- making sure all the plans for food, water and security were in place. But even before the storm hit, some of the plans started to fall apart.

National Guard troops in other states sat ready, waiting for orders that never came. Instead, they were told to wait for an official plan and a chain of command to be established. NPR's Daniel Zwerdling and Laura Sullivan report.
--

Also found this disccusion on on earlier DU thread

snip
Well, here is the story: a few nights ago, he met with Gov. Blanco. He isolated her, and attempted to get her to sign an agreement that partly would have exonerated the Feds and FEMA, and placed blame squarely on the state government. Well, I see in these NY Times articles that Karl Rove is orchestrating this cowardly attempt to diffuse blame. This story, by the way, comes from someone very high up in Blanco's administration.
--
link
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4644904

so, if he indeed isolated her.. then it's her word against his!!!

This needs to be investigated!

[Straight Shooter]

1. The arm-twisting never ends.

Disgusting. Sickening. Pathetic.

[KittyWampus]

7. isn't this blackmail?

[rocktivity]

68. It's friggin' TREASON.

He had ABSOLUTELY NO BUSINESS trying to take over control of the Lousiana National Guard, and witholding aid if she didn't. I consider this nothing less than an attempt to overthrow the U.S. goverment!!!

:headbang:
rocknation

[Nothing Without Hope]

89. I agree completely. I've been focussed on this blackmailing incident

as soon as I first heard about it - this deepens the significance because it confirms much of the worst.

Yes, this is treason as well as mass murder with the apparent goal of overthrowing the civil government of the US and replacing it with a dictatorship. You can bet the cabal - which has been working toward this for years - is hoping for some violent protests that they can hype and fabricate into a "justification" for ever-wider martial law.

There's lots of back-story leading up to this, and I believe it is also one of the reasons why OUR National Guard was shipped off to get shot at in Iraq while NorthCom - one of the missions of which is to administer martial law if it is declared - remains poised to take control here. During the civil protests years ago, the Chinese found it difficult to get local soldiers to shoot their neighbors, so they shipped in soldiers from far away. That worked; they had far fewer compunctions.

Here's one of the recent posts I wrote on all this:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=1765780&mesg_id=1766896

(When I tried to post these ideas and the documentation for them as a separate thread, it was disappeared - not locked, but destroyed. So I try to get the word out in replies like this one. I am hoping that The Powers That Be soon begin to accept that the extreme delays and blocks of aid - WHICH ARE STILL GOING ON - are DELIBERATE. This is NOT some crazy conspiracy theory that will embarrass DU.)

[mopinko]

158. counter protesters at sheehan appearances inciting crowds

the thugs that are showing up at the cindy sheehan events are absolutely there to try to stir things up. at the one in front of hastert's office on wednesday they were really working it. and they were absolutely rent-a-mob. the one guy whose name was given in the chgo trib was an alternate to the convention.

[bostonbabs]

163. excellent ...thankyou

I keep saying it....read Leo Strauss the neocons God ( university of Chicago)....explains a mind set.....

[bostonbabs]

165. wow....thankyou! n/t

[Just Me]

171. Yes. Their every decision was deliberate, not mere incompetence.

They are doing to us what they did to Chile: intentionally acting to break down the constitutional, social and economic system in this country. They have already committed fraud by intentionally misrepresenting facts concerning their domestic and foreign policy aims in order to mislead the American people into doing what they would otherwise not do had they been given the facts, an impeachment criminal act.

This is serious shit and, I agree, what they are doing constitutes treason. They have become domestic enemies of the United States of America.

IMPEACH INDICT IMPRISON!!!

[Peace Patriot]

208. I don't disagree with you, Nothing Without Hope. Your information and

and analysis are excellent. The use of US military on civilians in the US will break Posse Comitatus laws, and set a truly scary precedent. But we need also to consider what motivates the Bush Cartel. I think their prime motive is greed and profiteering, not transforming society into a fascist mold, and not in governing. They don't have the skills to govern, nor the interest in it, and they don't have the troops for martial law in the U.S. And, unlike Germany, the country is too big and too diverse to be governed that way, especially by people with no interest or skill in governing. Their actions have been aimed at chaos, not order--chaos as an opportunity for looting.

Everything they do, it seems, is aimed at creating opportunities to loot us (or others), or riding on an opportunity such as Katrina. I'm not sure what this means in terms of strategy, but I feel like it is a very important insight.

Some of the things they are doing, or have done, seem right out of the "Mein Kampf" playbook. Others do not--for instance, their ineptness at governing, and also their lack of military strategy in Iraq. You can call the Nazis a lot of things, but inept at governing is not one of them (they made "the trains run on time," as they say), nor is stupid military strategy (they were never stupid, militarily--except once, when Hitler switched the bombing of England from the air fields to the cities, and allowed the English air force to recover); nor were they as poor as the Bushites are at inspiring the military (Bushites totally inept). But, most important of all, I don't sense any passion or belief system, at all, in the core of the Bush Cartel. There are a few neoconsters and false "Christians"--but that's all just window dressing. What is driving all this is war and disaster profiteering.

This is a very big difference between the Bushites and the Nazis. The Nazis were true believers--and very into commandeering all the processes of government toward ideological ends--with Hitler in the lead, a very shrewd, if totally mad and murderous, head of government. Again, you can say a lot about Hitler, but not that he was stupid, nor a front man or puppet for others. Bush seems like an airbag by comparison. One pinprick and he's gone. Nobody believes in him anyway (overwhelming evidence of this in opinion polls across the board, on issues and approval, for over a year.) Whereas a whole lot of people believed in Hitler.

The machine for which Bush is a front man, however, is quite dangerous--partly because it's so hard to see. With Hitler, you could see who was in charge, and what he was doing, and where he was doing it--and you could make plans to defeat him on the battlefield. It was a visible and understandable threat. Not so with the Bush Cartel. From their earlier funding and support of Al Qaeda in Afghanistan, to Prince Bandar's visits to the White House, to Cheney's pension from Halliburton, to Wally O'Dell and the Ahmansons and their electronic voting whizdings, and on and on--the whole thing is such an octopus, involving arms dealers and drug dealers and war profiteers all over the globe. It has absolutely nothing to do with American patriotism, or building a society here (of whatever sort, even a fascist society). It is an octopus of global corporate predators who exploit and profiteer from everything, everywhere. They're not BUILDING anything, not even a war machine. They've done nothing but damage the U.S. military. And they're most certainly killing the "golden goose" of the U.S. tax base. The goal seems to be to just squeeze everything dry. To bleed the world of all life and healthy trade.

One more thing (a big difference between the Bushites and the Nazis): I think the White House is in disarray, probably mainly over pending Treasongate indictments--divided between the indictable and the nonindictable, and possibly also between pro-Bush vs. pro-Cheney factions. What prompted my feeling about this, initially, was Bush getting caught on tape eating cake in a PLANNED photo op, while a big chunk of the U.S. was wiped off the map and thousands of Americans were dying. I was amazed by that. How could his handlers have permitted that? And it didn't stop there. It went on for days, with no attempt to spin or recover from it--as if dimwitted Bush, a man with no leadership ability and no talent at all, and no understanding of government or people, had suddenly been hung out to dry by his handlers.

And in there somewhere we saw Daddy Bush and Clinton standing behind Bush Jr. in a press event (early on). It seemed odd to me. The message I was getting subliminally was: 'We're backing Bush Jr.' Against whom? Was something going down with Cheney?

That's what I suspect. Cheney "gone fishing" in Wyoming--until Halliburton got the first contract, and only then comes out of his rathole. Rice in New York buying $2000 shoes. Rumsfeld at a Padres game (meanwhile giving orders to wipe out an Iraqi village on the Syrian border). And now, today, there's a phony cover story out about Rove being in the hospital with bladder stones through it all.

Cheney/Rove likely have the goods on Bush Jr., and could rat him out in Treasongate. Cheney maybe used this to try to get total control of New Orleans for looting purposes. Bush was given the task of accomplishing that--getting martial law and federalization--and used the poor, dying people of NO in an extortion game against Gov. Blanco. That didn't work too well. P.R. disaster. And Rove, meanwhile, was withholding his services (the spin machine that writes Bush's lines, programs him and strictly manages his public appearances, as well as enforcing "talking points" on the lapdog press), until he had some guarantee of his own safety in Treasongate (promised presidential pardon?).

I don't know if I have it all nailed. These are guesses. But it feels right--and explains a lot (--for instance, Bush's several doofus appearances, as well as the inexplicable withholding of FEMA aid, and obstructing of offered aid). And several recent things underscore some such scenario--the new "news" that Rove had been in the hospital (--total BS, I think. His pullout of Bush's support system was noticed, and an explanation had to be devised). And this NPR report. The game was extortion, using the dying folks in the Superdome and the Convention Center as the wedge, with Bush himself under duress--if he didn't deliver NO to Cheney and his gang of global corporate predators, the game was up for Bush.

