Katrina's POLITICAL aftermath (keep the political discussions HERE)

BUSH'S OWN PLAN: The 2004 National Response Plan explicitly states that, at times of

any natural or manmade incident, including terrorism, that results in extraordinary levels of mass casualties, damage, or disruption severely affecting the population, infrastructure, environment, economy, national morale, and/or government functions,

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

(The National Review)
September 03, 2005, 4:54 p.m.
New Orleans 2008

The wind had barely stopped blowing before Katrina and the storm's aftermath had become the latest front in the nation's political/cultural war. Bush critics are already undermining their own cause with overreaching, as they denounce the president as a racist for his alleged unconcern about the suffering of so many black people in New Orleans. But an administration whose FEMA director knew less about on-the-ground conditions in the stricken city this week than the average TV viewer has a real vulnerability.

It will only address that vulnerability with a performance in coming days and weeks that is more in keeping with the GOP's image as the "daddy party," the party of competence, the party that can be trusted in times of crisis. That is the main thing. But symbolism will matter too. No single step would go further to dramatize the GOP's commitment to rebuilding New Orleans than announcing now that the party's 2008 convention will be held in the recovering city. Such a move would signal the party's confidence in the Big Easy's renewal, and put it at the forefront of what should be similar commitments from private actors to do their part to help New Orleans come back.

Critics will call it a transparent attempt to burnish the party's image after the Bush administration "failed" with the initial relief effort. The gesture would, however, reflect the genuine sentiment of Republicans who, like all Americans, want to help a city facing such a bleak future. We heard similar complaints — easily brushed off — about the Republicans' coming to New York for last year's convention.

No doubt there will be logistical problems. There were logistical problems putting on big events in New Orleans even in the best of times. But the Republicans held their convention there in 1988, and should return 20 years later. They will go to a city that then will, no doubt, still be scarred by the catastrophe of the last week, but back on its feet, and a perfect venue for a testament to the American spirit.

http://www.nationalreview.com/editorial/editors200509031654.asp

i imagine that there were similar conversations in the kremlin circa chernobyl.

Interdictor's boss when out with his camera to get some shots of the street. check out that water.

Firing Michael Brown and/or Chertoff might please some, but anyone with half a brain will ask "Who appointed these clowns?"

Still, I wouldn't underestimate Karl Rove. From a purely political standpoint, the Democrats had better strategize hard about how to handle this.

Washington Post asks questions of all concerned (is this the first time Rice's NY trip has been mentioned in the 'serious' papers?)

To plan a strategy for (a business or financial venture, for example).

v. intr.

To determine strategies; plan: “a lot to think about and strategize about and anticipate” (New Yorker).

i'm trying to find an archive of that show, maybe get it to the guy at crooksandliars for any relevant audio.

Suddenly it all makes sense.

let's see how long either Brown or Chertoff survive. Will Brown fall on the grenade, or will they feel they sacrifice Chertoff to get heat away from El Doofus?

Place your bets now.

Also, lets see how long the Army CoE taking the blame will last, or suffice...

Bush to lead inquiry into Katrina

US President George W Bush says he will lead an investigation into how the Hurricane Katrina disaster was handled.

"I'm going to find out over time what went right and what went wrong," he said in reply to criticism that the authorities were too slow to respond.

His focus, he added, was on helping the victims but there would be "ample time" for an investigation.

Officials in New Orleans have urged its last residents to leave the swamped city, saying it is now uninhabitable.

In an open letter, the city's Times-Picayune newspaper has demanded the sacking of top emergency service officials.

Ex-President Bill Clinton, and his wife, Senator Hillary Clinton, have been among those to call for an inquiry.

No blame game

How the different levels of government had reacted to Katrina would be examined, Mr Bush said, but he refused to "play the blame game".

"We got to solve problems - there will be ample time to figure out what went right and what went wrong," he said in Washington.

America, he added, had to be sure it could respond properly to another disaster, whether natural or an attack with weapons of mass destruction.

Stressing his focus on victims, Mr Bush also pledged not to allow "bureaucracy... to get in the way of getting the job done for the people".

He also announced that Vice President Dick Cheney would visit Gulf Coast region on Thursday to help assess the government's work.

