The roof rescues by Coast Guard helicopter pilots occurred DESPITE the lack of executive guidance

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

It's kind of sickening for Bush to try to horn in and take credit for these rescues - he had NO part in them occurring and they happened despite his lackadaisical, uninvolved, negligent hand at the helm

The Coast Guard famously went in on rescue missions even though there was no executive order to do so and other military resources hung around idle and useless WAITING for the order.

The FANTASTIC Coast Guard leader said "We don't need to be told what our mission is" or something very close to that and they went in and yes, they rescued thousands and thousands of people NO THANKS TO GEORGE W. BUSH.

On the other hand, The Northern Command was waiting specifically for the order to come from Bush or the Secretary of Defense to deploy the forces and resources they had prepared and HAD READY TO GO. It's easy to google the whole sorry debacle.

No one is going to allow George W. Bush to rewrite history about his pathetic leadership as he allowed a great US city and its citizens to drown.

[babylonsister]

1. Rec'd. You are right; I don't want the little man to get away with

trying to rewrite history either.

[spanone]

2. the complicit media will not call him out on his lies

[CTyankee]

3. Do you have a specific link to that information?

I'd love to use it in a LTTE. We've been getting some local repugs writing in Bush "appreciation" letters lately...

[havocmom]

7. Here's link about Navy pilots who got into hot water for doing the right thing

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/07/national/nationalspecial/07navy.html

If I can find some links quickly regarding Coast Guard getting basically same treatment, I will post. Sadly, cannot sit online for many minutes.

Edited to add some links where those with more time can dig
http://www.wanttoknow.info/050911hurricanekatrinacoverup

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/05/national/nationalspecial/05blame.html?ex=1283572800&en=1d14ebfbd942a7d0&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss

[CTyankee]

11. Thank you! I did a little bit of searching but the google stuff I saw was diffuse.

This is a big help!

[uppityperson]

36. Thank you for that link. It is incredible.

Both getting into trouble for rescuing people, and mrbush claiming credit for a fast fed response because of them.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

10. Why don't you peruse some of this?

Just Google search on just Du "Northern Command Katrina" - you will get 10 pages of good stuff

You know, I have come to realize that when doing research on just about any topic, sometimes the quickest way to get quickly to relevant stuff is to use the Google search of just DU. All of the great posters here read numerous periodicals, blogs, government reports, etc. and you will find that among ourselves we have compiled one of the all time greatest research sites. You can also find articles and sources being countered or debunked. You will also be able to figure out some of the different biases of different sources.

Anyway, I remember Katrina too well and too vividly to accept any BS W might be trying to spread in retrospect. I have always thought that he should have been impeached for criminal incompetence on the basis of Katrina alone.

[CTyankee]

12. Damn, great reminder! It IS a wonderful service here at DU!

I was trying to do a google search but nothing really pointed the finger at Bush and that's what I want to do!

Thanks, Phoebe!

[havocmom]

4. In fact, weren't there reprimands to some Coast Guard commanders for taking initiative & rescuing?

Seem to recall some Coastie commanders got in trouble for their efforts of sending out the birds to rescue desperate people off rooftops. Anybody have some links from back then?

[TahitiNut]

14. There WAS some grumbling in the Department of Homeland Security hierarchy ...

... into which the Coast Guard was 'organized.' The autocratic and bureaucratic mindset that pervades anything created by the Cheney/Bush regime is TOXIC (coming from the 'Toxic Texans') and the Coast Guard just doesn't await such bureaucratic nonsense. They operate under a "standing orders" philosophy, based on their mission. The Coast Guard has many generations of 'experience' operating while reporting adminstratively to the Department of the Treasury or the Department of the Interior. They fully comprehend the difference between operational integrity and administrative bureaucracy. The anally-fixated Bushies haven't a clue.

"The Coast Guard is that hard nucleus about which the Navy forms in time of war."

[havocmom]

22. thanks TN. Knew I didn't imagine the scant news reports of DHS v USCG

Semper Paratus is the motto of the OLDEST service. The neocon's neo-bureaucracy, Dept of Homeland Screwing, does not seem to like that the motto is taken seriously by the good men and women in that service.

USCG has always done amazing things with damned little $$. That is another thing DHS doesn't approve of.

[TahitiNut]

23. I made an error above.

The Coast Guard, except in wartime, reported administratively to the Department of the Treasury until 1967 when it was reassigned to the Department of Transportation. Then, under Dimson/Shooter, it was again reassigned to the DHS.

I left the USCGA in 1963, so ALL of my training reflected the perceived permanence of the Treasury Department organizational role.

The Coast Guard is/was saturated from top to bottom with the 'always prepared' attitude ... and they just don't wait for 'marching orders' (or bureaucratic meanderings) when disasters strike and necessitate a prompt response. Delay means DEATH! Believe me, no SAC pilot ever 'scrambled' like the Coast Guard was trained to do 24x7. Many can throw stones at our military services -- even the Coast Guard - but when it comes to Search And Rescue, they're absolutely peerless. Really. EVERY Coastguardsman takes that mission to heart.

As a result of an action-oriented attitude in SAR and a relatively small number of personnel, the barriers that (artifically) separate ranks and rates in the Coast Guard are comparatively small. Teamwork is essential. Saluting and kissing ass are definitely subordinated to the "happy horse shit" file.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

24. I LOVE Coasties!

:patriot:

Having spent most of my life in coastal areas, I have pretty much always been attuned to how they operate. The signal is sent and off they go!

