I'm Not Surprised -- Crandal Canyon, Chinese Lead, Katrina, Iraq, Osama, Hanging Chads

I'm not surprised.

I'm not surprised that the government seems so clueless on mine safety. Upset, but not surprised.

This is, after all, the same government that can't seem to keep lead-contaminated toys off our shelves. The lead is coming in from China. China. The Communists. Surely, you would think that neocons could figure out that communists can't be trusted. That's what they won election with for many, many years. They'll still throw the C-word out when they are backed into a corner. I'm surprised they haven't tried to say that Saddam was a commie.

But, at the same time, I'm not surprised.

This is the same government that couldn't figure out how to get life-saving supplies like food and water into New Orleans. For 100 hours, they said it was impossible. Who cares that NBC and CNN were able to get private cars in and out. Fox News was able to get two satellite trucks in. But, the government, they couldn't figure it out. And that's not to mention they fact that we can airlift food and water into Pakistan 36 hours after an earthquake, but we can't pull it off in our own country. Let's not mention the fact that they turned private-sector charities away at gunpoint from going in.

Guess What? I'm not surprised.

After all, this is the government with the most powerful army in the world that has taken four and a half years to wage a war that we are no closer to winning than we were four and a half years ago.

But, I'm not surprised. This is the same government that has taken 6 years to catch the man who masterminded the worst terrorist attack on our soil. Except we haven't caught him.

But really, should I be surprised? This is the same government that, in answer to an election fiasco, has never addressed the causes of that fiasco. The problem wasn't the hanging chad, it was the fact that there was no definition of what constituted a vote on the ballot. Should we be surprised to learn that there is still no definition in most states?

No. Because it's par for the course.

-Bob

More Brian Williams

Brian Williams seems to be doing a good job of telling us the rest of the story.

He has a post about how power was restored in New Orleans long enough for President Bush, then turned back off again.

Read it here.

I am duty-bound to report the talk of the New Orleans warehouse district last
night: there was rejoicing (well, there would have been without the curfew, but
the few people I saw on the streets were excited) when the power came back on
for blocks on end. Kevin Tibbles was positively jubilant on the live update
edition of Nightly News that we fed to the West Coast. The mini-mart, long ago
cleaned out by looters, was nonetheless bathed in light, including the empty,
roped-off gas pumps. The motorcade route through the district was partially lit
no more than 30 minutes before POTUS drove through. And yet last night, no more
than an hour after the President departed, the lights went out. The entire area
was plunged into total darkness again, to audible groans. It's enough to make
some of the folks here who witnessed it... jump to certain conclusions.

Hmmm, I wonder what conclusions those would be.... :)

I'm not saying that managing an event is bad. But this ain't hanging large pictures on buildings for the Olympics or having a nice podium at a convention. We're screwing with people's lives and emotions here.

Bush and his handlers have no heart.

-Bob

Brian Williams on Katrina

One of these days, I'll end my railing on Katrina, and go back to the friendliness that is my blog.

Or not.

But, watch this piece from the Daily Show. It features Brian Williams of NBC News, who was in the Superdome during the hurricane, and witnessed most of the post-hurricane disaster first hand.

It will, I hope, awaken your anger.

-Bob

Refugees

All week, the media called those fleeing the areas Katrina left behind as "refugees."

No, that word has been renounced as "racist" or unfair. "They aren't refugees. They're survivors." Even Oprah has jumped on the anti-refugee bandwagon.

It got me wondering what the word refugee meant. Dictionary.com is a great site.

One who flees in search of refuge, as in times of war, political oppression, or
religious persecution.

Well, we keep being reminded we're at war. Those who were shooting their guns were acting like they were at war. If Bush's delays in providing aid weren't political oppression, I don't know what would be. And, if you believe many on the religious right, it was an act of religious persecution from God to the sinners.

I will call them refugees.

-Bob

Baghdad Mike

Remember Baghdad Bob? He was the Iraqi (mis)information minister who insisted the US did not have troops in Iraq, let alone the capital, while we were blowing the crap out of buildings around him.

I think we captured him, gave him a new name (Mike Brown), and put him at FEMA:

Despite pleas from two public hospital administrators that they were
running out of food, FEMA administrator Mike Brown said there is no truth to
reports food is scarce in New Orleans.