I'm guessing nah.

"I'm going to find out over time what went right and what went wrong,"

See you in five to eight years then.

Al Gore's gunna be in Portland tonight

Straight Talk - A Real Look at Global Warming"
Presented by former Vice President Al Gore

This is a unique opportunity to see Al Gore present on an issue of vital local, national, and international importance.

I'm heading to this with my camera. Will report back later tonight.

That's compassion.

I agree that the administation and the federal gov't reacted very poorly, but is there anyone here that will agree with me that Nagin isn't invulnerable to criticism here. I mean, he is the Mayor of New Orleans. Did he execute any real plans prior to this storm hitting?

The video here or here.

uhm, you mean like calling for help repeatedly and having it declared a disaster area before the levees failed, thus putting all control into federal hands?

but don't worry, there'll be plenty of blame to go around.

So, uh, yeah, I'm pretty sure Nagin could've forced bus companies to try a little harder to get people the hell out of there but his culpability in that situation is kind of...limited to say the least.

Nagin is a man of the people, while George W Bush is a chickenhawk racist who only cares about oil and killing "freedom fighters" in Afghanistan. He is a theocrat who wants gay people persecuted and women oppressed according to whatever the Bible says. George W. Bush acted slowly and irresponsibly because he hates average working Americans and he knew that if he did nothing for a few days, people who previously voted against him would die. George W. Bush is indifferent to ordinary Americans, and the result was first 9/11 and now, this global warming-fueled hurricane. All this from a guy who stole two straight presidential elections.

The fact is, if we don't focus most of our blame on the Chimperor, he will likely continue to lower taxes at the expense of the poor and working class. He will also continue the illegal war in Iraq, continue to lie about weapons of mass destruction, work to eliminate reproductive freedoms, and nominate radical conservatives to the Supreme Court. We need to impeach this lying, cheating, evil motherfucker before it's too late. It may already be!

Nagin is a great guy, and I don't give a shit if 2,000 buses were parked neatly in their lots in lieu of using them for evacuations. I don't care if the police force or the parish leadership has been crooked for decades. What Nagin has done pales to the pure, unadulterated evil that is George W. Bush.

However, why aren't any of you up in arms about how moronic prepration was. They had all those buses, never used them. Just told people to get to the superdome, and furthermore, find your own way of getting there.

Everyone is making Nagin look like some bad ass hero, "get off your asses," and what not. Seems to me he was sitting on his before Katrina hit.

I am not an apologist for Bush by any means, but people need to start talking about what efforts should be made on state and city levels. this is just rediculous. there was no effort in trying to remove these people before hand. They should have had people driving into the communities with transportation and removing them.

I know this is an argument alot of asshole right wingers are using right now, trying to take some of the blame off their boy, Bush, BUT there is some merit to some of this.

The bottom line is, as gypsy said, you can;t evacuate anyone. Best case scenario evacuation here still would've resulted in absolute horror, just a smaller scale, 5,000 people instead of 15,000.

Well, yeah, apart from also not bothering to take seriously all along the fact that the levees were going to break and, golly gee, destroy an entire city.

Personally I think they should hammer away at two themes: Republican incompetence in the face of crises (at home and abroad) and Republican unwillingness to fund basic infrastructure maintenance, much less infrastructure improvements. "Did you like your tax cuts? How much have you given back at the pump? How much is left over?" The DNC is having trouble establishing a positive identity of its own, so it needs to emphasize "at least we're not the dumbasses in power now."

For instance,

"What Nagin has done pales to the pure, unadulterated evil that is George W. Bush."

I do realize, however, that you were venting. And that is fine. It just reminds me of a conversation I had when i was living out in Boulder. I can't remember what it was about specifically, but the rebuttal I was givin included a wide array of injustices commited by the goverment. I believe at one point I was being lectured about the Maquiladoras, which was completely unrelated.

All I'm saying it I was looking for some answers. You guys have given me some. I appreciate Allyzay's comments. I dont need a history lesson though, nor a lecture about Bush's lack of interest in the common man. I'm well aware of it, I went to school with many people just like him. Rich and uninvolved with reality.