News Coverage focusing only on negative

[Scooby4]

I have been watching the coverage between CNN and MSNBC and they BOTH are disqusting me with their attitude! EACH time the interview a victim they are asking the STUPIDEST questions and bringing out the NEGATIVE in the situation. I'm tired of listening to all this "tell us how bad things are..." I'd rather hear " tell us how is your family and are you grateful to be alive?"
I got soo angry I had to stop watching the coverage for awhile. The reporter told this "heartbreaking tale" of how someone was rescued and was placed on a above ground overpass. Then the person had to WALK to the nearest shelter. Like it was some horrific torture that this person was "forced to walk" after surviving being on a roof for a day. The person was ALIVE and ABLE to walk!!! They didn't need federal or state assistance to do that!!! But the reporter was turning it out to be that the federal assistance or other help wasn't available to carry this person and it was a disgrace!:mad:
I've also noticed the reporters seem to concentrate on the "looting" in New Orleans. They rarely show the other areas that are cooperation and NOT turning into selfish criminals. I saw a report in Biloxi of people WAITING IN LINE at WALMART and NOT robbing it blind!:rolleyes: How come one place that has NO buildings standing and hundreds dead/missing has NO widespread "looting" or lawlessness and the other area is infested/overwhelmed with crime?
I can't blame the "looting" on being "poor". The other effected areas aren't "wealthy" metropolitan areas either. I can't say the "looting" is for food and survival either. I just don't see that. There are too many relief shelters and donations coming into the area that stealing doesn't seem justifiable. If the shelter's were claiming shortage of supplies, then it could be understandable. The "looting" that is going on is just a show of how basic ignorance and animal instincts in humans can take over in stressful situations.
Thanks for reading. I just had to get this off my chest. I want to help these people but I am NOT going to do it by listening to what the media has been spreading. If I listened to the media, I wouldn't give a dime to the New Orlean's victim's due to their "greed". That isn't fair to any of the victim's in this situation!!!

[RICHARD]

Thanks for posting that...

That's exactly what I think.

[popcornbird]

I don't know...They might be alive, but they don't have food or water, and they are suffering, AND THE NATION NEEDS TO KNOW THAT!!! If they don't show us what's going on, how would we know enough to help these people? There are so many without food and water. So many. They may be alive now, but if they don't get help, how long will they be able to survive? They need help, badly. So many have already died. We can't talk when we're not in their situation. Personally? I know that if I were in that situation, I would hope the media would have the nation KNOW so that we could get some help. Those people need our help. They don't need to be left to die when so many throughout the nation have the means to help them. They don't need us to get angry. How could we get angry? They are in SUCH a grim situation. When WE have all of life's essentials, and that at this point in life, they don't and are suffering, we should feel ashamed of ourselves to get angry. We should be helping them the best we can, not getting angry. The media NEEDS to let us know what's going on. If they don't, how would we know? At least I feel that way. Those people need our help, and they need it now. We need to know what they're going through. Do you know how many dead bodies there are there? People dying of starvation, dehydration. Yes many are lucky to be alive, but how long will they be alive if they don't get the help they need? :(

[carole]

PCB I am in agreement with you on this one, regardless whether the media are doing an injustice by reporting this kind of stuff, we DO NEED to see it, even here in NZ it has touched my heart, and I feel for those poor people so much.

[RICHARD]

The other thing that bothers me are the leading questions that the reporters are asking the people about the government's involvement.


First of all,

EVERYONE wants less government, but when there is a disaster everyone sits back and waits for the government to step in.

The 72 million dollars to the Army Corps of Engineers would not have done one bit of good.

The time, dirt and dollars it would take to update the levee system in that area would have taken years to complete.

You do not know where a hurricane, tidal surge, tornando or ?
will strike until it actually hits. So even making the gulf states a disaster area TWO DAYS before the hurricane hits didn't make too much difference.

Local disaster agencies operate on totally different sets of rules-
IN cah lee fuh nee ah we have some flooding and earthquakes, we don't particularly have a hurricane or snow fall plan in out books.

The media is hyping this event in a real "shock news" way.

They really need the viewers.
:rolleyes:

[Lady's Human]

News coverage focusing on the negative? I'm shocked, nay amazed that this is happening. Why should something like this be given any different treatment than they do anything else?

The miracle in this is that there are as few people in Nawlins as there are. For a city of 500K to be evacuated as it was is amazing. The highest number I've heard for people who didn't make it out is 100K, which means 80% of the people in the city made it out.

The most disgusting part of the coverage I've seen is the opinion columns by certain people who shall remain nameless who have said that the fact that Katrina hit the city at all is the fault of the Republican Party, George W. Bush Himself, or various other versions of the same line. A Kuwait official was quoted as saying that the Hurricane was a warrior from Allah. Okay, Shiek, next time you're invaded and crying for help, go somewhere else.

To those who say the Government isn't doing enough, remember, the government is hamstrung by laws preventing the Federal Government from doing many things, which in normal times is great. Just remember that the laws you pass to keep the federal government out of your backyard may also prevent them from coming in to save your tail when the excrement hits the rotary oscillator. Saying it's anyone's FAULT is pointless. Let's get the mess cleaned up, and figure out how we can avoid the same mess the next time. All option should be on the table, up to and including completely moving New Orleans from where it is to a new site. Rebulding a city that's 7 feet below sea level every few years (remember, it floods fairly routinely) seems rather pointless.

[lizbud]

Originally posted by RICHARD
The media is hyping this event in a real "shock news" way.

They really need the viewers.
:rolleyes:


This tragedy IS shocking. In it's scope & magnitude.No hype
needed here. Just show the video man.

They should have made the news people carry in supplies, they
seem to be able to travel where no government aid has yet to
reach.

[Prairie Purrs]

Please don't look for any excuses for failing to give whatever you can to help out the victims of this catastrophe.

When they finally get around to counting the dead, there will be thousands. THOUSANDS. It's impossible to "hype" a disaster of this magnitude. If you want "happy talk," watch Entertainment Tonight.

And it's pretty heartless to talk about whether it's "pointless" to rebuild New Orleans while people are still dying there.

Give what you can. If you live anywhere near the affected areas, consider opening your home to a homeless family.

I've been crying my eyes out all week over this. I broke into sobs today over a story about seven siblings, ages four months to seven years, who were rescued from the top of an apartment building. No one knew what happened to their parents.

Their mother's name is Katrina.

[PJ's Mom]

I was watching CNN this afternoon and they were interviewing one of the refugees in Houston. He was talking about how grateful he was to be out of New Orleans and how he plans on going to live in SC with family as soon as he can get there. He's also volunteering at the Astrodome, helping with other survivors.

Not too negative, if you ask me. :)

[Scooby4]

I am NOT saying I am NOT concerned or wouldn't give cause of a few bad apples. What I am saying is that the news media has a way of reporting things and blowing them out of proportion. They are NOT reporting the "practical" side of the issues.
The "help" not getting to these people in a "tiimely fashion". Guess what? I live 10 hours away from New Orleans. If RIGHT after the storm passed over, It would have taken me atleast 20 hours to get there. How many people were stuck on their roofs for 20 hours by that point? How many could I have saved once I got there? I don't own a helicopter, an airplane, boat, or SUV. I am sure the first complaint would have been "Why weren't you here 20 hours ago?". The media would have gone "haywire" on that story and reported that it took 20 hours for a rescuer to "show up" and help the family of 5 off their roof!:rolleyes: Is that fair or accurate?
The left-over "eye" of the storm passed 30 miles from my house. It was still clocking 80 MPH winds. I lost some trees and some lost power for almost 2 days. We were VERY lucky. It wasn't safe for me to walk outside for atleast 10 hours after the eye passed. Tree branches were still falling everywhere!:eek: The winds were still dangerous. I am sure it was too windy for helicopters to fly safely.
The reality of getting help and needing help are 2 different things. These people need help that is agreed. However, the logistics involved in getting that help and making sure it is the right kind of help takes time and effort. It doesn't just happen overnight. Emergency personnel have NEVER dealt with a catastrophe on this scale before. How are they supposed to know everything? Training and education NEVER prepares anyone for the real thing.
I think complaining and criticising the "help" issue is counter-productive at this point. What is the point and what is complaining about it going to help? I know if I was getting shot at or yelled at to "go faster" when trying to do the best to "help" someone, I would want to get mad and quit. The media needs to "be quiet" and allow the emergency people to do their jobs as efficiently as they can. You can't go any more "humanly" possible as the help is going right now. Yes, there will always be stories of strife and ruin. Those are just going to have to be "stories". What is important now is going beyond the stories and start providing what needs to be done. That is help from every citizen.;)

[lbaker]

What has happened down here is the wind have changed
Clouds roll in from the north and it started to rain
Rained real hard and rained for a real long time
Six feet of water in the streets of Evangeline

The river rose all day
The river rose all night
Some people got lost in the flood
Some people got away alright
The river have busted through cleard down to Plaquemines
Six feet of water in the streets of Evangelne

They're tryin' to wash us away Louisiana, Louisiana
They're tyrin' to wash us away
They're tryin' to wash us away
Louisiana, Louisiana
They're tryin' to wash us away

President Coolidge came down in a railroad train
With a little fat man with a note-pad in his hand
The President say, "Little fat man isn't it a shame what the river has
done
To this poor crackers land."

