Come on, this is the Pit. Doesn’t BBQ stand for Bush Bashing Quorum?
But Bush can’t have it both ways. He can’t posture and say “look how important I think this crisis is! I’m cutting short my vacation!” I think you’re quite right in pointing out that it doesn’t matter where he physically is, he has just as much communication there as anywhere else. But if Bush makes the grandstanding play of cutting his second vacation of the year short, then he should be called on it.
It’s quite possible that they might refuse for such reasons as not enough funding or enough equipment in their state National Guard to perform the mission. At any rate, the first responsibility on if and when to use the Louisiana National Guard rests with the governor of Louisiana.
Got news for you, Skippy. The effort did begin, and long before the hurricane even came into being. It’s called FEMA and the state equivalents of that outfit. BTW, where exactly should these pre-positioned planes have been pre-positioned so as to avoid any other natural disaster? How often should they have been restocked due to spoilage of supplies while positioned there?
20 years military service and I never heard such an asinine comment regarding the federal government. But then I just now remembered that you really don’t comprehend the difference between federal control and state control.
BTW, who exactly is it that’s been shoring up those levees? Lessee…why, yes, it’s the US Army Corps of Engineers!
Care to name one that makes sense, one that’s not pulled out of your tush, one that he’s actually not doing correctly at the moment?
ISTM that you’re the one who wants it both ways.
He’s not posturing and he’s not saying that. It’s the jackasses who want it both ways who are.
Then why do you have a fetish about it?
And yet he didn’t grandstand. All he did was return to Washington. You and others like you are the ones bellyaching about his vacation and the time of its conclusion.
The comment about Bush Bashing Quorum is actually funny.
Well, he could’ve pulled up beside the hurricane in Air Force One and yelled at the hurricance a’la Harrison Ford. “Get away from my country.” And it wold work cause he’s the president so the hurricane would have to listen and turn around.
Then he would ride it all the way to Iraq and lead our troops to victory.
Oh sorry. You said one that makes sense. Never mind.
He could have asked Pat Robertson to use his miraculous powers to divert another hurricane as he has in the past, only he didn’t want it to hit Texas. Imagine how much time he would have had to take off then to clear brush at his ranch. Too much political fallout. besides, Pat had it aimed right where he wanted it to go, right at the gays and deviants. That about right?
(tongue planted firmly in cheek)
Good one, Harborwolf! Why hasn’t anyone accused Bush of letting the hurricane hit New Orleans because it’s French?
Those levees were a poor idea and should never have been there. Look, New Orleans should not be a growing city. Heck, as it is, the whole place it bloody well sinking under it’s own weight, and the levees are just speeding that up!
Basically, and I hate to say this, but if people choose to live in New Orleans and not run like heck, I’m not going to feel any sympathy. Their the ones that chose to live on a pile of sinking mud, refused to take care of said mud, and want to stand on said mud even while a huge storm is coming along. I mean, it’s not like this doesn’t happen every few years.
Now, actually read the entire article.
The scope of relief is mind boggling.
I honeslty don’t know what MORE could be done at this point, at least until the water resides.
'Nother link, from the Whitehouse.
“$6.5 billion for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide disaster relief for states affected by the hurricanes, as well as other ongoing and future disasters.
This funding will support response and recovery efforts, including assistance to families and individuals; emergency protective measures and debris removal in the affected areas; and the rebuilding of State and local public infrastructure.
This assistance is in addition to the $2 billion previously provided for FEMA to respond to the immediate needs associated with Hurricanes Charley and Frances.
$1.2 billion for the Federal Highway Administration to cover emergency repairs for eligible highways and roads damaged by the hurricanes.
$1.1 billion for the Department of Defense for costs associated with evacuation, base preparation, base recovery, and repair of hurricane damage to structures and equipment at various military facilities.
$929 million for the Small Business Administration (SBA) to cover the large number of disaster loans expected to be made to individuals and businesses due to the recent hurricanes.
