Rove? In charge of Katrina reconstruction?

Oh, please, tell this is someone's idea of a very bad joke. I was reading the NYT online this morning and found this. I thought I was perhaps hallucinating.

Bush to Focus on Vision for Reconstruction in Speech

WASHINGTON, Sept. 14 - President Bush is to pledge in an address to the nation from New Orleans on Thursday night that the federal government will provide housing assistance to victims of Hurricane Katrina and also help reimburse the states for costs they have absorbed in taking in evacuees, a White House official said Wednesday.

Basically it was so early my eyes were glazing over until I reached this part:

Republicans said Karl Rove, the White House deputy chief of staff and Mr. Bush's chief political adviser, was in charge of the reconstruction effort, which reaches across many agencies of government and includes the direct involvement of Alphonso R. Jackson, secretary of housing and urban development.

Eyes glazing over is disbelief at this point. But it goes on!

"I want him to reassure the people that the big part of this fight is ahead of us, and he's going to make sure that the federal government does a better job, does its part," Senator Trent Lott, Republican of Mississippi, said in an interview on MSNBC on Wednesday night. "We're all to blame to a degree." Mr. Lott added that Congress should never have passed legislation, as the White House wanted, that made the Federal Emergency Management Agency part of the Department of Homeland Security.

"We went along with that, and I guess we'll have to go back and try to rewrite the history, but that should be an independent agency reporting only to the president of the United States," Mr. Lott said.

WFT? Go here to read the whole article.

Just because you convene a panel...

...doesn't mean you have take any of their recommendations.

Yes, I'm talking about the 9/11 Panel. Thomas Kean (former NJ governor and a Republican) seems a little peeved, and rightfully so. This from WaPo:

Thomas H. Kean (R), the former New Jersey governor who headed the panel that investigated the terrorist attacks, said the bungled response to Katrina laid bare how unprepared the nation remains for a catastrophic event, whether it is another terrorist strike or a natural disaster.

"This is not a terrorist incident, but it brings into play all of the same issues and shortcomings," Kean said. "What makes you mad is that it's the same things we saw on 9/11. Whoever is responsible for acting in these places hasn't acted. Are they going to do it now? What else has to happen for people to act?"

Lawmakers and the Bush administration are in the midst of a partisan debate over whether an independent panel akin to the Sept. 11 commission should be formed to study missteps that left tens of thousands in New Orleans and along the Gulf Coast stranded without assistance after Katrina. More than 640 deaths have been confirmed from the Aug. 29 storm and its aftermath.

Basically the Bushies formed the 9/11 Panel for show, to placate those who wanted something done and who wanted answers. Well, we got answers but they don't seem to the the answers the Bushies wanted because many recommendations were ignored.

So now, Bushies want to investigate themselves and everyone else wants an independent panel similar to the one we had for 9/11. I don't know about you, but I think it's a bad idea to let people investigate themselves. It's a great way to find a way to blame somebody else and pat one's back at the same time. Phooey!

Kudos to Lt. Frederick Fell!

Here's for ignoring instructions! Kudos to Lt. Frederick Fell for choosing to be a man and ignore his orders.

National Guardsmen find 74-year-old alive 16 days after storm

BY KEITH SHARON

The Orange County Register

NEW ORLEANS - (KRT) - This was just another body in the growing number of bodies that they encounter every day. A human foot arching at an odd angle was visible through the front window of a locked and dark home. The NationalGuard team of searchers was about to call in a "DB" (dead body) at 1927 Lopez St. in the Broadmoor district when Lt. Frederick Fell decided to investigate.

In the last few days, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has ordered searchers NOT to break into homes. They are supposed to look in through a window and knock on the door. If no one cries out for help, they are supposed to move on. If they see a body, they are supposed to log the address and move on. The morticians will remove the deceased later. But Fell broke the rules and ordered his men to bash open the door, launching a series of events that would save a man's life and revitalize California Task Force 5 from Orange County, Calif. In the last two days, the 80 member task force had identified seven dead bodies in the same neighborhood, and they had rescued no one.

