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A Tide in the Affairs of Men
In March of 1776, as momentum built for the historic events that were to come, Abigail Adams wrote her husband John of her belief (quoting Shakespeare) in "a tide in the affairs of men".
If there is indeed a tide in the affairs of men, then this nation is as adrift today as the swollen, abandoned bodies of the floating dead of New Orleans.
The waters of irrational religious emotion and radical political ideology rise around us. They threaten the once invulnerable hill upon which Abigail's husband and his contemporaries took their historic stand.
The Revolutionary Generation built their shining city out of the bricks of hard won, carefully sifted, human experience and history. But today so many in this country see experience and history as a hindrance.
They throw caution to the wind, advocate preemptive war over the construction of secure levees and defenses, and treat their ideological fantasies as a set of magic bricks. These bricks appear so potent that our ne'er-do-well President imagines that he can use them to build the empire of his fevered imagination - and even fancies that God wills it so! As if God’s will could ever be known by mere mortals, except as through a glass, darkly.
I fear that we are fast becoming the kind of monster that John Adams and the Founders rose up to oppose; but there is still time enough to reverse that terrible tide.
Oh God, may the awful sight of our dead bring us back to our senses.
May the shock of their untimely deaths jar our collective memory.
May it reawaken in us the wisdom of men, whose sacrifice, commitment, and courage gave birth to this nation - and with it, a spontaneously generated, still unfolding, ever expanding tide of freedom, dignity, and democracy.
May the loss of so many innocents put an end to our delusions.
May it sear in the mind's eye these three lessons:
- that a well-funded, energetic government is the foundation of contemporary civilization;
- that concern for the physical safety and survival of our communities must forever trump ideological insanity;
- and that there are times when a nation's greatest impact, on this tide in the affairs of men, can only come through cultivation of their own garden.
Well and beautifully said, as always, Matt.
Matthew,
If anything, perhaps the example of New Orleans is how our country was founded on the idea of the UNITED STATES taking care of its own.
It included rich and poor, New England Coast to...(whatever coast was added on!), and it was an example in 1776 of all states receiving equal protection from enemies--be they England or Europe (as they thought back then) to terrorists now. Within that idea of equal protection for all the states who chose to join the union was protection against natural disasters too--FEMA. So if a hurricane hits in Florida or Louisiana, they are both suppose to be give equal recovery actions and funds. Or a tornado hits in Oklahoma or Indiana, they receive emergency funds and actions as well.
But out of this weeks tragedy, it looks more and more like politics played a role in getting help to Florida last year MUCH faster than getting help to N.O. Last year, before the hurricanes even hit, it was declared a national emergency--to release those funds and get aid there immediately.
What happened this time? pResident Bush, thief in chief, cuts cake, stumms a guitar, and laughs and jokes with RICH supporters, while the poor drowned or starved.
EVEN the Bible says, "Take care of the poor."
It's not happening folks! Whether you pin the blame on Bushco or not, we have to look at the last six months of actions that the Republican held congress has done to negatively affect the poor:
1. Bankcruptcy Bill (gives to big Banks)
2. Energy Bill (gives to BIG OIL companys)
3. Anwar (gives to big oil and increases global warming.)
4. Omini-bill (Took away funding for college for the poor.)
5. Tort Reform (took away the poor peoples' ability to hold corrupt corporations accountable.)
That's just at the TOP of my head...I'm sure there's much more.
So my suggestion is--LET's GO back to Congress and say, "We want a mulligan on the last 6 months. REPEAL THEM IMMEDIATELY!!!!!"
Or..maybe that's what 06 should be about!
And upcoming on for the Senate is hearings for Judge Roberts. Read the NYT's editorial for some perspective:
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/04/opinion/04sun1.html
Wow...check this out!
http://leninology.blogspot.com/2005/09/politics-of-weather-3-shyness-of.html
Well said Matthew,
I am not a religous person, but I am faithful. Is G-d testing us? If so, do we have the strength to endure? Not only endure, but do we have the strength to overcome the destructive homocidal influences of our government? Do we as a nation have the will power to say as one people, "Enough is enough and this reign of terror must come to an end"? Do we have the fortitude to challenge the propagandists who say, print and televise anything in order to perpetuate their death grip upon this country? We are Americans and we must resist and turn back those whose means to their ends will destroy America. We must fight for what we know is right. Together we will endure and recapture America from those who are intent on destroying our great country while greed feeds their insatiable souls.
...A cultivation of their own garden...
We went to see the film "The Constant Gardener" the other night, a story of greed winning over stewardship, set in distant and exotic East Africa. We also watched "Z" last night, a film set 40 years ago, about events that set off the ensuing military coup in Greece.
Both films are, ultimately about the failure of government to nurture and protect the truth. Both are about exploitation of workers for increased profits. And both are about fighting back--trying to get government to not only cop to the truth, but to cultivate the garden of the people.
