That is a powerful statement by Mr. Cafferty. I remember the San Francisco quake myself, hell, I lived in it. We watched for days how the bay area was able to adapt itself to a closed bay bridge, massive gas fires in the marina district, and a collapsed cypress section of the I-880 freeway, out of which several brave and dedicated firemen and police and other rescue workers pried victims out of the mess -- still breathing.

The situation was handled deftly and swiftly -- and not without a declaration of martial law either. We survived, we recovered. And the Oakland A's finished off the sweep of the Giants (1989).

This situation looks bad. But there can still be reason for hope. This government can turn it around and make a lot of heroes out of the survivors. We should continue to hope and press our government to use their good ideas if they have any aces up their sleeves.

Use FEMA's disastrous behavior in N.O. TO ESTABLISH A PLATFORM RE: What DEMS do better....

The role of government, in part, must be associated with taking care of the people's large projects. Rather than the neocon shrinking of government until 'it goes away' government must serve the people's needs that cannot be financed otherwise.

THIS is a platform that the Dem Party can use: Public expenditures----your tax dollars at work----for the people's projects.

Helloooo Dems: create a platform that will send the Republican party into the Medieval Ages which is what Labor did in Britain to the Tories. Stop playing the (cricket) back foot.

Also that June, with the 2004 hurricane season starting, the Corps' project manager Al Naomi went before a local agency, the East Jefferson Levee Authority, and essentially begged for $2 million for urgent work that Washington was now unable to pay for. From the June 18, 2004 Times-Picayune

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001051313

Be sure to emphasize that Bush cut funding for items that would have increased their flooding prevention.

ALSO please please do not let our Governer Dean dare say as did Bill Clinton just now..."there is no way they could have known."

Don't say it, it is a lie. We all knew it was crisis time. So please don't pander to Bush and say there is no way he could have known.

Bush did not prepare and he cut FEMA.

When Bill Clinton said that today, I wanted to scream. He should not have said that...it was a lie.

When I watch C-Span I notice how the call in set up is arranged,support Bush,support Democrats,supports others? I heard a Republican woman ask a Republican man, why do you have that call in arrangement where you can't support Republicans & not support President Bush? His poll numbers are so low she said, it looks like you would miss a lot of calls for Republicans but maybe not in support of President Bush? He very plainly said, we don't want you if you can't support our President! Wow, we Democrats are too tolerent? We even allow Republicans to insult us on our own think tank Blogs. I think we should stop allowing desent amoung our own party members. I think we should add up how much deficency the National debt is during Bush's reign and when we get into office add that same amount & much more to the deficency and force the Republicans to pay it down,while we put our borrowed money to put in all the programs we have always wanted for the poor, the handicapped, for education, and health care. Let's do it, give them a dose of their own medicine. Let us be irresponsible and all the people will love us.

Pictures speak thousands of words. To listen to all the politicians and their assurances that they have a plan and are doing all that they can is an outrage!

I am speaking for myself when I say that I am ashamed of my country. I never thought I would see the day when we are expert in smart bombs and the horror of making war but can't support the needs of our people when disaster strikes. It's incomprehensible to hear the director of FEMA say he did not know of the people sufffering at the Convention Center until this A.M. (Thursday Sept 1). This center was a back up shelter!! He didn’t know there were thousands of people there? Bull! Homeland security... what a joke!

Seeing as how Cafferty has ALWAYS leaned to the right, especially prior to the election, and slanted his views accordingly, for HIM to criticize this administration means one thing.

This was the straw that broke the Republicans back! This and the Gas Pump prices are opening eyes like nothing else has. The withholding of funds that would have helped New orleans be prepared for disasters and to maintain their levees shows the extent of the gross misconduct of them.

Keep up the Discussions, peeps. Use this, use Gas prices, Use Cindy Sheehan, "What noble cause".

We can do this !

