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A Mother's Meditation
One of the biggest changes I have noticed since becoming a mother is that I no longer have the luxury of being furious when I want to. It scares and confuses my child. It is impossible to explain why or put into context the level of rage about our government's third world response I feel when I look at another woman trying to get her child food and water in Louisiana, United States. Four-year olds don't get it.
In better moments, I tell myself that maybe now people in the United States will be able to understand the problems in Africa and other poor nations of the world. In darker moments, I go in the shower and cry and quietly rage about a government of people I despise, ruining a country that I love. I rage about a government I hate killing the people it deems as disposable--troops, Iraqis, poor people in the Gulf Coast, the list is growing. I love my country, but it is getting less recognizable to me as time goes along.
I know I am not alone here. I know there are other parents with children of varying ages to which different levels of explanation and understanding are appropriate. So what can a parent do when you are filled with rage but must seethe silently in the presence of young ones? You know that if you don't do something, they will pick up on it anyway, so you better do something and quick.
So I have begun making a list and I am going to e-mail it around to my parents' group and ask people to add to it and send it back around.
Here's my list:
1. Leave the house and go for a walk. Pick my head up and look around and be thankful.
2. Pray. For patience, strength, understanding, forgiveness and most of all, I pray for the endurance necessary to fight this incompetent and corrupt government until their collective asses are on a moving truck out of town. The last part may not be found in the Common Book of Prayer, but we each pray in our own way.
3. Do something constructive to help the relief effort and get my child involved. Last night we packed up towels and sheets to send to Houston. Today, we are packing up baby clothes and shoes. Tomorrow it will be something else.
4. Scour the paper for community events to participate in for hurricane relief such as concerts, etc.
5. Organize my own event. Set up in front of the library or grocery store to collect donations. Talk to the manager and ask for permission and any help they can provide. Luckily, our stores are really nice here and ready to help. It's still hot here, so we are selling lemonade and my young one loves mixing and pouring the lemonade. Also, his other buddies will be coming by to help throughout the day.
6. Cry and rage silently in the shower. It helps me and it doesn't hurt anyone.
7. Call every damn government official I can think of and ask what they are doing to control gas prices and gouging. This is yet another form of poverty tax.
8. Call your members of Congress and tell them they had better get on board with either repealing or delaying the implementation date of the bankruptcy laws. Call the White House and tell the President to come out in favor of postponing implementation of the law.
9. Don't take no for an answer. Every single solitary politician across America should be doing something and it's perfectly appropriate to call them and ask them exactly WHAT they are doing.
10. Enjoy the all too brief and infrequent engagement of our members of the media who are clearly pissed off and actually doing their job of holding government accountable for the job they are supposed to be doing but quite clearly are not. It was an encouraging to see Anderson Cooper lose it with Mary Landrieu as she was thanking the very people who are complicit in destroying her state with their ineptitude and incompetence. Or Joe Scarborough lambasting the federal government for any number of things, all of which they are guilty of. Or Paula Zahn's complete disbelief as the head of FEMA, Michael Brown, says that people at the Convention Center hadn't gotten food and water because the federal governement didn't know they were there. Maybe it's not entirely Mr. Brown's fault. After all, how much do the disaster preparedness skills learned as an estate planning attorney, who was fired from his job as lawyer for the International Arabian Horse Association Legal Department, help you at times like these? Note to President Bush--let's try hiring some competent people instead of campaign cronies next time, huh?
So, this is my list for trying to get my rage under control while dealing with a small child. It's been working pretty well until this morning.
This morning I read that Dick Cheney is still on vacation, and Condi Rice is enjoying the delights of Broadway by attending "Spamalot" and was shoe-shopping yesterday on 5th Avenue.
Back to the shower for me.
From end of last thread:
Sep. 2, 2005. 09:55 AM
The Toronto Star
New Orleans on a hair-trigger
'Stop the car right now,' reporter told. `Back up, or I'll shoot'
TIM HARPER
WASHINGTON BUREAU
NEW ORLEANS - I wheeled the car around and headed back to the scene of the shooting, looking for Toronto Star photographer Lucas Oleniuk, when the officer turned, spotted me and pointed the shotgun right at the windshield. "Stop the car right now. Back up, or I'll shoot," he screamed.A couple of others cocked their weapons and trained their guns on the car, purpose in their eyes. Instinctively, I raised my hands above the wheel and gunned the Pontiac in reverse over fallen tree limbs and debris in the street.
