American Individuals Helping the Katrina Refugees I Salute You... but

[Paul Waters]

You are doing a great job.

CNN runs report after report of individuals coming to the destructed areas and helping out. I just saw a report of a NY couple coming down and wiping up hot meals for policemen and firefighters.

These front line disaster fighters need support.

But from private citizens from NY??

Refugees are getting help from the Red Cross. But it is fecked up in the bureaucracy.

Where the feck is FEMA?

I think you Americans need to do two things:

1) Salute and support the rank and file and individuals who are making the difference.

2) Start at the top (Bush), and go down ten layers in the bureaocracy and execute them for total imcompetence.

This will serve as a clear message that those in positions of authority, those who command the big bucks, will be held accountable.

Good luck

[baddog]

Canadians always know what is best for us

[Paul Waters]

Originally Posted by baddog

Canadians always know what is best for us

Hey,

I am saluting those people who are making a difference.

[baddog]

Originally Posted by Paul Waters

Hey,

I am saluting those people who are making a difference.

and then offering your like someone gives a shit

[Doc911]

Originally Posted by Paul Waters

Hey,

I am saluting those people who are making a difference.

Bush is making a difference. Not a good one but you have to admit.

He's Different!

[baddog]

Originally Posted by Paul Waters

2) Start at the top (Bush), and go down ten layers in the bureaocracy and execute them for total imcompetence.

http://www.tampabays10.com/weird/wei...?storyid=18614

[Paul Waters]

Originally Posted by baddog

and then offering your like someone gives a shit

I do give a shit.

Your country has been stolen by Bush's puppeteers.

I wish you could rediscover the values of your signateurs to your Constitution.

[Alex]

Originally Posted by Paul Waters

I do give a shit.

Your country has been stolen by Bush's puppeteers.

I wish you could rediscover the values of your signateurs to your Constitution.

This thread is going to get good.

[spunkmaster]

You've been watching CNN too much. FEMA only has 2500 people who work for them and the rest all come from local, state and other areas !

This same thing happened back in 1998 so it's not new for shit to hit the fan when a big one hits. Hell, back in 1998 it took FEMA 4 weeks to get food and water to some people after the floods.

[directfiesta]

Originally Posted by spunkmaster

Hell, back in 1998 it took FEMA 4 weeks to get food and water to some people after the floods.

Hell, you would have tought they would have learned from that ...

[sweetcuties]

Hey man, their not refugees... their evacuatees. Most media outlets changed their language

[tony286]

very good post

[Linkster]

Why does everyone think that FEMAs responsibility includes all of these response times and big support teams - they are not designed to do that anymore and shouldnt be. Each state has its own version of FEMA as well as receiving a little aid from the Regional FEMAs - In New Orleans case its Region 6 out of Texas - they responded just as they should have and sent around 100 doctors into the area per their charter.
Just because you hear all of this idiocy being flaunted on the news and on internet blogs doesnt make it the truth - Id be willing to bet that once all of this is over they will find out that the rapes and gang activity was all rumours that were just spread by the press after they "heard" about it.

[PostWhore]

[garce]

Originally Posted by baddog

Canadians always know what is best for us

And how did an "intellectual terrorist" come to this conclusion?

Oh, and enjoy the softwood lumber we're shipping down (through tropical storm Ophelia, btw) that'll be used to rebuild your city under the sea.

These blanket statements make me sick. In contrast to the constant nationalistic bickering on this board and the vitriol that's spewed by media extremists, whenever a real emergency arises our respective countries will be there for each other without hesitation or reservation.

In this time of need, all of the resources of this country are available for the assistance of Katrina relief efforts. If its needed, it will be sent. This has been stated by even our harshest Bush critics.

If this had happened to Canada, the Bush administration would have been the first government to offer relief.

Leaders will come and go and policies will change. We are so intertwined - America, the greatest of nations, and Canada, the richest of nations (resourcefully speaking) - that the opinion of a single administration is irrelevant. Times change, but our countries will nedd each other long after we're all dead and buried.

