The Looney Left has been on fire trying to pin all the problems with Hurricane Katrina on Bush. Remember all the “Bush Stayed on Vacation” nonsense? From Reuters
U.S. President George W. Bush is handed a map by Deputy Chief of Staff Joe Hagin (R) during a video teleconference with federal and state emergency management organizations on hurricane Katrina from his Crawford, Texas ranch on August 28, 2005.
The Looney Tunes know he is never “on vacation” but it sells well to the gullible… Maybe the power of the picture can refute the idiocy. More…
Bush declares La. emergency
8/27/2005CRAWFORD, Texas — President Bush declared a state of emergency in Louisiana on Saturday because of the approach of Hurricane Katrina and his spokesman urged residents along the coast to heed authorities’ advice to evacuate.
Bush, vacationing at his ranch, was being regularly updated about the storm, which is expected to hit land early Monday, White House spokesman Scott McClellan said.
Officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency continue to coordinate with state authorities in Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama, and have prepositioned supplies in areas expected to be affected, he said.
The president’s emergency declaration authorizes the FEMA to coordinate all disaster relief efforts and to provide assistance in a number of Louisiana parishes, or counties.
For the first time in (I heard) 34 years the President actually declared a state of emergency before the storm even hit. Then he went a step further…
Bush urges safety from Katrina
8/28/05CRAWFORD, Texas — President Bush, as he readied the federal government for a massive relief effort, on Sunday urged people in the path of Hurricane Katrina to forget anything but their safety and move to higher ground as instructed.
“We cannot stress enough the danger this hurricane poses to Gulf Coast communities,” Bush said as the storm roared across the gulf toward New Orleans and other communities. “I urge all citizens to put their own safety and the safety of their families first by moving to safe ground.”
With forecasters warning of a category five storm, the president made sure the federal response would not be delayed by already declaring emergencies in Mississippi and Florida just hours after a similar declaration for Louisiana. Such declarations make federal aid available to assist with disaster relief, but they are rarely made before a storm even hits.
Sorta weird to read that the way history unfolded huh?
Lastly, as has been widely reported, Bush even called Blanco personally and urged her and Nagin to declare a mandatory evacuation of New Orleans. Anyone who says Bush was not on top of this is either lying or delusional…. Bush was far more on top of it than the mayor of New Orleans who had to be reminded by the National Weather Service that hurricanes were dangerous.
Of course FEMA, and the idiot who runs it, are a different matter.
It’d be really nice to know what the hell would satisfy you kneejerk anti-Bush imbeciles. If Bush somehow had made Katrina disappear before it made landfall, you jerkoffs would be screaming about his dictatorial control of the weather. If he had pleaded with God to make it disappear or to make it go back out to sea, you’d scream about the separation of church and state.
Really, nothing would ever satisfy any of you drooling mouthbreathers.
Exactly, Ryan. Well said.
oh I forgot to mention…if the person who jumped into the tiger pit gets mauled…its obviously President Bush’s fault…
yeah, I do think pictures show the PRESIDENT’S priorities:
President Bush plays a guitar presented to him by Country Singer Mark Wills, right, backstage following his visit to Naval Base Coronado, Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2005.
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/050830/480/capm10208301856
U.S. President George W. Bush (R) licks frosting off his fingers after presenting Arizona Senator John McCain with a birthday cake on the tarmac at the airport in Glendale, Arizona, August 29, 2005.
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/050829/ids_photos_ts/r3345646180.jpg
people have no food or water … and W is licking frosting off his fingers … not good.
Moseby:
I understand the point that you are making with your tiger pit analogy, but I dont really think that works for what happened here. You cant really compare the people who lived down there to someone who jumped willingly into a dangerous situation. That would be like blaming the citizens of Pompei for their deaths, or blaming the people of SF for being on the freeway in 89 when the earthquake struck. When something this big hits, people are going to die, and there isnt always someone who can be blamed.
“It’d be really nice to know what the hell would satisfy you kneejerk anti-Bush imbeciles. If Bush somehow had made Katrina disappear before it made landfall, you jerkoffs would be screaming about his dictatorial control of the weather. If he had pleaded with God to make it disappear or to make it go back out to sea, you’d scream about the separation of church and state.
Really, nothing would ever satisfy any of you drooling mouthbreathers.
Posted by: Sue Dohnim”
… Sue – just a word of advice – ad hominem attacks show desperation … all of us here have been reasonable and respectful to you guys, and we get this invective in return???
