When I joined this forum over a year ago, most of the topics or threads focused on the war in IRAQ and whether it was neccessary to go, whether we were winning and how thw campaign was going. I also stated many times it was the POOR POST WAR PLANNING and CONTINUOUS ERRORS in Iraq that convinced me that this was not worth undertaking because the job had been "bungled" by an INCOMPETENT GROUP of individuals.

It made for a fun forum and to this day, it continues to be the best I have ever visited..which is why I only post here.

Most regulars know my views (and no..I am no BUSH HATER or Republican basher or Democrat lover) As a matter of fact, I am not even eligible to vote yet..so I have no party affiliation. But because of my opposition to this admin and it current policies, I have been many times labeled as a "left wing, tree hugging, bush-hating, american hating kook" ( ) ...simply because I believe Junior (who I think is a decent man) and his "PEEPS" are simply incompetent. And after 7 days of observing our gov't..finally waking up from its sleep, my belief that they are INCOMPETENT is firmly shored up.

You see, this is not about levee funding, cuts in budget and pork projects or reduced Nat'l Guardsmen etc. Its about where was the Government when their people needed them most!! Unlike Kanye West (who is an arrogant prick and an idiot), I don't think RACE has anything to do with it. If you had to make a call on something like that, I would think its more a "class issue"..

We all knew by Friday the 26TH where Katrina was headed. Heck, if last year taught us anything from 4 storms in FLA, it was that without question, whatever damage done was going to be so big that it would be wise to have "help" on STANDBY. Katrina came ashore early Monday Morning..

It took almost 72 hours before the Federal Govt responded. There is no excuse or reason good enough. NONE!! And its even more amazing to hear officials from the DHS (under which FEMA has now been organized) say that they did not know that there were people at the convention center. Some of these poor people had no way of getting out of town. They had no money or resources to evacuate. And its a failure of govt all the way up!!

The pictures we see each day seem to be coming from some forlorn place in Africa..and I don't say that lightly because I have seen up close what straggly refugees look like. I cannot believe that in the richest country this world has ever seen, there are mothers and children spending nights on rooftops and balconies surrounded by mosquitoes and filth and stagnant water.

On the Free Republic blog, I saw some of the most moronic and idiotic statements...so outrageous that I decided against sowing you what some Americans are saying about the people in New Orleans.

Today I will be gathering up 2 large tubs..one full of old clothes and the other full of canned goods and will drive to the nearest RED CROSS location tomorrow to drop them off. I will continue to do a little bit more each day..everytime I go grocery shopping, put aside a little to send.

I know everyone here on this forum is doing otheir part..I truly believe that and I don't need to remind anyone of that. For what its worth, THANK YOU!!

THANK YOU!!

And let us continue to pray for our fellow citizens.

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"Only a fool tests the depth of the water with both feet."

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/relea...0050827-1.html

This is the main reason I'm sick of this being laid solely at Bush's feet (not you, but others refuse to place any blame with LA officials). Katrina was still a Cat 3 when Bush declared the emergency. But, it was known to be gaining strength. What exactly did Nagin and Blanco do for those two days? I lay the convention center debacle at the feet of Nagin because I heard them say he told them to go there. Then, he did not see to it that they had supplies or were rescued. Why did he wait to order the mandatory evacuation? Why did he tell people to go to the superdome and the convention center when he knew he had not done even the most rudimentary preparations? If he had done his job, the situation would never have become so dire. People could have waited for evacuation with the water and other lifesaving supplies they needed. In the best of circumstances, it takes a very long time to move thousands of people. Nagin dropped the ball. Big time.

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"Government exists to protect us from each other. Where government has gone beyond its limits is in deciding to protect us from ourselves." ~Ronald Reagan

And that is exactly what I like so much about reading your posts. True insolence only jumps through my typing fingers when I can predict a poster's position... before I click (left or right, dem or repub).

Other things are dragging on me just now, so I can't even watch the storm aftermath coverage anymore. But by Monday, I hope the plea is for other Americans (and the various government bodies!!!) to stop sending aid, as they are over run with it. I kinda doubt that's going to happen though.

Not that this is the right way to look at it, but I think because we are Americans, we don't expect this level of suffereing to ever hit other Americans. Seeing this level of devastation really takes the wind out of your sails though. It sort of says how fortunate we've been to this point.

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"Tweeter was a Boyscout before she went to Vietnam and found out the hard way... nobody gives a d@mn."

...but this HAS to be laid at the feet of this admin.

http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/theme_home2.jsp

This is the opening paragrapIn the event of a terrorist attack, natural disaster or other large-scale emergency, the Department of Homeland Security will assume primary responsibility on March 1st for ensuring that emergency response professionals are prepared for any situation. This will entail providing a coordinated, comprehensive federal response to any large-scale crisis and mounting a swift and effective recovery effort. The new Department will also prioritize the important issue of citizen preparedness. Educating America's families on how best to prepare their homes for a disaster and tips for citizens on how to respond in a crisis will be given special attention at DHSh:

So 12TH, The Mayor has to bear some responsibility for his city.. I would NOT argue that. But if you call for his head, or even Blanco's head, then you have to continue all the way to the "BIG BOSS MAN".. After all, FEMA was incorporated into the DHS and their web page says it all!!

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"Only a fool tests the depth of the water with both feet."

appreciate your candid opinion, LC.

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"Only a fool tests the depth of the water with both feet."

If this is true, then why do Chertoff and Brown still have jobs?

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/ea..._id=1001054595

Maybe they will retire after receiving their Medals..

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"Only a fool tests the depth of the water with both feet."