September 14, 2005
My life is taking a turn now that is forcing me to give up writing Ramblings' Journal.
I've accepted a new position that will preclude me from continuing my writings here. So I'm pulling the plug on R/J in order to focus on the new opportunity that has been placed before me.
Contrary to the opinions of others, I'm not running for office (I don't have the patience), nor am I joining a monastary. But I am turning the page on this chapter of my life, and moving forward. I'm very thankful for the friendships I've developed as a result of the blog, and I'm still going to be around -- you never know when an e-mail from me or a note in your comments section will show up to jab you or give you a thumbs up.
I want to say a special thank you to my Conservative Brotherhood bretheren, and encourage you to take a look at their blogs -- they are each fantastic writers in their own right. Their views are varied and they are each outspoken in their own ways. Their work is beginning to show up elsewhere, which makes me both happy and proud to know them.
The other blogs I've participated in -- Blogcritics and The Dead Pool -- are both worth your time and your thoughts. (Laurence, I'm still in the pool, even though I don't have a bunch of points. And Eric, I'm sorry that I hadn't had the opportunity to do more critiques in the past.)
A huge thank you to the Mu.nu community -- they've been incredibly supportive and fantastic. Pixy, you're the best.
I know I'm forgetting folks, and I apologize to you in advance.
I've asked Pixy to pull the plug next weekend.
Life's changes happen all the time, and for reasons known and unknown. All I can do is to step out on the path that God has lain for me, and know that He is at my side during my journey. I'm also happy to have my wife and my kids with me - they help keep me grounded. After twenty years (it'll be twenty years in a week and a half) of wedded bliss, I'm certainly happy.
Thanks again to everyone. God bless you all, and I'm sure we'll see each other 'round the 'net.
'Bye.
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May the Lord bless you in your new endeavor.
Best of luck with whatever you decide to do, and I hope you reture to us one day.
Seriously, this is a good thing -- it puts me somewhere career-wise where I want to be, and provides me with untold opportunities that I'm exceptionally happy about finding.September 13, 2005
Just one week after threatening to punch out President Bush, US Senator Mary Landrieu (Moonbat-LA) is now saying that it is Bush's fault that New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin didn't use now-submerged school buses to evacuate people from the Louisiana Superdome prior to Hurricane Katrina's landfall.On Sunday, Landrieu said it was President Bush's fault that New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin didn't use city school buses to evacuate those trapped by flooding.Think about this -- Landrieu holds so much antagonism against Bush that she blames him for the shortcomings of the Mayor of New Orleans!(FEMA Director Michael) Brown's departure, Landrieu said, "will not alone solve all the problems that plagued the federal government's response to Hurricane Katrina and the devastating floods that followed the levee breaches."
In a statement posted to her Web site, the Louisiana democrat insisted that the Bush White House still needed to be held responsible.
"The people of our nation, and in particular, the Gulf Coast, deserve and demand full accountability for this administration's missteps in protecting and helping Americans in need," Landrieu complained.
I've heard of holding a grudge, but this is ridiculous.
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President George W. Bush today said that he would accept blame for the federal shortcomings on the response to the survivors of Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama.After the monster hurricane struck the Gulf Coast, federal agencies, including FEMA and the Department of Homeland Security waited, ostensibly for requests from the state governors in those states. But while they waited, people in all three states suffered.
"Katrina exposed serious problems in our response capability at all levels of government," Bush said at joint White House news conference with the president of Iraq.I've been very critical of the failings of the locals on the ground in the region, including New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin and Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco - and deservedly so. They dropped the ball as it applied to their local residents. They had the obligation to do things sooner than they did; they had the obligation to make moves prior to the storm's arrival -- and both failed in their test of serving and protecting their constituents."To the extent the federal government didn't fully do its job right, I take responsibility," Bush said.
However, the federal bureacracy failed as well. When it became obvious that the locals were not getting the job done, the feds had the obligation to step in and help the people in those locales. President Bush has finally stepped to the plate -- albeit late -- and taken the burdon on his shoulders, as well he should. However, he should have done so sooner.
Governor Blanco and Mayor Nagin should both likewise step to the fore and admit their failings in this sordid disaster. I'm not going to hold my breath waiting for them, however.
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Retired First Sergent Mark Matthews passed away last week at 111, as one of the last -- at least to that point -- living Buffalo Soldiers who served this nation during the Indian Wars on the Western frontier.Sgt. Matthews died of pneumonia at Washington's Fox Chase Nursing Home.