… again, I don’t speak for everyone on the Left, but *I* would like a little accountability – and, yes, that means from EVERYone – from the President on down.
I would like for ONCE for the buck to actually stop somewhere:
– FEMA prohibited the Red Cross from providing food and water to the folks in the SuperDome – I would like accountability for that decision.
– the Bataan was sitting off the coast waiting for orders (which can only be given by the CiC) – I would like accountability for the decision to wait nearly a week
– firefighters have been sitting at Hartsfield Airport in Atlanta, being put to use as props rather than getting in and helping people in need. I would like accountability for that decision.
I don’t blame W for everything that has happened. But, you gotta admit, his appointment of Mike Brown – a man with NO emergency management experience – NOT a good decision. His decision to go ahead with a trip out west and the photo ops there – NOT a good decision.
I’d like the “party of personal responsibility” to start showing some …
Sultry:
people have no food or water … and W is licking frosting off his fingers … not good.
Politically, yes, that doesnt look good and we can sit here and harp on all sorts of things like that. We can show pictures of Bush sleeping while some house in NO is being flooded, etc. But thats all sensationalism…we could juxtapose images like that until the sun goes supernova and that doesnt mean that its an accurate assessment of what happened, or what he was doing.
I agree that it wasnt all that wise to do some of the things that Bush did at the time, but that doesnt mean that he wasnt apprised of the situation, and that doesnt mean that he didnt give a damn about what was going on. What you’re asking for is purely political and photo-op related. This is the same kind of shit that Bush was hammered on for 9/11, and I’m not sure if its very important.
In these days of our insane and intense media coverage, I think we get a little hyper critical about what humans, even the president himself, are able to do at all hours of the day.
Dave G,
Here in Miami, in the event of a hurricane making landfall over us, local and state officials are all over the evacuation procedure. School board buses to Metro-dade buses and every other local and state agency vehicles are used, and effieicently I might add, to evacuate those in harms way. And we arent below sea level. the Florida Keys, for example, have only one way in and one way out, and while some of the locals choose to stay and weather the storms, the evacuations begin way before the storm’s landfall and work almost perfectly. this is because our local government’s dont dilly dally. If people need to get out, they get them out.
One of the most troublesome images I have seen in the wake of Katrina is that of the local NOLA school bus yard filled with buses parked next to each other and underwater. In miami, those buses would have been used immediately and up until the point where driving through the storm would be more dangerous than staying within the storm.
There is noone to blame for those buses being wasted but the local government. perhaps they would not have been enough to remove the 120,000 you mention, but 150 buses at 50 persons per bus is 7500 people per trip. Lets say two hours per trip with evacuation beginning just one day before landfall you get 90,000 peopl eout. That is exactly waht the local and state governments are supposed to do.
As for the Presidents actions directly after the hurricane I can only say that I would be hard pressed to imply that he was not on top of things from the get go. There really isnt much one can do directly after a hurricane but assess the damage and instigate the prepared plan.
We see all the images via TV from helicopters and see the devastation, but when you are in it, on the ground, it is a completely different story. Ive lived in Miami my emntire live, know the city like the back of my hand, and after Andrew, while out in the affected areas helping out, I got lost I dont know whow many times. There’s no street signs, crap all over the streets, no landmarks, nada. Now imagine sending a bunch of troops that have never been to the affected cities without local authorities there to guide them. It would be anarchy.
As to your thrid point, I truly dont see a lack of leadership. What I see is an overwhelming and unprecedented catastrophy and a system in place that needs work.
Wow, where to start? The comments of Tubino, Dave G. and Conor began as some constructive criticism, and eventually devolve into the puerile name calling that we see the Cindy Sheehan types fall into when questioned. Nonoe of the aforementioned commentors have told us how FEMA’s “slow” response was afffected by the path of the hurricane or the disaster’s effect on local roads, bridges and railroads. What we do know (See Sue’s picture above) that local authorities had the ability to move far more people as the disaster began, and failed to act. We also know that FEMA (who made many mistakes by the way) was on the scene within the 72 to 96 hour window their regulations allow.
We know that Mayor Nagin’s “plan” did not provide transportation to the poor and needy. The Feds do not run or regulate local evacuation plans, guys.
We know the National Guard and the Red Cross were delayed by the Mayor and Governor.
We know that local law enforcement was non-existant at the Mayor’s Superdome Center.
