My thoughts and prayers are with those of you who are in New Orleans and Mississippi. I live on the Alabama Gulf Coast, and we are getting ready just in case. Keep watching the weather, fellow Gulf Coast residents, and I hope you come through the storm without any problems.

I'm personally preparing for two weeks without power, just like last year's Hurricane Ivan. 90 degree weather without air conditioning is not fun, trust me!

I've got you in my prayers, CG.
Please be careful!

:)

Yeah, I feel for the people in New Orleans right now... They're evacuating, right?

New Orleans is under a mandatory evacuation. My thoughts and prayers are with you all. Stay safe....

Yikes, good luck CharliesGal. All of those in FL, MI, AL, and New Orleans are in my thoughts. I hope everyone in those areas follow the advice and leave. People are crazy to want to stay in a Category 4 or 5 hurricane.

I agree, everyone should leave. The only problem is, a huge percentage of the population of New Orleans is very very poor and they just don't have the means to evacuate. Some of them don't have cars. The don't have the money for hotel rooms, etc. So they are holed up in the Superdome, still in the city, but safer than they would be in their homes. The way things look now, I'll be safe. The Alabama coast is in danger of storm surge, but I'm far enough away from the coast that it should be okay. I'm just watching the weather tonight and praying hard for the people of New Orleans. I hope they are all okay by the end of the day tomorrow. Thanks for all your comments, thoughts and prayers. Please continue to direct these to New Orleans and the poor people who have to ride out he storm there.

Wow... so on the evening news I found out that it's a category 5 and they're talking like it could do some unimaginably bad damage to New Orleans. :eek2:

Praying...

I've been watching the projected path of the storm after it makes landfall, & if it moves
any further east, we're gonna get hit directly. Last year, we were in the direct path of Ivan
but it got down to a tropical depression by the time it reached us. I hope & pray we get no damage, but also no power outage! Lousy hurricanes! :mad:

My thoughts and prayers are for you and everyone else effected by Katrina.

My God protect all of you in the path of Katrina and those less fortunate to escape it.

I was just reading some stuff on news websites about how bad this hurricane is and potential damage it can do to New Orleans. I have distant family members who live in New Orleans and they already fled to Missouri apparently. I was reading about how a lot of people had to take shelter up in the sports dome there (I forget what it's called)...that is really sad, but at least they will most likely be safe in there, especially all the homeless. My thoughts and prayers are with you all who visist this board and who will be affected, and I hope the best for you all. I'm also hoping Katrina doesn't do half as much damage as what they are predicting.

Being that we here in Central Florida doged this, I can't feel sad enough for those in LA and MS and those that will be effected later as she moves northeast, we went without power for one week with Charlie and it was nothing compared to this one. My heart goes out to all of them. Esp. those that can't run.

As far as I know, the latest is: One of the levies has been breached and (I think it's the river) has started flooding into New Orleans. The levies and floodgates were only made to withstand a category 3 hurricane. Also, some of the water pumps have lost power- and now the flooding's only expected to get worse.

lonewolf, I heard that during the night the hurricane tracked east a little more :eek2: are you alright?

.

lonewolf, I heard that during the night the hurricane tracked east a little more :eek2: are you alright?


We're fine, so far! We haven't even got a drop of rain yet.
It's supposed to get up this way sometime this evening. We're right on the edge of the affected area. We're expecting a lot of rain tonight, & tornado threats. They haven't
closed my plant tonight, so I have to go to work. (Too bad, 'cause I've got a bad
upper respiratory infection, & I feel awful!) :(

I agree, everyone should leave. The only problem is, a huge percentage of the population of New Orleans is very very poor and they just don't have the means to evacuate. Some of them don't have cars. The don't have the money for hotel rooms, etc. So they are holed up in the Superdome, still in the city, but safer than they would be in their homes. The way things look now, I'll be safe. The Alabama coast is in danger of storm surge, but I'm far enough away from the coast that it should be okay. I'm just watching the weather tonight and praying hard for the people of New Orleans. I hope they are all okay by the end of the day tomorrow. Thanks for all your comments, thoughts and prayers. Please continue to direct these to New Orleans and the poor people who have to ride out he storm there.
This is very true and that I understand. I would never willingly choose to stay.

I'm in Atlanta and the clouds are rolling in right now -- we're expected to have a 100% chance of rain at 2am. It's going to be crazy tomorrow. :eek:

I hope there won't be too much damage, I've heard bad news about the aftermath for New Orleans. Many historic buildings might be gone. :(

This is very true and that I understand. I would never willingly choose to stay.

I'm in Atlanta and the clouds are rolling in right now -- we're expected to have a 100% chance of rain at 2am. It's going to be crazy tomorrow. :eek:

I hope there won't be too much damage, I've heard bad news about the aftermath for New Orleans. Many historic buildings might be gone. :(

Oh wow...

nevermind, the rain has started early.

Lonewolf, my thoughts are with you. I hope all is well in your area!

Lonewolf, my thoughts are with you. I hope all is well in your area!



As of this post - It's passed us & about all we got was leaves & branches all over the road. (It's the middle of the night, so I haven't checked the roof yet!) ;)

Good Morning everyone. I hope everyone is ok. They are saying that there were at least 67 deaths (54 in Mississippi) caused by the storm and that 80% of New Orleans is flooded. I hope all our Fusies and their families are well.

As of this post - It's passed us & about all we got was leaves & branches all over the road. (It's the middle of the night, so I haven't checked the roof yet!) ;)

Well it's good to hear you are perfectly okay!

The roof seems fine, so far - We didn't even lose power, thank God!
I have a lot of cleaning up to do in my yard, though. :)

Good luck! Glad to hear the power didn't go out...

In New Orleans and around that area have lost power and they don't know how long it will take to restore. But I'm also glad you didn't loose power.

We lost power for a day & a half last year with Ivan, & it was absolute torture
without air conditioning! So I can only imagine what those people are going through!


(Hi, Bescky! I've been trying to reach you.)

We lost power for a day & a half last year with Ivan, & it was absolute torture
without air conditioning! So I can only imagine what those people are going through!


(Hi, Bescky! I've been trying to reach you.)


With Charley last year, I lost power for 9 days and I thought that was horrible. I can't even fathom what they are dealing with....
Glad you are ok Lonewolf!!!

My God! The destruction is just so widespread. I've been watching the news, reading articles, looking at the pictures. New Orleans, Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia. I really hope everyone out there is ok. This is going to take a long time to clean up. They are saying the power may be out for over a month and many people are homeless. It's just so sad. I can't imagine what they are going through.

Is anyone else annoyed at the President's PR folks? :ranting: I can't even COUNT how many times I've heard the news announcers say "The President has cut his month long vacation short by two days...". Like anyone down in the affected areas gives a hoot about his vacation. Of COURSE he came back to work early-it's his JOB. One that he gets paid very well to do, I might add. :censored: Sorry if I don't give him brownie points for that. Apparently his PR folks think all Americans will feel that the President has made a huge sacrifice to come back to work. Well, guess again-he should have been back in Washington BEFORE the storm hit. Again, that's his JOB. :mad: Ok, rant over-but I'll be back again, next time I hear "The President has cut his month long vacation short by two days...", which is inevitable.....:blowup:

ps. I love these new smilies!

Hi everyone. We got power back last night. Our house has no damage, one of the trees in our yard has split into 4 pieces, but other than that, we were very blessed. I'm watching local news right now and they are panning the area with their news helicopter. It's unreal how much damage even the Alabama coast endured, being so far away from the storm. Many people in Mobile are still without power and they are saying it'll be several weeks before everyone gets it back.

But in Mississippi and Louisiana, those people are dealing with much worse than inconvenience. They are dealing with absolute hell. That report on CNN about the man in MS who watched his wife get swept away in the water when their house split apart was done by a local reporter. When they aired the report, the reporter was crying and so were the two anchors, one who has been reporting this area for something like 30 years. He had to compose himself before he could go on, and the female anchor had to leave the news set. It's just so sad. I cried for 10 minutes after that report aired. Our local news is reporting that the rescue teams in New Orleans are pushing bodies out of the way to get to the people they can still save. I've never heard or seen anything like this. It's absolutely horrible.

Please continue to pray for the people of New Orleans and Mississippi. And if you can, send help through America's Second Harvest (http://www.secondharvest.org/) or The Red Cross. I work for the Second Harvest food bank that covers these areas, and we are starting our disaster relief efforts today.

Thanks for your post CharliesGal and the update. I donated to the Red Cross first thing this morning. This is going to take a long time to clean up and recover from. I hope everyone out there remembers to donate to a good cause that can help these people that have lost their homes and loved ones.

Hi everyone. We got power back last night. Our house has no damage, one of the trees in our yard has split into 4 pieces, but other than that, we were very blessed. I'm watching local news right now and they are panning the area with their news helicopter. It's unreal how much damage even the Alabama coast endured, being so far away from the storm. Many people in Mobile are still without power and they are saying it'll be several weeks before everyone gets it back.

But in Mississippi and Louisiana, those people are dealing with much worse than inconvenience. They are dealing with absolute hell. That report on CNN about the man in MS who watched his wife get swept away in the water when their house split apart was done by a local reporter. When they aired the report, the reporter was crying and so were the two anchors, one who has been reporting this area for something like 30 years. He had to compose himself before he could go on, and the female anchor had to leave the news set. It's just so sad. I cried for 10 minutes after that report aired. Our local news is reporting that the rescue teams in New Orleans are pushing bodies out of the way to get to the people they can still save. I've never heard or seen anything like this. It's absolutely horrible.

Please continue to pray for the people of New Orleans and Mississippi. And if you can, send help through America's Second Harvest (http://www.secondharvest.org/) or The Red Cross. I work for the Second Harvest food bank that covers these areas, and we are starting our disaster relief efforts today.