Sgt. Matthews, who also was the oldest Buffalo Soldier, was heir to a proud military heritage that originated with the black soldiers who fought in the Indian wars on the Western frontier. Historians say that the Cheyenne, Kiowa and Apache tribes bestowed the appellation because the soldiers' black, curly hair reminded them of a buffalo's mane.Thank you for your service, Sgt. Matthews; it is much appreciated and admired.Sgt. Matthews joined up at the end of the Buffalo Soldiers' colorful Western exploits. The regiments that made up the Buffalo Soldiers -- the 9th and 10th cavalries and 24th and 25th infantries -- stayed together for years afterward, however, fighting in World War I and II and Korea. The all-black regiments were disbanded in 1952 after the Army desegregated.
Sgt. Matthews was born Aug. 7, 1894, in Greenville, Ala., and grew up in Mansfield, Ohio. He rode horses starting when he was a child, delivering newspapers on his pony.
God bless you and Godspeed as you go with God.
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September 12, 2005
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Confirmation hearings for SCOTUS Chief Justice nominee John Roberts got underway last hour on Capitol Hill.The Senate Judiciary Committee began with members each giving opening statements -- which are expected to take most of the remainder of this afternoon.
A number of Democratic members of the committee, including Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts and Joe Biden of Delaware, insisted that right-wing nominees -- implying without naming Roberts directly -- had no place on the Supreme Court, let alone in a position to lead the court for thirty or more years.
Many pundits, who believed that Roberts would win the nomination in a veritable cake-walk prior to the death of Chief Justice William Rehnquist and the subsequent nomination of Roberts to the vacant CJ slot, are now saying that some measure of a verbal battle will take place as Democrats attempt to prevent Roberts' confirmation to the high court.
Once the committee members finish their opening statements, Judge Roberts will have fifteen minutes to provide his own opening statement; this will conclude today's hearing. Tomorrow, the questioning begins at 9:30A ET -- that's where the expected heat will kick in.
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September 09, 2005
Gretna, Louisiana is a self-described "bedroom community" in Jefferson Parish, LA, that lies on the opposite bank of the Mississippi River from a portion of the city of New Orleans.New Orleans residents get to Gretna by way of the US 90 bridge - The Crescent City Connection - and the Westbank Expressway.
In a recent interview, the Gretna Police Chief, Arthur Lawson, admitted that the bridge was closed to foot and vehicle traffic to prevent people from using it to escape the hell that downtown New Orleans had become.
"We shut down the bridge," Arthur Lawson, chief of the City of Gretna Police Department, confirmed to United Press International, adding that his jurisdiction had been "a closed and secure location" since before the storm hit.Not only that, but police officers stationed themselves at the foot of the Crescent City Connection-US 90 bridge and actually fired at (or at least over the heads of) people who attempted to use the bridge to escape New Orleans. A web posting on WDSU-TV's web page tells the story."All our people had evacuated and we locked the city down," he said.
Lawson said that once the storm itself had passed Monday, police from Gretna City, Jefferson Parrish and the Louisiana State Crescent City Connection Police Department closed to foot traffic the three access points to the bridge closest to the West Bank of the river.
He added that the small town, which he called "a bedroom community" for the city of New Orleans, would have been overwhelmed by the influx.
"There was no food, water or shelter" in Gretna City, Lawson said. "We did not have the wherewithal to deal with these people.
If we had opened the bridge, our city would have looked like New Orleans does now: looted, burned and pillaged."
two paramedics, who were trapped in the city while attending a convention, joined a group of people who had been turned out by the hotels that they were staying in on Wednesday. When the group attempted to get to the Superdome -- designated by city authorities as a shelter for those unable to evacuate -- they were turned away by the National Guard.This means that in addition to the continued and constant carping belonging to Governor Blanco and Mayor Nagin, Chief Lawson and the officials in Gretna are also to blame for the deaths in New Orleans."Quite naturally, we asked ... 'What was our alternative?' The guards told us that that was our problem, and no, they did not have extra water to give to us.
"This would be the start of our numerous encounters with callous and hostile law enforcement."
As they made their way to the bridge in order to leave the city "armed Gretna sheriffs (sic) formed a line across the foot of the bridge. Before we were close enough to speak, they began firing their weapons over our heads."