I would refer you to a number of different websites and newspaper articles from the last several years to prove your “its all Bush’s fault!!!!” meme to be silly.
What’s really pathetic about you three is that FEMA could have done a better job in spite of those screwups by the idiot Mayor and Gov. But we are so determined to find fault with leadership we’re going to argue the most ridiculous points to assert our position, and fail to constructively discuss a resolution to shortcomings of FEMA.
It is FEMA’s JOB to get in there BEFORE the event (if it’s as predictable as this one was) to set up relief so that they can help those in need AFTER.
If you’d have read the article listed above, you’d have noted that FEMA was moving supplies at least on Sunday, and that the hated Michael Brown was in Baton Rouge on Monday.
As to supplies, you’d have to be a dramatic idiot to move needed relief supplies directly into the path of a hurricane.
One other thing that needs to be kept in perspective here was that the situation on the ground Monday evening was thought to have been stable. N.O. officials are even quoted saying things were “relatively quiet.” Then the levee breaks, water starts rising, and all hell breaks loose. Get it through your heads people that the disaster changed its face a day after the hurricane hit.
Allow me to summarize this website:
Bush is doing a bang-up job.
Nothing that goes wrong is ever his fault.
Republicans are the party of accountability.
Lefties have an irrational hatred of Bush.
(It’s not because everything he touches turns into a disaster).
The media is liberal.
(Even though they are responsible for putting Bush in office).
It cracks me up when the left talks about Bush’s smirk.
If I got away with saying some of the crap that comes out of his mouth, I’d bust a gut laughing.
In these days of our insane and intense media coverage, I think we get a little hyper critical about what humans, even the president himself, are able to do at all hours of the day.
Posted by: Ryan A
… Ryan – it demonstrates priorities. I hope the posting that followed clarified my issue – it’s not that he can’t be kept apprised of the situation wherever he is. It’s what he decides is important enough to show up for.
– 100,000 people die in a tsunami and he can’t be bothered to leave Crawford or even make a public statement about it for 2 days.
– Brain-dead woman getting her feeding tube removed and he high-tails it back to the Oval Office to sign the bill.
– 3 states’ coastal regions levelled by a Category 4 hurricane, and he jets out to the Left Coast to talk about retirement and eat birthday cake.
yeah, I’m sure he was kept up to speed the entire time on what was going on on the ground – but where was the leadership? where were the commands to mobilize the Bataan? “our thoughts and prayers are with you” doesn’t cut it.
Sultry:
Ok. So Bush appointed Mike Brown, and the guy wasnt a good choice. It’s true. Bush could have made a different choice. But, seriously, a catagory 5 hurricane is going to kill people, alot of people, when it slams into a vulnerable city like NO. Bashing Bush for the choice he made is fine, but dont forget that the major CAUSE of all this is the hurricane. Bush’s choice of Brown isnt the cause. MAYBE another person would have done better, but thats pure conjecture.
And as I said above, the decision to attend the photo-ops, at least in my opinion, wasnt the greatest of all time. But thats all political bullshit in my mind, and not really indicative of what Bush was doing during the crisis. It’s spin more than anything. Bush could have been doint the same amount, whether he was actually in the gulf region, in san diego, or wherever. Pictures of him in NO, for instance, may comfort certain people, but that doesnt mean that he’s doing anything beyond making a political appearance.
bryan, who I’m sure is an emergency management specialist, squeezes this out: “As to supplies, you’d have to be a dramatic idiot to move needed relief supplies directly into the path of a hurricane.”
No. That’s what you do, because we have these big things, called buildings, with protected basements and stuff.
Prior placement of resources is EXACTLY what FEMA has done — to great success — prior to many hurricanes. It was done last year in Florida, a key state in an election year.
Idiot.
Never “on vacation”???? That’s the biggest joke I’ve ever read. I saw Jesse Jackson actually rescuing people in New Orleans. I saw Bush playing guitar, eating cake, and riding his bike during the disaster.
You people sicken me.
Robert tosses out this nonsense: “Just to clear things up, the Whitehouse did not invoke the Stafford Act, Governor Blanco did pursuiant to her declaration of a state of emergency on the 26th. This was neccessary to receive Federal assistance. Also the President’s declarations of intent (made on the 27th and 28th) with regard to FEMA’s coordiation of disaster relief and mitigation did not empower FEMA to take over relief efforts two days before the hurricane hit, merely to coordinate relief efforts between State and Federal agencies.”