They're tryin' to wash us away Louisiana, Louisiana
They're tyrin' to wash us away
They're tryin' to wash us away
Louisiana, Louisiana
They're tryin' to wash us away

rn

:( what is past is prologue

[RICHARD]

Originally posted by Lady's Human

The most disgusting part of the coverage I've seen is the opinion columns by certain people who shall remain nameless who have said that the fact that Katrina hit the city at all is the fault of the Republican Party, George W. Bush Himself, or various other versions of the same line. A Kuwait official was quoted as saying that the Hurricane was a warrior from Allah. Okay, Shiek, next time you're invaded and crying for help, go somewhere else.



MY favorite was that the satelllite pictures took the form a fetus then hit the red states that voted for him...

Even I know the truth....

GWB caused the hurricane so the gas prices would go up and Ms Sheehan's bus trip to Wasrhington would be cancelled....:)

------------------------------------

Wait until the those 2 AHs - Sharpton and the REV Jesse Jackson show up to get some camera time...

Those MWs won't show up until after the all the danger is over and the people have been fed and taken care of....

Imagine them showing up and having someone ask them for a bottle of water or food.....

"I am only here for camera time....."


P.s.
I posted this in the Media Whores thread ...

It's too true not to post it again!
----------------------------------------

The Revs Al and Jesse should be showing up in a week or two in the deep South to tell the people that GOD will care for them, to blast the Government and pose for the cameras..


I guess the only time you get them to come around is after you have shot someone and get your arse kicked after a high speed police chase......

"We are here to ask the community for calm...."


LOLOLOLOLOLOL
-------------------------------------


And last but not least the media broke the story that two rescue teams one from the Los Angeles Fire Department and Riverside, CA Fire Dept were jacked while in the area.

They took money food and equipment from each team..

By now all these looters (the ones that were stealing nonessential crap) are running short on food and water....

The water in the area is ripe for dysentery, cholera and all kinds of nasty stuff.


I hope each of them has a nice scratch on their legs or feet and infection is setting in.


Gangrene,
It's not just a illness,
It's a punishment!
:eek:

[jennifert9]

This whole situation is INSANE and out of control....I am beside myself with grief, sympathy, empathy, frustration and anger....!
There is NO reason any of this should be happening in the United States of America, none at all.
Perhaps we were not prepared for the extent of the devastation Katrina caused. That is so unfortunate and ridiculous of us as a nation. Since 9/11, we have been preparing for another terrorist attack and holding "drills" in every single town across America. Why in the world, did we not have a plan for a hurricane, a much more frequent occurrence? And why is the rest of the country going on like normal? WHY? It makes no sense to me....I heard on the news last night that GW Bush had approved 10.5 billion dollars in aid for the region and the House was going to approve it today. WHY THE WAIT? Get them out of their nice warm soft king-size mattresses with their central air and put them in their chauffeur driven Lexuses and Mercedes and let them approve it RIGHT NOW! There are people sleeping on boards floating in the flooding and huddling on their roofs starving and dehydrated at this very moment! YOU tell them they have to wait Mr. Bush. While they watch their parents and children die. GW "toured" the region today....ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Does anyone else realize the absurdity of this situation?? Why not declare a national emergencey and let the entire country go down there to help? WHY NOT? Every Christmas, 99% of businesses shut down to celebrate. Why is this not as important? Everything feels unreal to me. I went to the gas station today and yes I paid a fortune to fill up the tank in my car. But the irony is this...I HAVE a car!!! I have a home, a bed, electricity, plumbing....Who am I to bicker or complain? I love America. I am probably the most patriotic person you will ever meet in your lifetime. My family no longer celebrates my birthday. At my request, we celebrate 4th of July and I give presents to everyone on that day and throughout that week. This is breaking my heart. We are better than this. Richard, I disagree with your statement that everyone wants less government. Not I. I think the government of this country should be held responsible for EVERY SINGLE person that does not have a bed to sleep in. I know I am idealistic and radical. I know my ideas border on socialism or communism. I am a very kind, sensitive person and I do know my ideas may make no sense in practice, However, I still "feel" that way, regardless of what is practical or possible. My feelings often overrule my rational thoughts and though I may apologize for those feelings and have no argument in a debate, that is the way I FEEL.
I got out of bed this am while watching the Today show because the guilt of sitting on a mattress with my happy healthy dog next to me and a fridge full of food made me feel horrific. I am beside myself with frustration and guilt and empathy. At the gas station I went to today, I saw stack and stacks and stacks of bottled water for sale on the sidewalk. I feel like screaming..."Take this water to Louisiana and Mississippi!! Don't sell it! The rest of the country can drink tap water until this is over for God's sake!!!!!!!"
We ALL take it for granted that if something happens to us, SOMEONE will come save us....If we need an ambulance, we call one. If we need the police, we call them. And they come. If we need water, we go to the sink or fridge and get some. If we need lights, we flick a switch. These people are thinking "someone will come help us. This is America." And then days and days go by and noone shows up. Can you imagine the horror?
I know many of you will say I am a hypocrite. And, unfortunately, my heart agrees with you...I can barely justify anything I do these days. Collin and I are on a very tight budget as I have not started working. I have given any money we can spare to the Red Cross, the Humane Society and to a local church sending some people to the region. Our checking account is stripped bare for the next 2 weeks. I did it without Collin's knowledge and he is not happy with me right now. I spoke to him tonight about me going down there to help. He has agreed that since I feel so strongly and an unable to be happy until I DO something that he will support our family for another month if I can go. I am supposed to start a job on Tuesday. I intend to speak to them about this first thing when I walk in and see if they will agree to let me put off my start date. Like many people, we live paycheck to paycheck with very little spending money or luxuries (although at this point, everything feels like a luxury to me...) Me going down there would severely diminish our life and our plans but I can't justify to myself living like this while my fellow Americans are suffering....At the same time, who am I to take away from my own family like that? (We help support my parents and my sister's 4 children along with ourselves.) So yes, I may be a hypocrite...but aren't so many of us? Look at these celebrities..."yes, I feel horrible, let me sing so my public image remains intact but God forbid I actually GO there and help." I HIGHLY doubt those starving people will even recognize Demi Moore in a baseball cap and Red Cross vest and will be just thankful that they have a meal....
America is a Very Very Very rich country. We have thousands if not tens of thousands of millionaires here. DO SOMETHING!!! Buy 10,000 mobile homes and set up a refugee camp in the fields of Texas! But Pepsi's entire stock of Aquafina and send it all down there on trucks. The Walmart in my town has cases and cases of water on it's shelves. WHY? Are they NOT rich enough? SEND IT SOUTH. The rest of us could do with a little humbling once in a while and a bit of a reality check. Richard, being from the Northeast, I have never really had to deal with any major natural disasters. Which is one reason among many, that I love my hometown. I will never forget when we had a crippling snowstorm (and it takes ALOT to cripple Syracuse NY with snow as it often gets the most snowfall of anywhere else in the entire WORLD!) and people were stuck in their homes and freezing and hungry. Travel was impossible, supplies were running short and the stores that were open were gouging people with the prices. It was embarrassing and ridiculous. At the same time, I remember watching TV and wondering how the rest of the world was going on like nothing had happened...It's scary and demeaning and you feel unimportant...I do not want this to be like that....This country should just STOP, take a deep breath, and get down there!!!!!!!
OK, I'm sorry if I sound like I am yelling. I am just so frustrated. I know I have opened myself up to naysayers and people attacking me for my views and actions or lack of. I understand, say what you will. But please understand the depths of my feelings and my good honest decent heart....I mean no harm, only help and I am certainly in no position to throw stomes at others like me and I am not. I'm sure many of you feel the same way that I do. And those that don't, well please express you opinions...perhaps it will help me get through in my own head.....

