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Dennis the Menace
"It makes no sense to spend billions of dollars to rebuild a city that's seven feet under sea level....It looks like a lot of that place could be bulldozed."–House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.), Aug. 31, 2005
In August 2004, a group of 7000 local, state and federal professionals focused on flood management, prevention and mitigation called the Association of State Flood Plain Managers (ASFPM) passed a resolution expressing their concern about the dissolution and deterioration of FEMA within DHS. In January 2005, they wrote to Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert with this warning.
Since FEMA has become a part of the Department of Homeland Security, it has been a struggle. Funds have been raided, staff have been transferred into other DHS functions without being replaced, slowdowns because of added layers of bureaucracy for nearly all functions have dramatically increased, and there is the constant threat of reprogramming appropriated funds.
In fact, there were people raising red flags starting back in 2003 about how FEMA was being weakened by being dissolved into the Department of Homeland Security, and they particularly focused on the de-emphasis of responding to natural disasters. More from the ASFPM letter:
THE ASFPM is not the only organization that has these concerns. The General Accounting Office, in its September 2003 report, said the following:Moreover, the placement of FEMA within DHS represents a substantially changed environment in which FEMA will conduct its missions in the future, and missions that focus on reducing the impacts of natural hazards, such as hazard mitigation and flood insurance, may receive decreased emphasis. Sustained attention to these programs will be needed to ensure they maintain or improve their effectiveness in protecting the nation against and reducing federal costs associated with natural disasters.
The Association of State Floodplain Managers made these recommendations:
The Association of State Floodplain Managers recommends that 1) Congressional reorganization for homeland security reflect attention to the importance of natural disaster programs and policies and that 2) the Congress undertake an evaluation of the structure of DHS and FEMA as it affects retention of an effective capacity for natural hazards response and mitigation programs.
Imagine how a little common sense and foresight on the part of Rep. Hastert might have saved those billions of dollars they now have to allocate to rebuild the city of New Orleans and the lives of its citizens. Dennis, the next time you want to play with bulldozers, do it in your own backyard.
You can read the Hastert letter here (PDF file) and the August 2004 resolution here.
Sorry for my longest post ever, but these things need to be seen in context to each other. It is like a civil war out here:
Batavia
Cindy Sheehan and her Bring Them Home Now tour made a stop at Dennis Hastert's office in Batavia on the afternoon of September 7th. Many of those who were there reported a large, extremely vocal and virulent contingent of counter-protesters. It turns out that there was internet proof that the counter demo was aided and abetted by Hastert's office, even going so far as to secure the protesters' belongings in the Congressional office and hand out signs. From a blog:
"I wanted to take photos, but I handed off my purse to one of Hastert's employees, and my purse was effectively locked in the secured congressional office until all the freakos left almost two hours later."
Many were bused from elsewhere, including places like Dolton and PawPaw, Illinois. DAWN raises the following questions, even though the media have not:1.) Why was Batavia law enforcement ( and taxpayer dollars) used to protect Hastert's office, ( and in essence, aid the counter protesters?) 2.) Was Homeland Security money or Hastert money used to pay for the busing of counter protesters? 3.) No matter who financed this- why did Hastert, in this time of extreme need of aid and manpower in the south, feel it was important to bus volunteers NORTH to stage a counter protest such as this?
There are also some free speech issues here. There was a permit for the Batavia event. The Counter protesters prided themselves on preventing free speech. According to one blog dated September 8th:"We were VERY vocal, and continually drowned out their speakers."
The media have been informed of this. So far, there has been nothing in the papers to indicate that any coverage will result. If you are from Hastert's District, perhaps you should be asking these questions of the local media and law enforcement.