Obviously you haven’t read the document the president issued, which did indeed invoke the Stafford Act. But here’s the language you don’t understand:
———————–
From the NPR:
“The President leads the Nation in responding efficiently and ensuring the necessary resources are applied quickly and effectively to all Incidents of National Significance.” (NHP, 15)
“The Secretary of Defense authorizes Defense Support of Civil Authorities (DSCA) for domestic incidents as directed by the President or when consistent with military readiness operations and appropriate under the circumstances and the law.”
Federal departments and agencies are EXPECTED to provide:
initial and/or ongoing response, when warranted, under their own authority and funding;
alert, notification, pre-positioning and timely delivery of resources;
proactive support for catastrophic or potentially catastrophic incidents using protocols for expedited delivery of resources. (NRP, 6)
————————
I’ll post the President’s declaration in next post.
Tubine:
Actually, in my opinion, what Bryan said makes some sense. It doenst sound very wise to me to put alot of valuable supplies right in the path of a catagory 5 hurricane.
“Protected basements and stuff” dont always hold up under the stress of such a massive hurricane. Did you see the photos of Biloxi? What good would those supplies do under a pile of rubble?
More lies, lies, lies from stupid conservatives.
Take a look at REAL timelines that show what occurred when, instead of repeating what you saw on some other idiot’s blog.
http://movies.crooksandliars.com/Countdown-Timeline-Katrina.wmv
or
http://www.basetree.com/articles/katrina-versus-bush.html
or
http://www.thinkprogress.org/katrina-timeline
or
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_Hurricane_Katrina
or
http://www.dkosopedia.com/index.php/Hurricane_Katrina_Chronology
You, like King George, are a LIAR.
Okay, take a deep breath and look at what President Bush declared on Aug. 27, and then ask yourself why you believe a lot of BS instead of just reading this. It makes “inoperative” half the post above.
LINK:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/08/20050827-1.html
Statement on Federal Emergency Assistance for Louisiana
The President today declared an emergency exists in the State of Louisiana and ordered Federal aid to supplement state and local response efforts in the parishes located in the path of Hurricane Katrina beginning on August 26, 2005, and continuing.
The President’s action authorizes the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to coordinate all disaster relief efforts which have the purpose of alleviating the hardship and suffering caused by the emergency on the local population, and to provide appropriate assistance for required emergency measures, authorized under Title V of the Stafford Act, to save lives, protect property and public health and safety, or to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe in the parishes of Allen, Avoyelles, Beauregard, Bienville, Bossier, Caddo, Caldwell, Claiborne, Catahoula, Concordia, De Soto, East Baton Rouge, East Carroll, East Feliciana, Evangeline, Franklin, Grant, Jackson, LaSalle, Lincoln, Livingston, Madison, Morehouse, Natchitoches, Pointe Coupee, Ouachita, Rapides, Red River, Richland, Sabine, St. Helena, St. Landry, Tensas, Union, Vernon, Webster, West Carroll, West Feliciana, and Winn.
Specifically, FEMA is authorized to identify, mobilize, and provide at its discretion, equipment and resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the emergency. Debris removal and emergency protective measures, including direct Federal assistance, will be provided at 75 percent Federal funding.
Representing FEMA, Michael D. Brown, Under Secretary for Emergency Preparedness and Response, Department of Homeland Security, named William Lokey as the Federal Coordinating Officer for Federal recovery operations in the affected area.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: FEMA (202) 646-4600.
Hmm, take a look at a map of the Parishes you mention- they’re all in NORTHERN Lousisana. I don’t see Orleans parish listed, or any other southern parish. Kinda weird, no? Odd they’d focus on the North, unless they don’t give a shit about the people in the South, directly in the Hurricane’s path!
http://www.bobharris.com/content/view/637/1/
Compare FEMA in Florida, in an election year:
Locally, top sustained winds the day the storm struck only reached 47 mph and did minimal damage to just a handful of buildings. Just 5 percent of county residents even lost power, according to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, which uncovered FEMA’s unusual largess. The newspaper reported that within two days of Frances’ arrival FEMA officials knew Miami-Dade had been unscathed, and yet the checks soon flowed into the county. “They were just doling out this money like it was Christmas,” a spokeswoman for Rep. Robert Wexler, D-Fla., told the Sun-Sentinel. (Eventually, 14 Miami-Dade residents who received assistance were indicted on fraud charges.)
