Free Republic

<p>In less enlightened times, there was no catastrophe independent of human agency. When the plague or some other natural disaster struck, witches were burned, Jews were massacred and all felt better (except the witches and Jews). A few centuries later, our progressive thinkers have progressed not an inch. No fall of a sparrow on this planet is not attributed to sin and human perfidy.</p>

THE TREMENDOUS CHALLENGES THAT FACE OUR COUNTRY -- (House of Representatives - September 08, 2005) [Page: H7801] --- The SPEAKER pro tempore (Miss McMorris). Under the Speaker's announced policy of January 4, 2005, the gentlewoman from Georgia (Ms. McKinney) is recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the minority leader. Ms. McKINNEY. Madam Speaker, I have got a lot of papers and a lot of posters. One hour will in no way accommodate all that needs to be said tonight about the tremendous challenges that face our country today, including how we conduct ourselves in the aftermath of Hurricane...

The natural disaster that devastated New Orleans had been predicted for this below-sea-level city on the turbulent Gulf Cost for a hundred years or more. It was inevitable. The death toll is estimated to be in the thousands; the economic cost in the tens of billions. Now, we'll bury our dead, mourn their passing and begin the laborious process of cleanup and restoration. What else is there to do? The sights, sounds and smells emanating from New Orleans, the images of dead bodies floating in the water, the killing and looting, the throng of homeless fleeing the destruction and its...

CNN is trying to get the public to blame the Feds. Poll on right, about halfway down

Interview of Ms.America (pelosi) on CNN. When pressed Pelosi told the infobabe if she wants to ask questions she should be on the White House payroll. Pelosi was stating how Bush caused more houses to be destroyed.

The new buzzwords in Washington are "Katrina investigation." What the would-be Katrina-gaters want to do is this: Set up an official-looking process that will enable them to dig up dirt on their enemies and rivals. Sounds like a great idea, because there's plenty of legitimate mud to be slung. But let's make sure it's equal-opportunity. Let's make sure everyone, absolutely everyone, who deserves a good tarring gets one - and maybe some feathers, too. First, let's start with the federal government. President George W. Bush should remember Harry Truman's motto, "The buck stops here," as he evaluates the performance of...

AUSTIN, Texas -- President Bush has come up with his worst idea since he decided to have the military investigate torture by the military at Abu Ghraib prison. He, George W. personally, plans to investigate to "find out what went right and what went wrong" in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. It's hard to guess where Bush will look first, but maybe he should start with the appointment of "Brownie" to head the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Brownie is Michael Brown, who was appointed by some president. At the time, Brownie was deputy director of the federal disaster relief agency...

DU Dummies keep pointing to the 8/27/2005 Blanco asks President to Declare an Emergency for the State of Louisiana due to Hurricane Katrina press release as proof that FEMA and Bush did nothing. Unfortunately nobody there bothers to read to the end where it is clear this is a request for FUNDS ONLY!

NEW ORLEANS, Sept. 6, 2005 — In New Orleans, those in peril and those in power have pointed the finger squarely at the federal government for the delayed relief effort. But experts say when natural disasters strike, it is the primary responsibility of state and local governments — not the federal government — to respond.

Federal government tried legal takeover of Katrina operations: state official    Kate Heneroty at 11:15 AM ET [JURIST] The Washington Post reported Sunday that Bush administration officials sent a draft legal memorandum to Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco just before midnight Friday asking her to request a federal takeover of the evacuation of New Orleans, according to a source within the state's emergency operations center. Administration officials had been seeking direct unified control over local police and National Guard units that would otherwise be under the Governor's jurisdiction. According to a senior Bush official, the President has the power (by state...

In New Orleans, those in peril and those in power have pointed the finger squarely at the federal government for the delayed relief effort. But experts say when natural disasters strike, it is the primary responsibility of state and local governments — not the federal government — to respond. New Orleans' own comprehensive emergency plan raises the specter of "having large numbers of people … stranded" and promises "the city … will utilize all available resources to quickly and safely evacuate threatened areas." "Special arrangements will be made to evacuate persons unable to transport themselves," the plan states. When Hurricane...