This amount will allow SBA to make up to $4.5 billion in disaster loans.
$721.6 million for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, including:
$113.1 million for the Forest Service for erosion control and restoration of fisheries and endangered species habitat, and for clean-up and repair needs for roads, trails, and facilities in national forests damaged by the hurricanes and Tropical Storm Gaston;
$350 million for the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Farm Service Agency for emergency measures to retard runoff and prevent soil erosion in damaged watersheds, as well as to clean up and repair farmland and rangelands damaged by the hurricanes;
$172.5 million for agricultural assistance to provide needed financial assistance to agricultural producers suffering crop losses from the hurricanes;
$68 million to help rural communities improve their water and wastewater treatment facilities and other community facilities; and
$18 million to repair homes and to repair and construct farm worker housing. This assistance is in addition to Department of Agriculture efforts to assist nurseries and citrus and vegetable growers for lost crops and trees, using more than $500 million in existing funding. The Department is also helping to pay the costs for clearing debris.
$372.4 million for the Army Corps of Engineers to restore navigation channels, repair and rehabilitate coastal areas, and address other projects in areas affected by the hurricanes.
$307 million for NASA, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Federal Aviation Administration, the Federal Bureau of Prisons to repair hurricane damage to Federal Government and public property, including veterans hospitals and outpatient clinics, national cemeteries, public-use airport facilities, Federal prisons, and other government buildings and facilities.
$150 million for Community Development Grants to states for disaster relief, long-term recovery, and mitigation in communities affected by disasters since August 2003.
$100 million for international disaster and famine assistance for Grenada, Jamaica, Haiti, and other countries in response to recent hurricanes and tropical storms.
$92.4 million for the Department of the Interior to support clean-up and facility repair at national wildlife refuges, national park units, and at United States Geological Survey sites in affected areas.
$70 million to support the American Red Cross in its mission to shelter, feed, and otherwise support victims of the recent natural disasters in Florida and other affected areas. This assistance is provided to the American Red Cross, which normally relies on private donors, because the exceptional back-to-back major hurricanes have put an unprecedented strain on the non-governmental organization’s finances.
$50 million for the Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund to provide nutritional, medical, and social services to affected elderly individuals, to provide social services support to communities most affected by the hurricanes, to make available counseling services, to support an increase in demand for unreimbursed health care, and to restore community health centers in the impacted areas.
$33.4 million for hurricane-related damage sustained by the Coast Guard to repair damage to Coast Guard facilities, to replace lost or damaged buoys and channel markers, and for other emergency expenses such as personnel evacuation.
$20.7 million for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to repair facilities, address impacts to endangered species and their habitat, and provide necessary upgrades to hurricane forecasting assets.”
Really? I was under the impression the city would have fared a thousand times better if the levees held.
Every few years?, Nothing like this has ever happened in this country. Storms are one thing, but the breach of sea water like this is another entity entirely.
It would be nice to have strong leadership to rally around at a time like this. Perhaps someone who could ask us to put aside our differences to help the country during a crisis. Someone to inspire us to overcome the impossible. If it is Reagan or Clinton in the White House, we have that. If it is Bush or, say, Carter, we don’t.
That kind of leadership is sorely missing at this moment.
Oh fuck. Look, I hate Bush and think he’s absolutely wrong for this country, but we need to give this a rest. Bush is handling this as well as can be expected, and I will not criticize him for it.
Now come on - here’s the proper conspiracy: Bush is an oil man. Knocking out the power and toppling those oil rigs is exactly what he wanted to do - drives up prices. Duh. He’s had planes up there seeding the clouds for weeks now, trying to develop the hurricane. And as a nod to the religious right, he even directed it to New Orleans, home of Mardi Gras, to destroy such sin and wickedness. It’s just too bad Katrina took that turn right there at the end instead of hitting it smack on, but geez, good job piloting that bitch right in there, huh? Who knew our president could do that?! :rolleyes:
This is what the Pres had to say yesterday.