We CAN feed and nurture ourselves without government. But when terrible things happen: disease, natural disasters, foreign attacks, government becomes the gardener, the provider.
Thanks, Matt.
A Scottish reporter, writing from the ground in New Orleans, has filed this report, entitled:
"Bush Panics and Sends In The Marines"
http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=1886932005
Posted by: karen at September 4, 2005 10:24 AM
Just to give credit where credit is due...
In response to the horrific 1755 earthquake in Lisbon, at the height of the Deistic Enlightenment, Voltaire wrote two of his most remembered works: a) Poem on the Lisbon Disaster; b) Candide. The idea of cultivating one's garden comes from the final scene of Candide; it was later transformed by Leonard Bernstein, in his musical version of Candide, into "Make Our Garden Grow".
Let dreamers dream
What worlds they please
Those Edens can't be found.
The sweetest flowers,
The fairest trees
Are grown in solid ground.
We're neither pure, nor wise, nor good
We'll do the best we know.
We'll build our house and chop our wood
And make our garden grow.
And make our garden grow!
A big thanks to those of you who e-mailed me here in Pensacola to see how things were down here. I haven't blogged for a while- as I explained to those who e-mailed, my daughter has had some health problems that we've been dealing with (she's going to be fine, we think), and we've been busy doing some renos on a house that we're buying. Pensacola was spared the effects of Katrina, but we're experiencing gas shortages here because of the many of our neighbors from the west who are coming here from New Orleans and Biloxi and Gulfport to find gas for their generators and cars. Mobile was seriously damaged, about as badly as Pensacola was in Ivan, but their troubles are also few when compared to Mississippi and Louisiana.
Pensacola is in grieving over New Orleans- it was our home away from home, and Pensacola has always been the home away from home for many of New Orlean's citizens. We've opened our civic center for refugees, and our school system has donated a school that should house about 500 people from our neighboring states. I personally am grieving (and hoping for the best) for Mother's Restaurant, and a little place called Tricou on Bourbon Street that served the best barbeque shrimp in the world. There were always a few mice in the place (their "wildlife show), and I even hope those little babies survived. They were part of the ambience of the place- I wouldn't want Tricou replaced by a shiny new upscale, mouse-free restaurant- not for anything in the world. Thank goodness the Quarter is still there- we're hoping they're able to restore it to what it was, but doubts are strong. The whole effect of this disaster is spilling over to some degree on the Bush administration- even the most fervant Bush supporters down here realize that the response from the feds was woefully inadequate. Strangely enough though, they don't seem to be blaming Bush himself. They're putting the blame on FEMA, or claiming that New Orleans' governor didnt' request the aid, so Bush didn't know to send it. Can you believe that??????They do know though that, had New Orleans been given the money they requested for the levee project back in 2002, this event would not have happened. I hope that thought sticks with them- there's a lot of anger here along the coast, and it needs to be focused in the right place. The buck stops at the top, and my fellow Gulf Coasters need to realize that. There are some who are beginning to realize that the faces from Television of the New Orleans' residents who were stranded may have had some negative impact on the federal response- we all know how little Bush cares about the poor and about minorities. And there's even talk that the real estate people are salivating over this event, just waiting to condemn the houses of the evacuees so they can build huge condos around the city.
But they will be surprised. Once the artists are thrown out of their homes, it simply won't be the same place, and those of us who used to call it a second home will just stay here in our first homes. Once the culture of that city is destroyed, there will be nothing left of interest to the tourists.
It's a national tragedy, but we'll survive. You all know how stubborn we Southerners are. And we'll suffer the gas shortages without too much complaining- we owe our neighbors from the west who let us gas up our cans after Ivan in their cities. It's a community, and we're gonna help each other. This may just be the defining moment of the Bush presidency though. It's truly sad that this had to happen for some people to see his true character. It's just too big a sacrifice to have to make.
My heart sank reading about Rhenquist's death. Can things get worse?
However, I do understand that, at this time, he feels he can't get involved in the political aspects of what has happened. "
Wrong oncall I intend to express opinions here about the S. Ct. and Yes Oncall they can worse.
Oncall the reason I am responding to your post today is to repeat the message some got p.o about 10 days ago when I kept suggesting that I thought we were too fixated too much on Cindy and Crwaford. That is a very impt protest. The Bush screwups are so vast in numbers that if we let our guard down even for one day ignoring the Judical battle, FEMMA and Homeland Security Disaray, Abortion Rights, Tax Equity, Out of Control Gasoline Prices, or Skyrocketing Poverty rates, Raping Anwr and the Environment and now with increased toxic emmissions being allowed for the sake of gasoline preservation, etc,etc, that Bush will literally drive this country into the ground and sneak in lifetime appointees and historical changes while we fell asleep at the wheel,and find someday that we rue that we weren't paying attention to.