I love you all. Stay safe.

[RICHARD]

Originally posted by jennifert9
These people are thinking "someone will come help us. This is America." And then days and days go by and noone shows up. Can you imagine the horror?
.

What is more horrible?

The horror is expecting someone to show up and no one does- or having that someone show up late?


A bigger tragedy is if we never show up....


--------


Let’s pretend.

Let’s get a truck driver.
Let’s get a train engineer and a pilot

Ask them how much food and water they can carry in their vehicles.

Let’s find a place they can pick it up.

Now let’s get them to drive where they need to go to deliver those emergency supplies.

As the truck driver approaches the site he is not guaranteed gas because there is no electricity to run a gas pump, and if he does find gas, the roads and freeways are down or blocked.


That’s OK!! The train can deliver stuff!

But there is no electricity to run the signals!!!

If the rails have been washed away you can’t make a detour!!!

That’s OK the plane can deliver food!!!

But there is no electricity to run the lights, radar or radios…

Let’s just parachute the stuff in….if it falls into the water or falls on a person….OOPS!


One airplane is gonna feed a one thousand people, a truck, 500 and a train????

That will do for one day….what happens tomorrow?

Blankets, medicine, beds, clothes….

How much food do you leave behind to get that stuff on board?


Tell a diabetic we didn’t have room for insulin.
Tell a mom who’s newborn can’t breastfeed but needs a special formula
We didn’t have room for that because of the insulin for the diabetic.
Forget them….
Let’s make room for a stretcher for the 12 year old kid with a fractured skull.
NO Let’s get the 89 year old woman some water and for get everyone else.


Let’s tell the other 15,000 people at the side of the plane, truck and train that we don’t have any more for them!!!

They will understand.


No, we aren’t fast enough.

But WE ARE ENOUGH…


You cannot let the people that have died so far be forgotten.
We will remember them and what happened the next time we get knocked down.

This is not a movie where Tom or Arnold or Indiana Jones leads the group in that saves the day.

It’s real life.

Don’t be so quick to toss a jab at the whole system. When we can decide who lives and who dies, in a situation like that, we will be gods.


Until then we just have to live and learn together.

[momoffuzzyfaces]

QUESTION: WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO THE 4 SHIPS THAT WERE ON THE WAY THERE?
Did the ever get there? I've not heard a PEEP on any of the stations about them. Why can't some of the people be put on the ships and taken other places.

Know what else I think? Well, I'm going to share it anyway!:D
I think the government should take the military bases they are planning on closing and instead rig them up to hold disaster refugees. It would not cost that much to keep them up after they are fitted out. Surley not cost as much as the cost in lives as they scramble around trying to get their act together now.

Remember: the government itself says it's not a question of IF, but WHEN that we will have another terrorist attack too. The weather channel is saying there is a 43% chance of the US getting hit with another hurricane this season. I can see such shelters needed sometime in the future and having them already ready would sure help.

They also need to find an alternate method of communication. Maybe some type of battery powered equipment. How about police scanner type things or walkie talkies or something. It's something they really need because electricity will be the first thing to go in a disaster.

[Lady's Human]

As far as using military bases to house refugees, I'd say it was a great idea, but most of the bases that are closing are closing because the infrastructure in the base needs huge $$$ to remain effective. When Fort Devens in Mass was closed, the proposal was made to take the military housing on Devens and use it for low income and homeless shelters. The answer was that it could not legally be done, as the base housing (fine for soldiers) was not up to section eight standards, and the liability that would be incurred by using old buildings with asbestos in them would be astronomical.

The military has a lot of battery powered equipment, and the LA National Guard has battery powered equipment, but the Governor of LA did not call out the National Guard until it was already too late.

On the Positive side, the Military side of the Relief effort is being led by LTG Russell Honore. If there's a way to get it done, He'll find it. I spent my last year on active duty up at FT Drum under his command. His orders to his staff are simple.....Get it done. If it doesn't get done, there's hell to pay. (Note to the Mayor of N.O. ......stop whining, it isn't going to win you any points in staff meetings) His "nom de guerre" is the Ragin Cajun.

[Pam]

Originally posted by RICHARD


"I am only here for camera time....."



Let's not forget Geraldo who is already there and who we could do without. :rolleyes:

[momoffuzzyfaces]

Originally posted by Lady's Human

On the Positive side, the Military side of the Relief effort is being led by LTG Russell Honore. If there's a way to get it done, He'll find it. I spent my last year on active duty up at FT Drum under his command. His orders to his staff are simple.....Get it done. If it doesn't get done, there's hell to pay. (Note to the Mayor of N.O. ......stop whining, it isn't going to win you any points in staff meetings) His "nom de guerre" is the Ragin Cajun.
:D They showed LTG Russell Honore on the news this morning. I wonder if he would be interested in running for president? I'd sure vote for him!!!:D

[RICHARD]

Originally posted by Pam
Let's not forget Geraldo who is already there and who we could do without. :rolleyes:

What if they threw a disaster and Geraldo didn't come???


Shepard Smith has been doing a slam bang job of promoting stupidity too.

:rolleyes: :rolleyes:

[Lady's Human]

MOFF, are these the ships you were referring to?

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,168407,00.html

[momoffuzzyfaces]

Originally posted by Lady's Human
MOFF, are these the ships you were referring to?

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,168407,00.html No. The ones I meant were the US battle ships. I think they may be there now because I've been seeing helicopters like the ones they carry toops in flying around. I would have thought the news would let everyone know they are there though.
Maybe that's what Geraldo is gushing over. He's really excited about something. I thought it was because the National Guard had more people come.

:)

[RICHARD]

the US warships, (kinda funny, warships being sent to save lives!!) are in the process of getting there.

You have to remember that these ships are at dock and some are being fitted, fixed and serviced.

We have to make sure that the ships can do the job, there are sailors to assign to the vessels and supplies to be loaded on board.


There are major logistical factors that must be tended to before a rescue mission can be sent.

The people in the affected areas will tolerate nothing less than 100%.

----------------------------------

I am really sorry that people are suffering down there. BUT I AM REALLY SADDENED BY THE FACT THAT WE DO NOT HAVE ANY MORE PATIENCE.

The Bataan is on station in the Gulf at the moment and there is a hospital ship at dock, I do not remember where and another ship was sent from it's home port in virginia just today.

http://www.bataan.navy.mil/


By the way,
The commander of the Bataan is a woman....


:cool:

[Lady's Human]

Speaking of patience,

One forgotten issue in all this that the media has just started to realise, or maybe they've realised it and are just not bothering to report it, is that the federal government CANNOT just step in and take over. The assistance has to be requested by the political leadership in the affected areas.

http://www.cnn.com/2005/WEATHER/09/03/katrina.unusedgear/index.html

If it's not requested through channels, it cannot move. It could move in minutes if the request was made, but the request has to go in first, which is the case with much of the federal disaster aid materiel and personnel. It appears that the local politicians wanted to handle this themselves, then when they couldn't handle it sent the calls for help too late.

[momoffuzzyfaces]

Originally posted by Lady's Human
Speaking of patience,

One forgotten issue in all this that the media has just started to realise, or maybe they've realised it and are just not bothering to report it, is that the federal government CANNOT just step in and take over. The assistance has to be requested by the political leadership in the affected areas.

http://www.cnn.com/2005/WEATHER/09/03/katrina.unusedgear/index.html

If it's not requested through channels, it cannot move. It could move in minutes if the request was made, but the request has to go in first, which is the case with much of the federal disaster aid materiel and personnel. It appears that the local politicians wanted to handle this themselves, then when they couldn't handle it sent the calls for help too late. I thought it was reguested in advance. That was the reason they declared the areas disaster area's even before the hurricane even hit??? :confused:

[lizbud]

So, several cities covering roughly the size of Great Britian, has
an enemy attack, major emergency of any kind and they have
lost all power to communicate their need and the Federal Gov.
would never step in to help?

[Lady's Human]

Attacks from an enemy are far different from natural disasters. Different playbooks entirely. One is a purely military response, the other is a MSCA (Military support to civil authorities) response.

What LTG Honore and the rest of the military team are doing is covered by MSCA, and there are specific guidelines that the civilian leadership is well versed in following. The military routinely has exercises with civil authorities to cover those contingencies.