We are your little brother, and we will do what we can to help. You hate us, but still you'd beat the shit out of anyone who picked on us.

God bless America. Long live the Queen. Now I need a beer.

P.S. I waited over an hour to post this. Had two beers and now I'm going to hit "Submit". May God have mercy on my post...

[spunkmaster]

Demanding Dictatorship in Katrina's Wake?

By Joe Mariani

September 9, 2005

Probably the most astonishing result of Hurricane Katrina so far has been the overall reaction of the Left. I don't mean the whining criticisms or the politicizing of tragedy for political purposes, however -- those Liberal reactions are par for the course in any situation. Former NYC Mayor Ed Koch (web site) was at his most honest when he said that "it's fair game for the Democrats to attack the president at this time. They want to win the House next year." What amazes me is that the same people who have spent four years accusing President Bush of shredding the Constitution and mounting a military coup in America seem to be angry with him... because he didn't shred the Constitution and mount a military coup.

The most persistent Liberal and Democrat attacks (web site) concerning the aftermath of Katrina have been that "the government" (by which they mean the federal government) was too slow to take charge of the situation.

According to the critics, Bush should have immediately sent the US military into New Orleans to keep order, taken personal command of the National Guard and directed relief efforts on the scene from the moment the levee gave way. FEMA should have assumed direct control over all police, fire crews, EMTs and other first responders.

In other words, Liberals seem to feel that the rights and responsibilities of state and local governments can and should be taken away by the federal government in emergency situations. But that's exactly what the Constitution was designed to prevent.

More than anything else, the Founders feared an all-powerful central government dictating to the states and citizens. The United States is supposed to be a federal (web site) republic, not a centralised totalitarian government. The President has no authority to command state militia (or the modern substitute, National Guard units) without permission of the state governor to whom they report. He cannot order the evacuation of a city. He cannot simply assume command over the local and state governments. He certainly cannot send the US military to take control of a city or state except in case of insurrection. And the last thing the looters in New Orleans were doing was setting up their own secessionist government.

"Whoever, except in cases and under circumstances expressly authorized by the Constitution or Act of Congress, willfully uses any part of the Army or Air Force as a posse comitatus or otherwise to execute the laws shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than two years, or both." - US Code, Title 18, Section 1385 (web site)

The Posse Comitatas Act of 1878 (web site) forbids the President from using the US military to enforce the law without an Act of Congress. Posse comitatus, or "all possible force," refers to the power of a sheriff to call upon every able-bodied man in his county to help apprehend a criminal. (The things you learn from watching old Westerns...) The President can not similarly use "all possible force" to enforce the law, because doing so would be equivalent to declaring martial law in the United States.

Exceptions to the law, aside from suppressing insurrections, include assisting drug enforcement agencies or during emergencies involving nuclear, chemical or biological weapons. Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on your point of view), there is no exception for a local or state government failing to respond properly to a crisis. State and local officials failed to evacuate the citizens, declined to quell the looting and other crimes being committed, and even refused permission for the Red Cross to bring food and water to the people packed into the Superdome and Convention Center. The Red Cross explains on their web site (web site) that "The state Homeland Security Department had requested... 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." Without the governor's permission to act, the federal government was effectively hamstrung.

Louisiana Governor Kathy Blanco could have requested federal help, but would not sign the authorization to allow it, even after the situation had descended into total chaos. "Shortly before midnight Friday, the Bush administration sent her a proposed legal memorandum asking her to request a federal takeover of the evacuation of New Orleans," the Washington Post reported. (web site)" Target="top">(web site) "The administration sought unified control over all local police and state National Guard units reporting to the governor. Louisiana officials rejected the request after talks throughout the night, concerned that such a move would be comparable to a federal declaration of martial law." Governor Blanco decided to maintain final authority over the situation in New Orleans. With that authority comes responsibility for the results -- good or bad.

Every person who complains because the federal government did not take control of the New Orleans situation -- despite the governor's refusal to give permission -- is advocating a far more powerful federal government than we should ever want. The burden of response to local disasters rests on local elected officials while they choose to retain their authority. The federal government cannot intervene unless specifically requested to do so.

