"This is America? This is an outrage."- Page 2

[YouWantitWhen????]

Posted: 9/1/05 at 8:00pm

What I do not understand is why, when the levees first started to fail, the federal government did not react immediately. It was two days before things really got going. There is nothing to excuse this. One could almost argue it was intentional neglect.

One of the most depressing things I heard was that many of the poor could not get out of Mississippi and NO because they could not afford the cost of gas. It was the end of the month, and they were waiting for their checks. So, since they had no extra money, they decided to wait out the storm. A tank of gas could be the difference between life and death.

Dig deep folks. Give what you can. And then, give some more. It is about all we can do right now.

[iflitifloat]

Posted: 9/1/05 at 9:07pm

I'm just beginning to truly appreciate what a huge impact this catastrophe is going to have. Rovian smoke and mirrors, and all the god bless America apple pie and motherhood patriotic spin in the world isn't going to fix this one for W and the boys. This, not Cindy Sheehan, will have been the turning point because it's up close and personal. All the fear-mongering of the past four years (only WE can keep you safe), all those politically opportunistic orange alerts, are about to bite the administration on the ass. Disaster has struck again. This time not even at the hands of an enemy...and the response is abyssmal.

Mainstream journalists, at least some of them, are hitting hard and all the "things are under control/help is on the way" jargon in the world just isn't going to ring true juxtaposed against the real time visual images and on the scene reportage.

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 9/1/05 at 9:11pm

Just wait until the story of Bush's cutting the funding for New Orleans' huricane/flood protection to fund the Iraq war breaks big in a few days.....hopefully...

[RobbO]

Posted: 9/1/05 at 9:22pm

i would love to say that this travesty is a final wake up call for americans regarding bush et al., but i fear the teflon administration will have these events slide off of them as everything else has.

as americans we have very short-term memories and are not well-informed as to the history of what is happening now in the south.

they'll say, "well you cannot blame the president for the weather. it's an act of god."

Posted: 9/1/05 at 9:22pm

This is more than an outrage.

The effects of this natural disaster on human lives are nothing less sad, tragic and sorrowful.

The fact that some folks are gleefully focusing on the political after effects of this catastrophe, in light of its current human toll, is nothing short of tasteless.

Focus on those who need immediate attention.

The politics and the media will take care of itself.

[Auggie27]

Posted: 9/1/05 at 9:37pm

iflit's post is powerful. I pray she's right.

I fear that tomorrow will be photo op from hell, with W trying hard to recreate the megaphone op burnished into the collective psyche, taken at Ground Zero. I hope that Time, Newsweek, or someone instead runs the picture of the nameless dead granny in the wheelchair, a limp blanet thrown over her head. Paula Zahn, potent and as angry as Anderson, said "there she is, dying without any dignity." Indeed. Dignity has been in short supply.

[YouWantitWhen????]

Posted: 9/1/05 at 10:06pm

I for one am not gleefully focusing on the after-effects of this tragedy. The question asked was "This is America?" - and the answer is yes. Will there be political consequences to the myriad of failures, both at the state and federal level, regarding this disaster - yes. There was poor planning on the federal, state and parish level. Everyone knew this was a possibility - it was one of the top three disasters envisioned for this country - a hurricane hitting New Orleans and the levess collasping.

Even with that knowledge, contingency plans failed and government, on all levels seem ill-prepared. People are now dead and many of these deaths could have been prevented. At some point, there will be a demand for accountability. Some of the devastation and loss of life could not be prevented. But, much of it could have been.

I don't see much glee on this board. Just people saddened and angered by failures on many different levels - whether they be human failures, governmental failures, or just plain bad decisions.
Updated On: 9/1/05 at 10:06 PM

[Rose_MacShane]

Posted: 9/1/05 at 10:09pm

Here a couple of rather obscure, but appreciated, things a few people are doing to help out:

Alivan's, a site that sells Harry Potter merchandise, is donating all the proceeds from the sales of their redwood wand to the Red Cross (http://www.alivans.com).

For anyone in Colorado, Dave Matthews will be extending his stay in Colorado to give a benefit concert on September 12 at Red Rocks. Average ticket prices are expected to be around $58.50, although there will be VIP seats for $500-$1000. Check Ticketmaster.

[beacon1]

Posted: 9/1/05 at 10:15pm

Am I hearing correctly (Primetime Live)

NO Authority figures/organization based at the Superdome

NO battery powered radios to communicate and provide information at the Superdome.

FOR CRYING OUT LOUD. Why isn't anyone there at "Ground Zero"?

[mominator]

Posted: 9/1/05 at 10:30pm

I just hope that the help does get there soon. Before any more lives are needlessly lost.

