Tonight I put my wife on an airplane to Katrina

[kurtyboy]

She works for Homeland Security / FEMA (as I did for fifteen years) and she is respondiong to the storm.

She woke up before I did on Sunday morning, and came back to bed after seeing the news reports. "I've got to go to work." she told me, "It's a Cat-five." She spent nearly her entire day coordinating response from our kitchen--laptop on the table, two phone lines constantly busy. At just after 9:00 Am, our time, her conference call (on speakerphone) got interesting in a way I've not known previously.

While she spoke with her colleagues from across the nation, a familiar voice entered the converstation. It was the forty-third President of the United States, GW himself, pledging to provide every federal resource available for this pending catastrophe. I never imagined that he'd be beamed directly into my home, and frankly, it still kinda creeps me out.

Mrs. Kurty tells me that he occasionally chimes in on conference calls when major disasters are happening, and to be honest, I can't figure this out.

Anyway, I drove her to the airport, and she's scheduled to arrive in Montgomery AL @ 8:30 AM. I got my doubts wheether the airline will run her connector from Atlanta, but I am hoping she stays safe throughout.

I HATE hurricane season.

[KitchenWitch]

1. My thoughts are with you and your wife

That had to be creepy hearing the chimp on a conference call.

Send her wishes of safety when you next speak to her.

[enigmatic]

2. That would have freaked me out

That would be the last voice I'd want to hear at this time..

Good vibes to your wife:)

[LordshipLadyship]

3. wondering

on another thread why Bush hadn't spoken out, maybe finally it struck him he could get the polls up if he became the disaster president. major disasters allow him to strut. May your wife be safe, she does work for which many are grateful

[kurtyboy]

4. I won't speculate in that direction, since he's done it before..

Last year, after one of the storms, my wife was sitting with a state governor (can't tell you which one) when that Governor got a little pissy with GW and asked some tough questions.

GW replied with platitudes and unsatisfactory understanding, as I gather. I can't figure out how his political whiskers work in these cases.

[BlueIris]

10. Interesting.

Why can't you tell us which one? Just curious.

I hope that your wife is okay. She's doing good work.

[kurtyboy]

12. Just don't want to put a sitting or former Governor in the spotlight

Or my wife, for that matter. This administation's memories are long and ocassionally nasty.

[fujiyama]

16. Very true

Petty and Vindictive are two ways of describing them.

All the best to your wife. Our thoughts are with her.

[LunaSea]

5. Dang...

Should have offered some suggestions-
"Hey Dubya, that 71 million you cut last June in funds for dealing with a really bad storm.
Can we have some back?"
and Hey Dubya, the LA National Guard, can we get those guys back too? real soon?

I promise to write a nice letter to your parole board.

What do ya say?

Hmm?

[kurtyboy]

6. Dude, even with this guy, you gotta understand

The President of the United States deserves a certain degree of respect--even with this guy.

I don't have the balls to aske those questions in his telephonic presence, not even close.

But I like the way you think!

[KitchenWitch]

8. Yes, even though he is a total fraud

There are certain protocols to follow...I totally get that...sucks, but it must be done.

[Fleshdancer]

7. Your wife is a hero.

You are too...thank you for what the two of you have and are doing for FEMA.

Bush called in to a FEMA conference call? Good for him. I can't stand the guy but I can't criticize him for this. Frankly, I'm glad to know he cares enough talk to FEMA on his vacation. It's refreshing to feel good by his actions for a change.

Please keep DU updated on your wife. She's in our thoughts/prayers.

How are you doing?

:grouphug:

[kurtyboy]

9. Thank You Gloria.

I'm Okay, I guess.

I did this biz for a decade-and-a-half,. and I know the score. You are right about my wife--she is a hero--but she'll never take the credit. I am also with you on the actions this morning (our time) of the President. He leaned out when he didn't HAVE TO, and provided some words. I still despise his policies deeply, but this is one of the first times I can say he did something appropriate.

I am also certain that he will soon revert to stupidity--old habits and all of that.

Thanks for your prayers and thoughts. I'm having a coupla' serious drinks at this time (can't sleep) and hoping for the best. My biggest worries are for the people of New Orleans--I still get reduced to sobs when I see the damages--PTSD and all that.....

[Dogmudgeon]

11. It's the least Little Boots could do

He's the "Commander-In-Chief", after all. It's weird in part because nobody takes him seriously. All of his gravitas comes from the fear that an immature poseur has his finger on the Big Red Button.

Give her some thanks for me, too. I'm certain that all of us are grateful for the work the emergency crews are doing this week.

--p!

[kurtyboy]

15. Shiiiiiiit---I wish I could adequately express all of my feelings

Good stories and good talk come from disasters- -but check-in in a few months. Refugees escaping from New Orleans, and other places, to survey their new lifestyles. It is not a simple, easy transition when the weather gets nasty.


I LOVE the people of the United States------

Hang in folks! The storm will spare you!!!!

[IdaBriggs]

13. Good luck to her, and thank you!

Glad to hear he was on a conference call (aka, DOING HIS DAMN JOB!). Still want him impeached, perp walked and spending the rest of his miserable life in jail, tho. :)

[kurtyboy]

14. I am all over what you said, IdaB

I won't let this catastrophe ease the pressure on the crimes committed by this administration.

He can do his job for a few minutes, but that does not excuse hime from his abuse of the position for the last five years.

Impeachment is called for, and will happen, God willing.