To suggest otherwise is to invite a military dictatorship.

--------------------

Joe Mariani is a computer consultant born and raised in New Jersey. He now lives in Pennsylvania, where the gun laws are less restrictive and taxes are lower. Joe always thought of himself as politically neutral until he saw how far left the left had really gone after 9/11. His essays and links to articles are available at http://www.guardianwatchblog.com/

[Doctor Dre]

Originally Posted by baddog

http://www.tampabays10.com/weird/wei...?storyid=18614

Lots of people on GFY could get investigated. Maybe it's time we clear the logs ! lol

[Verbal]

Originally Posted by baddog

http://www.tampabays10.com/weird/wei...?storyid=18614

Shhhh! They're watching

[INever]

That's $50,000 per New Orleans resident!

[colpanic]

My favorite story is the 3 Duke University kids who made it from the roadblocks to the stadium in 20 minutes, in a HYUNDAI ELANTRA, with fake press passes. Said they drove past a bunch of busses that could have gotten people out.

This is before the pumps were working again.

I really can't believe you people are arguing that it isn't the fault of FEMA... Do you know what FEMA stands for? Federal Emergency Management Agency.

What the fuck else are they here to do?

[spunkmaster]

The guidelines of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which has little jurisdiction to act on its own but is designed to work with local authorities, suggests that local evacuation plans "coordinate the use of school buses and drivers to support evacuation efforts."

Red Cross officials say the organization was well positioned to provide food, water and hygiene products to the thousands stranded in New Orleans. But the state refused to let them deliver the aid.

"Access 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 Red Cross said last week on its Web site.

[Paul Waters]

I know I am just a stupid Canadian.

But Winnepeg, Manitoba is facing flooding from rising rivers. They are **Preparing** by laying down sandbags.

Katrina was not a surprise. It hit Florida first. And took days to reach New Orleans.

No sandbagging of the levies took place. I read posts here about New Orleans being a "fishbowl" and subject to flooding. These were posted days before the storm hit New Orleans.

I have since read reports decades old about the increasing risk from hurricanes as the water in the gulf warms up due to global warming. More hurricanes, and nastier hurricanes.

I suppose the real question is "Who is responsible to prepare?"

I thought that that was what FEMA was for. And what the Department of Homeland Security was for. These entities are preparing for terrorism that is not likely to occur, but they ingnored natural disasters that are likely to occur.

Brown is toast. Unqualified and forged. Will the people that put him in place be held accountable? Is accountabilty part of American life?

Or are political appointments of unqualified people who you owe something to, perfectly fine?

Putting Thad Allen in charge could not be a more blatent contrast. Not at all politcal, a career service man.

The apologists for the federal adminstration's failures use strawman arguments and use the constitution that they find so inconvenient as a weapon.

If the Commander-in-Chief had given the order that every Sargent went into his men's baracks and said, "Men, the police chief in <incert city of choice> is facing a disaster and needs help from people like you. Any of you who volunteers to go down and be deputized will be granted a furlow for as long as you can help."

I think just about every right hand in the room would be reaching for the ceiling.

Volunteers are leading the relief efforts bcause they don't care who is in charge.

Washington is failing in the relief efforts, because they care who is in charge.

Did you hear that the refugees will not be getting debit cards? They will be getting direct deposit into their bank accounts.

I wonder what percentage have bank accounts?

[pornguy]

Originally Posted by Paul Waters

I do give a shit.

Your country has been stolen by Bush's puppeteers.

I wish you could rediscover the values of your signateurs to your Constitution.

The US is the only country where the Constitution was done in pencil, that way, it can be changed to suit thier needs. As you have seen Bush do on many occasions.

[Linkster]

Originally Posted by colpanic

I really can't believe you people are arguing that it isn't the fault of FEMA... Do you know what FEMA stands for? Federal Emergency Management Agency.

What the fuck else are they here to do?