I've been watching all day on CNN with shock, anger and frustration. These people are DYING in the streets of NO, on the side of I-10, but I get to keep hearing FEMA declare that they are on top of the situation? Bull, plain and simple. All aspects of the relief are unacceptable in a time where we as a nation are supposed to be ready for another terrorist attack. Show's how ready we are. For all Bush's talk on getting ready for the next one, having the resources available, putting plans into action, setting up plans with state and local police, seems like that did a ton of good right?
All the talk, the empty words don't mean a thing now that people are dropping by the hour due to no food or water, no medical attention, no way out. I'm of course speaking for myself, but the feeling is mutual around the country I'm sure, not just from Dems, but from anyone. I'm not talking about the pundits and talking heads, I'm talking about the American people, the one's that don't get a half hour or hour of TV time a night to tell the gov't how they feel.
This is my reigon of the country (yes the people who voted for Puke), but putting that aside, they are suffering, and no one seems to be helping them. I've got Questions for all Gov't agencies...
Where was the plan for when this happened? For 3 to 4 days, All I heard, was that this was the storm they feared the most, that this would shut down New Orleans, so what did they do about it? What are they doing now?
Why did it take 2 days for anyone to do anything? Why was it determined that the National Guard was needed only after Waters starting coming in, that of course, 8 to 12 hours after the storm was over?
Who was in charge for 2 days, then again...who's in charge now? Where is the command center? Who's cordinating what supplies go where, and to who? It just seems like there is mass confusion over what needs to go where, and who's watching who. Where are the buses that people are supposed to be getting on to leave NO, and why aren't they being used?
One Giant failure after another, and now people are paying with their lives. Unacceptable. When all this is over, someone is going to be held accountable, and they better have a good explaination for all of this. I could sense the frustration, on not just Mr. Cafferty, but on all the reporters, all the anchors, and all of the people there. I'm not even sure how much worse it's going to get. All We can do is hope and pray someone, something, some organization can take charge of the situation and get those people to safety, get them food, water and medical help. Cause right now, FEMA is just not on it.

hello from JEBLAND. whats happening in new orleans and biloxi should come as no surprise to anybody. these people in charge of our country are in so far over their heads it would be funny if it wasnt so tragic. this is what comes of shrinking the goverment! i hope Grover Norquist is happy.our problems go WAY beyond democrats and republicans,conservatives and liberals. the biggest problems we have are incompetence and corruption!!! i work for the goverment and i see it all the time. Bush is the poster boy of incompetence and corruption but half the country does not care. why? because he is Christian? Republican? SOMEBODY better step up on our side and start speaking out before its too late. its time to put the DINOS on notice,if they really think the republicans ideas are so great then go join their damn party.anyone think i am wrong? before you answer go to a dictionary and look up the word FASCISM. have a good night, arbee

What else do Americans have to go through before they realize that Bush is bad for America? He has not had one single success since becoming President and all of us have suffered for it. While Katrina was barreling down towards the Gulf coast, he sat on vacation, scratching and waiting, not preparing, but waiting. Because of his lack of governing ability, people are dying. Helicopters that could have evacuated people are deployed in Iraq, looking for non-existing WMD. Humvees that could transport people out of the city are now baking in the desert; they still don’t have proper armor. Money that should have been used for strengthening the New Orleans levees was spent on Baghdad. Enough is enough. If Bush were any sort of man he would take it upon himself and resign.

Also from CNN tonight: -- "The director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency said Thursday those New Orleans residents who chose not to heed warnings to evacuate before Hurricane Katrina bear some responsibility for their fates."
What was Brown thinking?! Poor people who had no transportation and could not leave are responsible? This Adminstration is absolutely barbaric!

There is a Chinese saying, which I try to bring to a meaning in English. "Heaven will be aware if the king is not a kind one; Heaven will bring suffering to the reign of such a king." I hope I have captured the meaning of this saying. Since Bush has been such a king, I have always wondered why under his reign, we have gone through so many bad things. I only hope that Heaven would have brought suffering to the king alone but nobody else. One thing I am very sure, which is, Bush does bring the bad luck to America.

This storm was churning for two days as a CAT 5 Hurricane. Why was there NO planning in those two days? It was gonna hit somewhere between Texas and Florida! This Gov. of Mississippi (Haley Barboure) is a dip shit. Bill Frist is another. Perhaps if a brain dead woman were in New Orleans the congress would have come off vacation sooner?!! I'm sure a few brain dead people have died already, waiting on help. What a mess mother nature has made. What a bigger mess our government has made by not acting in a manner that is American. These are our people... empty Fort Hood. Give the soldiers a two day crash course in rescue/crowd management. Send them in. Now they are turning people away from the Astro Dome. They said they would take 24,000...there are 5,000 there and they are turning around buses. Total incompetence!! Remember this people. Remember who is in charge!!! I hope this finaly changes all American's minds. Bush cut funds this year for infastructure to fund the defunct war he started. Hundreds died in Iraq this week. Where has the sane world gone? Seems to have left in 2000!