. . . The Miami-Dade financial windfall came courtesy of President Bush who, following the request of his brother, declared the county a disaster area as the hurricane began to strike the coast. But Miami-Dade officials never even asked for disaster designation, for a very simple reason: Frances came ashore 120 miles to the north.
Want more?
http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2005/09/05/hurricane_track_record/index.html
Sheesh, people. Use some gottdamn common sense. You do not send more people into an area that will soon be hit by a category 5 hurricane. You also do not send supplies into the area as well, not in a city like New Orleans that is below sea level.
Common sense. Look it up if you dont remember what the hell it means.
Want to compare how FEMA can do its magic in Florida, in an election year?
http://billmon.org/archives/002125.html
GREAT STUFF.
And blows away you guys who think the govt can’t pre-position, can’t be there right after a hurricane, etc.
It can — WHEN DIRECTED BY THE PRESIDENT.
tubino,
Do you live in Florida? Cause if you dont, then an “opinion” column from salon, of all places, doesnt quite cut it.
oh, fercryingoutloud, people …
GO LOOK AT THE FEMA SITE!!! (www.fema.gov) bop on over to the press section and click on archives – click on August and you will find announcements BEFORE the hurricane that they had deployed people to the Gulf (including – GASP – New Orleans) …
Yes, Bryan – you DO put emergency personnel and materials into the path because, after the fact, they might not have hours to wait for these folks to mosey on into town.
it’s the corollary to “ships are safe in harbors, but that’s not what ships are built for” … FEMA’s emergency personnel might be safe in Idaho, but that’s not what they’re there for …
When the worst president ever made his declaration on the 26th, he said right there that FEMA wass in charge. They failed miserably and should be held accountable.
Why did they fail miserably? Because W. decided to appoint all his friends to FEMA, rather than Commerce or Labor, where politicians like him usually send their cronies. It’s probably a good idea for him to appoint idiots, they can always serve as scapegoats when something goes wrong. Then George doesn’t have to take any responsibility for anything.
This is the president who’s supposed to be making us more secure? What a laugh.
I hate to get off topic but I’m just DYING to know what Mike Myers had to say about Kanye’s blurb the other night….Watching the video of that, you can’t help but feel for Mike Myers….
His whole “get-me-off-stage PUH-LEEZ” looks off camera were classic….
The Video clip over at PutFile
Val,
FEMA does pre-position supplies, in areas and buildings that are extremely low-risk. It’s what you do in emergency management. Read what FEMA did in Florida (okay, in an election year):
http://billmon.org/archives/002125.html
FEMA could have had food water and medical resources in the superdome, which is low-risk, and for that reason had already been designated a refuge in plans drawn up months ago. Which is why FEMA SHOULD HAVE DONE SO.
C’mon, wise up.
… on a happier note – check out the guardsman on the front page:
http://www.nola.com/
… thought we could all use a breather and a rescue pic …
mmmm … sultry wrote:
I would like for ONCE for the buck to actually stop somewhere:
– FEMA prohibited the Red Cross from providing food and water to the folks in the SuperDome – I would like accountability for that decision.
Blanco’s people blocked it. Accountability right here. Try reading the website you’re on, please.
– the Bataan was sitting off the coast waiting for orders (which can only be given by the CiC) – I would like accountability for the decision to wait nearly a week
This isn’t a video game; ships like the Bataan don’t instantaneously teleport to where they’re needed. They were being loaded up on August 31. Read about how slow these ships are from a Navy guy. Once again, right on the very website on which you’re posting.
– firefighters have been sitting at Hartsfield Airport in Atlanta, being put to use as props rather than getting in and helping people in need. I would like accountability for that decision.
I can’t find this story you seem to be talking about here. I searched for “firefighters Hartsfield airport” in Google News and got nothing.
Besides, I don’t know why the federal government should be responsible for directing some firefighters sitting in Georgia when the feds already have the military in the disaster area. Your complaint makes no sense.
As for my descent into ad hominem, people who go onto opposing websites and don’t bother to actually read the content before cutting and pasting the usual assortment of logical fallacies and outright lies deserve whatever insults I pile on them.
Sue, try searching a little more carefully:
http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&ned=us&q=firefighters+atlanta+airport&btnG=Search+News
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2005/09/08/2003270849
Val,
Obviously you’re new to this whole reading-literacy-critical thinking game.
