Stay Vigilant

In light of the disaster going on with our neighbors to the east, stay vigilant people.

Think about it. If you were a terrorist thug, and wanted to inflict the maximum terror with the least amount of effort, do you think this would be a good time to do it?

I say this because on the way home from work yesterday I noticed something a bit odd. There was a car parked under the brand new, soon to be completed President George Bush turnpike. This car had 3 men outside of it, and they appeared to be Middle Eastern or Hispanic. All of them were young, in their 20s, clean cut, with high and tight haircuts. Fit. And they walked like they have been trained. As if they had been in the military.

One of them had a small camcorder, like the one JR has. He was filming traffic - at rush hour - and the pillars and overpass of the Bush turnpike. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that blowing up a bridge named after Bush 41 and causing millions of dollars in damage; and thoroughly destroying a major transportation network would have horrific consequences for Dallas, Texas, and the United States.

I immediately called the Dallas FBI and gave them a thorough description of what I had seen. I've talked to a local CT Special Agent and he swore to me that they check each and every one of these reports out - or they lose their jobs.

Stay on your toes people. There are still people out there that do not mean us well.

Nagin calm, optimistic after meeting with President

Here's a change of pace.

Now, let's talk about Ray Nagin for a bit, shall we? And let's examine where lies the responsibility for a city, like - oh, I don't know - New Orleans, for example.

The mayor is responsible for the administration, planning, governing and general guidance of the city. In the event he can't do that job, he/she should solicit the help of the state, which is governed by, um, the Governor.

Am I going too fast?

In the event the state government is unable to handle a crisis, the administration of that state should appeal to the Federal government for help.

Now, let's take a look at the sequence of events regarding New Orleans, hurricane Katrina, and government.

The day it was evident the storm was going to hit New Orleans, the President declared the State of Louisiana a disaster area, making it easier for the state and local governments to take advantage of federal funds to assist with relief and recovery efforts. Quoth George W. Bush, August 28, 2005:

Yesterday, I signed a disaster declaration for the state of Louisiana, and this morning I signed a disaster declaration for the state of Mississippi. These declarations will allow federal agencies to coordinate all disaster relief efforts with state and local officials. We will do everything in our power to help the people in the communities affected by this storm.

What did those state and local governments do? Nothin'

When the mayor of New Orleans ordered a mandatory evacuation of New Orleans, what did he do to help facilitate that evacuation, knowing full well that the poor and disenfranchised of his city would have limited resources to effect that evacuation? Did he order the hundreds of school buses at his disposal to transport people to places of safety? Nah. Rather, he opened the Super Dome as a "shelter of last resort." Last resort, indeed, as there were apparently no provisions for the basics of life, sanitation, or even common decency.

Louisiana's Governor Blanco simply whimpered and wrung her hands while all this was going on. You know, she's not a big supporter of the President. In fact, she's got a bad habit of going somewhere else when the President is in town. I don't think they had lunch together today, either.

So let's recap. The mayor of New Orleans completely drops the ball, and puts the populace in dire peril. The Governor of Louisiana continued to look like a worried housewife who hadn't seen her kids in a few days. And how does the Governor handle this situation she's helped create? By authorizing police and military to shoot to kill her own constituency. Don't get me wrong - looters deserve shooting, but what created that environment is the real travesty here.

And whose fault is all this? Why, the President of the United States, of course. Not only that, but Ray Nagin proceeded to rant and rave to whomever would listen that the relief effort's failure to move fast enough was the fault of the federal government. Let's just set personal responsibility aside for a while, shall we? Let's forget that preparation and planning could have averted the tragic suffering that now defines the Big Easy. Let's say stuff like

"They flew down here one time two days after the doggone event was over with TV cameras, AP reporters, all kind of goddamn _ excuse my French everybody in America, but I am pissed," Nagin said.

Let's flash forward to today, after meeting with the President of the United States:

His comments came a day after he was heard on a radio interview erupting in tears and telling the government to "get off your asses and let's do something." By nightfall Friday, his tone had changed.

"Today was a turning point, I think," he said. "My philosophy is never get too high, never get too low. ... I always try to keep my emotions in check and yesterday I kind of went off a little bit. I was worried about that, but it maybe worked out. I don't know. If the CIA slips me something and next week you don't see me, you'll all know what happened."

Now, if anyone wonders why things are so bad in New Orleans, I'd recommend you re-evaluate your position, and start at the source. Government in the United States is, BY DESIGN, a hierarchy. Remember that the next time you decide to start fixing blame at the top. It's bottom-up government, and if it were any other way, you wouldn't be living in the United States of America.

Now, get off your asses, and help these people.

The Blog | Randall Robinson: New Orleans | The Huffington Post

"It is reported that black hurricane victims in New Orleans have begun eating corpses to survive. "

Is there anything that the Huffington Post won't print? Besides the facts, I mean. What a bunch of mean-spirited, uninformed vitriol. Ever been to New Orleans? Care to guess what the mix of race is down there? 70% black. Now, care to guess who the majority of the victims are?