And Bush is so inept that he couldn't get martial law and total control. I believe Blanco still has authority in LA. So, maybe the elderly holdouts of the old NO culture, who won't leave (people like "Momma D," whom I heard about on a CNN or MSNBC report, from a rescuer in the last day or so) won't be shot on sight. That was Cheney's plan. There is some hope that won't happen, anyway. However, the planned "diaspora"--the cultural genocide against NO, the dispersal of all of its communities and destruction of its rich, historical culture, seems to be going forward. This is something we MUST try to stop! Restoration and return should be the goals.

The presence of Iraq-experienced private contractor hit squads, and Halliburton, Bechtel et al, is not a good sign. But do keep their goal in mind. It is looting, not fascist rule. Gangsterism, not the "Third Reich." Chaos, not order. And it is therefore possible that we will be able to deal with the Bush Cartel, finally, as we dealt with Al Capone.

[Name removed]

113. Deleted message

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

[DemonFighterLives]

115. Welcome to DU!

So does dubby share any responsibility for the late involvement.
I mean food and water could have been dropped right?

[July]

116. Bush held up relief by trying to force Blanco's hand.

Something he didn't try on the governors of Mississippi and Alabama, or on Jeb last year.

[leesa]

121. They already had the request...it was declared a federal disaster

before the storm. Bush was trying to grab the oil refineries and related oil stuff from Louisiana.


You defend someone who blackmails a Governor in time of crisis??

[The Backlash Cometh]

131. Are you telling me that 100,000 New Orleanians RESISTED evacuation?

I don't think so. Within a day, there were tens of thousands who wanted OUT. They waited, and waited for someone to come and get them. I don't think that your argument holds at all.

[rateyes]

134. Hmmmm. I was riding in a funeral procession yesterday...

scanning stations and Flush Limbaugh, the proven liar, was giving out those same talking points...

L.imbaugh
I.nstitue for
A.dvanced
R.epublican
S.tudies

So, you're saying that Blanco was trying to "starve" them out. Did you know that when Bush made his declaration of a state of emergency in Louisiana, he didn't include Orleans or Jefferson Parishes in that declaration? Why didn't he include what all the models showed would be the most vulnerable areas.

Blanco asked for federal help, and got the promise of it BEFORE the hurricane struck. Bush was simply trying to get command of Louisiana's National Guard forces, thus taking ALL (since martial law had been declared) of the law enforcement capabilities Blanco had. Bush is a control freak--the only problem is...he doesn't know what the hell he is doing. He's incompetent.

[Name removed]

136. Deleted message

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

[rocktivity]

138. If Bush had made his "offer" the PREVIOUS Friday

I would at least consider agreeing. But Gov. Blanco called for Federal help on August 26, and it was granted on the 27th. Why didn't George try to usurp the governor's military powers THEN?

Of course there should always be one commander-in-chief in these situations, but that commander-in-chief is SUPPOSED to be the state governor. Bush just wanted control because--well, Bush just wanted control. He knew he just couldn't walk in and take it what with 49 OTHER governors watching. So he tried to strong-arm her into submission by withholding aid.

Once Bush decided to stop funding the restoration of the levees back in 2002, he should have sat down with the governor and mayor and worked out a evacuation/relocation plan right down to who was going to supply the band-aids. It's insulting to suggest that the governor and mayor thought they could "handle" this themselves. And if Bush believed that, he's either incompetent, insane, or fronting for his filthy rich friends' financial interests.

:headbang:
rocknation

[krkaufman]

170. And not just when he started cutting funding.

Bush sending "50% of the National Guard forces and MOST of the heavy equipment" of the Louisiana National Guard to Iraq should have been accounted for far in advance of Katrina hitting, through pre-arranged cross-deployment agreements with other states. The failure to do so falls on the National Guard leadership, the Governor of LA, the Secretary of Defense, Homeland Security and FEMA, but MOSTLY on Bush -- since he is the only person with authority over ALL of these areas. (Oh, and because he's the Monkey that created the clusterfxxk that is the Iraq war.)

[SaveAmerica]

139. 'compete for the same resources'

This conversation happened around the 4th day, a minimal amount of the resources available to the federal government had been used at that point. You're saying he wanted her sig so he would have use of all resources and not compete for them with her? Why? So he wouldn't know how to use those either?
Is there a way to put 'NO SOLICITATION' on DU's front door? We're not buying.

[rocktivity]

174. Aw, why did you delete the message!

It was incorrect, but not in an offensive way!

:evilgrin:
rocknation

[Melissa G]

201. Kinda sounds like Premeditated Ethnic Cleansing to me....

Which sounds like a too nice way to talk about their horrible act of letting people die unnecessarily...and creating much of the conditions that put those same Americans in that situation.

Sad bunch of sorry excuses for humans those neoCONS are...

[The Backlash Cometh]

127. How many people died because of Bush's power play?

These CEO types really do believe that people are disposable.

[Trevelyan]

205. Did anyone receive their Sunday Washington Post?

I wanted to cancel completely but someone in my family wanted the Sunday edition delivered but it did not come today. WaPo did a story on this holding New Orleans victims hostage until Blanco turned over the reins of power before NPR story and was mentioned, I think, on DU and other sites where I read it, not hard copy of WaPo.

Just tried to a link to WaPo story on Ed Shultz but not working.

WaPo's website is up but fairly innocuous news from the Bush Regime's standpoint.

[Torgo Johnson]

2. The link at the bottom is not working

That man has absolutely no shame.

[demo dutch]

I re-posted the link, It worked for me

[Beaverhausen]

3. impeach now god fucking damn it

[berni_mccoy]

6. PRIMA FACIA IMPEACHABILITY!

[Just Me]

173. IMPEACH INDICT IMPRISON,...NOW!!!

They've already committed numerous crimes against this country. They must be stopped before they destroy our nation.

[berni_mccoy]

4. Front Page Item... let's get it there!

:kick: recommended.

[ComerPerro]

5. That kind of blows the whole "not Bush's fault" email BS out of the water

[Beaverhausen]

8. but I'm sure Rove was telling Bush what to say on the call

this is so fucked up. can we impeach this bastard now?????

[geomon666]

9. I'm recording this

This isn't going down the memory hole so easily.

[demo dutch]

10. Need to preserve the audio, cause I don't know how long they

will be posted on NPR

[geomon666]

17. Oh I will

I still have news reports from 2001. I collect. :)

[sunnystarr]

30. I also have it recorded. (nt)

[DrDebug]

42. MP3 copy. Part 1 + Part 2 with the statement at 6:00

MP3 copy of the broadcast. Part 1 + Part 2

The statement at 6:00. It is not a recording from Air Force 1, but just a statement about this.

I heard the same as Rosesaylavee (post #39) heard.

Click on the links. Select Free download. Wait for about 30 seconds. Please mirror if you can.

Part 1:
http://rapidshare.de/files/4916691/20050909_atc_01.mp3.html

Part 2:
http://rapidshare.de/files/4916815/20050909_atc_02.mp3.html

[Draill]

44. Thanks a bunch for this! n/t

[Emit]

59. Thanks for this n/t

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

148. This doesn't seem to want to work for me. I followed your instructions

and it said no upload available.

[DrDebug]

172. I just pressed it and the link is still up.

You need a Javascript browser or Javascript enabled.

Press on the link. It'll then give a screen. Select the <Free> button and then a screen appears. On the screen there is a counter and you have to wait until the counter gets to zero before you can download the file.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

182. Thank you! I was trying to download it while in AOL. It's working now!

Peace. :-)

[Beaverhausen]

11. send the NPR link to your senators and reps NOW!!!!

[chomskysright]

164. need NPR link in some form: disabled:

[Usrename]

12. He is a disgrace to the office and the nation.

[Beaverhausen]

13. oh my god - you have to listen to this if you can

[mzmolly]

14. Or "I'll let those people die if you don't kiss my ass."

:(

[WePurrsevere]

15. Could it have been taped? ... Get this to Dean as well as other Reps

eom

[berni_mccoy]

25. If it was a CALL from AF-1, it was RECORDED.

BY LAW.

[WePurrsevere]

76. Agreed but what about other meetings like Bush w/ Gov Blanco? ...

"Well, here is the story: a few nights ago, he met with Gov. Blanco. He isolated her, and attempted to get her to sign an agreement that partly would have exonerated the Feds and FEMA, and placed blame squarely on the state government. Well, I see in these NY Times articles that Karl Rove is orchestrating this cowardly attempt to diffuse blame. This story, by the way, comes from someone very high up in Blanco's administration."

I would think that meeting would have been recorded as well wouldn't it?


BTW - along with all the other reasons this stinks to high heaven am I the only one who feels that there's also something that feels wrong with any MALE, no less the President (or upper Admin), "isolating" any WOMAN to "intimidate" her into doing something?

[Why Syzygy]

102. I sure as hell

wouldn't want to be left alone with that guy. NO WAY!

[Just Me]

189. Enough.

It's OUR TURN,..."THE PEOPLES" TURN!!!

WE ARE AMERICA!!!! LOVE US OR LEAVE US!!!