"This morning our hearts and prayers are with our fellow citizens along the Gulf Coast who have suffered so much from Hurricane Katrina. These are trying times for the people of these communities. We know that many are anxious to return to their homes. It’s not possible at this moment. Right now our priority is on saving lives, and we are still in the midst of search and rescue operations. I urge everyone in the affected areas to continue to follow instructions from state and local authorities.
The federal, state and local governments are working side-by-side to do all we can to help people get back on their feet, and we have got a lot of work to do. Our teams and equipment are in place and we’re beginning to move in the help that people need. Americans who wish to help can call 1-800-HELPNOW, or log on to RedCross.org, or get in touch with the Salvation Army. The good folks in Louisiana and Mississippi and Alabama and other affected areas are going to need the help and compassion and prayers of our fellow citizens."
Well, damn. I figured the Tinfoil Hat Brigade would have been actively posting by now about how Bush had secret squadrons of special Air Force jets up there flying around doing cloudseeding and driving the resulting hurricane directly at N. O. because that would screw up the oil production in the Gulf and then he would get to go dig in ANWAR and fuck up the sex life of a caribou or two.
C’mon, guys. You blew a golden opportunity to BitchAboutBush here.
No, no, that’s the Freedom Quarter.
No, Floyd was Clinton’s fault. 
Thanks, Uncommon Sense.
I was wrong to post my mild but kneejerk reaction above. This is not the time to blame or complain.
With few exceptions I don’t think this thread is coming off quite like what I expect the OP thought it would.
Warms the heart, that. 
-XT
The people are asking what to do, where to go? And while they are cramming people into a football stadium with stopped up toilets and no air-conditioning, there is still no fucking plan!
Ooops. I stand corrected. Now they are moving everyone to the Houston Astrodome. Great plan.
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Take every bus within 1000 miles and start busing people to safe locations in neighboring states. Even small towns have a high school gymnasium that can handle a few hundred people - multiply that by a few hundred towns and add a few larger cities and we have a starting point.
What do you know. They are actually doing what I suggested - getting some buses in there. Took them awhile to think of that, but better late than never.
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According to Bush’s comments since the last election, we supposedly have ample National Guard to handle any emergency - so where the hell are they and why aren’t there thousands swarming the area and helping people and stopping the looting?
All the press is reporting a shortage of National Guard to get in there. Wonder where they could be?
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Get the word out - now! Stop dicking around. Tell the people what to do! This hurricane has been predicted for quite some time now, and it isn’t the first hurricane in the last decade - surely someone must have put together a domestic contingency plan while they were doing such a good job of planning the Iraqi war.
The Governor of Louisiana declared today a Day Of Prayer. If that isn’t a plan, I don’t know what is. I stand corrected.
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If Fox News can get a blonde bimbo in the middle of New Orleans for a live report, why in the hell can’t the Bush government get in there to do something - anything - to help those who have no roads to get out? Or are we really stretched so thin that there is nobody and no equipment left on American soil to get the job done?
The government is asking people with boats to go in and help. Great. Nice to know that as soon as Earl and Fred get the tackle boxes out of the boat, they will be out there ASAP. And God bless Earl and Fred and every other untrained, well-intentioned good Samaritans, because without them, everybody really would be up a real shit creek without a paddle.
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Nobody is asking for a miracle, but 24 hours later there are still people stuck on rooftops waiting to be saved.
Heartwarming to know that Dubya has cut his vacation time short to get involved, although I am sure the White House Human Resources Dept. will allow him to carry over these days into next year’s vacation. Too bad the disaster area wasn’t anywhere near him, or he could have made a fly by over the area to assess the damage on his way to DC.
If the Democrats were in the White House while this shit was happening, there would be a Republican uproar and cries for impeachment.
But let’s all bow our head in prayer. It’ll solve everything.