Go here to read the entire article, with pix.

What I'm wondering is this: how many "dead bodies" may actually have been barely alive, but unable to respond? Could any of these "dead" been saved? How many "dead bodies" are upstairs, or unable to respond to the searchers? How many people will die because of FEMA's policy?

What an amazing "culture of life" we have in this country.

This is what I had posted on my other blog...

If you go here you can read the rest of the archives.

Monday, September 12, 2005

Roberts Confirmation Hearings

I actually watched on CNN for a bit, and then fell asleep. Today seemed to be the "OK, everybody gets to say something inconsequential for ten minutes, and then we'll really begin tomorrow." What was really annoying was that you could hear whispering and apparent laughter which made you wonder what was going on in the gallery. However, according to the Washington Post, three junior Republican senators, Comyn, Coburn and Brownback were"whispering and joking among themselves as others spoke." And to think people elected these people. Well, let's hope they behave better on Thursday. (OK, Tuesday was the second day of the hearing, but I thought it was Wednesday when I wrote that...)

I've been trying to keep an open mind about Roberts until I've actually what happens during the confirmation hearing. Or as CNN put it on their banner, confirmation battle. I guess battle might bring higher ratings?

I do think the government should have released all of Roberts' papers. This is a lifetime appointment, and deserves scrutinization.Why there were unwilling to is just very strange. They may not be, but it looks to many as if they are hiding something. This administration just seems to like being secretive.

I was raised in Florida, which has something called the "Sunshine Law". Basically, all state and local business is conducted in the open, unless there was some sort of security issue involved. I liked that. Heck, if it were up to me, I'd even release Roberts' Post-its!From what I've seen he approaches cases with an open mind, even though personally he would seem to be a stereotypical conservative.

I'm concerned about maintaining the freedoms women and minorities have rightfully won. Yeah, I'm a liberal, and proud of it. But I also don't have a closed mind and will wait until the hearing end to decide for myself whether or not Roberts is a good choice. From what I've seen and read so far, I'm willing to give him a chance, but there's also a knot in my stomach. His confirmation feels like a slam dunk.

Times like this make me feel really thankful that we have three different branches of government and checks and balances.
posted by
Pam at 5:23 PM 1 comments

Sunday, September 11, 2005

Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown Dies

Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, died Saturday at age of 81. He had suffered from lung cancer and heart disease. His career spanned 50 years. He was a singer and guitarist who played blues, country, jazz and Cajun music. Brown died at his brother's home in Orange, Texas, where he had go to escape hurricane Katrina. Brown's home in Slidell, La., was completely destroyed by the hurricane.

His first hits were "Okie Dokie Stomp" and "Ain't That Dandy," but Brown disliked being labeled a bluesman. In his later career he played a half-dozen instruments and performed jazz, country, Texas blues, zydeco and Cajun music.Brown had more than 30 recordings and won a Grammy award in 1982 for Alright Again. He was also nominated for a Grammy in 1986 for Long Way Home. To learn more about Gate, click here.

posted by Pam at 5:25 AM 0 comments

Friday, September 09, 2005

Love Will Find a Way!

Joe and Trenise were supposed to get married last Sunday, but Katrina interrupted their plans. Word got around the Coliseum, and everything from wedding clothes, cakes, food and drink were donated from nearby businesses. Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Kirsh!

Weekend Edition - Sunday, September 4, 2005· One ray of hope amid painful days on the Gulf Coast: Two evacuees from the hurricane, Joe Kirsh and Trenise Williams, were married while waiting with 1,000 others gathered at the Mississippi Coliseum. Their planned New Orleans wedding was interrupted by Katrina.