I cried too seeing that. Seeing everything thats happened does make you realize how truely blessed you are. I hope you don't mind but I passed on your "second harvest" info to some people around my school/office that wanted to do something to help.

I'm so glad you're ok, CG! :biggrin:
We we're worried about you when you didn't post after the storm. I was hoping it was just 'cause your power was out.

I'm in Houston and a radio station has set up a telethon to call in and requests songs and make a donation, they've raised something like $25,000 in just 4 hours. I called in and donated some money. They're also sending a bunch of people over here to the Astrodome to take up shelter. It's just really sad and I hate to see such destruction after living in NY through 9/11. I also can't believe all the people looting and everything, it's just awful some people will take advantage of this type of situation.

I cried too seeing that. Seeing everything thats happened does make you realize how truely blessed you are. I hope you don't mind but I passed on your "second harvest" info to some people around my school/office that wanted to do something to help.

I don't mind at all. In fact, I appreciate it! We have our hands full down here, and any help is greatly appreciated. The pictures I've been seeing from food/water/ice distribution stations, even here in Mobile, are amazing. The lines are so long, and some people are running out of gas before their car can even get to the site. A friend in Mobile was told she wouldn't have power for a couple of weeks. Where I live, in Fairhope (just across the Bay from Mobile) things are pretty much back to normal. We do have a lot of new, temporary residents, though. People from Mississippi who evacuated and can't get back home yet are stopping in our town to eat, sleep, and get gas. We welcome them with open arms, knowing what they have had to go through and knowing what they still have to endure. That's what you have to do in times of disaster. We will make it through and will be stronger for it. Because that's what Americans do. Thank you all for your prayers, donations, and good wishes. I know those in MS and LA appreciate it.

Is anyone else annoyed at the President's PR folks? :ranting: I can't even COUNT how many times I've heard the news announcers say "The President has cut his month long vacation short by two days...". Like anyone down in the affected areas gives a hoot about his vacation. Of COURSE he came back to work early-it's his JOB. One that he gets paid very well to do, I might add. :censored: Sorry if I don't give him brownie points for that. Apparently his PR folks think all Americans will feel that the President has made a huge sacrifice to come back to work. Well, guess again-he should have been back in Washington BEFORE the storm hit. Again, that's his JOB. :mad: Ok, rant over-but I'll be back again, next time I hear "The President has cut his month long vacation short by two days...", which is inevitable.....:blowup:

ps. I love these new smilies!
I understand and completely agree.

Well imagine our fury when we found out President Bush was reading to children and just sat in a classroom as he heard our country was being attacked by terrorists and people were dying in NYC. Then he doesn't do anything to help the situation afterwards, however, I think there is a conspiracy at play so this may be the reasoning behind his lack of motivation. He's a joke. He's not a good leader, and yet he's in office for 3 more years.

Well imagine our fury when we found out President Bush was reading to children and just sat in a classroom as he heard our country was being attacked by terrorists and people were dying in NYC. Then he doesn't do anything to help the situation afterwards, however, I think there is a conspiracy at play so this may be the reasoning behind his lack of motivation. He's a joke. He's not a good leader, and yet he's in office for 3 more years.

:down: *sigh* Don't remind me. But I guess we should leave politics out of it.

I feel for you guys. I can't say alot for some of our leaders up here in Canada either. But l'd be pissed if Bush was running our place. I was just as annoyed when they kept saying about him cutting his vacation short, who in the f*** cares. I mean its a disaster do your job. l'll be finding a place today thats taking donations.

The news from Louisiana is that the casualties may be in the thousands. I can't imagine what the people affected by Katrina are going through, but I'll be praying and hoping for everyone.

thousands! That's awful. :( I've heard the damage was bad, but after seeing pictures and hearing the news I couldn't believe it's that bad. Pictures and video clips help put things in perspective, just like the tsunamis last Christmas.

Well the distant family members of mine, that I mentioned earlier, lived in New Orleans area actually, and her daughters lived in New Orleans, it's a really big family but they all evacuated, and they just found out that all their homes are wiped out. So, they're going back to NY to live with their parents for awhile and try to find some jobs and get back on their feet, they're considering just staying in NY too and not going back down South. But the saddest part is that they have nothing of theirs with them, no clothes or anything. It's just a really sad and devestating situation and I feel bad for all of those who have lost everything and their jobs on top of it all.

Hey Guys,

I live in Kansas City and throught the week one of our radio stations, (Mix 93.3), has been helping out for the people in the aftermath of Katrina. They have been camping out at a nerby Hi-Vee and having everyone bring bottled water for them to ship down south.
Yesterday we got over 100,000 bottles of water! We're expecting todays totals to rise high above that. *I'm so proud of myself, I bought two crates of water for the survivors!*

P.S. They said on the radio that yesterday 93.3 raised more water than any other radio station in the country!

Water is on the way all you stranded people in New Orleans!

That's great! I can tell you they will appreciate it. Water is so important in these situations because the water down there is contaminated, so they can't drink it, and it's really hot, so they get dehydrated really quickly because they don't have power (air conditioning). I learned how important water was after Hurricane Ivan last year when we were without power for 14 days.

Wow, I can't even imagine not having power for 14 days...although I can't imagine not having internet for more than two hours either....

Man! I keep thinking of how blessed we were to not have any damage to speak of....
but these poor people have been thrust into a situation of pure survival - finding water/
shelter/food/clothing....literally being set back to the stone age overnight!
We think we're safe if we dont live on the coast...but we're not safe anywhere. You could live in the heartland of America, & be reduced to nothing by a tornado or earthquake!
I feel very blessed & humbled. (I wont say "lucky" 'cause I dont believe in luck.)

On another note, I'm just curious about what the gas prices are around the country?
There are some places in the south that are claiming they cant get gas delivered &
are jacking up the prices. I went & filled up tonight, & it was $2.79 a gallon for unleaded.
It may be a lot more by tomorrow! :(

yeah, it was rough going without power for 14 days. The worst part of it was the heat. It's miserable trying to sleep when you are hot and sticky. yuck. I actually had Internet at work, because I was a newspaper reporter at the time and we got our power back pretty quickly, so that wasn't too bad. Having to take cold showers for that long was pretty annoying too. But we got through it, and all that seems like such a small inconvenience compared to losing everything. How awful. We never had to stand in distribution lines to get food or water because we had money and went to restaurants or cooked on our grill, but I knew many people who had to go get those things because they didn't have any other options. I know there are a lot of people in that situation right now. It's like being reduced to a third world country in an instant. Just terrible.

About gas prices... I just heard that in my area (Mobile, Alabama) we will be getting a five day supply of gas and after that, they are not sure what will happen. I don't know what I'm going to do if we stop getting gas. I don't care how much I have to pay as long as I can get to work!

I also just heard that there are over 3300 people from Mississippi and Louisiana who are trying to find shelter in Alabama right now. I'm sure a lot of them are here in my city. I wonder where they are staying? And how long can you afford to live in a hotel? It's going to get very expensive for them, I'm afraid.

I heard on the radio today that the Governor of Alabama is letting refugees live in trailer parks in the local state parks. (That's what it sounded like ...I may be slightly off)
Also there are people down here who are donating unused rooms & houses to the
refugees to use free of charge. (It's freaking me out to use the word "refugee" in
America!) :crying:

On another note, I'm just curious about what the gas prices are around the country?
There are some places in the south that are claiming they cant get gas delivered &
are jacking up the prices. I went & filled up tonight, & it was $2.79 a gallon for unleaded.
It may be a lot more by tomorrow! :(
Today it went up to $3.09 for regular, here....Chicago suburbs. It's consider too high if it goes above $2 under normal circumstances. Ouch! I guess if I just don't eat one day out of the week I can........;)

I don't think it's ever been above $3 here in EP. That is extremely high. It really sucks because I have to go to school everyday and it takes 25-35 minutes to get there. I use a lot of gas. For now, that's all I'm going to drive to.

I was just watching that ABC special they had and woah. I still can't believe all of this. It's unreal. :( I'm getting paid this Friday and will definitely donate some of it.

I live in Jacksonville,FL but my mom, brother & sister all live in Gulfport,MS....They rode the storm out in Montgomery,AL.....they left on Tues to go back to see if they have still have homes. I have not heard from them since. My co-workers donated $350 dollars and I went out and bought supplies. I will be leaving tomorrow morning to try and find them and get the supplies to them.

Keep the people in LA/MS/AL in your thoughts!

:)

Here in Orlando, the gas prices (as of 6am this morning) were between $2.98 - $3.06

Try living in Boston-it runs anywhere from $3.07 for regular all the way up to some places showing $3.79 for high test. That is, if they have it-most places are only selling regular now-if this storm only knocked out about 20% (I've heard everything from 12% to 25%, so I'm guessing somewhere in the middle) of gas production, why are so many places out of gas? More than 25% of the gas stations are out of mid grade and high test. Weird.

I'm running two fundraisers in our office next week for the hurricane. One for a huge jar of candy and one for gift certificates. Hopefully, everyone will join in...

Well Bush has this to say about price gouging at the pumps. http://money.cnn.com/2005/09/01/news/bush_gas.reut/index.htm?cnn=yes

And just when I think he's saying something smart, he goes and says something dumb. Like this...

He defended the federal government's response so far to the growing crisis amid urgent pleas for help from stranded victims of the storm in New Orleans. He said the breach of the levees that led to the submerging of much of New Orleans had not been anticipated.

Um, I'm sorry, but how many articles did I read this weekend that said New Orleans is just a big bowl and if the levee breaks the entire city would be flooded? And for how many years have they been saying that all it will take is one big hurricane to wipe New Orleans away. We had warning that this storm was coming, there should have been more done before the storm hit. I know I'm playing Monday morning quarterback and that no amount of preparation would have saved the city, but more lives could have been saved.