Many attacked me saying stop already with the courts and my constant post about out of Control Gas Price and the recently release Report of rising Poveerty that got zero responses here.
We can only do much to help the Katrina victims and the Astrdome evacuees and I truly appreciate everyone's efforts in that respect. I will be getting a few select packages of crayons coloring books and some of those targeted resources I requested directly into our newly built day care center in the Relian Center Bldg adjoing the Astrodome, but it will be unmanigible for me to take enormous quanitites of boxes into my home or law office so I will be posting alternative Houston locations that are the command centers here in Houston for contributions. Please realize that our Cty Judge just announced that there are b/w 150,000 and 200,000 evacuees now located at the Dome, Reliant Park, our Convention Center, people's houses here in Houston (but not in Crawford)various centers,chucrhes, synagogues and every available hotel/motel room in Houston. Vacant apts will be next. This is an enormous project even for a city our size.
But please don't forget 2 points: each of us can only do a small part we can't fix everything no matter how big our heart or intentions. The Houston Chronicle reported that there were 12,000 volunteers at the Astrdome staging grounds since Friday so Houston has most everything under control. Be cautious about your gifts and carefully decide if the money you might be spending on shipping might be better spent giving some items directly to your local Salvation Army and giving the saved shipping cost as a cash contribution.I will still be taking in small lugable contributions directly to the Dome but I just don't wnat the packages to get out of hand which could easily snowball.
Secondly lets get better at mutitasking. Let's don't get so fixated on Ciindy or Karina that we fail to pay attention to the Supreme Ct, Out of Control gas Prices and Poverty rates. It as these times when we let our guard down that things like Changes to Gasoline Emission Stantards or Extremists Supreme Ct Justices are appointed that changes this country's historical direction.
Once everyone finishes with their contributions I hope for five things:
1. A massive letter writing effort demanding an immediate Congressional investigation into this massive breakdown of FEMMA;
2. Doing everything we can to unseat and embarras Denny Hastert and make his obscene remarks about N.O and his Fundraiser Event that he refused to cancel the exact time of the $10.5 million hurricane relief vote, the Poster Child of the RNC so we can take back Congress.
3. Any few extra dollars not being sent to Katrina victims should be directed either to Tim Kaine's, Denny Hastert's opponent or for local billbodoards or to Nick Lampson's campaign against Tome DeLay.
4. And finally we need to make sure that neither Anthony Salia or Clarence Thomas become Chief Justice to the US Supreme Ct.
5. That Cindy continue her peace efforts but temporarily turn her peace adviocates into hurrican relief volunteers, insiting that several hundred at least be taken by bus to Crawford and welcomed by Laura Bush.
Would be curious if Sen Danforth might be in the running but we must stop in its tracks word of Scalia or Thomas being elevated to Chief Justice, That we truly be another American tragedy.
Posted by: sparrow at September 4, 2005 10:16 AM
Don't forget the estate tax that they're trying to repeal -- this week!
Ira
I knew you would insist on multi-tasking and you're right! We must remain vigilant and we must be proactive and we must mobilize.
Posted by: Ira at September 4, 2005 10:37 AM
Posted by: DiAnne at September 4, 2005 10:44 AM
In a sense, we have been multitasking all along. We've got a good collection of people here with diverse interests and the ability to address mulitple issues. Some days, the focus seems to be on a single issue, but I think it's more a reflection of people reporting what they're doing, seeing, feeling, reacting to that day's news or events. That doesn't mean other issues go away.
We all have different priorities & passions as to what issues are important to us and we should all continue to work those priorities -- and keep each other informed when there's a call to action so that those who can respond will do so. To me, that's the essence of our democratic group.
This time it's official. Today the American government asked EU and NATO for aide : tents, blankets, medical kits, goods...
17000 troops should be sent in order to support the American ones...
The oil problem was solved last thursday when we accepted to give them some of our reserve.
Oil first, human beings second....
You can read details with translation bottom page here :
http://permanent.nouvelobs.com/etranger/20050904.OBS8315.html
This is a reminder post from last night:
Well it's a blog raiser for Veritas and the CG families ...
ladytechie01 $30
abqjohn $50
Here's the link that veritas gave us for donations and her explanation of what it is used for...
http://www.cgmahq.org/
This will go to directly support Coasties and their families who have been impacted by Katrina and lost homes, vehicles, possessions, etc., via cash grants and/or no-interest loans.
Coasties with insurance can't file claims until someone can inspect their property...that will definitely take time.
Maybe someone can keep track of how much everyone is donating and keep a running total?
I will post a bigger list of our CG needs on the blog tomorrow but cash is the #1 need of displaced Coasties right now.
thanks guys!
