Rehnquist has died. Democrats - you MUST stand up for us and our party more than ever!

Now that the MSM has found their cojones, they need to continue to step up their grilling of Bushler

These guys are practically like Marxists.

Remember when nothing happened in the Soviet Union unless Stalin (or Khruschev, or Brezhnev) said it did? They can change their tune on a dime, and they have their own version of the truth which must be strictly adhered to (i.e. 'there were never any demonstrators in Tianenmen Square').

Please stop using this as an opportunity to put down the Bush administration as though you would have done SO much better. It has nothing to do with the 90,000 Guard troops in Iraq. We still have 310,000 here in the US and many are coming to New Orleans from Wisconsin. It takes time for the Guardsmen to notify employers, get their stuff together, organize the supplies and load them or go to where they can be loaded, they come from far away-many different states, Then they must organize and drive their convoy to new Orleans and clean the roads of blockages and debris along the way. WE DON"T need your bickering and Partisan politics to make you look good in the next election! I am an Independent and your constant complaining and critisizing is pushing me to vote Republican in the next elections. We out here are not stupid-we actually care about the people in this situation and not about whether the government was not properly prepared(in your opinion)and using that information to start a political battle. No wonder the Democrats lost the Presidency! You guys just don't get it. You are so concerned with your political battles that you cannot unite together to help out the victims and forget about using them to gain political advantage. People in this Nation are part of the fast food-me first generation. If they are not taken care of immediately they don't know what to do. They have no patience, don't realize it takes time to organize a relief effort when communication is gone, roads are flooded, power is out; and people resort to looting clothes and electronics instead of taking food and water from Wal Mart. This has nothing to do with Iraq, even though you are too blind to see that. Stop this stupid bickering, you are looking more foolish everyday.

My problem with the quote from Aaron Brown is, why does he, or any journalist, feel they must apologize for speaking their opinion? By analyzing the "sort of" apology we see media people that are afraid to say anything that may be perceived as out-of-line; and that is scary.
Just my opinion!

Their response was bad enough, but they should suck it up, admit their mistakes, and quit trying to paint things like they're just fine. People aren't stupid.

Not as stupid as chimpy, anyway!! Guess they seem to assume otherwise.

Posted by plautz7 on September 3, 2005 at 11:40 PM

Okay, "it takes time to organize a relief effort." Have you ever heard of an emergency preparedness plan? The federal government must take responsibility for having no response plan to put into action. This disaster does make me thankful for the fire fighters in New York City after 9/11. Their response was immediate! Get the people out! Their mission was one of saving lives! This disaster is not about politics. It is simply about an administration that has no plan. Is it any different about anything this administration has done? Iraq? China? Al Quada? The economy? NO PLAN!! Make up as they go along, and the beautiful part for them is we must follow until we find our stones to voice our opinion. I applaud Aaron Brown for finding his and he never lose them agsain!!

Because Bush is incompetent and he surrounds himself with incompetent people, American citizens died in New Orleans when they could have been saved. The mantra of every caring person needs to become "Bush must resign now". Pass it on.

The Bush Administration is clearly showing that it does not really care about what is happening in New Orleans or any other town affected by Katrina. The government and the GOP are more concerned about their image and the polls in the wake of the disastrous reaction to the hurricane. Instead of mobilizing all possible resources the government is now desperately working on trying to shift the blame to the poor local authorities that have warned of the potential damage by Katrina days before it hit. Some of the GOP leaders are already preparing strategy plans to cover up their failure in responding adaequately and promptly in the hope that the American folks will quickly forget about this unfortunate event. There are more important things to do for the American representatives such as the "death" law, the "right" Supreme court nominees and more tax cuts . In a comment by a blogger, "plautz7" has been manipulated by the republican game in pointing fingers at those "darn" liberals. There are enough National Guard members in the US but it takes time to get them mobilized, says "plautz7". How much money has Bush spent in creating a monstruous Homeland Security Department (something completely against the GOP doctrine of a small government), how much planning has gone into preparing the Nation to defend against terrorism? Well, obviously one of the three most likely events to happen in the US identified by FEMA in 2001, a hurricane hitting New Orleans was obviously not in Bush's planning nor budget. I am scared to think how the Bush Administration would react to a major terrorist attack the way it reacted to Katrina. By the way, it is a pity that Mr. Bush had to cut short his well-deserved five (!) weeks vacation because of the devastating hurricane. How is it possible that also Mr. Cheney was on vacation at the same time?
I just hope that the American people do not forget what happened in New Orleans, in Mississippi and Lousiana and how much they can really rely on their "compassionate", "American value" stressed, "sacred life" supporting government.
God bless America!

Posted by plautz7 on September 3, 2005 at 11:40 PM

When we elect people who think government can't do much good, it is sort of silly to expect them to do good when they govern. I can agree with that much.

My goal is to cut government in half in twenty-five years, to get it down to the size where we can drown it in the bathtub.

Grover Norquist - leading conservative advocate and lobbyist -
The Nation, April 2001

I sense the strong potential for a sea change. The American people have now seen up close and way too personally the results of the tax cut fervor. They must surely realize after this that TANSTAAFL is a reality. The inadequacy of the federal government's response, the apparent unreadiness of our emergency services, and the revelations about cuts to programs designed to mitigate the effects of just such a disaster appear to have made a deep impression on the American people. Whether it translates to action will depend upon the leaders in Washington. I hope the powers in the Democratic Party can find ways to use the outrage evident in the nation right now to help put this country back on a sensible course, but I am apprehensive because, so far, their only plan seems to have been waiting for the Bush administration to implode. Part of politics is knowing when to pounce on opportunity. The Republicans have learned this well. As distasteful as this sounds, an opportunity has presented itself in the form of this disaster. It must be utilized intelligently. If used wisely, it will redound to the ultimate benefit of this nation by helping to reverse some of the insane policies which have been in place since Bush was handed the presidency. The nation needs someone to step up and lead now. Bush seems incapable of it, so let a Democrat step forward, if there IS a leader among the Democrats.

From the Department of Defense...some truly amazing spin:

"Q: Across the disaster zone our reporters have consistently run into people over the past week, victims who have asked where's the National Guard, why aren't they here, why aren't they helping us? I know it's not your job to decide where and when aid is delivered. You have to provide these forces. But as a general who's been there and a commander with a can-do reputation, I just wanted to ask your opinion. Do you think in retrospect that more creativity, more ingenuity could have been employed early on to use the military to deliver more aid to people sooner?

GEN. BLUM: It would be easy to draw that conclusion, Jamie, but if you've ever been to Gulfport, remember the highway that runs along the coast was a four lane super highway. It was impassable. So where you could -- if a normal infrastructure existed, no question, you could have saturated the area with more, faster. But we were putting forces in in very degraded infrastructure. Airports had reduced capability. Roads, in some cases we had only one road in because of lack of bridges, flooding, loss of infrastructure, or the structures were too unsafe to cross or we would become casualties ourselves.

So we couldn't rush to failure on this thing and we had to take a more measured approach than any of us wanted. But to call this response late to need, if you're talking about the National Guard response, that would be a low blow to some incredible individuals who were on watch before the storm, harbored during the storm, on the scene immediately after the storm cleared."

Read more here (but bring your barf bag):
http://www.defenselink.mil/transcripts/2005/tr20050903-3850.html

The planning, preparation, and response to Hurricane Katrina by FEMA exemplifies the basic characteristics of the Bush Administration: arrogance and delusion coupled with incompetence. Everywhere you look, the FDA, the CDC, Iraq, Consumer Affairs, Banking, business regulation, everywhere; it's the same thing. They always know the answers better than anybody else, they are always right, they never admit a mistake, and they always screw things up totally.

I hope that tomorrow morning the Democrats unite and forcefully block attempts by the Bush administration to sieze control of Louisiana from the local goernment, and that they refute any attacks on the local governments failure. They should repeatedly expose the federal government's failure to provide aid to the local government in spite of it being asked for, and their blocking of the delivery of aid from outside sources. Their actions are criminal and should be exposed as such.

I'd also like to see ALL Democrats out there asking why the Department of Homeland security is so good at giving orange alerts and so bad at securing the homeland. They ought to be everywhere and they ought to be vocal about the total and complete meltdown of federal competence in an American crisis. Every elected Democrat in the country ought to be asking why this is the best the Bush administration can do for America 4 years after supposed crisis preparations after 9/11.

Maybe now the media will finally call this propaganda peddling cadre of imbeciles on their bs. There needs to be a sweeping democratic retaking of both houses and then start impeachment proceedings before this president can do more damage to this country.

