A Leadership Vacuum

wow-thanks for highlighting this. I missed it AND I COULDN"T AGREE MORE!

Where is the leadership indeed-that applies accross aisles and party lines. Yes we (the taker society) kill truth tellers.
TELL THE TRUTH ANYWAYS

The courage of folks here touches me and inspires me in ways that are needed and mising elsewhere.

Hey Kids! Look at what EJ said today!

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/12/AR2005091201433.html?nav=hcmodule

End of the Bush Era

By E. J. Dionne Jr.

Tuesday, September 13, 2005; Page A27

The Bush Era is over. The sooner politicians in both parties realize that, the better for them --and the country.

Recent months, and especially the past two weeks, have brought home to a steadily growing majority of Americans the truth that President Bush's government doesn't work. His policies are failing, his approach to leadership is detached and self-indulgent, his way of politics has produced a divided, angry and dysfunctional public square. We dare not go on like this.

The Bush Era did not begin when he took office, or even with the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. It began on Sept. 14, 2001, when Bush declared at the World Trade Center site: "I can hear you. The rest of the world hears you. And the people who knocked these buildings down will hear all of us soon." Bush was, indeed, skilled in identifying enemies and rallying a nation already disposed to action. He failed to realize after Sept. 11 that it was not we who were lucky to have him as a leader, but he who was lucky to be president of a great country that understood the importance of standing together in the face of a grave foreign threat. Very nearly all of us rallied behind him.

Read more:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/12/AR2005091201433.html?nav=hcmodule

Leadership Vacuum: Neocons Suck

From WSJ via RawStory...

WASHINGTON – As the director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency stepped down yesterday, government documents surfaced showing that vital resources, such as buses and environmental health specialists, weren't deployed to the Gulf region for several days, even after federal officials seized control of Hurricane Katrina relief efforts.
~snip~
Separately, internal documents and emails from FEMA and other government agencies dating back to Aug. 31 and reviewed by The Wall Street Journal show the extent to which the federal government bungled its response to the hurricane. The documents highlight serious deficiencies in the Department of Homeland Security's National Response Plan, a post-Sept. 11 playbook on how to deal with catastrophic events. Mr. Chertoff activated the National Response Plan last Tuesday by declaring the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina an "Incident of National Significance."
The plan, which was rolled out to much fanfare in January, essentially enables Washington to move federal assets to the disaster without waiting for requests from state officials. It then funnels help from all federal agencies through a single point of contact -- usually the secretary of homeland security -- a reform demanded after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks.

In addition, FEMA's official requests, known as tasking assignments and used by the agency to demand help from other government agencies, show that it first asked the Department of Transportation to look for buses to help evacuate the more than 20,000 people who had taken refuge at the Superdome in New Orleans at 1:45 a.m. on Aug. 31. At the time, it only asked for 455 buses and 300 ambulances for the enormous task. Almost 18 hours later, it canceled the request for the ambulances because it turned out, as one FEMA employee put it, "the DOT doesn't do ambulances."
FEMA ended up modifying the number of buses it thought it needed to get the job done, until it settled on a final request of 1,355 buses at 8:05 p.m. on Sept. 3. The buses, though, trickled into New Orleans, with only a dozen or so arriving on the first day.

Hours before FEMA realized that it needed buses, Jonathan L. Snare, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA, said he was prepared to offer the full resources of the agency to help protect the safety and health of workers responding to Katrina.

Health and safety experts play an important role by testing the environment at a disaster for toxins, disease and pathogens. They then advise rescue workers about needs for protective clothing for themselves as well as for the people they are trying to move from harm's way.

The National Response Plan gives OSHA responsibility to coordinate efforts to protect and monitor disaster workers and victims from environmental hazards.

But the part of the plan that authorizes OSHA's role as coordinator and allows it to mobilize experts from other agencies such as NIH wasn't activated by FEMA until shortly before 5 p.m. Sunday. The delay came despite repeated efforts by the agencies to mobilize.

Attempts by officials at NIH to reach FEMA officials and send them briefing materials by email failed as the agency's server failed.
"I noticed that every email to a FEMA person bounced back this week. They need a better internet provider during disasters!!" one frustrated Department of Health official wrote to colleagues last Thursday.

By Friday, experts and officials from NIH, the Department of Labor and the Environmental Protection Agency began to make frantic calls to the Department of Homeland Security and members of Congress, demanding that the worker-safety portion of the national response plan be activated.

No reason has been offered by either FEMA or the Department of Homeland Security for the delay in activating OSHA's role.

Some Homeland Security officials are already starting to acknowledge significant weaknesses in the national response plan, which was completely disregarded at times during the crisis.

"We at the department are not well prepared, and unfortunately, recent history has shown that that's the case," Lee Holcomb, the department chief technology officer told a breakfast meeting of Information Technology executives on Wednesday in Washington.

http://online.wsj.com/article_print/0,,SB112658472240639074,00.html (must have paid subscription)

Now They Tell Us

By Dan Froomkin
Special to washingtonpost.com
Monday, September 12, 2005; 1:33 PM

Amid a slew of stories this weekend about the embattled presidency and the blundering government response to the drowning of New Orleans, some journalists who are long-time observers of the White House are suddenly sharing scathing observations about President Bush that may be new to many of their readers.

Is Bush the commanding, decisive, jovial president you've been hearing about for years in so much of the mainstream press?

Maybe not so much.

Judging from the blistering analyses in Time, Newsweek, and elsewhere these past few days, it turns out that Bush is in fact fidgety, cold and snappish in private. He yells at those who dare give him bad news and is therefore not surprisingly surrounded by an echo chamber of terrified sycophants. He is slow to comprehend concepts that don't emerge from his gut. He is uncomprehending of the speeches that he is given to read. And oh yes, one of his most significant legacies -- the immense post-Sept. 11 reorganization of the federal government which created the Homeland Security Department -- has failed a big test.

Maybe it's Bush's sinking poll numbers -- he is, after all, undeniably an unpopular president now. Maybe it's the way that the federal response to the flood has cut so deeply against Bush's most compelling claim to greatness: His resoluteness when it comes to protecting Americans.

But for whatever reason, critical observations and insights that for so long have been zealously guarded by mainstream journalists, and only doled out in teaspoons if at all, now seem to be flooding into the public sphere.

An emperor-has-no-clothes moment seems upon us.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/linkset/2005/04/11/LI2005041100879.html

25 Mind-Numbingly Stupid Quotes About Hurricane Katrina And Its Aftermath
http://politicalhumor.about.com/od/currentevents/a/katrinaquotes.htm

(Don't let the URL with "political humor" in it fool you; these quotes are not funny.)

Again, not so funny, but oh so true...

Bill Maher: George of the Bungle
Mocking President Bush for general ineptitude, comedian Bill Maher delivered a funny rant as part of his "New Rules" segment on HBO's "Real Time With Bill Maher":

"Seriously, Mr. President, this job can't be fun for you anymore. There's no more money to spend; you used up all of that. You can't start another war because you also used up the army. And now, darn the luck, the rest of your term has become the Bush family nightmare: helping poor people.

Madame, isn't it amazing that there are those of us out there that have known that the commanding, decisive, jovial president you've been hearing about for years in so much of the mainstream press was a total and complete farce!

We are 5 years ahead of the curve... just think how we could improve the country with that kind of foresight!

Posted by: monkey at September 13, 2005 09:14 AM

I'll tell you what bothers me, monkey...that we're the only ones who seem to "get it..."

Wake up, America!!!

A Momentary Pause in the Cause for Unity

Cindy Sheehan has temporarily halted her assault of our representatives to make her way to Covington, Louisiana to help with the relief efforts.

