[ohio]

Looks like he is!


http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/09/02/nagin.transcript/index.html

Thank God. This situation needed real military and needed it badly.

 

[DirtyDog]

Now, I will tell you this -- and I give the president some credit on this -- he sent one John Wayne dude down here that can get some stuff done, and his name is [Lt.] Gen. [Russel] Honore.

I'd give the president some credit on this if it had happened 2 days sooner.

 

[sanjuro]

I agree... Brown needs to be sacked now!

The mayor of New Orleans is equally inept as well... cracks me up that everyone wants to blame Bush for this when New Orleans is a democrat run city and has been for decades.

Democrats have always used New Orleans to get their canidates elected by promising the city's poor all kinds of things and not delivering on any of it if they voted for their canidate.

Ok, you should know that the tax money does not exist in New Orleans. I remember an attempt in the late 90's to change the tax code, which failed miserably.

Do you own a house, N8? Maybe we should repeal the Homestead Exemption to raise money?

 

[sanjuro]

What I see is an completely inept Mayor and Governor of New Orleans and the state of Loisiana.

Don't they have their own National Guard? Don't they have the muster to plan ahead as a state that inevitably WILL be hit by hurricaines? Don't they have the gumption to actually plan for these kinds of things and providing relief to their own citizens?

Louisiana has its own National Guard? Sure do:

More than 3,000 members of the Louisiana National Guard’s 256th Brigade serving in Iraq can only watch from Baghdad as Hurricane Katrina bears down on their families and homes in New Orleans and the other south Louisiana communities from which they hail. The deployed soldiers and their equipment, which includes high water vehicles, Humvees and generators, will be sorely missed as Louisiana attempts to prepare for and recover from the historic Category Five storm.

Deployed last year, I believe.

As for the city being prepared. Well, I think the 1,400 police officers (the entire N.O. Police Force) seem a little overwhelmed given the 75,000 citizens left behind.

Should the city have stockpiled water, medicine, and food? Sure. But you are kidding yourself if you think the money exists for this. Visit any local public school, and you see how poor New Orleans is. The tax money stays with the rich (low property taxes vs. high sales tax).

 

[DRB]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9189916/

Tens of thousands of people spent a fifth day awaiting evacuation from this ruined city, as Bush administration officials blamed state and local authorities for what leaders at all levels have called a failure of the country's emergency management.

And my boy Brown at it again

And FEMA Director Michael D. Brown, a frequent target of New Orleans Mayor C. Ray Nagin's wrath, said Saturday that "the mayor can order an evacuation and try to evacuate the city, but if the mayor does not have the resources to get the poor, elderly, the disabled, those who cannot, out, or if he does not even have police capacity to enforce the mandatory evacuation, to make people leave, then you end up with the kind of situation we have right now in New Orleans."

Its sad that both sides want to point fingers instead of working on what's wrong. BUT Brown is the one....

 

[DRB]

Its good to see him thinking of this. BUT then again he did say that it was possible the CIA was going to get him because he was critizing Bush.

Nagin said Sunday that his top priority was to start moving traumatized police and firefighters out of the city so that they can get medical and psychological treatment.

"They've been holding the city together for three or four days, almost by themselves -- doing everything imaginable, and the toll is just to much for them," Nagin said. "So I need to get them out, and we've been trying to figure out where to take them so they can reunite with their families." (Watch video of the mayor discussing the heavy toll -- 6:20.)

Police Superintendent Eddie Compass said that two of his officers committed suicide, including one who had discovered his wife had died.

Compass also said that reports that 60 percent of the police force had deserted was "totally ridiculous."

Finally someone getting the priorities straight. They'll be plenty of time for the political witchhunts.

Declining to answer questions about criticism of the government's response to the disaster, Chertoff said his focus is making sure "we are doing everything possible, as quickly as possible, to prevent further misfortune and loss of life and distress."

"I'm not going to take one minute away from that to answer questions about things which we will have time to visit later," he said.

 

[sanjuro]

And FEMA Director Michael D. Brown, a frequent target of New Orleans Mayor C. Ray Nagin's wrath, said Saturday that "the mayor can order an evacuation and try to evacuate the city, but if the mayor does not have the resources to get the poor, elderly, the disabled, those who cannot, out, or if he does not even have police capacity to enforce the mandatory evacuation, to make people leave, then you end up with the kind of situation we have right now in New Orleans."

Its sad that both sides want to point fingers instead of working on what's wrong. BUT Brown is the one....

Well, keep in mind while Nagin is New Orleans, asking for help repeatedly and receiving none until days later. I am sure he is passing the blame, what could he done beforehand? Hire more police officers? Reinforce the levees? Build another highway? Create objects which are not under his authority, like emergency supplies?

I found this article about Brown's qualifications:

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/krwashbureau/20050903/ts_krwashbureau/_wea_katrina_femachief_1

From failed Republican congressional candidate to ousted "czar" of an Arabian horse association, there was little in Michael D. Brown's background to prepare him for the fury of Hurricane Katrina.