"There needs to be a sweeping democratic retaking of both houses and then start impeachment proceedings before this president can do more damage to this country."

This seems our only hope now to minimize the damage. With the possiblity of 1/3 of the Supreme Court now being chosen by this president..we MUST take back things asap. They obviously are inept. This country needs leadership..not politicians.

Their response was bad enough, but they should suck it up, admit their mistakes, and quit trying to paint things like they're just fine. People aren't stupid.

Ah ! but Contraire, Josh

By never admitting to ANY mistakes, there is always that segment of the population, who will be duped. Who are willing to defend their President, and give him the benefit of doubt. They can look at a lie, and still believe him.

I happened to catch a little piece of Limbaugh the other day. If you ever think people are not that stupid, listen to his callers, who absolutely refuse to see facts. They paint an entirely different picture on this country, this world, the UN, this administration, than the truth says it is. They are the ones being quoted on other blogs now, saying "They should have gotten out when they were told to".

Three tons of food left sitting till bush quit his Photo Op and left !!!!!

"Three tons of food ready for delivery by air to refugees in St. Bernard Parish and on Algiers Point sat on the Crescent City Connection bridge Friday afternoon as air traffic was halted because of President Bush’s visit to New Orleans, officials said.

The provisions, secured by U.S. Rep. Charlie Melancon, D-Napoleonville, and state Agriculture Commissioner Bob Odom, baked in the afternoon sun as Bush surveyed damage across southeast Louisiana five days after Katrina made landfall as a Category 4 storm, said Melancon’s chief of staff, Casey O’Shea.

“We had arrangements to airlift food by helicopter to these folks, and now the food is sitting in trucks because they won’t let helicopters fly,” O’Shea said Friday afternoon.

The food was expected to be in the hands of storm survivors after the president left the devastated region Friday night, he said.

Link

From the Department of Defense...some truly amazing spin: Posted by VannaB on September 4, 2005 at 02:32 AM

vanna,

no surprise...

spin<>divert<>spin<>divert...

spin ... we can't control nature (our scientist tell us this was intelligent design and not global warming?)

divert ... we blame those local officials (not spending those home security funds wisely?)

spin ... we can't look at what went wrong now...we'll have OUR experts do later (cause we"re trying to play catchup now?)

divert ... (later comes) we don't want to comment on an old story and we must move on (cause progress is being made and everyone is being comforted...photo opts)

pamb,

surprised? w's photo opt is much more important then those poor folks eating. gotta show a "caring & emotional president." besides, w did cut his vacation short for this opt. imagine all those steaks left in crawford un bbq'd. and away from that pesky mom too.

be prepared for more spin>diver>spin...

I am a little concerned abou some of these comments and this entire blog section. It seems to have attracted a lot of the most intemperate folks in the party and seems to me to invite ridicule from the other side

cnn STATE OF EMERGENCY

is reporting that the deaths will be in the thousands...i'd suspect that many of those could have been saved had we the helicopters (on loan in iraqmire) and our national guard easily mobilized (also on an unvacation in iraqmire) available...more then our soldiers lost to date in iraqmire.

fema director is saying it couldn't be predicted and cnn is eating him alive...w's spin machine is full of obnoxious fuel, trying to get-up-to-catch-up speed, and belching some very smelly gas...

jordan,

with all due respect, i'm unclear as to what comments (meaning mine?). intemperate? inviting ridicule from whom?

The current administration in Washington wasted all kinds of time in coming to the aid of the victims of the hurricane which is a NATIONAL DISASTER. But what does the Bush WH do? It blames the failure to respond appropriately, and with dispatch on the local and state governments.
When will these idiots get it, that the citzens of this country are sick to death of their playing the blame game about everything, rather than take responsibility for all their screw-ups.
Hey Bush...the buck does stop with you! "Can't anyone deliver us from this idiocy?

Action is what we need....has anyone thought of impeachment?

This guy has done enough damage already. Hey - I am a Republican, but this guy is hurting us all.

jordan,

If you feel that outrage and anger at this administration is out of order here (ON a Democratic Blog, I remind you), then perhaps you are on the wrong blog.

If you are looking for sweet talking defense of this administration and the last 5 years of their incomptence, then you won't find it here.

And judging from the morning talks shows, even the 'other side' is outraged at this administration, so any 'peekers' in here are hopefully the open minded ones who agree !

New Orleans was not a natural disaster, it was mass murder. The present administration has murdered thousands of people abroad. Now they have begun to murder the poor in their own country. Clearly, the life of a comatose white woman is more important to Republicans than the lives of thousands of African American citizens living in New Orleans. For these last several years, democrats have tried to cooperate and compromise with these republican butchers. In doing so, the democrats have become deeply complicit in their crimes.
Now, many are asking "how many more people will the US government murder. How much more must people suffer at the hands of the US"? The US is a pariah state, scorned and mocked around the world. This hatred is slowly becoming deserved, as we have shown ourselves to be nothing more than a third-rate banana republic with a massive army that is so preoccupied with murdering Muslims that it cannot even care for its own people.
People get the government they deserve, and if the democrats continue to cooperate and compromise with our barbaric and murderous president, than the rest of the world will be unable to avoid concluding that we Americans are simply savages.

You know things are getting really, really bad when Fidel Castro looks more responsive and competent than our own President.

I can't even disagree with these buffoons anymore on ideological grounds because they can't even meet a discernible standard of functional competence. Why the hell were Louisiana legislators ignored in their repeated requests for infrastructural funding?

I can only look on in wonderment and awe and at the scope of the arrogance, the stupidity and the laziness of this adminstration. We need to ride these bucketheads out of office on the next rail.

I think we should call for an impeachment of Bush. He has demonstrated complete incompetence in caring for the American people. He was so anxious spend billions of dollars and send our young people into to war to "protect America" yet cannot prepare for nor respond adequately to a disaster within our own borders. I cannot begin to express my outrage in this total incompetence! American should be ashamed to call him Mr. President. I have never had any faith in Bush, but if we don't get rid of this president, people will lose faith in our governmental system. Please call for Bush to be impeached. The American people deserve better.

This was written some time ago but the lyrics ring so true they must me remembered---Thanks Tracy Chapman!

People say it doesn't exist
'Cause no one would like to admit
That there is a city underground
Where people live everyday
Off the waste and decay
Off the discards of their fellow man

Here in subcity life is hard
We can't receive any government relief
I'd like to please give Mr. President my honest regards
For disregarding me

They say there's too much crime in these city streets
My sentiments exactly
Government and big business hold the purse strings
When I worked I worked in the factories
I'm at the mercy of the world
I guess I'm lucky to be alive

They say we've fallen through the cracks
They say the system works
But we won't let it
Help
I guess they never stop to think
We might not just want handouts
But a way to make an honest living
Living this ain't living

What did I do deserve this
Had my trust in god
Worked everyday of my life
Thought I had some guarantees
That's what I thought
At least that's what I thought

Last night I had another restless sleep
Wondering what tomorrow might bring
Last night I dreamed
A cold blue light was shining down on me
I screamed myself awake
Thought I must be dying

PamB,

People like that come here to lecture us on anger and hate, and they are free to log on without a moderater to "filter" out dissent.

Most people don't realize that people like Jordan will go back to their own bb's, spout vicious and unthinking hate rhetoric, and never think twice that they are fostering the race and class hatred that has been showcased by the New Orleans debacle.

He will go back to his buddies and joke about how this will help to weed out the "gene pool" and laugh with his buddies about how they deserved whata they got.

This has been going on for 35 years. One the "private" track, hidden behind moderators, both class and racial hatred are vented, in public, they lecture others about how not to blame!

This all the while the blame the helpless.

I can't think of ANYTHING lower than that!

Thanks, TEXSUN!

The DNC needs to organize a rally/protest on Washington now! This is the time, when even Fox newscasters are blaming Bush, to not only get much needed federal aid for the Gulf but to point out the hypocrisy of the administration on a national level! Most Republicans are not reading this blog but they do watch TV, and are also upset with the administration's response to Katrina. Let's take advantage of that and rally now! Help me plan a rally to take place in Washington, it's time!

Bush&Co are thieves. That disaster relief money better be in a special account with auditing!!!! If they put it in the General Account it will be used for Iraq Occupancy or worse!

Is it "incompetence"?

Let's see. How many Americans are now dead because of the actions of George W. Bush and his cohorts?

1/ September 11, 2001 Bush failed to call up NORAD planes to intercept the highjacked passenger planes (Bush sat reading a book). Over 3,000 dead that day. (And those New Yorkers now suffering from illness caused or worsened by the environmental pollution resulting from that terrible event may eventually surpass that number.)