Photo by David Schaper, NPR Click here to go to the NPR site to read more.
posted by Pam at 11:21 AM 3 comments

Saturday, September 03, 2005

Chief Justice Rhenquist Dies

From CNN: Chief Justice William Rehnquist, who helped shift the U.S. Supreme Court towarda more conservative ideology and strongly supported states' rights during his three decades on the bench, has died. Rehnquist was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in October 2004, not long after the 2004-2005 court session began, and received outpatient radiation and chemotherapy treatments.

For the full story, click here.

posted by Pam at 10:33 PM 0 comments

Finally, Hope has Arrived in Nola!

Evacuations are going full speed at last. Even Carnival Cruise Lines is pitching in, sending three of their ships to help. I think people have figured out that finger pointing wasn't helping the stranded people. Once everyone is safe, then it's time to figure out what went wrong.

President Bush has promised 17,000 more troops will be deployed over the next 72 hours.I'm glad that he has acknowleged that the response to Hurricane Katrina's victims has been unacceptable. How we treat Katrina refugees is going to go a long way in showing people what we are really like as a nation.

posted by Pam at 6:11
PM 2 comments

Friday, September 02, 2005

Red Cross PREVENTED From Helping in New Orleans

Yes, you read that right! And it is unbelievable. A big thanks to SteveRose who posted this find at Daily Kos. Are we ready for another 9/11? Not if Hurricane Katrina is a test, because our government agencies have failed miserably.

Disaster FAQs

HurricaneKatrina:
Why is the Red Cross not in New Orleans? Acess (sic) to New Orleans is controlled by the National Guard and local authorities and while we are in constant contact with them, we simply cannot enter New Orleans against their orders. The state Homeland Security Department had requested--and continues to request---that the American Red Cross not come back into New Orleans following the hurricane. Our presence would keep people from evacuating and encourage others to come into the city. Click here to see what the Red Cross has to say.

While you're at it, write the media, your elected officials, and just generally raise hell. THIS IS WRONG. The Red Cross should given top priority considering people are DYING. Does Homeland (In)Security really believe that if people were given a few bottles of water and MRSs, that they would want to stay in an area with water contaminated with chemicals, feces, decomposing corpses, and no food? At the very least, the Red Cross should be able to go in with the rescuers to administer basic first aid, and to give out water and a meal. Even if it's bag of chips. We need some good clear, leadership on this issue, and it sure as hell doesn't seem to be coming from Bush.

posted by Pam at 10:22 PM 0 comments

Katrina

Being a weather junkie, I was glued to the television, radio, the Weather Channel, the NYT - anyplace I could get a fix. Now it's Friday and I need to get some sleep. I cannot even begin to feel the pain of the people still trapped. This is a disaster of epic proportions, and the polititians (with except few) are twiddling their thumbs
while people die.

Who's the designated Rudy Guiliani for this event? It feels like no one is in charge.In listening to Bush's televised address yesterday, it did not strike me as being his best moment. What did stick with me (maybe I was addled by lack of sleep) was that he mentioned oil and gas much more than he mentioned the human cost. If any of you out there were keeping count, let me know. I'll post them here. Or over at my weather blog.In the mean time, I'm off to take and ativan (lots of anxiety) and a hydrocodone (f-ed up back) and sleep. I'll says some prayers first because I'm grateful I'm alive and well and warm, and so is all my family.

On an unusual note, those of you who know me know I have a brother named
George who is a walking one man destruction crew. Last week he fell off a three
story building, landed on a truck and bruised his bum. Lucky bastard, and he
knows it!

posted by Pam at 11:42 AM 2 comments

Saturday, August 27, 2005

City on the Edge of Crawford, Part 2

Check out the graphic on Perrspectives.com.

It would seem that the portal's out of adjustment because some comments almost seem to be contradictory the further one travels forward in time. The war seems to be occuring backwards! Or perhaps we are seeing a bizarre parallel universe infringing on our own. Hmm. Something's not quite right here.

posted by Pam at 4:42 PM 0 comments

I'm a splitter, not a lumper...

...which explains why all my political rants are being moved here.