[Trevelyan]

206. Our COUNTRY IS LEFT ALONE WITH THAT BUSH AND HIS THUGS

HE IS CONCENTRATING ON NOLA NOW but unless Fitzgerald, some sane people in the Oligarchy, Pentagon, regular military, FBI, CIA, French and maybe German Secret Services act soon there won't be much left.

TomFlocco.com and I believe Infowars.com stated that the Dirksen subway bombing underneath the Fitzgerald Grand Jury in Chicago was prevented by French Secret Service and some good guy CIA.

For many of Infowar.com links they are from REUTERS and pretty strong stuff from the MSM.

[aquart]

16. This timeline is simply not clear.

What is the date of the arm twisting?

Am I supposed to conclude that life-saving aid was deliberately withheld until Blanco ceded state authority to the feds? Because it's not necessary. Bush not giving the order to go in FOR ANY REASON killed New Orleans. No excuse, no explanation is acceptable in any form.

Bush was required to give the order. Bush didn't.

[libertypirate]

23. What is made clear by this timeline

They had everything planned in the day's before but the lack of communication, like on 911, was reason for their failure after the storm to get the boots on the Ground

[FreedomAngel82]

62. Exactly!!!

This whole thing felt wrong from the beginning. Bush playing guitar, eating cake, going golfing etc. And yet there's a photo of him being briefed on everything on August 28th but he did a damn thing. This explains why!

[Nothing Without Hope]

93. Bush not only did not give the order for aid and rescue, it was BLOCKED

from both domestic civilian and foreign countries. And then there's the business of FEMA doing very suspicious things like CUTTING THE EMERGENCY PHONE LINE in Jefferson Parish. In the middle of this horror, they had to post armed guards to keep FEMA from cutting the emergency phone lines AGAIN after they were repaired!!! This has never been explained; I see it as one of the overt, agressive acts to block relief and spread confusion, keep the communication blocked. How many OTHER emergency lines and communication channels did FEMA cut undetected???

Here's one of the threads on FEMA cutting the phone lines, with most of the info in the replies - and the incident has been confirmed. Again, HOW MANY OTHER EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION LINES DID FEMA CUT WITHOUT DETECTION??? AND HOW MANY DIED BECAUSE OF IT???
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4632852

Please also see my other posts in this thread if you want more on how this is part of a delliberate plan with a major goal being "justification" of widespread martial law - presidential dictatorship.

[The Backlash Cometh]

24. I think this happened on Saturday night at midnight?

[rocktivity]

47. Does this help?

Washington Post, Saturday September 3:

...Behind the scenes, a power struggle emerged, as federal officials tried to wrest authority from Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Babineaux Blanco (D). Shortly before midnight Friday, the Bush administration sent her a proposed legal memorandum asking her to request a federal takeover of the evacuation of New Orleans, a source within the state's emergency operations center said Saturday...

:headbang:
rocknation

[Why Syzygy]

66. More than sickening

Using human life to negotiate a takeover. THE BASTARDS!

[Nothing Without Hope]

107. I've posted more of the excerpt downthread here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4715924#4722368

For example, check out this paragraph:

A senior administration official said that Bush has clear legal authority to federalize National Guard units to quell civil disturbances under the Insurrection Act and will continue to try to unify the chains of command that are split among the president, the Louisiana governor and the New Orleans mayor.

Oh yeah, they want martial law and I'm betting they also want enough hype-able "civil disturbances" around the country to spread it wider, step by step. They've been working toward this for years. All the laws are already on the books. For more of the back story, please see this post:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=1765780&mesg_id=1766896
There is much, much more. This is NOT tinfoilhattery and I've been frustrated at how posts on it get disappeared at DU.

One more bet, they wouldn't call it martial law. I'm betting on something typically Orwellian like "Operation Safe America."

[bostonbabs]

177. about the "looting"

I was in L.A. during the Rodney King riots. I had an office on Broadway in L.A.......there were fires EVERYWHERE because real looting is accompanied buy fires...no one tried to burn down New Orleans because 90 % of the people took FOOD.
thank you for all your good posts

[demo dutch]

141. YES - Buses and Natl started to arrive in NO on Friday

I have contacted the NPR reporter and asked him whether we are indeed to conclude that very fact. Also asked him to investigate this further and do a follow-up story.

[savemefromdumbya]

191. didn't on 9/11 either

idiot just sat there on 9/11. I'm glad the media have come through on this. The problem is now that Bush will want to move on to something else to take the public's mind off Katrina. But doesn't it show you that Bush is incapable of leading this country? Only 38% approve and falling.

[blitzburgh55]

18. Unbelievable

Don't the orders have to come from D.C. to deploy National Guard from other states?

[Pirate Smile]

57. The talking heads on MSNBC are blaming Blanco. Tweety and

Andrea Mitchell were saying tonight how the Governor should have signed everything over to the feds and done it quicker. They were both harping on this within the last hour.

Bush didn't need the power. Why was he pulling a power play? Why didn't he just send in the help?

Please e-mail the DC talking heads who live in the bubble because they just spout Rove's BS unquestioningly. They also harped on the school buses. I think they need some additional information.

[Why Syzygy]

69. Since

fucking WHEN is it necessary to sign over state's rights to get federal aid????? Is that the Patriot Act perchance?

OMFG!!!

[rodeodance]

194. it is not necessary. That is the point (as i am sure you know).

[rocktivity]

58. I don't know, but it makes sense

that only the White House would have the authority to call in the NG of other states. However, its also makes sense that they would be under command of the governor of the requesting state. So what's with the power grab, especially when you're a week late and people are people are dying in the next room?

:mad:
rocknation

[blitzburgh55]

100. paperwork to send New Mexico NG didn't come from DC until Th

So, it looks like send NG from other states has to be authorized by DC.



New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson offered Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco help from his state's National Guard last Sunday, the day before Hurricane Katrina hit Louisiana. Blanco accepted, but paperwork needed to get the troops en route didn't come from Washington until late Thursday.

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050903/ap_on_re_us/katrina_national_guard

[rocktivity]

142. The key words there are "from Washington"

The Sunday before the storm was August 28th. Since Bush had already granted federal help on the 27th, there was no NO NEED to get bogged down in paperwork. You don't think Bush could have granted permission on the spot if he'd REALLY wanted to? He interruped his previous vacation to help someone who was ALREADY dead, but he was too busy to help thousands dying in the Super Dome and Convention center? The paperwork was DELIBERATELY slowed down.

:crazy:
rocknation

[July]

118. Reports on the other states' NG says they were held up

because of a delay with "paperwork" coming from Washington.

[The Backlash Cometh]

19. So the son of a bitch was trying to diffuse blame EVEN before it hit!!

This is just heinous. My respect for Blanco grows by the minute.

[murray hill farm]

20. just heard this on NPR...on my car radio...

and was driving...so thought i must have heard it wrong...but here it is...it actually happened...this just keeps getting worse.

[DoYouEverWonder]

21. If Blanco had folded

we would be well on our way to a military dictatorship. Until Friday Rumsfeld was in charge of the disaster response. Bush wanted Blanco to sign over control of the LA National Guard to them. She refused. That opened the door for her to reinsert control and she promptly hired James Witt, Clinton's former FEMA director. At the same time, Gen Honore was put in charge of the LA National Guard and the rest of the military now answers to him and not the Pentagon.

If the Pentagon had stayed in charge we would still be seeing a military operation instead of a rescue mission and the US would be well on it's way to hell in handcart.

[FreedomAngel82]

63. So in reality

Blanco is a hero!

[DoYouEverWonder]

73. Yes, at least in my book.

The M$M seems to be coming back under Rove's control though. It is so frustrating to hear them repeating information that we know is blatantly false. Too bad so many still buy into it all.

[Why Syzygy]

72. Whew!

They missed an opportunity there.

Let me repeat .. THE BASTARDS!

I am so glad SOMEONE (Blanco and the Mayor) are on this! Really!

Your post is VERY GOOD news!

IOW. Fuck 'em.

I never had such a potty mouth until George FUBAR Bush started fucking up my country.

I'm looking forward to the day I become a lady again ~ IMPEACH NOW ~

[DoYouEverWonder]

74. Me too

Last week I could hardly type or speak without multiple explatives.

[Nothing Without Hope]

94. YES!!! This is absolutely true and is, I believe, one of the reasons for

the deliberate delay in aid/relief as well as the deliberate BLOCK of relief from civilians and foreign governments. Plus the cutting of emergency phone lines by FEMA at the peak of the emergency - they were caught at this in Jefferson Parish; where ELSE did they cut the emergency lines without detection? Here is one of the DU threads on the cut phone lines - this incident has been confirmed:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4632852

A big reason behind everything we are seeing is the deliberate using and WORSENING of this national tragedy to force federal takeover and martial law: military dictatorship. It would start in the south. Then, as I see it, they would hype any protests throughout the country into a fabricated excuse for extending the martial law wider and wider - though they wouldn't CALL it martial law. Probably something typically Orwellian like "Operation Safe America." All the "legal" plans for this takeover are in place and NorthCom was wet up in 2002 in part to administer this domestic martial law. That is FACT.

