CRACKING DOWN ... TOO LATE

Neal's Newz ^ | Fri Sep 2 2005 | Neal Boortz

[Rudder]

Are you sure that Homeland security doesn't handle natural disasters even if they disable a strategic port? Why did Mike Chertoff spout off? Why is Mike Chertoff coordinating the Homeland Security response to NO? You better tell Mike Chertoff he's doing someone else's job.

[LWalk18]

FEMA is under the Department of Homeland Security- so yes they do handle natural disasters.

[HIDEK6]

Can silence be consent?

Same thing as the "peaceful Muslims" not condemning the fanatical Muslims.

[George W. Bush]

Are you sure that Homeland security doesn't handle natural disasters even if they disable a strategic port? Why did Mike Chertoff spout off? Why is Mike Chertoff coordinating the Homeland Security response to NO? You better tell Mike Chertoff he's doing someone else's job.

Look, people here are calling these snipers in NOLA 'thugs'. But, by any definition you want to use, aren't they just as much a bunch of terrorists as those our troops are fighting every day in Iraq?

Exactly how do you avoid calling them terrorists given the situation? So raising questions about the Department of Homeland Insecurity is quite apt. In fact, it's a little difficult to see how we expect domestic police to cope with the problem.

[kenth]

She's hoping that they will make the decision for her. It has two benefits for her. One, she gets to continue to be incompetent and useless; she doesn't have to make a decision. Two, it is potential fuel for her political fires. She would get to point at the federal government, Bush in effect, as the killer of her citizens.

She has yet to assume command. She goes on tv, blubbers, tells people the water in NO is fine, demands apologies; she just doesn't lead.

[Rudder]

You're right. And I just came across this:

President Bush, facing blistering criticism for his administration's response to Hurricane Katrina, said Friday "the results are not acceptable" and pledged to bolster relief efforts with a personal trip to the Gulf Coast.

"We'll get on top of this situation," Bush said, "and we're going to help the people that need help." He spoke on the White House grounds just boarding his presidential helicopter, Marine One, with Homeland Security Department secretary Michael Chertoff to tour the region. The department, which oversees the Federal Emergency Management Agency, has been accused of responding sluggishly to the deadly hurricane.

[Borax Queen]

Finally, a hurricane thread with some reasonable, non-name-calling posts.

[nicmarlo]

You have FM.

[George W. Bush]

The department, which oversees the Federal Emergency Management Agency, has been accused of responding sluggishly to the deadly hurricane.

Sluggishly is pretty charitable. I don't think a lot of people here realize how much money has been spent on FEMA and how much power they have once put into action.

I expect a fall schedule of congressional hearings on this. Party be damned, we need to get rid of some officials after this one. Start with the LA governor and NOLA's mayor. And then look hard at FEMA and DHS.

These people dropped the ball and Bush needs to find responsible people we can rely on.

[uncitizen]

Last weekend I watched his show (cuz he is SO dang entertaining) and it appeared that he was jealous of Shep for being the one in the path of the storm.

[John O]

As an aside, for all we conservatives hate Hillary Clinton, _she_ would not be hestitant to issue orders to "shoot to kill" in such a situation

hitlery would be ordering the thugs to shoot the police on sight

[AFPhys]

thanks for this sobering post.

[WestCoastGal]

ping

[GBA]

I've been listening to the comments I've overheard in the office, at the store, gas stations (it took three before I found any gas), etc. From what I've heard, the violent and lawless actions taken by a relative few in New Orleans and the idiots who go on live tv and say it's all the white's fault, have made it very easy for so many around here to be very vocal in their prejudice. There's no talking them out of it by appealing to their rationality. It will take a long time to undo the damage done.

[Rudder]

These people dropped the ball and Bush needs to find responsible people we can rely on.

Right. Individual accountability in government is some thing I see far to little of. It seems like everyone is a "nameless govt. official." Heads should roll after this debacle.

[colorado tanker]

My street 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?

From what I've been gathering the last few days, NO's Police Department was combat ineffective before the storm. I've even seen video of the police joining the looters. I doubt anyone anticipated the feds would have to take over the whole show.

[SuziQ]

HEY JESSE! AL! WHERE ARE YOU GUYS?

Where do you THINK they are? They're on the TV blaming Bush for the plight of the poor people of New Orleans. I haven't heard them say a damn thing about the thugs of their own race who are preying on the vulnerable.