You guys are not really politicizing a natural disaster are you? You are all disgusting human beings. Instead of trying to chalk up a political victory by blaming the GOP for this disaster, you should be trying to help people in need. Goodwill not illwill wins the hearts of people.

These kinds of comments are going to turn people against our party, don't you see this?

The truth is that after the hurricane that hit New orleans in 97 Clinton proposed two projects that whould hold these levees. It was expensive . Bush shut both projects Down. There has been huge scientific studies on the importance of securing the levees.These truths will not hurt our party. What is happining in New Orleans is because of Bush whether you want to face the truth or not. What this government has not done for these people is IMPEACHABLE!!

The reason these people are so out of control is there is no order! There is no food or water! This is the most inhumane reaction to a disaster in American history. There is no excuse for golfing and shoe shopping when people are sitting on roofs with out food or water. It makes me sick. All I have been able to think these past few days is "Let them eat cake"

Clinton proposed it, did he go forward with it? What democrat has sounded the alarm to get this done? My point exactly, noone did anything, Republican or Democrat. To play Monday morning Quarterback with something like this makes you look like an ass

All you have been able to think is let them eat cake? People are dying and lost thier city and your top thought is how Republicans are screwing this up? You left wing wackos are ruining this party more and more. Anybody that reads this please understand that these comments by these sickos dont reflect our whole party

Keep echoing the likes of Bobby Kennedy and our party will become obsolete

People are dying ! I guess in a way we are all responsible, but you and I do not have the ability to put fourth food, water, medical aid before a five hurricane. That is where this government has failed. I am so mad tonight. I am so mad at this government that is supposed to protect the people of this country. I am so mad at the loss of life. I am so mad at people like you that do not understand that this could have been prevented by fixing the levees. The cost is almost the same but without the loss of life and without the pain. The damage this government has inflicted on this country will never be forgiven!!!!

Democrat A must not be a humanitarin. What ever his party is he has no soul!

I think A democrat is really a republican that can not find discussion on the republican web site. Maybe we can turn him around. Maybe not but he is in disguise! Maybe from himself.

I think you were trying to say humanitarian. And maybe the DEM(first 3 letters of my name) didnt let you onto what party im in. Lets just say that Im not the one making politics out of a natural disaster. Im not the one who is blaming anyone for this. The fact is if anyone is to blame, it is the local govt of N.O. The money generated from the SuperBowl alone could have paid for this project you speak of. The money pumped into the city from Mardi Gras every March could do the same. Anyone who tries to use this for political gain is sick in the head and not worthy.

Dom-A, come back when you get better material and some facts to back it up, this ain't the limbaugh show. In the meantime here's a link to the Red Cross, please donate and make amends for your foolishness:

Red Cross

How many unnecessary Americans deaths does it take to amount to an impeachable offense?

Let me say up front that this is NOT a partisan statement. I would say the following in the same circumstances no matter which party was in charge.

I was watching CNN last night and asking the same questions as Aaron Brown: Can you believe this is happening in the United States of America? Has the wealthiest country on the face of the planet turned into a third world country that can't take care of its citizens?

There were people sitting by that NO Convention Center falling over dead. No food, no water, crap and urine all around. And this is DAYS after the rain and wind stopped. The TV cameras could get to these people! Why can't FEMA?

I'm outraged and disgusted that this is happening in our country. If the people in our government WHO WORK FOR US can't do their job, we need to FIRE THEM AND HIRE SOMEONE WHO CAN!!!

We spend 300 billion for Iraq, but we can't cough up 71 million to repair levees to save a million people here at home from flooding. We spend 300 billion in Iraq, but have people dying in the streets days after the storm has subsided because of a lack of resources and planning for disasters at home.

This is what happens when you go in with a mindset that all government spending is wasteful and just start cutting indiscriminately. Then a disaster happens of gigantic proportions, causing human misery and death, and then you say, "Well, we didn't know something like that could happen."

BULL!!!!

If I lived in any American coastal city, I would be afraid; very afraid. Not of an approaching storm but of what our federal government's response would be to the crisis. The Bush administration and the Republicans in general feel that people must take "personal responsibility" for their misfortunes and that all problems are local matters to be handled by charities.

Look at the slow federal response. The lack of resources. The small numbers of National Guard deployed. No Reservists called up. No logistics. Our military has been weakened to the point of not being ABLE to respond.