"The state has requested five trailer loads of MREs and water to be
delivered today. Those are en route. There was plenty of food to feed last night
in the Superdome. There was plenty of food to feed this morning. And there will
be plenty of food to feed this evening," Mr. Brown said. "So, any reports to the
contrary are just incorrect."

From the Washington Times, via Democracy for Utah

-Bob

An new petition

Today, I'm posting as part of the International Blogging for Disaster Relief Day .

100 hours later, we've got supplies rolling into New Orleans. Therefore, my previous petition is outdated.

However, I'd like you to sign a new one here:

To: the United States Senate

On August 29, 2005, a major hurricane struck the Southeastern United
States, including the states of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. Thousands
of people perished in the immediate aftermath.

The United States Government has been slow to respond. Hundreds of people
or more are dying because of dehydration and hunger. Many more will die due to
illness caused by unsanitary conditions, including, but not limited to, human
waste in the flood waters.

The delays represent a large breach of Homeland Security. We have shown by
our ineptitude that we can no longer respond to the immediate needs of Americans
in times of crisis.

We hereby call on the United States Senate to hold immediate public
hearings into the delays by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and
Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) in getting help and relief to
the victims of Hurricane Katrina. We also call on full and unencumbered
cooperation from the heads of these agencies, President George Walker Bush, and
other members of his cabinet.

We also call for the resignation or firing of any employee found to have
impeded the delivery of services to the victims, including any senior Bush
Administration officials that may be involved.

Sincerely,

The
Undersigned

Also, just a reminder to give to agencies like the Red Cross.

-Bob

Hell

If you had told me that I would be in a situation where I was not only WATCHING FOX news, let alone agreeing with Bill O'Rielly, wanting to hug Shep Smith, and sending money to a Joe Scarborogh charity (I know, he's on MSNBC, but he's as bad), I would have told you that I was in Hell [a term I don't use lightly].

However, these people are correct in criticizing the response. And my criticism doesn't stop at President Bush or others. It continues today to ALL polititions, including Howard Dean, for not speaking out. Where is the outrage?

I know there's plenty of outrage on sites like DailyKos. However, we need our voices to be heard. Keep yelling until help arrives for these people, for they are truly living in Hell. Actually, more and more of them are dying in Hell.

-Bob


tags: International Blogging for Disaster Relief Day, Hurricane Katrina

A petition

Please consider signing this petition:

To: United States Government

On August 29, 2005, a major hurricane struck the Southeastern United States, including the states of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. Thousands of people perished in the immediate aftermath.

The United States Government has been slow to respond. Over Seventy-Two hours have passed since Hurricane Katrina passed. Hundreds of people are dying because of dehydration and hunger. Many more will die due to illness caused by unsanitary conditions, including, but not limited to, human waste in the flood waters.

Therefore, we, the undersigned, call on President George Walker Bush, the United States Senate, the United States House of Representatives, and the United States Military to begin immediate airdrops of water and food to the people affected in these states, including the city of New Orleans. We also call on an immediate activation of all available troops to these areas to help keep the peace and make it safe for the rescuers.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

Click on the link to sign it.

-Bob

tags: Hurricane Katrina

Waiting for a Leader

George W. Bush gave one of the worst speeches of his life yesterday, especially
given the level of national distress and the need for words of consolation and
wisdom.

When I first read those words, I thought they were the words of what Orrin Hatch would call a nutcake blogger.

It was an editorial from The New York Times.

Every day, more people in these areas are going to die. Fresh water needs to be brought in. For those areas inaccessible by truck, air drop it in. Most of these people have been without water for over 72 hours, which is getting into lethal territories.

Please note: I am not criticizing agencies like the Red Cross. They are there, doing the best they can.

However, they can only do so much.

I'm just sick of seeing any area of this country reduced to third-world status, with armed gangs ruling the streets and refugees dying because the country's leader is too unconcerned.

-Bob

tags: George W Bush, Hurricane Katrina

Life

Sometimes, life is more important than, well, just about anything. Often, we need not-so-subtle reminders of this fact, like hurricane Katrina.

Last night at work, I felt a little guilty. I was out enjoying a pleasant but crisp evening at a baseball game, while many others are sick, dying, or dead. Many more fear that loved ones may be suffering some awful fate. Thousands are homeless, with literally the clothes on their back to their name. They not only have lost all their possessions, but also their jobs, their churches, their community.

In times like this, we must all lend a hand.

Please, dear readers, donate funds to help the releif effort.

Red Cross

Salvation Army

-Bob