As for rumors of cannibalism, that's just ridiculous. You mean to tell me that 4 days without food is going to turn someone to cannibalism? Um, no. Rape and murder, for sure, but cannibalism?

Nothing to see here but someone with social issues, who's trying to pin his problems somewhere else. Move along.

Kuwaiti: 'The terrorist Katrina' is a soldier of Allah'

This butt-cheese seems to have forgotten just who it was that saved his country's ass from Iraq a few years back. I'm thinking someone needs a really good firm kick in the ass.

Newsview: Politicians Failed Storm Victims

This one article has to be one of the best examples of why folks don't listen to the mainstream press anymore.

Fournier manages to somehow relate the aftermath of the hurricane with the government's impeachment of Bill Clinton - both cases where the government let the people down.

I agree with him wholeheartedly that our government wastes an incredible amount of money. I'm ashamed that the Republicans running the show have been pissing away as much money as they have, as if it grows on trees. What ever happened to fiscal responsibility?

However, how disgusting is the assumption that we are all just helpless pawns waiting for the government to come take care of us? Whatever happened to being self reliant, and being able to take care of yourself?

I've made it a habit to keep at least 3 days of food and water available at home at all times. Watching the devastation unfold before our eyes has caused me to rethink - I believe I'll have at least a week's supply on hand at all times.

The drop into anarchy that is taking place in New Orleans is simply embarrasing. This is the United States of America for God's sake.

Nationwide gas prices may top $3 by weekend

By the weekend? I wish. I just drove past a Shell station on I-35 in Lewisville that was charging $3.20 a gallon for premium. Caramba.

Katrina Should be A Lesson To US on Global Warming

Catfish asked me this question the other day: how is this Bush's fault?

Leave it to the Germans to try to pin natural disasters on the policies of the current U.S. President.

Didn't we kick your collective asses back in 1945? You want a fresh one? Frickin' Douchelanders.

It's all about the beer.

Here you go. You're too stupid to evacuate, so why not loot the local grocery? Food for your family? No. Clothing for your kids? Nah.

Beer.

I say: shoot to kill. Looters are the worst kind of vermin, and require shooting. Cockroaches.

Hurricane Katrina - wwltv.com Forums

Parish Pres. Aaron Broussard was on 850 am at apprx. 11:05 CST. Stated (forgive the paraphrasing): "Jefferson Parish will be closed until next Monday (the 5th) at 6am....state police and National Guard will refuse entrance during that time by way of an executive order that is to be issued....personal identification will be required....you will be advised to get the essentials from your homes, but not to stay.

Even if you're not from there, and even if you don't know anyone there, take a look at these forums. It gives you a pretty good idea of the enormity and seriousness of this situation. I suspect there will be opportunities to help out, volunteer, give money.

Please do.

Sharpton Driver Arrested for Speeding

Wait - you mean THAT Al Sharpton? Cindy Sheehan's pal?

"That nine-mile chase is news to me," Sharpton told The Associated Press. "All I know is that the police pulled us over because they wanted to talk to the driver about speeding."

Yeah, he's the passenger in a car going 110 mph, being chased by the PO-lice, and he knows nothing about it.

There's a stand-up guy. There's the man representing the people. What a disingenuous, self-serving farce of a man. Nice hair, too. Are these loonies trying to make it this easy for us to see through them?

Officials Urge Residents To Stay Away

Looks like we'll have guests for a while.

There are also reports of waist-deep water inside homes throughout Metairie.

And of course, the true nature of humanity shines through during this time:

2:23 p.m.: Looters Grab Things From Grocery Store
A WDSU news crew just captured images of looters hauling items out of a New Orleans Winn-Dixie on Basin Street. People were seen using shopping carts and hand-held carts to haul off cleaning supplies, beer and other items out of the back of the store.

If you've got broadband, here's some video. Looks like the area east of the River (St. Bernard Parish) got some pretty bad flooding. Might actually improve the property values over there...

Word from New Orleans

Since nobody's actually in New Orleans at the moment, all we've got is second-hand information. My Uncle Bill in Metairie has heard that he's got about 3 feet of water in his house. My Uncle Ed lives pretty close to him, so it's a safe bet he's got some damage as well, but he's in Baton Rouge with my cousins, and we haven't heard from them yet. Yet another uncle went to Mobile to weather the storm. Great idea, Uncle George. His brand-new car, which he's not even made a payment on, had a tree fall on it. Oops.

More news as I get it.

Katrina

This is gonna suck for the Gulf Coast. I've got a bunch of family on their way from New Orleans this morning. Some of them were going to try to ride it out, until they watched the news last night. Since it's a Category 5 storm now, there's no way they're staying.

If you live there, board it up, and get out.