Just weeks ago CNN was showing our Guard in the deserts of Iraq driving around in converted amphiphious vehicles that could have been used to rescue people in this crisis. We have the equipment and the troops, but they were allocated to places half way around the world...for the most mindless of reasons.

The American poor and middle class are just so much collateral damage to the Republicans. We, too, are now Iraqis.

Thugs and sociopaths are killing women and children,shooting at rescue vehicles, and making criminal hay at the exepnse of the helpless. Isolate the thugs and get aid to the thousands of people who are being desimated by Nature and their fellow man.

I wish one leader had the integrity to assault the victimizers in a public and fierce manner; allow rescue agencies and volunteers to evacuate and provide succor to our citizens; repair the leveesand infrastructure; create a task force to clean-up the hazards to our people in the Gulf States; plan for the relocation of refugee families; direct the reconstruction of habitable homes and effective businesses.

Instead, we seem to be playing with or Chomsky agendas.

What would the Gulf Coast give someone like James Lee Witt running FEMA now?

Maybe Bush should give him a call.

Posted by Dem-A on September 2, 2005 at 12:54 AM

The breaching of the levee allowing Lake Ponchitrain to engulf New Orleans is not a natural disaster. The hurricane damage was, the lack of measures to deal with the predicted damage was not.

It was based on a political decision of the Bush administration.

If the Republican Party can not or will not aid these citizens in desperate need, we as Democrats, have to step up to the plate. We need to form our own task force and channel as much help as we can muster. It is not a "them or us" situation! We owe it to these Americans to do the right thing. Bring everyone back from vacation, form a think tank and get going!!! To sit back and point fingers is useless. What's done is done, it is time to move on in a humanitarian effort. My opinion is that this is the time to show the country what we are about. Please lets get moving.

I went through 4 hurricanes last year,,,and I am so thankful we were not hit with a 5. I am a republican that voted across the board democrate in our country's last election. I am ashamed of Bush,,,ashamed of our elected officials who are letting this happen to our own people that live in that devistated area,ashamed of the christian leaders who support Bush and his "all for me and my rich friend policies". I am proud of the everyday men,women and children who are trying to help the Gulf coast.They truly know what "Being an American" means. There are red cross workers standing in the parking lots of my children's school collecting money,,my children are giving their lunch money.My husband wants his company to send him to the gulf coast to haul gas for those poor people[he drives a tanker.] He cannot believe what is happening,he is so angry when he watches CNN at night.I hope my elected officials in florida read this blog,,,we have to stop the suffering of the children over there,,,we know from our own trials with hurricanes it does not take this long to stop the suffering.

Jesse Jackson is correct when he stated there is a race problem with President Bush. Yesterday during Bush's tour of MS, Al and New Orleans how many Black's accompanied him on his tour. Yes, the only Black person I remember seeing was the Mayor of N.O.. I am 66 years of age and I am white and we the people need to get rid of the Bush team. They have screwed up Iraq, now this and what will be next. Let's get him out of office now.

DebbyK,
You were also fortunate that you lived in Florida and got hit by 4 hurricanes during an election year.

Keep echoing the likes of Bobby Kennedy and our party will become obsolete

Posted by Dem-A on September 2, 2005 at 02:37 AM
------------------------------------------------
Couldn't think of a better person to emulate

Each time a man stands for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance."

Sen Robert Kennedy (D-NY)

There are those who look at things the way they are, and ask why... I dream of things that never were, and ask why not?"

Sen Robert Kennedy

There are those who look at things the way they are, and ask why... I dream of things that never were, and ask why not?"

Sen Robert Kennedy (D-NY)

"What is objectionable, what is dangerous, about extremists is not that they are extreme, but that they are intolerant. The evil is not what they say about their cause, but what they say about their opponents

"The future does not belong to those who are content with today, apathetic toward common problems and their fellow man alike, timid and fearful in the face of bold projects and new ideas. Rather, it will belong to those who can blend passion, reason a"

"But suppose God is black? What if we go to Heaven and we, all our lives, have treated the Negro as an inferior, and God is there, and we look up and He is not white? What then is our response?"

"Ultimately, America's answer to the intolerant man is diversity, the very diversity which our heritage of religious freedom has inspired."

"If any man claims the Negro should be content... let him say he would willingly change the color of his skin and go to live in the Negro section of a large city. Then and only then has he a right to such a claim."

God, this man would've been a wonderful president.