And some of his statements:

-"The federal government did not even know about the convention center people until today (Thursday). ... And I - my heart goes out to every - even if they chose not to evacuate, my heart still goes out to them, because they now find themselves in this catastrophic disaster. Now is not the time to be blaming."

"I don't make judgments about why people chose not to leave but, you know, there was a mandatory evacuation of New Orleans."

"Considering the dire circumstances that we have in New Orleans - virtually a city that has been destroyed - that things are going relatively well."

"I've had no reports of unrest, if the connotation of the word unrest means that people are beginning to riot or, you know, they're banging on walls and screaming and hollering or burning tires or whatever. I've had no reports of that."

 

[sanjuro]

Its good to see him thinking of this. BUT then again he did say that it was possible the CIA was going to get him because he was critizing Bush.

Is Ray Nagin a nut? Probably. This is New Orleans, now.

 

[DRB]

What in the hell is going on? Does no one with any common sense have a say in anything going on down there? This hospital is crazy. Its two tractor trailers that when fully deployed as 85 beds, 2 operating rooms, x-ray, a almost complete med lab and doctors trained in trama and triage..... But no, heavens forbid the f'ing thing is used for what its built for. They even have mental health professionals to help with that portion.

http://www.cnn.com/2005/HEALTH/09/04/katrina.sick.redtape.ap/index.html

Volunteer physicians are pouring in to care for the sick, but red tape is keeping hundreds of others from caring for Hurricane Katrina survivors while health problems rise.

The North Carolina mobile hospital stranded in Mississippi was developed through the Office of Homeland Security after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. With capacity for 113 beds, it is designed to handle disasters and mass casualties.

Equipment includes ultrasound, digital radiology, satellite Internet, and a full pharmacy, enabling doctors to do most types of surgery in the field, including open-chest and abdominal operations.

It travels in a convoy that includes two 53-foot trailers, which as of Sunday afternoon was parked on a gravel lot 70 miles north of New Orleans because Louisiana officials for several days would not let them deploy to the flooded city, Rich said.

 

[Silver]

Maybe we can put a magic 8 ball in charge? It would be an improvement...

"Outlook not so good"...Hey, that magic 8 ball really works!

 

[Changleen]

Google News - Search phrase 'Bush' right now:

Bush faces crucial test in Rehnquist vacancy
Houston Chronicle, United States - 45 minutes ago

The Supreme Court vacancy created by the death of Chief Justice William Rehnquist presents a major challenge for President Bush at a time when he is beset by political crises.
Rehnquist's Passing Comes at Critical Time for Bush Los Angeles Times
Bush May Face Irreconcilable Pressures on Second Court Pick Bloomberg
Analysis: Bush faces another, related storm Minneapolis Star Tribune (subscription)
Newsday - New York Times - all 3,049 related »



White House defends Bush from political battering over Katrina
Telegraph.co.uk, United Kingdom - 6 hours ago

The White House launched a huge operation yesterday to prevent the political damage wrought by Hurricane Katrina from engulfing President George W Bush.
Bush sends top officials to disaster zone while political crisis ... Independent
Bush sends top aides to Katrina crisis zone MSN Money
Bush ups relief, damage control Richmond Times Dispatch
New York Daily News - Los Angeles Times - all 2,270 related »



Bush Faces Rising Complaints About Handling of Disaster
New York Times, United States - 10 hours ago

WASHINGTON, Sept. 4 - President Bush faced increasingly bitter complaints today from local and state officials in the battered Gulf Coast region as he struggled to exert control over a disaster that almost surely claimed thousands of lives.
Crisis threatens to swamp Bush White House Australian
Bush boosts aid as fury grows The Age (subscription)
Bush commits more troops to disaster zone Sydney Morning Herald (subscription)
WIS - Reuters AlertNet - all 423 related »



Bush's Hurricane Response a Disaster
Los Angeles Times, CA - 1 hour ago

Nearly five years ago, the Bush administration rode into office bearing its cynicism about government high, like a banner. It promoted a massive tax cut as a way of "starving the beast" of federal government.
Bush tries to regain lost ground as political blame game begins Times Online
As hurricane disaster mounts, Bush scapegoats state, local ... World Socialist Web Site
After Failures, Officials Play Blame Game New York Times
Independent - The Moderate Voice - all 143 related »



Bush team tries to pin blame on local officials
Guardian Unlimited, UK - 6 hours ago

Bush administration officials yesterday blamed state and local officials for the delays in bringing relief to New Orleans, as George Bush struggled to fend off the most serious political crisis of his presidency.
Bush strikes somber tone in face of storm crisis International Herald Tribune
The President White House Enacts a Plan to Ease Political Damage New York Times
As White House Anxiety Grows, Bush Tries to Quell Political Crisis New York Times
Los Angeles Times - Taipei Times - all 84 related »