Cindy will be arriving in Covington around noon and a delivery of supplies will be brought into New Orleans to be distributed amongst the survivors by The Veterans for Peace, the many volunteers who have made this happen and Cindy herself.

More news as the day progresses.

Cindy Sheehan doubts U.S. will ever leave Iraq

Tuesday, September 13, 2005
ASSOCIATED PRESS

WESTFIELD - The California woman who camped outside President Bush's ranch last month to protest the war in Iraq, which claimed her soldier son's life, said Monday that she believes the U.S. never plans to leave the battle-torn country.

Cindy Sheehan spoke outside Town Hall with a Democratic congressman who called for United Nations or NATO troops to assume responsibility for 14 of Iraq's 18 provinces.

"We need to bring our troops home immediately, as soon as possible," said Sheehan, who camped outside the president's Crawford, Texas, ranch in an ultimately unsuccessful attempt |to meet with him and discuss an exit strategy for the war.

"The people running our country plan on never bringing our people home," she said.

Sheehan has drawn widespread attention and criticism, and now is on a 25-state speaking tour. She said Bush went to war under fraudulent circumstances, leading to thousands of unnecessary deaths, including that of her 24-year-old son, Army Spec. Casey Sheehan, who was killed in 2004.

The White House press office did not immediately return a call seeking comment. But in past weeks, Bush has said he disagrees with Sheehan's call to bring the troops home now, saying that would embolden insurgents in Iraq.

Sheehan spoke along with Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-Monmouth, who called for turning over control of 14 of 18 Iraqi provinces to international troops under the auspices of the United Nations or NATO, enabling large numbers of American troops to return home.

For the latest from the eye of the storm go to WWL TV New Orleans.

44 found dead in hospital.

Ohio's Disgrace (once again) 11 children founf locked in cages by foster parents...must be Bush Supporters.

http://www.wwltv.com/

Getting back to business

Capitalism stirs in Big Easy as contractors allowed in

11:29 PM CDT on Monday, September 12, 2005

By PETE SLOVER / The Dallas Morning News

NEW ORLEANS — It could have been any day for a crew of roofers working in New Orleans. Then came a convoy of FEMA vans and Army Humvees that swarmed in to remove a corpse that had laid out for two weeks on a porch bench across the street.

The hammers didn't miss a beat.

Such is the surreal post-Katrina juxtaposition of death and irrepressible economic life: Contractors and business owners are returning in growing numbers to clean up and demonstrate persistent free-market survival instincts.

Monday was the first day that business operators and contractors were officially allowed back into New Orleans. They jammed the phone lines for access permits and clogged the highway into the city.

"We're just waiting, doing some patching, until we can get into downtown and do some real work," the roofing foreman, Don Baldwin, shouted from a second-story perch.

Meanwhile, hazmat-suited pallbearers carried away a bagged body.

His name was Alcede Jackson, and he was 83. His makeshift tombstone was a glow-in-the-dark green poster board tacked over his resting place on the porch.

Someone scribbled Mr. Jackson's name, date of death – Aug. 31 – and a verse from the Book of John.

"Rest in peace in the loving arms of Jesus," it read.

A piece of torn cardboard left at the foot of Mr. Jackson's bench had his Social Security, driver's license and telephone numbers, and his address, 4734 Laurel St.

The people who took Mr. Jackson away left behind a bouquet of flowers and a baby-blue blanket that had covered him. His shotgun-style house, in the Uptown section, remained high and dry.

Down the levee toward the fabled French Quarter, a pair of security alarm contractors embarked on an exploratory mission to their headquarters. They were the first employees to do so since a sales manager used a boat to haul their business computers out a second-story window – lifesaving heroism in the business arena. The move allowed the firm, Pratt Landry Associates, to survive.

"We're visiting clients, letting them know we're still up and operational," said Garrett Richards, who was displaced from his home in nearby Harahan.

He and colleague Byron Francis Jr. have been flying the company flag to clients, including hospitals, large downtown hotels and government offices.

"Until they get the electricity, there's not much we can do," said Mr. Francis, though limited components can be inspected and repaired without juice.

One by one, clients are getting some form of electricity and need to have their fire and security systems inspected and repaired.

The two spoke in the lobby of one of the few hotels in the area that has remained open. It's a working laboratory of business recovery methods. The Best Western Park St. Charles has juggled air conditioning, generators, water pressure and cleaning capability since Aug. 29.

Maintenance supervisor Yancy Brown is the field general, relating with some relish how he has nursed services along, draining water heaters to flush toilets, rationing cool air and shifting power around the hostelry's internal grid.

"The major hump was finding ways to turn on the light switch," he said.

Now, the elevators are working, the lobby and some floors are cool, toilets are flushable without hauled water in the lowest three floors – a relative oasis.

The recovery area is a zone with its own protocols, which the business types have picked up from the first wave of rescue and recovery workers. Two of them: There are no one-way streets. And always, always have hand sanitizer around.

The sheer filth of a swamped city without potable water has presented real challenges to hotel workers: They must move air and maintain sanitation in a building with sealed windows, limited toilets and no-guaranteed-safe showers, and which is packed with recovery workers and others who have tromped through the most fetid muck imaginable.

Mr. Brown said he was driven to work nonstop by his loyalty to job, city and colleagues. He said that attitude is indigenous and will ultimately spell an economic comeback.

"Most New Orleaneans are loyal – until they get put in an insane situation," he said.

Insane situation. That described what Rocky Carriles found at his Ninth Ward furniture shop: a storefront cracked open like an egg, with a scrambled pile of broken, upended and worthless furniture scraps. It's in one of the city's most economically depressed and worst-flooded areas, one where rebuilding is not a given.

Yet, Mr. Carriles said, he'll open up as soon as authorities let him, without power if needed, to sell replacement furniture to the displaced, mostly poor clientele.

He's been looted before since opening Imperial Furniture in 1973, and he always reopened. The money's just too good, he said.

Next door, he has a loan agency, which he said will probably eat more than $800,000 in furniture loans to flooded residents who paid higher finance charges because they were credit risks.

"I make the money on the furniture, and then I get the interest, too," he said in a thick Cajun patois. "My daddy always said, you can be happy or you can be sad. Sad ain't no good. What does that get you?"

Posted by: Karen at September 13, 2005 07:13 AM

One of my favoritie parts of that article Karen is this part. I wonder what Bush will do?:

He can decide to help us in the transition to what comes next. Or he can cling stubbornly to his past and thereby doom himself to frustrating irrelevance.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/12/AR2005091201433.html?nav=hcmodule

I didn't notice Keith Olbermann's blog entry from Sept 8th until today... but it's worth a quick read.

With friends like these (Keith Olbermann)

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8514671/#050908a

Wake up, America!!!

Posted by: madame defarge at September 13, 2005 09:18 AM

One of the stated goals of the DemcracyCellProject has been ensuring we have a trustworthy media. It seems it has taken an act of God for the media to regain its balance. We have an opportunity here. Let's not lose grasp of it. Whenever the media begins to stray-which is bound to happen to the Bushco Propaganda machine-let us be the ones who give the clarion call to others.
Let us be the leaders.

Let us be the ones who carry the message of hope, fairness, equality and economic justice.

Let us be the ones who lend our support to the leaders who are not afraid to speak to truth.

Let us be the ones to rally our friends, neighbors.

Let us be the ones to invite the others who support the Republican agenda to join us in our quest to recover the America we all love.

Let us be the ones who can shine the beacon of hope for positive change.

Let us be the ones who are not afraid.

Let us be the ones who stand tall and united for what is right in America.

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Bush will address the nation Thursday night about the Hurricane Katrina disaster, the White House said Tuesday.

The 9 p.m. ET address is the latest administration reaction to Katrina, which roared ashore on August 29, flooding most of New Orleans and forcing evacuations across much of the Gulf Coast.

