Strikes me as a very comprehensive program.

Question is: "How's it going to be publicized?" I know the Governor was on Randi Rhodes today. Did he get to talk about this program?

Democrats have got to learn to feed the media.

I agree with all of the above stated reliefs. However, I believe it will still take time to get it done. I do not understand why military bases are not being used. I am sure there are many in the South that are not at full capacity. There may even be aircraft carriers that could be used. At least they are equipped for living,have communication systems and some medical facilities.

I also think it would be a wonderful gesture for the President and his friends who have all these "ranches" in Texas and "vacation" homes in neighboring states to house some of the families.

Where are the Bush daughters, nieces and nephews? I'm sure they could be of some assistance to the evacuees especially the children.

There are no words to describe the callousness of the administration's response. However, as Chairman Dean stated, ther will be time for that.

At last, an excellent plan from the Democrats. I'm delighted. May I suggest that we as a Party and a nation also learn some lessons from Katrina? An excellent starting point is the analysis 10 Important Lessons from Katrina by the NC Justice Center. It's short, wise, and to the point -- exactly the sort of message the Democratic Party can unify behind. For a sample, the first lessons are:

Government is not the enemy
We must renew our commitment to long-term public investments

Again, thank you, Senate Democrats, for such a fine plan.

Helping victims get jobs

This plan sounds wonderful, but I feel that we need to go one step further with finding the victims jobs. We need nothing sort of a New Deal - start getting expert electrians, plumbers, construction workers to the Astrodome NOW to start organizing and training the residents of the affected neighborhoods. The residents should be in control of restoring and rebuilding - we need to revitalize the community involvment that made New Orleans such a great place. Anyone who will help me with this, please, please contact me: jnapier at nyu dot edu or phone me at 718-360-2297.

Is it feasible to re-locate Katrina victims to US military bases that are under-used, or closed, or soon-to-be-closed? The infrastructure and procedures are in place there for handling large numbers of people and keeping them in family groups. Housing -- even Stateside on-base subsidized grocery/department stores are available for military families to use within the USA. (I think the first Military Defense budget cut should be the elimination of these base stores. Nowadays all USA stateside bases are in towns where regular grocery and commercial retail stores are available. Military wages for even the lowest-paid employee are at least as high as the Walmart or McDonalds employee who gets NO benefits - medical or otherwise. Yet the civilian wage earner has to come up with the going price for groceries, etc. Yet, all levels of pay grade in the US military have access to all kinds of products and services at a taxpayer supported subsidy through these base exchange (BX) stores. That is not necessary and not fair.)

In the meantime, open these BXs to Katrina victims to provide what foods and supplies (diapers, etc.) are needed. Use the medical first aid buildings for treatment of injuries and illnesses of Katrina victims. Give them housing and access to base schools. Train the victims in the skills needed to rebuild their ravaged homelands.

We taxpayers paid for these facilities and subsidized stores and products. Use them to provide safe places to rebuild lives.

Are there any reasons we should NOT do this? It seems like a Win-Win situation to deal with Katrina using military bases.

Vicky Birkland
5832 Trailblazer Drive
North Las Vegas, NV 89031

One important thing that needs to be done that is not listed here: Make sure the aid is distributed evenly. I read today that Cochran and Lott already have plans to use their clout in the Senate to make sure Mississippi gets first "dibs" on aid money. Playing power politics over aid money is just WRONG. Democrats need to have a plan on how to deal with this kind of sick cronyism.

Do not support the Republican move to make inheritance exemptions permanent. With the deficit looming even larger, we need every penny we can get out of the very rich, who are already getting richer from the tax cuts engineered by the Republicans. When will the Democratic leadership stand up to demand a repeal of those tax cuts, too? It is essential since I see no hope of getting us out of Iraq anytime soon! And just for the added tidbit: we need leadership to solve that human life and money drain, too.

Finally, something that we are doing and proposing rather than whining. Let's keep on it. When the time comes to point fingers, let's do it around competence rather than on party lines. Too many "Democratic" elected officials have bent over and caved in to the neo-con, theocratic, crony-based, people who are in charge.

Gov. Dean, you are a big man for not saying, "I told you so." Thanks.

P.S. In honor of the Democratic Coming Out party and showing some leadership, I will continue to wear my Dean shirt-the what do I want for the holdiays-My Country Back.

It is comforting to see that some of our elected officials acknowledge the fact that our Government, FOR ALL THE PEOPLE, let our fellow citizens down. What a BLUNDER by the current administration.

This makes us wonder if we were attacked by another country would we fail to mobilize the way we did for the Hurricane Victims? With Katrina we had plenty of warning.

There is absolutely no excuse why our Government did not respond immediately. Could it be our Military is spread too thin? Could it be that we do not have leaders that know how to mobilize to save LIVES?

We are embarrassed by the way OUR GOVERNMENT handled this natural disaster.

Our thoughts and prayers our with all the Citizens who lost loved ones and every material possession that they had.

The plan by the Democratic Party needs to be implemented so that the victims can gain some respect for our Government.

More planning goes into Concerts, Sporting Events, and Nascar Races than what was done for the States hit by the Hurricane.

It does not matter who stayed or left the area because they had the means to do so, what matters is the human lives that were lost. My God, how can the Government put a value on the lives that were lost. Material things can be replaced, human beings cannot.

The plan seems to cover most of the bases; however,something is still missing. A big part of the failure to prepare and respond was the incompetence of the political hacks appointed to FEMA. The plan needs to address the administrative side of the implementation. Who will be accountable? Who will coordinate the efforts of State, volunteer, and national programs to ensure that all in need are taken care of? Given the National Weather Bureau's warnings, a national coordinator should have been appointed prior to the Hurricane. Second, does the plan address funding the infrastructure upgrade that the Corps of Engineers has promoted for years? A few billion dollars investment could have saved a lot of misery. Now those funds need to be put in place to address making the levees safe for a Category 5 Hurricane. A Katrina-like catastrophe should never happen again. Contrary to Speaker Hastert, New Orleans is a part of our cultural and historical heritage. It needs to be restored and made safe and livable. Jim Gwin Tarzana CA

As a high school student in Houston, Tx, I definitely like the idea of compensation for districts that take in displaced students. My school (Memorial High School) in the Spring Branch ISD is taking among the highest amounts of students. I applaud the Senate Democrats for finally making substantitive alternative policies to show what we already know: Democrats ran this country, and will again run this country if given the chance with the responsiveness, attentiveness, and intelligence that clearly lacks from Republican Administrations. I hope this is the start of a new trend for our party. With Bush's ratings sinking faster than the Titanic, we must take this as an opportunity to show the country that the only right way to run the country is to move to the left. Every responsible Democrat should take this chance to publicize this very comprehensive set of ideas, I know I will.

One of the things I am afraid may happen down the line is that banks might start to foreclose mortgages on victims' homes, which no longer exist! Since the homes are now worthless, the victims would be saddled with the entire cost of the mortgage, with nothing to pay it back with. This act would send thousands more people into debt and poverty, and bankruptcy will be a tougher and less desirable option after the rules change on October 1.

Congress needs to legislate to prevent banks from foreclosing on destroyed property, thus further victimizing the victims. Victims should have their mortgage payments suspended until they are able to move back into their homes and find new jobs, and victims should be able to sell their destroyed property at a loss without owing the entire initial value to their banks. The Democratic Party should be spearheading this effort!

I call on the Democratic Party to make sure that LGBTsurvivors of hurricane Katrina receive equal benefits from government and relief agencies.

Although New Orleans has long been a haven for southerners who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender, they may soon find themselves discriminated against by state and federal relief efforts that do not recognize their relationships. The three states most affected by the storm do not recognize gay domestic partnerships or marriage, and those who lost a partner may not be eligible for survivor benefits. This is one of the tragic consequences of marriage inequality in the U.S.

I strongly urge Democratic Party officials to make sure that equal benefits for LGBT people are part of their Relief Plan, and to do all in their power to make sure they get access to the same benefits as everybody else.

Hurricane Katrina and with the flooding of New Orleans, thousands of people ended up with only the close on their back. It is VERY IMPOTANT that these people receive the help they need in a timely fashion.

For these people all Government regulations that may slow the process of these people receiving help should be lifted!

It is VERY, VERY IMPOTANT that every person affected should be helped with speed, generosity, and with the kindness the American people have in their hearts, without any Government regulations getting in the way!!!

The American Red Cross, the Salvation Army and many other help organizations have received record amounts of donations for the victims of Katrina, and I, as most Americans want to see the victims to receive help immediately.