[Sus]

one's sympathy in case of a national disaster? I'm sad that Katrina hit your country so hard and caused so much destruction. It took a while before I realized that it was really really bad - when I first heard about it, I thought it was "just another hurricane - they get them all the time - they're probably used to it - they know what to do - it's no big deal".

But now...:eek: :eek: I'm appalled to see just how bad things are. Earlier today I read the Thursday 122-thread, and someone (don't remember who) asked why the rest of the world doesn't react or send help when it's the americans who are in dire straits. Last night when I watched the news coverage I was thinking exactly that, and I felt quite irritated and embarrassed by the lack of response from the danish government and my fellow danes!

Luckily, tonight, they said on TV that 30 countries - including Denmark - have promised to send help. So now I'm releaved! They also said that one of the reasons why the help is getting out there so slowly is 1) because the american government or officials have been reluctant to accept the help being offered, and 2) that they need time to find out what kind of help is needed where and in which order. It must be difficult to organize.

I sincerely hope that people in need of help will get that help soon.

Lots og love,
Sus and the Bellacat

[lizbud]

Originally posted by momoffuzzyfaces
I thought it was reguested in advance. That was the reason they declared the areas disaster area's even before the hurricane even hit??? :confused:


Sorry, we skipped over this question. I really would like to
know the answer to that myself.

Isn't FEMA a conglomerate of about 24 different Departments
and Agencies?

[popcornbird]

Originally posted by RICHARD


I am really sorry that people are suffering down there. BUT I AM REALLY SADDENED BY THE FACT THAT WE DO NOT HAVE ANY MORE PATIENCE.



Patience??? What patience? People are DYING, many everyday, and you are speaking of PATIENCE? My GOSH! I'd like to see what you'd do if you were in the situation of those suffering, those seeing dead bodies floating around them, and more people dying...those who haven't eaten all week, those who are getting terrible illnesses from the water. And you speak of PATIENCE? The world's richest country, and we couldn't drop food to the victims by helipoters from day 1. Sorry, but we should feel ashamed of ourselves as a country. These are OUR people. OUR own American people. We need to do more. WAY more. And you are saying we need patience? LORD. The reporters are crying along with the people. That is the intensity of the situation. I have NEVER seen reporters cry. And you speak of patience. Patience? This is not something to take easy. It is a disaster so great it has made that region of the US worse than a 3rd world country. You don't realize how many lives are being lost?? Sheesh...While we're patient, let another million people that could have been saved perish. :(

[Paul]

   Lady's Human, for years I have heard people complaining that FEMA had too much power and could step in and take over at any time in a disaster. Now the Department of Homeland Security has primary responsibility for terrorist attacks, natural disasters or other large-scale emergencies providing a coordinated, comprehensive federal response to any large-scale crisis and mounting a swift and effective recovery effort.

   On Sunday, I read the New Orleans National Weather Service report online and wondered why the media was not covering their forecast:

MOST OF THE AREA WILL BE UNINHABITABLE FOR WEEKS...PERHAPS LONGER
POWER OUTAGES WILL LAST FOR WEEKS...
WATER SHORTAGES WILL MAKE HUMAN SUFFERING INCREDIBLE BY MODERN STANDARDS.

   On Monday the President issued disaster and emergency declarations.

   Years after the Y2k preparedness, September 11th, the establishment of the Department of Homeland Security and while in a state of war, it's unbelievable how totally unprepared our country is. We have paid billions to prepare for a terrorist attack but we are unprepared for a disaster given days of warning.

   Given the poor and overwhelmed media coverage I would not blame Mayor Nagin. I imagine his actions have saved hundreds of thousands of lives. The only way I can imagine you blaming him would be if you said he was on vacation.

   All government officials should have had General Honore's attitude from Mayor Nagin to the President.

      Paul

[Lady's Human]

Paul,

My main confusion in this is not with Mayor Nagin's actions. I just think his post disaster reaions could have been a little better. He reminds me of a commander I had when I was in the field and our field site was hit by a tornado. He ran to our higher HQ in his skivvies and stammerred to our BC "sir, M-16's, tents, gone, tornado, " and a few other incoherent statements. The BC asked him "Mark, what about your people?" after which the CO said a few obscenities and ran back to our AO to check on us.

The main questions I would like to see answered once the situation is well in hand are:

First, why was the LA National guard not mobilized and directing the evacuation of NO from the beginning?

Second, Why were schoolbuses destroyed in the flooding? They should have been loaded with every soul in the area and moved north. Instead they now lie rusting in place.

Third, something needs to be done so the Federal Government CAN just react and not wait until all the "i"s are dotted and the "t"s are crossed. Those troops from hood should have been moving out as soon as possible, not waiting on the Governor's request.

The ball was dropped in many areas, and I hope that the rulebook gets re-written.

[lizbud]

Originally posted by Paul


   Years after the Y2k preparedness, September 11th, the establishment of the Department of Homeland Security and while in a state of war, it's unbelievable how totally unprepared our country is. We have paid billions to prepare for a terrorist attack but we are unprepared for a disaster given days of warning.

   Given the poor and overwhelmed media coverage I would not blame Mayor Nagin. I imagine his actions have saved hundreds of thousands of lives. The only way I can imagine you blaming him would be if you said he was on vacation.

   All government officials should have had General Honore's attitude from Mayor Nagin to the President.

      Paul


Amen brother. I believe it took Mayor Nagin to publicly say
what a lot of Americans were thinking & wished they could have
said. And say it in plain desparate English. Get off your A****
and send help now.

[RICHARD]

Originally posted by lizbud
So, several cities covering roughly the size of Great Britian, has
an enemy attack, major emergency of any kind and they have
lost all power to communicate their need and the Federal Gov.
would never step in to help?


You are absolutely correct.


Just like 9/11 - everyone knew, especially GWB, that four planes were gonna be hijacked and pinballed into the ground.


Please.

Everyone wants the government not to meddle, but let's get a teat in the wringer and Uncle Sam should come out to assist?


One thing that everyone fights about is a fricking national ID card.

Guess what? you lose your wallet and all your ID...... With your finger print on file you could go into a Social Security Office, present your thumb and get some money, disaster assistance..

Your finger print lets some one know you are OK. and it also lets your loved ones know if that is your body they find in the water.

A new driver's license? same thing.
IT's too easy and my civil rights are gonna be violated.
-----------------------


PCB,

I have lived thru ALL of these earthquakes. a flood or hurricane no, never thank god.

1971 6.7 San Fernando (Sylmar)
1973 5.9 Point Mugu
1979 5.2 Malibu
1981 5.5 Santa Barbara Island
1987 5.9 Whittier Narrows
1988 5.0 Pasadena
1989 5.0 Malibu
1990 5.3 Upland
1991 5.8 Sierra Madre
1994 6.7 Northridge

If you remember the last natural disaster you were in you had to wait for electricity, gas and the water to be declared safe to use again.

You learn patience after you find that you are safe, can fend for yourself and don't need the help others do.


Think about this
Those who do not die in the initial disaster will die of
Injuries, post event
Preexsisting conditions
giving up the will to live after losing everything they own.


I really thought is was great that the reporters picked the most dramatic, most pained and distraught people to interview.

It just primes the hysteria and ill will towards all the good that is being done.

Patience is better than running headlong into a darkened room,
You'll find the opposite wall with your head...

P.s. read the post about the Planes, Trains and Trucks, I am sure you have a better way of getting tons of supplies into that situation.

[carole]

PCB you took the words right out of my mouth, I agree 100 percent with you, yes I would like to see if we were in these poor people's unbearable situations just how much patience we would have.

I don't confess to know all the politics about this, but all I can see is that NOT enough is being done to help these poor people, I am astounded, it seemed when the Tsunami hit that aid was pouring in left right and center, but this is YOUR people and it is NOT happening, I just cannot understand it all and don't proclaim to, but I just cannot fathom what is happening here.

[Lady's Human]

Carole and PCB,

The aid IS flowing in, but CNN et al prefer to show the negative and not the positive. (No ratings in positive coverage)

To expand a little on my comments about Mayor Nagin, let me put it this way. It's fine to have a meltdown when you're a leader. Hell, it would be inhuman not to occasionaly. BUT...

In a crisis, you're the one people are looking to for leadership. Have your meltdown in private. Scream at people over the phone, in your office, tent, wherever, but not in front of the media. All it does is stir the hysteria.