Kayne West says George W Bush doesn’t care
NME.com, UK - 13 hours ago

KAYNE WEST has caused controversy by attacking GEORGE W BUSH’s handling of the NEW ORLEANS crisis live on American television. The rapper-producer was taking part in a telethon for the victims of Hurricane ...
"George Bush doesn't care about black people", Kayne West says Softpedia
Kanye West slams Bush at Katrina fundraiser; NBC edits scathing ... Earthtimes.org
Kanye West: More blame Bush Lone Star Times
Borsa-Italia.Net - 24x7updates - all 152 related »



Race issue haunts President Bush in his response to Katrina
CBC News, Canada - 3 hours ago

US President George Bush sent his highest-ranking black official, Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice, to visit the hurricane ravaged Gulf Coast Sunday.
Bush to bring 'support and compassion' to Katrina victims CBC News
Mississippi churning Canada Free Press
all 3 related »



Bush assumption about democracy and ‘jihadism’ invalid
Daily Times, Pakistan - 5 hours ago

WASHINGTON: The assumption that everyone in the world will gravitate toward a variation on American democracy if given half a chance is more likely based on wishful thinking than on a sound ...
Katrina could complicate Bush's ambitious foreign policy agenda San Jose Mercury News
Our troops are doing their jobs, it's time to do ours San Francisco Chronicle
O'Rourke Chicago Sun-Times
Washington Post - Boston Globe - all 24 related »



Washington Post: Americans right to ask: Where was President Bush's plan?
Houston Chronicle, United States - 11 hours ago

As the nation watches in "shock and awe," the catastrophe in New Orleans is spiraling out of control. Word from the White House today is that the President George W. Bush, after having cut ...
Disaster preparation, response raise questions for Bush San Jose Mercury News
Bureaucracy aside, Bush says 7,000 more troops on way Houston Chronicle
New Orleans in Turmoil Economic Times
Workers World - Chicago Tribune - all 173 related »

 

[DRB]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,168528,00.html

I was very surprised by Barbara Bush saying this. She normally is not one to say the wrong thing.

Barbara Bush, who accompanied the former presidents on a tour of the Astrodome complex Monday, said the relocation to Houston is "working very well" for some of the poor people forced out of New Orleans.

"What I'm hearing, which is sort of scary, is they all want to stay in Texas. Everyone is so overwhelmed by the hospitality," she said during a radio interview with the American Public Media program "Marketplace." "And so many of the people in the arena here, you know, were underprivileged anyway, so this is working very well for them."

 

[N8 v2.0]

Ok, you should know that the tax money does not exist in New Orleans. I remember an attempt in the late 90's to change the tax code, which failed miserably.

Do you own a house, N8? Maybe we should repeal the Homestead Exemption to raise money?

Yes! I say repeal the Homestead Exemption. It's a total sham anyway. Few people own homes that are totally exempt (first $75,000 of property value) and most poor people do not own a home but rent from property owners who include the property tax in their tennents rents.

 

[DRB]

http://www.cnn.com/2005/HEALTH/09/06/katrina.mobile.hospital.ap/index.html

Some one finally said "A hospital with doctors and stuff that can come to us.... hey that might be a good thing."

"Mississippi stepped up and said if they don't want you, we'll take you," Dr. Thomas Blackwell, medical director of the hospital and an emergency doctor at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, said Monday. He said the delay in getting deployed was a dispute with Louisiana over what they'd be allowed to do. Yet he held back criticism.

I'd love to hear the rational behind this one.

"If anybody thinks this is going to go smoothly, it doesn't work that way. This is the biggest natural disaster we've ever had," he said.

Now the futuristic $1.5 million emergency response hospital is getting its first real tryout since the Department of Homeland Security established it. The 113-bed hospital travels in a convoy that includes two 53-foot trailers. Equipment includes ultrasound, digital radiology, satellite Internet, and a full pharmacy, enabling doctors to do most types of surgery.

To get the hospital up and running, doctors cleared trees and other big debris by hand from the parking lot.

 

[ohio]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,168528,00.html

I was very surprised by Barbara Bush saying this. She normally is not one to say the wrong thing.

"And so many of the people in the arena here, you know, were underprivileged anyway, so this is working very well for them."

Wow. Just... wow.

Oh yeah, the Bush family understands the American people... very in touch.

 

[DRB]

http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/09/06/katrina.knockoffs.ap/index.html

Now this is someone thinking on their feet.

The Yves St. Laurent and Tommy Hilfiger labels may be phony, but the thousands of Hurricane Katrina victims getting knockoff items seized by federal customs officials probably don't mind.

Displaced survivors in the Houston Astrodome can choose from counterfeit and abandoned clothing, toys, and even dog food.

More than 100,000 items were quickly taken from warehouses and more will follow, said Kristi Clemens, spokeswoman for the Department of Homeland Security's Customs and Border Protection division.