Free Republic

Europe is continuing its shift to the right, as voters in Portugal on Sunday rejected socialist governance and cemented the populist-nationalist Chega party as a major political force in the country and potentially a coalition partner in the next government. Following a corruption scandal hitting the highest levels of the socialist government of António Costa, whose own chief of staff and other government ministers were arrested on suspicion of corruption, forcing the PM to announce his resignation and call for an early election, the party has tumbled in the weekend’s election.

Hurricane Jimena has made landfall on Mexico's Baja California peninsula with winds of about 85 mph (140 kph). The storm has been tearing off roofs, knocking down power poles and bringing welcome rainfall to the drought-stricken state Wednesday.

Reform Jewish Leader Responds to New Orleans Mayor Comments Linking God and Destruction from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita In response to the comments made by New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin stating "Surely God is mad at America. He sent us hurricane after hurricane after hurricane, and it's destroyed and put stress on this country," Rabbi David Saperstein, Director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, issued the following statement noting, “Mayor Nagin’s comments yesterday, suggesting that Hurricanes Katrina and Rita struck our land because, ‘God is mad at America’ are offensive, misguided, and perhaps even more to the point,...

Gov. Kathleen Blanco was asked what she would do if a Category 5 hurricane hit Louisiana at a 2003 debate: MODERATOR: Let’s assume for the moment that one of you is the next Governor of Louisiana. Lets also assume that there is a Category 5 hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico predicted to strike Louisiana within 36 hours. Other than praying, name five things you would immediately do as Governor, Ms. Blanco we start with you. BLANCO: Well first we would organize the office of emergency preparedness, a very terrifically professional operation; we would then encourage everyone — wherever...

I live in south Lake Charles, Louisiana and Rita hit our town very hard. The electricity is still off and probably will be for a couple of weeks while Entergy rebuilds. Almost 100% of the houses in South Lake Charles are damaged. The hurricane blew the shingles and the felt off of the roof, so now when it rains, water pours into the attic getting the insulation and sheetrock wet, and then it falls to the floor. The city is in a lock down and they don't want us in because it is not safe. I went in anyway today...

How many people came to New Orleans to be part of a huricane party? How many people stayed to party while the wind tried to rip the city to shreds? While we are looking for solutions to future problems for disaster relief we need to look at the whole picture. Not everyone who stayed were stranded and couldn't get out. A lot of people were there to play. Some people are still refusing to leave. Is it the countries falt if something happens to them now?

Don't Blame Bush for Katrina Christopher Ruddy Monday, Sept. 5, 2005 George Bush and the federal government are not to blame for the disaster we have witnessed in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. In fact, the primary responsibility for the disaster response lies with New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin and Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco, and other local officials. Yet, leading Democrats and their allies in the major media are clearly using this disaster for political purposes and ignoring one obvious fact. This fact, which needs to be repeated and remembered, is that in our country state and local government have...

Wal-Mart/SAM'S CLUB Foundation Donates $1 Million to Support American Red Cross Disaster Relief EffortsI only mention this because I recently had a letter published about Wal-Mart in response to accusations that Wal-Mart is destroying America: August 6, 2005 A recent letter posited the fanciful theory that Wal-Mart costs taxpayers millions of dollars. It sounded like a talking point list from the retail unions who attack Wal-Mart at every opportunity. Here’s some facts those unions don’t want you to know. Two-thirds of Wal-Mart employees aren’t the sole income for their family. The stores’ profit margin is the same as the retail...

According to the Minerals Management Service (MMS), as of 11:30 Central Time September 2, Gulf of Mexico oil production was reduced by over 1.328 million barrels per day as a result of Hurricane Katrina, equivalent to 88.53 percent of daily Gulf of Mexico oil production (which is 1.5 million barrels per day). The MMS also reported that 7.248 billion cubic feet per day of natural gas production was shut in, equivalent to 72.48 percent of daily Gulf of Mexico natural gas production (which is 10 billion cubic feet per day). On Friday, September 2, the International Energy Agency (IEA) directed...

Smoke billows from a fire(rear) rages in downtown New Orleans. US authorities ignored warnings that New Orleans was vulnerable to a hurricane nightmare and slashed funding that could have saved the city as spending on the war in Iraq soared, experts said.

The Astrodome isn't big enough for the entire state of Louisiana. Does anybody know if refugees will be sent to Denver??

The other active thread has getting a little long and loading slow. lot's of graphics. But the big question for all Gulf Coast Freepers is "Will Isidore Turn North?" Three of five computer models say yes. Any expert care to way in? What would cause a turn to the north? How would we recogise the early signs of a change in direction. etc, etc, etc.