I do hope, as most Americans do, that our Government will speed up the process for helping these people.

Just think, these people came out of Katrina with ONLY the close on their back! I am a disabled man, one of the poorest people in the United States, and I feel like a millionaire compared to the victims of Katrina.

The poor man I am, I sacrificed and sent the little money I could to help the victims of Katrina, and I hope that money is used in a timely fashion to help them that are poorer than me, people that lost everything, some their loved ones.

Government come together with all speed and HELP the victims!

This Democrats Relief Plan should add an additional section:
HELPING THE ANIMAL COMPANIONS OF NEW ORLEANS.
Helping the dying, starving, traumatized animals of New Orleans is the right thing to do and there are many organizations and individuals ready to help with this! Many human survivors of Katrina are refusing to leave the dangerous situation they are in because they refuse to leave behind their animal friends. This challenge needs to be addressed now -- and planned for and addressed in all future disasters.
Leaving the animals behind is what the broken-down Soviet Union forced on the residents of (what became) the Chernobyl Dead Zone in 1986. Right now, the U.S. is doing no better than that.
Animal Welfare must become a major new plank in Democratic Party domestic policy: it's the right thing to do, and something the voters of America will respond to!

Perhaps I have overlooked it in the Democratic Plan, but the pending change in bankruptcy laws appears to put many of Katrina's victims into permanent debt. That is, if they aren't able to file before October 17, or whatever the date is. This new Republican designed obstacle creates particular problems if the victims had just a little money before the hurricane. There should be special dispensation for victims of natural disasters.

I caught the end of of a great speech by Senator Barak Obama on C-Span 2 today. Too bad they don't have the video up. He is definitely presidential material.

I've enjoyed reading all of thecomments. As a Denver resident, who had family in the Miss. area, the handling of the situation is heartbreaking. I pray that the Dem's will stand up to the arrogence of the Republican Party and move this country ahead with men and women who actually have successful, heartfelt, management and leadership experience that will not have to be questioned during a time of disaster.

I have no idea if anyone has thought of this yet, but it occurred to me that many local, state and national parks have campsites in them with facilities for running water, showers, cooking grills and some are close enough to some urban areas to be relatively easy to use public transportation. Many counties have county fairground sites that host the county fair and a few other events throughout the year, but are vacant much of the year and could be turned into temporary housing for people who have lost their homes. Some private campground owners may also be willing to provide temporary housing. The Boy and Girl Scouts of the nation could earn a lot of badges by helping provide various kinds of assistance at camps set up for displaced families until more permanent housing can be located. Public parks and recreation professionals could and would also provide some programming (fun things to do, games, exercise, sports) especially for kids, but also for anyone temporarily displaced that has a need to get their minds off the devastation.

I also wish to say that I wish this whole disaster would have happened last year in August 2004 rather than in 2005. If it had happened while politicians were campaigning for office of President of the United States, the incumbent candidate if he was smart (and I am not convinced that he is) would have made this disaster and the aftermath of it an immediate priority of the highest degree - and if he didnt do that, his opponent(s) would have put pressure on him to wake up, lest he lose the election based on poor handling of the disaster relief response. Either way, no matter who prevailed in the election, the people living in the states affected by this disaster would have been appropriately taked care of...AND THAT IS THE WAY IT SHOULD BE in this country. No person should have to wait for an elected official of any party to decide to come home from vacation to pay attention to a national disaster of this magnatude. I am embarassed and saddened for those who have died, those still sick and injured, suffering, stranded, orphaned and grieving. These events have affected our whole nation. Even people willing to help from all over the country are only able to do so to the degree that the he appropriate federal agencies get their butts in gear and mobilize efficient delivery of relief supplies, personnel, funds, housing, volunteers etc. I shudder to think what the evil enemies of our country have surmized from the handling of these events. The USA must be a laughing stock to our enemies right now - the whole world now knows that our country was so illprepared for a disaster that every American had a chance to KNOW was coming.
I used to worry that if my son doesnt get all A's and B's in school he might not be able to secure a good job and make a decent living ....these days I am tempted to tell him not to worry about it much....after all,it is now clear to me that the world is actually being run by "C" and "D" students.

As it has been suggested....all the details of who should have been on top of this will all come out and appropriate action will be taken... so enough said for now. I just hope as a nation we gather all our courage and allocate whatever resources are necessary to do the right thing for all parties involved.

I want to agree with the New Deal suggestion of jaime_nyc. I also want to add that the Civilian Conservation Corps was a part of the New Deal that employed people to perform conservation duties on a large scale, such as planting trees.
In the near future, many believe that it would be of great benefit to the area if a large portion of the Mississippi delta could have its ecology and natural processes restored to their natural state. A new Civilian Conservation Corps, established to restore the delta lands, could provide jobs for the victims and also play a part in mitigating the effects of any future hurricanes that might approach the area.

These are excellent Ideas and presents a solid platform to emphasize our progressive values. I would like to add one more that I've been thinking about and have already contacted Senator Boxer to suggest.

Instead of voting on repealing the Estate Tax in this session to provide another tax holiday for the super rich - I think we should declare a zero tax liability for all of the affected zip codes for the entire '05 year up to 100K or whaterver makes sense of income. The IRS could immediately issue refund checks for Fedral Tax and FICA witholding to all tax payers as soon as a reliable address is confirmed.

This is mostly a symbolic gesture as it only provides assistance to those with jobs and proper witholding, but it would go a long way to getting those folks back on their feet. Immediate cash to help them - something they can own and help them start a new life or rebuild what they have.

This would also be a great debate for the Senate to have. Shall we give the Super Wealthy another tax holiday in light of the national tragedy, or should be provide Tax Relief to those in most dire need.

I will discuss this tomorrow in our local DFA meeting. I will continue to discuss on a few blogs, and sending to Senators that I know would actually listen, hopefully this can gain some traction.

The Democratic relief plan is wonderful - - the comments made here even more so, because many people had wonderful suggestions such as the idea about needing to help the pet population and the idea of bringing the "New deal" to Houston and other places so that the Katrina survivors may be job trained. In fact, I think that in itself is a plan that a future Democratic President might consider taking and somehow working across the whole of the United States. I feel certain the numbers of people living in poverty are growing exponentially and poverty was clearly a huge contributing factor of the Katrina devastation.

Speaking of a future Presidential candidate - - if you haven't read the speech that was delievered via C span by Senator Barak Obama you should do that. I just read the speech and he brought tears to my eyes. Senator Obama really seems to have a grasp on the human toll and on the failure of the governments response to the hurricane.

Finally, I also highly recommend the previous NowTank's post and suggested reading of 10 important Lessons from Katrina. I emailed the article to everyone in my address book regardless of political affiliation. In my mind, one of the many things we all need to do is plan for the future of this country and the direction it should take. I agree that the time for pointing fingers isn't upon us, but the representatives we vote for now and in the near future are tremendously critical to our futures, our children's and our grandchildren. In my mind, Katrina must never happen again and I think we all have to do our parts both indivdually and collectively to be certain of that!!

Thanks to all that have posted here thus far!

Why not have every city in America adopt one to five families. The community would raise the money to fly the family(s) to their city, put them up in a house (rent free for a year), give them a job, clothes, food, and most importantly education and information. The only way to rise out of poverty is to have the information necessary (education) to save, obtain meaniful jobs, and make good discissions. A community investing in a family as a service to our country would benefit everyone involved. Many people I've spoken to want to help, but don't know how.
This is the time for Democrats to take a stand and show that we are a party that stands for compassion and opportunity. If the Republicans think they have a lock on "christian values", one of the most important is kindness and compassion towards the poor. Obviously helping the poor was not on the President's mind the day of the hurricane nor today.

Lets just get this right since the current administation has made a mess of our fellow Americans lives

All President Bush can say is we are "problem solvers" well hes full of it. Would he treat the rest of us the same per say this happened to us on this magitude. Where he did he get the Marshall law idea. Truth be known daddy is running the country.

I join the many concerned, saddened and disappointed Americans who feel the shame the mishandling of this national disaster has brought to America. We are supposed to be the "best and the brightest" but clearly we have not learned better than to trust those who say they have our interests at heart in spite of all they continue to do TO us. It is way past time for American citizens to put the feet of their "leaders" to the fire. They MUST be held accountable for this travesty and tragedy and that should go all the way to the TOP of the heap. It's time for George W. Bush to be made to understand that he cannot ignore American citizens regardless of who they might be. I am Anglo (that's the term we use in the Southwest) but I feel as disenfranchised as anyone in any minority in this land. Dubya and the Bubbas have had it their way for far too long. They MUST be stopped before they completely drive this nation into the ground. Where is all the money going to come from that Washington is promising to handle all that needs doing as a result of this disaster?

