Republicat Lessons We Will Learn from New Orleans

Griff · 09-02-2005, 07:42 AM

1) After the failure of the Federal Government to strengthen flood control we will learn that we need more government and less personal responsibility.

2) Because of fossil fuel shortages we will learn that it's necessary to increase capacity in fossil fuels rather than investing in other fuels.

3) We will learn of the necessity of more victim disarmament legislation after we start losing soldiers in NO sent there to protect citizens.

4) After being left in N.O. by ineffective government planning the urban poor will learn they need to vote for a larger government impact in their lives.

5) With 35% of Louisiana National Guardsman in Iraq, we will learn that less State and more Federal control of guardsman is necessary for national security.

6) We will learn that lying about sex under oath is an impeachable offense but gross incompetence is not.

Elspode · 09-02-2005, 09:09 AM

By the time the public absorbs the impact of the Hurricane response debacle, the high price of energy, and the deleterious effects of each on our national economy (and security, for that matter), I think we'll see the Republican majority in government finally start to shrink.

BigV · 09-02-2005, 10:50 AM

[dripping]But it's my damn money!! I won't tolerate an increase in tax rates when I can decide best what to do with *my* money. I want a big tv. I want to take the levee road to the walmart across town in my suburban, and I'm going alone--I don't need any input from anybody about how to spend *my* money.

If the pumps fail and the levees brake and the hospitals shut down, that's the GOVERNMENT'S PROBLEM! NOT MINE. Give me my money dammit.[/sarcasm]

edit: reduced subtlety quotient

BigV · 09-02-2005, 10:58 AM

GWB has just said that ..."the good news is that Trent Lott's house will rebuilt and it will be beautiful, and I'm looking forward to sitting on the porch there."

No, I'm not making it up. How could I make this sh*t up?

NICOTINEGUN · 09-02-2005, 05:49 PM

We saw something about it on the BBC at chow and it amazed us all. Five days of sitting there waiting to die, people dead in wheelchairs and on beds, looting for food and water. It was bad. And then they said a news helicopter was shot at in the air. Awesome. Thanks for stopping by, Mr. Shooter. Way to support the community in it's time of need.
And then the broadcaster turned it all into a race issue and said most of the people there were African American and blathered on how it was a race/class thing. I can understand the money aspect of it, but come on, enough with the Black/White thing already. I wish I could help those people. But that is about the extent of what I can say to how I feel.
I just started reading Victor E. Frankl's Man's Search For Meaning about the Nazi prison camps. It reminded me of the people in New Orleans minus the SS and the Capos. Frankl does say doctors are wrong about how long you can survive without food, though. Lucky for them, I guess.

NICOTINEGUN · 09-02-2005, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigV

GWB has just said that ..."the good news is that Trent Lott's house will rebuilt and it will be beautiful, and I'm looking forward to sitting on the porch there."

No, I'm not making it up. How could I make this sh*t up?

I wish Jesse Ventura would run for President. He would be there handing out food to those people. Out of touch politicians make me laugh, and then punch something until my knuckles are swollen and I get shooting pains up through my wrists because I've fractured something again.

09-02-2005, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NICOTINEGUN

I just started reading Victor E. Frankl's Man's Search For Meaning about the Nazi prison camps. It reminded me of the people in New Orleans minus the SS and the Capos. Frankl does say doctors are wrong about how long you can survive without food, though. Lucky for them, I guess.

Well, I imagine the snipers could stand in for the Capos, anyhow.

This entire tragedy just is unbelievable! Come on folks, this used to be OUR country! What in the world has happened to it? What is the greater threat to our country - imaginary WMD's or a crumbling infrastructure that left a very beautiful, MAJOR American City open to this kind of destruction? I've been following the arguments about "Well, they shudda built their houses somewhere else" or they "shudda left," but when our own fearless leader goes on the news saying, "We never expected the levee's to fail," what did you expect?