And by the way, the first head of NorthCom, General Eberhard, was promoted to this position from his previous gig: he was the head of NORAD on 9/11, when every interceptor fighter was called off to allow the hijacked planes to continue unopposed on their long, long flights into NYC and the Pentagon. This was clearly an inside job, and Eberhard would have had to be in the loop. You'd think he'd be courtmartialed for his deadly dereliction of duty on 9/11 - but in fact, he was promoted by the Bush Administration to be head of the most powerful and engulfing military entity of all, NorthCom.

Please check out my other posts in this thread - there's an enormous amount of back-story here. I touch on some of it here:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=1765780&mesg_id=1766896

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=4715924&mesg_id=4722368

but there is much, much more.

They want to suspend the Constitution. Remember when Gen. Tommy Franks said in that famous interview "one more hit" and they could suspend the Constitution? The "one more hit" could be another convenient - and if necessary, staged - domestic "terrorist attack," but this hurricane disaster would do even better because it affects a larger area and could be manipulate to increase the likelihood of "civil disturbances" in protest around the country.

I also think this relates to shipping our familiar National Guard overseas - they'd be less likely to shoot neighbors, after all. The Chinese discovered that phenomenon in the great student protests, which were finally crushed when the government sent in troops from far away.

Much more in the links in my posts, and that's just the tip of the iceberg.

Will they be stopped by Blanco's refusal to be blackmailed? No. They will keep trying, for this is what they have been building toward for years. John Dean calls it "constitutional dictatorship," and in 2002 said it was quite possible after another "hit," which he envisioned as a terrorist attack:
http://archives.cnn.com/2002/LAW/06/columns/fl.dean.powers.0607

[DoYouEverWonder]

101. I can see you understand what is at work here

Unfortunately most people are oblivious to what is going on as long as it doesn't effect them directly. Thanks for pulling together the big picture. Now we need to try to get more people to see it.

[Name removed]

104. Deleted message

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

[DoYouEverWonder]

110. I understand your frustration

I've had the same experience during the London Bombing, so I have been more careful to leave out stuff that sounds like I'm wearing too much tinfoil because that apparently turns people off and can result in pulled threads. We have enough facts that we don't have to indulge in that sort of speculation anyway. I've also posted a number of threads about the deliberate lack of response to the disaster and Bush's MO to Fail to Lead On Purpose and they have survived for the most part.

In regards to our 'hero' Will Pitt, I saw that one and I think I responded to that thread too, but a lot of the responses have been removed so who knows. Sometimes I do wonder where certain people around here are really coming from.

Anyway, I do believe we both see the truth about what was happening and I have no intention of not continuing to tell as many people as possible what I know. That is all we can do at the moment. Hang in there.

PBWY
DYEW

[Why Syzygy]

105. Thanks

I cannot grasp the whole thing right now.
No surprise that Bushco would incite civil war in his own country.
The one he is sworn to protect and defend by the way!

No wonder he cut his birthday cake, bicycle riding, STUPID vacation short by two days! He had BIGGER FISH TO FRY!

~ Impeach Now! ~

[Nothing Without Hope]

160. Another point about OUR National Guard: THEY would have stepped in

immediately with their equipment and training and the governors would have been able to cope with this emergency much better from the first.

Not only would unfamiliar troops be in place to crush protests and shoot anybody they were told to shoot, but the Guards wouldn't be there to make sure that response to the natural disaster was swift, effective, and compassionate. It's their own neighbors, their own home. And it's their training too.

Oh yes, shipping out the National GUard to the other side of the world is part of all of this all right. Even those who came back from Iraq were now much more "hardened," trained in responding with force to anything that looks like aggression in the local population. For example, see the NYT account of Iraq-hardened troops entering New Orleans. It was all guns, guns, guns, prepared to shoot at any time. Because of their experience and orders, they were primed for attack, not relief and aid:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1749293

[bostonbabs]

178. I thought that they wanted a riot in the Super dome

and I feared it. Those people did not loose their cool.The media saved us and I think that is what Rove did not expect.....men and women with a consience....what a novelty.

[Nothing Without Hope]

180. Yes, absolutely. They wanted a riot in the Superdome and they wanted

riots around the country ABOUT the Superdome and all the rest of the murderous mistreatment of hurricane victims.

Remember the mutiliated bodies and reports of babies with slit throats, 7-year-old girl raped, all the rest? WHO MUTILATED THOSE BODIES AND WHO PLANTED AND HYPED THOSE STORIES?

The few film clips of "looters™" available have been replayed on the Poodle Press TV News so many times, you'd think the people would catch on that it's a fake story to make them scared of "looters™" coming to THEIR neighborhoods. And if they could manage to incite violence in any other areas of the country, just think how that would be hyped and fabricated into an excuse for declaring martial law based on "civil disturbances."

Count on it. My posts suggesting this possibility have been disappeared from DU - not just locked - in the past, so I'm hoping The Powers That Be are beginning to realize that maybe the theory that all he murderous delays, blocks of aid, and everything else that has happened is more than "incompetence" and more than just staging photo-ops. (Though despicable things were indeed done to set up photo-ops.) This is all a deliberate, years-long plan, and the cabal is grabbing this natural disaaster and its aftermath to advance their goal of total power.

[SpiralHawk]

117. You're doing a heck of a job, DoYouEverWonder

Ding, ding, ding, ding - You got it.

[berni_mccoy]

22. Bush is SO FAR GONE

You CAN'T EVEN stick a FORK IN HIM... he's been CRISPIFIED to a charcoal briquette!!!!

[DoYouEverWonder]

27. That's the scary part

he's like a rabid dog right now and is capable of even the unimaginable.

[Nothing Without Hope]

154. Yes, like a rabid dog. And I sure hope more people start imagining,

because as long as it's all "unimaginable" or "ludicrous tinfoilhattery" to them, even at a progressive site like DU, IT CAN HAPPEN UNOPPOSED BY DEFENSIVE AND OFFENSIVE PLANNING TO AVERT IT.

[Beaverhausen]

26. Recording of part of Nagin's evacuation speech

this is amazing.

[Nothing Without Hope]

155. Do you have an online link for us to listen? I have wanted to hear

everything he said.

[berni_mccoy]

28. CONGRESS MUST HAVE ALREADY KNOWN!!!

This must be what C-SPAN Coverage of the House Was ALL ABOUT LAST NIGHT!!!!

THAT'S IT!!!

[12345]

67. I missed it. Do explain.

[rocktivity]

152. See post #145.

link

[aquart]

97. Known what?

I still feel some of us are confusing two different Fridays.

[rocktivity]

146. See post #145.

link

[rocktivity]

147. dupe, sorry

.

[rocktivity]

145. Apparently, all hell broke loose in Congress the previous night

With speeches that mentioned Halliburton, FEMA's footdragging, attempts to blame the governor and mayor, and--gasp--the "I" word!

Here are MP3s of what Reps. Ron Paul and Cynthia McKinney said.

:headbang:
rocknation

[Nothing Without Hope]

156. Now I am wondering if Cheney staying the hell out of town during

all of this was to set Junior up to take the fall on his lonesome if Congress woke up and did something about it all. Besides, * is getting to be more and more of a liability, looking like he has something like presenile dementia. (You can really see it when you compare with speeches he gave 10 years ago - see this video presentation: http://www.adbuzz.com/bushbuzz.htm ).

Maybe they feel that if the plan worked and martial law was advanced, fine, but if Congress and the public woke the hell up, they'd make sure that Cheney was "innocent" so he would become the new president.

Does anyone doubt that he pulled the strings all along? And he was at the epicenter for the Iraq lies and so many other crimes.

Remember: when Cheney came out of his isolation at last and started making the rounds, BROWN WAS OUT OF THERE IMMEDIATELY. CHENEY COULD HAVE DONE THAT AT ANY TIME AND DIDN'T.

If Bush is impeached, Cheney becomes president. Anyone who thinks that is an improvement, that it makes us safer from a "rabid dog," isn't paying attention. Bush is insane in his way and Cheney is insane in his, different way, but they are both total monsters and have the blood of thousands on their hands. All for power and greed.

[bostonbabs]

179. Cheney has to be AGNEWED.......

this was the same problem with Nixon.....Sirica was already seated when they got rid of Agnew.....this is the senates job!!.That is why you have Fred Barnes saying it's not about popularity it's about power and Bush still has it".....Nixon only had 15 votes ....the real seat of power.WE must get to our senators and demand action now.Hammer them!!

[autorank]

29. Well, I'd say that's about it! If this stuff is firm and with evidence, .

he's toast. Period. End of debate. There is no way that this will be tolerated by a highly restive population which knows he blew it, knows he lied about WMD, thinks he's a doofus, and is ready to believe that he stole two elections. When you here the "s" or the "e.f." words as in "stolen" election or "election fraud" in CM (corporate media), you know his retirement date, along with the rest of the crew, is set.