This was our indoctrination into a Big Easy that'll never make a picture postcard. Minutes earlier, as Oleniuk and I first saw downtown New Orleans looming after a long odyssey to get into the locked-down city, he shouted at me to stop when he spotted armed officers crouched behind a cruiser, training their guns on an apartment block.
His welcome to the besieged city came the second he left the vehicle when three shots rang out - a quick "pop-pop-pop." Oleniuk stumbled behind a lamppost for protection and began shooting photos. In seconds, as many as 40 officers sped to the scene, most in marked cars but one in a Kinko's van - some of whom set up behind Oleniuk, their guns aimed over his left shoulder. Others, guns drawn, shouted at me to get out of the way.
Realizing he was in the line of fire, Oleniuk raced for cover behind acruiser and worked alongside a group of police as they fired into the building. After 15 minutes, the last of more than 350 images shot by Oleniuk depicted officers delivering a fierce beating to the two suspects, an assault so fearsome one of the suspects defecated. Realizing their frontier justice had been captured for posterity, the police turned on the photographer, one ripping a camera from his neck with such force it broke its shoulder strap. Another grabbed a second camera and, somewhere in the melee, Oleniuk's press pass was ripped from his neck.
The officers fumbled with the cameras, finally pulling out the memory cards with the photos. Oleniuk pleaded for the return of his cameras, was rebuffed, then, after retreating about a block, approached them again and asked for his cameras back.
One of the officers who had been hunkered down with Oleniuk during the 15-minute shootout said he could have his cameras, but when he asked again for his pictures, he was gruffly told: "If you don't get your ass out of here, I'm going to break your motherf---ing jaw."
In the chaos that is New Orleans, police menacingly pointed loaded weapons at me four times, and Oleniuk and I watched later when four officers armed with machineguns, after first demanding to know where we were going, turned on an approaching cab and screamed at the Hispanic driver to get his hands off the wheel or they'd open fire. When he wouldn't do so immediately, it appeared for a split second that he would be shot on the spot. Mercifully, his shaky hands finally appeared above the dash.
Because New Orleans is under martial law, police need no reason to stop and search anyone or pull them off the street. There's no doubt they see journalists as an impediment to their efforts to regain control of their city. But they have also been shot by snipers and looters in the nighttime chaos, and anyone who drives through this city these days knows what it's like to get a little twitchy. As one navigates ravaged New Orleans from the east, through Kenner and Jefferson Parish, past the airport and toward the French Quarter, driving flooded streets till the filthy water gets too deep, then trying alternate routes, it is the human toll, not the physical toll, which worsens.
First, there is a single barefoot man walking aimlessly along AirlineHighway. Then others slogging through the floodwaters of Metairie. Then families trudging dispiritedly along the roads of Kenner. Then, by the time you get to Napoleon and St. Charles in New Orleans, close to 100 sit silently in the middle of debris, watching the strange car navigate among the downed trees in their neighbourhood. Later, down St. Charles, some try to stop you to ask for rides - "I have a baby ..." - others glare sardonically, while others peer at the car blankly.
Through downtown, toward the French Quarter, the refugees congregate in groups of 10 or 20. Some have guns, some have crowbars or iron bars, and, mindful of carjackings, you dispense with the hurricane etiquette of treating darkened intersections as four-way stops.When you park on Canal St. to get a sense of the enormity of the refugee flow as people come down the Interstate overpass, many pushing shopping carts or luggage racks, you sense the desperation. You park close to where others are parked and you regret that you can't pack them all in your backseat and get them out of there. And you wonder where the relief workers are.
Additional articles by Tim Harper
*****************
Toight we saw "The Constant Gardener", a film that was designed to show the horrors of exploited peoples in East Africa--the neglect and disposability and corruption. I came home to find the above article, which could have been a scene in the movie.