2/ Then we watch the ever increasing death toll from Bush's debacle in Iraq: 2000 troops have died in "combat zones", and undisclosed numbers of our young military have died enroute home or after efforts to save them have failed.

3/ And now Bush's New Orleans death toll is being tallied. Miraculously, the full fury of the hurricane missed the first "old" world city built in the "new" world. And the following "surge" of Gulfwaters in the storm's wake would have caused less damage had the levees been repaired according to plan. But Bush withdrew promised money from the levee repair fund, taking the funding from just adequate to completely inadequate. And New Orleans drowned. And death toll by drowning is pending. Yet, more heinous still, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), having been castrated by Bush, failed and more thousands died from lack of timely rescue. Yet most shocking, Bush further delayed rescue and delivery of supplies so that the arrival of relief could be timed in concert with the end of his vacation and his "triumphal" tour of the disaster area.

Is it outlandish to say this man's actions are killing us? But, it gets worse. At the same time we are dying, Bush is lining the pockets of his friends with profiteering money. Regarding 9/11, there was evidence of stock market manipulation so that secret parties profitted from the disaster, secret only because Bush disallowed an investigation. In Iraq, estimates of almost $9 billion have been stolen from the Iraqis coffers and there is no accountablility for the U.S. funds being paid to contractors and mercenary forces. That's war-profiteering.

And now as a putrifying swamp replaces what once was a beautiful garden city, Americans everywhere witness rampant gas price gouging, no bid contracts for storm repair, the walking away of insurance underwriters,the imminent use of eminent domain seizures of property, and no accounting system in place to track the inpouring of relief funds from generous people everywhere. We have no assurance relief funneled through the Bush Adminstration will reach those in need. We are witnessing disaster profiteering.

Whereas Bush seemingly fumbles ineptly through meeting the sworn responsibilities of government, he glides confidently in the backrooms of secrecy, stonewalling and royalist loyalty where fortunes are made from others' misery. What are we to do with Bush, who is seemingly incompetent to protect us but totally competent in enriching his friends and cohorts? It is time Bush and his crowd are made to pay for their criminal negligence and criminal complicity. Impeachment is a good way to start.

I continue to watch the news coverage, and read the blogs, and watch the videos. I was online last night and suddenly prompted to research how to impeach this president. I guess what crossed the line was when I learned that the head of emergency disaster relief, Michael Brown, has no experience whatsoever and we have actually been cutting back FEMA Resources

I was just watching the head of Homeland Security interviewed by Wolf Blitzer on CNN. He actually remarked that Michael Brown has a lot of experience! I was sitting in anticipation, not quite sure if Wolf Blitzer would actually call him on this comment, and he did! HOORAY! The head of homeland security backtracked and said in the ONE YEAR that Michael Brown has been in charge(prior to that forced to resign his post of 11 years), he has faced 4 hurricane situations. File this under GIVE ME A BREAK PLEASE!

September 24th, let's show Washington DC we are here and we are watching and listening and are outraged at the Money and Resources Homeland Security has been authorized with and yet cannot respond to our own people within 24 hours of a National Natural Disaster! If it weren't so angering I would be in tears.
-Jen/Independent in Massachusetts

One more thing, if anyone wants to learn more about the September 24th date mentioned in my last post, please visit

IMPEACHBUSH.ORG: Join the tens of thousands on September 24
Who Will Call for Impeachment
Gather at the White House at 12 noon

I had tried to insert these two URL's on my last post:

Regarding Bush's Policy with FEMA:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/29/AR2005082901445_pf.html
and Mike Brown;
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2005_09/007023.php

Of our 6 relatives that have made it from NOLA to FL,2 already have jobs and have enrolled their child in school.2 will stand pat as homes are dry and partially secure,their jobs MAY be intact,await power restoration and the call to safely return.2 have nothing to return to;will rebuild their lives in FL. Now we're taking in 2 friends to shelter here as they recover.STOP playing a blame GAME! INVITE a displaced person or family to share your home and strength.

a point to ponder,20 yrs ago,we rec'd and paid our 1st NOLA property tax bill.Our neighbors scoffed at our naive action.We learned that a visit to the elected property tax assessor's office would win a substantial reduction of the tax bill. NOLA was a poor city,things will change.To rebuild the Gulf Coast,all of us can be good citizens.Let's concentrate upon the survivors.It's wrong to victimize the survivors for ratings,political interests or entertainment-OPEN YOUR HOMES AND HEARTS.

Bush seems to only be able to say: " How could we have known?"
9/11- Bush's repsonse? How could we have known?
No WMD in Iraq- Bush's response? How could we have known?
The insursion in Iraq-Bush's response? How could we have known?
The aftermath of Katrina- Bush's response? How could we have known?
In each case Bush was warned and in each case he ignored the warnings and in each case people died because "he didn't know"

plautz7,
The trurh hurts doesn't it?

Here's some more of it:

The GOP is racist, xenophobic, and fascist.

boudreaux,

very well said. and at this time we need a leader who doesn't just talk, but does the walk...leads by example!

please allow me to add...w should return to a working vacation in crawford, fire up his barbecue, allow our taxpayer helicopter to pluck folks out of harm's way, and then fly them on taxpayer airforce 1 to crawford to camp and enjoy a barbecue...no, i'm not joking...i'm very serious... that would be a compassionate president.

September 03, 2005

If he could go to Baghdad, why didn't Bush go to the New Orleans Superdome or the Convention Center? It was bizarre for all of the country and much of the world to be watching those scenes for days on our TVs and news reports, and for Bush's photo ops to be in areas that were far less critical. I know there are security considerations but his visit seemed extraordinarily hollow even by this administration's standard of ultra-stage managed events.

Dutch viewer Frank Tiggelaar writes:

There was a striking dicrepancy between the CNN International report on the Bush visit to the New Orleans disaster zone, yesterday, and reports of the same event by German TV.

ZDF News reported that the president's visit was a completely staged event. Their crew witnessed how the open air food distribution point Bush visited in front of the cameras was torn down immediately after the president and the herd of 'news people' had left and that others which were allegedly being set up were abandoned at the same time.

The people in the area were once again left to fend for themselves, said ZDF.

Although 9/11 was an enormous tragedy in our country's history, in my opinion, the devastation of Katrina is far worse than that of 9/11. With that said, where has VP Cheney been? I haven't heared of any response from him over the last week. Could you imagine if he ignored 9/11 for a week, and possibly longer at this rate? His absence, along with the military's slow reaction to its citizens in the Gulf Coast, has further supported the fact that the Bush administration does not represent the average citizen. Our country and our citizens deserve more.

In response to the earlier comment about the Iraq War having nothing to do with this slow response, I beg to differ. Yes, we have plenty of troops in the USA still. However, these troops, along with equipment, are spread all over the country. The area affected by the Katrina had a large number of armed forces over sees. Therefore, any reasonable response time from local armed forces was not possible. The National Guard and armed forces (equipment) had to arrive to the Gulf Coast Region from all of the country, which TOOK TOO LONG.

In addition, I am sick of hearing people say send Rudolph Guliani down there to fix it. You can't compare the situation. Guliani had a communication system and an isolated portion of NY City affected. I doubt he would have, nor anyone else, been able to maintain order if NY City was completely destroyed on 9/11. Credit should be given the the New Orleans Mayor and his first responders who defended the City of New Orleans in a War against Katrina.

amer1st et al-last time I checked,it doesn't require Momma May I from GWB,DNC,GOP... to use our selves to help a neighbor.Help the man,woman or child within ARM'S reach and/or Post a invite to house and support a Katrina survivor in your home for the next few months.People to people sharing is POWERFUL help,no govt can match what EACH ONE OF US can collectively share! KEEPING OUR EYES OPEN-How much the red or blue states ACTUALLY do 1:1, to help me and mine.

boudreaux,

i love your spirit...this is the spirit that made us america(n). unfortunately, my brother and i share a tiny two bedroom, one bath, small kitchen-living room. i'm honored and willingly giving from my small paycheck a donation, blood from my body, a care package of my extra soap-toothbrush-toothpaste--etc, yes. and, from our leadership (= w, cheney, rumsfield, rice, rove...) we shall see? i've already posted what a compassionate leader is to me.

and to you and all those victims, my prayers w/a heart felt sorrow. the pictures bring tears. i've never been so disgusted in my life w/this adm. and i do not buy there's time later for blame. that's exactly what they want. then they'll say, it's old news. no, it's not news, it's real ... those are humans, fellow americans, their bodies laying in water...hungry, homeless...no words i can type brings the horror. god help us all. w is beyond incompetent.

e-mail a question to Michael Chertoff, head of homeland security, tomorrow's guest on MTP.
My question: Mr. Chertoff: Who, in your judgement should have the authority to declare mandatory evacuation? Once declared, who has the responsibility to provide transportation to the elderly, those without cars, money or wherewithal to abide by the mandatory evacuation declaration? Posted by bb on September 3, 2005 at 10:00 PM

When asked about delays in getting the people food, water and evacuation this morning, Michael Chertoff declared, "Now is not the time to look backwards, now is the time to look forward." When he was reminded that when told last Thursday that people were still stranded in the Convention Center and Superdome he said "Oh, I didn't know that" he was asked "How could you not have know that Mr Chertoff when we reported it on TV all week?" Chertoff replied "That's an issue that needs to be looked into".