Much of what I have been thinking has all ready been expressed above. Jaime's "new deal", using closed military bases, protecting people who have mortgages and loans, less rhetoric and more red tape cutting action.

In addition I'd like to see a moratorium on aid and reconstruction "profit". Take Halliburton out of the equation. It sickened me to see that Halliburton subsidiary, Kellog, Root and Brown had been awarded a clean up contract.

And it should be possible for anyone serving in Iraq that wants to finish their service at home, to do so, particularly those with family members who were victims of this national disaster.

And if it's necessary, to get this country back on track, 50 million people marching on Washington to demand accountability and redress.

Talk to companies that have current merchandise on shelves at every level from light industrial tools to heavy equipment dealers that are able to support disaster relief work...Bring to zones the following portable solar panels, gas generators, retro fitting equipment for converting homes and large areas into solar use for emergency needs, increase the levees vertically by a factor of two and re-inforce pumping stations with venturi pumping pipes...as water passes by it can intake twice its volume away from flooded source water, customize the buildings that house the pumps to be fitted with high water alarms that secure pumping buildings against external compromize and flooding from adverse weather situations....Army surplus stores to donate potable water tablets, camping equipment , sleeping bags , cots, tents, Britta company water pitchers, filtration units from Culligan stores...
Iron Planet auction on line site can supply equipment at reduced rates located in nearby disaster zones...
Refridgeration (commercial ice makers) units in strategy locations(relocate from all hotels and lobbies to secure public vending sites to provide ice supplies to ease heat issues for victim and relief workers, increase storage of food locate all cold storage unit in portable and fixed areas attatch solar power unit to increase their ability to keep items cold...Army units to bring portable water filtration units to start treating water for consumption... set up recovery zones and public works crews to clear neighborhoods in a small groups team effort to ensure public safety and recovery of vitims assets and loved ones. Make a formula essential for all children and babies in need of diapers and food...write off the donations given directly to families in need at record levels to ensure nutrition and health can be improved upon...triage eldery and sick and handicap to hospitals that have ability to expand their care levels..use closed military bases for the benefit of the families in need...Use the USDA food program to get meat and cheese and diary product to assist families that are providing home assistance to refugees of Katrina...Most of all Stop trying for photo ops and commentary the Victims need the help from real people to volunteer and be directly in charge of making things better and Hospice care to be administered in honest non judgemental ways...

We need to re-implement the Civilian Conservation Corps. This was a program from the depression that allowed people to work there way back from homelessness. In a bipartisan jesture, I believe Colin Powell would be perfect to head this effort. He and General Honoree would make the perfect team. This will give people the opportunity to be employed, learn skills and the self esteem and power to restore New Orleans. We partially pay for this by immediately repealing the Tax cuts that are ballooning our deficit.

Now is the time for Democrats to unite behind a policy of shared national sacrifice. This administration has spent years savaging the very fabric of our American community with its policies of wealth redistribution and deficit spending. The tragedy of Katrina is simply the latest and most brutal illustration of their failure to protect and provide for American families.

It must stop now. No more Paris Hilton tax breaks. No more extensions of tax cuts that weaken the fabric of America. Until our troops are home from Iraq. Until the families of Louisiana and Mississippi and Alabama are returned to their homes. We must stand united in our committment to shared sacrifice and protecting American families.

I wish to express my appreciation of these endeavors to counter a disaster in our own home. The true pride, honor and privilige of being an American is in service to others in their time of need. However, I'd like to make a few suggestions. I notice that we get rid of a lot of unused food in this country. While assisting my parents in social services, we used to retrieve crates of perfectly good bread the supermarkets had been ready to discard because it was a day old. Also, news reports have indicated that farmers will discard a portion of their products, several gallons of milk for instance, to ensure a better price. I think in both cases, we would do better to re-route that food to our now starving kindred. Also, since the President already has the White House to live in, he might choose to lead by example and invite a few of said kindred to live at the ranch for awhile. I'm serious. Everyone needs to do their part. This means the airlines and public transport. It might be a good idea to give incentive to transportation companies to evacuate people to other states free of charge. These "host states" may convert homeless shelters, hotels, arenas etc to hold Katrina victims at a cost borne in part by the state itself, in part by the Federal government, and in part by the private industry that may own the property. On healthcare ler's eliminate paperwork altogether. Katrina victims should recieve a sort of temporary universal healthcare. All health issues looked after promptly as possible under the circumstances and free. Anyone who could afford medical care has it already. We need to pay for everyone else. Both Coastguard and Laura are perfectly correct. We need to restore the infastructure that was meant to prevent this as soon as humanly possible or it will only get worse. We have the resources. We need to move them to Louisiana and get to work. We don't need Haliburton anywhere near this one. They've done enough. This whole "Bush has a mandate" thing has gotten out of hand. Our troops should be restoring order in New Orleans but they can't because they've got their hands full trying to stay clear of an insurgency in a war that Bush claimed had ended. After this is over I want a full report from all, and I do mean all, government agencies concerning the funding of the leevee system and disaster prevention in the affected area. Several news reports claim that the aforementioned projects were underfunded and frequently cut. How many disasters will America endure before we realize that Yale graduates don't "misunderestimate" anything? Nature can't be helped but our choices can. It's time for a change.

Dear Friend,

Mr. Russell Moon is "senior research scientist problem solvers".

I ask you to take in mind my friend, and my post-graduate student Mr. Russell G. Moon (5041 SW 29th Way, Fort Lauderdale, Fla,. 33312. Phone: 954-962-3475).

I work with him since December 23, 1992, and till the present time.

We have got acquainted very simply. Our reports independently from each other have met

on the 27th IECEC Innovative and Advanced Sessions in the USA.

Mr. Moon has sent me the report and has continued to work above the chosen theme.

In 2002 five experts have familiarized with his results of work, and have recognized work worthy for award of a scientific degree.

Further he began to publish his results of work at Scientific International Conferences of Nuclear Physics in the Russia.

In the beginning his work was very cautiously, and it is correctly.

However Mr. Moon has not stopped ( I know that it must be step-by-step), and Mr. Moon continued to work.

In the current year he personally took participation in a conference in Russia, and has acted with three reports.

The responses of many participants of a conference were positive.

I shall not result the list of his works. I think he can it make for you it independently.

Best regards,

Dr. Victor V. Vasiliev

Are these legislative proposals drafted in bill form? Have they been introduced? Who are the sponsors? And most important of all, why have these specific, concrete, intelligent responses to the Katrina crisis not been widely publicized? I have not seen this on TV or in the NY Times; we loyal Democrats and--more importantly--the electorate need to know that Democratic legislators are trying to replace the pitifully inadequate response of the Administration with a well-thought out, effective program.

With Katrina dominating the headlines,no mention of the oil refinery merger allowed by the FTC which involved Velero and Premcor thus creating a near monopoly and allowing energy profits to soar and consumers to continue to be ripped-off at the gas pump..Congress should open hearing about this billion dollar merger/monopoly but wait, guess Im forgetting Tom Delay would have no part of it,,,,,,,

This is an excellent plan, but I agree with Judith. Where is the publicity for it? Let's not let it fall by the wayside or get voted down like so many other good ideas and legislation presented by the Democrats.

The plan should work in the long term, but there is so much more to be done in the short term. The politicians on TV assuring people that things are under control now are making me sick. I am sure those still living in the Astrodome would not agree! Just because the crisis is now recognized and being dealt with, finally, does not mean we can be out of crisis mode. Not while there are still dead bodies floating down the street.

What more can the average person do to help? Where can we find out what we can do besides send money? I've been online on and off for two days trying to find out if there's a place I can go locally (Sarasota, Florida) to put in some time to help the victims. I am not employed right now and unfortunately have no extra room or I would offer housing. I've sent what $ I can to the Red Cross, but it's not much. I would like to volunteer to do something concrete for the victims. Is there an umbrella agency to direct people who are able to volunteer their time by putting together care packages, speeding up the processing of donations, transporting evacuees, etc.? If anyone knows the answer, please e-mail me at trcdaly@aol.com. Thanks.

In the meantime, we need to keep up the pressure on the government to 1. take responsibility for what happened and 2. put measures into place to ensure that it does not happen again. Let's not let the Bush administration whitewash the calamity that was caused by its incompetence and its cavalier attitude toward middle and lower class Americans.

HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THE EVACUEES MAINTAIN THEIR RIGHT TO VOTE?

The ideas all sound good. The Democrats have a Golden opportunity to hammer away at the idea, 'the Govt. is NOT your enemy & to make every effort that the race card the right wing will play will have no value. These are about the poorest people we have other than the Native Americans & they must be treated with the utmost care, sensitivity, to show the callousness of the Repubs in contrast. The mess in the Superdome was a natural catastrophe all in itself---everyone saw the pictures, so for GWB to say to Nancy Pelosi, 'what went wrong?' should get constant repeating. So far as I can see, there were no pictures of Bush comforting a sigle black person. The Repubs are VERY BUSY playing the race card & they must be shown for what they are-----insensitive to anyone not rich & white.

This intelligent and excellent plan makes me proud to be a Democrat!

An excellent plan, especially along with the 10 Lessons! How about a plan to get the word out?!
In terms of the "next time" and our government's willingness and ability to respond to disasters, can we please remind our leaders that more hurricanes are on their way? like..NOW?! Next time could easily be next week!

Many people expressed interest here in starting programs to get people back home and employed in the rebuilding efforts. I posted my phone number on the internet not because I'm naive or crazy - I'm serious! I just put up a website at www.nolanewdeal.org

Please help me out. Hopefully, we can start something on a grassroots level and get the attention of some powerful groups.

Thanks! Jaime Napier

we can surely help pay for some of the parts of the plan if all our reps. and senators would agree to forego some of the pork that is in the highway bill to a future budget.

Speaking as a geographer, I want to change how we handle FEMA funding of disaster relief. Instead of paying citizens to rebuild repeatedly in the same dangerous areas, I want to encourage relocation in all cases, not just the current one. New Orleans would move onto solid ground, and would not need levees or pumping stations.

A new national park, similar to the Everglades, would be created on the old swampy site.

Other examples of changes in FEMA procedures would include flood plain easements along the Mississippi and other rivers, where farming could occur but housing would not; and sunseting buildings built across earthquake faults (the-25,000 seat U.C. Berkeley stadium, across the Hayward Fault, is one such example).

A new Homestead Act would enable even the poorest of survivors to own their new homes free and clear. Funding could come from reductions in the Department of Defense.

Please tell me to whom I should forward this get change flowing. I am willing to become involved in the planning process.

I agree. Excellent plan. How are the DNC, DSCC, Senator Reid and others promoting it? I really think this is the time to capitalize on the media's humanness and moral outrage, before they turn back to their old ways. They are listening right now.

When the water is finally pumped out of New Orleans the state of emergency will still not be over. America will be faced with the BIGGEST REFUGEE CRISIS in its history. What do we do with all of these people, who are suddenly in the hands of the governments of Houston, San Antonio, Baton Rouge, Chicago, Seattle, Boston? Do we keep them in tent-cities for the next six months then forcibly remove them AGAIN to brand new public housing projects in New Orleans? Do we put them up in hotels, paying off hotel owners and effectively killing the tourism industry for the next six months? Is a six-month residency even a possibility, or must we prepare for a large portion of these refugees remaining in the cities they've been deported to?

Right now each state and city is scrambling to answer this on their own. If the democratic governors and mayors can collaborate with a plan (with the help of the DNC), we could show America what good government is. Organize opportunities with private capital or state goverment to use refugee labor at a fair price on infrastructure projects... in the gulf coast of course but also elsewhere. Give these people something to do for six months! Build new communities in partnership with moderate christian charities... thereby giving that sort of christianity a boost. The refugee crisis is a miniature social equivalent of the Great Depression-- let's make another New Deal. The disadvantage is we have no control over the federal government. The advantage is the overall economy is still in good shape, giving us money and ambition to work with.

Before you go blaming the Republicans for the deplorable response to
Katrina I thought you should know: the Democrats are just as much to
blame for this as the Republicans. Democrats rolled over and voted
for every single thing that set up the conditions for our lack of
ability to respond to this crisis: the war, the budget cuts, the tax roll
back. Democrats didn't raise a fuss when people without emergency
management backgrounds were put in charge of FEMA. This might be more
the fault of DC Democrats than the Republicans: you knew better, but
went ahead and did it anyway. Shame on you. What the deplorable response to Katrina shows is a lack of forethought and leadership from both parties, not just the Republicans.

In response to: "What more can the average person do to help? Where can we find out what we can do besides send money? I've been online on and off for two days trying to find out if there's a place I can go locally (Sarasota, Florida) to put in some time to help the victims."

Anyone wanting to volunteer while remaining at home can contact the nearest office of the Red Cross. Your house of worship is another choice. You may be able to assume someone's at-home duties on a parttime or fulltime basis, freeing up an emergency-trained worker to go to the Gulf Coast.

The most important thing is to get help to the victims, and as fast as all possible! Republicans and democrats fighting over who is to blame for a slow response are acting with the mentality of children, and very small children at that!

Most Americans could care less about republican and democrat fights right now!!! Most American people want our governments to act as fast as they can to help the victims. Let the governments cut all the red tape so the victims can get the help they need NOW!!!

I have been appalled beyond words at the criminal neglegence of the Federal Government in regard to what has happened or failed to happen in Louisiana, Mississippi and parts of Alabama. As many as 25,000 people may be dead, and who knows how many of those people have died because the Federal Government did nothing for them and for their animals for days. Not until, after our national shock, outrage and disgust raged at the White House did Mr. Bush get off his indifferent, calous, arrogant, lazy duff to do what any real president would have done the moment the wind stopped blowing. As many Americans have done already, I have sent money via Mercy Corps, one tiny aspect of our Oregon response to this national tragedy. But I want to say here, not just as a Democrat, but as an American, I knew a long time ago, that George Bush was unfit to be a president. Unfortunately, he and the Republican Party had 51% of America bamboozled...and now, that 51% can see the results of their voting responsibility. We tried to tell them, didn't we? But when you are on the road to hell and are bent on getting there, there is no reasoning that will convince you to the contrary.

I want to say here, that it isn't the Republicans alone or their administration, which is responsible for the disasterous results we have witnessed. It also is not JUST the responsiblity of minor civil servants or beaurocrats. It is symptomatic of a much larger and all pervading problem not only in our government, but also in our Nation. It is the callous attitude adopted by the corporations who fund and run the political part of our government who are the originators of the indifference, and I am not just speaking here of one segment of our nation, down in the poor section of New Orleans. I am speaking about the way ALL Americans are being treated by our government and business in this country. Since the Republicans are business people, they have long ago decided to run our government like a corporation and here is the result. When a disaster happens, the first thing they are concerned about is MONEY...WHO WILL PAY FOR IT...see????? That isn't the moral response of a moral government. That is the attitude and thinking process of a for-profit business. The answer to their question to begin with is obvious...who will pay???? It is the American People who will pay...and are paying. When the supplies to help New Orleans sat in warehouses and staging sites, they were concerned with...not how to get the supplies to the victims, but WHO WOULD PAY for those supplies...the corruption of money in our government, and all throughout our nation, is so rank and perverted, warped and distorted, that I don't know if we will ever overcome its ugly corruption. And it has corrupted our nation, overcome our moral sense of duty to the point of viscious indifference to our own people! Who would have guessed, how nakedly, this tragedy has exposed our most corrupt inner being to the whole world!

I am ashamed to say it, but Democrats are as much a part of the problem as the Republicans. You have lost your sense of who you are and have fallen in bed with them and become like them. Who amongst you, is an FDR Democrat? Not one of you that I know of. Was FDR in the business of denying basic services to a devastated America?

So it is YOUR shame as well, your responsibility AS WELL! And I hold all of you, accountable...not just the Republicans. You have allowed yourselves to become subdued, sold out your basic moral principles, paid off by the corporations who dominate the halls of Congress.
Even though I am but one vote, I am still a vote.
How many more people are going to THINK about that fact come this next election year?

So when we finally get this disaster under our hands and we finally get a hold on it, and you get set to start finding the villains, I want you all to take a good hard look at yourselves, Republicans and Democrats alike. Whether you are in charge of Congress now, majority or minority, you are still there, still a part of the problem rather than being a part of the solution.

Not until you put America and Americans FIRST again, will you truely represent this country, either party! And you haven't been doing that for a LONG LONG time.