See, you read a piece, and you note the sources. ARe they credible? Does the Salon article cite govt documents? Are its sources credible, and can they be verified?
Or does it cite anonymous officials, blogs, Fox News reporters, and comments of people without last names?
What’s really weird is how few people are willing to face the implications of this disaster for an actual terrorist attack.
An explosive-laden boat could have taken out the levee prior to any warning or evacuation. A nuke can take out all the local pols and the gov too.
That’s why the NRP was devised — so that the feds can manage the whole thing, no matter what.
Which is what was signed off on Aug. 27.
And the resulting disaster should be a warning to you!
FEMA didn’t coordinate, didn’t even know what was going on on the ground, adn was REFUSING offers of aid!
yeah, adn you want to blame that on the locals.
It’s moronic, and dangerous.
And expenstive too. We already paid DHS over $100 billion, and now we have to pay again?!?!?!
Conservatives: doing less with more, and disclaiming any accountability.
More proof of Bush’s active involvement while on vacation:
http://news.yahoo.com/photo/050830/480/capm10208301856
-And the public is right behind him.
http://www.gallup.com/poll/content/default.aspx?ci=18148
Ah. A KOSsack invasion.
Speaking of bad leadership, what happened to that “plan” of Kos’s to destroy the DLC?
To Ryan A:
I see your point. However, SF 1989 and Pompeii were sudden and there was no warning. And my use of the word “jumped” may have been a bit crass, but some folks in NO elected to stay and ride out a CAT 4 hurricane. For the rest of the citizens of NO, I should have covered them in my analogy by saying, “The next time I see Mayor Nagin throw someone into a tiger pit, etc…..”
Oh, Sue … you’re actually throwing up a radio report in which a FOX reporter was the source – NOT a Red Cross official, a reporter??? and you expect us to take that as Bible???
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported this story over the weekend – WITH a Red Cross spokesperson:
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05246/565143.stm
As the National Guard delivered food to the New Orleans convention center yesterday, American Red Cross officials said that federal emergency management authorities would not allow them to do the same.
Other relief agencies say the area is so damaged and dangerous that they doubted they could conduct mass feeding there now.
“The Homeland Security Department has requested and continues to request that the American Red Cross not come back into New Orleans,” said Renita Hosler, spokeswoman for the Red Cross.
As for the firefighter story, try the Salt Lake Tribune (originally reported on the 6th, picked up internationally yesterday):
http://www.sltrib.com/utah/ci_3004197
ATLANTA – Not long after some 1,000 firefighters sat down for eight hours of training, the whispering began: “What are we doing here?”
As New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin pleaded on national television for firefighters – his own are exhausted after working around the clock for a week – a battalion of highly trained men and women sat idle Sunday in a muggy Sheraton Hotel conference room in Atlanta.
Many of the firefighters, assembled from Utah and throughout the United States by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, thought they were going to be deployed as emergency workers.
Instead, they have learned they are going to be community-relations officers for FEMA, shuffled throughout the Gulf Coast region to disseminate fliers and a phone number: 1-800-621-FEMA.
Wow, tubino illustrates that reading comprehension is not a strong suit among the asshatted left. Actually read what the declaration says, “…The President’s action authorizes the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to coordinate all disaster relief efforts…”. Somehow in the loony left world that means ASSUMES all disaster relief efforts.
And for cryin’ out loud – could you idiots finally read something other than the DU and Billmon and maybe actually find out what it is that FEMA and the state EMAs actually do before you make such assinine satements as “It is FEMA’s JOB to get in there BEFORE the event (if it’s as predictable as this one was) to set up relief so that they can help those in need AFTER.” That’s total crap. FEMA has 2500 employees, they’re job is to COORDINATE you dumbasses. But what do I know? I’ve only been working with my state EMA for about 12 years now – obviously a know-nothing jackass such as tubino is imminently more qualified to pontificate on disaster relief than someone who’s actually done it.
“FEMA is authorized to identify, mobilize, and provide at its discretion, equipment and resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the emergency.”
They didn’t provide those things in a timely manner at all. What will they do if there’s another attack?
tubino,
Read Paul’s post at the top as to FEMA supplying the Dome. And the personnel that FEMA deploys prior to an event are there to coordinate with local and state efforts prior to the event and if the local and state infrastructure isnt in place, then its a moot point.
I have stated before that the FEMA response has been less than stellar in this case.