Well duh!!!

The government froze because its leader froze. And it froze because those at the head of state just don't believe in government; they were pulled into this crisis kicking and screaming, by unrelenting coverage from a newly-emboldened news media that broadcast America's shame across the globe.

This morning, GWB went to Red Cross headquarters, apparently to make the point that non-governmental agencies are to carry the burden in this tragedy. At the same time, his Secretary of Homeland Security was pointing the finger at the LA and NO officials for not preparing, for not transporting the poor, the frail, the invalid and the children out of harm's way. In the Secty's words, FEMA head Brown told people on Saturday to evacuate. (I suppose the message is that if you're poor you deserve it, and you deserve what you get if you're poor.)

Obviously, the only role the federal government has -- in the mind of this administration -- is to dispense tax cuts to the least-needy (please don’t talk to me about class-warfare; those abandoned in NO are only the latest victims) and to shield corporations from civic responsibility.

It’s time for America to rebalance the equation. We need a new balance. We need a balance between our obligations to bring freedom to the downtrodden of the world and the needs of our citizens here at home. We need a new balance between the fruits of business and industry and the common good. We need a new balance between expunging terror in the world and fomenting hatred against an American people who are always willing to extend their hand, their fortunes, and their lives, when need be. We need a new balance because the world is out of balance and becomes more so every day. Every time this administration commits us to actions that exhibit our might but not our greatness, and neglects to act when the need is so great, our need for balance is dizzying.

It’s now clear that this scion of privilege and power has recklessly driven our ship of state, beholden only to those who manage each of his crises to their own advantage, while slandering and belittling those who would question or impede their will. Many pundits have noted that times of great national tragedy have spawned great political movements. The question is: will the Democrats step forward as a united force, with an unqualified will (no, it’s not enough to have the Black Congressional Caucus step forward) to defend the institutions of, for and by the people, or will they watch in silence as the Bush administration once again undermines the foundations of this great country? Unfortunately, there’s not much time to decide.

If we in this country don't stop them, there is someone in another country who will. They are bad seeds and the world will no longer allow them to take root elsewhere. Either we weed them out or we'll face the rath of an ever-increasingly hostile world.

Dean needs to throw his support behind the Black Caucus. Let those who have been last now be first.

On Saturday, Mr. Bush announced that he had requested that President Hu Jintao of China cancel his planned trip to discuss the important and pressing issues such as the theft of American technology, copyright infringement, and the enormous trade gap that now exists between China and the US. If Mr. Bush were truly concerned about rebuilding our devastated Gulf Coast, he would not have dismissed an opportunity to insist on a balanced trade policy with China that would help to create the thousands of jobs lost as a result of Katrina. It is time to let our President know that he should be more concerned about the fate of the people than of managing what many consider a political crisis for the failure of his Administration to respond in a timely and effective manner to the greatest natural disaster to occur in the US.

Everyone can see how glaring the pattern it is. George W Bush takes four days to get to Ground Zero after 911, several weeks to respond to the tsunami disaster in Shri Lanka and now this --- he turns his back on New Orleans in the face of a level 5 hurricane. And yet, I feel the Republicans will escape paying the price at the polls comes 2006. Here is why. Notice how long they have been putting off the trial of Saddam Hussain. Originally it was schedule for last August. What happened?
I believe they have been putting it off for the 2006 election after having correctly anticipated the rough times that have recently unfolded in Iraq. Consider it their trump card. And one they will play fully with help from the right wing media. It doesn't take a political genious to figure it out. Saddam goes on trial for crimes against humanity in September of 06 just in time to resell a percentage of the gullable public into supporting the war. This naturally will take the heat off many GOP candidates who are currently on thin ice such as Ric Santorum of PA. Considering our major networks are owned and operated by Republican corporations such as Disney, Viacom, GE and Rupert Murdoch’s Fox, you can be sure the matter will recieve grand coverage
24/7. Repeated imagaes of dead Kurds lying in gutters after having been gassed by Saddam some twenty years ago, along with interviews of those recalling the horrors of his prisons and torture rooms may serve to ‘momentarily’ bring back support for the war just in time to provide that extra boost. Maddening since since this has nothing to do with the 'imminent threat' the President presented to us in his 2002 State Of the Union address. Nonetheless, the trial will stirr up pathos among many who do not stop and to analyze the lies the President sold to the congress are seperate from the acts of one of many terrible dictators on this planet. However,once again shifting the focus and using the media may prove in the last days before an election to be all that matters when it comes to winning. I hope I am wrong this time.

you are looking more foolish everyday.

Posted by plautz7 on September 3, 2005 at 11:40 PM

And you, Plautz, ARE a fool!

To defend this administration on what they could have fixed years ago, but chose to cut the maintenance of those levees so they could use that money on an Invasion into a country that had no WMDs, no terrorists until bush got there, shows how Very Easily Duped you people are. Bet you a dollar, you get your news from Fox and Limbaugh!

If you are an Independent, I will eat my hat. You are a Right Wing Fanatic, who is getting REAL worried over Bush's Bad, Bad poll numbers and Image.

This morning, GWB went to Red Cross headquarters, apparently to make the point that non-governmental agencies are to carry the burden in this tragedy.

Of course he did, and he also has his Father and Bill Clinton trying to drum up this money from us citizens.

To have to pour this additional money into NO, means he will either have to grow the deficit by billions more, or maybe, gee just maybe, have to start getting out of Iraq before he gets those 14 bases built around their borders!

pamb (and dnc)...

our dnc leadership might consider putting america 1st by going on the offensive. pressure w (he's in a whole heap of ...) to not spend another american tax dollar rebuilding either a hospital, school, or civic building in iraq until our devasted states have their schools, hospitals, and civic centers rebuilt.

let's take a poll to ask americans if america should be 1st. a no brainer and dnc could truly get the gut. rove would have one battle trying to help w out of this attack ... after seeing and hearing all, making america 1st ... it's our folks, our land, and our tax dollars?

our dnc leadership might consider putting america 1st by going on the offensive. pressure w (he's in a whole heap of ...) to not spend another american tax dollar rebuilding either a hospital, school, or civic building in iraq until our devasted states have their schools, hospitals, and civic centers rebuilt.

How does the DNC or Democrats do this, when you STILL have Clinton, Kerry , etc saying Stay the Course. Saying we have to finish what we started. And can't you just hear the Right saying we don't support the troops, by not ok-ing any more money?

Anyone wanna play, 'Where's Cheney?'

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/article310186.ece

"The criticism is all the sharper because the President did nothing to alter his holiday schedule for 48 hours. Vice-President Dick Cheney remains on holiday in Wyoming. Condoleezza Rice, the Secretary of State, returned to Washington after being seen shopping for $7,000 shoes in Manhattan as New Orleans went under."

pamb,

i guess america does not come 1st. so, we'll be honest taxpayers...rebuilding iraq to be like iran, and those poor folks in the south stay 2nd.

unfortunately, it's not right, but you're right.

George Bush used his radio address this Sunday to actually blame the people of New Orleans for his own massive failures.

This President is the most reprhensable piece of garbage I have ever seen.
George Bush and his pathetic administration have cost thousands of lives, and instead of apologizing he is actually blaming the State and City of Louisiana, and New Orleans.

If the Democratic party doesen't stand up for the brave people of Louisiana, it will be INEXCUSABLE.