That's our belle weather. This type of evidence will cause people to believe anything about Bush, anything.

[FreedomAngel82]

64. Exactly

This proves that Bush lied about everything with New Orleans. And you make good points. If someone clearly lies to you about something then it only automatically makes you wonder about what else.

[autorank]

87. I saw him on CSpan a few ago...he's giving out 911 medals.

It just makes me sick. If the South doesn't turn on this guy and the Republicans after this, I don't know what will get the message across.

The idea of forced evacuation for dry spots is getting a lot of push back. I hope people rally to this. Also, they're making the people surrender their guns. Why? I wouldn't (and I'm not even a gun guy) after this betrayal!

The best info is the extortion of Blanco. Make that stick and we're home.

What are the TN pols saying about this. Do they get the message that anybody alive in the USA is next, including them? I just want to see this become the TRUTH for the neighboring states. I mean afterall, TN had horrible problems. What did the Federal government do, TVA. May not be perfect but nobody in TN is frightened every year of catastrophic floods.

[myrmidonlib]

31. heartless

I cannot believe that w blocked the city of NO from using all those buses to evacuate the helpless. I also cannot believe that he would not allow the relief agencies from delivering the supplies BEFORE the hurricane hit. He has no heart!

[mmonk]

46. The mayor was

using RTA buses. Now shoo.

[kestrel91316]

90. The mayor sent as many buses as he could around the poor

neighborhoods to get the poor folks out. Turns out the major reason for so many of them staying behind was THEIR BELOVED PETS.
:cry:

[CAcyclist]

167. He Said W , Not Nagin. nt

[FreedomAngel82]

65. Don't forget Al Gore's story as well

He was denied by FEMA to get in to rescue people as well. It all ties together.

[tkmorris]

99. It takes a truly special kind of person

to hold onto their illusions even when thousands of people are sacrificed for them. I salute you sir for not letting dead Americans sway you! Bravo!

[DemonFighterLives]

122. Welcome to DU!

He has no heart or at least it is shriveled and blackened.

[DemsUnited]

32. I only get about 12.5 minutes of this broadcast???

The link at the all things considered site only downloads the first half of the 30 minute program.

Am I doing something wrong? Is there another link to use???

[Pirate Smile]

34. Me too. It stopped when the levee is breached and the water is rising.

Where is the rest of it?

edit to add - look below - it says "Katrina Timeline Continued
Sep. 9, 2005
Katrina Timeline: Unexecuted Plans" - It has an additional 7 plus minutes of the story. I'm listening now.

[DemsUnited]

38. Got it!! Thank you so much.

[flyarm]

53. why can't i get the continued part to play???

i am dying to hear the second 7 minutes..but it wont play what am i doing wrong???

thanks for help!!

fly

[DrDebug]

55. Go to post #42 or click below

Click on the links. Select free download. Wait 30 seconds

part 1:
http://rapidshare.de/files/4916691/20050909_atc_01.mp3.html

part 2:
http://rapidshare.de/files/4916815/20050909_atc_02.mp3.html

Download part 2 first since it contains the remark at about 5:50

[flyarm]

52. CAN ANYONE COPY THIS?? TO INTERNET??

i don't know how to do it...but i want to keep this...

ok ok..i am a computer wiz.. can't you tell???:dunce: :dilemma: :dilemma: :dilemma:


noooooooo wiz i am not!!!!!!!!!:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

huggies to anyone who can copy to save!!:hug: :grouphug: :hug: :grouphug: :hug: :grouphug: :hug: :grouphug: :hug: :grouphug: :hug: :grouphug: :hug: :grouphug: :hug: :grouphug: :yourock: :yourock: :yourock: :yourock: :yourock: :yourock: :yourock: :yourock: :yourock: :yourock: :yourock: :yourock: :yourock: :yourock: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya:

fly

[Nothing Without Hope]

162. Hello Fly! Terrible times, we all have to pull together and get the truth

out. Local and national nonviolent coalition to change the course and heal this country is absolutely vital now.

Edited: how could I forget! ((((((((fly)))))))) :loveya:

[geomon666]

35. No that's it.

That's all they'll give you.

[Pirate Smile]

45. No, they give the rest but you have to click on the link below.

Look at the post above. It does give the rest of the story including:

"(paraphrasing)On Bush's first visit to the area, he meets with Blanco and Nagin on AF1 on the tarmac.

According to local, state and federal officials, Bush told the Governor that he would send in troops BUT ONLY IF THEY AND THE NATIONAL GUARD ANSWER TO THE WHITE HOUSE. Governor Blanco says she needs 24 hours to think about it."

The segment didn't give Blanco's answer.

[TripleD]

80. She didn't cave

according to the Washington Post:


//

Behind the scenes, a power struggle emerged, as federal officials tried to wrest authority from Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Babineaux Blanco (D). Shortly before midnight Friday, the Bush administration sent her a proposed legal memorandum asking her to request a federal takeover of the evacuation of New Orleans, a source within the state's emergency operations center said Saturday.

The administration sought unified control over all local police and state National Guard units reporting to the governor. Louisiana officials rejected the request after talks throughout the night, concerned that such a move would be comparable to a federal declaration of martial law. Some officials in the state suspected a political motive behind the request. "Quite frankly, if they'd been able to pull off taking it away from the locals, they then could have blamed everything on the locals," said the source, who does not have the authority to speak publicly.

//

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/03/AR2005090301680.html




A Moonie Times editorial (Blanco hit-piece) gives an intesting clue:

//

President Bush had offered the governor federal aid, including additional troops. He declared Louisiana a disaster area before Katrina arrived. To the dismay of New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin, the governor told the president she wanted 24 hours to decide whether to accept the offer because Mr. Bush, as commander-in-chief, wanted control of the troops. Many of the governor's constituents died because of the delay.

//

http://www.washingtontimes.com/op-ed/20050906-093817-7790r.htm

[rocktivity]

33. Audio for today's show will be available at approx. 7:30 p.m. ET

Are you saying that this show contains audio of a meeting between Blanco, Nagin, and Bush had on Air Force One in which you can hear Bush saying "I'll call in the troops if you answer to the White House?"

On the other hand, this dovetails neatly into something that was being discussed yesterday.

rocknation
:wow:

[longship]

36. If true, this is the last straw.

I knew that there was something pecurliar about this mess. I had a sneaking feeling about * wanting to get his grubby paws on a state that could easily be turned all red and a city which was clearly true blue.

Watch it happen. NOLA evacuees will never be allowed to return to their homes. It's already in the works.

Babs: They are doing very well.

DeLay: They're having fun.

The talking points are going to be along the same line. The evacuees are making out like bandits. They have no need to return to the squalor of their homes in New Orleans. We can build New Orleans better than it ever was. The rebuilding of New Orleans is good for business, for the economy. etc.

[idiosyncratic]

37. I just listened to this in CA. It will repeat later. Everyone in the

country should hear this . . .

I just wish they had played more of Chertoff's denial of anything wrong at the Convention Center. I heard that last week and was incredulous that he wouldn't believe what seasoned reporters were reporting . . . :nuke:

[rosesaylavee]

39. I don't think the report was complete enough

What I heard was that the President said that he would supply the troops if they were under his control and that Blanco needed 24 hours to think about it.

For those not understanding the issues of the President taking control of the National Guard, it could be interpreted as Blanco delaying aid by her indecision.

NPR could have done better explaining her dilemma.

[rocktivity]

41. It can also be interpreted as Bush playing "Dump On The Democrat"

WHILE PEOPLE WERE DYING--HE TRIED TO SWIFTBOAT HER!!!

:mad:
rocknation

[dalaigh lllama]

153. Something else to consider

For those who would argue that of course Blanco should have handed control of her state over to Bush:
Was Bush delivering this same ultimatum to the governor of Mississippi? Does anyone know about or have links to the situation re Bush and Barbour?

(BTW, hi there Rosesaylavee :hi: )

[rodeodance]

193. i do not know--but have seen the question asked before. it is a mystery.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

40. Bush also withheld Northern Command which was sitting and waiting

for his orders.

[justiceischeap]

43. Listened to both, didn't hear that at all.

Not saying it's not there just didn't hear it.

[fishnfla]

75. I heard it differently too

maybe I'm wrong, but I thought the report said 'he said that if he let in Federal Troops, they would have to answer to him', she said she needed 24 hrs to think about it.

I took it to mean the troops would be under his control. Maybe I mis-heard it though

:shrug:

[demo dutch]

77. That's not what they broadcasted on the radio, you do think they

modified after they posted ut??

Someone posted a transcript of sorts which is the following:
--
He calls Mayor Nagin and Governor Blanco to a meeting aboard Air Force One on the tarmac at Louis Armstrong Airport. According to city, state and federal officials...(Bush) tells the governor he will send the troops, but only if they and the National Guard answer to the White House. Governor Blanco says she needs 24 hours to think about it. Meanwhile, inside the airport terminal, hundreds of sick and elderly evacuees are lying on cots in baggage claim.
--

[rodeodance]

200. Northern Command was in position, waiting for Presidential orders.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=4605183&mesg_id=4605236


Sat Sep-03-05 10:14 AM
Original message On BBC: Northern Command was in position, waiting for Presidential orders.