Yeah, you folks in the Midwest better move away from the giganto fault line that might give way to the world's greatest earthquake any time now; the folks in the Rocky Mountain West should stop living in towns adjacent to National Forests just dying to burn down, folks who live in Arizona will get what they deserve when the Good Lord visits them with the next major drought; everybody outta the Gulf Coast states, and CALIFORNIA? HAH!

So, what people? Just what? We are sending brave men and women – the members of our military - to fight and die in a very expensive foreign war on terror, but what about the terror here at home? Go turn on your TV set and watch it. 9/11 pales in comparison.

You know what the current damage estimates are? $100 billion And that's aside from the loss of human lives and the price of the human suffering we sit watching in front of our TV sets this Labor Day Weekend. "Oh, honey, switch the channel to "The Simpson's." I'm bored with that New Orleans stuff!"

I am SO SICK of hearing people say that "throwing money" at a problem is not the solution.

This newspaper article came out in June of this year. I quoted part of it before, and here's another quote from that same article:

The Corps' budget could still be beefed up, as it is every year, through congressional additions. Last year, Congress added $20 million to the overall budget of the New Orleans district but a similar increase this year would still leave a $50 million shortfall.

One of the hardest-hit areas of the New Orleans district's budget is the Southeast Louisiana Urban Flood Control Project, which was created after the May 1995 flood to improve drainage in Jefferson, Orleans and St. Tammany parishes. SELA's budget is being drained from $36.5 million awarded in 2005 to $10.4 million suggested for 2006 by the House of Representatives and the president.

The project manager said there would be no contracts awarded with this $10.4 million, Demma said.

The construction portion of the Corps' budget would suffer if Congress doesn't add money. In 2005, the district received $94.3 million in federal dollars dedicated to construction. In 2006, the proposal is for $56 million.

It would be critical to this city if we had a $50 million construction budget compared with the past years, Demma said. It would be horrible for the city, it would be horrible for contractors and for flood protection if this were the final number compared to recent years and what the city needs.
Construction generally has been on the decline for several years and focus has been on other projects in the Corps.

The district has identified $35 million in projects to build and improve levees, floodwalls and pumping stations in St. Bernard, Orleans, Jefferson and St. Charles parishes. Those projects are included in a Corps line item called Lake Pontchartrain, where funding is scheduled to be cut from $5.7 million this year to $2.9 million in 2006. Naomi said it's enough to pay salaries but little else.

Since when have Americans become so mean spirited toward their own? George W. Bush and the Republican Party didn't even save the tax payers that $50 million dollars mentioned at the start of the quote. We paid that $50 million to Halliburten, instead, and have reaped a reward of 100 BILLION in destruction and God knows how many lost human lives because we couldn't "throw money" at fixing the levee's here at home.

This is MY country, damn it! Those are MY fellow Americans suffering and dying on the the TV screen because Junior didn't want to throw money at anything but his own best interests.

richlevy · 09-02-2005, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigV

GWB has just said that ..."the good news is that Trent Lott's house will rebuilt and it will be beautiful, and I'm looking forward to sitting on the porch there."

No, I'm not making it up. How could I make this sh*t up?

I don't believe it. I did a Google search and found no reference. Could you cite a source and provide a link?

Noone could be that clueless.

BTW, New Orleans might be the last straw for the economy. The adminstration has been trying to run a $200 billion dollar war with no sacrifice to the average American. They did this by hiding the money in the books and not counting it towards the deficit.

Now we will need tens of billions of dollars to rebuild New Orleans. There is no way they can push aside the cost of the reconstruction after the trick they played with the Iraq war and reconstruction money.

Now comes the real sacrifice for the American people. And many of them will start asking why so many of our resources are being sent to Iraq when we need them here.

What will really be interesting is to see what happens to the carefully gerrymandered districts in Texas now that they have relocated tens of thousands of people, many of whom are very pissed off at the existing government. In 12 months, some of these people may be eligibile to vote in Texas.

russotto · 09-02-2005, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Griff

2) Because of fossil fuel shortages we will learn that it's necessary to increase capacity in fossil fuels rather than investing in other fuels.