Democrats need to expose just how heartless, cowardly and incompetent this administration is. George Bush hasn't just dropped the ball, he actually threw it in the garbage, If Democrats don't unite to show the country what a failure George Bush is as a leader, I will give up on them as a party.

when will people realize as long as rich white man, and rich black man, Can keep the black and white talk going.. the people will over look the real problem .{the poor and rich thing] if a nuclear weapon went off in this town.. they would block the roads and get the rich out and let the poor die..the price off fuel only hurts the poor,,when will people realize we must reverse, what ronald reagan started,,,people will see the truth, when they are robbed, and watch there cities burn,,and the country is covered in blood

Bush Plays Politics With Hurricane Relief Efforts

"Behind the scenes, a power struggle emerged, as federal officials tried to wrest authority from Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Babineaux Blanco (D). Shortly before midnight Friday, the Bush administration sent her a proposed legal memorandum asking her to request a federal takeover of the evacuation of New Orleans, a source within the state's emergency operations center said Saturday.

"The administration sought unified control over all local police and state National Guard units reporting to the governor. Louisiana officials rejected the request after talks throughout the night, concerned that such a move would be comparable to a federal declaration of martial law. Some officials in the state suspected a political motive behind the request. "Quite frankly, if they'd been able to pull off taking it away from the locals, they then could have blamed everything on the locals," said the source, who does not have the authority to speak publicly."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/03/AR2005090301680.html

The above article shows who dropped the ball, and it aint W

The above poster shows why the majority of the GOP today are brain-dead neo-cons, most of whom are now in denial.

The above poster has to call people names in an effort win an argument

Learn how to accept responsibility. Your Democrat Gov. denied a fed takeover and did nothing to save those people. Your Democrat Mayor did nothing period. Thier lack of responsible leadership cost thousands of lives

Hey NycGOP:

Got anything intelligent to say? I didn't think so... All you brain-dead GOP neo-cons can do is hurl the lame invectives and the ad-hominems.

FactCheck confirms Bush short-changed levee upgrade budget:

http://factcheck.org/article.aspx?docID=344

"Our fact-checking confirms that Bush indeed cut funding for projects specifically designed to strengthen levees. Indeed, local officials had been complaining about that for years."

"We can confirm that funding was cut. The project most closely associated with preventing flooding in New Orleans was the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Hurricane Protection Project, which was “designed to protect residents between Lake Pontchartrain and the Missisippi River levee from surges in Lake Pontchartrain,” according to a fact sheet from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. (The fact sheet is dated May 23, long before Katrina). The multi-decade project involved building new levees, enlarging existing levees, and updating other protections like floodwalls. It was scheduled to be completed in 2015.

"Over at least the past several budget cycles, the Corps has received substantially less money than it requested for the Lake Pontchartrain project, even though Congress restored much of the money the President cut from the amount the Corps requested.

"In fiscal year 2004, the Corps requested $11 million for the project. The President’s budget allocated $3 million, and Congress furnished $5.5 million. Similarly, in fiscal 2005 the Corps requested $22.5 million, which the President cut to $3.9 million in his budget. Congress increased that to $5.5 million. “This was insufficient to fund new construction contracts,” according to a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ project fact sheet. The Corps reported that “seven new contracts are being delayed due to lack funds” [sic].

"The President proposed $3 million for the project in the budget for fiscal 2006, which begins Oct. 1. “This will be insufficient to fund new construction projects,” the fact sheet stated. It says the Corps “could spend $20 million if funds were provided.” The Corps of Engineers goes on to say:

Army Corps of Engineers, May 23: In Orleans Parish, two major pump stations are threatened by hurricane storm surges. Major contracts need to be awarded to provide fronting protection for them. Also, several levees have settled and need to be raised to provide the design protection. The current funding shortfalls in fiscal year 2005 and fiscal year 2006 will prevent the Corps from addressing these pressing needs.

"The Corps has seen cutbacks beyond those affecting just the Lake Pontchartrain project. The Corps oversees SELA, or the Southeast Louisiana Urban Flood Control project, which Congress authorized after six people died from flooding in May 1995. The Times-Picayune newspaper of New Orleans reported that, overall, the Corps had spent $430 million on flood control and hurricane prevention, with local governments offering more than $50 million toward the project. Nonetheless, "at least $250 million in crucial projects remained," the newspaper said.

"In the past five years, the amount of money spent on all Corps construction projects in the New Orleans district has declined by 44 percent, according to the New Orleans CityBusiness newspaper, from $147 million in 2001 to $82 million in the current fiscal year, which ends Sept. 30."

Dumbyah Peers at the Flood, Then Goes Off to Play Golf

BUSH STRAFES NEW ORLEANS
WHERE IS OUR HUEY LONG?
by Greg Palast

Friday, September 2, 2005
The National Public Radio news anchor was so excited I thought she'd piss on herself: the President of the United had flown his plane down to 1700 feet to get a better look at the flood damage! And there was a photo of our Commander-in-Chief taken looking out the window. He looked very serious and concerned.

That was yesterday. Today he played golf. No kidding.

I'm sure the people of New Orleans would have liked to show their appreciation for the official Presidential photo-strafing, but their surface-to-air missiles were wet.

There is nothing new under the sun. In 1927, a Republican President had his photo taken as the Mississippi rolled over New Orleans. Calvin Coolidge, "a little fat man with a notebook in his hand," promised to rebuild the state.

He didn't. Instead, he left to play golf with Ken Lay or the Ken Lay railroad baron equivalent of his day.

In 1927, the Democratic Party had died and was awaiting burial. As depression approached, the coma-Dems, like Franklin Roosevelt, called for balancing the budget.

Then, as the waters rose, one politician finally said, roughly, "Screw this! They're lying! The President's lying! The rich fat cats that are drowning you will do it again and again and again. They lead you into imperialist wars for profit, they take away your schools and your hope and when you complain, they blame Blacks and Jews and immigrants. Then they push your kids under. I say, Kick'm in the ass and take your rightful share!"

Huey Long laid out a plan: a progressive income tax, real money for education, public works to rebuild Louisiana and America, an end to wars for empire, and an end to financial oligarchy. The waters receded, the anger did not, and Huey "Kingfish" Long was elected Governor of Louisiana in 1928.

At the time, Louisiana schools were free, but not the textbooks. Governor Long taxed Big Oil to pay for the books. Rockefeller's oil companies refused pay the textbook tax, so Long ordered the National Guard to seize Standard Oil's fields in the Delta.

Huey Long was called a "demagogue" and a "dictator." Of course. Because it was Huey Long who established the concept that a government of the people must protect the people, school, house, and feed them and give every man or woman a job who needs one.

Government, he said, "We The People," not plutocrats nor Halliburtons, must build bridges and levies to keep the waters from rising over our heads. All we had to do was share the nation's wealth we created as a nation. But that meant facing down what he called the "concentrations of monopoly power" to finance the needs of the public.

In other words, Huey Long founded the modern Democratic Party. Franklin Roosevelt and the party establishment, scared senseless of Long's ineluctable march to the White House, adopted his program, called it the New Deal, and later The New Frontier and the Great Society.

America and the party prospered.

America could use a Democratic Party again and there's a rumor it's alive -- somewhere.

And now is the moment, as it was in '27. As the bodies float in the streets of New Orleans, now is not the time for the Democrats to shirk and slink away, bleating they can't "politicize" this avoidable disaster.

Seventy-six years ago this week, Huey Long was shot down, assassinated at the age of 43. But the legacy of his combat remains, from Social Security to veterans' mortgage loans.

There is no such thing as a "natural" disaster. Hurricanes happen, but death comes from official neglect, from tax cuts for the rich that cut the heart out of public protection. The corpses in the street are victims of a class war in which only one side has a general.

Where is our Huey Long? America needs just one Kingfish to stand up and say that our nation must rid itself of the scarecrow with the idiot chuckle, who has left America broken and in danger while he plays tinker-toy Napoleon on other continents.

I realize that the middle of rising flood is a hell of a bad time to give Democrats swimming lessons; but it's act up now or we all go under.

www.gregpalast.com

FEMA Head Mike Brown Was Fired From Previous Job With Horse Group

The federal official in charge of the bungled New Orleans rescue was fired from his last private-sector job overseeing horse shows.

And before joining the Federal Emergency Management Agency as a deputy director in 2001, GOP activist Mike Brown had no significant experience that would have qualified him for the position.

The Oklahoman got the job through an old college friend who at the time was heading up FEMA.

The agency, run by Brown since 2003, is now at the center of a growing fury over the handling of the New Orleans disaster.

"I look at FEMA and I shake my head," said a furious Gov. Mitt Romney yesterday, calling the response "an embarrassment."

President Bush, after touring the Big Easy, said he was "not satisfied" with the emergency response to Hurricane Katrina's devastation.

And U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch predicted there would be hearings on Capitol Hill over the mishandled operation.