[Yawper]

Posted: 9/1/05 at 10:33pm

'This is America? This is an outrage.'

sanctimonious smarm from the monied pretty boy - give him an axe and put him on some rooftops

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 9/1/05 at 10:41pm

"“It appears that the money has been moved in the president’s budget to handle homeland security and the war in Iraq, and I suppose that’s the price we pay. Nobody locally is happy that the levees can’t be finished, and we are doing everything we can to make the case that this is a security issue for us.”
-- Walter Maestri, emergency management chief for Jefferson Parish, Louisiana; New Orleans Times-Picayune, June 8, 2004




http://www.pnionline.com/dnblog/attytood/archives/002331.html

[billygoatgirl300]

Posted: 9/1/05 at 10:44pm

People are dying in the streets, bodies are floating in the water, heleocopters that are carrying babies are being shot at, tens of thousands are homeless, not to mention all the robbries Yet the goverment has done very little. You would think the they would have done somthing a few days ago. Lets hope that the help will come soon.

[iflitifloat]

Posted: 9/1/05 at 10:45pm

No glee here, Jose, just total anger.

[mominator]

Posted: 9/1/05 at 10:47pm

outrage here

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 9/1/05 at 10:48pm

No glee on my part whatsoever.
Just pure anger.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 9/1/05 at 11:06pm

Fury here. And utter lack of glee. Anti-glee. A black hole that sucks in any glee I would feel over any of the nice things that might possibly make me smile over the past few days until it collapses upon itself.

This is DISGUSTING.

If troops do not arrive in New Orleans TONIGHT, if there is not stabilization before morning, I have no idea how much more wrong this is going to go. The US military has amphibious vehicles. There are, as we all learned, SWIFT FRICKING BOATS.

If the governors, the mayors, the cops and rescue personnel have no coordinated frequencies for communication capability that may not even exist, then the GD President needed to step in. Needed to coordinate this. For god's sake, he did the only sane thing he could do when HE CALLED IN BILL CLINTON.

I honestly wish Bush would allow Clinton some air time to address the nation on TV.

RobbO, I believe the Teflon is gone for this administration. Can you imagine the human interest stories on the cover of People magazine for the next few weeks? The disaster is the official Jig is Up moment for a callous and disengenous administration. To borrow a favorite phrase of Jose's, there has never been such a moment when an emperor has finally been revealed to have on no clothing at all.

Sure, they can try to focus on "looting" to distract people, but fact is, the FEMA budget that would have attempted to shore up the levees over the past few years was itself looted. By the president. For the BILLION DOLLAR A DAY WAR IN IRAQ.


I am going to call the White House tomorrow and tell them that I am deeply, deeply ashamed.

Updated On: 9/1/05 at 11:06 PM

[iflitifloat]

Posted: 9/1/05 at 11:06pm

"The fact that some folks are gleefully focusing on the political after effects of this catastrophe, in light of its current human toll, is nothing short of tasteless.

Focus on those who need immediate attention."

It only takes but a minute to write a check and stick it in the mail. And that's about all the support I can realistically lend right now. And I've been holding a vigil on the sofa watching CNN and the Weather Channel every moment I'm home, as if that will somehow lend moral support. But I disagree that it is tasteless to to discuss or anticipate the political ramifications of this natural disaster that was exponentially made worse by cut funds, ignored advice, and poor planning. Some of us are by nature more political than others. And the political aspects are going to be part of how we process it.

Jose, I recall you saying something to the effect that it didn't matter to you who occupied the office of president. I can't imagine feeling that way, but I accept that it's a different world view from mine and it's your perogative to hold it.

But yes, I am hoping the administration will be held accountable. Not for the storm, but for all the things for which they *are* responsible that allowed the proportions of this disaster to spiral into the realm of the unbelievable. I will be grateful that anything finally disarms that man and stops the madness of his administration. But there is no joy to be found anywhere in this situation.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 9/1/05 at 11:19pm

I don't have a TV right now, but the headlines on the Google News page are definitely alarming enough.

"I think there ought to be zero tolerance of people breaking the law during an emergency such as this — whether it be looting, or price gouging at the gasoline pump, or taking advantage of charitable giving or insurance fraud," Bush said.
New Orleans in Anarchy With Fights, Rapes

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 9/1/05 at 11:58pm

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhkay. CNN has just reported that the latest buses that arrived from New Orleans got to the Astrodome in Houston where they were turned away. They have decided that they will take no more people.

THIS IS MORE OUTRAGE.

They were, apparently told they "have to go somewhere else."

And tomorrow was supposed to be "the big day for bringing people in."

This is completely and utterly disconcerting.

Updated On: 9/1/05 at 11:58 PM

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 9/2/05 at 12:00am

It was just announced that at least 25,000 refugees will be brought to Dallas (where I live), so now at least I'll be able to help out.

[brdlwyr]

Posted: 9/2/05 at 12:03am

Priest - help out!!!!

THIS PRESIDENT IS ASLEEP!

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 9/2/05 at 12:05am

I just keep casting the movie in my head. Because this has to be a movie. This cannot really be happening.

[pab]

Posted: 9/2/05 at 12:07am

In 2001, FEMA warned that a hurricane striking New Orleans was one of the three most likely disasters in the U.S. But the Bush administration cut New Orleans flood control funding by 44 percent to pay for the Iraq war.
Story

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 9/2/05 at 12:12am

Oddly, that report came out before September 2001, and FEMA said a hurricane in New Orleans would be as disasterous as a "terrorist attack on New York City."