[carole]

Thank you for explaining things, after all we here down under only have what we see in the media to go by, I know there is more to it all than just what we are seeing, but what we are seeing is terribly distressing all the same.

[RICHARD]

Here's a story I just saw on the tube.


28 preemie babies, who where holed up in a hospital in N.O. for the entire storm, were flown to safety today.


They survived the whole ordeal, as one doctor said, you have to bend a baby pretty far to get it to break.


Now if one of those babies had died, you would hear about it....Not the child's name or sex.........just it's death.

And you were have heard the outcry.

In the Mexico City quake a few years ago there were a newborns who were buried alive and rescued.....True miracle babies.


Here?

just babies that were saved.

The fact that preemie babies REQUIRE more attention that a regular newborn belies the fact that the staff at that facility were
true angels....

No interviews with heroes......

-------------------------------------------

And I heard about the huge woman who was complaining about the food....She would not eat the military meals because they were cold.

I do hope they show that some of the victims of Katrina are suffering.

And I do hope that they show the ungrateful victims also.

You will hear from the victims who will complain about the lack of---------.

But you won't see them thank god, the aid workers or the soldiers that pulled their FAT out of the fire.

For every person who is complaining about the lack of, there are 10 who made it thru and are just thankful.




LH,

There is a saying in the media,


If it doesn't bleed, It doesn't lead.


As in, people like blood, not saved babies.

:o :confused:

--------------------------

The Rev Jesse Jackson showed up with 7 buses, no food or water...Just buses to move people around...

And he stayed well away from the crowds.....

A.H.!

[RICHARD]

Lt Gen Russel Honore just gave a press conference and gave no excuses, just reasons as to why it has taken so long to get aid to the stricken area.

This man is someone to watch.


He gave a very simple explanation, no technical BS and did, in 5 minutes, what all the politicians couldn't do over the last 5 days.

He was able to explain the logistics and the reasons why it took so long to get the ball rolling for these victims.


Again,

A HUGE THANK YOU to everyone in uniform for their tireless efforts.



------------------------------------------


One more thing that has stuck in my craw in the political correctness that some people have begun to talk about....

Refugees.


Don't call the victims of Katrina, refugees.


One talk show host was outraged that the term be used for American citizens. You can have refugees all across the world-
but not in America.

It's that kind of attitude that makes me shake my head and wonder what the world thinks about us.

We have nothing to fear but fear itself-
And a bunch of politically correct idiots.


:rolleyes: :confused: :o :mad:

[sirrahbed]

I have to keep rotating channels of news to try and sift through the reports....today I have on Foxnews and it is report after report of positive things that are being done.

Try changing channels now and then?? It is hard to get through the political correctness to get to the truth. I keep hearing "Biblical proportions" and I have to agree... I am glad to hear people thanking God because some of us do thank Him every single day....even for bad things that happen.

This horrible tragedy....but God is still in control, especially when it is very hard to see anything good.

Maybe God is trying to get our attention? He has never left.

So yes, there are always positive things going on but we have to look harder for them because they don't increase the ratings to report. People will always be drawn to bad news...the same way many folks cannot turn away when passing an automobile wreck on the highway....horror is more intrigueing....or perhaps we look because we are so thankful that we are spared??

I am trying very hard to see the positive here....and I am far from a Pollyanna.....but the negative press reports are not how it is. Please keep switching the news channels....

[momoffuzzyfaces]

I've been watching Fox news mostly. They are showing rescues. Just now they pulled two men AND THEIR DOG! off a roof. I was so afraid they'd leave the dog there.

Earlier there was a family who were still in their house. They got them to come out and the family just left the dogs in the house. :(

Right now they are pulling a man off a roof that he is hanging on to. :)

[sirrahbed]

Originally posted by momoffuzzyfaces
Just now they pulled two men AND THEIR DOG! off a roof. I was so afraid they'd leave the dog there.
:)

:D I just saw this - probably a repeat....but the first man goes in the basket and this little dog is running all around....then the last man gets into a basket and a rescuer leans down, picks up the little dog - maybe a doxie.. and hands him the dog:D I was so afraid to see the dog left but they sent him up too:D

[Karen]

We saw that one - it was actually a little chocolate-and-tan chihuahua! I kept thinking - "Okay, get the dog, c'mon, get the dog" and they did! :) :)

[sirrahbed]

Originally posted by Karen
We saw that one - it was actually a little chocolate-and-tan chihuahua! I kept thinking - "Okay, get the dog, c'mon, get the dog" and they did! :) :)

Me too Karen - I was talking to the TV:D As far as the dog....I got the "little" part right:rolleyes: It was a cute little thing;)

[momoffuzzyfaces]

Now, this one has me confused: there has been an elderly lady talking to Fox news asking for help. She was in her home and said she had food and water but stayed for her elderly dog. They asked if she would leave if they got help to her and she said yes if she could bring her dog too.

Enter Geraldo to the rescue: lady saved - she had no food or water - no mention on if the dog was saved too.

However: HOW DID SHE CALL IN TO FOX NEWS SINCE SHE HAD NO PHONE SERVICE? :confused:

They were airing the conversations with her, sure sounded like she was talking to them on a phone to me.

[RICHARD]

Rusty the dog and the woman were saved by Geraldo,

I take back all the bad things I said about him.

:rolleyes:

_------------------------

Anderson Cooper and Christiane Amanpour were on CNN
telling eveyone there was no phone service at all.

--------------------------------


THIS STORY aired on Friday night.

A man rode out the storm but his neighbors drowned.

The neighbor's body was left ourside in the yard.

There was another neighbor a few doors down who also survived.


They left the body in the yard...they then waited two days for the fire department to come and remove the body-

Their complaint?

They took too long to get there to remove the body...

:rolleyes:

[elizabethann]

I just saw Geraldo saving the elderly lady and her elderly dog too. But they are now showing a downed Coast Guard helicopter. I think everybody is alive but there are injuries.

What's this about some contractors being killed on the bridge? I heard the cops shot them? If true, how awful.

[elizabethann]

O.K. well NOW they're saying it's a civilian helicopter AND contractors were not killed (but the people who were shooting at them).

[Scooby4]

The media is jumping to conclusions or making assumptions BEFORE proof is presented. The downed helicopter was a civilian craft. There were 2 civilians on board and they both survived with minor cuts/bruises. It was a Coast Guard helicopter that came to the rescue. The cause of the crash was unknown. However, the news media Presented Speclative information and tried to "correlate" the location of the shooting to the location of the helicopter. There were 5-6 gun men who had opened gun fire on Core Engineer workers. The police returned fire and killed the shooters. Why the gang was shooting at the workers is still unkown.
I first saw the pictures of the downed helicopter and assumed it was a coast guard one as well at first. The reporter stated it was one. I took a closer look and it didn't match a typical Coast Guard helicopter or have it's markings. About 5 minutes after that, they announced it was civillian.
That got me even more furiated at the press!:mad: There doesn't seem to be anymore "Professional Journalist" anymore. Is it just me or is there a decline in journalism? A professional journalist should provide the pictures but offer no exact details until officials report it. A cause of this helicopter crash can't be determined until the FAA makes a determination. NOT the press!
I say give us a media break!!! Let the pictures say the words not the paid cut throat journalist out to make a name for themselves. I can't stand one more journalist expressing opinions and then saying "but that isn't confirmed...." They put the "elephant" in the room and leave it:rolleyes: Quite frankly, I am tired of picking up Elephant dung!!! No wonder the government gives away cheese! They are trying to attract mice to scare the elephant's away!!!:p

[cute_pup]

They always like to show the bad side of people. i think its because most people are more interested in the bad than good.

Not me.

[momoffuzzyfaces]

A WHACK! upside head for the media for every time they ask someone a question or their opinion or what they experienced then keep either butting in before they can tell their story or butting in and saying, "thanks but we have to go now!" (read: somethinge more interesting is happening than YOUR story/opinion)!!!! GRRRRRRRR!!!!

They are saying now that the chopper than is down is an animal rescue chopper. JUST GREAT!!! AS IF THE POOR ANIMALS AREN'T HAVING A BAD ENOUGH TIME, THEY LOSE ONE OF THE ONLY HELPS THEY HAVE IN THIS MESS!:(

[RICHARD]

One news report stated that none of the levees were compromised.

how true is that??? I don't know....but it was also reported that the flood channel collapse was partly to blame for the flooding.

-------------------------------------

I was watching Gen. Honore's walking among the troops and public.