Brown - formerly an estates and family lawyer - this week has has made several shocking public admissions, including interviews where he suggested FEMA was unaware of the misery and desperation of refugees stranded at the New Orleans convention center.

Before joining the Bush administration in 2001, Brown spent 11 years as the commissioner of judges and stewards for the International Arabian Horse Association, a breeders' and horse-show organization based in Colorado.

"We do disciplinary actions, certification of (show trial) judges. We hold classes to train people to become judges and stewards. And we keep records," explained a spokeswoman for the IAHA commissioner's office. "This was his full-time job . . . for 11 years," she added.

Brown was forced out of the position after a spate of lawsuits over alleged supervision failures.

"He was asked to resign," Bill Pennington, president of the IAHA at the time, confirmed last night.

Soon after, Brown was invited to join the administration by his old Oklahoma college roommate Joseph Allbaugh, the previous head of FEMA until he quit in 2003 to work for the president's re-election campaign.

The White House last night defended Brown's appointment. A spokesman noted Brown served as FEMA deputy director and general counsel before taking the top job, and that he has now overseen the response to "more than 164 declared disasters and emergencies," including last year's record-setting hurricane season.

http://business.bostonherald.com/businessNews/view.bg?articleid=100857

How's this for intelligence? When did you see the Gov or mayor on TV blasting the fact of that money being diverted? If they thought it was so important, where were they? Here's another goodie for ya, the Superbowl was in NO just 3 years ago. Run your liberal behind over to factcheck.org and see how much money that generated the city. They could have paid for the project from that alone. Did they use that money for that? No, but keep harping on the fund cuts by Bush. Im glad you are so much more intelligent than me.

FEMA Directing Donations to Rev. Pat Robertson?

Thanks to scores of protests, they've now removed the so-called "Operation Blessing" from their site of recommended charities.

But here's a link to a screenshot showing that it was on there at one time: http://tinyurl.com/cqnn6

And why are they listed second on the list after the American Red Cross? Someone really should investigate the political connections between FEMA and that hate-mongering hypocrite Pat Robertson.

NycGOP Proves Just What an Idiot He Really Is Once Again

> Run your liberal behind over to factcheck.org
> and see how much money that generated the city.

http://www.factcheck.org/search/index.php?query=superbowl&x=0&y=0&type=simple

"Your search for "superbowl" returned no pages."

So your point is what, exactly? The fact that a sporting event generated lots of cash is irrelevant, I don't think the NFL turned into a benevolent organization overnight. Just more proof that you brain-dead neo-cons don't understand the first thing about economics, other than what's spoon-fed to you by your GOP handlers.

Learn how to do some independent research and think for yourself for a change, it'll do you a whole world of good. :-)

Name calling again because you can't think for yourself? You have posted links to brainwashed stories and websites that promote your agenda but where are your ideas? This is why your party is so weak and can't win elections anymore

As Usual, Mike is Right on the Money

Dear Mr. Bush:

Any idea where all our helicopters are? It's Day 5 of Hurricane Katrina and thousands remain stranded in New Orleans and need to be airlifted. Where on earth could you have misplaced all our military choppers? Do you need help finding them? I once lost my car in a Sears parking lot. Man, was that a drag.

Also, any idea where all our National Guard soldiers are? We could really use them right now for the type of thing they signed up to do like helping with national disasters. How come they weren't there to begin with?

Last Thursday I was in south Florida and sat outside while the eye of Hurricane Katrina passed over my head. It was only a Category 1 then but it was pretty nasty. Eleven people died and, as of today, there were still homes without power. That night the weatherman said this storm was on its way to New Orleans. That was Thursday! Did anybody tell you? I know you didn't want to interrupt your vacation and I know how you don't like to get bad news. Plus, you had fundraisers to go to and mothers of dead soldiers to ignore and smear. You sure showed her!

I especially like how, the day after the hurricane, instead of flying to Louisiana, you flew to San Diego to party with your business peeps.

Don't let people criticize you for this -- after all, the hurricane was over and what the heck could you do, put your finger in the dike?

And don't listen to those who, in the coming days, will reveal how you specifically reduced the Army Corps of Engineers' budget for New Orleans this summer for the third year in a row. You just tell them that even if you hadn't cut the money to fix those levees, there weren't going to be any Army engineers to fix them anyway because you had a much more important construction job for them -- BUILDING DEMOCRACY IN IRAQ!

On Day 3, when you finally left your vacation home, I have to say I was moved by how you had your Air Force One pilot descend from the clouds as you flew over New Orleans so you could catch a quick look of the disaster. Hey, I know you couldn't stop and grab a bullhorn and stand on some rubble and act like a commander in chief. Been there done that.

There will be those who will try to politicize this tragedy and try to use it against you. Just have your people keep pointing that out. Respond to nothing. Even those pesky scientists who predicted this would happen because the water in the Gulf of Mexico is getting hotter and hotter making a storm like this inevitable. Ignore them and all their global warming Chicken Littles. There is nothing unusual about a hurricane that was so wide it would be like having one F-4 tornado that stretched from New York to Cleveland.

No, Mr. Bush, you just stay the course. It's not your fault that 30 percent of New Orleans lives in poverty or that tens of thousands had no transportation to get out of town. C'mon, they're black! I mean, it's not like this happened to Kennebunkport. Can you imagine leaving white people on their roofs for five days? Don't make me laugh! Race has nothing -- NOTHING -- to do with this!

You hang in there, Mr. Bush. Just try to find a few of our Army helicopters and send them there. Pretend the people of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast are near Tikrit.

Yours,
Michael Moore

www.MichaelMoore.com

P.S. That annoying mother, Cindy Sheehan, is no longer at your ranch. She and dozens of other relatives of the Iraqi War dead are now driving across the country, stopping in many cities along the way.

Maybe you can catch up with them before they get to DC on September 21st.

In Charge list;
A. City-Mayor
B. State-Governor
C. Country-President

In case you needed that cleared up

Cindy Sheehan, yeah she was effective lol

NycGOP Is Out of Ideas (Much Like the GOP Itself)

> You have posted links to brainwashed stories and
> websites that promote your agenda but where are
> your ideas?

LOL! Typical lame GOP tactic to blame the media for exposing their lies and hypocrisy. Those are all websites from legitimate media, you could at least respond in kind.

But you can't, can you? Because even mainstream Republicans are leveling stinging criticism at Bush's abject failure with handling the Katrina disaster, a fiasco that will surely come back to haunt him.

Dumbya's approval ratings were already at record lows *before* Katrina hit, can't wait to see what they look like afterwards. :-)

> This is why your party is so weak and can't win
> elections anymore

You might want to ask Dumbya Sr. about what happened to the Repubs after Andrew hit south Florida in 1992. Or are you suffering from selective amnesia these days? :-)

Still Waiting...

For NycGOP to post something intelligent.

Could be a long wait. Popcorn, anyone? :-)

Uh Bush doesn't have to win an election, he beat you guy's twice. And thats typical that you want natural disasters and bad things to happen to America if it helps your cause. It must really urk you that you guy's could never beat Bush. How's the recount in Ohio doin'?

General Wesley Clark Asks: "Where is the Leadership"?

http://www.tpmcafe.com/story/2005/9/1/123536/7907

Here's a link for Cindy Sheehan. http://www.rasmussenreports.com/2005/Cindy%20Sheehan.htm

Cindy Sheehan: 35% Favorable 38% Unfavorable
Survey of 1,000 Adults

August 17-18, 2005

Cindy Sheehan

Favorable 35%
Unfavorable 38%
RasmussenReports.com

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Following Sheehan Story

Very Closely 25%
Somewhat Closely 30%
Not Very Closely 27%
Not At All 15%
RasmussenReports.com

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
August 19, 2005--Cindy Sheehan, the grieving mother who maintained an anti-War protest outside of President Bush's ranch, is viewed favorably by 35% of Americans and unfavorably by 38%.

Sheehan is viewed favorably by 34% of men and 35% of women. Forty-two percent (42%) of men and 34% of women have an unfavorable view.

Related survey data shows that 39% of Americans say it is time to withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq.

In general, people see in Sheehan what they want to see. Opinion about her is largely based upon views of the War, rather than views about the woman herself. Democrats, by a 56% to 18% margin, have a favorable opinion. Republicans, by a 64% to 16% margin, have an unfavorable view. Those not affiliated with either major party are evenly divided.

People who think we should withdraw troops from Iraq now have a positive opinion of Sheehan (59% favorable, 12% unfavorable). Those who do not think we should withdraw troops at this time have a negative view (15% favorable , 64% unfavorable).