Posted by: Veritas at September 3, 2005 09:39 PM
Posted by: Linda Enterkin at September 4, 2005 10:37 AM
Linda, you were in my thoughts. I remember our late night "journeys" to New Orleans during the heat of the general campaign. Very happy to know you're okay.
And, I agree. It's taken way, way too much death and destruction-- from 9/11, to Iraq, to Katrina-- for the majority of people to wake up to GWB. If the soul of New Orleans is less now, my only hope is that soul was dispersed to the rest of the country, and together, all of us, will restore it back to its source.
And while I'm on a role here...
Anybody notice the parallels between these two enlightenment traditions...
We're neither pure, nor wise, nor good
We'll do the best we know.
We'll build our house and chop our wood
And make our garden grow.
And make our garden grow!
and
Before enlightenment, chop wood and carry water;
after enlightenment, chop wood and carry water.
Yes, Matt, I saw that immediately.
Posted by: Ira at September 4, 2005 10:37 AM
Ira,
You and I agree on most things, but you clipped my comments about things getting worse. I said after my question, "It looks like they can." (Posted by: oncall at September 4, 2005 12:21 AM). I think it is worth noting that in my post, I was reiterating what you had earlier written in capital letters (Posted by: Ira at September 3, 2005 09:09 PM). Never the less, I agree with you that so many people and policies need to be challenged we have our work cut out for us. Thanks for the advice about sending supplies. Will you be posting any other addresses?
Posted by: Ira at September 3, 2005 09:09 PM
This is the last I will comment on this topic.
Will you be posting any other addresses?
Posted by: oncall at September 4, 2005 11:20 AM
Word from Ira is that he will be posting addresses to local Houston charities who will be capable of accepting boxes for the estimated 150,000 - 200,000 victims who are being located in various Houston facilities. He said that the Toyota Center Address, Star of Hope Mission, local Salvation Army, and St Agnes Church are the ones the local Houston papers are saying are the focal points for Houston distribution. When we have those addresses from Ira, I'm sure someone will post them on the Hurricane Relief page as well as here in the blog. Stay tuned.
The European Union is sending 17,000 troops to help. (le Nouvelle Observateur, France)
The following countries have pledged aid:
The American government has asked for food rations for the evacuees, and help from NATO.
500.000 rations will be sent, thousands of blankets & water purifiers.
The countries include Austria, Belgium, Great Britain, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Luxemborg, Finland, Italy, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Spain. There may be more.
(Andree, correct me if my translation is lacking)
With the Speaker of the House doubting that NO should rebuilt and the people of NO angry at the Federal Government, France should buy La Nouvelle Orleans back from America! Chirac could write something along those lines to President
Bush:
Dear President Bush,
My predecessor, Emperor Napoleon I, was foolish enough to sell you Louisiana back in 1803. Now that we have witnessed the total disregard you
expressed for the jewel that is the city of New Orleans, we want it back! We expected this beautiful city named after our beloved Duke of Orleans to be in safe hands -- apparently we were wrong. Of course we're ready to pay good
money for it.
I don't know if anybody is watching meet the press, but i just saw the most horrible interview i have ever seen. i saw a parish president break down in tears on television. whoever saw this will never forget the emotional impact.
Posted by: oncall at September 4, 2005 11:34 AM
But I thought that God sent Dubya to protect the nation?
Karen,
I've found the credit for the photo you liked on Nite Swimming.
Sounds like you are very involved with the Sept. 24 march in DC.
September 4, 2005
The Bursting Point
By DAVID BROOKS
As Ross Douthat observed on his blog, The American Scene, Katrina was the anti-9/11.
On Sept. 11, Rudy Giuliani took control. The government response was quick and decisive. The rich and poor suffered alike. Americans had been hit, but felt united and strong. Public confidence in institutions surged.
Last week in New Orleans, by contrast, nobody took control. Authority was diffuse and action was ineffective. The rich escaped while the poor were abandoned. Leaders spun while looters rampaged. Partisans squabbled while the nation was ashamed.
The first rule of the social fabric - that in times of crisis you protect the vulnerable - was trampled. Leaving the poor in New Orleans was the moral equivalent of leaving the injured on the battlefield. No wonder confidence in civic institutions is plummeting.
And the key fact to understanding why this is such a huge cultural moment is this: Last week's national humiliation comes at the end of a string of confidence-shaking institutional failures that have cumulatively changed the nation's psyche.
Over the past few years, we have seen intelligence failures in the inability to prevent Sept. 11 and find W.M.D.'s in Iraq. We have seen incompetent postwar planning. We have seen the collapse of Enron and corruption scandals on Wall Street. We have seen scandals at our leading magazines and newspapers, steroids in baseball, the horror of Abu Ghraib.
Public confidence has been shaken too by the steady rain of suicide bombings, the grisly horror of Beslan and the world's inability to do anything about rising oil prices.
