Venting about Katrina

[peachgirl]

The Dems seemed almost disappointed to hear that our President apologized today. They lose some of their ammunition with his apology.

I guess we "lost" nothing then, because he didn't apologize. Although, the man could fall to his knees begging for forgiveness and it wouldn't change a thing about the failures that occurred.

And all people who've at some point completed a high school level Civics class agree with you.

And those who didn't stop with the high school civics class know that the Federal Government sat on it's hands for several days before taking the action they were fully authorized to take and that Governor Blanco did what was needed on Aug. 27..days before the hurricane hit.

 

[chobie]

What saddens me most is the human suffering, the loss of live, and the horrible ordeal it will be for many people to put their lives back together. The blame game is being played on both sides. Some people seem to think it's okay to blame state and local officials, but not the federal government. It's still a game when it works the other way.

ITA and what a nice way to put it. If someone is "saddened" by blaming threads, then why would they start another one?

 

[totalia]

Just a suggestion... stop reading this thread if it bothers and upsets you so much and focus that energy in helping your BF and his family.

Here's a suggestion, stop being so nasty.

 

[totalia]

You, most of all, whom I don't believe would have had the opportunity to complete a high school civics class in the United States, seem to need to have it repeated.

Yes, and apparently you, most of all need to have the same things repeated to YOU as well.

Same as what I suggested for bunch, here's a idea, stop being so nasty.

You will be surprised how much better a reaction you get.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

The radio reported this morning that Nagin has "purchased a home in Dallas and enrolled his child in a Dallas school". So there you have it. That sounds like a great way to get NO on the track to recovery. The mayor moves to ANOTHER STATE!

If Dallas was destroyed and Laura Miller up and moved to Louisiana I think there would be an angry mob tracking her down! And I would be leading the mob!

 

[bsnyder]

The radio reported this morning that Nagin has "purchased a home in Dallas and enrolled his child in a Dallas school". So there you have it. That sounds like a great way to get NO on the track to recovery. The mayor moves to ANOTHER STATE!

If Dallas was destroyed and Laura Miller up and moved to Louisiana I think there would be an angry mob tracking her down! And I would be leading the mob!

To be fair to Mayor Nagin, he will still be working in New Orleans. His home in New Orleans is unliveable. His child has to go to school, and like thousands of other evacuees, will be going to school in Dallas. If he can afford to purchase a home (I assume to ensure the school district of choice, but I don't really know if that's why) then why shouldn't he be able to do that?

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

I just find it fascinating that he has packed up and moved out of Louisiana entirely. There must be some other cities within his home state that would be OK for Mayor Nagin and his family in the interim.

I would be willing to bet his kids aren't going to public school, either. The former Dallas mayor had his kids in public school, but now they are in private. Our current mayor has her kids in private school. Nagin probably has his kids in private school too, which means it doesn't matter where his house is. There are no "zones" for private schools. But at least if he bought property then he is paying property taxes to the state of Texas. That's a nice gesture.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

No no. Its fine to vent. I hope you start feeling better soon and I can understand how you feel.

Its not that its been repeated so much that it usually sparks a political debate which results in one side attacking the other and the thread getting shut down. Its nothing towards you. This forum has just been a powder keg recently. Thats what I meant by "Here we go again."

And you have innocently sat on the sidelines, right?????

AS for the OP, vent away, we all have done. For what it is worth, we saw the Red Cross in action here last year and I just have to say what a fab organization it is. Thank you for all you guys do!

 

[dixipixi]

Just had to post a few thoughts.

First of all, I live in La. In a little town north of NO. While we did not have the problems of rising water, there has still been plenty of damage. We had winds over 130mph here.

My house and car were totaled. We lost our outbuilding which housed our new riding lawn mower, 4 wheeler, our bikes, weedeaters, and all the other things you use around your home.

Its easy to sit somewhere else and talk about people playing a blame game.

The facts are that NO is a large city and very hard to evacuate. There are only a few roads out and it is many many miles to higher ground.

Yes, our local and state govts did not do everything they could have. Hindsight is always 20/20. This storm blew up very quickly. I have lived all my life here and I am always prepared during hurricane season with the basics (water, medicines, full tank of gas, cash money, etc.). But this was an absolutely devastating storm. It did me no good to stockpile things when the house they were stored in was totaled.

I agree about people trying to help being turned away. That has been very hard to take. Not just the Red Cross, but average people as well. There have been many people around here show up with boats to try and help rescue people, but they have been turned away.