Among those with family members who have served in the military, Sheehan is viewed favorably by 31% and unfavorably by 48%.

Cause I know how much you like links.

Its a shame if you put as much effort into your own ideas as you do in "factcheckin" and name calling you could be some what intelligent

More Rabid Foaming at the Mouth from NycGOP

But he doesn't say anything coherent, LOL!

> Uh Bush doesn't have to win an election, he beat
> you guy's twice.

I suppose the GOP isn't going to run any candidates in the 2006 and 2008 elections? Cool, makes our job easier. :-)

> And thats typical that you want natural
> disasters and bad things to happen to America if
> it helps your cause.

Just like a brain-dead neo-con to try to put words in my mouth. Where did I ever say I wanted natural disasters to happen???? Lame spin, try pedaling harder. :-)

> It must really urk you that you guy's could
> never beat Bush.

"urk"? WTF does that mean? And BTW, "that's" should have an apostrophe in it.

Keep frothing Bushboi, you show your ignorance and lack of education every time you post. :-)

you mean boy not boi right? lol

Win an election and then you can try to argue this ok? ok

NycGOP - Poster Boy for the Failed GOP Education Program

> Its

Task... forgot the apostrophe again, you must really be a slow learner.

> a shame if you put as much effort into your
> own ideas as you do in "factcheckin"

"factcheckin"? WTF is that?

I assume you mean "fact checking", which of course is something that you brain-dead neo-cons aren't capable of comprehending.

> and name calling you could be some what
> intelligent

LOL! "some what"??? How far did you get in school, 3rd grade maybe?

That's 3 strikes, and you're out. Now sit down and shut up until you can post something intelligent.

> you mean boy not boi right? lol

You obviously haven't been on the 'Net for very long have you, lamerboi? :-)

How's the downing street memo's? How's the CIA leak? How's the Nation Guard story? You guy's keep trying but never nail it home

jane_

this gop'r was probably sent by karl. gotta divert...gotta spin...blame...the facts remain. no website needed. katrina is (unless you cite w's experts) was not the last, but perhaps the beginning of a series...evidence suggests global warming. w wasn't prepared. as i mentioned previously, nor was he for the aftermath in iraq. photo opts are no longer convincing. i could type the details, cut 'n paste webs, and still gop'r would divert, spin, blame anyone but w. so what's the point. i'll leave one comment. has w and his adm donated blood, sent care packages, going to have a fund raising at his ranch, opening his ranch for victims, loaning out his taxpayer helicopter to pluck those folks outa harm's way, or his taxpayer airforce 1 to airlift those folks to his ranch to camp out. yea, w's real compassionate. so what's this photo opt that held up food deliveries...no amount of convincing will change gop'r. nor, will any spin, diversion, or blame change my opinion of this less then incompetent president. as to the alligation that you were involved in name callin'...actually, sounded quite accurate to me. so gop'r save your type (=hype) because america 1st will not respond. we'll just simply agree to disagree. nor will you agree that we should rebuild our south's schools, hospitals, and civic buildings before we spend another taxdollar for iraq. america 1st, iraq last...that's from what you call, from the gut.

If your gonna correct minor typing mistakes you might not want to type in "net slang", it shatter's your intelligent image, just some advise from a crazed neo-con idiot

Oh and about the whole :-) thing, I can't take anyone serious that does that

On that note Peace

I see people on this blog represent more of the Howard Dean view of The Democratic Party. that's ok. I personally believe Howard Dean and his views mispresent the Democratic Party and make the party look like the green party. Staunch Liberalism does not represent mainstream america. I do not like Bush either like most Democrats because of the war in iraq and other things. one extreme to another does not work. There needs to be a middle point. I would considered as a moderate Democrat. If The Democrats are going to win in the future we need new ideas and tackle issues were republicans are the weakest on. I do not have a dislike for Howard Dean. I just think the Democratic party needs a better image for all american voters not just the extreme-left.

For you BushBorg trying to spin the blame for this
fiasco on New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin and Gov. Kathleen Blanco, news flash for ya from the Dept. of Homeland Security Website:

In the event of a terrorist attack, natural disaster or other large-scale emergency, the Department of Homeland Security will assume primary responsibility on March 1st for ensuring that emergency response professionals are prepared for any situation. This will entail providing a coordinated, comprehensive federal response to any large-scale crisis and mounting a swift and effective recovery effort. The new Department will also prioritize the important issue of citizen preparedness. Educating America's families on how best to prepare their homes for a disaster and tips for citizens on how to respond in a crisis will be given special attention at DHS.

The buck stops with the Federal Government. Read it and weep Bushfans

Onlich,
The peeps on this blog represent the 'we're mad as hell and sick and tired of GOP bullshit' wing of the party.

If that makes us left-wing in your eyes, then so be it. Go see how much help and support you get from the GOP. The fascists that run that party don't listen to reason or have any compassion for people that aren't Bush Rangers or Pioneers.

The people you speak of represent the irrational wing of your party. If more of you put a little more thought into things you said, instead of speaking through emmotions you might win something. Your knocking him because he is rational in his thought, well please continue this self destructive path, it makes winning elections that much easier for us.

You have the boy who cried wolf syndrome. When the wolf really does show, nobody will believe you because you cry wolf over anything you disagree on. Just some friendly advice from a friendly Republican. Oh and also the name calling kills your argument before you start it.

Deja vu New Orleans

Why do I keep feeling I've BEEN HERE BEFORE?!
There aren't enough troops, and not enough troops right from the beginning.
Especially not enough troops to secure the safety of the populace.
Not enough of the necessary, life-saving equipment and supplies.
No workable plan, but the insistance it was adequate.
Bush claiming there was no expectation something could go wrong like this.
No clean water for the populace.
Sewage running in the streets.
Death everywhere.
Lies and denial.

New Orleans. Iraq.
Iraq. New Orleans.

Posted by Eli_Blake on September 3, 2005 at 11:40 PM

Damn, I've been rying to make that point for so long. But Eli, I really don't think Bolsheviks are all Marxists. I'm pretty sure most Marxist's aren't, and never were, Bolsheviks. Budt these Fokkers is Bolsheviks. (Punchline to a superb joke.)

Posted by NycGOP on September 4, 2005 at 11:52 PM

Ms Giuliani, or is that Kerik?

W stood in a hangar in Mobile and made this into the white man's burden to rebuild the plantation of Massa Trent Lott. Racist Pig Trent Lott is the poster boy for Delta suffering? Fucking delusional. Apparently David Duke wasn't available.

If everybody in the country isn't a totally braindead ahole, that should fry the cReepublicans for years to come. With luck, Richard Prior will wind up the houseboy, and shake some herb on the salad. Skinny little n...watch yo' mouth. Not talkin' bout Shaft.

karl rove helps to design the shift from president to democratic locals... aka...spin...divert...blame...

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/05/national/nationalspecial/05bush.html?ex=1283572800&en=6fea4620b7c96ac5&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss

What a difference the state and the stakes make. Observe candidate for second-term bush dealing with Hurricane Bonnie (be sure to look at all the side bar photos as well.)
Here’s bush after Hurricane France handing out water (be sure to look at all the side bar photos as
well.) Look what happens when you google bush george hurricane katrina.

I suppose after you’re re-elected you don’t need to give a sh*t.

What a difference the state and the stakes make. Observe candidate for second-term bush dealing with Hurricane Bonnie (be sure to look at all the side bar photos as well.)
Here’s bush after Hurricane France handing out water (be sure to look at all the side bar photos as
well.) Look what happens when you google bush george hurricane katrina

I suppose after you’re re-elected you don’t need to give a sh*t.

sorry hard-returns in the htmls from the processor.

GOPNYC-it's fun sniping and making cheap cracks, but the facts are the facts. Homeland Security is in change of natural disasters and Chertoff is on record as saying he didn't know anything about the damage until way after the newsmedia was reporting it. FEMA was gutted by the GOP and saddled with someone whose chief qualifications were 12 years of judging horse shows (he got fired!) and being a buddy. The levee reconstruction project went into Iraq instead. The Republican Party controls all three parts of gov't and the statute of limitations has run out on blaming Clinton. Fact is, your party has failed in pretty much every undertaking, saddling us with deficits, ruining our moral authority (let alone military superiority) in the world, mismanaging every part of gov't they have "reformed," and replacing science with superstition. So rather than call you names, I'd like to suggest that you take a better look at your "boys" and try to come up with some response that doesn't involve a personal attack, a glib one-liner, or a deliberate distortion of the truth.

