Posted on 09/02/2005 5:38:49 AM PDT by yankeedame
CRACKING DOWN ... TOO LATE
Yesterday afternoon and last evening I did what I have been doing most of the week ... I sat in front of the television watching the devastation and the dual nature of man unfold in New Orleans and the Mississippi Gulf coast.
I'm not there .. so I can't say with any certainty just what is or is not transpiring in the New Orleans war zone. I think that most of you will agree that the appearance is that the response has not been swift enough nor strong enough. It seems that were getting much more television face time with FEMA and Homeland Security officials than were are actual action. We keep hearing is what these officials are going to do. They go on television and tell us that they're conducting the biggest disaster relief project in the history of this country. Gonna, gonna, gonna. But we still see the video of Katrina victims huddled in groups all around New Orleans ... with no officials in sight.
A story came through last night from a New Orleans hospital. Doctors and nurses who had been on duty there since the hurricane struck have been moving patients to higher floors as the looters invade the floors below them. These hospitals have helicopter pads on the roofs. These are hospitals, dammit. Why aren't helicopters landing troops on the roofs of these hospitals to find these predatory looters and kill them?
Do you realize what we are seeing here? We are seeing a preview of how the federal government would handle a massive terrorist attack on a large American city. We're seeing a preview of how the federal government is going to react when -- not if, when -- Islamic terrorists manage to launch a devastating attack on a major American city. We had warning on this hurricane. Days of warning. The Muslim terrorists have already issued their warnings ... do you think we're ready?
The looters. We can't lump them all together. There are those who are looking for food and water, and those who are looking to steal anything of value they can get their hands on. There is not one among you who would not break through the door of a grocery store or restaurant to find food or water in a situation like this. Shoot them? Not good. But clearly officials were too late -- much too late -- in showing that the random looting of businesses and stores would not be tolerated.
Aren't we all a bit tired of hearing the Governor of Louisiana tells us all how she is now ready to crack down on the lawlessness in New Orleans. She's been ready to crack down for days. Have you seen it on TV? Police say that they weren't arresting people because they didn't have any place to put them. One of the first responsibilities of government in times of disaster is to restore order. This means that you stop people from preying on other people. If some looters had been shot and killed on day one -- not at grocery stores, but at clothing, appliance or jewelry stores, or in the casinos or at an ATM -- if a looter had been shot the first day, we would have seen a lot less violence.
Maybe things are changing .. finally. Now we have the Louisiana governor saying of the newly arrived National Guard troops: "They have M-16s, and they're locked and loaded ... I have one message for these hoodlums: These troops know how to shoot and kill, and they are more than willing to do so if necessary, and I expect they will."
In 1906 a devastating earthquake hit San Francisco. The mayor at that time was one E.E. Schmitz. Mayor Schmitz issued a proclamation. Perhaps you would like to read it:
Let's take a look inside the Super Dome. They wouldn't let the media in. Why? Did they know what as going to happen there. You can't walk around in the Super Dome at night because you'll step in human waste. Women are being dragged into restrooms and raped. Fires are being started. Gunshots have been reported. Fights are commonplace. On day one helicopters could have landed outside the Superdome loaded with armed National Guardsmen with orders to treat predators harshly. Didn't happen. They searched everyone before they entered the Super Dome. No guns allowed. This left innocent people unable to defend themselves. Does it sound trite to say that an armed society is a polite society? Would the predators have been so eager to drag women off to rape them in the bathrooms if they thought that there was someone nearby with a gun that would step in?
We are reaping the results of a liberal culture that seeks to make excuses for violence and criminal activity.
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HEY JESSE! AL! WHERE ARE YOU GUYS?
Several listeners emailed this question, so I thought I would pass it on. Has anyone heard from Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton? Have any of these great and exalted black "leaders" issued a statement asking for their brothers in New Orleans to stop the violence? Just asking. If you've said anything, I haven't hear it ... and I'm pretty much glued to the media on this one.
Lock and load.
Exactly.
See tagline...
I'd be very surprised if Geraldo isn't there by Saturday. This is the type of environment in which he thrives. He'll be hugging and kissing people left and right. Geraldo is the ultimate drama king.
My streeet was hit by a tornado just before dark a few years ago. All night long, helicopters were patrolling overhead to handle any potential looting. Why wasn't this done in NO?
shake down for cash, yes.
telling people to stop the violence, no.
It is really easy to Monday Morning Quarterback!
Well from experience... I must respectfully disagree.
In Chicago, during the MLK riots of '67(?), the west side (100% black) was up in flames, looting was rampant and the firemen and police were being shot at. Almost immediately Mayor Daley (the REAL one, Richard "J") gave Shoot To Kill orders to the CPD. The looting, arson and shooting stopped almost immediately.
BTW, the west side of Chicago STILL looks like a war zone (Beirut) to this day. Not one major retailer rebuilt - Sears, Woolworth's, Goldblatt's, Walgreen's, etc. said screw it.
New Orleans should learn from this, but they won't.
We are seeing a preview of how the federal government would handle a massive terrorist attack on a large American city
So far the feds are doing a great job. It's the state and local officials that betrayed the citizens. The mayour and gov. should be hung, drawn, and quartered. Shoot to Kill orders should have been issued before the storm hit and citations should be issued to all who remained and are still living for putting family and professionals in harm's way.
Jesse Jackson tell looters to back off??? He would be more likely to put his order inf or a new TV or other item!
I agree ... but we're way past "Monday Morning" now. The Mayor and Governor are clearly incompetent. GWB needs to take charge and fly in Chinooks full of armed NG troops to the Superdome and Convention Center in NO to establish secure zones.
http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/blitz.htm
how civilization can survive in times of catastrophe - be civil, resourceful and courageous.
sp
Whorealdo Rivera - the Ted Baxter of FOX News.
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