Here is more about the event:
My first "protest"
Source: Angry Republican Mom - Thursday, September 8, 2005 - GO TO THIS WEBLOG »
Or rather, I "protested a protest". Cindy Sheehan was in Batavia, IL yesterday (for a minute), and I was called to counter-protest. I wanted to take photos, but I handed off my purse to one of Hastert's employees, and my purse was effectively locked in the secured congressional office until all the freakos left almost two hours later. There were about 100 of "them" and 30 of "us". Don't believe any other report. At first, I held a large pro-Bush sign in front of the "stage" where Cindy Sheehan was going to appear. However, they did get awarded with a permit, and we had to stand behind barricades when "their time" was scheduled. Ok, they had an honest to God drum circle there, with a Cat Stevens wannabe singing "Peace, Salaam, shalom" or however it's spelled. Also, there was this gay guy running around with a camera, spewing "Say FEMA" before he'd snap our photos. This would also happen to be then same guy who badgered a poor 80 something year old man who held a sign "President Bush has given us 1,448 days of a terrorist free nation". The old man didn't say anything, just stood there in his veteran's hat, and these communist freaks preyed on him like they were vultures. I had to bring over an officer to usher that flamer away. Talk about disrespect. There were teenagers who didn't even look old enough to vote screaming at the veterans on our side. Oh, I wanted to slap them! There was also a marine there that stood at Cindy's "stage" and demanded the veterans get better funding and treatment. I respect what the guy had to say, but it just crushed me with who he was siding with to get his point across. That is NOT a partisan issue. That is everybody's issue, and he had no business coming to such a divided protest to spread his cause. It was awful for me. I have so many friends actively serving right now, proud to be liberating a country that has been terrorized for decades of dictator rule. I've had family from Karl's side over there. To see this marine standing there, shouting he was on "no side", but then shout at us was just unbearable. I wouldn't shout at him. I just put my sign down and stared. I think I told him that Karl served in the infantry, and how dare he use his uniform for his gain. I can't remember. I wanted to thank Cao for coming, and I want to thank Jacky for coming also. Especially Jacky, since she is going through a difficult time right now. We were VERY vocal, and continually drowned out their speakers. I believe they were also using the rally for abortion and Katrina issues, because N.O.W. was there, and I had several people telling me that our government dropped the ball over the hurricane. That's right, when our President pleaded with Governor Blanco to make a MANDATORY evacuation. These libs just don't want to take responsibility, since Blanco is Democrat, and Negin is Democrat. These people who were supposed to be the example us mis-guided Republicans should follow couldn't get it right, and the libs scramble to find the next pot-shot. Anyways, I can now say I have a protest under my belt, and it will be my last. Those things are WAY not fun for me. I was definitely NOT cut out for protesting, because my arms are killing me today. Apparently others on our side felt the same way when we started chanting "We pay taxes" and "Get a job". I also have a permanent image of that hippy drum circle BURNED into my brain, and it reminded me of that South Park cartoon where Cartman was trying to rid his town of hippies that kept setting up drum circles, and he knew it was a pre-cursor to a pot smoking music festival. Yes, you libs deserve that stereotype after what I saw yesterday!
Lisa Zeimetz Thursday, September 08, 2005 | GO TO WEBLOG
Here is what a local reporter wrote:
Publication Kane County Chronicle
Date September 13, 2005
Section(s) Column
Page
Cindy Sheehan has come and gone, and I am left feeling disgusted and angry at what happened and what was said during her brief visit. Do not jump to conclusions; the focus of my anger might surprise you.
Sheehan's son, Casey, was a young soldier killed in Iraq. Sheehan first came to public notice when she camped outside President Bush's ranch in Crawford, Texas, and demanded a meeting.
In the weeks since she started her lone vigil, Sheehan has become a lightning rod for many in this country: For opponents of the war, she embodies the pain and price of that conflict; and for the war's supporters, she has become a target of derision. Both groups were in evidence last week when Sheehan attended an anti-war rally in front of Dennis Hastert's Batavia office.
When I heard Sheehan was coming to Batavia, my first thought was, "Not now." I felt that her visit was ill timed because it was a distraction from the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina, and it probably would be better for Sheehan and her supporters to wait a few weeks. However, I did not think she shouldn't come or be kept from coming, or if she did come that she should be prevented from speaking. On this last point, I appear to be at odds with some local self-proclaimed "patriots."
In short, a contingent of pro-war demonstrators showed up at the rally, apparently intent on preventing Sheehan -- or anyone else who dared have a differing opinion -- from being heard. According to our reporters and to other attendees, one of the favorite chants used to drown out Sheehan and other speakers was, "U-S-A, U-S-A." Frankly, it seems an odd choice.
The bedrock beliefs of this country include freedom of speech and of assembly. I already have heard from a couple of the pro-war crowd that the chanting and yelling was simply their own exercise of free speech. In their own way, they are right. But you know and I know the real purpose of their noise was to prevent the other side from being heard, from expressing an opinion that is -- heaven forbid -- at odds with the official government line.