Try living in Boston-it runs anywhere from $3.07 for regular all the way up to some places showing $3.79 for high test. That is, if they have it-most places are only selling regular now-if this storm only knocked out about 20% (I've heard everything from 12% to 25%, so I'm guessing somewhere in the middle) of gas production, why are so many places out of gas? More than 25% of the gas stations are out of mid grade and high test. Weird.

Yep, that's about what I saw on my way in today. Interestingly, the Mobil stations at the highway rest stops were still in the high 2s. Wonder if that's because (as the chain email currently undulating its way through the Net points out) Mobil is a company that imports much of its oil and is therefore less affected by hurricane-caused supply shocks?

Short term, this really sucks. Long term, hopefully people will buy cars with better mileage and change their driving patterns and we will all come out ahead.

I haven't gone outside yet haha, but last night gas in Houston was in the 2.90's and we have already heard that it was going to definitely rise by today (it had already risen from about 2.59 before Katrina). I talked to my mom last night and she said in NY that it was in the 2.90's - 3.00 range.

Well Bush has this to say about price gouging at the pumps. http://money.cnn.com/2005/09/01/news/bush_gas.reut/index.htm?cnn=yes

And just when I think he's saying something smart, he goes and says something dumb. Like this...



Um, I'm sorry, but how many articles did I read this weekend that said New Orleans is just a big bowl and if the levee breaks the entire city would be flooded? And for how many years have they been saying that all it will take is one big hurricane to wipe New Orleans away. We had warning that this storm was coming, there should have been more done before the storm hit. I know I'm playing Monday morning quarterback and that no amount of preparation would have saved the city, but more lives could have been saved.

I saw a program a few years ago, one of those doomsday documentaries on Discovery or Nat'l Geographic, and it explained all of that in great detail that there was only so much water the levees could hold, anything bigger than a 3 hurricane would wipe out the city. It's so awful what these people are faced with. No wonder they're looting, they're grasping at whatever they can, for some this is or at least seems like the end of the world. What would anyone do?

I have a cousin missing in Biloxi, actually they had a home between Biloxi and Gulfport. He decided to stay behind with his uncle and ride out the storm, from what we've seen on the news is the area had been completely wiped out. Obviously we haven't heard anything from him. His mother is a nurse in the Hospital in Biloxi and was at the hospital helping people evacuate when the storm hit, we heard word from her that she's still there, at least as of yesterday.

Has anyone heard if US blood banks are putting out a call for donors?

i'm a volunteer for the american red cross, so i outta put this out...if you wanna help...

call 1-800-HELP-NOW or go online to http://www.redcross.org

since monday we've collected over $21 million in donations. thank you!!

At least you guys can buy gas. Here in Mobile, Alabama, you have to wait in line for over 2 hours to get gas, there's a $20 limit on how much you can buy, and sometimes the gas stations run out before you get to the pump. I don't know how I'm going to drive to work tomorrow if I can't get gas tonight!

That's the good thing about living in Philly/S Jersey. We have 10 refineries here. When I went out at 12:30 gas was $2.99 (I shoulda got gas at lunch), when we came back from our meeting at 3:00 it was $3.20. Pretty cheep compared to most of the country, but still a bit high.

Oh, and I just noticed the Red Cross banner. You can click from here to donate. I'm on the Red Cross mailing list, so I got their plea for money Wednesday morning and donated. I'm glad that $21 million was already raised. These people will need it.

Jomama lives in Slidell. I always go to New Orleans... That is my favorite town, my favorite state... I'm devastated... Pray for them, guys...
Kate

It's been three days. Where is the relief??

New Orleans Mayor Issues 'Desperate SOS' (http://apnews.myway.com/article/20050901/D8CBLEP80.html)

One more story I found:

New Orleans doctors plead for help (http://www.nola.com/newsflash/weather/index.ssf?/base/national-50/112560684187871.xml&storylist=hurricane)

It's been three days. Where is the relief??

New Orleans Mayor Issues 'Desperate SOS' (http://apnews.myway.com/article/20050901/D8CBLEP80.html)

It's kind of embarrassing really. I've been reading the articles at cnn. People are dying of dehydration at the convention center. There's no order. Rescuers are being shot at. It's a mess.

That's the problem. When they try to help the people who need it, the people with guns ruin it all. I can't believe they were shooting at the rescue helicopter. It is as if some people in New Orleans have lost their last shred of civility and humanity. And here in Mobile, Alabama, it's starting to fray. There are fights at gas stations, and people are syphoning gas out of other people's vehicles and into their gas cans. Stealing gas from other people who need it! I have to go sit in a gas line today (looking forward to a 4 hour wait) but I would never consider stealing it from someone else.

On another note, I'm just curious about what the gas prices are around the country?
There are some places in the south that are claiming they cant get gas delivered &
are jacking up the prices. I went & filled up tonight, & it was $2.79 a gallon for unleaded.
It may be a lot more by tomorrow! :(

In Atlanta yesterday it was at $2.69, which is pretty high in and of itself here, but this morning I saw unleaded at $3.15. :eek2: :eek2: And that was one of the less expensive gas stations near me. I can't believe it! I remember after Sept. 11 when it was only 89 cents.

What is also disappointing is all of the looting. It's a shame that people take adavantage of others during a disaster. :ohmy:

That's the problem. When they try to help the people who need it, the people with guns ruin it all. I can't believe they were shooting at the rescue helicopter. It is as if some people in New Orleans have lost their last shred of civility and humanity. And here in Mobile, Alabama, it's starting to fray. There are fights at gas stations, and people are syphoning gas out of other people's vehicles and into their gas cans. Stealing gas from other people who need it! I have to go sit in a gas line today (looking forward to a 4 hour wait) but I would never consider stealing it from someone else.
Sad. How quickly the law of the jungle asserts itself -- people revert to nature and become animals, preying, and scavenging, and smashing their boots into the other guy's face. It takes something like this to make you realize how thin the veneer of civilization really is. Wow.

Sad. How quickly the law of the jungle asserts itself -- people revert to nature and become animals, preying, and scavenging, and smashing their boots into the other guy's face. It takes something like this to make you realize how thin the veneer of civilization really is. Wow.

Looting is one thing, but snipers shooting at the hospitals and ambulances! That's just sick. :thmbdown: I can understand that people are desperate and dying, but to shoot at the ones that are trying to help you. I just don't understand. :ranting:

Ugh. Just heard on my local news that there are 15,000 people trapped in the New Orleans Civic Center, mostly displaced tourists who couldn't get a flight out before the storm. They are trapped by people who are beating and raping them. When the National Guard tried to come in, these people basically beat the guardsmen back and shut the doors. I'm terrified that they are going to have to blast their way through just to get to the people inside who are going through more hell than anyone ever deserves.

I can't believe this. It's just too much. People cannot really be acting like this.

15,000 people!!!!???

Well they are. And the situation down there just keeps getting worse... I never thought it would be this bad, and I always think things are going to be worse than they ever get. But not this time.

Ugh. Just heard on my local news that there are 15,000 people trapped in the New Orleans Civic Center, mostly displaced tourists who couldn't get a flight out before the storm. They are trapped by people who are beating and raping them. When the National Guard tried to come in, these people basically beat the guardsmen back and shut the doors. I'm terrified that they are going to have to blast their way through just to get to the people inside who are going through more hell than anyone ever deserves.

I can't believe this. It's just too much. People cannot really be acting like this.

oh my gosh, I didn't hear about that. That is awful and disgusting! Why do people act like that? Why do ill things to those who only want to help?

I'm waiting to see how long it'll take until they go Donner Party in the Convention Center.

I love how this country can conquer another in 6 days but can't get some control into one of it's own cities.

One problem is the fact that there are tons of armed guards, it sort of intimidates people and makes them feel like criminals, which heightens emotions negatively.

I'm not amazed at how quickly people snap and become animals, once the laws of civilization and the bonds of society are stripped from your life, you lose all sense of moral and retreat to this animal like behavior, "survival of the fittest". I think it's sad that people are looting TV's, computers and other technological products. I understand looting water, food, necessities. Also the violent behavior towards fellow victims is ridiculous, there have been rapes in the Superdome, beatings, fires, etc. I'm almost scared to go volunteer at the Astrodome (which I am/was planning on doing this weekend). I just hope some order is set in soon, and the people who are trapped all over the city get their aid.

Hopefully, when they get to the Astrodome there won't be any weapons (I'm sure they're getting searched before they get on busses) and they shouldn't let any weapons into the Astrodome either. At least, I am assuming that they would, since that's the responsible thing to do.

But you know what? I will continue to be amazed at the behavior, because I've seen disasters before and have never seen this particular type of behavior. Granted, none of them have been as bad as this one, but I still cannot understand how people can lose their humanity in a few days. Of course, I've never been able to understand how anyone can ever kill or rape anyone anyway, so I guess I'm not the best judge. Maybe I just have too much faith in people, maybe I just think (perhaps falsely) that people all have good in them. I guess that's the worst thing about this for me right now. I feel like maybe I'm being proven wrong about that.

I don't really think people are that good without laws and society. What would happen if we were raised with no parents, no laws, no society, no structure. Those things are the only things keeping us "humane". Still, the situation these people are in is driving them crazy and to their limits. They're hot, tired, weak, dirty, hungry, dehydrated and devastated and they're receiving minimal help. I think I'd be rioting and looting too, maybe to not a high degree, but I would want things and I would want to be rescued, and some of the people are having a very difficult time getting these two things which is unfortunate and which is driving them mad. I dont really understand why people are raping and beating others, especially raping, since rape would be the last thing on my mind, but it just goes to show you what will happen when chaos ensues.