Members of the group nonetheless approached the police lines, and "questioned why we couldn't cross the bridge ... They responded that the West Bank was not going to become New Orleans and there would be no Superdomes in their City.
two paramedics, who were trapped in the city while attending a convention, joined a group of people who had been turned out by the hotels that they were staying in on Wednesday. When the group attempted to get to the Superdome -- designated by city authorities as a shelter for those unable to evacuate -- they were turned away by the National Guard.
"Quite naturally, we asked ... 'What was our alternative?' The guards told us that that was our problem, and no, they did not have extra water to give to us.
"This would be the start of our numerous encounters with callous and hostile law enforcement."
As they made their way to the bridge in order to leave the city "armed Gretna sheriffs (sic) formed a line across the foot of the bridge. Before we were close enough to speak, they began firing their weapons over our heads."
Members of the group nonetheless approached the police lines, and "questioned why we couldn't cross the bridge ... They responded that the West Bank was not going to become New Orleans and there would be no Superdomes in their City.
As I pointed out earlier, US 90 was available to allow traffic to completely leave the New Orleans area; the vast majority of those escaping New Orleans had no desire, need or means to remain in Gretna -- after all, if Mayor Nagin's buses had been employed, their destination would have most certainly be somewhere other than Gretna's "bedroom community."
I could very easily raise the spectre of conspiracy regarding a desire on the part of Chief Lawson that poor blacks be allowed to die in the Superdome...but I won't.
However, I do add Chief Lawson's name to that of Governor Blanco and Mayor Nagin, and renew my call that he be arrested and charged with any number of crimes from manslaugter to reckless homicide. I feel he, too, should be jailed and held by federal authorities until an investigation and trial is able to convict or exonerate him.
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Unbelievable!
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ABCNews is reporting that embattled FEMA Director Michael Brown, the subject of a number of scathing reprisals (including my own) for his mishandling of the Katrina relief effort, is going to be removed from his post shortly.Federal Emergency Management Agency director Michael Brown, under criticism due to his management of Hurricane Katrina as well as reported discrepancies on his resume, is expected to be out as head of the agency very soon, informed sources have told ABC News.As this story comes up and out, the AP is reporting that Brown is being removed from direct oversight of Hurricane Katrina recovery efforts.Brown had virtually no experience with emergency management when he was appointed to the position by President Bush two years ago.
Brown was a college roommate of Joseph Allbaugh, a former Bush campaign manager who directed FEMA from March 2001 to March 2003. Brown was the deputy chief of FEMA in 2001 aand moved up when Allbaugh left.
Before becoming part of the agency, Brown was a top official of an Arabian Horse Association. The secretary of that association says it asked him to resign in 2001.
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New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin ignored information he received from officials with the National Hurricane Center as early as Friday, 8/26, regarding the ferocity of Hurricane Katrina. Nagin had the capability to commandeer municipal buses and school buses to evacuate those who could not afford to leave the city. Yet the buses he did use, took people to "shelters of last resort," including the New Orleans Convention Center and the Louisiana Superdome, both of which became virtual representations of hell on earth in the ensuing days.Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco was also warned well in advance of Katrina's landfall about the power of the storm. She was asked by the Bush Administration if she needed aid -- in advance of the storm's arrival, an unprecedented move in this nation's history. Blanco demurred, saying that the help would not be necessary.
Max Mayfield, director of the National Hurricane Center, actually telephoned Blanco and Nagin -- at home in Nagin's case -- Saturday night, imploring them to evacuate New Orleans, and once again, emphasizing the power of this storm.
Still the two did not go on the air until Sunday morning, advising people to evacuate -- yet neither one made provisions outside the city for those who could not afford to leave. Both Blanco and Nagin, when questioned on the air that Sunday morning, said that those who could not afford to leave should go to the Superdome or several other "shelters of last resort."
As Katrina cut a swath across Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama on that Monday morning, water began to breach the seawall and levee system protecting New Orleans from the waters of Lake Pontchartrain to the north. The waters undermined the 17th Street Canal's seawall, sending water cascading into the city. The water ultimately began to overwhelm the massive pumps used to pump out water, prompting a warning from Nagin that the city would flood to a depth of up to 12 feet or more.
Yet, nothing was done to evacuate those in the Superdome and the New Orleans Convention Center.
Hundreds of buses were in the city, yet were not used to evacuate those people.
Additionally, the city's own disaster plan calls for the use of school and city buses to evacute those who could not afford to leave the city on their own -- yet it was apparently ignored.