In this country, hard as it is sometimes, we need to hear what the other guy has to say. That is certainly the case here at the Chronicle where, on a regular basis, a letter writer or Sound Off caller blasts the newspaper in general or me in particular for an article or column they did not like. It would be easy to ignore those differing opinions because, obviously, we are free to print only those letters that agree with us. However, it would be dishonest to our readers not to let them hear from our critics.
This tolerance of opposing views extends to our own staff; many times my columns have taken a completely different tack than those of this newspaper's editorial direction, and more than once I've been on the other side of an issue from Managing Editor Greg Rivara. What's important to note is Rivara edits my work, so he is sometimes put in the position of editing copy he totally disagrees with. Not once in the four years we've worked together has he spiked one of my columns because of our differences, nor has the newspaper ever pulled a column that went against its editorial stance.
Which brings me back to the crowd's behavior. Rather than allow an opinion other than their own to be heard, they chose to drown it out. Rather than waiting to hear the other side of the argument before presenting their own views, they tried to keep that other side from even being expressed. How wonderfully patriotic.
As disgusted as I am with the screamers, I am particularly angry with the contingent of young men who showed up to drown out Sheehan and her group. These brave souls proclaim a solid support of the war and our military, which is fine except for one small detail: not one of this particular bunch is in the service.
Odd, isn't it? They can chant and yell, but not enlist. I suggest this gaggle of young men, who are certainly in the right age group to join up and fight, should. It's incredibly easy, too. Just give a call to the Army enlistment center in Aurora; the number is (630) 892-9857. And -- trust me on this -- operators are definitely standing by.
* Bill Page lives in St. Charles and owns a marketing company. He also writes about local issues on Tuesday and Thursday. Calls and e-mails answered at (630) 584-0809 or wpage@mediawerks.org.
Hey Denny...lets bulldoze your house first.
So what it wasn't in New Orleans... If Ice can wind up in Maine by the truckload I am more than sure we can get a bulldozer near you.
You ever notice how they say that shit up there but NEVER NEVER bring it down here to our faces..?
Oh denny denny ya dumb stupid man. They'd make gumbo out of you.
Yours truly and Suz are QUOTED in the WaPo article. Don't think I didn't mention the DCP nearly a dozen times ;-)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/21/AR2005092102122.html
Posted by: Christy at September 22, 2005 10:07 AM
Christy,
I really do hate to say it, but he is going to get re-elected. There is no organized, well funded, opposition against him. He represents a district where Stalin is considered quaint.
Of course hes gonna get reelected.
They are ALL going to be reelected.
That is the whole point of RIGGING ELECTIONS.
If they DIDNT get reelected I would not only be surprised but I would have to wonder about the idiots they got rigging the votes.
Its so hard to find good help these days.
I just got into it with my republican brother.
Omg I swear one day we will just shoot each other and be done with it.
Via Alternet:
O'Reilly is Donahue-d
Bill, meet Phil. He will be ripping you a new one this evening.
Here we see why Phil Donahue's show was canceled by MSNBC despite having been its highest rated program. Had Phil remained on TV, perhaps -- perhaps -- the war and a number of other catastrophically stupid policies would've been that much harder to pull over on the American audience people.
After taking O'Reilly's opening framing of Cindy Sheehan and incinerating it with some impresive reframing, Donahue cuts O'Reilly off and says (as O'Reilly disavows the Sheehan as "unAmerican" label and opts for "radical")[VIDEO]:
"Let me tell you what's radical. What's radical is to send more Americans to die in this war which is a monumental blunder by a president who swaggered us into it with, by the way, the, at least, tacit approval of the Democratic party -- there's a lot of sin to go around here..."
And even as O'Reilly cut in, Donahue wouldn't give an inch. Watch this. Watch it now. (video via Crooks and Liars)
http://www.crooksandliars.com/2005/09/21.html#a5055
"President Bush decided Wednesday to waive any financial sanctions on Saudi Arabia, Washington's closest Arab ally in the war on terrorism, for failing to do enough to stop the modern-day slave trade in prostitutes, child sex workers and forced laborers."
Hmmmmmmmmm If they kill gays in Saudi for being, well, gay. Then why does thier king tasting another man and walking hand in hand with him cause absolutely no concern?
Wahhabiisim = Sexual deviants
Congrats to DCP members for the WaPo mentions!