"The president will talk to the American people about the recovery and the way forward on the longer-term rebuilding," White House spokesman Scott McClellan told reporters, according to Reuters.

Bush is expected to make his address from storm-wracked Louisiana, where the president toured damaged New Orleans neighborhoods on Monday.

News of Bush's televised address comes a day after the resignation of Federal Emergency Management Agency Director Mike Brown, who quit after questions were raised about his qualifications and for what critics call a bungled response to Katrina's destruction.

Bush chose David Paulison, the director of FEMA's preparedness division, as interim director.

"As I told the president, it is important that I leave now to avoid further distraction from the ongoing mission of FEMA," Brown said in a news release.

Paulison, who is also administrator for the U.S. Fire Administration, was a former fire chief in Miami-Dade County, Florida.

Brown's resignation came three days after Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff recalled him to Washington and replaced him as point man for Katrina relief efforts.

Since then, Vice Adm. Thad Allen, the Coast Guard's chief of staff, has been leading FEMA's mission along the Gulf Coast.

Chertoff said he expects to make other appointments to FEMA in coming days, "including a permanent deputy director to augment the resources available to assist with FEMA's vital mission."

Asked Monday about the resignation as he toured the devastated city of Gulfport, Mississippi, Bush said he had not talked with Chertoff and could not comment.

Brown's fall came quickly. On September 2, Bush told the 50-year-old lawyer, "Brownie, you're doing a heck of a job."

Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Massachusetts, applauded the latest development. "I think it is clearly in the country's interest," Kennedy said.

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist said he was not surprised.

"Things didn't go as well as it should have," said the Tennessee Republican. But Frist added, "Now, I am very pleased where we are."

GET ME A FREAKING NEWS CREW!!!

New Orleans is only HALF of the story...there are still communities on the gulf coast with tens of thousands without power, water, food, FEMA, Red Cross any relief!!!

How in the hell can these b******** paint a rosey picture?!?!?

Indy knows.

Posted by: monkey at September 13, 2005 10:22 AM

Can we arrange a national power outage in support of those in N.O., Louisiana, and Mississippi without power?

In fact, I think it's a great idea and a slap in the face to call the white house and tell them, "You can talk, but we have our ear plugs on."

Maybe we can walk around with them all day too! Wear them proudly!

And don't forget to pass out LIE SWATTERS Sparrow...

Posted by: oncall at September 13, 2005 10:10 AM

It's important to remind people that the Democratic party is now the former Republican party AND the former Democratic party. Yes, we're both!

The neoCONS have stolen the Republican name but not their values. It's been hijacked by a bunch of corporations and religiously abusive groups.

BUT..the old party of Lincoln is part of what the Dems are today. Would Lincoln be a neoCON?

We should have voted for Pedro

Hurricane Katrina's floodwaters may have damaged 160,000 homes in New Orleans beyond repair, an official with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said today. Also today, President Bush said he takes responsibility for the federal government's failures in responding to Hurricane Katrina. "To the extent the federal government didn't fully do its job right, I take responsibility," Bush said.

(Indy, am I still out on a limb???)

I'm telling you folks, and my brother Indy can vouch, I predicted this morning that tonights God & Phony Show, with your host, High Road Dubya, will be chock full of him taking full responsibility, and taking charge...

I believe Rove thinks this can win back at least his base.

HAIL MARY! THEY ARE THROWING THE BOMB!

So, anyone tracking the chief umpire confirmation hearing?

"Roberts refused to say whether he sees any erosion of precedent regarding that decision, explaining that he did not want to get into the application of legal principles to a particular case that might come before the court. But he noted that "the central holding" in Roe v. Wade was reaffirmed by a 1992 Supreme Court decision, Planned Parenthood v. Casey , which "is itself a precedent that would be entitled to respect under stare decisis ."

Roberts said, "I do think it is a jolt to the legal system when you overrule a precedent" and that "it is not enough that you may think a prior decision was wrongly decided." Other factors must be considered, he said, including stability, the predictability of the court and whether the precedent had been eroded by subsequent developments.

This sounds like wiggle room for Roberts around stare decisis to eventually overrule Roe v Wade under his so called 'subsequent developments theory".

Freemont Ca. Fire Dept told by FEMA that the valuable communications equipment they wanted to deliver on Tuesday after the hurricane from Ca. would cost $50,000 to air freight and were told instead FEMA would not pay for it and rather to just send it by bus; this took one week. Then 40 patients on ventilators die at City Hospital b/c of a lack of provisions and bad communications. Sounds like there ought to be a grand jury investigation into potential criminal negligence by FEMA.

Re: End of the Bush Era By E. J. Dionne Jr.

This seems too simplistic to me but I often think that way about Dionne's writing.

This is not about Bush. It is about a neocon movement that began in earnest during Reagan's terms in office. It will not end with Bush leaving office. Bush, like Reagan is just a figurehead.

The neocon era will end only when we can drive a stake through it. How do we de-program people from believing their government is the enemy and that the rich should pay little or no taxes? How do we exterminate the nest of neocons in DC? Right now, they are busy grooming George Allen,(R - VA) to be the next Reagan.

420 days until the midterm election. What's the plan?

Senator Cole;

Mr. Roberts, have you EVER been aware of FELONIES committed by high ranking officials of the USA..?

If yes, what did you do about it..??

Mr Roberts;

Uhhh can we talk about abortion instead...??

Oh Biden just took the smile off roberts face..his people sitting behind him too suddenly look very very grumpy

Haha get em Biden

Bush takes "responsibility".

I guess that makes it all better now.

I can't wait for the propagandists to try and spin this one.

I guess that makes it all better now.
Posted by: oncall at September 13, 2005 01:01 PM

The only thing that would make it all better in my book is if he resigned and took his whole staff with him.

Posted by: cali dem at September 13, 2005 12:38 PM

Excellent point, Cali-dem!

Posted by: Christy at September 13, 2005 12:40 PM

Christy,

I am concerned about his actions in the Iran-Contra affair and I believe that line of questioning is very reasonable.

Furthermore, it's awefully suspicious that Bush has hidden documents from the Ronald Reagon library that has to do with Roberts and his job during the Iran-Contra.

Something is fishy there!

When he goes on tv tonight... tell everyone within earshot even as he speaks dogs are eating our dead on the streets of what used to be one of Americas most beloved cities.

Do not let his words hide the horror of it. Not for a moment.

Posted by: suz at September 13, 2005 01:17 PM

Amen sister.

Today is the only day in my entire c31 year total I have ever desired to be a senator. I would stomp a Louisiana mudhole in roberts and never once leave my chair.

Mr. Roberts, WHAT DID you DO about it...??

glad to see Specter now asking for factors Roberts sees for erosion of precident and the Casey decision.That will be the jusdification that Roberts for overturning Roe but Robertson won't give a straight answer trying to wiggle out based on saying he won't discuss how he might rule on a future case but that is not what is being asked. Don't expect Roberts to give a straight answer and if not I hope at least Feinstein and Boxer to say not to expect their vote w/o that answer.

Roberts says it would be a jolt to overrule precedent but there are times like Brown v Education where: precedent simply unworkable or flawed; credibility of court that found precedent is in question and current settled expectations. I can imagine him overturning Roe in the future using that same logic as in overruling Plessy v Ferguson saying as he just did "Sometimes Its a Price to be Paid". The right likes to equate saving babies and civil rights. Roberts won't acknowledge Roe or Casey the super stare decisis designation even though as Specter just said 38 Supreme Ct. challenges have upheld Roe. Specter asked how settled? its settled Roberts said as precident of the ct under stare decisis and reaffirmed in Casey decision. Specter trying to help Roberts now using JFK quote about seperating personal religious views from decisions as as officer of the ct.

