"This is America? This is an outrage."- Page 11

[YouWantitWhen????]

Posted: 9/3/05 at 6:29pm

Glad to bring a smirk to your face. :)


Actually, I liked some of her earlier books. The later ones, eh, but the first couple Vampire books I liked.


Not great literature, but fun.

[Plum]

Posted: 9/4/05 at 1:11am

The latest in the litany of Bush missteps: The entire time he was in Louisiana, supply drops were delayed because all helicopter flights were banned. I kid you not. This is incompetence on a stunning level.
NOLA

[MisterRussell]

Posted: 9/4/05 at 11:37am

Anybody familiar with HAARP?

Any possibility this was an experiment?

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 9/4/05 at 3:40pm

I don't think so and here's why. They government couldn't get bottled water in there. Imagine if they tried a more complicated experiment than that!

[ShbrtAlley44]

Posted: 9/4/05 at 4:52pm

They banned helicopter flights?? The hell? Maybe they were afraid a bottle of water would fall on Bush's head and kill the rest of the brain cells.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 9/4/05 at 4:59pm

Oh, it would just be a hollow THUNK like the sound of a pumpkin hitting cement, a slight crossing of the eyes, a quick readjustment of the carefully screened "hurricane victims" toward the lens of the camera, and back to business as usual. No brain, no pain.

[Plum]

Posted: 9/6/05 at 9:24pm

We weren't the only ones arguing semantics.

(aka I'm not completely crazy.)
MSNBC

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 9/6/05 at 9:26pm

not completely, but close.

[Plum]

Posted: 9/6/05 at 11:27pm

But it's nice of the men in white coats to give me computer access, don't you think?

Posted: 9/7/05 at 6:10pm

Why aren't these firefighters helping and saving people? Because our president needed a photo op.
Updated On: 9/7/05 at 06:10 PM

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 9/7/05 at 7:28pm

He must be furious that he couldn't wear his "Mission Accomplished" codpiece given how flattering the firefighter's pants flaps are.

[brdlwyr]

Posted: 9/7/05 at 10:21pm

Scarborough is again questioning Bush's response?

Some guy from the Family Research Council is criticizing FEMA and government???

This is crazy. I have never heard these type of stiffs criticize a Republican Administration.

Scarbourough just said, What happened at the White House? Updated On: 9/7/05 at 10:21 PM

[brdlwyr]

Posted: 9/7/05 at 10:27pm

BWS - are you listening to MSNBC?

[bwaysinger]

Posted: 9/7/05 at 10:28pm

Brdlwyr, when Frist is calling for heads to roll, you know something has happened. Here's what it is.
The Republicans in the country and the legislature have finally realized they're following a complete idiot of village proportions.
THey need to distance themselves, HARD AND FAST, from being involved in his escalating disasters. So off they go seizing the moment.

[Plum]

Posted: 9/7/05 at 10:30pm

Also, Frist wants to be President. Just saying.

[brdlwyr]

Posted: 9/7/05 at 10:30pm

To hear Scarborough speak like this. He was just complaining that Republicans from Oregon and CA are calling him and telling him to tone down the rhetoric.

I hope that PalJoey is enjoying his vacation, but I miss him now!!!!!!!!

[bwaysinger]

Posted: 9/7/05 at 10:46pm

Well, this is a great moment in time, I have to say, politically. It's fun watching the solidarity of the Republicans dissolve finally in the face of a real, honest-to-god-and-no-denying-it fiasco.
Americans can turn their faces from the reality of Iraq but not from something that is happening in our own backyard.

[brdlwyr]

Posted: 9/7/05 at 10:49pm

BWS - you are correct sir.

Blame is put on Nagin and Blanco - but they are not in charge in Mississippi are they???