This was on the episode of BBC World News which played on a local (Philadelphia area) PBS station at 6:00 am this morning. I can't find a stream or transcript online. It's sitting on my TIVO right now marked do not delete but I have no way to put it onto my hard drive and no place to serve it from anyway. If you do have a recording of it, it starts about 9 minutes in. I've done a hand written transcript, the spelling and punctuation are mine. The bolding is also mine to emphasize what I think is the important part. The BBC announcer was interviewing Lieutenant Commander Sean Kelly whom she referred to as Leftenant Commander. This is the entire interview with no missing context.



Announcer: The relief operation is the largest ever conducted in America. It's being coordinated by the US Northern Command in Colorado. Leftenant Commander Sean Kelly explains how the relief effort is being organized.

Kelly: US Northern Command is the command that coordinates the military support for our federal and state agencies. They call up and request a capability and we try and provide that capability, whether it's medical resources, search and rescue helicopters, food, water, transportation, communications; that's what we provide.

A: So it sounds like you're providing a bit of everything. I mean, do you know how much you're actually providing?....

[DemsUnited]

48. KICK

[SoCalDem]

49. So... Why didn't she just go on tv and SAY...

I have asked the president SEVERAL times for help.. I have PLEADED with him, and he steadfastly REFUSES the help we DESTERATELY need until I literllay turn over the whole state to HIM..

Put the little fool out there in the ring with the lights on him.. make him say it's not so, and then if no troops showed up..well...

From the outset, the WH saw this as an opportunity to disparage the two "wimmin-folk" in office there.. The mayor (a republican until his election to mayor as a dem) could be counted on to distance himself from the two "wimmin"..

It's a way to "cleanse" New orleans, drum up work for Halliburton, and end up with TWO republican senators next time around, and force a california-style recall of the democratic governor..Bobby Jindal will resign his congressional seat, and cruise into the governorship..

[DoYouEverWonder]

70. Because she probably understands what a vengeful SOB

Bush is and it wasn't worth pushing the rest of his buttons at that point in order to score points on TV. She had to do what she had to, to get the situation under control first.

[sakabatou]

50. What a douchebag...

[Bernardo de La Paz]

51. Floodgate is Bush's Watergate. They are trying to cover it up now.

Floodgate is Bush's Watergate. They are trying to cover it up now, but it is too big, too public, and too many people had to make phone calls, sign papers, etc.

On top of that you have Bush's comments about Trent Lott's estate house, Barbara Bush's comments about scary evacuees, Laura Bush who is so out of it she twice got the hurricane name wrong, and Tom DeLay's idea that this must be fun for traumatized kids.

[rocktivity]

54. A transcript of sorts

It’s Friday—four days since Katrina hit. Everybody in the region is clamoring for the government to send in troops. On this day...Bush makes his first visit to New Orleans.

He calls Mayor Nagin and Governor Blanco to a meeting aboard Air Force One on the tarmac at Louis Armstrong Airport. According to city, state and federal officials...(Bush) tells the governor he will send the troops, but only if they and the National Guard answer to the White House. Governor Blanco says she needs 24 hours to think about it. Meanwhile, inside the airport terminal, hundreds of sick and elderly evacuees are lying on cots in baggage claim.

Go to trial. Go directly to trial. Do NOT pass a bi-partisan investigation; do NOT pass congressional hearings!

:mad:
rocknation

[Emit]

56. I must be missing something.

I've listened to both now and did not hear anything about the meeting with Bush*, Nagin and Blanco. Is there something I'm doing wrong? Tx in advance for anyone who can direct me to the right clip. I've followed all directions so far and still didn't get it.

[autorank]

79. Hi Emit, here's the deal...

The NPR site has several audio streams. The one you want is at the top, middle and says this

Katrina Timeline Continued

*
Sep. 9, 2005
Katrina Timeline: Misdirected Aid

The other piece is a link to an annonymous inside message.

The NPR piece has a description of the meeting between Bush and Blanco toward the end. I also heard Nagin a few days ago. He described this meeting, saying that Bush, Nagin and Blanco were meeting and Bush excused himself and Blanco to speak alone. Nagain said Bush came back alone and said it was all taken care of. That would be huge fucking lie #2 -- it wasn't taken care of because Blanco did not agree.

Amazing.

[Emit]

86. Thanks much...

Got it now! Actually, I also caught it live in the car when I went to p/u my kids from karate.

I had read about this a few days ago on a similar post here at DU, probably related to that WaPo article above.

I had some questions on this issue before:

1) Wonder if same demands were put to other states, and what the outcome was? Would we have heard about that?


I assume this is a state's rights issue then, so

2) What exactly are the implications of "troops... and the National Guard answer(ing) to the White House..."? The WaPo article implies Blanco was concerned about the potential of federal martial law. I thought I had heard Nagin say around this same time that NO was under martial law. Would this have led to full blown martial law in the state of LA? Or the surrounding areas?

All in all, I agree with the poster above: I think NPR dropped the ball on this by not examining the consequences of this particular statement and/or situation. Also, it makes Blanco look bad, as if she was the cause for more delay.

[yellowjacket7]

85. I'm not getting the slam-dunk message either

Josh Marshall explained the delay had to do with Bush invoking the Insurection Act, which Blanco refused to do. Both share the blame in some way, but more on Bush though. Its still muddy at this point.

[FreedomAngel82]

60. He's so power hungry he's letting people die!

That asshole! I hate him!

[FreedomAngel82]

61. Send this to Nancy Pelosi and Anderson Cooper

And to Harry Reid. They must know about this!

[nookiemonster]

71. What a dick!

Kick. Nominated.

[autorank]

78. Blanco has to speak...soon

Had Blanco left the plane when * tried his bull shit and announced the extortion, Busy would be on his way out. I can't even imagine the pressure she was under so this isn't a criticism.

She has to call on the long tradition of Louisiana political intrigue and get a game plan and execute. Maybe de Witt can help her. Maybe someone else can.

I find it offensive in the extreme. It's impeachable, that's for sure. This must get out. The WaPost won't do it. The other papers need to step up. If not the NYT, then all the rest in unison. Hell, the Toledo Blade, one of the great investigative papers in the country, can do it.

Get this story out.

[Nothing Without Hope]

106. Actually, the Wash Post DID report on some aspects of this incident

but drew the wrong conclusions, deriding Blanco for her concern about martial law. Yet their own report has many of the pieces, despite its disparagement and misleading, irrelevant title. I've given the link and excerpt downthread here:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4715924#4722368

[demgrrrll]

81. I remember thinking and posting that there was something going on

with him, something that was making people act deferential as if they were trying to appease him so he would send aid. I thought it was some kind of fear of his erratic behavior but this really makes sense. Remember when people called Landrieu's office and her assistant kept telling people that she was just trying to save lives? This guy has to go. He must be impeached. I want more information on the Congress thing, are you talking about them shutting down the investigation and not inviting Democrats to the meetings etc..etc..?

[buddysmellgood]

82. Can you provide a link to the story that includes the 90 min meeting?

I've listened to three stories on NPR and none includes this.


Shocking!! on NPR
A must hear ... especially what took place during the 90 min mtg between Blanco, Nagin and Bush onboard Airforce One, during which GW said "I'll send in the troops if you answer to the WH"

[demo dutch]

128. It's in 2 parts, Part 2 is called "Misdirected Aid" and this is the snip

from broadcast:

"According to city, state, and federal officials, the President tells the governor he will send the troops, but only if they and the National Guard answer to the White House."

[PurgedVoter]

83. NPR, No longer Partisan Radio! nt

[jayctravis]

84. So all the infrastructure was in place, but nobody turned the key.

who makes that decision?

[Nothing Without Hope]

92. It's very, very clear: The president, via DHS/FEMA. Read these parts of

the National Response Plan of DHS:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4668155

[Nothing Without Hope]

88. Blackmailing using the lives of tens of thousands and the life of New

Orleans itself - all for "justification" to suspend what's left of the Constitution and set him up as dictator. Starting in the hurricane areas, but, if they could hype and fabricate enough reports of violent protests around the country in the coming weeks, it would extend step by step.

FEMA/DHS and NorthCom are set up to administer martial law, and the neocons have been working toward it for years.

Now this blatant, murderous blackmailing. I hope there is lots and lots of damning documentation and that it is all exposed.

As the days passed it became clear that the delays and blocks in aid were DELIBERATE, which is MASS MURDER. Now we hear another piece of why: SETTING UP PRESSURE FOR BLACKMAILING FOR SUSPENSION OF THE CONSTITUTION. (The deaths and displacement of the poor and the opportunity for more profit and plundering as in Iraq were two more...and there are doubtless more.)

This is an epicenter of what is behind the murderous and deliberate policy of delaying and blocking aid - IT MUST BE INVESTIGATED AND EXPOSED.