Governor Blanco denied access to the city by the Red Cross and the Salvation Army, both of whom were prepared to bring relief supplies, including food and water, to the people ensconced in the Superdome and 'Convention Center.
Even more damning, the Crescent City Connection, a high-span bridge carrying US 90 across the Mississippi River, remained unobstructed. The bridge goes from downtown New Orleans to the West Bank area of the city, and westward into the Airline Highway, and from there westward away from New Orleans. US 90 remained as an access route for the press and ultimately for rescue vehicles that finally arrived in New Orleans.
There are other issues: President Bush, on arrival in Louisiana, met with Nagin and Blanco. Blanco asked for a 24-hour period to consider Bush's offer of additional aid and resources.
When asked about the buses, Nagin's staffers have refused comment.
Nagin and Blanco have both pointed the finger at each other regarding blame for the disaster.
All of this points toward one overriding question: Why aren't Kathleen Blanco and Ray Nagin under arrest? They deserve to be charged with multiple counts of manslaughter at the very least -- through their ineptness, malfeasance and incompetence, the pair of them are directly responsible for the deaths of literally hundreds, if not thousands of men, women and children in Orleans Parish and the city of New Orleans.
As opposed to permitting them to continue to posture and play partisan games with each other and with the press (fueling fanatic assertions of blame against the Bush administration in the process), they both should be arrested and detained pending an arraignment hearing and trial.
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Finally silencing those who pooh-poohed what Fox News Channel has reported for the past two days, the Red Cross revealed that Louisiana officials denied them access to the city of New Orleans in the early hours and days of the disaster brought about by Hurricane Katrina.Louisiana officials rebuffed American Red Cross requests to enter New Orleans with relief supplies last week because of concerns over logistical difficulties, Red Cross and state officials said Thursday.This points toward a failure of monumental proportions -- not of federal authorities (though there have been mistakes made by DHS and FEMA in their early handling of the disaster), but of Louisiana state officials and city officials in New Orleans.
On an unrelated note, please continue to give to relief organizations like the Red Cross, the Salvation Army, the United Way and others. All those organizations need your ongoing help during this difficult time in American history.
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Some political cartoonists can be counted on to show what most would think absurd, but then again be so close to reality that it's truly sad.
This is from the print edition of yesterday's San Jose Mercury News.
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September 08, 2005
Last night, Garrett talked to a Red Cross official who confirmed the story regarding Red Cross workers; tonight Garrett talked to officials with the Salvation Army, who also were prevented -- by Louisiana state officials -- from bringing supplies to those who needed them in New Orleans.
The Fox News Channel's Major Garrett made another appearance on the program this evening, following up on his blockbuster story yesterday. Among other things, Garrett got confirmation from the head of the Red cross --on camera-- of the Louisiana State Department of Homeland Security's blocking of the delivery of relief supplies to the Superdome and the Convention Center. In addition, Garrett received confirmation from senior Salvation Army officials in Washington, D.C. that the Salvation Army's efforts at supplying the evacuees were also repeatedly blocked. Radioblogger will have the transcript up later, but the key takeaway was when I asked Garrett if characterizing Louisian's preparation for the storm as "abysmal" was accurate and he confirmed that indeed it was. Read the whole thing.I've been getting nastygrams from leftists all day who are calling last night's reports fradulent. I'm sure this will be no different.I also asked Garrett why no other network is on this story. He can't offer an answer for that, event hough he points out that this isn't a hard story to get, and Fox News needn't be credited. All CNN has to do (or MSNBC or CBS) is call the Red Cross and get a camera over there.
Many refuse to accept the facts: that Kathleen Blanco is at best an incompetent fool who has no business supervising a restaurant cleaning crew, much less an entire state -- at worst, she's just plain evil.
In either event, both she and her cohort, N.O. Mayor Ray Nagin should be brought up on manslaughter charges at the very least.
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Well...this morning, a New Orleans resident whose house is high and dry came on the CNN morning program and...let's just say that Soledad got the smackdown.
S. O'BRIEN: Welcome back, everybody.Ouch! That's gonna leave a mark...We've been talking about some of the residents who refuse to go, even though there's a mandatory evacuation order.
Well, Delia Labarre is one of them.
She joins us this morning after riding her bike to our interview.
Good morning.
DELIA LABARRE, NEW ORLEANS RESIDENT: Good morning.
