Harry Connick Jr. tours NO

[padams]

http://www.cnn.com/2005/SHOWBIZ/TV/09/01/katrina.connickjr.ap/index.html

Harry Connick, Jr. has been touring NO to see the devastation. Why? Was he already there? How did he get in? Is he helping with relief efforts? I know he's from NO.

I think NO has enough going on without celebrities touring the devastation.

 

[Beth76]

Yeah, I don't understand the point of that. Did he bring food an water with him?

And what about the end with David Pirner. From what it sounds, they have a house in Minnesota and NO. And he's anxiously trying to find out info about his second home? Gee, I hope my donation gets to him first.

 

[Disney Ella]

I wondered the same thing. I hope he brought in some food and water to distribute. Since they could get him in, and he clearly wasn't there to help, I hope they at least took some people back out with him.

 

[jellymanoffspring]

Don't know for sure...but perhaps he was there with a news crew....he could be going to use some footage for the big fundraising telethon.......
Some reporters seem to be going in and out of the city getting supplies etc......

 

[wvrevy]

If I was from the area and could get back down there to see it for myself using my celebrity, you can bet I would be doing so in a heartbeat!

Oh, and before you criticize him, you might also want to know that he is involved with the charity concert that will be airing on NBC tomorrow night to help raise money for the area.

 

[toto2]

The real question is : if Harry manage to get there , how come the food does not , how com the army does not , how come the water does not.

The big question on the the DIS yeaterday was : where are the stars ?

 

[padams]

Toto- that's what I am questioning- how did he get in? If he can get in, why can't food, water and other supplies get there?

 

[wvrevy]

Toto- that's what I am questioning- how did he get in? If he can get in, why can't food, water and other supplies get there?

I apologize if I misinterpreted what you were talking about. That is, indeed, a very good question.

 

[swilphil]

Harry Connick, Jr., is from New Orleans, and I'm sure he will be quite involved in the fundraising. Along with him will be New Orleans natives from the Marsalis and Neville families. Harry Connick, Sr., was the District Attorney there for several years. I'm sure the Connick family has many ties. Considering all of the negative news footage of the looting and violence, Harry Connick, Jr., can only help the fundraising efforts.

 

[debster812]

Toto- that's what I am questioning- how did he get in? If he can get in, why can't food, water and other supplies get there?

1 person, with millions of dollars at his disposal, it's easier to move one person around than a unit. Food, water, the army, supplies etc, takes all manner of logistics which they are finally getting a handle on.

 

[toto2]

True , but none the less it is very , very , very surprising : they are army : they are suppossed to have means of getting places fast. This is an emergency : if one car can pass , a hundred can. There is something very wrong so far with how all this is being handled. I know that the task seem to be overwhelming , but the USA is the most technologicaly advance country in the world. 2 days before the storm hit , everybody knew that a force 5 hurricane was going to hit New-Orleans. This city is classified as one out of the three city most likely to be hit by a natural catastrophy... It was known that the city was vulnerable to this type of thing. Californians are waiting for the Big One , People of Louisianna knew that the Big One ( hurricane ) would hit...

 

[va32h]

they are army : they are suppossed to have means of getting places fast

Actually, I'd call the Army a slow-rolling force. Dh is a motor pool sgt -- the trucks and trailers he has worked with are huge, and they don't move fast under the best of circumstances.

And they will have to travel in convoy, so they'll go as fast as the slowest vehicle.

Logistically, you have to get things set in place. A solider without supplies, communication, chain of command or transportation is a hindrance, not a help.

By contrast - Harry Connick Jr. is could easily fit into a news helicopter. Was it wise to bring him in there? I don't know. His concern seemed very sincere to me. Having him there is no worse than having the various reporters there.

 

[What the Heck]

Actually, I'd call the Army a slow-rolling force. Dh is a motor pool sgt -- the trucks and trailers he has worked with are huge, and they don't move fast under the best of circumstances.

And they will have to travel in convoy, so they'll go as fast as the slowest vehicle.

Logistically, you have to get things set in place. A solider without supplies, communication, chain of command or transportation is a hindrance, not a help.

By contrast - Harry Connick Jr. is could easily fit into a news helicopter. Was it wise to bring him in there? I don't know. His concern seemed very sincere to me. Having him there is no worse than having the various reporters there.

Well said.

 

[Aimeedyan]

I just heard a reporter at the convention center say that Connick brought encouragement to the people stranded at the convention center - he brought them hope and an ear to listen. They have NO ONE there as an authority figure and they looked to him when he came in.

If his presence gave one person hope then I think his visit was successful. If his presence brought more attention to the desperation felt there, then his visit was successful.

 

[disneymcgraw]

I think Harry is there to see the devastation firsthand as he is involved in the charity concert tomorrow night. Tim is also involved as he is a Louisiana native and his wife is from Mississippi. Such a tragedy.

 

[Laura]

He's putting himself at risk going there; we've heard the news of the shootings and so forth. I don't think it was a wise thing for him to do, but I'm not going to criticize him for it. If I were in his shoes, I'd probably go there too. He's already doing what he can to help his hometown.