This guy rocks.

There were trucks loaded with cops and soldiers passing by where he was standing.

There was no audio playing at the time....

He was motioning to his troops and the cops to secure their weapons.....He yelled at one cop to drop the barrel of his rifle down..the cop, a little stunned did as the Gen. said....

He also was giving instructions to another soldier and asked him, "Can you do this???" The soldier said, "Yes".

Honore then told him, "You are the man!!"

------------------

Honore also did a face to face with some dip sh-- reporter
who asked him about the dead bodies that were scattered around the area.

The reporter challeneged him about the people complaining about the dbs...


Honore said that he had to choose between the living and the dead....


"What would YOU do???" He challeneged the reporter.....

They cut the interview at that point and showed clips of the city.

----------------------------------------

As horrible as this whole event is, it is a wakeup call to America as to what the rest of the planet goes thru during a disaster.

We are spoiled by INSTANT everything.

We are spoiled by picking up a phone and calling for help.

We are spoiled by not having to get off our lazy arses and getting things done.

We even order our pizza over the internet...I know, I do.....

That is the story that the media should cover.....

Just how spoiled, lazy and whiny some of the people of America are..


America is a great place.....It's some of the people that screw it up.


:rolleyes:

[lizbud]

An interesting article on FEMA's lack of response.


http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-fema5sep05,0,685581.story?coll=la-home-headlines

[Lady's Human]

Only one problem with that article. It lays the blame for FEMA budget cuts on the administration. Congress, NOT the President, writes and approves the budget. Congress also wrote and aproved the legislation creating DHS and folding FEMA into the DHS.

The vote in the Senate was 90-9 in favor of the bill. The House vote was 295-132. Evidently Congress, regardless of it's current carping, thought it was a good idea, and with the incumbency rate well above 90% I'd be fairly comfortable with the assumption that those who are carping about the state of FEMA now voted in favor of the Bill.

[lizbud]

Are you saying that a Republican (this time) President has
no influence or leadership role in getting legislation (from a majority Republican ) House & Senate passed?

[delidog]

Yes,I agree...That new General (3stars,I believe)

Honore...Is the Man to watch...He is the New Patton...
He Stepped In and Took Control.....Thats' what the Sick,Injured,hungry,tired and elderly needed.....

They could not overpower the FEW Uneducated that the media focused on...and ultimately blew out of control..

He Is The Man of this Disaster...Bush can fly in and shake hands as much as he wants...

Gen.Honore Made Things HAPPEN in New Orleans,and restored order...so Rescue Could begin
We Thank You Gen. Honore

[dukedogsmom]

I agree that he is awesome! I was watching him a bit this morning. Good that someone could get the job done.
Richard, I love it when he put that reporter in his place. I can't stand the press!

[Lady's Human]

Are you saying that a Republican (this time) President has no influence or leadership role in getting legislation (from a majority Republican ) House & Senate passed?


Liz,

Not at all. What I am saying is that the DHS Bill passed by a large majority, much larger than a party-line vote. There were more than the 50+ Republican Senators and 220+ Republican Congressmen who voted in favor of it. If the vote was close, the case could be made that the white house strongarmed the legislation through. That's not the case here, 88 democrats voted for it in the house, and 30+ voted for it in the senate.

[Scooby4]

You also forgot to notice that Senator Lott has a home in Mississippi as does several other senators/representatives.:cool: Hmm, I wonder if a disaster bill would get signed faster when the majority leader owns a house in the area affected?:rolleyes: :p

[RICHARD]

Originally posted by lizbud
An interesting article on FEMA's lack of response.


http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-fema5sep05,0,685581.story?coll=la-home-headlines

Aha, the local fishwrap here....

The Los Angeles Times is great.

Should you read it in the bathroom, like I do, it distracts you from the methane produced!


It all comes down to money.

Everyone (you and I) don't want to pay taxes, so wer strong arm our legislators and get pissed off when the special interest groups get their hooks into their skin.

If we all payed attention there would be no crooked politicians, we only have ourselves to blame

-----------------------------------

There was a few stories tonight on the telly.

One was of a woman who was working at Walmart, 4 days after she was stranded next to the Superdome.. Walmart offered positions to all employees who lost their jobs in the storm,


Another story was of a woman who was relocated to Houston...

what was she doing her third or fourth day there?

Riding the bus lines looking for the place where she was going to start her new life over.

----------------------------------

and then there was the woman who called a local El Lay radio station to lament the fact that her daugther's first year of law school was ruined because of the hurricane.

The gal escaped to Shreveport, Louisiana with her roommate.

Both were attending Temple Uni (????)

Three states got kicked in the crotch and this woman was worried about her daughter's career as a lawyer.


She probably wouldn't graduate in time to take part in the lawsuits against FEMA and the government....

An opportunity wasted....:rolleyes: :eek:

[delidog]

Yes,I saw those stories....Grrr!! Not to All of them,Just that one

[momoffuzzyfaces]

Originally posted by RICHARD


We even order our pizza over the internet...I know, I do.....

:eek: You can order pizza over the INTERNET?

If General Honore ever runs for President, he's got my vote no matter who runs against him. :D

[Lady's Human]

MOFF< you can order pizza pretty much anywhere. We had a Domino's at Fort hood that would deliver to anywhere in the training areas.

More on media coverage.....

For all the hits FEMA and the Bush Administration have been taking, mull this over for a minute:

It has been known for DECADES that the NO levees couldn't take the hit that Katrina gave them. Instead of funding the levees, we have Interstate highways to nowwhere (WV and AK), federally funded trailers for lawnmower racers, and a new tunnel in Boston, among other federally funded boondoggles. (yes, I know the big dig alleviated traffic, but at $22 Billion and still counting?)

Also:

Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco declared a state of emergency on Friday before the storm hit. But she waited until Tuesday to order New Orleans evacuated. President Bush had called her before the storm hit and urged her to force an evacuation, but she chose not to. The only mandatory evacuation order was given by the mayor the day before Katrina hit, and he lacked the resources to enforce it. The first buses did not arrive at the Superdome until Wednesday.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency deserves a great deal of criticism for its inability to cope with the disaster. But The Washington Post reported last week that FEMA's standard emergency plan "advises state and local emergency managers not to expect federal aid for 72 to 96 hours, and base their own preparedness efforts on the need to be self-sufficient for at least that period."

http://www.theunionleader.com/articles_showfast.html?article=60048

Local and state disaster administrators are indeed given that warning. It was re-iterated to the state of LA during a FEMA drill in 2004 not to expect aid for that period of time.

The Governor could have ordered the LA national guard in, but she waited. The mayor could have ordered the fleet of 2000 schood buses to be used for the evactuation, but he didn't. State and local disaster agencies KNOW they have to have plans in place to cover the time between the disaster and the time federal help arrives, obviously they failed.

Instead of pointing the finger at everyone, the media chooses to blame the Bush administration.

[momoffuzzyfaces]

Originally posted by Lady's Human

Instead of pointing the finger at everyone, the media chooses to blame the Bush administration. The media has had it's nose out of joint ever since the election. I'm surprised they aren't blaming the hurricane on the Bush administration. Probably will, as soon as they can figure out how to do it. ;)

[lizbud]

Bush calls for an investigation into the slow response of
Government.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/nation/katrina/20050906-1022-katrina-washington.html

[RICHARD]

Originally posted by momoffuzzyfaces
:eek: You can order pizza over the INTERNET?

If General Honore ever runs for President, he's got my vote no matter who runs against him. :D


I am a freaking lazy American....I know these things.


-------------------------------

Make that TWO votes.

--------------------------------

Twice I have heard this news report on the USS Bataan..

It was being pushed into dock by a tug yesterday.....

That it was capable of holding 600 patients and capable of distilling 10,000 gallons of water per day.

It was also reported that the ship rode out the storm in 14 foot waves but wasn't able to contribute to the evacuation/assistance effort because no orders were given to the captain of the ship.


Hmmmmmmmmmm...

http://www.bataan.navy.mil/


Check out the updated site and tell me how effed up the media is.....By the way, Ted Koeppel was the newscaster who first reported that the Bataan was floating around the Gulf with nowhere to go and nothing to do.....

[Lady's Human]

The Bataan has a 600 bed hospital? DAMN, those marines get all the good toys......damned seagoing bellhops.

For a ship that had gptten no orders, it sounds like they've been damned busy.