News from the Dem Daily:
Feinstein to Vote NO on Roberts
September 22nd, 2005
Breaking News: Senator Feinstein today announced that she will vote against the nomination of Judge John G. Roberts Jr. to be Chief Justice.
http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=640
First Read on Kerry’s Criticism of the War
September 22nd, 2005
First Read recognizes Kerry for being one of the few Democrats to be speaking out against the war (contrary to the claims of the Kerry bashers in the blogosphere):
http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=639
National Enquirer Claims Bush Drinking
September 22nd, 2005
It’s hardly a reliable source, but The National Enquirer reports Bush as started drinking again in response to recent streses.
http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=638
Thomas Oliphant: Kerry’s Roads Not Taken
September 22nd, 2005
We’ve said it here many times, Kerry was right. While the right wing spin doctors try to paint a dark picture of John Kerry’s speech on Monday, Thomas Oliphant reminds us of the roads not taken - Kerry’s Roads Not Taken. Thomas Oliphant is right… Kerry “happens to be correct.”
http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=637
ot on a friends internet site and wanted to post Hurricane Report:
1.Our great Democratic Mayor is doing a great job with evacuating the Dome 200,000 new Texans plus our 4.5 million Houstonians and Galvestonians;
2. There is a problem with our evacuation plan I blame governor for the following evacuation problem:
It too us 4 hrs to travel 45 miles north where we are staying with some newly recruited Dem. converts;
We were traveling to Dallas but we used 1/4 tank of gas traveling 45 miles b/c the traffic was literally ges per going less than 2 miles per hour; we saw cars overheating and running out of gas and the tanker trucks can't seem to restock the gas stations that is why we fortunately off to stay with our friends. There is literally a 250 parking lot north to Dallas and north west to Austin and San Antonio; I am fearful others could get stranded on our freeways during a category 4-5 hurricane. What lame brain at FEMA or hurricane preparations didn't think of that and no mayor White doesn't control our state highways or gas station supplies;
The plan was to reverse the ingoing lanes to Dallas and open 4 more out going lanes but there is not enough police manpower or barricades to fortify the contraflow.
My political message for today:
1. Watch out for the next S. Ct. appointment and get rady to respond;
2. Global Warming;Global Warming; Global Warming-Why is the Gulf of Mexico 92 degrees rather than the normal 85 degree temperature for this time of the year?
Contact Harry Reid and tell him NOW is the time to push the Global Warming Investigation. We should no longer cowar about the Global Warming debate.Lets be proactive about Global Warming.
Ira's sermon for the day.
I"m so proud of you Karen!!!
Is there an unspoken rule about only one topic per post? I have one other comment before the necessity to work takes over my ablilty to blog...
Do the neocons ever study history? Last I heard the
Communist Party had ceased to funtion, with the exception of Cuba. Even China, while still spouting the Party line has moved on to a capitalist economy.
So why suddenly are liberals once again "Communists"? Note Angry Republican Mom, and not 15 minutes ago I heard Laura Ingram state that the groups gathering in DC this weekend were "Communist supported" On the other hand they say that there's no such thing as bad publicity! Guess I'll take it where ever I find it.
Its a 250 mile parking lot in every direction out of Houston
sorry about all of my typos
Posted by: Ladytechie at September 22, 2005 11:34 AM
Lady,
As you know, the ability to care for others' wellbeing as well as your own, is alone enough to qualify as communist in the neocon books. They stand for the hypercapitalism where it's every man (or woman) for oneself. Working together for a common goal doesn't happen. That's the reason for the ownership society.
Either that, or they are still stuck in the McCarthyist funk, which btw is ALIVE and WELL in Little Havana, Koreatown, and Little Saigon. I won't be surprised if it's these immigrant groups who are supporting this kind of rhetoric.
Just remember the standard line
I am not now, nor have ever been, a member of the communist party.
Have you no decency sir?
Posted by: Christy at September 22, 2005 11:22 AM
The Saudis are getting too many free rides.
I wish I could just do a blank boycott of Saudi products, but their only major product in the US is oil, and as long as I drive, that's something I can't avoid.
Honestly, if we can start a war against Saddam, we can definitely start a war against the Saudis, whose disregard for basic human rights has been monumental, and who bred the terrorists of 9/11.
But then, given W's family history, where even the Nazis were close family friends, I don't expect that to ever happen anytime soon.
OHHH HAHAHA
You know Frists little non kitten killing insider stock trade..?
No $12 thousand dollar trade there...OH NO...