But your innuendo that the POTUS picks and chooses one area over the other to assist more promptly is cynically absurd at best.
I have lived through quite a few hurricanes and dealt with FEMA reps more than I care to remember, but this conspiracy theory bullshit some here are expounding does absolutely nothing to address the situation the folks up in the Gulf States are in.
Moseby:
I agree that the timetable of SF 89 etc. was alot more sudden.
And I understand what you are talking about when referring to the people who chose to stay there, although I wonder if some people stayed because they werent sure where to go. Maybe they were panicked; I dont know. But in a region with so many people, it doesnt surprise me that alot of people were there when it hit.
For the rest of the citizens of NO, I should have covered them in my analogy by saying, “The next time I see Mayor Nagin throw someone into a tiger pit, etc…..”
Ya…I agree that analogy works alot better.
oh, yeah – the Bataan …
… it was IN the Gulf already, then it came in right behind Katrina to the New Orleans area for the sole purpose of supporting emergency personnel – but were not activated for 3 days:
http://home.hamptonroads.com/stories/story.cfm?story=91338&ran=100459
and
http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=19798
they can not act without commands – not from the governor, not from the mayor – but from the Commander in Chief.
Sue said, “Besides, I don’t know why the federal government should be responsible for directing some firefighters sitting in Georgia when the feds already have the military in the disaster area.”
Sue, it’s because the federal govt, including the prez, and sec of defense and many others, agreed to the NRP. Bush invoked it Aug. 27. I cited the language above in which FEMA is supposed to coordinate.
That’s how it is, and it works when competently directed.
I didn’t make it up. Liberals didn’t make it up. The current administration invented the NRP, and signed off on it.
Try this:
http://tinyurl.com/79jym
DUDACKATTACK, you forgot this image from the White House’s site that also shows Bush hard at work on his vacation.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/08/images/20050829-5_p082905pm-0125-515h.html
The comments of Tubino, Dave G. and Conor began as some constructive criticism, and eventually devolve into the puerile name calling that we see the Cindy Sheehan types fall into when questioned.
Actually, they don’t. Comb all my words if you like, but I haven’t done much in the way of name-calling other than to spit back at a couple of people who “questioned” people by using words like moonbat, et al, and otherwise just engage in acting like an idiot.
As to your thrid point, I truly dont see a lack of leadership.
Val, I guess we have to agree to disagree then. I see a lack of leadership, indeed. As for the “before” parts of the storm, I’ve already said — everyone involved gets about a half-notch above failing for doing about the bare minimum that could be done – at best. State, Feds, and Locals. It’s the Tuesday-through-Friday part that is appalling to me, and where I feel the Feds have been incompetent – and where a good manager starts slapping some people around or starts firing people, instead of telling the most incompetent person that he’s “doing a heck of a job.”
And to this…”It’d be really nice to know what the hell would satisfy you kneejerk anti-Bush imbeciles.”
A little leadership would have been nice at this time. He doesn’t have to be a deity. Just be the president. Are you satisfied with his response? Can you really say that? We’re not up here arguing about a random off-hand comment Bush said during the 2004 campaign, or his “smirk” or “putting food on your family” statement. It’s a little bigger than that, so please, if you can, turn off your “Praise Dear Leader” switch for a second.
“A little leadership would have been nice at this time. He doesn’t have to be a deity. Just be the president.”
Dave … I’ll second your request for leadership … with a side of accountability, please …
Sultry, got the firefighter story, thanks to your friend above. Okay, some volunteer firemen are not being utilized. Typical big government garbage. FEMA also screwed up by sending evacuees to Charleston, WV instead of Charleston, SC.
Oh, Sue … you’re actually throwing up a radio report in which a FOX reporter was the source – NOT a Red Cross official, a reporter??? and you expect us to take that as Bible???
Fox is more reliable than most of your sources. It wasn’t just on the radio, it was on TV as well, though why that makes a difference only moonbats know.
As far as the source being a reporter, your Post-Gazette info is filtered through a reporter too. Do you have a statement straight from the Red Cross website that supports your argument? No? Then shut the hell up about “reporter” this and “reporter” that. Non-Fox reporters are not somehow more holy and righteous than Fox reporters.
But keep up the talking point bullet list pasting thing. It’s won you guys a lot of elections so far. And for Pete’s sake don’t start thinking for yourselves anytime soon. You might wake up and realize how much damage guys like Kos, DU, and the MoveOn crowd are doing, not to speak of more mainstream voices like Howard Dean and whatnot.