[RICHARD]

Originally posted by Lady's Human
The Bataan has a 600 bed hospital? DAMN, those marines get all the good toys......damned seagoing bellhops.

For a ship that had gptten no orders, it sounds like they've been damned busy.
Actually the Bataan is a smaller version of an Navy aircraft carrier.

It has the capability to take care of 600 wounded/injured people.

Typical jarheads, put them on a boat and they'll do anything to get back on land.;)

[RICHARD]

I have another gripe about the disaster coverage.

It's the grossout factor.


The Superdome is a huge stadium.

They have tons of plastic bags and cleaning supplies.

Why was everyone going to the bathroom all over the place???

HAD ANYONE thought of putting some plastic bags into trash cans and setting up a system to isolate the human waste?

[Scooby4]

This reaffirms the theory that the nastiest filthiest creatures on earth are HUMANS:eek: :rolleyes: !!! Think about it... All other animals do have a built in "clean up system". Have you ever been to the jungle and seen "trash" thrown about? Not by the animals!!! How about the ocean? There are billions of animals living in the sea, yet it can be clean and fresh!!!
Humans truly are the MOST unhygenic creatures. We throw about waste and create more of it.:o We couldn't keep ourselves clean without water! The apes atleast pick and eat bugs out of eachothers hairs. There is even a fish that cleans a shark!!! Humans just become crustier and nastier without a bath.
This disaster has shown just how much "nastier" us humans are to are animal counterparts. Once the the city's are evacuated, let's watch what the other animals will do to them. I am sure they would be cleaned up and picked dry if we let a small zoo loose in the places!!!
By the way Richard, Jarheads go to land to sea - legs!!! :rolleyes: :D Get it? Sea-legs!!! on boat long-time...get sea-legs... :cool: :p

[RICHARD]

The Hispanic media has jumped upon the bandwagon in bashing the U.S.


Now, I am an American-Mexican, so I can play the race card here.

-------------------

I saw one interview about how these people, who are citizens of the U.S., were not given any assistance by FEMA because the are hispanic.

Their residence was flooded so they said that they 'placed a call to FEMA' and were denied help.

LIke FEMA is gonna run down to their driveway and help them out?

The charge? racism....They hung up on them...

The other story concerned the illegal aliens who are running around making the same allegations.

Of course, they are avoiding any contact with any officials because the are afraid of being deported. The US customs service
does have men in the area and these people think it's a plot to round them up....

I think that we have better things to do at the moment that to check your papers.:rolleyes:

[momoffuzzyfaces]

Originally posted by RICHARD

I think that we have better things to do at the moment that to check your papers.:rolleyes: What papers? I thought they would have been lost in the flood? :confused:

Won't be able to tell an illegal from a legal resident now, I should think.

Gee Whiz: no wonder things were such a mess when the disaster hit: right now Fox News is interviewing the Govenor of LA. The Mayor of NO says everyone MUST leave, no matter what, they will be forced to go. The Govenor is saying NO. The water will be tested first to see if it's contaminated.

HELLO GOVENOR!!! CAN YOU SAY SEWAGE AND DEAD BODIES!!! :eek:

[momoffuzzyfaces]

By the way, the tests are back on the water this morning. The water is only contaminated 10% above the highest safe level. Don't think I'd care to use it! :eek:

[RICHARD]

I am not enamoured of the fact that reporters are 'Making the news" not reporting it.
David Jackson did a report on a rescue last night.

A man was rescued but was not allowed to take the black Lab, that did not belong to him, with him.

After his report the TV station was flooded (no pun intended) with calls about the dog.

Jackson and his crew went back, in the dead of night and rescued the dog.

Jackson said they will try to find the owners, if not she was coming to Lost Angeles to be homed with one of the crew members.

The dogs new name??

Katrina.:D

[joycenalex]

does anyone know much about the coast guard vice admiral who's 'helping' out in NO? heard his interview on npr this am, it sounds as tho there will be some changes made asap. GO GUARD!!!

[carole]

My mother was reading in the English Tabloid that an English couple were caught up in it and were in the superdome, they said it was Hell on Earth, a young girl was raped and then later killed, they were saying it was going on all the time, and they did not dare close their eyes for fear of being killed, I really don't know whether it is true or not, but if so this is shocking.

[RICHARD]

Originally posted by carole
, I really don't know whether it is true or not, but if so this is shocking.


Wait until you get a load of the two mutilated bodies they showed on the news tonight....there was another pic of two bodies in a wheel chair that they deemed too graphic to show...

All in New ORleans

[momoffuzzyfaces]

Originally posted by RICHARD
Wait until you get a load of the two mutilated bodies they showed on the news tonight....there was another pic of two bodies in a wheel chair that they deemed too graphic to show...

All in New ORleans You know, I wonder if they realize the houses they checked that were under water will need to be rechecked?? Some of them have a big x near the attic part. Maybe some people couldn't get that high and are dead in the lower part of the house. :(

Doesn't seem to be a whole lot of thinking going on on any level for this disaster.

I saw the pics of the floating bodies. Totally uncalled for! :(

[RICHARD]

Originally posted by momoffuzzyfaces


I saw the pics of the floating bodies. Totally uncalled for! :(

it's all the same people who want to bring us the flag draped coffins of the soldiers...:mad:

[momoffuzzyfaces]

BREAKING NEWS:
Michael Brown has just been removed from FEMA.

[RICHARD]

Originally posted by momoffuzzyfaces
BREAKING NEWS:
Michael Brown has just been removed from FEMA. well that will help all the people affected.

[joycenalex]

...more likely that the vice admiral will be helpful....sigh, what a screw up the whole thing has been. god rest all those souls who died, amen, blessed be

[lizbud]

Michael Brown sent back to Washington? Hum, guess George
Bush was just BS' ing when two days ago he said that "Brownie
was doing a heck of a job" I'm glad someone clued him in to the
reality.

[RICHARD]

Originally posted by lizbud
Michael Brown sent back to Washington? Hum, guess George
Bush was just BS' ing when two days ago he said that "Brownie
was doing a heck of a job" I'm glad someone clued him in to the
reality.

Like I saw in the LA Times today.....


You don't need experience to be the head of FEMA..


apply!!!;)

[momoffuzzyfaces]

Is it just me ????

Or does the media (especially CNN) seem a mite disappointed that they may not have the body count in the thousands they were expecting? :rolleyes:

Well, hurricane Ophelia is heading toward the east coast now so that will give them something else to dwell on for a while. I'm praying she doesn't come ashore myself.:(

[RICHARD]

Originally posted by momoffuzzyfaces
Is it just me ????

Or does the media (especially CNN) seem a mite disappointed that they may not have the body count in the thousands they were expecting? :rolleyes:

Well, hurricane Ophelia is heading toward the east coast now so that will give them something else to dwell on for a while. I'm praying she doesn't come ashore myself.:(

Anderson Cooper, one of my favorite broadcasters was acting like to JERK to the head of the NOPD.


Ambush journlaism??

Accent on the BUSH.....he ragged on this poor guy over and over..


I really have lost any respect for those talking heads.

----------------------------------------


The Lost ANgeles Times ran an article about the levee situation in NO.


Prez JOHNSON had given the green light for the levees to be fixed.

There was a LAWSUIT, AN ENVIROMENTAL LAWSUIT THAT WENT AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT in 1977.
It looks like the treehuggers, thesame groups that I had aligned myself with back then, won that suit...


Fast Forward thrity years......the same people who were against that kind of work are the same people railing against the gov't. for their slow response.


I am embarrarssed.

[momoffuzzyfaces]

Originally posted by RICHARD
Anderson Cooper, one of my favorite broadcasters was acting like to JERK to the head of the NOPD.


Ambush journlaism??

Accent on the BUSH.....he ragged on this poor guy over and over..


I really have lost any respect for those talking heads.

----------------------------------------


The Lost ANgeles Times ran an article about the levee situation in NO.


Prez JOHNSON had given the green light for the levees to be fixed.

There was a LAWSUIT, AN ENVIROMENTAL LAWSUIT THAT WENT AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT in 1977.
It looks like the treehuggers, thesame groups that I had aligned myself with back then, won that suit...


Fast Forward thrity years......the same people who were against that kind of work are the same people railing against the gov't. for their slow response.


I am embarrarssed. Don't be embarrassed, I was a flower child my own self!!!