And also:
Call your local congressmen and senators and demand that the government get off it's butt. I live in Baton Rouge and we need help. The evacuees have no place to go and our city is swelling. We don't have the resources to take care of this many people and the government is not helping. What you see on TV. is only the half of it. There are places here that aren't even being rescued. People are dying, my people, my Louisiana people. They aren't showing the people in Biloxi. This is not about black and white it's about money. Louisiana and Mississippi are poor states. I thought I could volunteer but, as a therapist I don't know what to say. I would cry with the people because I am feeling it also. I am going to go to Atlanta for a while until things to settle down if they ever do. I can't cry though I am so numb. The arts and culture as we know it is gone. Life as we know it in south Louisiana is gone. We used to go to Biloxi or New Orleans to get away. Now it's gone. More people need help there are parishes (counties) that need to rescued and no one has come for them and these are all white communities but they are poor. We have to push the government to send more help. We can't do anything until all of the people are safe. If you donate please donate to the red cross or salvation army. We need mental health workers, nurses, social workers here in Baton Rouge. People need homes and temporary jobs. If you know of vacancies in your community please post that information on craigslist.com. I still have my home but the effects of this is far reaching. If I sound like I am venting, sorry but for those who had the opportunity to experience New Orleans even with the rain it's a nice place to visit. As laid back as it is, Louisiana is my home. We don't deserve this kind of treatment! Please pray for the Gulf South. Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama.
Reposting for Ira...
Just got back from the dome and I was overwhelmed by the shere numbers of folks they have put in there. The media was complaining that its not the 23,000 promised but in actuality there is probably close to 100,000 here throughout the Houston metroplex.It made me think of a modern day Hoovervile, by the sadness and magnitude of the trauma but the living conditions here seemed wonderful. I spent only an hour or so in the dome where around 17,000 people are living(its virtually a small US city) and was told they had just opened up the Astro Arena and that 3,500 new folks had been set up there. It felt more personal to be connecting with a mere 3500 folks. A pittance of people where I felt more comfortable. There are huge trucks rolling in with food, baby supplies and clothing and every conceivable medical supply. There are plenty of sick people but I din't sense the horible coughing and general sickness I expected to see.
For about 2 hours I got to play Santa Claus( and that's really something special for a Jewish guy) with my shopping cart of stuffed animals and small toys that seemed to light up the eyes of these kids who didn't seem to know what was going on before finally running out.The evacuees seem orderly and polite and appreciative of the help. I spoke with numerous young men who were in construction and ran small business operations(not the so called trash folks the media seem to be fixated on) and who's home were totally gone who told me they would be staying in Houston and relocating they just couldn't stand to return. There were men wearing the same dirty socks for 5 days that appreciated fresh socks and underwear and my trying to match their shoe sizes.
Anyways the medical units set up were overwhelming. There were dozens of doctors, nurses, and residents who had arrived just when I walked in, who had been instructed by the local hospitals to volunteer 20 hrs per week there and were giving these folks top notch care. I have psychologists friends who are consulting with these folks about their emotional trauma. There were xray machines, dialysis, and chemo going on and everyone was instructed to be given vaccinations, tetnus shots I believe.
I think my community is really making a difference in making these folks lives more comfortable and god knows that is all that any of us can do; to try and make a small difference in this world.
Folks this has nothing absolutely nothing to do with Bush, he is irrelevant, these folks just want to get on with their lives, period and blame is not something they care one bit about.
One thing I did learn today was that my reports that the Red Cross was not interested in small children's toys was wrong. They are trying to set up a day care, library, internet cafe and the whole works, but just like building a small city which is what this is, it will take time.
The Red Cross women I spoke with and got to know(and Suz one woman is from Ann Arbour and has never seen an operation as large as this even in Fla.) told me that its OK for me to bring in items to our area in the Astro Arena if anyone is interested in helping me.
For the time being the following items would be appreciated:
1. Small games for young children
2. Puzzles
3. Crayons lots of small(not large) crayons
4. Puzzle books with connect the dots
5. Coloring books
Even the small teddy bears and stuffed animals,contrary to what every agency told me this week, I can get into the dome if anyone desires.
One issue I am trying to figure out is finding a way to get thousands or at least hundreds of small pillows. I contacted Gallery Furniture tonight and Mr.McCalvane to see if he can help (he has given a million dollars so far and maybe maxed out) but if anyone has ANY contact with anyone at the corporate level of Bed Bath and Beyond or Linnens and Things that is a project I would like to attempt only b/c there were so few pillows and I received lots of requests and don't think that is a high priority.
Will keep you guys posted. One sad note was that the Red Cross people were telling me that many if not most may be there 2-3 months not the days or weeks they are thinking, but our mayor has plans to find vacant apts and homes to try and start moving these folks into as well as getting these kids enrolled in our local schools. I am just so poud of my community I am busting with civic pride.
Posted by: Ira at September 2, 2005 11:20 PM
Sorry for the length but this is just appalling...
courtesy of SteveRose at dailykos...