Each institutional failure and sign of helplessness is another blow to national morale. The sour mood builds on itself, the outraged and defensive reaction to one event serving as the emotional groundwork for the next.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/04/opinion/04brooks.html?ei=5090&en=37eeb8918dbb6e2e&ex=1283486400&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss&pagewanted=print
Matt,
Terrific essay today...
Posted by: dwahzon at September 4, 2005 11:41 AM
Thank you.
oncall that was not a criticism we all know that for 3 more years we need to keep our guard up that with Bush in charge things can get worse before they get better.We really need to be multi-tasking and not let our guard down for one day.
For instance: Mary Landreu just told George Stephan. look at that lonely crane trying to fix the 17th street levee. Isn't thatridiculous one lonely crane trying to stop the rush of water. And all we got from the whitehouse yeterday was a photo op from the President where are our cranes she implored?
And then we hear Orrin Hatch saying oh no we need to charge forward with the Roberts nomination to get it completed by Oct the opening of the Supreme Ct's session.
Slow down Orrin, this is a once in a lifetime change to our Supreme Ct. You can rush through 2 new justices and a chief justice but Bush can drag his ass getting cranes, supplies and the Army Corp of Engineers down to N.O.
Slow Down Orrin don't you dare try and rush this process to remake the Supreme Ct. in your image. We should insist that we want the name of the new Chief Justice nominee BEFORE starting the Roberts confirmation process so Senators will know exactly the whole potential change to the balance and makeup of the Supreme Ct. It was interesting to hear Orrin abruptly say oh no Sandra Day O'Connor won't be coming back as Chief Justice. That is probably correct but it was amazing how quickly he brushed off that suggestion.
This is from the blog of a guy who has stayed in NO the entire time and is part of an ISP company that provides internet services for the city and has tried to keep them up and running...
The entire blog is worth reading. He updates every 2-3 hours with what's going on plus they have web cam feeds that they are sending out to alternate mirror sites where you can see what's going on on the streets around them.
This is his most recent post...
7:55 am Up and at 'em
Slept in til 7am today. The police and military still control the streets and they're patrolling in force by vehicle -- you can see this on the cam. A lot of people have asked about the vehicles and who's in them. They're all police vehicles now -- commandeered.
Let me address the political situation for a moment. I noticed that the responses I've been getting on the blog and the stuff I've been reading in the mainstream media has become very politicized. I'm not going to get into politics here -- I'm just going to do my work and then report what I see and hear throughout the day. If you guys want to play Democrat vs Republican vs Independent, go right ahead, but I'm really weary of the permanent election season this country's turned into. Honestly, these are politicians you guys are getting so excited about. Politicians. As far as I'm concerned, I don't trust people who want to tell other people how to spend their money and what they can read or see on television and what they can do in the privacy of their own homes. There's no way I'm going to feel comfortable supporting someone who thinks he knows what's best for the rest of "society" and is willing to use force and the threat of force to make others fall into line.
So yeah, I'm not going to support or condemn anyone specific for what's going on here.
And another thing to think about when we start pointing fingers is this. The government is never equipped to handle a crisis like this. There's too much bureaucracy -- initiative-stifling bureaucracy which prevents swift, effective action. I would like to hear from government employees on this. The nature of that bureaucracy is such that you have very specific guidelines to follow for even the most minute tasks. You need approval for just about everything, and the person you need approval from usually needs approval to give you the approval.
It's not as easy as say rounding up 4 of your co-workers and saying, "We've got someone at such and such an address, let's go grab her and get her out of there." Now add a destroyed or disabled command and control center to that bureaucracy and you've got a total and complete mess.
You (as a civilian) don't need "Approved" stamped on 3 different forms before you can run into your neighbor's house and pull them out. I hope this makes sense.
Anyway, I'm sure there's been human error in this catastrophe. How could there not be? But what I'm saying is that I've come to expect poor decision making and a total lack of initiative from government. They can't even balance a budget, at the federal, state, or local levels. I could balance my checkbook and spend within my means when I was a teenager. But I'm not gonna point fingers and get into the blame game. If you want me to blame something besides the storm herself, I blame the nature of government in the first place. It's too big, it's too slow, it's too inefficient, it's too bloated, and it's too intiative-stifling to be effective in normal circumstances, much less in a disaster. It's a systemic issue, more than an issue of individual people in government.
Ok, that being said, I see more civilians on the street now -- although many of them appear to be journalist types.
More later.
http://www.livejournal.com/users/interdictor/
Ira and Oncall and Dianne,
I actually believe at the DCP we're very good at diversifying our focus--with the higher goal of 06 in mind.
I personally believe it's the media that wants to single issue us.
I think if we could break into the market with one REAL tv network, then we could show the world that we don't have "an issue of the day" mentality.