Try MILLIONS... TWENTY MILLION
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/21/AR2005092102065_pf.html
HAHAHAHAHA Busted.
*** UPDATE FROM D.C. ***
--------------------------
Suz just called in with a report from the set up location for Saturday's march.
Interestingly, the National Park Service has set up the stage in the ONLY position where there will be NO visible monuments when photographs are taken of Cindy Sheehan and the other speakers.
No flag. No Washington Monument. No Capitol. No White House. No symbol of America at all.
This government wants the world to think that Cindy Sheehan will be speaking from a vacuum - a black hole - not on the grounds of our nation's capitol. The other lie that will be driven home mercilessly this weekend is that the people who gather here to speak about the war are not real Americans - they are a bunch of nutjobs.
Visual isolation is one way to do that. They are going to "De-Americanize" this gathering to the greatest degree possible.
But the truth is this: Thousands and thousands of Americans will come together this weekend to say loudly that the war in Iraq is a mistake, and that it must be fixed.
They will do this on the front lawn of "the peoples' house."
But apparently, they will have to bring their own American flags.
**** MORE LATER ****
Ally ...my family has learned a new thing about me.
See, my entire life i have been one of the most non biased people when it came to race, class, religion, whatever, my main concern deep in my heart was always try as best I can to be as fair as I can. For whatever else my family bitches about they all agree I am atleast fair in the end.
Not so with saudis. For the first time in slightly over 30 years my family has found a way to make me start gnashing my teeth and howling the most awful sterotypical bullshit you will ever hear. All they have to do is say Saudi and I swaer my jaw locks and I start salivating in a wierd way.
Atleast they no longer give me that blank stupid look anymore when I say wahabbiisim. they do however seem surprised.
I hate saudis with every damn fiber in my body. It is actually my first experience with personally being rascisit and I kinda dig it.
As far as I am concerned give me an army, ILL GO rip them from thier own towers myself.
[Edited - please keep it clean]
Posted by: Victoria Ellen at September 22, 2005 11:59 AM
Rotten, but not surprising. It's the same NPS that's killing our national parks, and removing references to "objectionable" demographics (i.e. gay) from the Lincoln Memorial.
We'll make sure that W will sleep over all the noise we make, though!
Its a 250 mile parking lot in every direction out of Houston
sorry about all of my typos
Posted by: Ira at September 22, 2005 11:38 AM
I'm monitoring the news as well, and it sure looks horrible, especially those who had already been moved fron NOLA to Houston due to Katrina.
May Goddess have mercy on us all.
You know how I used to joke that they were hiding osama in the saudi embassy in DC..?
All jokes aside..
It just occurred to me... osama is not in afghanistan or pakistan... if he is he is the dumbest most non resourceful ignoramous on earth.
There is only one other country that could successfully hide bin laden... Saudi Arabia
The more I think about it, is the ONLY country that COULD have hid him successfully all along.
And if he WAS indeed wounded at torra borra, where do you go when your hurt badly and in need of protection?
You go home.
Christy darlin'... I'm just a humble monkey, but I have a semi-evolved thought for your consideration...
Do not, I repeat, do not allow the ugliness of this sordid adminstration and all it's morally corrupt connections, actions & consequences lower your standards as a truly compassionate human being.
When the seeds of hate are sewn in your heart for anyone or anything, it will eat away at the goodness in you like terminal cancer, and the one's you hate win, because they have irrevocably stolen a piece of your passionate soul. Don't let them have it.
Intense dislike is manageable, hatred is just flat unattractive and unneccesary. Besides, intense dislike goes so much better with your intense nature.
The glass is always half full... thanks to a really positive bartender named Joe.
Stay beautiful... Eat At Joe's
In light of the government's Katrina failure, Rep. Jim Oberstar (D-MN) will introduce legislation to separate FEMA from the Dept. of Homeland Security.
http://www.startribune.com/stories/562/5625781.html
"FEMA must be untethered from the Department of Homeland Security. It must have a director with unquestioned credentials in emergency management, and that director must be protected from the fickle winds of politics by a fixed, five-year term of appointment."
Jim Oberstar is the ranking Democrat on the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
** Please contact your Representative and ask them to support this critical piece of legislation. **
Blog censorship handbook released
A handbook that offers advice to bloggers who want to protect themselves from recrimination and censors has been released by Reporters Without Borders.