"you are not bound to follow it but its pretty good logic" said Specter about Roe to Roberts. Its a hell of a lot more than that Arlen.

The neocon era will end only when we can drive a stake through it. How do we de-program people from believing their government is the enemy and that the rich should pay little or no taxes? How do we exterminate the nest of neocons in DC? Right now, they are busy grooming George Allen,(R - VA) to be the next Reagan.

Posted by: cali dem at September 13, 2005 12:38 PM

The hard part is, we have to de-program the neocon zombies, like my Korean father, one by one. It's not an easy task.

He told me the other day that he votes Republican because he wants to prosper.

I told him that he's lying, and that he votes Republican because he wants those lazy-ass people in New Orleans to drown, so that he won't have to pay for their AFDC payments (and presumably Cadillacs, according to Reagan). That he votes Republican because he has no compassion for fellow people in the society.

I further told him to stop paying American taxes if he is so fed up with paying for those lazy-ass people's Cadillacs. I told him to move back to intolerant Korea, where they put lazy-ass people where they "belong" and crow about the "purity" of the Korean race.

You have to be Halliburton or Bechtel to prosper under a Republican regime anyway. Of course, being the trickle-down economy believer that he is, my father expects Halliburton and Bechtel to give him lucrative subcontracts. They won't.

Protesters deride VP Cheney as he visits Austin shelter

By Liz Austin
Associated Press

AUSTIN - As Vice President Dick Cheney toured Hurricane Katrina shelter operations in Texas' capital city Saturday, a group of about two dozen protesters gathered outside chanting, "Cheney, Cheney, you can't hide, we charge you with genocide."

Cheney visited the Austin Convention Center shelter and the Texas State Operations Center, where state officials orchestrated the intake of more than 240,000 people last week after flood waters rose in New Orleans.

At the convention center, where some 1,500 evacuees remained Saturday, Cheney met briefly with 23-year-old Telisha Diaz, who told him she spent four days at the New Orleans convention center before being brought to Austin a week ago.

"It's overwhelming that the state of Texas is giving so much, just giving us everything - jobs, food," Diaz told the vice president, who was surrounded by local officials and congressmen.

Cheney said Diaz's sentiments of gratitude were echoed by all of the evacuees he had spoken with in the two weeks since the hurricane pummeled Gulf Coast communities in Louisiana and Mississippi. He applauded Texas' response to the disaster and the outpouring of support from the state's leaders and residents.

"I was impressed with the caliber of the effort that was mounted here and it's a good place to come learn some valuable lessons," Cheney said.

He brushed off media questions about the federal government's slow response to hurricane victims in the hours and days after the storm, and FEMA director Michael Brown being removed from his command post in Louisiana amid the criticism and questions about his qualifications.

Cheney said he supported Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff's decision regarding Brown and would not comment on any other possible leadership changes.

While the evacuees seemed to appreciate Cheney's visit, protesters saw it as an opportunity to voice frustration over a Halliburton Co. subsidiary's involvement in emergency repairs at Gulf Coast naval and Marine facilities.

Cheney headed Halliburton from 1995 to 2000, and Democrats have questioned whether the company has gotten favorable treatment because of his connection.

"Cheney is profiteering off of murder," said 36-year-old Debbie Russell of Austin, who flashed an obscene gesture at the vice president when he waved at her and other protesters as he got into his vehicle.

While Cheney was in Austin, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt visited a shelter in Dallas. He said his department has established special "evacuee" status for affected individuals to simplify and expedite their access to benefits.

http://www.heralddemocrat.com/articles/2005/09/11/texas_news/iq_1950635.txt

Lehey asking a very important question that Roberts refuses to asnwer regarding Congressinal Power regarding legislation to cut off funding for a war or to withdraw troops. Roberts answer was that that is hypothetical and could come up in the court. Lehey said no that is horn book (law school text book) law and that you wrote a memo about it. The power of the purse is one right; the power to terminate a war are you saying Mr. Roberts that Congress doesn't have that right? again double talk I won't answer that in the abstract; Lehey and that is exactly the logic that got us into the Iran Contra problem. Roberts that memo was bout Veterans Benefit not about Congress' right to declare or end a war. Question now about executive power to order torture. No one is above the law said Roberts even the President; good answer.

He Fe Break a Leg

The neocon era will end only when we can drive a stake through it. How do we de-program people from believing their government is the enemy and that the rich should pay little or no taxes? How do we exterminate the nest of neocons in DC? Right now, they are busy grooming George Allen,(R - VA) to be the next Reagan.

Posted by: cali dem at September 13, 2005 12:38 PM

It is time to quit arguing with them for one.. or trying to imitate them...

Make them carry the full wieght of the shame and society will rid itself of it naturally.

When they lie, call them liars.

The time for polite conversation is OVER. When they scream in your face, hold your ground and SCREAM LOUDER THAN THEY. Shout them DOWN.

It is time to decide what exactly it is we WOULD fight for. And then take it by any means necissary to get these killers in a cage.

That is how mercy works. We put dangerous animals in a cage. And leave them there.

To remain decent human beings we can only remain pacifist to a point. That point has been long past now.

It is time to take them on. Face to face one by one.

To remain decent human beings we can only remain pacifist to a point. That point has been long past now.

It is time to take them on. Face to face one by one.

Posted by: Christy at September 13, 2005 02:06 PM

Agreed, Christy. I've had enough of my father's neocon politics as well.

At the same time, I will talk my mother into re-registering as an independent or a Democrat. She is a registered Republican, but only because of my father. The Republican Party no longer speaks for her (except maybe on primitive moral values, but not by much).

Ira,

Thanks for the "play by play". I would not have any idea of what is really happening without your posts.

The problem with these hearings and the nominee's testimony is that what the nominee testifies to is really irrelevant. Once he/she is voted on and is placed on the court there is absolutely no remedy for their contradicting what the said at their confirmation hearing in their ruling as a sitting Supreme Ct. Judge. Had Clarence Thomas for instance spoken his mind about his truly right wing rulings he never would have been confirmed. But there is absolutely no remedy for a nominee completely lying or parsing his words at his confirmation hearing and then reniging on it. Oops I guess I had my fingers crossed and you can't do a damn thing about it now Roberts could say. So lets get this show over.Its all about integrity and hopefully Roberts has that.

John Kyle is now questioning about the govt right's to taking property but what I am hearing is Kyle spending all of his time just gushing about how great Roberts is and that he just shouldn't answer Biden's question b/c you are now a sitting judge. yea so what Kyle.

"what is your role in considering freedom and progress Kyle asked"? Unbelievably lame. How about just asking Roberts do you love the flag Mr. Roberts and tell us what and what you will do to spread the symbol of the flag. A really well thougout and probing question Senator.

It is time to call a spade a spade and an immoral greedy incompetant arse just that.

I live in a place where our news is COMPLETELY filtered from the west east and north and NONE of the actual picture winds up getting through..I REFUSE to let these people lie in my presence. When I KNOW better ill be DAMNED if i let them spread known lies. Yall need to come on south to back up the dems down here and simply start shouting them down.

Trust me on the other side of the talking points bravado, there is NOTHING but cowardice and hypocricy.

There is only one thing I resent more than a hypocrit. A coward. I let them know it too.

It works well for me, they NEVER come back for more.

"what is your role in considering freedom and progress Kyle asked"? Unbelievably lame. How about just asking Roberts do you love the flag Mr. Roberts and tell us why and what you will do to spread the symbol of the flag. A really well thougout and probing question Senator.

Republican Senators now standing, applauding and singing God Bless America.