For more of the back-story and what I see as the larger picture, please see this post:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=1765780&mesg_id=1766896

[Nothing Without Hope]

91. This WaPo article documents the BLACKMAILING of Blanco to allow federal

takeover- as she correctly perceived it: martial law. Here is the thread with this important article - which has a bland, irrelevant title and downplays the significance of what it reports. Rose Siding found this extremely important report; it was on the DU Home Page and must not be forgotten:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1750979

Here are three paragraphs of Rose Siding's excerpt from the article, which should have gotten far more attention from the press and from all defenders of the Constitution. The article, by the way, had a blatant falsehood - a statement that Blanco had not declared a state of emergency. The WaPo later printed a retraction of this easily detected (but not by the WaPo) lie in an obscure little paragraph that will be generally overlooked by readers. Although the retraction printed at the top of the article page online gives this retraction, it does not mention another significant fact - the lie was disinformation from a senior Administration official. WHO??? THIS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED AS WELL.

(snip)

Behind the scenes, a power struggle emerged, as federal officials tried to wrest authority from Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Babineaux Blanco (D). Shortly before midnight Friday, the Bush administration sent her a proposed legal memorandum asking her to request a federal takeover of the evacuation of New Orleans, a source within the state's emergency operations center said Saturday.

The administration had sought control over National Guard units, normally under control of the governor. Louisiana officials rejected the request, noting that such a move would be comparable to a federal declaration of martial law. State authorities suspected a political motive behind the request. "Quite frankly, if they'd been able to pull off taking it away from the locals, they then could have blamed everything on the locals," said the source, who is an adviser and does not have the authority to speak publicly.

Blanco made two moves Saturday that protected her independence from the federal government: She created a philanthropic fund for the state's victims and hired James Lee Witt, Federal Emergency Management Agency director in the Clinton administration, to advise her on the relief effort.

(snip)

But here is ANOTHER significant paragraph from this misleadingly titledWaPo article:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/03/AR2005090301680.html
A senior administration official said that Bush has clear legal authority to federalize National Guard units to quell civil disturbances under the Insurrection Act and will continue to try to unify the chains of command that are split among the president, the Louisiana governor and the New Orleans mayor.

It's very, very clear. This is an attempt to use the hurricane disaster to grab more power for the president. The delays in aid and the blockage of local and foreign aid were DELIBERATE, intended at the least as blackmail to "justify" such suspension of the Constitution, and possibly also to ignite racial/class violent protests which could be hyped into broader "justification" for other areas of the country as well.

If you don't believe this possibility, there is a great deal of back story to read. For example, check out the thread and links in this post.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=1765780&mesg_id=1766896
And there is much, much more.

[Nothing Without Hope]

95. Increasing the pressure: HOW MANY PHONE LINES DID FEMA CUT???

We know about the confirmed story of FEMA cutting the emergency phone lines in Jefferson Parish and the local authorities having to post armed guards to protect these vital lines FROM FEMA after repairing them. Here's one of the DU threads on this - again, this is a confirmed story.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4632852

If FEMA was cutting emergency phone lines in Jefferson Parish and was CAUGHT at it, under cover of the confusion HOW MANY OTHER PHONE LINES AND OTHER COMMUNICATION INFRASTRUCTURE DID FEMA DELIBERATELY COMPROMISE WITHOUT BEING CAUGHT???

We've seen repeated statements from officials that poor communication such as unreliable phone lines undermined aid/relief efforts. What if part of the poor communication was part of the deliberate escalation of the emergency by the Bush Administration? We know it happened in Jefferson Parish.

WHO GAVE THE FEMA AGENTS THE ORDERS TO CUT THE EMERGENCY PHONE LINES IN JEFFERSON PARISH? AND HOW MANY OTHER COMMUNICATION LINES WERE DELIBERATELY COMPROMISED BY FEDERAL AGENTS?

[Frederik]

103. Thanks for your posts

The "incompetence" theory - "they screwed up, because they are incompetent" - doesn't explain the facts very well. It seems clear that the local rescue efforts were deliberately sabotaged.

[Nothing Without Hope]

108. Yes, and contrary to recent dogma at DU, it wasn't just for staged

photo-ops, either, though that certainly did happen in some despicable local events.

[Hamlette]

96. kick, explosive

[Nothing Without Hope]

98. another DU thread on this NPR broadcast on the Bush blackmailing attempt

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4714874
Thread title: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4714874

Does anyone STILL think all the delays and blocks of aid were just incompetence?

And how about the communication failures? We know of at least one case of FEMA cutting emergency phone lines in Jefferson Parish. How many other deliberate compromises of communication were undetected? I feel this aspect needs investigation too. It was clearly deliberate. Who gave the orders and where else was communication blocked?

[H2O Man]

109. I would think

it is worth considering within the context of the suspension of the federal government which was described by Senator Byrd in his classic book, "Losing America." That Bush/Cheney put in a "shadow government" is beyond question; the extent and long-term consequences have unfortunately not been questioned. How this entity deals with states is another unexamined issue. This may be the best example.

[Just Me]

183. When will people grasp the seriousness,...

,...of what these criminals are doing to our people, our nation? :cry: When, Patrick? When? I fear for my people. :cry:

[Clintmax]

111. I KNEW he did something like this to her...

When I saw the interview with her on CNN and she said they came to an "agreement". I thought to myself; "Yeah, agreement...he threatened her and told her to answer to the WH." I was right!

[Name removed]

112. Deleted message

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

[Name removed]

120. Deleted message

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

[DemonFighterLives]

129. Embalming Fluid whatever that tastes like

:freak:

We have our own disaster cleanup right here.

[Cassandra]

130. The above blithering idiot has been TS'd

Someone from Shreveport called into C-SPAN this morning and commented that even before the hurricane arrived the local motels were already full, so she didn't see where they would have put people on all those buses as there are not enough places to shelter people inland.

[WinkyDink]

114. Bush needed permission?

HAHAHA!
He can invade Iraq, but he needs to be invited into Louisiana?!

Yes, this was ALL ABOUT MARTIAL LAW. Why else were those M-16's pointed at survivors?
FEMA troops---which is now what they are---were following the new book, the one that labels EVERYTHING a "terrorist act".

[FreeStateDemocrat]

119. RW Talk radio is full tilt Swiftboating both Blanco and NO's Mayor

[Skittles]

124. they can blame Blanco and Nagin all they want

it simply does not absolve bush and they - and their idiot fans - f***ing know it

[confludemocrat]

159. Thats's right, no escape from this one, too many dimensions of the failure

No explanation for the malevolent delay of Monday to Saturday, none. We do know they are ideologues who as Albaugh said and thought, FEMA is an entitlement that needed to be cut down to size (and made to act with all deliberate slowness and political maneuvering). These are sick people.

[paineinthearse]

123. self delete

I need coffee!

[stepnw1f]

125. Bush Played Politics with People's Lives

What's even more distrubing, he's trying to destroy Democracy itself while he does it. Disgusting and vile.

[demo dutch]

126. Must establish whether major aid was truly held back till this mtg w/ Bush

took place! and whether it's true that Bush isolated Blanco when he proposed his plan, (which was reported on an earlier thread on DU.) Eitherway it was later followed up with a formal request, which she turned down.

Some aid came in the form of busses and Guardsman on Thursday afternoon, but it seemed only a trickle. So everything hinges on finding the answer to this question. "Did "Major Federal Aid" get held back until this meeting?"

This is one of the things an independent committee needs to find out

[demo dutch]

140. Correction Friday afternoon busses arrived

[Nothing Without Hope]

202. Major federal aid was CLEARLY withheld. Multiple cases of personnel - US

and foreign - standing by, waiting for the order. The USS Bataan, with hundreds of empty hospital beds, idle doctors waiting, and the capacity to make 100,000 gallons of fresh, clean drinking water each day. It was waiting off the coast and could have been used at any time, but there was no order.

Aid convoys from all over the US were turned back.

The list goes on and on and on.

[DemonFighterLives]

132. Sounds exactly like the b*sh crime family MO

Armtwist, intimidate and when things don't go your way, obfuscate, swiftboat or kill.
Please be careful Goveror Blanco! :yourock:

[abester]

133. Mirror for audio files

Hi, I'm new to this forum/site, but I've been following it for longer than a year now. Considering that I'm a forgeinor, I'm reluctant to mingle in these discussions but since I do care a lot I'd like to offer my internet connection to this site for quick and hassle-less download of clips etc. I'm using a fully synchronous 100mbit connection to the backbone and am allowed to use as much as 100GB of traffic a week. If any regular contributor wants to take me up on my offer, please do contact me [e-mail] or otherwise using the PM.
I apologize for posting it like this, but the forum is quite restrictive for new members so this is my only way to contact you guys and make this offer. Best regards to all!

[DemonFighterLives]

135. Welcome to DU!

Thank you very much for your offer and I'm sure someone will be interested. I actually didn't even listen to the recordings, but take my fellow DU'ers word for it.
This administration is awful and we need all the help we can get.
:dem:

[sunnystarr]

168. Welcome to DU abester!

Unlike the Bush administration we appreciate foreign aid. :loveya:

[fooj]

137. Party politics BEFORE Country!

:cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:

Peace.