S. O'BRIEN: Is this pretty much how you're getting around?
LABARRE: Yes, when I go out. Someone loaned it to me, actually. But -- so I found my way here.
S. O'BRIEN: Do you go out a lot?
LABARRE: Yes, I do.
S. O'BRIEN: What's your day like?
LABARRE: I've been staying in the past couple of days doing household things, taking care of business around there. But I -- before, when the refugees were still here, I was making calls for them, trying to get rides for them, getting -- letting relatives know they were OK...
S. O'BRIEN: Where do you live?
LABARRE: ... cooking for them, because I have access to a gas stove. I live over in the Arts Warehouse District and...
S. O'BRIEN: And what's the condition of your house?
LABARRE: Well, it's high and dry and...
S. O'BRIEN: No damage?
LABARRE: No damage. A few shingles that got blown off during the wind, during the storm and a few panes of glass, window panes broken.
S. O'BRIEN: So when you hear about these forced evacuations, when the mayor says and the police chief says...
LABARRE: I'm hearing about this forced evacuations. I'm horrified. It's -- I don't quite understand it. They're not giving us much information. I talked to some state troopers just now and they say they're trying to get the bad elements out. But I, you know, and they said we don't know the difference, so we're just trying to get everyone out. So now they're looking... S. O'BRIEN: But even...
LABARRE: ... they're looking at all of us as criminals.
S. O'BRIEN: But even if you're not talking about bad elements or good elements in the population, I mean smell this water. It's horrible.
LABARRE: You're the one who chose to be here. I don't choose -- I didn't choose to be here. I just came to visit you (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...
S. O'BRIEN: But this is an indication of what it's like.
LABARRE: This is where you're camping out and this is what you're showing the world. You have everybody in the world believing that the whole city looks like it. I would suggest that you go over there and start -- and film a little bit where it's not flooded.
S. O'BRIEN: But even if your neighborhood is good this is toxic. I mean everyone...
LABARRE: Well...
S. O'BRIEN: ... agree it's a (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...
LABARRE: And why are you breathing it, you know? I mean how many days have you been here?
S. O'BRIEN: That's an excellent question.
LABARRE: I think it is.
S. O'BRIEN: We should wrap up our studio...
LABARRE: I think it is, you know?
S. O'BRIEN: But -- and I get your point. But I'm not going to live here. And I'm...
LABARRE: Well...
S. O'BRIEN: And some people would...
LABARRE: I mean the water is going down and I would not, I would go, I would have gone before the storm hit if I had been living in a low lying area. I know enough about how the city lies, the elevations at various points. I knew I was on one of the highest points in the city. I was above ground. And I had placed my fate with the city. My ancestors were original colonists of the city and they didn't tuck their tail between their legs and run.
S. O'BRIEN: You have electricity yet?
LABARRE: Not yet. It should be on any day.
S. O'BRIEN: Do you have water?
LABARRE: I have running water now. I have lots of bottled water. And lots of other people are in the same way.
S. O'BRIEN: There's no stores. Where do you get your supplies from?
LABARRE: We have plenty. We stocked up, you know? I mean, you know, this is -- people in this country, the majority, are so used to real conveniences, lots of conveniences, and they just -- they can't imagine how to exist. But, you know, some of us are, you know, take it or leave it. But we have, you know, we can exist with far less.
S. O'BRIEN: When you see pictures of people who are surrounded by water and sloshing through that dirty water...
LABARRE: Yes, well...
S. O'BRIEN: ... and they are saying a lot of the same things you're saying...
LABARRE: I understand.
S. O'BRIEN: ... which is I live here, this is my home, I don't want to leave...
LABARRE: I understand.
S. O'BRIEN: ... should they be evacuated?
LABARRE: But, you know, the alternatives that they've been offered have not been humane. And I sympathize with them.
S. O'BRIEN: What do you mean?
LABARRE: Well, I mean I saw where they were putting them. They promised them a bus. They promised them a nice place to live and they put them at -- in hellacious conditions at the Superdome, at the convention center. I talked to those people. They were made promises and they didn't come through with them. And they -- I'm sure they're making promises to them now that they're not -- if they don't come through, you know?
So, and I think that there's a lot of media hype right now. I'm questioning whether or not there's not a little bit of a manipulation of the media so that when the death toll starts coming in, that the mayor and other officials can say see, you've been reporting it for all this time. People refused to leave and that's why there's so many dead.