Bring on your tough questions Sen Kyle. You don't have the facts on case A to tell you about case B do you Mr. Roberts. Like you don't have the facts about, Roe, Casey or Griswold Senator Kyle. What a complete waste of time. You won't rely on foreign law will you. Yea right Kyle, we discuss the Iraqi laws and eat french fries when we make our decisions.

french fries when we make our decisions.

Posted by: Ira at September 13, 2005 02:35 PM

thats freedom fry ya liberal lover

Mr. Roberts... I am not now nor ever was a member of the Communist party

just wanted to report what I am hearing on CSPAN Air America b/c Roberts will be a very important person in our lives, our children's, grandchildren's. Seems to be a descent and thoughtful jurist. I truly hope I don't come to regret this post years down the road. But we really need to understand this man. He will truly be more important than the President.

CSPAN Satelite Radio, I meant to say. Its really hard to stomach the Republican questions but their reaction to his stand on stare decisis and Roe will truly be significant. Would be interesting if the right suddenly turns on Roberts.

Yall have to see this omg

http://skogsblog.blogspot.com/2005/09/its-9-11-do-you-know-where-osama-is.html

The blame game just got found a target

Nonpartisan congressional research report finds Louisiana governor took necessary steps
John Byrne

The Congressional Research Service (CRS) issued a report Tuesday afternoon asserting that Louisiana governor Katherine Blanco took the necessary and timely steps needed to secure disaster relief from the federal government, RAW STORY has learned.

The report, which comes after a request by Rep. John Conyers (D-MI) to review the law and legal accountability relating to Federal action in response to Hurricane Katrina, unequivocally concludes that she did.

"This report closes the book on the Bush Administration's attempts to evade accountability," Conyers said in a statement. "The Bush Administration was caught napping at a critical time."

Contines

http://rawstory.com/news/2005/Nonpartisan_congressional_research_report_finds_Louisiana_governor_took_nece_0913.html

Thanks for posting Christy's and my thoughts, Dwahzon...

For those of you who are curious about the pet/animal component of the rescue efforts in NOLA, see http://www.hsus.org

There are also good links there that I would recommend you bring to your local disaster prep officials to make sure they include pet evacuations/rescues/care in their disaster plans. The only way to prevent future disaster screw-ups is for YOU to take action.

I guess that Bush can finally admit that he has made one mistake during the last 4 1/2 years when he reached 38% yesterday.

Bush Accepts Blame for Slow Katrina Response
By David Zucchino, Solomon Moore | 10:59 a.m.
"To the extent the federal government didn't fully do its job right, I take responsibility," the president says.

Roberts just told Sen. Feinstein he doesn't not believe in an absolute separation of church and state. Great, Dobson should be happy with that answer.

Posted by: Veritas at September 13, 2005 04:06 PM

Veritas,

Thanks for posting that. I have been wondering what will happen to the animals. And the ones who are on the streets eating the dead, will they have to be killed?

I hope not!

Roberts just told Sen. Feinstein he doesn't not believe in an absolute separation of church and state. Great, Dobson should be happy with that answer.

Posted by: Ira at September 13, 2005 04:15 PM

Mixing religion (especially a death cult) into government is perfectly fine.

Has only two years of experience as a judge, but wants the top bench in the Supreme Court.

As an attorney, defended Toyota's right to fire disabled workers whose disabilities were caused by their jobs. (Forget the Prius. I'll never buy another Toyota.)

Where is the rage?

I was trying to find this to give to kj on Sunday. So Kj..this is for you if you stop by.

Thomas Hardy. 1840–

3. The Man He Killed
(From "The Dynasts")

"HAD he and I but met
By some old ancient inn,
We should have sat us down to wet
Right many a nipperkin!

"But ranged as infantry, 5
And staring face to face,
I shot at him as he at me,
And killed him in his place.

"I shot him dead because—
Because he was my foe, 10
Just so: my foe of course he was;
That's clear enough; although

"He thought he'd 'list, perhaps,
Off-hand like—just as I—
Was out of work—had sold his traps— 15
No other reason why.

"Yes; quaint and curious war is!
You shoot a fellow down
You'd treat, if met where any bar is,
Or help to half-a-crown." 20

I want to know how Bush gets away with suspension of Davis-Bacon and no one gives more than a sigh. The Edwards plan to help folks get back on their feet by working to rebuild their own communities is far better than Halliburton and Kellogg Brown & Root getting even more money and paying starvation wages to the workers. Where are our Congressmen? Ok, I know where mine is, probably helping Halliburton sign on the dotted line, but where are the others?

The only way to prevent future disaster screw-ups is for YOU to take action.

Posted by: Veritas at September 13, 2005 04:06 PM

What?

You want us to be RESPONSIBLE for our selves?

I thought that was the job of the government?

Veritas...hold me...I'm scared...

Seriously...Well put.

One thing we know how to do in New Orleans and on the Gulf Coast is how to take care of our own.

The second day after Katrina it was the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT who said we would be shot on sight if we attempted to rescue our own.

"When the governed are afraid of their government it is tyranny...when the government is afraid of the governed...it is democracy."

Where are our Congressmen? Ok, I know where mine is, probably helping Halliburton sign on the dotted line, but where are the others?

Posted by: Ellen Beth at September 13, 2005 05:04 PM

Filling the pens with the blood of the American people.

I hope more communities do what Evanston is doing... Granted, it remains to be seen what impact these resolutions have, other than it's another way to bring the opposition to the war into the spotlight.

Panel OKs call for Iraq pullout
A City Council committee on Monday weighed in on the war in Iraq, hearing emotional testimony on both sides of the issue before advancing a resolution calling for an "orderly and rapid" withdrawal of American troops.

If the full council approves the measure, Chicago would be one of the first big cities in the country officially to urge the federal government to end the war, said Ald. Joseph Moore (49th), a lead sponsor of the resolution, already endorsed by 40 of the council's 50 aldermen. The council will consider the measure Wednesday.

And what heft might Chicago's opinion have?

"When you have a city as diverse as Chicago is and large as Chicago is weighing in on this important issue, I think it will have real impact," Moore said. "We are not Berkeley, Calif., or Madison, Wis., that routinely passes this sort of resolution. We are from the heartland."

San Francisco apparently is the only other big city so far to have called for a troop withdrawal, though some smaller towns have taken similar action.

A similar resolution was passed in an 8-1 vote by the Evanston City Council late Monday. About 150 people overwhelmingly in favor of the measure crowded the council chambers, where aldermen voted on the measure at 11:30 p.m. Monday.

Jordan Lome, with a local group called Neighbors for Peace, said before the council meeting that "people are here because they want to speak out on the war and against the [Bush] administration. These are regular people with regular voices."
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-0509130183sep13,1,1719761.story?coll=chi-news-hed

I know folks are tired of talking about the hurricane but I distinctly recall waking up the saturday morning before the hurricane and hearing on cnn that the winds were up to 175 mph and headed staright towards N.O. I was shocked and told my wife that this is going to be a disaster. The next morning the winds were projected to be down to a mere 145-170 gust mph but how the hell didn't the whitehouse pick up on what we all heard and saw that saturday on cnn?

Posted by: Ira at September 13, 2005 05:50 PM

He doesn't have a satelite dish on his ranch in Crawford? He was too busy thinking how to come join the 2500+ of us under the big tent at Camp Casey II?
He was reading a book?

Nah, he was just living in his bubble...

testing

Hi all,

I just want to pop in before going home to tell everyone how cool last night's show was. Karen, Victoria and Fe, the other performers and panelists rocked the house!

It was also my pleasure to meet Fe for the first time. She's awesome!

Uhhh what else??? Hi to any lurkers reading this that went to the show. I'm the guy who was writing names down at the door. btw Karen my chicken scratches are probably hard to read, so I'll translate

Alright, time to head home. Take care everyone!