It's really hard to judge these individuals. Afterall, we are sitting at our computers in our comfy chairs with a glass of water and a snack at our disposal. It's so so so sad what is happening there. It frightens me all the way over here in L.A. that something like this will happen anywhere where the conditions are severe enough. It really is a measure of the animals we are or can be deep down.

My heart goes out to all of you in the Gulf Coast. Take care of yourselves! Luckily, my family members have been found alive and well, now we fear for their struggle in the aftermath!

Hey girl be careful if you go down to the dome tomorrow, things are looking pretty bad over there on the news. They haven't confirmed it, but they keep saying someone died or was killed in the dome. I sure hope it's not true.

I watched Primetime tonight and there was no mention of anyone being killed in the Astrodome but someone dying definately could of happened. There are so many people, young and old, that are sick without food and water or medication. That is how some of the people have died in the Superdome. Its a sad state these people are in, no food no water not knowing when help is coming no wonder they're breaking into stores and stealing food. It makes me wonder tho the ones that are stealing electronics, where are they planning on plugging those dvd's and tv's in to use them?

I don't really think people are that good without laws and society. What would happen if we were raised with no parents, no laws, no society, no structure. Those things are the only things keeping us "humane". Still, the situation these people are in is driving them crazy and to their limits. They're hot, tired, weak, dirty, hungry, dehydrated and devastated and they're receiving minimal help. I think I'd be rioting and looting too, maybe to not a high degree, but I would want things and I would want to be rescued, and some of the people are having a very difficult time getting these two things which is unfortunate and which is driving them mad. I dont really understand why people are raping and beating others, especially raping, since rape would be the last thing on my mind, but it just goes to show you what will happen when chaos ensues.


I think what's happening is that you have a bunch of criminal elements who either think the authorities have abandoned them - or they suddenly see themselves as "Kings of the city." (This keeps reminding me of "Escape from New York!")
It will end one way - The National Guard will have to be sent in to take the city - just like we had to take Baghdad...& the terrorists around the world will be watching the whole thing on CNN & laughing their arsses off!

I think what's happening is that you have a bunch of criminal elements who either think the authorities have abandoned them - or they suddenly see themselves as "Kings of the city." (This keeps reminding me of "Escape from New York!")
It will end one way - The National Guard will have to be sent in to take the city - just like we had to take Baghdad...& the terrorists around the world will be watching the whole thing on CNN & laughing their arsses off!

I agree w/ you lonestar. I think the ones that are causing the trouble were already criminals that they are now taking advantage of the situation. I think the people that were basically law abiding, still are. You were reminded of Escape from New York, I was reminded of The Stand.

As I've read on another site...."The lawlessness is rampant. It's important to note, however, that the lawlessness wasn't rampant on Monday. It wasn't rampant on Tuesday. We heard only twinges of it on Wednesday. Today, from the sounds of the reports, a city devoid of all hope devolved into absolute chaos. People can only take so much and these people have been abandoned in the worst conditions imaginable. For DAYS.

Where is the government? Where WAS the government when they knew that the gulf coast was going to get hit? This was no terrorist attack - this time, there was plenty of warning.

I am disgusted and embarrassed.

Blogs on New Orleans website NOLA.com (http://www.nola.com/weblogs/nola/)

...

Where is the government? Where WAS the government when they knew that the gulf coast was going to get hit? This was no terrorist attack - this time, there was plenty of warning.
...

Let me narrow that broad statement to be LOCAL and STATE government.
I'm sickened by the way they handled this mess.
Want to see unprepared? ==> http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/050901/480/flpc21109012015

It's no wonder NO needs buses from outside to help these people.

Broad it may be, but local, state, AND federal were equally culpable.

It's true. The pre-planning was poor and post hurricane response has been dismal. They should have been forcing people to evacuate before the storm. Poor planning all around. There have been models of what would happen to New Orleans if a big hurricane ever hit the city and scenarios discussed for years. I think it's turned up 1,000 times worse then they could have ever dreamed. It's embarrassing how this is being handled.

One of the reporters on CNN mentioned earlier in the week, Monday or Tuesday that they had at least a week to get people out of there, they knew Hurricane Katrina was a category 5 before it hit land. It seems as though the government is dragging their heels getting in there to help

I want to know why the helicopters didn't at least drop food and water to these people. I keep hearing them say that they can't reach many areas- that the roads are impassible. That's a bunch of BS! Helicopters could be dropping food and water to at least keep them alive until they can rescue them. And why don't they drop food at the Superdome? It doesn't make sense that these people are dying when they went there to be safe. Unbelievable.

Many of us feel we want to contribute something, however small, to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina. This hurricane was so devastating that it is going to take a combination of goverment aid and private donations to really make a significant dent in helping. I personally cannot afford to donate much at all, but I think that, if we all just contribute what we can--no matter how big or how small that amount may be--we will help. Therefore, I did contribute a small amount to one of the organizations in the link below, as well as a small amount to another organization not listed in that link. I heard one young girl on the news the other night who said "I was always taught, if you help one person, you are helping the whole world." Amen to that. Anyway, here is a link that can get you started on finding a way(s) to help:

http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=18473
(this is the FEMA page and, if you scroll down a little, it lists many organizations, complete with links, that you can donate to right now to help Katrina's victims)

Another thing we can do is pray. Even if you are not religious, you can send positive thoughts to the people who have been affected by this storm. I've started a blog to document the prayers and positive thoughts people want to share with the people of the affected areas in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama.

Feel free to stop by and enter a prayer or word of encouragement of your own.

Prayers for Hurricane Katrina Victims (http://prayersforkatrinavictims.blogspot.com/)

We need to remember that this is catastrophe we've never dealt with before. Yes we need to move quicker, yes we need to get medical staff and other basic needs to the people there and yes we obviously need to get armed gaurds there since people are shooting at the rescue helicopters and car jacking the supply trucks coming in. The criminal element of our society is alarming. I really hope alo to f them get off'd in the next few days, their actions are despictable and quite frankly evil. Let's not put 100% of the blame on just the government here. People were well aware of the storm coming and what kind of power it had. At some point people need to take responcibility for their own actions...or lack there of.The huge joke known as FEMA has really dropped the ball and proven they are ineffective as well. This needs to be looked at as a serious lesson in proper responce and response time. I'm glad to see the Pentagon is involved since this devastation is similar to what would happen if there was a dirty bomb fallout. No power, no food, no water, no communication between law agencies and medical responcse teams etc....Americans better get back to acting like Americans. What happened to having national pride? Oh yea, it isn't politically correct anymore.

We need to remember that this is catastrophe we've never dealt with before. Yes we need to move quicker, yes we need to get medical staff and other basic needs to the people there and yes we obviously need to get armed gaurds there since people are shooting at the rescue helicopters and car jacking the supply trucks coming in. The criminal element of our society is alarming. I really hope alo to f them get off'd in the next few days, their actions are despictable and quite frankly evil. Let's not put 100% of the blame on just the government here. People were well aware of the storm coming and what kind of power it had. At some point people need to take responcibility for their own actions...or lack there of.The huge joke known as FEMA has really dropped the ball and proven they are ineffective as well. This needs to be looked at as a serious lesson in proper responce and response time. I'm glad to see the Pentagon is involved since this devastation is similar to what would happen if there was a dirty bomb fallout. No power, no food, no water, no communication between law agencies and medical responcse teams etc....Americans better get back to acting like Americans. What happened to having national pride? Oh yea, it isn't politically correct anymore.

Well those who could get out could, since roughly 75% of the city did get out. But you got to consider there is a 30% poverty level in the city, these people have no means of transportation, so what are they supposed to do? Not to mention the highways were packed getting out of there by the people who did have means of transportation. At some point the government should have intervened and helped assist the poorer class by getting them onto boats which could travel up the Mississippi if they had to. The problem is that most government officials are self centered and in the time of a crisis will know they are safe, and their families are safe. Then, they have to deal with the aftermath because of politics. If anyone thinks that most of these officials actually cared about these people you're fooling yourself. If they actually cared they would have done anything possible to get them out starting 5 days prior. You can't just expect the poverty stricken people to hop into a car and drive out of the city because you told them to. Sadly, the lower class is often out of our minds when things occur, we think that everyone has the means of transportation and that is not the case. Now we (and officials) are seeing what happens to the lower class when they are not given the same privileges as the upper and middle classes.

It is also hard to control order and human behavior when such a disaster has occurred. You can't expect people to sit still and just patiently wait. While some may be doing so a majority are not and that is expected. Think of how all of us would react in the given situation. While some of us may not be shooting others we would still be irritated and angry. I think the majority of those committing harsh crimes are already thugs but that is what happens in a tragedy, not everyone who has perished will be a "good person".

We need to remember that this is catastrophe we've never dealt with before. Yes we need to move quicker, yes we need to get medical staff and other basic needs to the people there and yes we obviously need to get armed gaurds there since people are shooting at the rescue helicopters and car jacking the supply trucks coming in. The criminal element of our society is alarming. I really hope alo to f them get off'd in the next few days, their actions are despictable and quite frankly evil. Let's not put 100% of the blame on just the government here. People were well aware of the storm coming and what kind of power it had. At some point people need to take responcibility for their own actions...or lack there of.The huge joke known as FEMA has really dropped the ball and proven they are ineffective as well. This needs to be looked at as a serious lesson in proper responce and response time. I'm glad to see the Pentagon is involved since this devastation is similar to what would happen if there was a dirty bomb fallout. No power, no food, no water, no communication between law agencies and medical responcse teams etc....Americans better get back to acting like Americans. What happened to having national pride? Oh yea, it isn't politically correct anymore.
What do national pride and political correctness have to do with anything? You have desperate, starving people acting like desperate, starving people. As you say, the criminal element is alarming and disgusting, but should have been expected, since it's been well known that New Orleans is a poor, high-crime city. Donations are pouring in and people are offering their homes to strangers - that speaks of national pride to me. Don't let the low-lifes raping, terrorizing, and shooting (and I agree with the LA police's shoot-to-kill policy for violent criminals) become the indelible image of this disaster.