This one's actually true.

Quote:

5) With 35% of Louisiana National Guardsman in Iraq, we will learn that less State and more Federal control of guardsman is necessary for national security.

So where the heck were the other 65%?

tw · 09-02-2005, 08:45 PM

Quote:

Bush faces Katrina disaster zone
George W Bush is touring the hurricane Katrina disaster zone after admitting relief efforts in the past few days have not been acceptable. The US president is facing opposition criticism during the country's greatest emergency since September 11th.

After a brefing with officials in Mobile he said: "First we're going to save lives and stabilise the situation. Then we're going to help these communities rebuild. The good news is, and it's hard for some to see it now, is that out of this chaos is going to come a fantastic Gulf Coast, like it was before. Out of the rubble of Trent Lott's house, this guy lost his entire house, there's going to be a fantastic house and I'm looking forward to sitting on the porch."

I read this quote from multiple sources. The mental midget president is talking about stabilizing things when that should have been started five days ago. Instead he's talking about rebuilding when people are still dying - when stability is no where in sight. At what point does anyone ask, "When does he have a clue."

Where are all these George Jr supporters when this is the event that measures the mettle of a president? Why so much silence? Oh. Maybe intelligent design will save these victims. Sarcastic? Show me one good reason why contempt and George Jr should not be part of the same paragraph. He’s talking about rebuilding Trent Lott's house when he sat for days doing nothing – promising aid - as American were dying.

Never forget the damning picture of 50 C5As on tarmacs in Louis Armstrong International airport unloading supplies AND taking out the victims. One small problem – the C5As were not dispatched – as the president waited for things to stabilize.

George Jr again makes decisions as any good MBA would. Go ahead. Show me. Show me where any of these facts are in error. Show me where top management took charge during a disaster. Show me. This time there was no Mayor Guiliani to save an MBA's sorry ass.

bluecuracao · 09-02-2005, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by richlevy

I don't believe it. I did a Google search and found no reference. Could you cite a source and provide a link?

Noone could be that clueless.

Well, he said it on CNN today during his "Go Team!" speech, after being publicly briefed by the FEMA guy and a governor. Back patting and applause ensued. A cringeworthy moment if there ever was one.

I think people are blaming race and class issues, because there isn't any other real explanation. Local officials have been calling desperately for help since Tuesday, and...nothing. Today, federal officials are claiming that the locals did not tell them where to send help, and that's why no help was sent. This, of course, as reporters can tell us, is a BS excuse--after all, they found their way there.

I can't imagine what was going through Bush's mind when he flew over the area on Wednesday. I would hope a president would think something like, "Why aren't there helicopters flying over every square inch of that city?" and "Where are the caravans of supply trucks?"

But all we heard from him was, "It's devastating. It must be doubly devastating down there." And that was it. It just doesn't make any sense.

wolf · 09-03-2005, 12:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by russotto

So where the heck were the other 65%?

Saving their families, I expect.

With a disaster of this magnitude, a lot of the first line people who would ordinarily be activated will make the choice to defend their families first.

It's also the case that people who are impacted by the disaster really can't be effective as responders to it ... I would hope that logic would dictate activation of units from the northern, less directly affected parts of the state would be utilized, or crews from other states.

Elspode · 09-03-2005, 01:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluecuracao

I can't imagine what was going through Bush's mind when he flew over the area on Wednesday.

I can. It went something like this:

"My supporters ought to be pretty damn happy about those oil futures I told them to buy last year. Wonder if I should have put more than $600k in myself? Hmmm..."

warch · 09-03-2005, 02:32 AM

Guilliani will be the republican candidate. Done deal.

Edwards' Two Americas issue now with strong visuals, jumps ahead for dems.

warch · 09-03-2005, 02:41 AM

Oh, and if Ventura were in charge he would doing much the same as the N.O. Mayor...when leadership was called for, any broad collaboration he couldnt coordinate, any deep end, he would be getting pissed off at others on the radio. Having experienced it, media tantrums are pretty much his gubernatorial legacy.

