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The below note is from my extremely liberal son-in-law. I want to answer correctly. I do know that the idiot governor prevented intervention at the Superdome AND I do realize that getting people to the USS Bataan would be logistically impossible, is it even true? Can you all help me research this? Thanks, Bev

"Here's one of many examples: The Chicago Tribune reports that the U.S.S. Bataan, equipped with six operating rooms, hundreds of hospital beds and the ability to produce 100,000 gallons of fresh water a day, has been sitting off the Gulf Coast since last Monday - without patients. Just curious - why were the students at white Tulane Univ. evacuated 3 days before students at black Xavier University? What seems odd is that every major television network had people on the ground within 24 hours of the disaster, but it's took at least 4 days for the federal government to wade into the city with essential supplies and security. Does that make any sense?"

What seems odd is that every major television network had people on the ground within 24 hours of the disaster

I can give you a quick answer to that one ... the tv networks had sent people to New Orleans, Mississippi, and Alabama before the hurricane. They were already there (reporters, camera crews, sound crews, the whole works) ... they didn't have to try to get there on flooded, broken roads with trees and power poles and fragments of buildings and other assorted debris blocking access to the disaster-stricken areas.

I've read something about the USS Bataan but don't recall the details. I think it was stationed way out in the Gulf, out of harm's way, awaiting calm enough seas and the abatement of the winds so that it could be stationed nearer to shore. It would be incredibly stupid to have it in the anticipated landfall area ahead of time ... but that sort of subtlety is apparently beyond comprehension to liberal minds. I'm still at work but will see what I can find once I get home.

I do know that a very sophisticated mobile hospital was set to leave Charlotte, NC, last Thursday morning for Louisiana. Late that evening it was still in Charlotte while the officials were still trying to get the ok from LA. It never came so now this state-of-the-art mobile facility and medical staff are in Mississippi providing medical care to the residents there. And the citizens of Mississippi are very grateful and appreciative!

The thread to which I have been posting links (the one with the photo timeline) has the following info about the USS Bataan.

Please take note: all these pictures and info were compiled from Yahoo, not exactly a conservative source, and were posted as they occurred rather than after history began being re-written.

The USS Bataan [a federal asset] was positioned in the Gulf of Mexico when the storm hit. She rode out the storm and then followed it toward shore. Helicopter pilots flying from its deck were some of the first to begin rescuing stranded New Orleans residents.

In this photo, a search and rescue swimmer assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron Two Eight prepares to assist in the rescue of a survivor in Louisiana, August 31.

A Landing Craft Utility (LCU) departs the well deck of the USS Bataan (LHD-5) bound for New Orleans, August 31. The LCU is loaded with sandbags, water, a small flat bottom boat, 300 lifejackets, a HUMVEE, and enough supplies to last 10 days.

Another note: since Yahoo doesn't keep it's pictures online very long, a FReeper (The Pythonic Cow) has generously hosted a set on his website. I have used those 'permanent' ones in this post so that they will remain rather than turning into little red x's in a few days.

Bonus info: look at this picture carefully and see if you can guess where it was taken.

If you guessed New Orleans, go to the back of the line. This is what Katrina did in South Miami-Dade County as she crossed over Florida. No one seems to be sniveling and moaning about the losses that these people suffered yet their grief is just as great.

Once again, I urge all of you to take the time (and if you are on dial-up it will be considerable time because of the numerous photos) to check out this thread. You can actually see the bias of the media emerging as the days passed.

Katrina, a photographic timeline: Powerful proof federal response was NOT slow (warning, many pics)