What I'm trying to say is this: The aid we have seen around here has come from the American people. Thank Goodness for them. The people of La. and Miss. thank everyone involved. It takes our hard work and working together to overcome disaster. Don't sit around and wait on the govt (from the local level to the feds...just don't count on them). They are going to sit around and blame each other for things not getting done while the people themselves are busy helping and rebuilding.

I don't have time to listen to officials blame each other. I'm trying to rebuild my life and get back to "normal". I could care less what govt does or doesn't do for me. When it comes down to it...it's up to me and my husband to survive and provide for our family.

 

[Planogirl]

Civics class? From a previous timeline thread:

The Homeland Security department had a procedure for just such a muddle, a declaration of 'an incident of national significance' -- the trigger for federal officials to move emergency assets without waiting for requests from local governments.

Why does everyone forget about this "incident of national significance" feature? FEMA did not HAVE to have permission before helping out those who were trapped.

Also, why does it matter if the mayor is in Texas for now? Don't we constantly hear that President Bush can govern from anywhere including from Texas of all places?

 

[bsnyder]

Civics class? From a previous timeline thread:


Why does everyone forget about this "incident of national significance" feature? FEMA did not HAVE to have permission before helping out those who were trapped.

Also, why does it matter if the mayor is in Texas for now? Don't we constantly hear that President Bush can govern from anywhere including from Texas of all places?

I think the issue was more that the military couldn't be called in, not FEMA. And the incident of national significance feature doesn't address that.

I would be willing to bet his kids aren't going to public school, either. The former Dallas mayor had his kids in public school, but now they are in private. Our current mayor has her kids in private school. Nagin probably has his kids in private school too, which means it doesn't matter where his house is. There are no "zones" for private schools. But at least if he bought property then he is paying property taxes to the state of Texas. That's a nice gesture.

Ack - don't get me started on elected Democrats who are in lock-step with the teachers' unions and then send their kids to private schools. I don't know if that's the case with Mayor Nagin, but let's not totally derail this thread.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

It doesn't matter that the mayor has moved here. I just thought it was a bizarre choice.

 

[bsnyder]

It doesn't matter that the mayor has moved here. I just thought it was a bizarre choice.

Personally, it seems like a stupid thing to do, from a PR standpoint.

Maybe he's already decided he won't be running for re-election, or that he's sure he'll be defeated if he does. Who knows. Hopefully he's doing the best thing for his family.

 

[Earstou]

opened 675 shelters in 23 states

I was registering new volunteers to work in one of those shelters, but it was closed (as were others in Kansas) because no one wanted to come here. I was just wondering if you knew how many other shelters were also closed down like this? I was told FEMA requested these shelters be put up, and will be footing the bill. Is that correct from what you know???

 

[snoopy]

Most people, Republican and Democrat, agree with you. And all people who've at some point completed a high school level Civics class agree with you.

The Dems seemed almost disappointed to hear that our President apologized today. They lose some of their ammunition with his apology.

This Dem is neither disappointed, nor did she hear where our President apologized. Care to enlighten me? I thought he said, "And to the extent that the federal government didn't fully do its job right, I take responsibility. I want to know what went right and what went wrong." Whats to be disappointed (or elated) about? He didn't tell us anything we don't already know, he's responsible for what happens at the federal level. And he said he wants to find out what went right and what went wrong. So fine, he should absolutely go do that. Hopefully the investigation will result in firing the rest of the incompetent political flunkies at FEMA and Congress passing legislation removing FEMA from Homeland Security.

But don't insult me as an American because I'm not wowed by the President saying he takes responsibility for what he should be taking responsibility for. Nor am I disappointed. His words are merely that, just words. I judge him by his actions thus far and what he will do in the future, not by the words he says in a speech.

 

[Missy1961]

This Dem is neither disappointed, nor did she hear where our President apologized. Care to enlighten me? I thought he said, "And to the extent that the federal government didn't fully do its job right, I take responsibility. I want to know what went right and what went wrong." Whats to be disappointed (or elated) about? He didn't tell us anything we don't already know, he's responsible for what happens at the federal level. And he said he wants to find out what went right and what went wrong. So fine, he should absolutely go do that. Hopefully the investigation will result in firing the rest of the incompetent political flunkies at FEMA and Congress passing legislation removing FEMA from Homeland Security.

But don't insult me as an American because I'm not wowed by the President saying he takes responsibility for what he should be taking responsibility for. Nor am I disappointed. His words are merely that, just words. I judge him by his actions thus far and what he will do in the future, not by the words he says in a speech.

Same here.