There's so much work to do...! (So little time...)
You have to see this picture!
http://tinyurl.com/a9jos
Sparrow
That's why I don't watch tv (the single issue channeling of our attention) and haven't for 15 years (because Gulf War I propaganda made me sick). It helps. The internet is especially useful, as I used to have to rely on public radio and newspapers.
Other people saw the "Meet the Press" that On Call was talking about. I do have people email me all the time about what they're watching and so I don't feel I miss much.
Ok now - Meet the Press
Watcher 1: I hear it had some moving and important segments. Ours was interrupted by the weather guy to track some thunderstorms. Our republican-owned stationdoes that every chance they get.
Watcher 2: oh my God...
Meet the press just had one of Jefferson Parrish leaders on sobbing, just sobbing over the death from drowning in a nursing home of the elderly
mother of one of his emergency workers.
She called her son everyday to ask is someone coming to get me. He would say someone was coming. No one came and the old woman drown.
This poor man who is his boss just lost it. It was so powerful.
Now Haley Barbour is on trying to bullshit his way out of this.
Watcher 3: He is President of Jefferson Parish. That clip is going to be shown a million times and it's going to kill the Bush spin. He defended Blanco and said FEMA never came through and in fact STOPPED RELIEF FROM GETTING THROUGH.
An old woman sitting for days with no help? And then dying.
So .. if it holds up, an Mp3 will soon be circulating.
Sparrow,
I can't load the picture. Are you sure the url is correct?
Oncall,
Try it this way:
0.jpg&s=x4">http://putfile.com/pic.php?pic=9/246
10523310.jpg&s=x4
Throw the bums out.
That is a message anyone should understand.
They're like Marcoses were to the Philipines - bankrupted the Treasury and spirited some for themselves to Swiss accounts. Condi even shopped for Italian designer shoes while New Orleans drowned.
I'm sending that picture out. As well as this one:
http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2005/09/01/katrina_race/story.jpg
Go to this link and see ALL his phony hugs:
http://images.google.com/images?q=bush+hug&ie=ISO-8859-1&hl=en&btnG=Search+Images
Yes, Matt, I saw that immediately.
Posted by: kj at September 4, 2005 11:17 AM
Well, a writer does hope that his embedded ideas are coming through. But you're a poet, so I'd expect you to get these inside prose illusions...
Oops oncall...I stink at computer stuff.
TRY this link;
http://putfile.com/pic.php?pic=9/24610523310.jpg&s=x4
Poor thk
http://mirrorimageorigin.collegepublisher.com:80/media/paper410/stills/e4w1za6k.jpg
Sparrow
He is starting to look more bird-like (or is it reptilian) in the profile - it won't look good on Mt. Rushmore.
http://putfile.com/pic.php?pic=9/24610523310.jpg&s=x4
Posted by: sparrow at September 4, 2005 12:07 PM
Sparrow,
Why didn't you warn me to have a barf bag nearby?
'New Orleans Disaster: The Sequel' Coming Oct. 17 (85 comments )
It hasn't been widely discussed yet, but another disaster will strike the victims of Hurricane Katrina on October 17, 2005. And Bush can't say that he didn't anticipate it. He orchestrated it.
The president's beloved Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act goes into effect on that day.
Interesting that while the bill was passing through the House Judiciary Committee early this year, Democrats attempted to amend the bill to include measures to protect victims of natural disasters such as hurricanes.
The amendment to the bill, proposed by Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) was voted down without debate. Along party lines.
Seems the Republicans would rather see hurricane victims slammed head-first into poverty instead of continuing to be protected by Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Seems the profit margins of MBNA are more important.
If Republicans and the president feel inclined to take credit for anything good that happens due to their monopoly on our government, it's probably a good time for them to show some dignity and humility by correcting a colossal injustice forced upon all Americans.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bob-cesca/new-orleans-disaster-th_b_6633.html
Oncall,
I'm sorry.
Look what he wants to do "promptly"
Bush Says He'll Fill Vacancies Promptly
http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-5255236,00.html
Yep Meet The Press from this morning is MUST SEE TV.
The president of the Jefferson Parish also told who was responsible for actually preventing them from trying to prepare for helping people.
Cherkoff the head of the Dept of Homeland Insecurity was on first and Tim was actually trying to get him to answer concerning which person or people should be held responsible for this total failure. Of course he kept ignoring responding(no time for that now, must concentrate now on helping people…repeat…repeat…) Tim kept trying to get him to answer that and wouldn’t let him use the “nobody anticipated this…†BS either.
Tim was actually trying to get answers without immediately accepting total GOP drivel, spin and BS, as he normally does. Tim actually acted more like he does when going after a Dem. Try to do that again sometime in the future Tim.