Red Cross NEVER allowed into New Orleans.
by SteveRose [Subscribe]
Fri Sep 2nd, 2005 at 18:02:05 PDT
My first diary! This whole week has been so depressing. My Red Cross donation was one bright spot. At least I had done something to help.
Then, after reading dKos and the other blogs all week and seeing over and over again comments that that FEMA and the NG were no where to be seen from the people on the ground in NO, I was wondering where the Red Cross was in all this. They were never mentioned. It was like they didn't exist. And, after yesterday's drama at the convention center, the Brown and Chertoff lies, the Red Cross was still MIA. Then, earlier today, I saw a note that the Red Cross was not allowed to enter NO. Hmm, that's doesn't make sense. This simmered for a couple hours.
So I called the Red Cross and asked them if its true....
And, to my surprise, the nice lady answering the phone said it was true and they told/asked/ordered not to enter NO. She then went right into her spiel about all the other work the Red Cross was doing across the region. I said that's nice, but I still didn't understand why they weren't in NO. To my amazement, she patiently explained it to me. I even called back to verify what she said. This time she asked if I was media, I said no, just a concerned and confused contributor.
So here goes: Homeland Security (her term, not mine) told the Red Cross DO NOT enter New Orleans and says this still now. And why, you may ask? Not Security. Not worker safety. Not lack of access. It was because people would be drawn to the Red Cross food and they wouldn't want to go to be evacuated. So I asked: "The people starving and dying at the convention center yesterday couldn't get Red Cross food and water because they would be drawn to the food at the convention center, where they were, and not want to be evacuated from the convention center where no evacuations were going on or planned and all the while they are dying". (Actually, it was a couple questions.) She went back into her spiel about all of the other good work they were doing. When I asked again, she said yes, that was true. She seem relieved to admit it.
In closing, I asked if she asked this question before since she was very familiar with the answer she gave. She said yes. And I promised another donation. Which they will get after this post.
So, the question for Bushies, why was the Red Cross banned from NO when they knew people were starving? Could it be they were saving the convention center rescue until Bush's visit today? It certainly seems like it. Doesn't it?
Red Cross National Affairs number (202-303-5551)
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/9/2/2125/04978#171
Lies? From the Bush Administration?
There are STILL hundreds of thousands IN New Orleans!
Austin was told to expect...
ready...
A plane load of refugees every 15 minutes indefinately!
The lying bastards!
Bush needs to be held accountable!
Great stuff - nice to know Ira is on the spot!
I was glad at work to hear the most conservative and apathetic "waking up" some - the combination of gas prices & tragedy & just things they can no longer shut out of their consciousness. & also found out some of the nurses and others are using their vacation time (or even unpaid leave) to go the the Gulf areas to help.
I like it that Google Search page has a donation place.
Ira,
You have every reason to be proud, not just proud of Houston, but also of the wonderful contribution you are making. My hat is off to you.
One more amazing post from dkos:
BREAKING: Louisiana sent letter begging Bush for help on 28th
by dumbya [Subscribe]
Fri Sep 2nd, 2005 at 19:50:09 PDT
http://gov.louisiana.gov/Disaster%20Relief%20Request.pdf
This letter was written on Sunday. The GOP is trying to spin that the local and state government hadn't asked for help. Well, now we got the memo that proves that they did indeed ask for help. The President got an urgent appeal by the state of Louisiana urging him to allocate his resources to help the situation. Unfortunately, I guess eating cake and playing the guitar are far more important.
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2005/9/2/22509/76629
Just got this very disturbing email.
Hey Ian -
I understand... I wish everyone in Covington the best of luck, but we are working on collecting supplies for the neighborhoods entirely under water in New Orleans and will be heading straight there. Our ditch is under water with dead people floating through it and terrified people trapped in their houses...
Anyway, best of luck to you all - we will be in New Orleans by Sunday night or Monday morning and will do our best to stay in touch.
Peace and love -
Andrea
From the Times-Picayune Blog site:
Forest Service offers planes to help fight fires
The Forest Service has offered fixed plane aircraft used to fight forest fires to help extinguish blazes in New Orleans, according to two congressional sources. But the sources said the planes, which can pour large amounts of water on fires, remained grounded in Missouri Friday because the Department of Homeland Security hasn’t authorized their use.
The department is overseeing federal hurricane relief and rescue operations.
"We’ve been asking them to request that the planes be used, but nothing has happened,” said one of the two congressional sources, both of whom asked to remain anonymous. The planes were offered by the Forest Service because of news reports that firefighters in New Orleans lacked adequate water pressure to fight a number of fires in the city.