The media watchdog said it gives people who want to set up a blog tips on how to do so, how to publicise it, as well as how to establish credibility.
It also offers advice about writing blogs from countries with tough media restrictions, such as Iran and China.
The handbook was part-funded by the French government.
Key international bloggers, experts and writers helped to produce the guidelines, such as US journalist Dan Gillmor and Canadian net censorship expert, Nart Villeneuve.
"Bloggers are often the only real journalists in countries where the mainstream media is censored or under pressure," Reporters Without Borders said on its website.
"Only they provide independent news, at the risk of displeasing the government and sometimes courting arrest."
Read the rest of the article here...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/4271062.stm
Posted by: monkey at September 22, 2005 12:19 PM
monkey, that applies to me too.
I am afraid that my hatred of certain immigrant communities may claim me at the Peace and Justice Festival, and cause me to start yelling names at the Cuban or Korean peace activist desk and call them illegitimate. In truth, I should congratulate them instead for overcoming the negativity, hatred, and pro-W politics of their home communities, but it'll be extremely hard to do.
Stay beautiful... Eat At Joe's
Posted by: monkey at September 22, 2005 12:19 PM
Ok Ill play nice.. But I reserve the right to 'intensly dislike' them.
When they quit castating young girls with no anestesia and pieces of broken glass..THEN MAYBE ill feel some of the sympathy i need to find compassion for them.
Till then though...
Ill stay beautiful and Eat At Joes.
According to Raw Story President Carter has said Al Gore was the rightful winner of 2000
Hmmmmmmmmm
watch raw story its still developing
I'll stay beautiful and Eat At Joe's.
Posted by: Christy at September 22, 2005 12:27 PM
Franchise opportunities are available... apply within.
Monkeylove all around...
p.s. Try the Gumbo, it'll treat you right.
apply within
Posted by: monkey at September 22, 2005 12:36 PM
HeHeHe
Cant I just get it on virtue of being beautiful?
Im available every monday for red beans and rice.
Up on rawtory now
Carter says NO DOUBT Gore won 2000
http://rawstory.com/news/2005/Carter_says_Gore_won_2000_el_0922.html
In the question and answer session of his talk intended to discuss the Baker-Carter commission report on election reform, Carter also savaged President Bush's handling of FEMA in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.
Carter founded FEMA in 1979.
When I founded FEMA "we put it together with three specific commitments," Carter remarked. "One, that it would be led [by] highly trained professionals in dealing with disasters. Secondly, that it would be completely independent and not under another agency that would submerge it. And third, that it would be adequately funded."
The former president said the key reason for creating the agency was to respond to governors who asked for a consolidation of the 16 bureaucracies previously responsible for emergency relief efforts. Carter said he hoped that the changes he ordered would have remained permanent, allowing for a more effective response to a hurricane now claiming upwards of 1000 lives.
We should make a Lame Duck Amendment
Any living former president, with an honorable completion of term, will act as a final wall against a corrupt system. A way to reset a completely corrupt system. If ALL of them say so THEY have the power to force a legal arrest of a president who has become tyrannical and muderous.
It would become THIER DUTY to have a president like this one arrested.
On charges of TREASON starting with the Downing Memos and and vote rigging... To start with
This is off topic but I am concerned that as they search for bodies, we will not have a full accounting of who perished and who is missing. They are finding dead children.
http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/09/22/katrina.bodies.ap/index.html
Posted by: janet at September 22, 2005 01:30 PM
Janet just as they are hiding our dead in Iraq, They are also DEFINATELY hiding our dead here too.
It started immediately.
This is what really worries me... That this admministration will not consider rolling back the tax cut for the wealthy but they will take it out on other such as our troops, our schools, and more
from David Sirota this morning...
Protecting tax cuts, GOP proposes cuts to military health care
In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, President Bush and Republicans in Congress have refused to consider rolling back the $336 billion in new tax cuts that the richest 1 percent are slated to get over the next five years. They say we need to pay for reconstruction not by asking the wealthiest to sacrifice just a little bit, but by massive cuts to spending. And now we see what that means:
The Navy Times today reports that those cuts "include trimming military quality-of-life programs, including health care." This, while troops are in battle.
The Republicans have put their cutting efforts in military terms, calling it "Operation Offset" - a further insult to the men and women in uniform they are now trying to screw over. The specifics are ugly. They are, for instance, asking troops to "accept reduced health care benefits for their families." Additionally, "the stateside system of elementary and secondary schools for military family members could be closed." In the past, this idea "has faced strong opposition from parents of children attending the schools because public schools [in and around bases] are seen as offering lower-quality education."