Photos!

condi at spamalot

condi NOT AT THE cabinet meeting

Ondich-sad to say, you make some good points. The Democratic Party has spent the last five years being polite, rational, timid, and valueless. It is time for the Party (my party, I might add) to stand for something. Rather than being afraid of polls or the Red state voters, I think the party would do better to enunciate some values and use those against the values proposed by the GOP.

The Dems are supposed to be the party of the common person. Stand up for him and her. Everything flows from values. It is easy to find talking points, to refuse to be defined by the spin-meisters on the other side, to be strong, to present an alternative when you have a clearly-defined set of values.

I don't have the answers, but I'd start with support for the rest of the country, with replacing corruption with competance, treating our citizens and the rest of the world with a little respect instead of contempt, with the goal of making the country a better place for everyone, not just the top 2%, with energy independance as a way of defusing the economic importance of the Middle East. Oh, yes, and with some street smarts and a battle attitude since the GOP treats governing as a war between them and the rest of us.

BTW, I don't agree with your thoughts about Dean--I think he was defined as a maniac and so everything he says are the rants of a madman. I'll take passion over corruption and the essence of democracy is working with people who have some common goals, despite some disagreements.

I think once again the Democrats are forgetting one extremely important thing. As Americans we have a very short memory. We have to ask ourselves, once the initial shock is over in two or three months, and the celebrity interest and contributions have stopped, what happens? And what are going to do to not only help those people, but make certain they know we do care and are willing to help.

As Democrats we missed another opportunity. Actions speak louder than words. Why aren't we down there helping out, volunteering. Howard and the leaders it's important for the country to know you care with a message, "If our president and his staff aren't interested, we are, in saving our friends, our families, our Americans."
We don't need to preach, actions speak louder than words. Party Leaders, get down there. Show 'em you care.

And will someone in the party please archive the inaction of this administration to remind voters in 2008 that they let people literally starve and die for days because people will forget in three years how bad the situation was.

Remind them of the Congress and Senate members who chose to stay on vacation rather than inact an emergency session and provide relief for these disfavored people, these disfavored Americans.

Good Luck

Didn't we depose Saddam Hussein because he made an illegal invasion of Kuwait, a sovereign country and cause the deaths of thousand of Kurds, his countrymen? Do we know anybody else who illegally invaded a sovereign country and caused the deaths of thousands of his countrymen? Shouldn't he also be deposed?

Frances

You are so logical. Too bad the Prezeldent and his band of crooks are either too stupid or hoping the REST of his RED state Lemmings are too dumb to notice.

That and his sudden appointment of Roberts as Chief Justice. How convenient of Rehnquist to drop dead just in time to get W OUT of the middle of the grief and distruction in New Orleans.

This creep has more luck than any human should. My Mom says - he truly is the Anti Christ! I am inclined to agree.

The FIASCO in New Orleans is due to one thing: the Neocon belief that government exists only to protect the property rights of the rich. To that end, the Neocons have trashed the ability of the government, at all levels, to meet human needs. Neocons have no concept of The Common Good. THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY MUST CONTINUALLY POINT THIS OUT in the coming days, and at the same time offer an alternative. Do we have a Democratic leader unafraid to do this work? Where is Harry Reid? Howard Dean? Barbara Boxer? Hillary Clinton?

Posted by MonicaR on September 5, 2005 at 01:37 AM
If you think I represent a so-called Bush Wing of The Democratic Party think again. I do not like Bush because of the Iraq War. I could say you represent the Nader wing of the Democratic Party. Conservative Democrats are not always Bush supporters. I am a moderate Democrat because I do not like Bush's policies and I don't like Howard Dean's policies either. The only reason why some are Bush supporters because the Democratic leadership is to far to the left and is out of touch with mainstream America. A succesful major political party like the Democrats need moderate and conservative wings to attract voters. if there was not this party would end up like the green party.

amer1st and anybody else that can't/won't see the difference btw talk n' walk.Cher-if you have your own bedroom,you're lucky.Sometimes to be of use to another means discomfort to self.I've got to express my sorrow at the complacency posted on this board.PLEASE share your strengths and WHATEVER space you may have DIRECTLY with a Katrina displaced victim/family. DNC can't be nothing but hot air.

Wait until Bush says he's gonna send in Halliburton to rebuild New Orleans and Biloxi! I wouldn't put it past him nerry a bit.

To the one a good piece above who tried to say the National Guard needed time to respond, that's BS! It takes at the most one whole day to be on a plane bound for the objective. When Uncle Sam calls you, they dont give you a week to call your work and say I'll not be in, what a laugh! When the boys were called in from West Virginia, I never will forget, one day and they were on a plane headed to Iraq. So Mr./Mrs. Independant, you better get your facts straight before you blow your smoke!

Will Matney, Ohio

Ondich,
Don't even insult me by saying I represent the Nader wing of the party. I'm STILL pissed at the Naderites for abandoning the party and allwoing Junior to get close enough to steal the election in 2000.

I still stand by my post to you that basically states that moderation doesn't work with this breed of Republican. They are like Terminators. They don't feel remorse, they don't feel pity, they have a mission and will not stop until it is accomplished.

Our mission as Democrats is to stop them from turning this country into a theocratic dictatorship. That means no more backing down, no more being afraid to speak your mind (see Congressional Black Caucus for the primer on hiw to do that) and no more Dems defecting to vote for legislation that is anti-working class.

Ms Giuliani, or is that Kerik?

W stood in a hangar in Mobile and made this into the white man's burden to rebuild the plantation of Massa Trent Lott. Racist Pig Trent Lott is the poster boy for Delta suffering? Fucking delusional. Apparently David Duke wasn't available.

If everybody in the country isn't a totally braindead ahole, that should fry the cReepublicans for years to come. With luck, Richard Prior will wind up the houseboy, and shake some herb on the salad. Skinny little n...watch yo' mouth. Not talkin' bout Shaft.

Posted by michaelj

Need i say more? Can't ever stop judging or name calling

The FIASCO in New Orleans is due to one thing: the Neocon belief that government exists only to protect the property rights of the rich. To that end, the Neocons have trashed the ability of the government, at all levels, to meet human needs. Neocons have no concept of The Common Good. THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY MUST CONTINUALLY POINT THIS OUT in the coming days, and at the same time offer an alternative. Do we have a Democratic leader unafraid to do this work? Where is Harry Reid? Howard Dean? Barbara Boxer? Hillary Clinton?

Posted by AnotherSeattleDem

Uh when it came to protecting the property rights of a common man against the rich, the

The FIASCO in New Orleans is due to one thing: the Neocon belief that government exists only to protect the property rights of the rich. To that end, the Neocons have trashed the ability of the government, at all levels, to meet human needs. Neocons have no concept of The Common Good. THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY MUST CONTINUALLY POINT THIS OUT in the coming days, and at the same time offer an alternative. Do we have a Democratic leader unafraid to do this work? Where is Harry Reid? Howard Dean? Barbara Boxer? Hillary Clinton?

Posted by AnotherSeattleDem

Uh when it came to protecting the property rights of a common man against the rich, the Liberals Stevens, Souter, Ginsburg, and Breyer and moderate Kennedy were for the rich not the poor common man in New London, Conn. Aint that a kick?

The government response to the Hurricane Katrina disaster is a national embarassment. If our government is judged on how well it serves the governed, then our American government has surely failed this task. After the immediate needs of the victims of this disaster are met, we need a sure, if not swift, accounting for this fiasco.

We, as a country, need to decide what our government's role in our lives should be. We need to decide if it is more important fror the government to solely protect the rich's property rights or to serve the public. Let us boldly state our opinions on this matter. I, for one, am devotely tied to the idea that the government is here to serve the people and by that yardstick, we have clearly failed our people this month, from federal, state, and local levels.

If you are happy with what has happened this month, then fine, elect they same idiots again. If you don't mind 10,000+ poor and disadvantages people dying because they couldn't flee Katrina, then, personally, I wouldn't want to know such heartless creatures as you.

But if this mess DOES bother you, then rethink your position before it is too late! The politicians will be hoping this will all die down soon and things will be "back to normal". Let's make sure nothing is ever "back to normal" for any administration.

i am to depressed to talk politics...i am a american...we get err done...i am sick of these rich people ,,,the democrat party, and the republican party,,both parties are the same..the party leaders are so dumb, they dont realize ...that the workers and poor people are ready for civil war,,the rich have declared war.the poor wants peace...but this is a time that could lead to war..the working man built the cities..and the working man can tear them down..iraq could happen here at home...they worry about terrorist...they aint seen terrorist..untill the american worker revolts...