Would one of you more articulate writers please explain why this annoys the hell out of me?
not the Brian Williams entry, the one below it from the reporter covering the WH. Light repartee just isn't cutting it for me right now.....

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/9314188/#050913b

With all that frivolity, it ain't nuthin' but a house party - a White House party. And, while Shurbby has owned up to taking SOME responsibility for the FEDERAL failures, I can only hope and pray that impeachment articles are being written as we blog.

Patriotism is supporting your Country all the time - and you government when it deserves it - Mark Twain

Fox news nails any "pull-out of Iraq" right on the head! It's the 0 6 election "play of the day..."

Bush Supporters Question Iraq War Tactics
Monday, September 12, 2005
By Kelley Beaucar Vlahos
PHOTOS

Click image to enlarge
STORIES BACKGROUND
•Bush to Host Talabani on Tuesday•Talabani: Saddam Confessed to Executions•Annan: Iraq Is Terror Center•Saddam's Trial Set For Oct. 19•Battle of the Ads in the Sheehan Saga•Transcript: Senators Discuss Iraq on 'FNS'•Transcript: Mothers of Slain Soldiers Debate Iraq War
WASHINGTON — When President Bush (search) meets with his Iraqi counterpart at the White House on Tuesday, the administration and its supporters are sure to extol the virtues and the wisdom of the American role in rebuilding Iraq.

But there's sure to be some head shaking and criticism as well, and this time from some unexpected corners.

Staunch supporters of the Bush administration's policy in Iraq have become more vocal and public with their concern over the way things are going there, prompting observers to suggest that even Republicans are getting nervous.

"The Administration is now starting to lose its base on the war, and if this continues, it will come under increasing pressure to accelerate our withdrawal," said Larry Diamond (search), senior fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University and former adviser to the Coalition Provisional Authority (search) in Iraq. He recently penned the book, "Squandered Victory: The American Occupation and the Bungled Effort to Bring Democracy to Iraq."

"I have been struck that so many of the intellectual, neo-conservative supporters of the war have been quite critical of the Bush administration's management, or mismanagement, of the post-war situation in Iraq, both politically and militarily," Diamond told FOXNews.com.

Andrew Bacevich (search), a Vietnam veteran and professor of international relations at Boston University, said he sees a marked shift.

"There are people who view themselves on the Right, who were enthusiastic supporters of the war, who are now greatly concerned that the Bush administration or more in particular, the military, is losing its focus, its heart, and isn't fully committed," Bacevich said. "I think Bill Kristol (search) would be a good example of that."

Kristol, a FOX News contributor and editor of the Weekly Standard, advocated toppling Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein since the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. But in the Aug. 15 edition of the magazine, Kristol accuses Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld of "weakness and defeatism," for lowering the standards for success in Iraq and "emboldening" the enemy through his commanders' suggestion that U.S troops may come home as early as next spring if Iraqi forces are trained to secure the country in that time.

He also continues to blame Rumsfeld for not putting more U.S troops into Iraq at the start.

"The president knows we have to win this war. If some of his subordinates are trying to find ways to escape from it, he needs to assert control over them, overrule them or replace them," Kristol wrote. "What the president needs to do now is tell the Pentagon to stop talking about (and planning for) withdrawal, and make sure they are planning for victory."

President Bush has tamped down ideas of a spring withdrawal and has said repeatedly there will be no exit timetable. "As Iraqis stand up, we'll stand down," he said last month from his Crawford, Texas, ranch. "The important thing for Americans to know is that we are making progress."

Some of his supporters are now saying a more realistic view is necessary.

Ret. Col. David Hunt (search), a FOX News contributor, expressed frustration with how the administration is handling the war.

"This has been a terribly conducted war. It's been 28 months of this – it's time to get upset," he said. "We're getting shot at by people who put bombs in dead dogs. We’re not fighting it right."

Hunt said more troops are needed on Iraq's borders, but unlike Kristol, he advocates slimming down the force by 100,000 and putting in small special operations teams to counter the insurgency.

Ret. Col. Gary Anderson (search), another administration supporter, said, "I'm absolutely in agreement with the president" on not setting timetables for withdrawal, but he is also disappointed that clearer "milestones for success" haven't been established, particularly with regard to when the United States can start handing over security to the Iraqi forces.

"I do think there is some tension there, I think there is a need to hear from the field that at this point in time, we have stood up this many soldiers, and the reluctance to do that is causing some people to have some problems," he said.

"I think there are definite cracks" in the president's Republican support, said Peter Beinart (search), editor of The New Republic magazine, which has supported the invasion of Iraq from the beginning.

He said that aside from Republicans who have always been war critics, like Sen. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, other Republicans have been more vocal about needing clarification on the war strategy and a better explanation to the American public.

‘‘Any effort to explain Iraq as ‘We are on track and making progress' is nonsense,'' former Republican Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich (search) told the New York Times recently. "The daily and weekly casualties leave people feeling that things aren't going well.''

In July, Rep. Wayne Gilchrest (search), R-Md., a Vietnam War veteran who has supported the war in Iraq, became the fourth Republican to sign on to a bipartisan resolution urging the president to lay out a clear exit strategy, and has said publicly he's concerned about the effect of public opinion on congressional Republicans in 2006.

But David Winston (search), Republican pollster, cautioned against interpreting concern over war strategy as skittishness from the President's base and a lack of support for war overall.

"There is still support for this war," Winston said. What people are looking for from the President, he added, are more specifics and measures for success. "There is more demand for that right now."

Bush still has big guns to bolster his position, including the entire Republican leadership in Congress. Appearing on FOX News Sunday on August 14, Sen. John McCain (search), R-Ariz., warned of any whiff of troop withdrawal.

"I've got an idea for our Pentagon planners," he said. "The day I can land at the airport in Baghdad and ride in an unarmored car down the highway to the Green Zone is the day I'll start considering withdrawal from Iraq."

But Hunt told FOXNews.com that he believes "you will start seeing guys come out of Iraq before the 2006 elections" – and he isn't the only one.

"The conventional wisdom is the Republicans will have to reduce the force before the 2006 elections," said Harold Meyerson (search), editor-at-large for the conservative American Prospect magazine. He did not support the Iraq invasion.

"There are certainly a lot of leaks inside and outside the Pentagon and administration suggesting that is going to..."

Ok..no more dirtying the DCP with the whole article. I feel bad even giving you the fox link, buy here ya go:

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,169041,00.html

Shower after!

Mark and all,
Thanks for the compliments--see the front page for some photos and a quote from the piece.

ok ordered my tshirt today
on the front
Blind faith in poor leadership is not patriotism

and on the back
God bless everyone-no exceptions!

Talking about lack of leadership dwahzon. The funniest thing just happened to me. I'm getting my teeth cleaned in my whitbread middle class Texas Bush loving dentist office and my dental hygenist sees George up on the evening news admitting he made a mistake handling the hurricane. She almsot dropped her dental equipment and said something strange from what I thought was her Republican mouth: Oh my gosh George it took you 4 1/2 years to admit you made a mistake. She then said something I hadn't heard for probably 20 years;
Poor George You were born with a silver foot in your mouth. I couldn't stop laughing for 5 minutes. I thought the dentist was going to come in her room and throw my out.

Another funny story from Bush's Texas Republican base. Wonder now how all of those so called security moms we heard about last Nov. must now feel. Its getting kind of weird down here listening to all of these Republicans sychophants now making fun of poor George.

PS: chuck, tutter are you out there. Hope all is well haven't heard from you in a while.