Posted by: sparrow at September 4, 2005 12:07 PM
That picture is one of the most obscene things I've seen in the last week! I did see the sound bytes of Nitwit hugging that woman and the other two women, and I heard the cameras clicking as he was doing it, but the TV cameras didn't get a closeup.
He's enjoying this tragedy as much as he enjoyed the 9/11 tragedy when he could go in and play Chicken Hawk-in-Chief.
George Stephanopolous started out his show with the teaser that when Katrina hit "the president took charge." I screamed at the TV, "NO, he did NOT take charge, dammit!!!"
Senator Landrieu was in tears when she flew over New Orleans with Stephanopolous. (Her family's house is gone, too.) She got the point across that no one yet knows what they'll find in the areas that have been flooded where no one has gone yet. Could be people alive still, could be people who are dead - she used the example of a mother clutching her baby and dead (Landrieu seems pretty horrified, and broke down in tears a couple of times; I don't blame her.). A FedEx terminal and trucks still underwater were pictured. She also started to point out how the ports at New Orleans are economically tied to the rest of this country - she didn't dwell on the oil refineries like Nitwit did initially, but talked about several things. I know they're tied to the grain stores in this part of the country 'cuz the stored grain has to leave here on barges going down the Mississippi before grain harvested this year can be stored - among other things.
Over on CBS they were interviewing the guy who once before said he didn't want to get into the blame game because there would be time enough for that later. He has a point... but I still have to ask, "If not now, when?" Lamestream Media does not have any long-term memory and won't bring it up later, and we all know danged good and well they'll find something to excuse Nitwit by then anyway, altho the blame rests securely on his shoulders for not starting a massive evacuation as soon as the Cat 5 hurricane was predicted to go straight to New Orleans. One of the CBS morning shows (think the first one with all the artsy fartsy pix of suns) did mention foreign countries had offered aid.... first I've heard it on Lamestream media. Silence on ABC about foreign assistance.
Adding insult to injury was the repeated sound byte that had Nitwit referring to the "war on terra" in the midst of touring the disaster area (like he has to remind everyone he's the 'war president'). Made me want to throw up!!!
Besides Rehnquist's death, the worst news of the day was hearing that Nitwit, Condisleazy, and Rummy are all going to be doing a fly-over at the site of the hurricane disaster in the Gulf states again tomorrow - which will interfere with any air rescue ops since all other planes will be grounded when they're there (wonder how many people will die in those hours who have been waiting to be rescued by choppers?).... Golly, gee whiz... they're actually taking a break from their three-day weekend to grace everyone with their presence?!?!? I wonder what kind of photo ops will be set up for that one only to be repeated with sound bytes that make Nitwit look like a real CIC?!? Oh, the spin that's sure to come out of that!!! I might have to put a moratorium on myself for watching any more TV....
Posted by: oncall at September 4, 2005 12:19 PM
I actually caught that "news conference" this morning... and the "must be filled promptly" comment....
ANOTHER RUSH JOB to get his nominees appointed, just as he rushed the Patriot Act through after 9/11. I wonder what is going on behind the scenes today as people's attention is diverted to the disaster in the Gulf?!?
Sickening....
Another must read indictment of Bush and our media!
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,6903,1562309,00.html?gusrc=rss
Posted by: sparrow at September 4, 2005 12:44 PM
Oops...again!!! Wrong LINK!
That article is abou the Oil for food controversy. Read about how Bush's bully Bolton is handling this!
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,6903,1562309,00.html?gusrc=rss
This is the link for the indictment of Bush and media!
http://www.guardian.co.uk/Observer/international/story/0,6903,1562429,00.html?gusrc=rss
Maxine Waters Leads Action in New Orleans
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/090405Y.shtml
Go Maxine!!!
http://rawstory.com/news/2005/Russert_tears_up_Homeland_chief_on_Meet_0904.html
(CNN News) Rumsfeld and Top General to Visit New Orleans
====================
Well, that should help.
Press conference at 3 pm ET to announce victory over the forces of nature.
It is good that Rumsfeld is going there. It will remind America that we have the wasted money and the needed supplies and manpower in Iraq. I think Rove must be out of the loop, as the PR is being handled so badly. Maybe Rove is working on some other scheme?
I have spent my morning checking with the various organizations for giving and sending contributions directly to Houston and this is the latest and best information that I can provide and what I have personally found to be the best and most organized here in Houston.
If you wish to send items to Houston these would be my top 2 recommendations:
1. Salvation Army in Houston
Central Address:
1500 Austin
Houston, Texas 77002
Their needs as far as clothing are for large and extra sized women's clothing, comfortable stretched pants and clothing with elastic waiste. They especially need bras and slippers and pillows (but pillows might be problematic to ship in bulk).