When you write treaties that sell our jobs to foreign nations, like NAFTA and this latest trade agreement with the Latin nations, you destroy the very heart and soul of our nation, the ability of our people to work and have a job with a decent wage. You too, were a part of that...and now, 400,000 more people are without work...and what kind of work CAN they do? Work as a black jack dealer in a gambling casino! It used to be, building cars and steel and driving the biggest, best and most bountiful agriculture in the world. Now, its working in warehouses and in gambling casinos. And you treat us, like we are lucky to have those kind of menial jobs to do! Maybe tomorrow, you the Indians will export their casinos to Guatemala and leave the black jack dealers in the lurch.

YOu are right about one thing...its time right now to help the victims. But when it comes time to find the villains, I suggest you all take a good hard solid look at yourselves in Washington.
There is the problem, not some petty beaurocrats you can scapegoat. I suggest you start with yourselves and your value system...that is what needs changing first.

It is quite a predicament that my family and I settled on buying a house in Gulfport, Mississippi six months before Hurricane Katrina. We refurbished the entire thing during the summer and it was torn apart from this domestic dissaster.

As a young, fourteen year old Democrat I can only say that I am appaled by the response given by George W. Bush and his administration. There is one good theory that I have that reasons why Bush didn't respond to Katrina like he did to that of 9/11 and that theory is because he was reelected.

Serving his final term in office, Bush is basically a lame duck. He can't be reelected again so he isn't showing the same emotion he gave to us after his election in 2000. After September 11th, Bush showed somewhat of a brave/heroic stance by joining those reparing NYC by taking to the streets. All the media has shown Bush doing about Katrina is staring blatently (infact, dumbly) out of the window of Airforce One.

I live in a Republican neighborhood and have many Republican friends. One of them, even had the nerve to say that Katrina "would be forgotten by the midterms in 2006" and that this "national disaster was only trivial. Republicans will still dominate the house and Senate in '06." I couldn't believe this comment. It shows how much Republicans are so aloof right now with the overwhelming power they have.

I, myself, see the rightwing power in the South slowly deteriorating. Vice President Cheney, who made a trip to Gulfport and was on Second Street (the street my family's house was located) was even jeered at by southerners during a press conference there and was told to go perform an anatomically impossible act by a raging southern man.

Religious support is also falling from the Republicans in the south. Jefferson Parish President Aaron Boussard even broke down while speaking to Tim Russert on MSNBC and rightly said while crying "I'm sick of the press conferences. Shut up and send the people you promised down here."

On a more positive note, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff fired FEMA director Michael Brown this week. This was a wonderful act seeing that Michael Brown proved himself to be uncapable of handling his duties. Brown even prevented help from reaching Katrina victims.

For example... Walmart (a company which I ardently hate) actually sent two truck-loads of water down to the South for relief. All supplies was turned down by FEMA under the orders of Michael Brown. The United States Navy even brought down supplies of gasoline and oil but the help was turned away by-- guess who-- Mr. Brown.

The Bush administration has shown that, despite overcoming 9/11, it is unable to react properly to another domestic dissaster. Bush's rating are now lower than Richard Nixons (43%) and I'm sure would be considered worse than Depression President Herbert Hoover (Hoover did a horrible job recuperating from the Great Depression, mind you).

As I have said, and will reiterate oncemore, the actions of the Bush administration should be considered treasonous. Any person who can still back our President- even after his performance concerning Katrina- must be out of their mind or just plain stupid. I am angry, upset, and I'm as mad as hell and am not going to take it anymore.

Lost opportunities.

Bush missed a great opportunity for his public relations after the Katrina stroke.

It was a moment he had a chance not only to turn away the attention of American voters from the war in Iraq but, as well, it was a moment he could become a hero saving the Nation.
The Bush's team badly failed to capitalize on the natural disaster.

The storm preparation was not neglected. After all, a great number of people was evacuated from New Orleans before the huricane reached the area. If only the president kept shooting from his hip all the time as events unveiled he could get all he wanted. Victims would be more happy even if errors were committed. Alas, for all, he did not.

What counts now is a clear national vision on how the Nation can capitalize on tragedy that brought us together.
We can not lost opportunity. We should not.

We have one day of democracy every four years after that the team is empowered to do all they had planned.

Average family spend around $2000.00 on war in Iraq so far, a good news is that nobody did pay more taxes, a bad news is that you have to come with the above cash one day. It was borrowed on your name by the team. The bill will come to you in a form inflation, a bigger price of a house, a bigger price of a fuel.
So, first of all, don't we need more checks on how much money is borrowed by the team?
Second, shouldn't we spent more of it at home? Third, what about a great American dream? Is it a gadget just for foreigners? What about these thousands of welfare recipiants that came right in front of our eyes today because of a storm, who prevented them from dreaming all these years?

FEMA has said that up to 1 million people may need housing assistance. The above figure consists a slim percentage (0.4%) of the population of United States.
What strikes me, is that an assumption is being made that most of people affected by the huricane wants to return to the area. I think it is not going to happen because it can not happen. Clearly the individuals the most interested in rebuilding of New Orlean are those who actually suffered less damage than others. They will lobby for a fast renovation because they had still a lot to loose. If the city is not restored to the same level as before the huricane the value of all remaining real estate will plummet. Let us support them.

I would be careful, however, to expect that an average family who lost all they possessed is motivated to return to the same spot on a depressed land and to start erecting walls again. Besides that, it will take long time before sanitary conditions and infrastructures will be created to permit for such a return. People who are currently displaced will look for other alternatives than return and such alternatives should be opened for them. It is faster, more economical and in many cases more humaine to discipate and to absorb families from the devastated area rather than to crowd them together.
The refugee crisis can not be solved by better refugee centers. The only solution is to make the refugee disappear.

I believe that the following should be promoted:

1. Government should create country-wide incentives for employers to offer jobs to victims of the huricane.

2. The government should create incentives for banks to loan the money to the affected families whenever the families move to any area of the country as soon as they find a job.

3. The regional and federal decision makers should evaluate alternatives to reconstruction. The decontamination process and the clean-up will carry bigger price tag than constructing somewhere else. Depresion land could be converted into landfill or national park.

4. The is a need for increase of federal funding and better programs that would coordinate and stimulate long term efforts of academics, engineering firms and city planners to to develop technologies that increase structural resilience of houses and other structures.

The poor are more likely to remain dependent on the services provided by refugee centers than better-off families are. There is a danger of creating a social problem by putting people in gethos. The danger is a perpetuation of poverty. Poverty is a way of living, it is a culture, that can be fueled or starved. We are at a point when a great service can be paid to thousands of individuals by replanting them from closed circuits of poverty to places where dreams and hopes can spark again. Fast absorbtion of refugees by comunities around the country not only helps to cut short politically incorrect finger pointing spree but may even bring about that many would bless the day the Katrina stroke.

I am sure, New Orleans spirit will never die. Its music, its unique ambiance will be recreated where it vibrated and where it was cherished. Let's take years to select and to reconstruct the pearls, let's avoid mistakes usually committed while doing quick repair. Let's put one brick at a time extending castle from where it holds strong.

Lost opportunities.

Bush missed a great opportunity for his public relations after the Katrina stroke.

It was a moment he had a chance not only to turn away the attention of American voters from the war in Iraq but, as well, it was a moment he could become a hero saving the Nation.
The Bush's team badly failed to capitalize on the natural disaster.

The storm preparation was not neglected. After all, a great number of people was evacuated from New Orleans before the huricane reached the area. If only the president kept shooting from his hip all the time as events unveiled he could get all he wanted. Victims would be more happy even if errors were committed. Alas, for all, he did not.

What counts now is a clear national vision on how the Nation can capitalize on tragedy that brought us together.
We can not lost opportunity. We should not.

We have one day of democracy every four years after that the team is empowered to do all they had planned.

Average family spend around $2000.00 on war in Iraq so far, a good news is that nobody did pay more taxes, a bad news is that you have to come with the above cash one day. It was borrowed on your name by the team. The bill will come to you in a form inflation, a bigger price of a house, a bigger price of a fuel.
So, first of all, don't we need more checks on how much money is borrowed by the team?
Second, shouldn't we spent more of it at home? Third, what about a great American dream? Is it a gadget just for foreigners? What about these thousands of welfare recipiants that came right in front of our eyes today because of a storm, who prevented them from dreaming all these years?

FEMA has said that up to 1 million people may need housing assistance. The above figure consists a slim percentage (0.4%) of the population of United States.
What strikes me, is that an assumption is being made that most of people affected by the huricane wants to return to the area. I think it is not going to happen because it can not happen. Clearly the individuals the most interested in rebuilding of New Orlean are those who actually suffered less damage than others. They will lobby for a fast renovation because they had still a lot to loose. If the city is not restored to the same level as before the huricane the value of all remaining real estate will plummet. Let us support them.