As Star said, many people in New Orleans couldn't afford transportation out - it's not a question of taking responsibility. I do place the blame squarely on the government, and agree with Watership Down that there's plenty to go around. Lousiana and New Orleans politics were always notoriously corrupt. What the heck is government for if not to provide order and succor in situations exactly like this? It's a disgrace that those state's National Guard and billions of dollars have all gone to the President's Iraq adventure, and it's a disgrace that too many incompetent but politically connected people are in positions of importance and responsibility. We're paying for bad politicians at all levels like never before in my lifetime.

Well those who could get out could, since roughly 75% of the city did get out. But you got to consider there is a 30% poverty level in the city, these people have no means of transportation, so what are they supposed to do? Not to mention the highways were packed getting out of there by the people who did have means of transportation. At some point the government should have intervened and helped assist the poorer class by getting them onto boats which could travel up the Mississippi if they had to. The problem is that most government officials are self centered and in the time of a crisis will know they are safe, and their families are safe. Then, they have to deal with the aftermath because of politics. If anyone thinks that most of these officials actually cared about these people you're fooling yourself. If they actually cared they would have done anything possible to get them out starting 5 days prior. You can't just expect the poverty stricken people to hop into a car and drive out of the city because you told them to. Sadly, the lower class is often out of our minds when things occur, we think that everyone has the means of transportation and that is not the case. Now we (and officials) are seeing what happens to the lower class when they are not given the same privileges as the upper and middle classes.

It is also hard to control order and human behavior when such a disaster has occurred. You can't expect people to sit still and just patiently wait. While some may be doing so a majority are not and that is expected. Think of how all of us would react in the given situation. While some of us may not be shooting others we would still be irritated and angry. I think the majority of those committing harsh crimes are already thugs but that is what happens in a tragedy, not everyone who has perished will be a "good person".

Agreed, but not having faced a natural disaster like this before, there's no way the response is going to be flawless or even close to flawless. Even to get the homeless and underprivileged to the Dome would have been useless since it was heavily damaged as well. The States neighboring each other where the bad weather is known to come through like Florida, Louisiana, Texas and some other midwestern states need to coordinate a "first response" between themselves. I'm sure we will see this now. I'm really, really tired of the "Bush Bashing" as well. I despise partisan politics and we are seeing too much of that right now. I understand the Democratic leadership is a joke and they are struggling to find leadership, but quite frankly put the politics aside and concentrate on correcting the problem at hand. Hell, I voted against Bush twice and I'm embarrassed and disgusted by some of the comments coming from Dem's right now. Some of these quotes and interviews make it sound like he sent the hurricane to destroy New Orleans. I guess what is most deflating is the INSTANT finger pointing and distribution of blame. Our politicians need to be showing unity and solidarity for the American public like they did on 9/11

FEMA needs an overhaul, that has to be priority #1. Their response has been less then stellar.

Are other countries helping? I haven't heard anything on the news, but one friend told me that Israel and some of the European countries have donated. Many thanks to them. :)

I haven't heard about violence in the Astrodome, but I know it's total chaos at the Superdome. Someone told me prisoners and innocents are mixed together in there. =-o

Anyone seen the movie "Black Hawk Down"? Footage and the helicopters that we constantly see remind me a lot of that movie. Which seems unbelievable because this is America!

On a somewhat brighter side, I'm proud to say that my school in suburan Atlanta is welcoming students from New Orleans next week and we are holding a Miracle Minute next Thursday. Plus, the parishes around my school (I go to a Catholic school) rented 2 giant charter buses and somehow are going down there tomorrow with supplies and bringing back people. I don't know if they'll be able to make it down there with all of the hijackings and riots, but I sure hope they can. :ermm:

Are other countries helping? I haven't heard anything on the news, but one friend told me that Israel and some of the European countries have donated. Many thanks to them. :)

I haven't heard about violence in the Astrodome, but I know it's total chaos at the Superdome. Someone told me prisoners and innocents are mixed together in there. =-o

Anyone seen the movie "Black Hawk Down"? Footage and the helicopters that we constantly see remind me a lot of that movie. Which seems unbelievable because this is America!

On a somewhat brighter side, I'm proud to say that my school in suburan Atlanta is welcoming students from New Orleans next week and we are holding a Miracle Minute next Thursday. Plus, the parishes around my school (I go to a Catholic school) rented 2 giant charter buses and somehow are going down there tomorrow with supplies and bringing back people. I don't know if they'll be able to make it down there with all of the hijackings and riots, but I sure hope they can. :ermm:

Yes, a few countries like Venezuela, Israel and Saudi Arabia I've heard mentioned as asking how they could help and I know Venezuela and Saudi Arabia specifically mentioned crude oil help. I'm not sure what has come of it.

I know what you mean about Black Hawk Down, some of the footage from these air rescues is simply amazing.

The State Department said offers so far have come from "Belgium, Canada, Russia, Japan, France, Germany, Britain, China, Australia, Jamaica, Honduras, Greece, Venezuela, the Organization of American States, NATO, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Greece, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Mexico, South Korea, Israel and the United Arab Emirates. The United Nations has offered to coordinate the effort."

Bush initially rejected help yesterday morning in his speech, but apparently the State Department has decided to bypass his statement and actually accept the aid.

I hate to break it to you Clairbabydaddy, but in regards to the disaster, the "Bush bashing" is coming from Democrats, Moderates, AND Republicans.

Okay I know I haven't been here a while and I am kind of impossing.

My Thoughts, Why live there anyway? They had it coming. Meteoroligists had warned them that a storm system of that variation could occur and One-third said they would not leave. My Brother is in Military training, I don't want him down there. If people want to live, they should get up off their, I won't say it, and help the ones who can't walk, get out of there, they have legs, walk out of there instead of panicking. I understand the circumstances of New Orleans, I am talking about Biloxi. They knew it would happen.

As for 'Bush Bashing', He should have gotten the disabled and quarenteened out of there before this happened. That is my view. If you don't like it, post your own comments.

It's true, I think most people believe Bush should have done something earlier, myself included. And to reject aid? That's just crazy. I know we're a proud country, but there's nothing wrong with accepting help and admitting defeat.

And some more finger pointing toward President Bush just in this topic.

It is NOT the President's job to get the people out early.
It is the job of the local and state governments.

Did you see those school buses in that photo?
Did you notice that they were from the city within NO?
Did you also notice they were under water?

My question ...
Why did the Mayor and/or the Gov of LA let that happen?
THAT is their job, not Bush.

It is their primary responsibility to provide this to their people, not the federal government.
That is why there are states and those states have their own government.
The federal goverment is not to rule those states.

What has happened here is poor planning on the local and state level. The federal government can not act until they are requested by the state.

The National Guard is the state's militia, not the federal government. President Bush has no authority to call up the National Guard for national matters but he does have authority to call up those guards for international (Military) work, aka Iraq.

Can we just stop the PC in this country, stop the finger pointing and fix NO NOW?!

you're right...

My question is, how come we had ships with aid to the Tsunami victims within two days and yet they are still waiting after 5 right around the corner?

When something this big happens the federal gov't doesn't have to wait to be asked. They knew with was coming. They all knew it would be bad. It was a class 4/5 and there was no way it wasn't going to cause great damage. Help should have been standing by to head out the moment the thing passed. Why has a ship just left Baltimore NOW? What have they been doing?

Everyone dropped the ball on this and people are dying because of it.

Plenty of blame to go around is right. The Army Corp of Engineers has been asking for money for decades to prevent just the disaster in New Orleans. They have been turned down time and time again by all administrations. This is the only one that cut their aid by nearly 50% however. Plenty of money to protect Wyoming (Cheney's state) from terrorists, a hot bed of terror. Right.

Plenty of money for Alaska to build a bridge to an island with 50 people on it but no money to help prevent a disaster that was sure to happen.

This was never a matter of "if" but "when", and they all knew it.

CharliesAngel- shall we say the same to the people who live in CA since the earthquakes could kill them? Or the mid-west with tornados? Or Hawaiians because of the volcanos? Just where should all those people live and who will pay for the deeply poor to move? Are you under the impression that they have a choice of just getting up and going somewhere else? You have never been without money, have you?They live where they do because they have no place else to go and no way to get there.

Maybe the well off can just up and go, but again, where is safe enough?

Thankfully other states have stepped up and the people of this country are doing what they can but the agencies responsible for taking care of these people have been AWOL.

Shame on them all.

It's not just the imediate problems we have to deal with...what about the rest of this
hurricane season - what about next year? How are we going to protect the oil platforms
& refineries on the gulf coast when we get another catagory 5 (or 6!) and another...
& another? Is it just me, or do the storms down there keep getting worse? I'm afraid
maybe next year, My family will have to evacuate!

I haven't heard about violence in the Astrodome, but I know it's total chaos at the Superdome. Someone told me prisoners and innocents are mixed together in there. =-o

On Wednesday on CNN they were showing video of the prisoners sitting on an off ramp and some still in the prison sitting on the walls. All under police watch.

CharliesAngel: My Thoughts, Why live there anyway? They had it coming. Ouch! :frown: Most of the people of New Orleans and Biloxi, just like any other town or city were born and raised there. Just like the people that were devastated in the Tsunami, most of the population, born and raised there. Saying "they had it coming" implies the population of those places were doing something wrong by living there and are now being punished for it.
And to add to what Star posted, some of the population were elderly that couldn't leave by their own means either. Some of them wheel chair bound or bed ridden.