Val,
So you dismiss the evidence of FEMA’s selective involvement because… it’s icky?
NOTE THE SOURCES:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/09/20040906-1.html
http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease_print.fema?id=13745
http://www.ohsep.louisiana.gov/newsrelated/ivanclose.htm
Those are the links provided in
http://billmon.org/archives/002125.html
You want to argue about the political difference? Right, bring it on.
Oh, you just want to declare it too awful to comtemplate, and dodge it? LalalalalalalalaI can’t hear you lalalalalala
Okay, your choice.
Sue – PRIMARY VS. SECONDARY SOURCES!!!
re: the “major garret” story on the Red Cross – the difference is someone SAYING that the Red Cross said something (the Garret version) and going to the proverbial horses mouth.
THAT’s the difference between the Post-Gazette story (WITH an official Red Cross spokesperson) and the Garret story echoing around the right-wing-blogosphere.
If you’d like additional proof that it was the Feds not the Governor that prohibited the Red Cross from having access, try the Red Cross FAQ area on their site, itself:
http://www.redcross.org/faq/0,1096,0_682_4524,00.html
“Acess [sic] to New Orleans is controlled by the National Guard and local authorities and while we are in constant contact with them, we simply cannot enter New Orleans against their orders.
The state Homeland Security Department had requested–and continues to request–that the American Red Cross not come back into New Orleans following the hurricane. Our presence would keep people from evacuating and encourage others to come into the city.”
… and, before you get all in a tizzy, there is no Louisiana Homeland Security Department –
I’m a lefty liberal. Let me give you my opinion.
I absolutely fault local and state government for not having in place, and not executing, a plan to evacuate people out of NO who could not evacuate themselves. Of course, I have always known that Louisianna is probably the most incompetent of the states. That’s one problem with “small government” – you still have to bail out the incompetent governments. Sometimes big government can just do a better job.
As to whether the levees would just overtop or would breech – SO WHAT? Beforehand, they knew there was a problem with the levee system overtopping that needed fixing. If the dikes on the levees had not overtopped, the levees would not have been undermined and the dikes would not have collasped.
After the levees broke, the ball was pretty much in FEMA’s court. And they did a horrible job. And, I feel, a lot of their performance problems are due to the “small government” dismantling of FEMA by the Bush administration, as well as cronyism by Bush in the appointment of its leaders ( which I partly blame on Democrats for not performing their duties in opposing the poor choices).
I also blame Bush for a poor show of leadership. Not only was he slow in prodding FEMA into action, he was tone death in his public appearances. Rather than pull us all together to help overcome disaster, he left me feeling more worried than before. Yes, we all feel for the loss of Trent’s home and I’m sure the government will make it good as new.
As for me, even though I’m a lefty liberal, I always know that I better not depend on the government for anything! I hear a flood is acoming, I’m hopping on my bicycle and pedaling as fast as I can.
Sue said: ” You might wake up and realize how much damage guys like Kos, DU, and the MoveOn crowd are doing…”
I am only hoping that some folk wake up and realize the damage done by turning FEMA into a shadow of its former effectiveness (except for in Florida, in an election year).
We are now supposed to accept that even before the bodies are recovered, corporations are hiring lobbyists to help them get fat contracts. (Halliburton got its first one days ago.) It’s in the WSJ today, and elsewhere. Billmon has a great parody here:
http://billmon.org/archives/002142.html
We’re supposed to forget that we’re growing the national debt (see http://zfacts.com/p/318.html)to fund DHS/FEMA with between $100-$200 B since 9-11, but don’t have the preparedness???
We’re supposed to be satisfied with an emergency response that can’t even clean up the corpses after a week. I’ll say it again, the coordination is FEMA’s job.
I think it was in a newspaper yeesterday that I read a former FEMA official comparing how it worked under Witt and Clinton with now. Before, the FEMA heads were all in the same control room with the local folks to make sure that aid was directed where needed.
Now, there’s no coordination at all.
Why would anyone defend that? It’s our tax money. It’s our citizens. It’s our country that looks like a third-world hellhole in its response.
Bush will be out of office someday. Will we get FEMA back? Will we get back a competent govt that prides itself on earning the respect of its citizens?
Or will all disaster management be turned to an opportunity to give no-bid contracts to political cronies?
(Yes, I have links for that last jab.)