[Teena]

143. I think...

it was the next guest who said that one month's military spending in Iraq, or $14billion, could have saved the Louisiana coast so that this flood would not have taken place. I find this the most shocking fact, especially knowing that the Bush administration's own experts determined this and nothing was done about it. The ecologist who said this also warned that all of the coastal cities in the U.S. have the potential to be destroyed by the effects of global warming -something the Bush administration also acknowleges - but that not much has been done to head this off. No - they just continue to spend billions and billions on a "ghost enemy" in Iraq while our cities and their people remain in danger. So much for "Homeland Security."

[cilla4progress]

144. Two wrongs dont' make a right...

The blame here goes to politics, and there's plenty to go around. Whatever Bush's moral depravity in "offerring" the deal to Blanco, I believe her moral compass should have kicked in to smile, say yes in order to get the help to her people ASAP, and then, after it arrived, turn around and expose Bush for the lying black-hearted sack of s* he is. There would have been nothing wrong with lying to Bush in order to receive the aid, and then using the media to bust Bush.

Our politicians are just too much that, and not enough statesman. I read a quote recently that I think applies: A politician thinks about the next election; a statesman, the next generation.

These leaders have to be willing to tap into their humanity whatever the cost and do the right thing. They need to act and now, without checking the political costs first, esp. in these grievous situations. I see both parties as having their focus on the wrong issues in this case.

[rocktivity]

151. Blanco's "morality" is exactly what Bush was counting on

He was EXPECTED that Blanco would care more about sacrificing herself "for the good of the team" than winning the game. You see, we liberals lack the "moral depravity" to "stoop to their level," which they consider our "tragic flaw." (It certainly was John Kerry's).

If Blanco had capitulated, not only would Bush have had the press paint her as so incompetent she couldn't even handle her own national guard, it would have opened the door to turning New Orleans into New Baghdad. And don't think Blanco didn't realize that--that's why she asked Bush for time to think it over, and spent it hooking up with General Honore and that DeWitt guy.

As George Galloway proved (and as Paul Hackett MIGHT have proved if the votes were counted properly), we win when we get in their faces, and we don't stoop to their level when we do. They're nothing but animals and bullies, and only thing animals and bullies pay attention to are OTHER animals and bullies.

:headbang:
rocknation

[cilla4progress]

186. I agree it would have been a real star turn -

but wouldn't you LOVE to see a government official go on TV and say, "I lied to the bastard's face and agreed to his terms because it was the only way I could get help for my people. Now - on national TV - I'm calling you out GW - give me back my National Guard troops!" What a moment that would have been...might have helped turn the tide...expose him for the arrogant SOB he is!

[journalist3072]

149. If the Democrats win back the house in 2006..

And they don't start impeachment hearings right away, they need their asses kicked.

What more proof do we need that Bush should be impeached?

[bostonbabs]

150. This is THE STORY that they don't want out

....they wanted MARTIAL LAW...they are doing it any way ...taking firearms from people....where is the NRA?....it is the only point that I ever agreed with them on. ( I do have a loaded gun in my home)
Karen Hughes wants the " race card" played it is destructive and it will have everyone talking about "the blacks"...it's about the poor......remove race from the equation....make them argue about poor people. And then let's talk about how they got poor. The invocation of a "lower wage bill for NEW ORLEANS" that President BUSH JUST SIGNED is pure PROOF of intent. I hate their guts!...Read Leo Strauss..( uNIVERSITY OF cHICAGO)the neocon's GOD ... AND THEY TALK ABOUT LIBERAL CAMPUSES.Every one knows that colleges are for rich white folk....don't they..Help US.
THE LOVE OF MONEY IS THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL (money/power)
I heard that ass wipe Fred "shit head" Barnes say that Popularity has nothing to do with it ( speaking of Bushes 39% app)..."he has power and lots of it...that's what's important"....can't wait to see the demise of some of these utter apologists who have no conscience!!!

[kma3346]

157. Martial law

So, they aren't officially under martial law, but the military/police are acting as though they were? My God, my head is spinning......

[Emit]

176. Here is an article that explains some of this issue of Martial Law

What Is Martial Law?

On Tuesday reports began circulating that New Orleans officials had put the flood-ravaged city under martial law. The attorney general's office of Louisiana quickly issued a denial. Confusion persisted, however, after White House press secretary Scott McClellan told a group of journalists on Wednesday that "martial law has been declared in Mississippi and Louisiana." Yesterday National Guard Lt. Gen H. Steven Blum sought to set the record straight, saying, "This is not, as it has been erroneously reported, martial law." What is martial law? And who can declare it?

~snip~

In practice, however, martial law has been all but barred since the late 19th century. During the Civil War, President Lincoln suspended habeas corpus and set up military courts in several states in the South and Midwest. Many at the time felt that Lincoln had superseded his authority, and in 1878 Congress passed the Posse Comitatus Act, which forbids the military from performing civilian law enforcement without congressional approval.

~snip~

Additionally, governors can still request that the president immediately dispatch federal troops to assist police during emergencies. This happened during two notable instances of rioting in recent history—at the 1968 Democratic Convention in Chicago and after the verdict was handed down in the Rodney King trial in Los Angeles in 1992. Neither instance constituted martial law (or violated Posse Comitatus) since federal troops were supporting and not supplanting local leaders.

During the 1987 Iran-Contra scandal, it was revealed that Oliver North had helped FEMA draft plans to overrule Posse Comitatus and impose martial rule if a major instance of civil unrest occurred. More recently, civil libertarians have worried that the military may become the de facto enforcer of law if the United States is attacked.

http://66.102.7.104/search?q=cache:r9cRPMgZLb0J:slate.msn.com/id/2125584/+state+martial+law+federal+martial+law&hl=en

[Nothing Without Hope]

181. John Dean called it "constitutional dictatorship" and in a 2002 article

said it is quite possible if there is another attack. (He envisioned another "terrorist" attack as the trigger/excuse, but actually the hurricane and any "violence" -- relentlessly hyped/fibricated/propagandized -- around the country protesting Bush's murderous treatment of the survivors could work even better.)

Here's John Dean's 2002 article:
http://archives.cnn.com/2002/LAW/06/columns/fl.dean.powers.0607

[Just Me]

161. It's time for these bastards to GO!!!

If congress fails to stop these people who intentionally exploit Americans BEFORE any further harm is done, this country is in deep caa caa!!!

IMPEACH, INDICT, IMPRISON, NOW!!!!

[krkaufman]

166. Pretty much just.... "Submit to my authority, or suffer" n/t

[Roland99]

169. Good detailed info on what was going on before the storm even hit

[Just Me]

175. *kick* for the truth

:kick:

[kma3346]

184. Kick

:kick:

[bpilgrim]

185. kick

peace

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

187. My one sentence summary

Since Bush was able to and did send in the troops without Blanco's permission when she refused, he could have just as easily sent in the troops prior to their meeting without her permission.

[savemefromdumbya]

197. should have sent in troops BEFORE hurricane as he was warned

as he was warned before 9/11 he was warned by hurricane experts that the levees would break in N O. So he should have had troops, resources and supplies there BEFORE it hit!

[fearnobush]

188. Lets make Sept 16: National Prayer for Impeachment Day.

Kick

[savemefromdumbya]

192. Now you are talking

I love that word impeachment but I don't think prayer will help? W needs to be taken out the White House kicking and screaming.

[Hissyspit]

190. Thank you, demo_dutch! When I heard this on NPR yesterday...

I knew it needed to be posted, but I couldn't get to access to my computer. I drove around the roads around my house for the full half-hour while it was playing (one of those drive-way moments they like to talk about during hte fundraisers.)

Impeach already!

[rodeodance]

195. i really have not heard any discussion of this today. thanks

[savemefromdumbya]

196. Funny news caption!!!

priceless! Just omit the colon.

[deacon]

198. How unbelievably cowardly...... terrible....... n/t

[Tennessee Gal]

199. Kick.......

Is there anything new in the media about Bush's attempt to take over Louisiana?

[oasis]

203. kick

[AceAlmighty82]

204. Explain this to me...

I asked this earlier in the week..and I could be missing something but I heard through my boss/his Insurance agent..American Family..if it matters..anyways, this agent said that state and local officials refused help from the outside. I'm just the messenger on what this agent said so I don't know where he got his info. I may be confused but am I missing something? Or does that sound about right? I haven't kept up 100% on this Katrina political disaster. Any help would be great or a link to point me there.

[redacted]

207. KICK. Mind-blowing story.

[Teena]

209. CALL NOW!

Unhappy with the way things are going in the United States?
Launch a complaint. Let the Commander in Chief know you think
it’s time he and his cabinet stepped aside so that competent leaders
can begin to restore dignity, order, and progress to our nation.
The phone number for the White House is as follows:
[phone]