The main Houston Salvation Army Director's number is 713-752-0677. Their director informed me just this morning that if it is expensive to ship or you don't have the appropriate items to send, or just want to just send a cash contributio, they have set up a donation system where you can assist those evacuees in the Dome and shelters by in effect buying Food and Clothing Vouchers by credit card contributions to them. You may call them directly if you wish to have more details of that worthwhile endeavor.
The next as I would describe Houston 'Together' Organization that Chris Matthews featured on Hardball the other night is a fine organization called the Star of Hope Mission of Houston. You can learn more of their operations at sohmission.org web site or call them at 713-226-5467.
This is a great Houston Charitable Organization that has been around forever here in Houston and does great civic work for our homeless families throughout the year.They certainly can't rely on our meagor state social services here in Texas or from Washington.
The Star of Hope Mission's Wish List is for the following Items:
1. Blankets their number 1 request
2. Towels and Wash Cloths
saw very few at the AstroArena
3. All Baby Needs again in short supply but hard to ship
4. Bras of all sizes(virtually none available at the AstroArena) and underwear(saw lots more boxes of undewear but they feel they need more.
4. Femine Hygene Products
5. Pillows saw very very few pillows there.
6. Slippers and footies
7. They are also collecting shampoos and cream lotions and might mention they could use things like baby talcom powders.
And again spread the word via email that large sized clothing, Large X-L and 1 X and 2 X items are in critically short supply as well as all clothing for the small numbers of pregnant women.
Mailing Address for the Star of Hope Mission central Houston location is:
Star of Hope Mission
1811 Ruiz
Houston, Texas 77002
I previously mentioned that the Houston Rockets arena called the Toyota Center had announced they would be a central staging area here in Houston. Hold off on that recommendation at least for now and direct all Houston contributions to either our local Salvation Army or Star of Hope Mission (my particular favorite) or contribute to the Food/Clothing Voucher Program.
All I also highly recommend that if shipping charges to Houston become high, to turn your contributions in locally to your community church/synagogue/mosque collection site or Salvation Army and take the savings from not shipping packages to Houston and use that money to contribute to the Houston Food/Clothing Voucher program.
You know what is interesting? I have been to different sites in the blogosphere, and have yet to see any trolls apologizing for Bush. Has anybody seen a troll raise there head out of the sand?
Thanks Ira,
I think I can get my hands on lots of those footies via the hospitals I am on staff at.
Minnesota to accept 5,000 evacuees. Some residents not waiting.
http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/2005/09/03_haega_mnreaxsat/
Fox, the arbiters of obscenity:
Fox Anchor: NBC Should Have Bleeped Out West
On this morning’s “Fox & Friends,” after showing a clip of Kanye West’s remarks from last night’s NBC relief special — which one Fox host described as a “tirade” — they continued:
JULIET HUDDY: A lot of folks are saying it was an inappropriate place to make those remarks, when you are asking people to help donate. It was not the time to do it regardless of whether or not you agree with his comments.
JULIAN PHILLIPS: I think you are right. It certainly wasn’t the time to do it. The focus was on trying to get money for people, but unfortunately, for better or worse, it underscores the, I guess, the animation that people have about this whole issue and race will probably be something that will be addressed down the line.
STEVE DOOCY: It understores the fact that NBC should have had a producer with a finger on the button and as soon as someone goes off the copy to go ahead and delete it.
http://thinkprogress.org/2005/09/03/fox-race/
oncall: its kind of weird but I also recall a lot of people asking for the green hospital scrubs to use as sleep wear. Is that possible or might that confuse the hundreds of actual medical and nursing staff at the Dome and AstroArena?
If you get the footies or hospital scrubs I would almost like to take them directly into the AstroDome site b/c I got so many personal requests for them the last 2 days. Again scrubs or other clothing items are in critically short supply of in large, X-L, 1X,2X an 3X sizes.
Thanks again I am just trying to keep a lot of useless items being sent and costly shipping of items being sent that are not as of critical need down here.
...as soon as someone goes off the copy to go ahead and delete it...
Posted by: oncall at September 4, 2005 01:33 PM
My, my...you mean Faux uses scripted copy? How shocking!
Another dkos poster has caught an unbelievable statement made by Chertoff this morning and created a poster out of it...
http://www.dailykos.com/comments/2005/9/3/223150/1013/117#117
Simply unbelievable...
new thread... and it's a hard-hitter
BTW, is anyone else as outraged as I am that the regime is blaming the state & local governments (as reported in WaPo http://tinyurl.com/97sb3 )? Just another case of spin, I suppose, but nothing is ever their fault, is it?
Posted by: dwahzon at September 4, 2005 01:40 PM
UN-f***ing believable!!!
Posted by: oncall at September 4, 2005 01:20 PM
No trolls, there are plenty of people drinking the kool aid on usenet and various web blogs. Maybe Lakoff is right in that regard, because it sure looks like these people's synapes are fried right.