Katrina
I haven’t posted anything about the hurricane yet, as I’ve really been just too dumbfounded and shocked to have anything to say about it. It’s a travesty, a huge travesty….
I agree with the Mayor of New Orleans when he said questions will have to be asked during the clean up. Essentially he says he believes the poor response in New Orleans will likely have led to more deaths than the actual hurricane itself. And if and when the numbers are tallied and that conjecture is proven true, hard questions will have to be asked.
Broussard: “We have been abandoned by our own country.” Listen to the three examples he gives of the terrible mismanagement by FEMA, right before he bursts into tears. The examples really make it sound like FEMA is attempting to kill more people.
“THIS IS PERSPECTIVE!” Among other things, we learn that in this evactuation, you aren’t allowed to leave. Hannity, is a douchebag as alway. Geraldo cries. It’s pretty amazing the amount of candid moments we’re getting on the news. This event seems to have finally broken through the “all spin, all the time” filter the “news” has been suffering from for quite some time.
A phenomenal rant from Steve Gilliard.
The handling of this situation is despicable. The Republicons are already contorting to blame the victims, and absolve the absolutely limp federal government of any responsibility. It’s hard to say where the responsibility lies at this point, and judging by the history of this administration, we’ll never really know. I can only hope it doesn’t go that way this time, as someone needs to pay. Slashing taxes and FEMA funding, while simultaneously appointing an ineffectual and inexperienced buddy as FEMA director is deserving of, at the very least, wrist slapping. I can’t remember where I read it, but I read someone else’s idea…which I think is much more fitting. Go to Washington, round up the politicians, chain-gang them…and march them down to New Orleans and put them to work rebuilding the levees. Use the libertarians, neocons, warmongs and assholes far and wide as the filler for the sandbags. It should be apparent to all the conservative nuts and libertarians now that clearly sometimes there are functions that the government really should handle…the “market” didn’t jump in and help anyone out here. In fact, lack of funding, due tax cuts for some and increased burden for others has led directly to massive amounts of death. They estimate that 20% of the population of remained behind in New Orleans. Incidentally, 27% of N.O. residents do not own vehicles.
The more I read of the right wing spin…the sicker I become. What the fuck do they think FEMA stands for? What do they really think it is supposed to do? If an organization called the “Federal Emergency Management Agency” is not responsible for dealing with situations like this in a timely and effective manner, what are they supposed to do?
60 Minutes interview with Mayor Ray Nagin.
Dennis, it’s called tact you fucking asshole. The best part is that Hastert didn’t even go to the vote for the aid to the hurricane damaged region. Why? He was out at a fund-raising event for a colleague, and followed it up by a car auction. Now of course, he says the money he made at the auction will go to Katrina relief…spin spin spin…
“I’m 62 and I remember the riots in Watts, I remember the earth Quake in San Francisco, I remember a lot of things. I have never, ever seen anything as badly bungled and poorly handled as this situation in New Orleans. Where the hell is the water for these people. Why can’t sandwiches be dropped to those people that are in that Super Dome down there…This is Thursday…This storm happened five days ago. It’s a disgrace and don’t think the world isn’t watching…”
“President Bush shouldn’t be the president no more.”
I’m just beside myself people. I’ve done nothing the last week other than stare at this train wreck. I just can’t believe this can happen in America. I knew it was bad…but Lord are we ever fucked. I really hope this serves as a wake up call to people. When you vote for “morality” over your own interests, you end up with people that respect neither.