None of this, I suppose, is all that surprising. In the past, we've seen tax cuts put before making sure troops have adequate body armor heading into war - a tax/budget decision that very likely increased U.S. casualties. We've also seen Republicans vote down efforts to reduce tax cuts for the very wealthy in order to restore cuts to military family housing. And we've seen tax cuts come as the White House has refused to adequately fund a variety of other programs for troops. The truth is, the GOP has in moments of candor admitted that they care about cutting taxes for the wealthy far more than they care about the troops.
As you may recall, it was Tom DeLay who said before the Iraq invasion "Nothing is more important in the face of a war than cutting taxes." Apparently to the Republicans, nothing is more important in the face of a war AND massive destruction to the homefront than cutting taxes either.
http://www.workingforchange.com/blog/index.cfm?mode=entry&entry=7E479431-0FCB-2076-D3D1FE0B7965BE11
And now RawStory is promising details soon...
LEAKED: GOP EYES HUGE CUTS....
Document Recommends axing National Endowment for the Arts, Humanities, Corporation for Public Broadcasting funds; Kill money for DNC, RNC conventions, End anti-drug ads, Cancel moon mission, cut AIDS aid, first responder grants... MORE... Soon...
http://www.rawstory.com/
BUT WHAT THIS REALLY SAYS IS ... FOCUS ON YOUR OWN BACKYARD!!
WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN 2006?
WHAT MESSAGE ARE YOU GOING TO SEND?
WHO ARE YOU SENDING TO DC WITH YOUR MESSAGE?
The more bodies going around
The more BLAME to go around
You can bet ALL of them are ok with hiding our dead from us. They do need to be re-elected, after all. All those dead people make them look bad.
Bush: United States must not retreat in Iraq
Thursday, September 22, 2005; Posted: 1:18 p.m. EDT
WASHINGTON (AP) -- -- President Bush said Thursday that withdrawing American forces from Iraq would make the world more dangerous and allow terrorists "to claim an historic victory over the United States."
Bush said terrorists have been emboldened over the years by the hesitant U.S. response to a hostage crisis with Iran in the Carter administration, the bombing of U.S. Marines barracks in Lebanon during the Reagan administration, the first terrorist attack on the World Trade Center during the Clinton administration, and other events.
"The terrorists concluded we lacked the courage and character to defend ourselves," the president said. "The only way the terrorists can win is if we lose our nerve and abandon the mission.
"For the safety and security of the American people, that's not going to happen on my watch," he said.
more... http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/09/22/bush.ap/index.html
it DID happen on YOUR WATCH georgie
it DID happen on YOUR WATCH georgie...
Posted by: Christy at September 22, 2005 02:13 PM
W's response: "It better not be the Rolex!"
Posted by: dwahzon at September 22, 2005 01:40 PM
That is my concern, that they will start massively cutting social programs. The economy
is in for a shaking, too, I am afraid.
Posted by: dwahzon at September 22, 2005 01:40 PM
So much for "supporting our troops" - hypocrites!
This makes my trip to DC more important than ever. Too bad my Congressman is one of the chicken hawks!
If Halliburton and the likes were run by REAL compassionate conservatives, they would either make a big contribution to the disaster fund, or pay a voluntary tax, as they are reaping a windfall out of this. They are doing neither.
As you may recall, it was Tom DeLay who said before the Iraq invasion "Nothing is more important in the face of a war than cutting taxes."
Posted by: dwahzon at September 22, 2005 01:40 PM
And I think this is the first time in history that anyone ever said that. Those ancient governments started collecting taxes, in order to fund wars. Major, expensive wars call for a tax increase, not a tax cut. A tax cut is the surest way to lose the war and destroy the domestic services as well.
And if you don't want the new taxes? Well, think twice before fighting a war you can't pay for!
A CALL TO ACTION FOR ALL OHIO PEOPLE...
from a dailykos poster:
So you think you are an activist huh ? Well we need your help in Ohio once again.
The biggest election in 2005 is in Ohio: The Reform Ohio Now campaign, issues 2, 3, 4, and 5. This is our chance to drive a stake into the heart of the Ohio GOP, but time is running out.
How can you help ?