Just wanted to alert you all to John Conyer's post today on daily kos titled, "Listen In as Congressional Republicans are Forced to Address Rove's Plame Leak"

Starting tomorrow and stretching through next week, 4 House Committees are expected to vote on resolutions addressing the Valerie Plame leak. Specifically, these resolutions demand information from the Bush Administration on the outing of Valerie Plame in apparent retaliation for Ambassador Wilson's truth telling concerning weapons of mass destruction. The Bush Administration refuses to police itself in the midst of criminal and ethical misconduct and it is time for Congress to exercise its duty to oversee the Executive Branch. Many of these markups will be broadcast live on the Internet. The following are links to the Committee webcasts:

September 14, 10:00 AM, House Judiciary Committee
http://judiciary.house.gov/

September 14, 10:30 AM, House International Relations Committee
http://wwwc.house.gov/international_relations/

September 20, Time TBA, House Armed Services Committee
http://www.house.gov/hasc/schedules/

September 15, 1:00 PM, House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence
Closed to the Public

Read more of Congressman Conyer's post here...
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/9/13/175813/809

And for those interested in Christine Cegalis and her focus on Henry Hyde's seat, here's a post from her...

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/9/13/17748/5020

Christine Cegalis is asking for votes on DFA's Grassroots All-Star competition.

This week, Democracy for America is hosting an online vote to determine which congressional candidate will receive our first DFA-List endorsement of 2006. The vote is open to all challengers and open seat candidates. The candidate with the most votes at the end of balloting will receive a DFA-List endorsement and a national e-mail from DFA's Chair Jim Dean.

The voting will take place in two stages. First, we will hold an online vote ending on Saturday, 9/17 at 5:00 pm Eastern Time to narrow the field of candidates down to the top ten. For the second round, we will hold an Instant Run-off Vote among the top ten candidates to determine our first endorsement of 2006.

http://tools.democracyforamerica.com/housevote/

There's a whole bunch of names on this list... not just Christine's. Check it out... discuss... who else looks good?

and how about Dennis Hastert. I want to defeat that sob almost as much as Santorum and Delay. Any word of candidates there yet?
Nick Lampson will be our candidate to take on Tom Delay next Nov.

I am posting this Kos diary because I think it is a different way to look at how the "admission of responsibility" may be perceived.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/9/13/18262/4099

Ira,there's sooo damned many of 'em,we won't know where to start first. Harold Ford (TENN) says he's way ahead in the polls,so let hope there's no shenannigans going on and lest we forget..be on the ball.

Veritas,Indy,what we got in the big easy is what Bush wants for us in the great"ownership society"...sink or swim. That's so the gov't won't have to take any responsibilty for anything at any time. I believe the people are finally "getting" what "ownership"really means. Now Bush 'the apologist', will have another grand standing moment in time,and the polls following will have a good outcome.

Sparrow,great article and just wait for the words"christian consciousness" come into play.I won't be listening to Thursday's speech and plays.

First lady becomes president's defender

The Associated Press

WASHINGTON - Laura Bush is reprising her role as her husband's first defender, making several trips to the hurricane-ravaged Gulf Coast as President Bush's approval ratings sink to their lowest level yet.

Mrs. Bush is highlighting the positive that has come out of the storm, telling the stories of strangers helping one another in a time of tragedy.

Mrs. Bush said Tuesday that much more human good than bad has come from the disaster, despite what people see on TV. She said the evacuees she has met in her three trips to the Gulf Coast are hopeful and thankful that they don't have to start from rock bottom because of the donations and the kindness of strangers.

"That's what I've seen at each of the shelters I've visited," she said. "I've never heard a single word of complaint."

Mrs. Bush has performed this job before. With approval ratings much higher than her husband's, she was sent out across the country to help him win re-election. She also made a goodwill trip this year to the Middle East, where her husband is especially unpopular.

This time Mrs. Bush is focusing on stories of human compassion while the president is under a barrage of criticism about the government's slow response to the disaster. Some have suggested that he would have acted faster if so many of the victims weren't mostly poor and black, remarks that Mrs. Bush condemned as "disgusting."

She also blamed the media for focusing on the negative in the recovery efforts.

"We've seen terrible, terrible things and we've seen unbelievably unselfish acts of giving as well by communities all across the United States and, of course, many more unselfish acts of giving than bad things," she said in a speech Tuesday to the conservative Heritage Foundation. "Maybe the media hasn't shown us that much, but we've read about it and we do know about it."

more... http://www.montereyherald.com/mld/montereyherald/news/politics/12635657.htm

Top Democrat calls for troop withdrawal from Iraq

By Rick Maze
Times staff writer

The Senate’s senior Democrat called Tuesday for the Bush administration to withdraw the military from Iraq to focus on domestic needs such as hurricane relief.
“Sometimes, it takes a catastrophe to put events into perspective, to shake us and sharpen our clarity of vision,” said Sen. Robert Byrd, D-W.Va.

“We cannot continue to commit billions in Iraq when our own people are so much in need, not only now, in New Orleans, but all across America for everything from education to health care to homeland security to securing our own borders,” Byrd said in a speech on the Senate floor.

“We need to stop making excuses, stop spinning facts and come to grips with the unpleasant truth. The government of the United States is failing the American people.”

more... http://www.navytimes.com/story.php?f=1-292925-1100682.php

Here's a story that will blow you away:

FEMA, La. outsource Katrina body count to firm implicated in body-dumping scandals

http://rawstory.com/news/2005/FEMA_outsources_Katrina_body_count_to_firm_implicated_in_bodydumping_scan_0913.html

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/9/13/17748/5020

Posted by: dwahzon at September 13, 2005 07:48 PM

Christine is the real thing. Even though she is running as a Democrat, she defies labels. She spoke at one of our cell meetings. She answered all questions with honesty and sincerity. She clearly has a good understanding of the political process in this district. She has an ultra conservative running against her, and the Republicans will do ANYTHING to keep the sixth district a Republican seat. Actually it is going to be a three way battle for the Democratic candidate. However Christine Cegelis has the best organization and a prior record of mounting a competitive campaign. I have been actively working for her election.

Goodbye, Tax Cuts
Brody Mullins writes in the Wall Street Journal (subscription required): "In a major shift of priorities after Hurricane Katrina, Republican leaders in Congress have delayed plans to extend dividend and capital gains tax cuts and may shelve them for the rest of the year. . . .

"Still, a delay in extending tax cuts, coming at a time when President Bush's popularity has dropped in polls, could introduce new doubts about whether the president's tax cut will outlast his presidency. The White House has considered the early part of the president's second term its most auspicious window for action. Next year, Congress will be enmeshed in midterm election pressures. After that, the president faces the prospect of seeing his influence ebb as a lame duck with the nation looking toward the election of his successor in 2008."

________________________

Sure, a czar would make all the difference... :p
What are they thinking?
_______

Hello Czar?
Michael Forsythe writes for Bloomberg: "President George W. Bush, seeking to restore public confidence in his ability to handle a crisis, may appoint a high-profile 'czar' to oversee the Gulf Coast recovery.

"Bush, who yesterday named R. David Paulison, 57, head of the U.S. Fire Administration, as acting director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to replace Michael Brown, is now looking for someone with a telegenic presence as well as proven management and leadership skills to take on the reconstruction- czar job, said an administration aide who asked not to be identified."
_________________________
Was Kanye West Right?
http://tinyurl.com/9gx78

This thread is making me feel better. I had the feeling the Brown's resignation had ended the reaction to BushCo incompetence & malfeasance.

Has only two years of experience as a judge, but wants the top bench in the Supreme Court.

As an attorney, defended Toyota's right to fire disabled workers whose disabilities were caused by their jobs. (Forget the Prius. I'll never buy another Toyota.)

Where is the rage?

Posted by: AllyMcLesbian at September 13, 2005 04:41 PM

Yes, after only two years experience on the bench he's ready for the top job. And, in California, there's a proposition on the special election ballot that calls for an extension of teacher's probationary period leading to tenure.