[bwaysinger]

Posted: 9/7/05 at 11:03pm

Once again, I point to FEMA bylaws and our own apparent national laws and whatnot which exclaim that the FEDERAL government is the first intercessor in national disaster scenarios.
And, as pointed out, Blanco declared a state of emergency BEFORE the hurricane hit, as did our own Federal Government.
By our own rules and regulations, that put them in control from the onset.
Blame, verily thy name is FEMA.

[brdlwyr]

Posted: 9/7/05 at 11:10pm

Unified government has served the citizens of New Orleans well!

[Yawper]

Posted: 9/7/05 at 11:11pm

"Once again, I point to FEMA bylaws and our own apparent national laws and whatnot which exclaim that the FEDERAL government is the first intercessor in national disaster scenarios."

cite 'em if you've read 'em, cuz that's NOT how the National Response Plan reads.

[bwaysinger]

Posted: 9/7/05 at 11:47pm

For you, Yawper:
From http://www.dhs.gov/interweb/assetlibrary/NRPbaseplan.pdf

pop the link that will bump you directly down to Responsibilities and roles of government and go to the Federal Government.

"Pursuant to HSPD-5, the Secretary of Homeland Security is responsible for coordinating Federal operations within the United States to prepare for, respond to, and recover from...major disasters. HSPD-5 further designates the Secretary of Homeland Security as the 'principal Federal official' for domestic incident management."

So, this is when he's responsible, among other reasons:
"(2) The resources of State and local authorities are overwhelmed and Federal Assistant has been requested."

Blanco issued a State of Emergency and appealed to the Federal government for assistance.
Bingo. Federal government is now in charge.

[bwaysinger]

Posted: 9/7/05 at 11:53pm

By the way, this is another fun game to play.
Go back to that document.
Scroll down the left side to section IV. Concept of Operations.
Click on the link to see "overall Federal Response to Catastrophic Events" to get a nice, hearty laugh.

DHS website.

[bwaysinger]

Posted: 9/7/05 at 11:59pm

Ah! This is fun! Taken directly from the Stafford Act:

COORDINATING OFFICERS

Sec. 302. (a) Immediately upon his declaration of a major disaster or emergency, the President shall appoint a Federal coordinating officer to operate in the affected area.

(b) In order to effectuate the purposes of this Act, the Federal coordinating officer, within the affected area, shall

(1) make an initial appraisal of the types of relief most urgently needed;
(2) establish such field offices as he deems necessary and as are authorized by the President;
(3) coordinate the administration of relief, including activities of the State and local government, the American National Red Cross, the Salvation Army, the Mennonite Disaster Service, and other relief or disaster assistance organizations, which agree to operate under his advice or direction, except that nothing contained in this Act shall limit or in any way affect the responsibilities of the American National Red Cross under the Act of January 5, 1905, as amended (33 Stat. 599); and
(4) take such other action, consistent with authority delegated to him by the President, and consistent with the provisions of this Act, as he may deem necessary to assist local citizens and public officials in promptly obtaining assistance to which they are entitled.

(c) When the President determines assistance under this Act is necessary, he shall request that the Governor of the affected State designate a State coordinating officer for the purposes of coordinating State and local disaster assistance efforts with those of the Federal Government.


I'm sorry...who's in charge?

The Stafford Act

[dededarlin]

Posted: 9/8/05 at 12:58am

As a resident of new orleans and an evacuee, i would like to ask some people on this board to realize, if they have not already, that the devastation and frustrations with Katrina are not a "political" thing....it is the loss of lives, homes, and culture. i have found it dissapointing and somewhat offensive that so many people seem to be simply using it as a way to make a political point...and, to add insult to injury, even seem to enjoy it to some extent. however, i know the people of bww don't necessarily think like that...but in some posts it definitley comes across that way. i hope i am not being whiny...it just honestly offended me and i felt the need to say something.
on a more positive note, i would also like to thank everyone for all of the donations and concern given to the gulfcoast...the citizens of our country have supported and aided us in this time of need...and it is greatly appreciated.