First, we only have about 8 weeks left, so please recommend this so as many people as possible can get a chance to stick it to the Ohio GOP - They deserve it !
Read more here...
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2005/9/21/14379/2169
Posted by: AllyMcLesbian at September 22, 2005 03:27 PM
Why think twice about it, that would involve personal responsibility and ownership, things neocons don't, ummm.... believe... errr... in.
Much.
Here's the Raw Story scoop on the leaked GOP document that proposes cuts to everything but corporate welfare and the tax cuts for the rich...
House Republican Study Committee document recommends huge cuts
John Byrne
An internal Republican Study Committee document which is now available online and was simultaneously leaked to RAW STORY Thursday outlines an array of huge cuts in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, including the elimination of funding for Amtrak and the National Endowment for the Arts.
The document was first reported on by Roll Call.
RAW STORY has analyzed the pages and presented some of the more specific cuts. At this stage, these are cuts proposed by the Committee, which is composed of 86 House Republicans.
“Now is the time for us to begin to make the tough choices,” RSC Chairman Mike Pence (Ind.) told Roll Call, who asserted the proposal was only “a list of suggested cuts, not an exclusive list” and that “not every member of the [RSC] will agree with every cut.”
House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-TX) and Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert (R-IL) are not listed as members of the Committee.
Go here to see actual image of document and list of specific items that are being considered..
http://rawstory.com/news/2005/House_Republican_Study_Committee_document_recommends_huge_0922.html
Here's the same document in pdf format:
http://johnshadegg.house.gov/rsc/RSC%20Budget%20Options%202005.pdf
Tough choices... keep tax cuts for the rich, or cut social programs for those most in need?
WWJD?
Ok, how much irony exists in this sentence? (from cnn.com)
There were also long lines of frustrated travelers at Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport after about 100 employees of the Transportation Security Administration did not show up for work.
http://www.cnn.com/2005/WEATHER/09/22/rita/index.html
An old hippie tip for those going to DC this weekend: Wear your pockets inside-out. That way no one (cop, secret service, undercovers, etc) can 'plant' anything illegal in your pocket, then bust you for it.
You're welcome. :-)
Posted by: Hawkeye at September 22, 2005 04:18 PM
Thanks!
Or, even better, wear something without pockets. I'll dress my nickname at the activities, and I certainly won't have real pockets on my outfit.
I don't think men would find my tip much of use though...
Posted by: Hawkeye at September 22, 2005 04:18 PM
Hmmm. Sounds like that tip comes from experience...
Along the same topic, I posted this last night, but I think it bears reposting in case someone who is going to DC missed it... I may be over-reacting, but it's better to be safe than sorry.
http://www.starhawk.org/activism/trainer-resources/teargas.html
Posted by: Hawkeye at September 22, 2005 04:18 PM
Posted by: AllyMcLesbian at September 22, 2005 04:28 PM
Or better yet...
Don't wear any pants...
Who needs clothes?
Let the sun shine....let the sunshine in the sun shine in....
Hey since we're goin' hippie...might as well go all the way!
Posted by: madame defarge at September 22, 2005 04:28 PM
I did say "an old hippie tip" and not "a tip from an old hippie" -- although I'm not denying anything ... :-)
Tough choices... keep tax cuts for the rich, or cut social programs for those most in need?
Posted by: monkey at September 22, 2005 04:07 PM
If you actually need those social programs, something must be seriously wrong with you... You must've squandered the opportunities that America gave you.
Just look at the Asian community - the "model minority" - and see what they've done with their opportunity, even against the language barrier.
You deserve to drown in the Katrina floodwaters. You've had your chance, and you wasted it.
Sarcasm intended of course. The Asian communities succeeded because (1) they brought tons of money from home to start with, and (2) they often do cash-based businesses and underreport their incomes, thereby paying less tax (Koreans are NOTORIOUS for this). I have a Vietnamese in-law with a cash business, and I always tell him to report incomes honestly and pay his fair share of taxes; he's starting to listen, which is good.
Don't wear any pants...
Posted by: Indy at September 22, 2005 04:30 PM
Indy, I am not wearing pants anyway. As my nickname suggests, it's pastel-colored miniskirt suits for me! :)
If you're going to Washington DC The
You should wear some flowers in your hair
If you're going to San Francisco Sound
You're gonna meet some gentle people there
Dresses up sheer nakedness
new thread...
check out karen & suz's pics from setting up this afternoon