On the subject of the gasoline problem, stations are starting to run out in northern
Alabama. (I know - it's probably happening all over the south.)
Just who in the administration is supposed to deal with this? Is it the secretary of transportation or energy or someone else who's supposed to advise the president & oversee
whatever needs to be done to fix the problem?
Has anyone heard if anything is being done?

It's not just the imediate problems we have to deal with...what about the rest of this
hurricane season - what about next year? How are we going to protect the oil platforms
& refineries on the gulf coast when we get another catagory 5 (or 6!) and another...
& another? Is it just me, or do the storms down there keep getting worse? I'm afraid
maybe next year, My family will have to evacuate!

I'm afraid these storms will keep getting worse as we continue to destroy our environment and global warming will not just be a term describing the distant future. Global warming is affecting our planet now and this will get worse.
You may have to evacuate Wolf, heck I might have to evacuate. Southern California doesn't get hit by hurricanes, but we sure can and I don't doubt that in the future at some point we will. I just hope I don't have to watch my babies die in squalor because my government was "taken by surprise".

I'm afraid these storms will keep getting worse as we continue to destroy our environment and global warming will not just be a term describing the distant future. Global warming is affecting our planet now and this will get worse.
You may have to evacuate Wolf, heck I might have to evacuate. Southern California doesn't get hit by hurricanes, but we sure can and I don't doubt that in the future at some point we will. I just hope I don't have to watch my babies die in squalor because my government was "taken by surprise".


It's unlikely you'll get hit by a hurricane, Jen, but they've been predicting the big earthquake for as long as I can remember. Do you think the government will be ready for that? The sad fact is - there isn't a place in the U.S. that's safe from some kind of natural disaster - we just hope it wont happen to us.

Why do we build cities which could surely be the victim of disaster? Because we're human and that's what we do. You can't stop mother nature, and she can hit anywhere, no matter where you live. Forget mother nature, what about terrorist attacks? Nowhere is safe. But when the world is growing and places are overpopulated where are you supposed to go?

President Bush is not to blame for the poor evacuation of those who were stranded in the states that were hit (Wow, he or his Administration is not to blame for something). That is a local/state problem and they are the ones who are supposed to deal with it. President Bush however is to blame for turning away help from other countries. How can one be so prideful? He thinks our country does not need assistance from any other, and that we can take care of ourselves, because we're America, we are the greatest country in the world, we have all the power and all the money, we are awesome, we own you.

He makes me sick. He makes me sick for even more reasons that I cannot even convey properly. But I won't get into that.


I don't really know what is going on with the gas situation. Bush said he wanted to tap into some crude oil (I think this is right) but it's "dirty" and won't be as good as what we normally use, obviously. I know that people from companies here in TX are being sent to those refineries that were damaged to try and help the situation. I'm not really sure if this answers your question but that's some information that I know of.


I'm volunteering tomorrow at the Astrodome, so whatever I see or hear I will let you all know what is going on.

Hmmmmmmmmmm... Bush not to blame? How about the National Guard? Why did it take them FIVE DAYS to make it to New Orleans? Shouldn't they have been ordered earlier to show up and evacuate people, dare I say even before the hurricane hit, helping those who couldn't do it on their own? Could it be because they are hangin' elsewhere these days.... in places like Iraq?

Or how about Bush drawing necessary funds from FEMA by having budget cuts rather than increases for flood protection in Louisiana? Local politicians have been warning about the bad state of the levees for ages, but I guess the money was needed somewhere far more important...?!

No, I'm no friend of Bush and the people currently in charge in this country... never have been, never will.

Why did it take five days? Not sure but I would ask the governor, not Bush.
As I said, National Guard is under the State Government, not the federal, for national deployment. It's formally known as the state's militia. LA does have National Guards there. They are all not in Iraq.

Back to the budget cuts ...
Of the money they DID receive, where'd did the state government spend it?
Did they spend it and did they spend it on what it was targeted for?

I know it's so easy to blame Bush for this. People see this EVERYDAY on CNN and other news networks who are sooooo against ANYTHING he does. Maybe this country needs a separation of MEDIA and STATE, not CHURCH and STATE. I'm hoping for media that shows both sides of the story, not the onesided Bush bashing going on.
"People are not being rescued from rooftops, BUSH'S fault. They just fly right over us and leave."
or
"People are not being rescued from rooftops, because armed gunmen are shooting at the helicopters"

See my point? I like my news balanced.

I keep hearing broadcasts from politicians who are blaming Bush. So when is all this bickering going to take a backseat and those politicians do what they were elected to do? There is a crisis going on there and they have nothing better to do than to just point the blame. Do we really need to hear this NOW?
"Bush's fault because he didn't sign some global warming thing" And that would have made a difference in this case?

I fail to see that connection.

Oh. Now we have arson going on. "How come there are no firetrucks stationed around the city?"
Do the people working on this crisis need any more roadblocks?

Hmmmmmmmmmm... Bush not to blame? How about the National Guard? Why did it take them FIVE DAYS to make it to New Orleans? .
Ummm, cuz they were getting shot at by the not so bright people! And another thing I don't understand is the raping. I can understand the looting, people don't know how long they are going to be stranded. But the raping?? That just don't make sense!

Ummm, cuz they were getting shot at by the not so bright people! And another thing I don't understand is the raping. I can understand the looting, people don't know how long they are going to be stranded. But the raping?? That just don't make sense!


Rape isn't supposd to make sense - It's just an act of pure evil. The ones who have sunk to this level shouldn't be rescued - they should be excecuted on sight. (My opinion.)

I like my news fair and balanced, too... which is why I do not rely on Fox News for starters... and which is why I agree with huskie's criticism on the media.

President Bush is the commander in chief... leader of the free world... head of the most powerful country in the world... and I am being told that such oversight, neglect, delays, lack of funding, no food and water, complete breakdown of infrastructure etc. etc. is NOT HIS FAULT?!

What kind of a manager is that guy, who appoints his frat buddies (who have no CLUE about disaster prevention) to important positions such as head of FEMA, who apparently thinks adequate flood protection is not necessary even though experts tell him otherwise, who lets his governmental representatives (local officials, state agencies, whatever) diddle around for days before they get their butts moving? Shouldn't he have stepped up RIGHT AWAY, like a true commander in chief, and manage the situation? Get everybody in gear immediately?

In any company, a guy like that would've been fired on the spot, or he would at least have the decency to admit failure to manage competently, and would have stepped down.

I don't doubt that he is doing a fine job now, he's getting Congress back to approve disaster relief, travelling the area, hugging people and such. I'm sure he is just as furious at the situation as, well, everybody else. But the worst of the situation could have been prevented, and he knows it!



ETA:
OK... I'm all riled up but I don't really want to get into heated arguments with my friends here on the 'lage. I will therefore link myself out of this discussion (hopefully with a little bit of dignity intact). It's a website for a TV Show after all... not Larry King Live. I appreciate the diversity of opinion and that, while we agree to disagree, can still come together because we love the same thing: LOST.

So thanks for listening, replying to my heat-of-the-moment rants, disagreeing with me... My thoughts will be with those who are truly in need right now, and my faith lies with the strength of the people of this country to see what's wrong and to do what's right.

I know it's so easy to blame Bush for this. People see this EVERYDAY on CNN and other news networks who are sooooo against ANYTHING he does. Maybe this country needs a separation of MEDIA and STATE, not CHURCH and STATE. I'm hoping for media that shows both sides of the story, not the onesided Bush bashing going on.
"People are not being rescued from rooftops, BUSH'S fault. They just fly right over us and leave."
or
"People are not being rescued from rooftops, because armed gunmen are shooting at the helicopters"



I totally agree, People are so focused on seperating beliefs and the system, they forget how much corporate crap gets filtered through the media. I don't blame President Bush, but being part of the Walker family, I believe he should have acted sooner, rather than later, this goes for the survivors, the fatalities, and the military.

I like my news fair and balanced, too... which is why I do not rely on Fox News for starters... and which is why I agree with huskie's criticism on the media.

President Bush is the commander in chief... leader of the free world... head of the most powerful country in the world... and I am being told that such oversight, neglect, delays, lack of funding, no food and water, complete breakdown of infrastructure etc. etc. is NOT HIS FAULT?!

What kind of a manager is that guy, who appoints his frat buddies (who have no CLUE about disaster prevention) to important positions such as head of FEMA, who apparently thinks adequate flood protection is not necessary even though experts tell him otherwise, who lets his governmental representatives (local officials, state agencies, whatever) diddle around for days before they get their butts moving? Shouldn't he have stepped up RIGHT AWAY, like a true commander in chief, and manage the situation? Get everybody in gear immediately?

In any company, a guy like that would've been fired on the spot, or he would at least have the decency to admit failure to manage competently, and would have stepped down.

I don't doubt that he is doing a fine job now, he's getting Congress back to approve disaster relief, travelling the area, hugging people and such. I'm sure he is just as furious at the situation as, well, everybody else. But the worst of the situation could have been prevented, and he knows it!

Well said Petragirl. And why didnt the food drops start immediatly?? He should have been on top of this before the storm ever hit, but instead he waits, plays golf, makes sure the media knows he cut his vacation by two days short, and set up the republican talking points to blame the victims, by having them repeatedly say that the people there CHOSE to stay and though some did, most didnt have the means to leave. Doesnt the President have a duty to protect the sick, the hungry, the poor?

Well said Petragirl. And why didnt the food drops start immediatly?? He should have been on top of this before the storm ever hit, but instead he waits, plays golf, makes sure the media knows he cut his vacation by two days short, and set up the republican talking points to blame the victims, by having them repeatedly say that the people there CHOSE to stay and though some did, most didnt have the means to leave. Doesnt the President have a duty to protect the sick, the hungry, the poor?