09-02-2005, 07:42 AM	#1
Griff still says videotape Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 26,813	Republicat Lessons We Will Learn from New Orleans 1) After the failure of the Federal Government to strengthen flood control we will learn that we need more government and less personal responsibility. 2) Because of fossil fuel shortages we will learn that it's necessary to increase capacity in fossil fuels rather than investing in other fuels. 3) We will learn of the necessity of more victim disarmament legislation after we start losing soldiers in NO sent there to protect citizens. 4) After being left in N.O. by ineffective government planning the urban poor will learn they need to vote for a larger government impact in their lives. 5) With 35% of Louisiana National Guardsman in Iraq, we will learn that less State and more Federal control of guardsman is necessary for national security. 6) We will learn that lying about sex under oath is an impeachable offense but gross incompetence is not. __________________ If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. - Louis D. Brandeis

09-02-2005, 09:09 AM	#2
Elspode When Do I Get Virtual Unreality? Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Raytown, Missouri Posts: 12,719	By the time the public absorbs the impact of the Hurricane response debacle, the high price of energy, and the deleterious effects of each on our national economy (and security, for that matter), I think we'll see the Republican majority in government finally start to shrink. __________________ "To those of you who are wearing ties, I think my dad would appreciate it if you took them off." - Robert Moog

09-02-2005, 10:50 AM	#3
BigV Goon Squad Leader Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Seattle Posts: 27,063	[dripping]But it's my damn money!! I won't tolerate an increase in tax rates when I can decide best what to do with my money. I want a big tv. I want to take the levee road to the walmart across town in my suburban, and I'm going alone--I don't need any input from anybody about how to spend my money. If the pumps fail and the levees brake and the hospitals shut down, that's the GOVERNMENT'S PROBLEM! NOT MINE. Give me my money dammit.[/sarcasm] edit: reduced subtlety quotient __________________ Be Just and Fear Not. Last edited by BigV; 09-02-2005 at 03:47 PM.

09-02-2005, 10:58 AM	#4
BigV Goon Squad Leader Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Seattle Posts: 27,063	GWB has just said that ..."the good news is that Trent Lott's house will rebuilt and it will be beautiful, and I'm looking forward to sitting on the porch there." No, I'm not making it up. How could I make this sh*t up? __________________ Be Just and Fear Not.

09-02-2005, 05:49 PM	#5
NICOTINEGUN Resident President Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 82	We saw something about it on the BBC at chow and it amazed us all. Five days of sitting there waiting to die, people dead in wheelchairs and on beds, looting for food and water. It was bad. And then they said a news helicopter was shot at in the air. Awesome. Thanks for stopping by, Mr. Shooter. Way to support the community in it's time of need. And then the broadcaster turned it all into a race issue and said most of the people there were African American and blathered on how it was a race/class thing. I can understand the money aspect of it, but come on, enough with the Black/White thing already. I wish I could help those people. But that is about the extent of what I can say to how I feel. I just started reading Victor E. Frankl's Man's Search For Meaning about the Nazi prison camps. It reminded me of the people in New Orleans minus the SS and the Capos. Frankl does say doctors are wrong about how long you can survive without food, though. Lucky for them, I guess. __________________ Hurricanes are racist!

09-03-2005, 02:32 AM	#14
warch lurkin old school Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,796	Guilliani will be the republican candidate. Done deal. Edwards' Two Americas issue now with strong visuals, jumps ahead for dems.

09-03-2005, 02:41 AM	#15
warch lurkin old school Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,796	Oh, and if Ventura were in charge he would doing much the same as the N.O. Mayor...when leadership was called for, any broad collaboration he couldnt coordinate, any deep end, he would be getting pissed off at others on the radio. Having experienced it, media tantrums are pretty much his gubernatorial legacy.

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