That is not true.
S. O'BRIEN: That's an interesting...
LABARRE: They did not offer these people a way out to begin with. They offered them a ride to Superdome. They never offered them transportation out of the city.
S. O'BRIEN: Do you have a working shower?
LABARRE: Well, we have a -- the water is on.
S. O'BRIEN: All right.
LABARRE: Yes.
S. O'BRIEN: So can we come and see where you're living?
LABARRE: Yes.
S. O'BRIEN: Open up?
LABARRE: Yes, you could, if you like.
S. O'BRIEN: All right. We'll talk about that afterward.
LABARRE: OK.
S. O'BRIEN: We would like it.
LABARRE: Oh, wait. Could I just ask one more thing?
S. O'BRIEN: Absolutely.
LABARRE: We would like to ask the mayor to meet with us, those who are here, instead of just this forced evacuation, which I understand is actually illegal, according to our attorneys. We would like to ask him to meet with us, those who are here and would like to stay, and those who are wanting to come in. They're all over the country. They will come in. They will drive to sit down and talk with them about rebuilding the city.
S. O'BRIEN: We'll see what the mayor says to that request.
LABARRE: Thank you very much.
S. O'BRIEN: Delia Labarre, it's so nice to meet you.
LABARRE: Thank you.
S. O'BRIEN: Good luck to you.
LABARRE: Thank you.
S. O'BRIEN: And we're going to take you up on your offer.
LABARRE: Yes, you're welcome.
S. O'BRIEN: We haven't showered for a long time by (UNINTELLIGIBLE) and we'd like to just come and see how you're living.
LABARRE: OK. I'll fix you a cup of coffee.
S. O'BRIEN: I'll take that, too.
LABARRE: Thanks.
S. O'BRIEN: Karen, thank you.
Let's get right back to Miles.
LABARRE: Don't touch me.
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Ray Nagin and Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco as the culprits in the ongoing blame-game in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.
"This is a terrible situation and we need to have compassion. The truth is Black people died not because of President Bush or racism, they died because of their unhealthy dependence on the government and the incompetence of Mayor Ray Nagin and Governor Kathleen Blanco," said Rev. Peterson.This is behind the accusations of malfeasance by Nagin directed toward Blanco, and similar charges levied in the other direction by Blanco.Peterson [continued], "If Black folks want to blame someone for this tragedy they only need to look in the mirror. Mayor Nagin has blamed everyone else except himself. The Mayor failed in his duty to evacuate and protect the people of New Orleans. Our prayers go out to the families of the deceased. Hopefully this will help Black people realize the folly of depending on the government or leaders and serve as a notice to avert future tragedies in other cities."
Some sources in Louisiana point toward an ongoing animosity between the two officials, stemming from Nagin's support of Republican Congressional candidate (and ultimately the winner of the US Congressional race from Louisiana) Bobby Jindal. But could political infighting end up being the cause of so many deaths in New Orleans?
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Bob Parks, a fellow member of Project 21 and the writer of the regular column/blog Black & Right, appeared this week on CNN's Daybreak regarding a piece last week where he took the looters to task for their actions last week in New Orleans.Afterward, the e-mail began to roll in. Of course, much of it was negative. After all, many of them in effect were saying, if you dare to chastize blacks or if you say something critical of the Jesse Jacksons of the world, you must be an Uncle Tom...or worse...
Saw you on C-span. I guess the neo-cons must keep you on retainer for whenever George needs a Nigger in the woodpile. I am lily white and what I saw in New Orleans made me ashamed to be an American. People starving and dying of thirst, right in front of the cameras. The old and very young laying in shit while George plays golf or Condi shops on 5th Av. While FEMA is turning away relief workers, supplies, and rescuers from the city. FEMA also cut emergency phone lines to the city. What we saw was attempted genocide of the poor people of New Orleans, their only crime is that they were squatting on some very, expensive and desirable land.When I asked the same question last night -- but regarding the actions of Louisiana's Democratic Governor, I was soundly dismissed as a lunatic. After all, a Democratic woman couldn't do such a thing. But it's easy to paint George W. Bush with the same paint brush for many people.
I didn't think modern day Uncle Toms exsisted in such a prevalent form.You get the picture.*****
I saw you on CNN and was disgusted at what an Uncle Tom you are. I found your comments laughable in that they had no basis in reality.