The Bush administration is being widely criticized for the emergency response to Hurricane Katrina and the allegedly inadequate protection for "the big one" that residents had long feared would hit New Orleans. But research into more than ten years of reporting on hurricane and flood damage mitigation efforts in and around New Orleans indicates that local and state officials did not use federal money that was available for levee improvements or coastal reinforcement and often did not secure local matching funds that would have generated even more federal funding.

After 10 days of often uncertain responses to the Bush administration's management of Hurricane Katrina, Democratic leaders unleashed a burst of attacks on the White House on Wednesday, saying the wreckage in New Orleans raised doubts about the country's readiness to endure a terrorist attack and exposed ominous economic rifts that they said had worsened under five years of Republican rule. Democrats offered what was shaping up as the most concerted attack that they had mounted on the White House in the five years of the Bush presidency. snip The display of unity was striking for a party that has...

Compassionate Liberalism Part 3 Environmentalists Partly Responsible for Flood By Michael P. Tremoglie Instead of desperately searching for ways to help – some liberals and Democrats - have been desperately searching for reasons to blame President Bush for the flood of New Orleans caused by Hurricane Katrina. Their blatant attempt at political exploitation has been reprehensible to say the least. While doing so they have shot themselves in the foot. Researching the bogus claims of the liberal hate mongers I learned that liberal environmentalists may bear some responsibility for the flood of New Orleans. The first of three articles I...

President Bush and his federal government are to blame. Yes, conduct your investigations. Do all the after-action analysis, but Bush and his federal government are to blame. Forget the fact that an epic act of nature ripped across the Gulf Coast and breached New Orleans' levees. Ignore the fact the Hurricane Katrina response involved officials at every level of government in three states. We know Bush and his federal government are to blame. In their new book, Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner discuss "conventional wisdom." It's a term coined by the economist John Kenneth Galbraith, who held that it's always...

PRESIDENT BUSH'S response to Hurricane Katrina has been, to put it kindly, faltering. He has fallen short both rhetorically and substantively. The rhetorical failure is less important but perhaps more surprising for a politician with his strong communications skills. One of the highlights of Mr. Bush's presidency, and one of the keys to his reelection, was his ability to rally a country stunned by the Sept. 11 attacks -- perhaps most vividly in his visit to the smoldering ruins of the World Trade Center. President Bill Clinton rose to an earlier challenge after the Oklahoma City bombing, using the bully...

School Buses Claim: Photograph shows school buses caught in a flooded New Orleans parking lot. Status: True.

Part of New Orleans's southern charm comes from its green canopy of live oak trees. Many of those trees have been standing in water for more than a week, depriving their roots of oxygen. (this is lead-in. Audio .wav file of the report at NPR site)

With all that has happened in the state, it’s understandable that the Louisiana chapter of the Sierra Club may not have updated its website. But when its members get around to it, they may want to change the wording of one item in particular. The site brags that the group is “working to keep the Atchafalaya Basin,” which adjoins the Mississippi River not far from New Orleans, “wet and wild.” These words may seem especially inappropriate after the breaking of the levee that caused the tragic events in New Orleans last week. But “wet and wild” has a larger significance...

Hurricane Katrina has left the Gulf coast devastated. Thousands are feared dead, homes are destroyed and lawlessness has gripped New Orleans. The tragic situation on the Gulf Coast, however, cannot be blamed on nature alone. The dominant political ideology in this country has exacerbated the problem. This ideology is not racism, hate or greed. I am talking about good old Ronald Reagan conservatism. This ideology has permeated our country far too long, and as we now see has weakened our national cohesion and our ability to meet the needs of all Americans. Conservative ideology promotes disregarding and alienating the poor...