Ahem, It's not just President Bush's authority to do food drops, this action has to be processed by the military, the conditions have to be checked, and food drop access must be granted and mapped. It's not just President Bush. If he has time to Golf, then you wouldn't see him on CNN all day.

I totally agree, People are so focused on seperating beliefs and the system, they forget how much corporate crap gets filtered through the media.

Huskie
know it's so easy to blame Bush for this. People see this EVERYDAY on CNN and other news networks who are sooooo against ANYTHING he does. Maybe this country needs a separation of MEDIA and STATE, not CHURCH and STATE. I'm hoping for media that shows both sides of the story, not the onesided Bush bashing going on.
"People are not being rescued from rooftops, BUSH'S fault. They just fly right over us and leave."
or
.

Excuse me and not to be rude but you must be smoking crack. The corporate media is a republican propaganda machine. Bush's policies are directly responsible for the way this rescue went. Lack of the guard, equipment, budget cuts, appointing his friend for Texas to the head of FEMA, who had no emergency management experience, these acts all cost people their lives. You need to wake up and quit watching Foxnews.

Excuse me, I don't watch Foxnews, thank you very much. I don't do drugs either, making accusations like that is slander. If you don't like President Bush's decisions, take it up with him, leave the boards with some piece.

If FEMA didn't want his friend, they will have said so. Budget cuts aren't the only reason people don't have jobs, most of america is lacking in experience for other jobs, and the knowledge. Now, stay on topic of Katrina and move off of blaming Bush. If you want someone to take action, you go ahead and drive down there and give them food, water and a place to live.

Excuse me and not to be rude but you must be smoking crack. The corporate media is a republican propaganda machine. Bush's policies are directly responsible for the way this rescue went. Lack of the guard, equipment, budget cuts, appointing his friend for Texas to the head of FEMA, who had no emergency management experience, these acts all cost people their lives. You need to wake up and quit watching Foxnews.



OK - I wasn't going to argue politics on here anymore, but you've said something that demands a response. I'm a Republican - voted for Bush & proud of it, and I WILL admit that I've seen things on the news the last few days that have convinced me that something very fishy is going on down there.
But to say that the corporate media is a republican propaganda machine is, to put it
kindly, .........inaccurate! Unless you're just refering to FOX news. The rest of the news media has been totally controlled by liberals for as long as I've been watching television -
& that's a long time! I know people have strong opinions on these matters, but couldn't
we make our point without resorting to personal insults? (re: 'you must be smoking crack')

Excuse me, I don't watch Foxnews, thank you very much. I don't do drugs either, making accusations like that is slander. If you don't like President Bush's decisions, take it up with him, leave the boards with some piece.

If FEMA didn't want his friend, they will have said so. Budget cuts aren't the only reason people don't have jobs, most of america is lacking in experience for other jobs, and the knowledge. Now, stay on topic of Katrina and move off of blaming Bush. If you want someone to take action, you go ahead and drive down there and give them food, water and a place to live.

Well I see you dont take sarcasm well, I agree accusing someone of watching Foxnews could be considered slander. As far as smoking crack, I feel that you missed the pop culture meaning of "you must be smoking crack" it simply means that I strongly disagree with you. I believe I have the right to state my point of view here, just as you do, I dont think I have taken a piece of the board, nor do I think I that this discussion is not peaceful. Just because someone doesn't agree with you is not an attack on you, it simply means we disagee. I mentioned budget cuts because they have to deal with the money that was set aside for the leavy that broke and the emergency management of the city of New Orleans, the less money they had the less they could prepare, some of that money went to Iraq instead of to the corp of engineers its on the news, I'm not making things up. I feel this contributed to the disaster so I stated so. So as you see I am on topic. Now relax, you can always just not respond to my post. But this subject is dealing with Katrina.

OK - I wasn't going to argue politics on here anymore, but you've said something that demands a response. I'm a Republican - voted for Bush & proud of it, and I WILL admit that I've seen things on the news the last few days that have convinced me that something very fishy is going on down there.
But to say that the corporate media is a republican propaganda machine is, to put it
kindly, .........inaccurate! Unless you're just refering to FOX news. The rest of the news media has been totally controlled by liberals for as long as I've been watching television -
& that's a long time! I know people have strong opinions on these matters, but couldn't
we make our point without resorting to personal insults? (re: 'you must be smoking crack')

"you must be smoking crack" isnt an insult, its just my way of saying I disagree. But if I must state it so bluntly, I strongly disagree, please name me the librals on the airwaves.
Orielly, Hannity, Scarbough, Neil Cab?, almost everyone on tv these days are stongly biased to the republican party. Libral bias is a lie started by the republican propaganda machine, rush and the boys above. Maybe you got some nightly news anchores that may be libral but they dont set the agenda of the networks. The networks are owned by big corps and the big corps support the republican party.

Now back to Katrina.

You must have missed the recient shakeup at CBS over the phony memo that was broadcast
just before election day to try to influence the election at the last minute. How many people got fired or were allowed to "retire" over that imbarassment?
meanwhile, over at NBC, Katie Couric is the most liberally biased person in the news media. The morning after the election, she was so mad, I thought she was going to explode! The big three network news agencies have made it clear in every election
that they support the liberal candidate.
If you honestly believe what you're saying, there's nothing I can say to change your mind.
If you want to have the last word - go for it. I've said my peace. ;)

The corporate media is a republican propaganda machine.
Sorry,You are wrong and extremely miss informed if you think this statement is anywhere near the truth. It gave me quite a chuckle really.



As for the releif effort they ALL drooped the ball.
The State governments have autonomy in decisions on matters such as these.
Then comes federal government if the States fall to do as needed. This is how our government is structured and it is structured this way for many reasons.
The Mayor of NO failed to use all the resources at his disposal to make sure all had the opportunity to leave. Most of the hospitals were not even evaced till after the storm started, some not at all.
If they knew or had been asking for years for money to repair the levies why didn't they make sure all were out of harms way?
The Governor of La. Really screwed up when she waited till the day before a category 5 hurricane ( which they could tell was coming for 4 days or more) to call for a mandatory evac. Then the screw up moved up the chain of command.
I guess each thinking the other would do something. Buy the time the hurricane hit it was a mad scramble to get anything done. The blame is dumped in Bushes lap buy many for reasons beyond the hurricane, but lets be real here people, Bush was the last stage of defense in this matter, only to be called into play after all the other pieces on the board had done what was needed, they did not.
So if you are intent on pointing the finger, I might suggest you point it at all those involved in this debacle. Then get up off your butt and do something to help. Blame does not feed or cloth or help those that are now in such dire need.

Sorry,You are wrong and extremely miss informed if you think this statement is anywhere near the truth. It gave me quite a chuckle really.



As for the releif effort they ALL drooped the ball.
The State governments have autonomy in decisions on matters such as these.
Then comes federal government if they fall to do as needed. This is how are government is structured and is structured this way for many reasons.
The Mayor of NO failed to use all the resources at his disposal to make sure all had the opportunity to leave. Most of the hospitals were not even evaced till after the storm started, some not at all.
If they knew or had been asking for years for money to repair the levies why didn't they make sure all were out of harms way?
The Governor of La. Really screwed up when she waited till the day before a category 5 hurricane ( which the could tell was coming for 4 days or more) to call for a mandatory evac. Then the screw up moved up the chain of command.
I guess each thinking the other would do something. Buy the time the hurricane hit it was a mad scramble to get anything done. The blame is dumped in Bushes lap buy many for reasons beyond the hurricane, but lets be real here people, Bush was the last stage of defense in this matter, only to be called into play after all the other pieces on the board had done what was needed, they did not.
So if you are intent on pointing the finger, I might suggest you point it at all those involved in this debacle. Then get up off your butt and do something to help. Blame does not feed or cloth or help those that are now in such dire need.

when it comes to the media, laugh if you'd like, but I feel I am right, so we disagree, which is our right.

As too your other comments, All are share responsiblity I agree, but I believe the president should not be the last resort, He's the first, its the first responibility of the government to protect its people, and he failed (IMO) in many ways, both before and after the disaster. You may call it finger pointing but I call it like I see it, if we dont find out why it happened then it will happen again, and I dont want that.

Lastly, I dont know why you feel that I havent done anything, I'm fairly sure that we have never met, so how you can presume is beyond me. I've done what I can, but its none of your business. I encourage all to do what they can, but not all are in a position to do something and if they are not it doesn't make their opinion any less valid.

Politics should literally stop at the water's edge. Get the people safe, get the city cleaned up and then we can start pointing fingers. I'm sure there will be a government investigation and in a few months we will have a special on the Discovery Channel or the National Geographic (who did a good job predicting this by the way) and they will give us a minute by minute accounting of what went wrong. Then we can scream at the right people.

A couple of things..

There is a kind of malaise that sits in when it comes to hurricanes. They board up, the stock up and hunker down or leave. They come out after the storm, survey the damage, are shocked for a bit then get down to business and build it back. I used to live on the Gulf Coast so I know a bit of what I'm talking about.

I get the feeling that even though the fact that it was a Category 5 was blasted over and over people might well have thought " We survived Betsy. We rode out Camille-we can handle this.' What makes it even worse are the times when people are forced to evacuate and the storm turns out not to have been as serious as first feared and people had to leave for what was basically a bad tropical depression.

People KNEW it was bad but I don't think it really sunk in how bad. They had dodged the bullet for so long that the idea of the worst case scenario happening was still in the realm of the unreal to them. How many of us were here watching the tv screaming BEFORE the storm hit "GET OUT GET OUT! GET THOSE PEOPLE OUT NOW! THE CITY IS GOING TO FLOOD! WHERE IS THE GOVENOR?WHAT IS THE MAYOR THINKING? IS the NATIONAL GUARD DEPLOYED NOW? IS THE RED CROSS READY? WHERE IS FEMA? WHERE IS BUSH? I'M GOING TO GO COMMENDEER A BUS MYSELF IF I HAVE TO!!!!" I admit I didn't. I thought there would be a bad storm-crap would happen, people would ask for donations, we would give and others would go help out and that would be it. I hate to say that a lot of us have gotten used to these storms but we have..and I've even been through one.