I would be careful, however, to expect that an average family who lost all they possessed is motivated to return to the same spot on a depressed land and to start erecting walls again. Besides that, it will take long time before sanitary conditions and infrastructures will be created to permit for such a return. People who are currently displaced will look for other alternatives than return and such alternatives should be opened for them. It is faster, more economical and in many cases more humaine to discipate and to absorb families from the devastated area rather than to crowd them together.
The refugee crisis can not be solved by better refugee centers. The only solution is to make the refugee disappear.

I believe that the following should be promoted:

1. Government should create country-wide incentives for employers to offer jobs to victims of the huricane.

2. The government should create incentives for banks to loan the money to the affected families whenever the families move to any area of the country as soon as they find a job.

3. The regional and federal decision makers should evaluate alternatives to reconstruction. The decontamination process and the clean-up will carry bigger price tag than constructing somewhere else. Depresion land could be converted into landfill or national park.

4. The is a need for increase of federal funding and better programs that would coordinate and stimulate long term efforts of academics, engineering firms and city planners to to develop technologies that increase structural resilience of houses and other structures.

The poor are more likely to remain dependent on the services provided by refugee centers than better-off families are. There is a danger of creating a social problem by putting people in gethos. The danger is a perpetuation of poverty. Poverty is a way of living, it is a culture, that can be fueled or starved. We are at a point when a great service can be paid to thousands of individuals by replanting them from closed circuits of poverty to places where dreams and hopes can spark again. Fast absorbtion of refugees by comunities around the country not only helps to cut short politically incorrect finger pointing spree but may even bring about that many would bless the day the Katrina stroke.

I am sure, New Orleans spirit will never die. Its music, its unique ambiance will be recreated where it vibrated and where it was cherished. Let's take years to select and to reconstruct the pearls, let's avoid mistakes usually committed while doing quick repair. Let's put one brick at a time extending castle from where it holds strong.

Daniel Murray, I'm glad to hear your words about eroding GOP power in the South. The way Bush-Cheney mock their conservative base is a disgrace to democracy, and the Democratic Party needs to understand that if we contain our far left wing and become Democrats (pro-middle class) once again, we will retake Congress and the White House in landslide victories. There are in fact already many evangelicals working in conjunction with the left (e.g., helping the most poor), and these could be Democrats if our party only stopped speaking in ways that alienate mainstream Americans.

The Plan is a good one and hopefully it can be implemented without a lot of fuss and politics. Perhaps we can look back in history and see what was effective for Americans in need after the Great War and the Stock Market Crash. The country came together to help everyone, regardless of partisanship. We need that same spirit now.
Why are these victims of Kartina being called refugees? They are survivors, and have always been referred to in that way. Why has that changed?
I don't have much confidence that this administration, with its record of incompetence and lies, will be able to handle this disaster in the needed ways. They just don't seem to know how to help the poor and needy on any given day, this horrible crises will be even worse. They will certainly fail if they believe as Grandma Bush said, these people were already impoverished and this will work out better for them. What was she thinking!? Adding insult to injury is the wrong thing to do right now.

While these folks are, indeed, survivors, they are, in fact, also refugees. My concern in not using this term, is that "refugees" implies that there is a displacement issue as well as employment, living, and economic concerns that must still be addressed. The term "survivors" tends to imply that the problem is behind them and does not imply any further action is required. I am sure that Bush et al would love for the latter to be the case.

Bush is able to move quickly in this crisis, but seems to be when money is involved. CNN reports that contracts for the rebuilding process are already going out to KBR and other companies favorable to Bush.
I would love to see a requirement get put in that requires that LOCAL companies and workers have first priority on all jobs. This would help with employment, help keep the money from the rebuilding process in the local economy rather than going into the coffers of these already wealthy companies, and give the local people a sense of pride in being able to do for themselves. Besides, I really don't like my tax dollars going to KBR after all their dishonest...er, creative financing in Iraq.

A very specific proposal on bankruptcy:

Delay the implementation of the new Bankrupcty law (effective October 17) for one year for people with zip codes in the affected areas.

"Delay the implementation of the new Bankruptcy law for one year for people with zip codes in the affected areas."

That would be a good start. However, why does America effuse sympathy when someone has been victimized by a disaster, yet ignore the silent terror of millions who are unemployed, underemployed, poor, outsourced, downsized, handicapped, etc.??? Help the New Orleans victims, but not help the many others toiling under this terrible bankruptcy law -- a subsidy to the credit card industry and a new form of debt slavery??

When someone is tossed out of a job in this country and cannot pay credit card debts, too bad. But have something that makes ugly pictures on T.V., and suddenly we do something? This country is way over-sensationalized and along with that does not listen to the voices of the downtrodden.

Many people here are expressing the same sentiment that I have - we need a new New Deal. It's not a question of cost - money is already being spent, the question is who's going to benefit? If we can thoughtfully implement the rebuilding process by incorporating social programs into it, it will not only be immediate disaster relief but also an investment!

I've updated my site:
http://www.nolanewdeal.org

I have a petition and a place to contact legislators. Let's get this out before all the money goes right back to the same private companies that are already profitting from Iraq.

The petition is at
http://www.nolanewdeal.org/petition.html

Contact me with any ideas, feedback, or questions at ideas@nolanewdeal.org

thanks!! jaime

I find some solace for my outrage in these blogs and in reading other electronic communications. But a friend of mine asked me a very good question today: Where is the American Outrage? Why aren't we all marching in the streets of every US city and town expressing our outrage at how our government (of the people, for the people) has utterly failed the people of three states in our union in its time of need? What they have done/failed to do is far more grave and outrageous that anything we protested in the 60's over racial rights, the Vietnam War, Watergate and so on. Why aren't people voicing their rage on every radio and tv talk show, in every lunchroom, bus, and subway, in every hallway, and around every dinner table? I don't even see the Democratic Party demonstrating their outrage the way I expected them to (except for Hillary Clinton and a few others who aren't afraid to get their political wrists smacked). Not enough American's protested the illegal election of George Bush the first time so here we are with him again ineptly steering our ship into the rocks with his Halliburton friends giving him the directions. When are we going to stop taking his lies? When are we going to stop letting him send our troops over to Iraq to die? When are we going to make him pay the price of all the needless dead in New Orleans? When are we---all of us Americans--going to take to the streets, take back OUR government, and let the world know that we aren't going to take it anymore? Are we all so numbed by 911?

I applaud Howard Dean for beginning the fires!!!!

He's smacking Bush and the GOP up good, nice cold hard knockout punches and we are increasing our visibility.

Now is the time to get people like this man and Wes Clark, on every single TV station advocating their plan and on radio too. They have a good idea what to do so its time to say it loud, so all of america hears.

Clark had one of the best plans, he needs to be a regular spokesperson. Pelosi should follow their lead, they are all beginning to hit hard. The congress democrats are anyway, the senate is still silent except for a few. Its time to hit the greedy old party and deliver a knockout.

This can really go smooth if the democrats all stay on one continuous message...

nick

The above plan is an excellent one! And may I also suggest that it's time now for Congress and the President to repeal the tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans. There is no point in allowing the wealthy to continue to have these tax cuts while so many poor and middle class feel the pinch of trying to pay for all of this. It's also no point in burdening our children and their's and their's with paying for it either!

It just seems so odd that a President that claimed to be the man for Accountablity and Responsibility, would bankrupt the country while trying to curry more favor with this base and his contributors.

Well folks it appears God has let Katrina land and left her mark upon United States supposedly the richest land on earth! Today I hear we now have a new wind approaching the coast and may jump into the Gulf. A storm predicted today 9/18/05 to hit possibly a hurricane force of category 3 or 4. It’s current computer models say it could hit any where from the Louisiana State line through Texas to Northern Mexico! Oh what has God wroth upon us?

It is reported that the warmer seas and climate are the most logical reason for the numbers and the increased sizes of these storms! Few can today deny, that the scientific logic of warmer climate and seas is in part a bi-product, of the increases caused by our industrial use and methods of transportation using fossil fuels and what that leaves behind as atmospheric waste! In other words methods of industry and governments used to solve or market solutions for problems of human needs and human wants! Now this is not secret the facts of science has showed it since back in the late sixties as Democrats have touted such warnings for years as the GOP has denied and said it would cost too much for American Industry to clean up its use of our limited supplies of fossil fuels. And that it was better to let the markets control prices and to let private industry find solutions for such problems if they truly exist. Many within the GOP that you keep putting in office say lets wait until more proof that industry is the cause for global warming! God knows we can’t fool with the oil or the automotive industry for it is the back bone of American might and American economics! Which may be true but what good are the profits earned by our American Energy Industries if the are killing there workers and their buyers?

