WTF Is It Now??: "I've heard you say during the course of a number of interviews that you found out about the convention center today. Don't you guys watch television? Don't you guys listen to the radio?
- Ted Koppel blasts FEMA's Michael Brown."
Friday, September 02, 2005
You Go, Brother Jack
WTF Is It Now??: "
The question this hour is: How would you rate the response of the federal government to Hurricane Katrina?
I’ve got to tell you something, we got 500-600 letters before the show even went on the air. No one -- no one -- says the federal government is doing a good job in handling one of the most atrocious and embarrassing and far-reaching and calamitous things that has come along in this country in my lifetime. I’m 62, I remember the riots in Watts, I remember the earthquake 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 who are in that Superdome down there? I mean, what is going -- this is Thursday. This storm happened five days ago.
It’s a disgrace, and don’t think the world isn’t watching. This is the government the taxpayers are paying for, and it’s fallen right flat on its face, as far as I can see, in the way it’s handled this thing.”
- our new hero, Jack Cafferty, on CNN 9/1/05."
The question this hour is: How would you rate the response of the federal government to Hurricane Katrina?
I’ve got to tell you something, we got 500-600 letters before the show even went on the air. No one -- no one -- says the federal government is doing a good job in handling one of the most atrocious and embarrassing and far-reaching and calamitous things that has come along in this country in my lifetime. I’m 62, I remember the riots in Watts, I remember the earthquake 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 who are in that Superdome down there? I mean, what is going -- this is Thursday. This storm happened five days ago.
It’s a disgrace, and don’t think the world isn’t watching. This is the government the taxpayers are paying for, and it’s fallen right flat on its face, as far as I can see, in the way it’s handled this thing.”
- our new hero, Jack Cafferty, on CNN 9/1/05."
You Go, Brother Ray
WTF Is It Now??:
"'They don't have a clue what's going on down there. They flew down here one time two days after the doggone event was over with TV cameras, AP reporters, all kind of goddamn — excuse my French, everybody in America, but I AM PISSED.' - Mayor Ray Nagin ripping into the misadministration."
Thursday, September 01, 2005
Environment Minister Criticizes U.S. Policy
"'The American president closes his eyes to the economic and human damages that are inflicted on his country and the world economy by natural disasters, like Katrina, through neglected climate protection,' Trittin wrote in his opinion piece, which was published Tuesday. 'When reason finally reaches the headquarters of the climate polluters, the international community will need to be able to extend a hand with an elaborate proposal for the future of international climate protection. The German government stands ready for this.'"
Emphasis added.
Absolutely
Wolcott is absolutely right about the politics. Armando is so wrong, so DLC about this. I am astonished by his utter stupidity. But again, this from a blog that occasionally goes off the deep end & jettissons women.
Mary Landrieu, Mary Landrieu, You Idiot
Anderson Cooper nails Mary Landrieu (D-Sell Out). I suppose she'll sell her vote to the ReThugs for aid to Louisiana. EXCEPT THAT THE AID SHOULD ALREADY BE THERE!
From Daily Kos
We & I mean we are in a lot of trouble. Thanks completely to Bu$hCo.
"The administration specifically cut the funds to fix these specific levees, in order to specifically divert that Corps money to Iraq, despite urgent warnings and predictions of catastrophic disaster if the levees were breeched. The administration specifically cancelled the Clinton-backed flood control program to preserve and restore the wetlands between New Orleans and the gulf, instead specifically opening parts of that buffer zone for development."
Swift Response, Yeah, That's The Ticket - More Like Swift Boat Fake-Veterans
Here,
& here,
& here,
all via Buzzflash
George W. Bush gave one of the worst speeches of his life yesterday, especially given the level of national distress and the need for words of consolation and wisdom. In what seems to be a ritual in this administration, the president appeared a day later than he was needed. He then read an address of a quality more appropriate for an Arbor Day celebration: a long laundry list of pounds of ice, generators and blankets delivered to the stricken Gulf Coast. He advised the public that anybody who wanted to help should send cash, grinned, and promised that everything would work out in the end.
& here,
"President Bush carried on with his plans to speak in San Diego, as if nothing important had happened the day before."
& here,
"Then there’s the speed of the Bush administration’s response to such disasters. Just one week ago the White House declared that a major disaster existed in Louisiana, specifically most of the areas (such as Jefferson Parish) that are now under water. Was the White House psychic about the disaster ahead? Not exactly. In fact the major disaster referred to Tropical Storm Cindy, which struck the state a full seven weeks earlier. That announcement triggered federal aid for the stricken areas, where the clean-up had been on hold for almost two months while the White House chewed things over.
"Now, faced with a far bigger and deadlier disaster, the Bush administration faces at least two difficult questions: Was it ready to deal with the long-predicted flooding of New Orleans? And is it ready to deal with the long-predicted terrorist attack that might some day strike another of our big cities?"
all via Buzzflash
More
Molly Ivins has a great column in the Chicago Tribune. Here are some good parts:
"Like many of you who love New Orleans, I find myself taking short mental walks there today, turning a familiar corner, glimpsing a favorite scene, square or vista. And worrying about the beloved friends and the city, and how they are now.
....
"...government policies have real consequences in people's lives.
....
"One of the main reasons New Orleans is so vulnerable to hurricanes is the gradual disappearance of the wetlands on the Gulf Coast that once stood as a natural buffer between the city and storms coming in from the water.
....
"Last year, four environmental groups cooperated on a joint report showing the Bush administration's policies had allowed developers to drain thousands of acres of wetlands.
....
"In fact, there is now a governmentwide movement away from basing policy on science, expertise and professionalism, and in favor of choices based on ideology. If you're wondering what the ideological position on flood management might be, look at the pictures of New Orleans--it seems to consist of gutting the programs that do anything.
....
"The levees of New Orleans, two of which are now broken and flooding the city, were also victims of Iraq war spending. Walter Maestri, emergency management chief for Jefferson Parish, said on June 8, 2004, "It appears that the money has been moved in the president's budget to handle homeland security and the war in Iraq."
....
"This, friends, is why we need to pay attention to government policies, not political personalities, and to know whereon we vote. It is about our lives."
We Are A Great Ape
This study is truly exciting. If it weren't for Darwin & evolution, we'd still be a thinking the earth was formed 4000 years ago. All I can say is I.D. this!
""Acknowledging recent challenges by proponents of 'intelligent design,' a proposition that posits the need for an intelligent creator, several scientists said the genome study offered elegant confirmation of Darwin's vision of evolution.
....
"One analysis, for example, showed that the accumulation of deleterious mutations in the human and chimp genomes is greater than in the mouse and rat genomes in just the proportion predicted by one of the mathematical corollaries of the theory of evolution.
....
"'I can't imagine Darwin hoping for a stronger confirmation of his ideas,' said Robert H. Waterston, who led the Washington University team."
A Southwestern legend returns
Great news. A bit of sunshine in a blue world. Bet Frist doesn't try to dissect these guys.
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