*****
I was listening to you this morning on CNN and I wanted to know what is wrong with you. I cant believe you have the nerves to question to Rev Jesse Jackson motives. How can you a Black man sit there and dont think this has something to do with Race and Class. Of course, nothing surprises me, you are a black republican.
*****
Bob, you are a sad sad man. You sit the confort of you home and office and write such hateful things about people who have lost everything. God is watching you Bob and I'm sure he doesn't like what he sees. You obvious hate you own race and are using this to your advantage like Justice Clarence Thomas.
*****
Having just listened to your so-called “debate” on CNN Daybreak I feel sorry for you. Why is it that blacks such as yourself who have fled the grips of poverty are so quick to judge those less fortunate? You should be ashamed of yourself f for the comments that you made on national tv just moments ago about blacks in New Orleans who are undoubtedly going through some form of post traumatic stress.
*****
Your opinions are without merit. You speak about African-Americans as if you are wearing a mask; with another face under it.
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You are the prime "white on the inside, black on the outside" kind of nigger.
*****
Your opinions are dangerous and lack insight, history and compassion.
*****
You Bob Parks in my opinion are in every sence of the word a NIGAR,how dare you!!!!!!! You even sound white,how far up the Bushes asses do you need to get?? You are a digrace to anyone with a suntan much less black!
God forbid anyone with an alternative view make their statements in the open.
Those in the mainstream will do their level best to stomp those alternative opinions, along with those expressing those opinions, into the pavement like so many ants underfoot.
Just damn.
Posted by: mhking at
04:33 AM
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First up is the tiny iPod nano which replaces the iPod mini. The color-screened nano is much smaller than the mini, thanks to the 2GB and 4GB flash drives within, as opposed to the hard-drive-based mini. This will increase battery life tremendously.
The other innovation is the iPhone, a combination iPod-cell phone from Apple, Cingular and Motorola (who is calling the phone the ROKR). The iPhone is a full-featured telephone that includes the capability to store roughly about six hours worth of music, podcasts or any other MP3-based files and to, of course, listen to them on the fly.
Apple says that the iPod nano will retail for $199 (for 2 GB) and $249 (for 4 GB). The iPhone (Motorola ROKR) retails for $249, and is available from Cingular Wireless dealers now. The nano -- you can get it in white or black -- is available from Apple's stores, or from any retailer where iPod's are sold.
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03:10 AM
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September 07, 2005
Garrett appeared on Hugh Hewitt's syndicated radio program this evening to discuss the shocking revelation.
MG: Well, the Red Cross, Hugh, had pre-positioned a literal vanguard of trucks with water, food, blankets and hygiene items. They're not really big into medical response items, but those are the three biggies that we saw people at the New Orleans Superdom, and the convention center, needing most accutely. And all of us in America, I think, reasonably asked ourselves, geez. You know, I watch hurricanes all the time. And I see correspondents standing among rubble and refugees and evacuaees. But I always either see that Red Cross or Salvation Army truck nearby. Why don't I see that?The Louisiana Department of Homeland Security is directly under the command and direction of Governor Kathleen Blanco. The same Kathleen Blanco who has whined and blamed the federal government from her perch in Baton Rouge throughout this entire crisis. The same Kathleen Blanco who has stared at cameras with deer-in-headlight-glazed eyes since Hurricane Katrina made landfall. The same Kathleen Blanco who, after being asked about federal help prior to landfall said, "No." The same Kathleen Blanco who rescinded Mayor Ray Nagin's order to completely evacuate the city due to dangerous conditions just today.HH: And the answer is?
MG: The answer is the Louisiana Department of Homeland Security, that is the state agency responsible for that state's homeland security, told the Red Cross explicitly, you cannot come.
HH: Now Major Garrett, on what day did they block the delivery? Do you know specifically?
MG: I am told by the Red Cross, immediately after the storm passed.
Was Kathleen Blanco's goal the death of as many of those in the Superdome as possible?
Posted by: mhking at
06:00 PM
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-next!
Un-freakin-believable.
The Crescent City Connection is the tall bridge over the Mississippi River. The bridge and the access ramps to the bridge have remained accessable from downtown New Orleans. That is how the rescue vehicles accessed New Orleans once they arrived.
This overhead shot shows buses that were NOT underwater, yet were not used to evacuate people in the Superdome or in the Convention Center.
The magic question: why!?
(Click photo to enlarge)
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03:58 PM
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Posted by: mhking at
05:27 AM
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