Now the GOP is coming up with new ways, to handle how to pay for the problems caused by this massive storm Katrina which may be a bi-product of years of mishandling of how we handle waste and conserve energy! Perhaps this storm opened some windows into the hearts of Americas Rich and the true motives of the GOP and its supporters! Do you recall how Bush refused to talk with the Europeans over global warming or to go to an international summit to discuss how to slow down this global warming? He said he and others from the right said they didn’t feel that the evidence was all in as a means to make it a priority for America. What are they thinking now? What they are thinking now is how to pay to rebuild New Orleans and other spots that were in the wrath of Katrina hit and they want to do this by cutting programs in Medicare and Medicaid and other Benefits used by our nations middle class and the more economically deprived of our nation! Hold on to your hats as the winds of the GOP start blowing off their plans of cut and paste! Cut from the poorer of the nation and paste it on to the needs of the Gulf Coast! In other words, let the middle class and take programs for the poor to feed the poor! But don’t do anything that touches the planned tax cuts for the Corporate Americas most profitable who ship jobs overseas and our nations wealthiest! Tomorrow is Monday September 18th and I will bet you will begin to hear the voices of many conservatives. Many from legislators of the GOP as they call out, to cut needed programs! Rather than to try to control increased costs for Halliburton’s’ no bid contracts that the President set in motion for Halliburton to cut their costs to rebuild the Gulf area! They will not reconsider cutting the pay to the worker who will be needed to supply the labor of that work either those workers who many are also the victims of Katrina. Again let those who suffer the most and have the least to pay with pay the most! So hold on to your hat as more failed Conservative trickle down economics continues to separate the rich from the poor and meek of this nation!

And as those leaders of this nation that suggest such things as cutting from needed programs. And listen tomorrow as they speak and continue not to listen to the wind as God speaks to them or they fail to recognize those who need the most of this land! For the President and the GOP remain blinded as to the end results of years of not taking care of those things that needed taken care of most!

May God Bless America with new wisdom and better use of the God Given Gifts He has given us!

David aka rabbin

Sounds like a good plan the Democrats have. Now to get the majority of the Senate and Congress (Republicans) to stop thinking about how to make the rich, richer and vote for and make decisions about the victims, mostly poor and black, and others who were devasted by of affected by Hurricane Katrina. Keep an eye out for votes that contain provisions to give more money to a specific Senator or Congressman who need funds for projects that benefit certain constituents who will proit from "PORK" in their communities.

The action plan should be used in the 2008 election.

Everything the victims need, is also needed by millions of the working class Americans.

Democrats have a good chance of winning control of Congress in 2006. Hope we don't blow it.

With the consideration of all that has taken place as a result of hurricane katrina, the following constitutional ammendment should be presented to congress.

The federal government having the constitutional duty to provide for the common defense, to insure domestic tranquility
and promoting the general welfare of the country, and the population as a whole, shall provide for a totally intigrated
resposes protocol with respect to natural disasters of any kind that may effect any part of the united states and any territory held by the united states.

the protocol shall instruct the president to order all such military and existing disaster relief personnel into prepareness actions within 4 hours of notification of such impending natural disaster. if such notification is not possible, the president shall order all such military and disaster personnel within 1 hour of such disaster.

all such disaster relief shall be the responsibility of the government and shall not be apportioned to any private corporation or any for profit organisation.

Since the necessary military or militia within any state may be inadaquate for the scale and nature of a natural disaster,
all such persons having excercised 2nd amendment right to bear arms shall be required to be registered with the government of the united states which shall provide to each state and local government the names of all such individuals who shall be required to serve the local government as part of the existing militia until such time as the local,state or federal governments
shall deem that these services are no longer required.

That the congress shall apportion an amout of revenue to national emergency relief and shall maintain this fund at a level of no less than one half the current apportionment for national defense.

Doesnt everyone deserve healthcare. This is one area where the government neeeds to step in. If can afford to give away all this money to other countries why cant we all have healthcare. We have to best medical care in the world but the worlds poorest delivery system. A lot of jobs out there, thanks to bush, either offers no health care coverage or one that offers very high deductibles. Also the wages of the average citizens needs to be raised. We are living in a country where the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. Yes we need to take care of victums of tragradies. But we need to remember the rest of the country as well. Some of the areas these people are moving into have high unemployment rates. The hurricane victums are getting jobs right away but about the rest of the people living in the area. I am in Tennessee where they are cutting needy people off of Tenn Care rolls because of budget cuts but they are giving these people in the hurricane free health care. This doesnt seem fair. Also we need price controls on gas. The gas coperations make too much money every time the word hurricane is mentioned. I hope someone high in the Democratic Party will address these matters.

Three words: Focus, focus, and focus...

The Democratic Party's strength has been its devotion to the middle class and the poor. Historically it has sought to bridge the gap between hopeless poverty, and the opportunity of middle class life.

During the past 5 years, poverty has grown, and the middle class has felt a squeeze. The power of the common has eroded while the elite has flurished. Democrats have kept in their toolbox ideas about healthcare for all, equal housing opportunities, and economic development for districts where poverty is rampant.

Bush is on the verge of shedding his second term agenda and focusing on the poor. While I see this as good for the country, I also fear that the republicans can shape up as heros in areas that the DNC have championed. This cannot happen if the DNC is seen as the driving force. The DNC cannot be the driving force if it fails to step up to the plate.

As long as we're perceived as a disorganized band of GOP critics, we're not going to emerge as the champions of the plight of the common. When we speak with one voice, we cannot help but be seen for what we are.

Project Environmental Recovery

To whom it may concern:

My name is H. Michael Ladd dba Integrated Resource Group. We have dynmaic/needed environmental recovery solutions that were previously implemented with success during 9/11. This technology can reduce illnesses and premature death. We are looking for strategic alliances that would expand this cause. I am a Affrican American - Small Business ready to serve.

We have the support of over .5 billion dollars of technology ready to support this Environmental Recovery Initiative. This challenge must be addressed aggressively ASAP.

We need someone to discuss this matter with immediately. I will be in th Gulf Coast during the week of October 17th, 2005.

Contact 214-597-7572 or hmladd@sbcglobal.net

H. Michael Ladd

Dear Dr. Dean;

I would like to say that I enjoyed your interview with Christopher Matthews on Hardball this evening. I do, however, have a simple question that I would like to ask you and it is this, if the conservatives in the Federal Government are so interested in packing the Supreme Court of the United States with conservative judges to overturn important decisions such as Roe v. Wade, Brown v. The Board of Education, et al. why don’t the Democrats run on a platform of motivating the American people to vote for an Amendment to the Constitution of the United States that insures their personal liberty such as:

Section 1. The right of citizens of the United States, who are 18 years of age or older, to make all decisions as to the care and maintenance of the citizens own body, shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any state on account of the citizens health or physical condition.

Section 2. The Congress shall have the power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

This would be the ultimate freedom and would secure Row v. Wade as will as the right of all citizens to decide how they are to care for their own bodies and live their lives without interference by the government.

Respectfully yours,
Steve

I think it's time. 4 years later and it is still the Republican party's token battle cry. "September 11, 2001" I hope a great many American's feel as I do about this; enough is enough. I have to hand it to the Grand Old Propagandists though, they have a managed to turn one of the greatest failures by any administration into an overwhelming success and rallying cry. And don't think they're done. Rudy Guiliani, well known for his admirable handling of the mess imposed upon his victimized city by a government asleep at the wheel, is finally publicly inidicating his return to politics. And the Republican's couldn't be happier. We can rest assured that he will be thier ideal choice to replace President Bush in 2008. We can't avoid this battle any longer. We allowed these shameless people to turn thier failures against us in 2004, and sat idly by with no response, only mystified by the willingness of the electorate to swallow thier story. It's time to call a spade just that, a spade.

It's up to us; the Democratic party, the candidates seeking elected office in 2006, and every American whom has seen the vision of America they grew up with, and still love, slowly fade away in the smokescreen the Republicans have operated behind since 2001.