Crazy times! And, yeah, I'm angry.

I am posting this Kos diary because I think it is a different way to look at how the "admission of responsibility" may be perceived.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/9/13/18262/4099

Posted by: sparrow at September 13, 2005 08:29 PM

I have heard of the non-denial denial, but this is a good explanation of the non-apology apology.

Government Coverup of Dangerous Toxins in New Orleans

http://www.buzzflash.com/contributors/05/09/con05330.html

"Bush...is now looking for someone with a telegenic presence as well as proven management and leadership skills to take on the reconstruction- czar job."

Ok, who here wants to apply??? Someone with a civil engineering background would be good. Also the ability to cut through red tape and arbitrate between fractious, noisy parties. Preferably someone who has spent a lot of time in NOLA and the South. Any takers?

VERITAS!

I have the perfect man for the job...

He is in Ohio of all places...but has studied water systems in Amsterdam and has set up a one-of-a-kind system in Ohio...

His brother is head of Moutain Movers International ... www.mountain-movers.org and is a former F-18 pilot and Navy vet now living in Dallas.

The world is a very small place indeed.

RED TAPE CUTTER

ME!

email me at ipmolony@hotmail.com

I am moving back to NOLA temporarily to oversee reconstruction.

I am connected.

Nuff' said.

Indy

Government Coverup of Dangerous Toxins in New Orleans

http://www.buzzflash.com/contributors/05/09/con05330.html

Posted by: oncall at September 13, 2005 10:41 PM

The cleanup/recovery crews are in full PPE (personal protective equipment) and go through decon because they don't yet know everything that might be in the water but are trying to be "better safe than sorry".
One of the reasons they are keeping residents out right now is because they don't want people to return until they have finished all the toxic cleanup efforts...pressure washing, etc. Just draining the city is only one step, then they have to clean up. There are definitely cleanup plans.
One of the problems is in identifying all the different toxins that might be in the water and in the sludge left behind. This is ongoing. The CG is working with several RP's (responsible parties) to clean up every toxic spill that they find. There are other sources of "toxins"...such as bacteria caused by fecal material and dead bodies, gas/fluids from people's cars, etc. Just picture flooding a landfill.
I cannot speak to the "holding back from the public" part but I can say that even we in the CG are not fully aware of all the toxins/contaminants in the water and I don't think will be for some time, just because there are so many sources. But there is definitely an effort by JTF (joint task force) Katrina to keep "first responders" in full PPE and to keep everyone else out until the city is literally "cleaned up" from all the toxins.

(ps. another reason they are trying to keep people out is that they want to get utilities restored and especially water/sewer/trash working again. Electricity is starting to come back on...real commercial power, not generators...and the wastewater treatment plant is starting to get back on line too...garbage pickup has not yet gotten going yet...the top priority right now is to restore emergency services..."911"...such as fire, medical, and police...a couple of civilian hospitals are coming back online...and they are trying to get the 911 network working and have housing/food for all the police/fire/doctors as well as a good road network working so they can get around...)

Posted by: Patti Ferschke at September 13, 2005 08:55 PM

Won't last long...

Don't want to hear it.

Will be in control in NOLA within one month.

Indy...you're white...you're male...you're from Texas...you're apparently telegenic (so I hear from the fainting women)...maybe Bush will take you for the job.

now that was a bit harsh wasn't it

Oh and Bush can kiss my photogenic ass...

The people of New Orleans still rule the broken roost.

Our One Gift From Napoleon.

We are the most powerful state in the union thanks to Napolianic Code.

They know this.

No one to date has mentioned this fact.

They just want to hang Blanco for not begging the feds for relief.

She knows what the score is...

Indy, I apologize, being a bit acrid there. If you look at the NRP

http://www.dhs.gov/interweb/assetlibrary/NRP_FullText.pdf

go to ESF #14, "Long-Term Community Recovery and Mitigation". I think that's what this leader will direct.

hmm...I could probably give you a contact for someone who works on ESF #14...

My father is on the advisory committee.

So who cares what the feds want.

We take care of our own and by federal law...

What we say goes.

Interesting Veri...very very interesting....

Indy at September 13, 2005 11:27 PM

You forgot humble...

:)

Who cares about humble when the PEOPLE are my main concern...

Unloke may Neocon entities who are only interested in WHITE money.

Kapiche?!?!

UNLIKE even...

Look, I am unfettered and unabounded here...I have lead negotiations with Samsung, Motorola, Applied Materials and a host of other fotune 100 companies...

I am not that stupid that I would let ego get in the way of progress...

Unlike the good old boy network in NOLA.

That is why I must be there.

I cannot type to save my life so please forgive the intrusion....

However Christine Cegelis has the best organization and a prior record of mounting a competitive campaign. I have been actively working for her election.

Posted by: oncall at September 13, 2005 09:47 PM

oncall, I checked out her website and she just seems very real. What have you been doing for her campaign so far? I'm impressed that she is up and running hard already. 420 days to go!!!

Cali,

I have walked with her in the fourth of July parade and carried her sign-not much I know-while she let me pass out flyers describing the DCP. I have attended several fund raisers and will be going to another tomorrow night. I have agreed to go door to door to collect signatures for her. I have worked with her campaign manager to help them get more support via our cell members. A fellow cell member and myself have started to make plans to have a local fund raiser for her. It is worth knowing that after the 2004 election she never stopped her operations and that has given her a leg up on her competition. I see her at every significant local politcal or non-political event. She was at the Cindy Sheehan Bus Tour picnic and vigil, the moveon.org sponsored candle light vigil, the local fourth of July parade in my town and several other communities. She makes herself available for groups of people no matter how large or small. Next week she is having a fund raiser with the founders of Air America radio. If I didn't know better, I would say she is actually three different identical triplets. At the fourth of July parade she received a tremendous show of support, much more obvious than the Republican who is running unopposed in the primaries. I am optomistic about her chances to win the seat. She received about 43% of the vote against a long time incumbent (Henry Hyde) in the last election. I am concerned that the Repubs will try to pull a fast one here with dirty tricks, etc. I suspect that this election will get a lot of national attention from the major parties.

This is a well researched and thorougly documented presentation. We have to be ready for 06, as those in power will do anything to maintain their grip on this country.

No Paper Trail Left Behind:

The Theft of the 2004 Presidential Election

By Dennis Loo, Ph.D.
Cal Poly Pomona

In order to believe that George Bush won the November 2, 2004 presidential election, you must also believe all of the following extremely improbable or outright impossible things.(1)

http://www.projectcensored.org/newsflash/voter_fraud.html

I am American...

I am FROM NEW ORLEANS.

I am a bonefied genius...

I am experienced in all of the infrastructure requirements of New Orleans.

I CANNOT be bought and paid for.

Damn...my one failure...

I AM going to give it a go though.

Posted by: Indy at September 13, 2005 11:27 PM

He cant be bought but he can be bribed with flattery

Bush won't hire anyone who hasn't donated thousands (or millions) to his campaigns.

I don't think he'll hire you Indy.

Quick! Send him some monopoly money.

Posted by: oncall at September 14, 2005 12:16 AM

Christine Cegelis sounds terrific and she is fortunate to have someone like you on her side and willing to start working with her now.

I'll be helping with a Congressional campaign here. However, there are two dem candidates, which makes it hard.

If you have spare time, please check out this blog and let us know via the email link if you have any ideas for us or to give us updates on what's going on with her campaign. I'd like the chance to discuss some things privately with you.

Dump Doolittle
http://solongjohn.blogspot.com/

or http://dumpdoolittle.blogspot.com/

Thanks for your reply. Your involvement is inspiring.