Free Republic

Alaska can help finance the recovery from recent hurricanes. It also can secure an energy supply and generate future revenue, thus avoiding tax increases. But first, Americans have to get the facts straight about Alaska. The misinformation is atrocious. For example, Steve Doocy of Fox and Friends reported Tuesday that the 2005 highway legislation appropriated $223 million for a bridge (at Ketchikan) to serve 50 people, or about $4.5 million per person. That is ridiculous and exhibits the sloppy reporting costing major media their viewers and readers. The bridge would replace an expensive and inadequate shuttle ferry to a regional...

Louisiana's congressional delegation has requested $40 billion for Army Corps of Engineers projects in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, about 10 times the annual Corps budget for the entire nation, or 16 times the amount the Corps has said it would need to protect New Orleans from a Category 5 hurricane. Louisiana Sens. David Vitter (R) and Mary Landrieu (D) tucked the request into their $250 billion Hurricane Katrina Disaster Relief and Economic Recovery Act, the state's opening salvo in the scramble for federal dollars.

CAMP MABRY (26 Sep, 2005) – The Adjutant General visited Ellington Field yesterday with the purpose of seeking out a reluctant hero and awarding him for his tireless efforts. The Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. Charles Rodriguez, was specifically interested in speaking to one of the eighty essential personnel who had initially hunkered down at Ellington Field in Houston to wait out the storm, but who subsequently had been sent out before the storm. Master Sgt. Lynn Bailey was awarded the Army Achievement Medal because Maj. Gen. Rodriguez said: “This man is my hero too. When I was awakened at 1:30...

DENVER - U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo on Wednesday called for the sale of federal land to fund Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. "The federal government may be cash-poor but it is land rich. There is demand for farm and ranch land, and the federal government should have long ago transferred its massive holdings to the private sector, where it can be put to use," the Colorado Republican said in a statement. He introduced a bill in Congress requiring the Interior Department to sell 15 percent of the federal land it controls, excluding national parks and Indian land. The Agriculture Department also...

President Bush on Friday ruled out raising taxes to pay for Gulf Coast reconstruction, saying other government spending must be cut. "You bet it will cost money, but I'm confident we can handle it," he said. "It's going to cost whatever it's going to cost, and we're going to be wise about the money we spend," Bush said a day after laying out an expensive plan for rebuilding New Orleans and the Gulf Coast without spelling out how he would pay for it. Bush spoke at a news conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin hours after attending a prayer service...

BILOXI, Miss. (NNS) -- First Baptist Church in Biloxi, Miss., - the largest Red Cross food distribution center in two states - welcomed volunteer help from more than 200 U.S. and international military service members Sept. 12. While residents in need continued to pour in to local disaster relief sites across the Gulf states, Mexican marines, Royal Dutch sailors and U.S. Sailors from six commands spent the day giving food, water and other necessities, along with serving hot food, providing medical attention and whatever else that was needed to help those affected by Hurricane Katrina. "This is the first time...

Tancredo: Block Aid to Louisiana Politicians Congressman Says Incompetence, Corruption Show Local Officials Cannot be Trusted with Federal Aid WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Tom Tancredo (R-CO) wrote a letter to Speaker Hastert, urging him to direct federal hurricane relief aid through channels other than Louisiana public officials. Citing incompetence and a history of corruption, Tancredo said a bipartisan select committee of the House should administer the aid and provide accountability for the $52 billion requested. The letter is reprinted below: Dear Mr. Speaker, Given the abysmal failure of state and local officials in Louisiana to plan adequately for or respond...

Another source of housing offers can be found at The Witches Voice. Check the sidebar, "Katrina Relief Notices...", right side of center frame. These offers include several that will accept pets.

Randy Newman...Ellen Degeneres opening the show? Didn't see a thread so here's one to yakk on.

Louisiana Philharmonic In the wake of Hurricane Katrina in the USA, Drew McManus's 'Adaptistration' section of artsjournal.com is helping displaced musicians from the Louisiana Philharmonic. Due to the devastation caused by the hurricane, members of the orchestra are likely to be unemployed for some time to come. The help available includes a dedicated page for tracking the known whereabouts of the orchestra's musicians and managers, and a page attempting to put members of the orchestra in touch with anyone in the USA who can offer them work and other assistance. The response so far has been very generous, with offers...

Hardberger was fielding calls from state and federal officials, other mayors and service agencies when I called to ask about the long-term impact of this influx. "That's like if my house is on fire and I'm looking to you for a bucket of water, and you ask what the new house will look like," he laughed. Once the evacuees are sheltered and have recovered some dignity, he said, we will talk.[. . .] "Everybody's been worried about crime, and the impact on social services," he said. "But so far, it is just worry; it hasn't been factual." "When the Spurs...

Dr. FRANKLIN GRAHAM’S CALL FOR CHURCHES TO ADOPT TEN KATRINA VICTIMS FAMILIES From: tpoffice@kyol.net [TPM = Theophostic Prayer Ministry] Subject: A Special Message from TPM founder Dr. Ed Smith Date: Fri, 02 Sep 2005 ... No matter the "reason" for this event [Hurricane Katrina], I believe God expects His people to make themselves available to be used of Him so that He might be glorified in and through it. ... I encourage Churches to consider revamping your ministry structure to reach out to these dislocated families. I heard Dr. Franklin Graham on television make an appeal to the denominational and...

Salvation Army Continues With One of Largest Relief Efforts in History ALEXANDRIA, Va. (September 3, 2005) – The Salvation Army continues to help bring aid and comfort to those affected by Hurricane Katrina, launching one of the largest emergency disaster services relief efforts in the organization’s 125-year history. Mobile kitchens and canteens serving in the Gulf Coast region are focused on providing the most precious commodities needed right now – food and water. “The victims just want basic life sustenance. They’re in shock. Everything they’ve worked for all of their lives is gone,” said Major Dalton Cunningham, divisional commander for...

This was in my inbox when I got back from the Walter Reed FReep. A friend of mine from Powhatan has located most of his family in Mississippi and sends out an urgent request for supplies. Things are so bad his parents are storing bodies in a refrigerated truck. The email below was written by his brother-in-law. His family is right in the middle of Biloxi Miss. He left yesterday at 5:00 AM from his home in Powhatan with 125 Gals of Gas, some food, water etc. Anyway he just called me and has located most of his family. His...

District 19 foes come out swinging BY CORY CHANDLER AVALANCHE-JOURNAL The claws came out over redistricting during Tuesday's District 19 congressional debate. While the first face-to-face meeting between three District 19 candidates provided an arena for sparring over several issues, Tuesday's debate got heated after Democrat Charlie Stenholm was asked for his thoughts on the state's new congressional district map. Republican Randy Neugebauer, Stenholm, and Libertarian Chip Peterson met in Texas Tech's Allen Theatre for the first of two debates. The candidates fielded nine questions spanning Social Security, defense, agriculture and other issues. Stenholm scored the night's first outburst of...