This GOP controlled government has failed us at every turn. But thier biggest failures, resulting in today's current mess, have come on issues that have always been the hallmarks of our Democratic ideals. This government's blind eye to energy independence, and eagerness to remain dependent on Middle Eastern oil remains one of the sharpest Republican driven knives in the side of our see-saw economy. The tax cuts for America's wealthiest one percent have had no positive effect on anyone except for thier beneficiaries. George Bush, our nation's cannonized guardian and protector, ate cake and played the guitar in sunny California while millions of lives on the gulf coast were swept away in storm surges and a unacceptable number of lives were lost, due in part to another crisis the Federal Government wasn't prepared for and couldn't have possibly predicted. Sound familiar? And Iraq. Nearly 2000 American servicemen and women have selflessly given thier lives in an effort to a free a nation and keep it safe. This administartion continues to lie to the parents of these soldiers and America as a whole about the situation. Until these people face the reality in Iraq, and reshape a strategy around the facts, this will only continue. As will the death of the American dream in every corner of the world. And whatever happened to a government that would rule with responsibility and integrity? There's a large group of examples to choose from, but only three come to mind right now; Frist, DeLay, Rove. The perfect trifecta of Washington's true concern for the well-being of America. Let's claim back the ground that has always been our strength.

Now is our time. Now it's our turn. It's up to you, Mr. Dean, with the help of the rest of us. Together we will, we must, put America back in the hands of Americans.

I haven't had a chance to read all the blogs here (I'm new to all this), and I'm not even sure if this is the right place to post this particular thought. This is something that has been on my mind for a while. The Republican party has become associated with three main things, family values, religion, and patriotism. The democrats, on the other hand, don't have an equivalent (at least nothing that is that clear and well-known). This is particuarly important for those people who don't really follow the news and only do so around the time of elections, but who still vote. The Deomcrats need something similar that is also catchy and that will appeal to a majority of people. And then they need to advertise that!! Something like:

Equality
Community
Freedom

Equality can encompass racial equality, women's movement, noone is above the law (playing on the current Republican situtation of corruption), etc.

Community can encompass family values and religion and then take it a step further

Freedom can encompass freedom of speech, etc. and freedom from fear

anyways, these are my thoughts. Whether or not these have already been stated 100 times, doesn't matter. It might just show that even if the Democratic Party is holding to these or similar keywords, it's not reaching everyone.

IT'S TIME TO STOP THE REPUBLICONS AND EXPOSE THEM AS CHEATS, WHO STEAL ELECTIONS, AND MAKE UP THEIR OWN RULES TO SUIT THEMSELVES. ASK THE VICTIMS OF THE STATES AFFECTED BY H-11-2005, IF THEY VOTED FOR REPUBLICONS AS THE RECORDS SHOW, OR IF THEY VOTED DEMOCRAT OR OTHER. THEN IF RECORDS ARE AVAILABLE AND WE SEE A DISCREPANCY, WE CAN THEN BACKTRACK THE ENTIRE CHEAT BACK TO NEWT.
IM SICK OF THE CONSTANT VOTING CHEATS, AND THE VOTE CHANGE IS DUE IN 2006. I SAY IT WON'T HAPPEN BECAUSE THE REPUBLICONS HAVE GOTTEN AWAY WITH STEALING OUR VOTES FOR FAR TOO LONG. THEY CREATED A 4TH BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT, THAT WROTE A NEW LAW ON BANKRUPTCY. DID LOBBYISTS GET A VOTE? I DIDN'T VOTE FOR 1. SO CONGRESS LED BY THE CONS PASSED A HORRID LAW THAT WILL EVENTUALLY CREATE A "DEBTORS PRISON?" FIX THE LEGAL VOTING PROBLEMS FIRST, EXPOSE THE CRIMINALS LIKE DELAY AND ROVE AND THE REST OF THE CRONYS. THOUGH THE H-16-2005, WAS HORRIBLE, REMOVING PEOPLE FROM THE AREA IS NOT A GOOD IDEA. IF FAMILIES NEED HELP, FORCE THE INSURANCE COMPANIES TO PAY UP. THEY'VE BEEN SNEAKING AROUND WITH SO MUCH POWER AND MONEY, ROBBING AMERICANS OUT OF HARD EARNED MONEY, AND FED LIES ABOUT BEING SAFE. THEN GET RID OF INSURANCE COMPANIES THAT DONT PAY WHAT THEY OWE. I AM AGAINST SPENDING MONEY SENT TO DEMOCRATS TO PAY FOR ANY VICTIM OF A TRAGEDY. WE NEED TO OUST THE REPUBLICONS. RE-ELECT DEMOCRATS AND GET NEW DEMOCRATS IN OFFICE. COMPLAIN ABOUT THE ABUSE OF POWER BY THE REPUBLICONS AND DONT STOP. KEEP HAMMERING THE STORY ABOUT THE VOTER FRAUD AND HOW THEY CHEATED CONGRESS FROM DEMOCRATS. STOP THE ABUSE OF AMERICANS BY REPUBLICONS NOW. OH AND KEEP THIS TRAGEDY IN BUSHYS FACE UNTIL ALL THE AMERICANS ARE THE FIRST TO BE HELPED.
IT'S ALSO TIME TO RECALL ALL THE CONS. RECALL BUSHCO, ALL DISPUTED SEATS IN CONGRESS. IM READY FOR THE RECALL TODAY.

The plan listed above was fine for September 6, when the major concern was to help the people who were washed out of their homes.
Now the time has come to think long-term strategies.
It is not enought to just rebuild and strengthen the levees where they were and invite people back to where they were living before. The long term strategy has to take into consideration the environmental aspects that caused the damage in the first place.
Wetlands and barrier islands that used to protect New Orleans and the entire gulf coast have been destroyed. Any efforts must include plans to rebuild this sort of important natural protection, including rethinking where levees and homes should be built. Most appropriately the most low-lying areas should be left as wetlands. Rebuilding must be done in more appropriate locations.

There has been enormous pollution from Super Fund sites, chemical stockpiles and damage to oil platforms and refineries. This pollution drastically affects not only living conditions for people, but sadly also several wildlife refuges along the coast, including some for endangered species, particularly birds. The Lake must be cleaned as soon as possible, Super Fund Sites cleared and chemical stockpiling in the future placed in locations that will not endanger people or water resources in the case of the future disasters that can be expected because of rising water temperatures.

Democrats have to start using the word "Environment", which suddenly disappeared from all statements as soon as John Kerry was nominated.

The environment is the one major issue that can unite a very large cross section of Americans.
Refering to HKater's contribution above, we need to build on these concepts:

ENVIRONMENTAL EQUALITY, so that rich and poor alike can enjoy fresh water and clean air, free from toxins like mercury
ENVIRONMENTAL COMMUNITY, where we all work together for the common good, including the commons that are no individual's property (and particularly no corporation's property!)
ENVIRONMENTAL FREEDOM to enjoy the natural resources that are our common property, including air, water, national parks and other undeveloped areas.

I'm sick of this. I have tried both Clintons, the DCCC, the DNC and my friends in MN. No one seems to have access. Well, that's the problem, isn't it!?!!? Duh. Hyuk hyuk...

If anyone gives a rat's behind, I have a plan to win. Seriously. I won't be posting it here in a public forum because that's how we lose. But if serious people ask... I have a serious plan to win.

Todd

Todd

BUSH IS A TERRORIST!!!!!!

Definition: Somebody who uses violence or the threat of violence, especially bombing, kidnapping, and assassination, to intimidate, often for political purposes. Gee, I think starting a war on lies for oil covers this area. Right George W. Bush?

I even remember that Bush said we will be able to pay for the war from the oil. Hummm….I don’t believe this has happened and it never will. It was just another of the many lies that have come from the “republican” Bush administration.

George W. Bush is a terrorist and he has gotten more Americans killed and injured than any terrorists we know of.

The American public is just beginning to realize how dangerous this idiot is. He now has the lowest job approval ever and it’s much deserved. I just can’t understand how so many people could be so stupid to vote for this fool to begin with. Two times even. I KNEW this guy was an idiot from day one.

I now realize 80% of Americans are just plain stupid and that is the reason we have the government we have.

Just remember never to trust a republican. They act as if they are all about family values but in reality they are more crocked than Sadam. Now George W. Bush who has a record for hiring incompetent and corrupt people will now get what’s coming to him. His top staff people are going down and taking Bush with them.

I just love Karma. Bush will hopefully never finish his term. If he dose, he will go down as the most dangerous and incompetent president in our history.

Bush, Girlfriends & Abortion:

Somebody mentioned this earlier in the week. Could whomever posted the message please provide sources or articles?