I honestly think that even though people 'knew' they really didn't think the worst would happen. Call it denial..call it stupid..call it whatever you want..

I just think ALL the POWERS That be were caught off guard...and slapped in the face with the hardest dose of reality.

when it comes to the media, laugh if you'd like, but I feel I am right, so we disagree, which is our right.

As too your other comments, All are share responsiblity I agree, but I believe the president should not be the last resort, He's the first, its the first responibility of the government to protect its people, and he failed (IMO) in many ways, both before and after the disaster. You may call it finger pointing but I call it like I see it, if we dont find out why it happened then it will happen again, and I dont want that..

As I said it is the States who have the first line of responsibility and not the federal government. that is how it works. Yes the State failed it's people.

Lastly, I dont know why you feel that I havent done anything, I'm fairly sure that we have never met, so how you can presume is beyond me. I've done what I can, but its none of your business. I encourage all to do what they can, but not all are in a position to do something and if they are not it doesn't make their opinion any less valid.

It was a blanket statement more then likely out of frustration and not pointed directly at you. You will notice I said People. If I meant you directly I would have used your screen name to single you out.

President Bush is to blame for a lot. One thing he is always to blame for is dancing around media questions. He hardly answers anything, his best answer is that we need to help the victims, and American will stand tall, etc. etc. etc. Stop talking and do something. What has he physically done? Nothing. He flew over LA/Miss. on his way to Washington from his vacation in TX (which he had to leave 2 days earlier) Then he sat in Washington doing whatever it is that he does for a few days before heading down to the area to do a "tour". What did he do? Nothing. He walked around and had a look at the destruction and he and his friends (different officials from LA/Miss) walked around in their expensive clothing, making sure not to let anyone touch it, well except for those 2 rather clean women, because hey, he can't miss a photo-op hugging the "people". Then he wasn't even sure if he wanted to go to NO because of all the chaos. Well he did end up going, he flew to the airport where he did another press release. Why doesn't he get in the rubble and start helping like Mayor Giuliani did in NY during 9/11? The people are lacking a strong leader down there, none of the officials are stepping up to the plate. Someone needs to get down and dirty and help out these people. The only thing I've seen is that one of the Senators flew down yesterday or today and assisted in some medical needs at the Convention Center because he is a surgeon. Just because these people are in office does not mean they can't help out volunteering and trying to save someone's life. Where is there Giuliani? Sadly, there is none. Bush should step up to the late, because he did nothing for NY during 9/11 and he is doing nothing for these people right now. He promised our country he would fight Al Qaeda and we've done nothing against them. We searched for them for awhile and then stopped, to seek Hussein, who was no threat to our country, but he had "weapons of mass destruction" and it's been what, 3 years now and we still haven't found one and terror alerts continue to be elevated. Bush doesn't even have the class to visit with the mother of a lost soldier and answer some of her questions. Is that the kind of leader you want? Is that the kind of man you want representing you and your country?

The federal government also has the responsibility to step in during a crisis like this and take over. Yes, the state and local governments are to blame, they should have acted sooner, but they are also supposed to receive federal aid in a situation like this. That's why the federal government is there now. I don't know what is going on in these people's heads, I can't answer that and I wish I could. No one wants to be blamed and no one wants to take responsibility and say, yes we didn't do this right, and until someone does, the problem will not be solved.

As I said it is the States who have the first line of responsibility and not the federal government. that is how it works. Yes the State failed it's people. .

The state is the first responder but this was a national emergency and that was evident at least as soon as the storm hit, if not days before. So its the Federal government's responsibility to act first quickly and with proper urgency. I guess its how you see it, either way they both failed.


It was a blanket statement more then likely out of frustration and not pointed directly at you. You will notice I said People. If I meant you directly I would have used your screen name to single you out.

I assume I'm included in the blanket, so the either way, i dont think you can quantify peoples feelings or level of caring based on their monetary dontations.

elfdream
You are more than likely right about the way most people think , they have been through this before and they will go through it again.
My brother lives in Pensacola ( grew up East Coast), before Ivan he said We will just sit this one out. It's a small fast moving storm no big deal. Every house in his neighborhood was obliterated except his (Tornado). Believe me he will never do that again. This time even though the storm was not headed at them he took his family and drove as far east as he would just in case.
I think those of us that have never been through such things ( live on the East Coast) think to themselves: Better safe than sorry. I know that's what I kept thinking. Hopefully we have learned a few things from this.

I assume I'm included in the blanket, so the either way, i dont think you can quantify peoples feelings or level of caring based on their monetary dontations.

As I said:
statement more then likely out of frustration
I did not mention nor did I intend to try and quantify peoples feelings or level of caring based on their monetary denotations.

Well for myself I'm not blaming anyone because I wasn't there. I wasn't on the ground..I wasn't in the meetings at the White House..I wasn't privy to what the Govenor's people advised. I don't know what obstacles relief people had to go through before they got to the city. For all I know they had to stop and cut trees or move whole houses or boats off the road before they got there. Things were a mess and there were some serious foul ups but I can't point the finger at anyone right now. Like I said earlier the whole complete truth will come out in a few months time. I wold not be so arrogant as to say that people didn't care or did nothing because I'm not psychic or telepathic. George Bush may have lost sleep over this or he may have thrown a party. I don't know.

The President (when I say President I'm speaking of the office-not the man George Bush) has certain responsibilities in times like this...but he also has limitations. There are things he CANNOT do. The Govenors have certain responsibilites...in a way this sort of thing doesn't trickle down-it trickles up. The Federal Goverment is supposed to be the last line of support, not the first.

Now if you don't like the way this system works I suggest those of you who can vote write a letter to your congressman about it.

The President (when I say President I'm speaking of the office-not the man George Bush) has certain responsibilities in times like this...but he also has limitations. There are things he CANNOT do. The Govenors have certain responsibilites...in a way this sort of thing doesn't trickle down-it trickles up. The Federal Goverment is supposed to be the last line of support, not the first.

Now if you don't like the way this system works I suggest those of you who can vote write a letter to your congressman about it.

The thing is, the fact that this was going to be a national emergency was evident from early on, FEMA said that tops on its list of national emergencies was a cat 5 hurricane hitting new orleans. So anytime that the top emergency on thier list becomes a real potentional, FEMA should be on high alert, FEMA is a federal agency, thus the president should have been advised and lead from the beginning. i dont feel this happened. Its not that I dont like the way the system works, its that I believe the system was not followed. Whats the point of a list of top emergencies if you ignore them when the potential is there?

Well I hope the President knew from the begning because most of the country knew from the begining. It was all over the news and the weather services. I find it hard to believe that if I knew about a C/5 hurricane that he didn't. I'm sure he picked up a newspaper or someone mentioned it in passing.

As far as leading...who here was asking about his whereabout when the storm was still in the gulf? I look back over the past few weeks concerning the President vacationing at his ranch and I can't find a single person asking why wasn't he doing something about the hurricane. The majority of people were wondering what he was going to do about Cindy Sheehan. If he had left Crawford to go to DC to 'lead' on this most people would have critisized him for using the hurricane as an excuse to get away from Ms. Sheehan. Of course I can't 'know' that for sure but I think I know human nature. No matter what he did..it would have been wrong.


Please don't misunderstand me. I'm not a big Bush supporter. I have to turn down the TV everytime he speaks because his style makes me cringe. But I do believe in being fair and giving people the benefit of the doubt until PROVEN otherwise.

As far as leading...who here was asking about his whereabout when the storm was still in the gulf? I look back over the past few weeks concerning the President vacationing at his ranch and I can't find a single person asking why wasn't he doing something about the hurricane. The majority of people were wondering what he was going to do about Cindy Sheehan.

That's because at the time President Bush not meeting with Cindy Sheehan was a big topic, still is in my opinion. I think him not meeting with her speaks volumes for his character as a person. If George Bush had met with her a month ago or so when she initially asked, there wouldn't be this huge fuss over it now. No one would be criticizing him if he had just met with her or answered a few of her questions. George Bush can't stop a hurricane, but he should have been talking with the Governors to find out what they were doing.

The problem is that the officials told the people to get out. A lot of people did get out, but they were the ones who could afford to or had the means to get out. So the rest of them are left in the city, granted you are going to have some people who just don't want to leave thinking they can wait it out because most people are in denial and think they are immortal. What should have happened was that the Governors should have got the Coast Guard out there, blasting on their loudspeakers that if they want to evacuate to get out of their homes and they would take them out. School busses could have been used for the evacuation if necessary. Then if there were people who just wanted to stay, well then that is their call, but it is the State's responsibility to set up an evacuation method. The above means of evacuation are used in Corpus Christi TX when a hurricane hits because a friend of mine from there told me so. So why can't it be used in those states? Someone was acting irresponsibily and/or wasn't thinking about those people.

The Feds should have been making sure the State government was doing their job, if they aren't doing their job then it is the National Governments responsibility to make sure they are doing their job. Since George Bush is our President, he ranks up there with holding some of that responsibility.

The bottom line is, does the government care about our well being? Yes, to an extent. We are like clients, we are helping to make the world go 'round. We put money into their pockets and help make them richer. We are what helps make them an authority figure, etc. So yes, we matter to these people to an extent. But are they going to care for us as much as they do about say themselves or their own family? No. So when it comes down to it, they want to make sure thousands aren't dying because 1) it will hurt the economy and 2) it will make us look like a bad country. But do they not want us dying because they care about us as individuals, I really don't think so, or else something better would have been thought out and planned and then done.

If he had