[havocmom]

25. My big bro mustered out in 65. He spent a LOT of time at Weather Station Delta

Off the tip of Greenland, yes, one doesn't wait on orders to rescue! Same true for anywhere else he and the 'Delta Queen' served (that old Navy destroyer given to the CG spent so much time at Weather Station Delta, the guys lovingly referred to her as the Delta Queen.

He did get to see some warm water. Spent some time in that blockade of Cuba, but didn't tell Mom until well after the thing was settled. No need to fret, Mom, we are someplace far away... :thumbsup:

[TahitiNut]

26. Weather stations and ocean stations were tough duty ... isolated and harsh.

At that time, our Coast Guard maintained over 75% of the entire world's aids to navigation. Loran, shoran, bouys, lighthouses, ... all of it. We sailed past Ocean Station Bravo on our 1962 Summer Training Cruise ... and it was FUCKING COLD. I remember standing forward lookout watch ... in cold weather gear. Damn near froze to death in June!

Ocean Station Bravo was for weather, rescue, and iceberg monitoring. Go out, cruise in a rectangle for 30 days, get relieved, come in for refueling and reprovisioning ... and back out again. Yikes. Cruising around in one of those little WAVP's -- recycled seaplane tenders from WW2. Little cork on a BIG ocean. It really took some strong people to do that.

[havocmom]

27. Having seen his pics of transporting a gravely ill shipmate to another ship at Bravo..

rough seas, and they HAD to get the guy headed home... Yeah, plucking people off roofs would be easier, but I have no doubt, it was done with the same intensity and genuine care for people.

He said Lake Erie was worse though ;)

[alcibiades_mystery]

5. It's part of the Republican fascist mindset

They don't believe that ANYTHING can happen without the Leader Figure to guide it.

[countingbluecars]

6. He hides behind those in service

whenever he can in hopes that it would seem unpatriotic to criticize. Unfortunately, the MSM seems to be allowing some rewriting of history.

[peace13]

8. If I remember correctly the Canadian Coast Guard helped in that rescue.

Oh Georgie, you just don't know when to keep quiet.

[kskiska]

9. He called them "helicopter drivers"

[DS1]

13. Actually, they were going against orders to stand down

[shraby]

15. A lot of volunteers in boats took

people off the roofs also.

[uppityperson]

37. many were blocked, some got past the feds stopping them.

Feds, FEMA/HS actively tried to stop civilian rescue operations. Incredible.

[SammyWinstonJack]

16. Thankfully, the CG ignored orders from bu$h and went with rescue operations.

That hideous little bastard has some nerve, doesn't he?

[Enthusiast]

33. Hideous little bastard!

Good description, Blue State Native!

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

17. His exact words from the presser today

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/01/12/bushs-last-press-conferen_n_157042.html

On another issue destined to figure prominently in his legacy, Bush said he disagrees with those who say the federal response to Hurricane Katrina was slow.

"Don't tell me the federal response was slow when there were 30,000 people pulled off roofs right after the storm passed. ... Could things been done better? Absolutely. But when I hear people say the federal response was slow, what are they going to say to those chopper drivers or the 30,000 who got pulled off the roof?" he said.

How about- "it's a miracle you're alive and George Bush played no part in this rescue."

[rudy23]

18. Let's remember, if Obama wants to "move forward" and skip investigations

that will sweep all this under the rug.

Katrina isn't something we can just "move forward" on down here. We're still stuck in it. Until everyone knows how complicit the federal government was in the botched response, we'll be stuck in the aftereffects, with no political capital to help move things along.

[SammyWinstonJack]

19. Perhaps someone should suggest that to Obama.

Clinton moved forward instead of investigating bu$h 41 and that got us dubya. Not investigating him might get us jeb 2012/16. :scared: :hide:

[Stinky The Clown]

20. "No one is going to allow George W. Bush to rewrite history about his pathetic leadership ........ "

" ....... as he allowed a great US city and its citizens to drown."

Actually, we can only wish that were true. I find myself totally bereft of hope that there will be any meaningful criticism or retrospective - let alone prosecution - of him or his administration.

(Your statements are completely correct, by the way. I am taking no issue with what you said.)

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

21. I might be a little more optimistic about this than you.

There is so much out there in the public record, that the truth just cannot be suppressed. Even as we speak people are dissecting his words at the presser, not to be mean, but to be accurate. He is a historical figure and his words and deeds will be researched, investigated and criticized for the ages.

The mills of the gods grind slowly, but they grind exceedingly small.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

28. Evening kick! Please don't let him think this got by anyone. nt

[MadMaddie]

29. Well shoot * said the Helicopter Drivers were the Hero's

Please tell me everyone heard him say it at least 3 times....

Helicopter Drivers....

He can't even call them the correct name - Helicopter Pilots.....

He can't even get the simple facts right.

His biggest mistake...not landing the plane....because he would have taken police officers away.....

Awful....

[Adjective Noun]

30. Pilots, Drivers

Calling a pilot a driver is just military slang.

[MadMaddie]

31. Yea...after more research he used it correctly!

Welcome to DU!!:hi:

[Adjective Noun]

34. slang

I meant to say that "driver" is just as correct as "pilot", certainly in, say, the mess hall of Tyndall AFB. In a press conference, you're probably right if you meant that he shouldn't use slang.

Thanks for the welcoming reply.

[ColbertWatcher]

32. Kick and rec for history! n/t

[csziggy]

35. And remember the many people with boats and airboats that showed up to volunteer and were blocked by

FEMA and Homeland Security from even entering the area. I've always wondered how many more people could have been rescued if those people had been allowed to go in a help move stranded people out of the worst hit areas.