There was no immediate comment from the Forest Service, which is part of the Agriculture Department, or the Department of Homeland Security.
http://www.nola.com/newslogs/breakingtp/index.ssf?/mtlogs/nola_Times-Picayune/archives/2005_09.html#076408
another item folks were looking for was slippers and something called footies for the men. Local Red Cross,churhes and our wonderful Star of Hope Mission, are ceiving tons of clothing but not necessarily the kinds of items people need or want but they seem to be getting a lot of the same things like women dress shoes(seems weird) and tons of t-shirts and there are only so many t shirts these folks can wear. Comfortable men's shoes and the items I listed above would be more specfic and more in short supply.
I did run into a group of folks from Chris Bell's campaign office and our Heights Neigborhood Democratic club about 15 in number who were spending the day there helping out.
One touching story was of a guy with ranch that came buy this evening with a bus and picked up 100 random people to take them to his ranch and promised to feed and cloth and house them at his ranch for a month.
Sorry oncall and others I am not into the political spin,right now, this seems to be much more important, at least for now. And anyone heading in this direction to help with these poor people are welcome to stay with me.
I urge ayone with a few extra minutes to check the Houston Chronicle web site and specifically our Dome Blog site to read of some really emotional and personal stories regarding the hurricane evacuees. Its a civic lesson about what is still right with America regardless of what George Bush tries to destroy and something Karen's students might want to read and learn from.
This was one very important post:
"In the midst of all this, Bryant says, the evacuees are trying to keep their dignity. Many object to the term "refugee," including 52-year-old Ina Duncan:
"We are only victims of Hurricane Katrina. I was born at Charity Hospital. We are not refugees. We are taxpayers. We are victims of the hurricane and we are having a crisis."
Casey, (beautiful post, btw).
First--wish I could give you a hug. Think we could all use one right about now. ... got to the part about crying in the shower and it "connected" me to one of my most vivid memories of my Dad when I was about 4-5 yrs old.
Family had sat down to dinner; Dad had left "The World at War" (a doc program re: WWII) on TV, something Mom despised (TV left on, not the show). As an argument began over it, of course I had to see what the fuss was about, and saw a reporter standing in front of these "piles."
The camera moved in closer and I saw what the "piles" were, realized "corpses" meant bodies... ("They're Jews? Piles of JEWS, God's Chosen People? What the...?") dropped my fork-full of peas (much to my li'l bro's delight) and began sobbing. Yet another argument tween Mom and Dad ensued.
"G.D. it, Bill! See what you've done! THAT'S why I don't want the TV on! Don't cry, baby, don't cry..."
At that, my Dad hit the roof, exploding. "Don't you DARE tell her not to cry! Sometimes that's all a person CAN do, dammit!" Then, gentling a bit, said, "you go ahead and cry darling--all those tears set up your bank account in heaven. Just make sure that when you're crying they're tears for something you can't do anything about..." He then followed up with an explanation for WWII. Said the world couldn't believe the rumors re: Hitler were true and only HIS generation was responsible. I had nothing to be ashamed of. The Holocaust was not my fault. "But, now that you KNOW such evil exists, if it ever happens again it WILL be your fault..."
Like you and a good part of America, I've been crying a lot these days--especially because, as an impoverished New Mexican, I can't even send so much as a can of peas to help.
But, if my Dad was right, I'll be a mega-millionaire in the great Beyond and know, with ALL my heart and soul, I'll be in VERY good company there. I WON'T have to worry about running into the "President" there, for ALL his Bible thumping.
"Whatsoever ye do to the least of my Brothers; that ye do unto me."
Got room in that shower? My hot water's turned off. Pass the soap please.
Livid in New Mexico,
Silverbonn
Casey
Nice piece. We took our son to antinuclear rallies when he was young enough to be part of "Babies Against Bombs" and from there it just continued. We were marching against US involvement in El Salvador and we heard "I just saw my teacher!" I think getting kids involved is the best! All peace and justice events here in Seattle have child participants and I think they learn to do their own thinking. They certainly make original signs!
Andree has sent me a bunch of French links about Katrina, and I'm slowly digesting (very slowly!) - but they are sending their own independent reporters and they include things like people finding the dead in the water in small towns outside New Orleans and trying to get them buried before the 'gators get them. Also reading personal accounts here & there. I have only watched tv twice. I know there is info on there but I also know that they repeat the same over and over so I'll stick with my 1991-2005 policy of ignoring US tv news. I did happen to see the honest-seeming reporter at the convention center on NBC and I do have an Mp3 of the N O mayor.