Read the title of the agency - the key word being management - thats what they do - and thats all they do - they are not first responders, doctors, fireman, police or even trained in disaster response on an "on the ground" standing. They just do management - they try to coordinate resources from other groups - I gave you an example in my previous post with the doctors they sent in "when they were requested by the local government"
This is not some magical organization with unlimited resources or manpower - all they know is how to manage the response after something has happened. Of course they arent very good at that any more with the changes made a few years ago when they got rid of the people that really know their job and put in political appointees

[Ninja Scripts]

Originally Posted by Linkster

Read the title of the agency - the key word being management - thats what they do - and thats all they do - they are not first responders, doctors, fireman, police or even trained in disaster response on an "on the ground" standing. They just do management - they try to coordinate resources from other groups - I gave you an example in my previous post with the doctors they sent in "when they were requested by the local government"
This is not some magical organization with unlimited resources or manpower - all they know is how to manage the response after something has happened. Of course they arent very good at that any more with the changes made a few years ago when they got rid of the people that really know their job and put in political appointees

FEMA has fucked this from the word go no matter how much you love your Pres.

[DaddyHalbucks]

Thanks for your suggestions, but many of us are very happy with GWB. Many of us realize that the press and the hard left would execute him for the slightest infraction.

When you REALLY look at the disaster in New Orleans, you will see that the governor and the mayor provided very weak leadership. Most of the problems and human suffering stemmed from their failures to order forced evacuations, both before the hurricane and immediately after the flood.

The Democrats are having a field day blaming Bush for every problem that ever went wrong. It's a disgrace.

[Ninja Scripts]

Originally Posted by DaddyHalbucks

Thanks for your suggestions, but many of us are very happy with GWB. Many of us realize that the press and the hard left would execute him for the slightest infraction.

When you REALLY look at the disaster in New Orleans, you will see that the governor and the mayor provided very weak leadership. Most of the problems and human suffering stemmed from their failures to order forced evacuations, both before the hurricane and immediately after the flood.

The Democrats are having a field day blaming Bush for every problem that ever went wrong. It's a disgrace.

Both hurricane victims and public officials have given multiple accounts of US authorities actively turning back aid and blocking rescue attempts in the days that followed the breaching of the city?s levees.

Aaron Broussard, president of Jefferson Parish, for example, broke down in tears Sunday during an appearance on the NBC television program ?Meet the Press,? declaring, ?It?s not just Katrina that caused all these deaths in New Orleans here. Bureaucracy has committed murder here in the greater New Orleans area.?

He cited repeated actions by FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Administration) that involved the deliberate sabotage of relief efforts. He reported that FEMA turned back trailer truckloads of water sent by Wal-Mart, claiming the city didn?t need them. He also said that the Coast Guard?s offer of fuel urgently needed to power generators was countermanded by FEMA.

Finally, he said that just a day earlier FEMA agents had come in and ?cut all of our emergency communication lines? without any warning. The local sheriff, he added, had the lines reconnected and then posted armed guards to see that they were not cut again.

This last, and most sinister, example is in keeping with the Pentagon?s ?information war? doctrine, which demands the complete control of communications in an area targeted for invasion and occupation.

Denise Bottcher, press secretary for Governor Blanco, also charged that FEMA deliberately blocked offers of aid from Chicago Mayor Richard Daley, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson and others.

And a spokesman for Sen. Mary Landrieu (Democrat, Louisiana), told the media that FEMA held up aid from both public and private agencies, withholding approval for the US Forest Service to use water tanker aircraft to put out fires and delaying the arrival of Amtrak trains to evacuate people from the city. Offers by private companies to provide communications equipment were also held up by the agency. There were also reports that the Red Cross was prevented from going into the city and that FEMA refused to allow the unloading of food, water and medical supplies brought by ships into New Orleans harbor.

The apparent aim of this organized obstructionist behavior by the agency that is supposedly charged with coordinating relief was to block any significant aid until the military could intervene in the city with overwhelming force.

This came on Friday, with military commanders treating New Orleans as a combat operation. This was the term used by Brig. Gen. Gary Jones, commander of the Louisiana National Guard?s Joint Task Force, in an interview with the Army Times.