Silverbonn
Yes, as a child I discovered Hiroshima and Auschwitz photos and that's how I started to be antiwar.
"A bewildered world observes USA fighting with Katrina."
This is the healdlines of one of my papers today, and it sums up pretty well the feelings abroad.
http://permanent.nouvelobs.com/etranger/20050903.OBS8231.html
What the hell happened?
First we saw images reminding us of Aceh and the tragedy went on day after day having the foreigners discovering the other face of America. It was as if we were watching a catastrophy in a poor African country or in a Banana Republic ran by incompetents : where was the commander, who was coordinating the aide?
There is a big feeling of uneasiness at what happened. On one hand the most powerful and richest nation of the world, on the other one, all these poors (mainly black) trapped in a devastated city and... the negligence of the government.
We understand what happened, we do not understand what should have taken place.
My radio news this morning opened with "New Orleans the Martyr City". That's how we feel about it... as there is more to come.
What a sad, sad waste.
As we watch these horrors it's like genocide of mass proportions. Listened to Stephanie Tubb-Jones on c-span this am and what a gift to the people she is. As a former federal proscecutor,judge,activist etc,she called it what it is/was.....LACK OF LEADERSHIP. She has already laid out a "PLAN" to move these folks into the job market,schools etc and wants to make good use of those base closures.
Could have puked yesterday when Laura said:"Please get your children into the school system,don't let them fall behind." She hasn't a clue in the face of this disater and how impacted these kids are,with rampant disease problems,emotional set-backs,detatchment disorders,and just how sick these children are from lack of hydration and food. Talk about dis-connect! We need to all become Mother Teresa's for these kids. Until we raise minimum wage,create jobs , EDUCATE,look at root cause anaysis.....we're screwed! Bush is only "solution" oriented (guns and bullets)..forget about processing.
Andree,
It's because we don't have much "state" left - everything has to be done by relief agencies, churches, and people themselves. The Reagan administration wanted to shrink government and the trend continues, to where our taxes seem to buy primarily war goods vs services.
Check out this incredible poster & you will understand. Send it, post it, communicate it, because I believe it says it all. Not only about the response, but about the poverty & about the hostile response to environmentalists, the suspension of belief about global warming and science.
http://images.dailykos.com/images/user/3/bathtub.jpg
By the way, Linda Enterkin in Florida is fine and people there are returning the favor of the help that the Gulf Coast people provided them during Ivan. Pennsacola is receiving alot of people who are seeking food, lodging, gas, survival.
from the UK:
Interesting is the way this was reported on the British TV. It started as all the other storm reports have started and we had live broadcasts as it hit. Then we were told the worst had passed and even that the old French quarter had survived more or less intact, indeed initial concern was all about the fate of the old town.
Then the stories changed a bit to feature hard working police officers, people sheltering in the Superbowl place and so on, but it was commercial TV that first carried stories of an almighty cock-up by the government, and a growing resentment against Bush. It wasn't till later that the BBC started to report the full horror of the failings of the system.
I guess this is one story that didn't go as the news reporters had planned.
How many hurricane evacuees could be temporarily housed at Bush's Crawford Ranch when Bush is not staying there? He did just finish up with a long vacation there. Someone should ask Cindy to find out, although the secret service wouldn't be too thrilled.
Lawmakers of Both Parties Criticize US Response
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/090305Z.shtml
I am certain that if Jimmy Carter were in office today he would try and get Secret Service clearance to open up his farm, seeing that so many evacuees are now coming to Texas and now going to San Antonio and Waco, a short hop to Crawford. Someone in the press should ask this question. Interested to hear his response.
Setup '08
Let's not politicise this or put the blame anyone, but...
GOP wants '08 hopeful Rudy in charge of Gulf
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON — Rep. John Sweeney, R-N.Y., urged President Bush to appoint former New York City mayor Rudolph Giuliani or two former military officials to run the ground response in the Gulf Coast, saying local authorities are not up to the task.
http://www.nydailynews.com/front/breaking_news/story/342855p-292734c.html
9/11 9/11 9/11 9/11 9/11 9/11 9/11 9/11 9/11 9/11
If you haven't seen today's front page for the DCP you don't know what you are missing.
New thread...