One thing I noticed, if a reporter is getting an answer to a question they don't like, suddenly, they have to go and even cut people off in mid sentence. Makes me so mad: ask a question then not let them answer. Just waisting everyone's time. They should just say: this is what we think the news is and don't care if it's right or not. :mad: All stations have been doing this. :rolleyes:

[Cinder & Smoke]

Originally posted by lizbud

Hmm,
guess George Bush was just BS' ing when two days ago he said that
"Brownie was doing a heck of a job".

El Prez will prolly claim that
what he MEANT was:

"Brownie was doin a heck of a Pee-Poor job"...

Note that George never said "GOOD" job!! :rolleyes:

If you look CLOSELY at most of what George says ...
You can interpret his position at least two ways -
sometimes more! :p

[RICHARD]

Because "Brownie" was a pres appointee, we should go back to the SENATE who unanimously voted to put him in and lay some of the blame there.

Two things that come outta this.

First,
Half the country wants to blame the other half.

Two,
The people to blame won't step up to the plate.


America,

Truly is the land of Blame and Lawsuits.

---------------------------

Somewhere there is a bunch of people who "fought the government and won" for the group Save Our Wetlands back in 77.

I hope that they are watching.

---------------------------


I saw a film clip of the Mexican soldiers who came to help.

The trucks were greeted with waves and cheers as they made their way towards LA.


Two guys were cleaning out a street gutter, One using a tree branch as a broom and the other picking up the trash the first one had gathered, another was moving a piece of tin, the only thing you saw was a pair of legs and arms under the metal....

It's not their country, why are they being nice to us?????
;)

-----------------------

And the media still clamors for pictures of dead bodies for the rest of us.

[lizbud]

Originally posted by Cinder & Smoke
El Prez will prolly claim that
what he MEANT was:

"Brownie was doin a heck of a Pee-Poor job"...

Note that George never said "GOOD" job!! :rolleyes:

If you look CLOSELY at most of what George says ...
You can interpret his position at least two ways -
sometimes more! :p


Right, and sometimes we can't interpret it at all.:rolleyes:


" We've got a lot of rebuilding to do. First, we're going to save lives and stabilize the situation. And then we're going to help these communities rebuild. The good news is -- and it's hard for some to see it now -- that out of this chaos is going to come a fantastic Gulf Coast, like it was before. Out of the rubbles of Trent Lott's house -- he's lost his entire house -- there's going to be a fantastic house. And I'm looking forward to sitting on the porch." (Laughter) --George W. Bush, touring hurricane damage, Mobile, Ala., Sept. 2, 2005

[RICHARD]

America is a great place.


We are embroiled in politics, slamming politicos and placing the blame for a natural disaster while the bodies rot in the waters of New Orleans.

For some people do not matter.

It's getting the smell and stench off of their person and placing the dirty laundry on the doorstep of the government.

lolololol,

The OTHER half of the government is pointing the fingers at the half that dropped the ball......


They hope that they can deflect their lack of movement during the
disaster.....

Amazing.

Isn't it wasy to forget that it's one system, and no matter what side you are on it means we ALL FAILED.

For some it's just a matter of being a "D" or "R".



---------------------------

I saw a film clip of a man, at the NO convention center, holding a three week old baby and yelling, "This is a three week old baby, how do they expect us to care for it....."


First of all that child is your responsibility,

You brought it into the world, you are the first line of care for it.

If you DID NOT PROPERLY take the steps to protect that child's health, then you do not deserve to have children.

[lizbud]

Originally posted by RICHARD

---------------------------

I saw a film clip of a man, at the NO convention center, holding a three week old baby and yelling, "This is a three week old baby, how do they expect us to care for it....."


First of all that child is your responsibility,

You brought it into the world, you are the first line of care for it.

If you DID NOT PROPERLY take the steps to protect that child's health, then you do not deserve to have children.

Oh please, Richard. Babies that age need formula or at least
safe water to drink. Those people were there for eight days and
still no supplies were given them.

[Scooby4]

The guy waving a small baby at the truck..Wasn't it a relief truck? It was filled with National Guard people sent there to finish evacuating people so they could get to the help AND restore order. What were they supposed to do? Nurse the baby themselves?!!!:eek: Besides I think the guy was already AT the evacuee center where there were supplies available. He was NOT at an unsafe location or the guard would have rescued him.
I got sick and tired of people waving infant children and elderly at the camera at the RELIEF CENTER!!! It wasn't like these people weren't at the LAST RESORT HOTEL already!!! Sorry no 500 count bedsheets were available.:rolleyes: I didn't see anything happening there that wasn't brought about by the survivors themselves. The relief workers weren't complaining were they?
Now the NO Mayor is blaming the Fed government???!!!! They interviewed the former mayor of NO on Fox. He told the reporter that when he was mayor, they had an evacuation/emergency plan in place. That plan was to be put into action 3 days prior to the event!!!:eek: Why didn't the current mayor have it working?:(
If I hear about how the poor or colored were neglected in this incident and it being the FEDERAL governments fault I am going to scream. They need STOP blaming the federal government which represents every american citizen. The federal government did NOT put those people in those low lying areas. The local/state government did. How do you think these poor areas get their Federal funding? They first create an area for the poor people to live and then ask the federal government to support them in this effort. Of course the state/local government is going to buy the cheapest property available. (Swamp land) and boost up the bill to Fed. The federal government doesn't care or is given false information from the state/local governments. Hence, the local/state governments are getting caught with their hands in the cookie jar on this one and trying to cover it up.:mad:
I hope this information gets out and people wake up to what is happening in their own neighborhoods. Where do you find your "projects" in your neck of the woods? Is it at "good" property valued areas? Probably not. Should we pay for the "double dipping" of our own local/state governments? NO and even Hawaii put their poorer neighborhoods in almost inhabital property. In Hawaii do you think the property values are lower the closer you get to a volcano or it's potential flow? Let's put the blame where the blame is due. :cool:

[carole]

Lizbud I totally agree with your comments, and Richard I just cannot believe you even wrote that.:(

[RICHARD]

Yep, I wrote that.


Oh, I forgot about breast feeding..Where was the mother?

Eight days???

:confused:

Weren't the LATE FEMA , Nat'l Guard and Red Cross there the thursday after the storm?


Look,
Even John Kerry couldn't get there until yesterday....and isn't he a powerful senator?

;)


-----------------------------------------

Personal responsibility is a fleeting thing here in the US...

[Jadapit]

Richard, a lot of mothers dont choose to breast feed. They were totally innocent babies.:(

[Scooby4]

So your saying that because the woman decided NOT to breastfeed her child by the method of which is the ONLY way to give it nourishment in a time of crisis or otherwise, the federal government is responsible?:eek:
Hello!!! It is an EMERGENCY situation!!! People in 3rd world countries aren't as ignorant as to NOT breast feed their own babies despite them NOT having food!!! I've seen pictures of mother's nursing children in Ethopia while they starve to death themselves!!!
I felt NO sympathy for the guy holding that 3 week baby up. I found it disgraceful and quite ignorant.:mad: If the man was giving the child up for rescue, then it would been okay. Instead it was a gesture of "where's my handout?"
By the way, I've been camping longer without food or water than most of these evacuees were without supplies. I am sorry they were without their drive-thu for a day or two.:rolleyes: Americans are spoiled!!!

[RICHARD]

Originally posted by Jadapit
Richard, a lot of mothers dont choose to breast feed. They were totally innocent babies.:(

Yes, those babies are totally innocent...THAT is the reason that we MUST take the steps to protect them, no matter what.

They are the future.

People took this storm for granted. They were not prepared.

I cannot see having a child and NOT stocking up for an emergency.

It's like the people I see at a store at night buying diapers. The have money to make the diaper/formula run at 11 o'clock at night-but where was the money earlier in the day?

What is the excuse for running out of diapers or formula

I am sorry, but running out of diapers, formula or baby essential is unforgiveable..



And I will get blasted for this again - small children depend on their parents to care for them. If a person cannot secure the safety and well being of a child in a situation like that they should not have children.

The children, pets and older people are the ones that suffered the most in this disaster.

--------------------------------------------

This man had nine months to prepare for a baby..
This man had 5 days to prepare for a hurricane.
Yeah, he is poor and doesn't have the money to
lay in supplies FOR HIS CHILD for an extended period of time??

Then he should not be having kids.

That poor kid has no choice in the matter.


It's too late to go back and NOT have a baby, the only thing to do is to make sure that that child is well taken care of.

A diaper bag with four days of supplies for a kid can be stretched to 6 days, easily.

It's up to the parent of a child to make sure it's taken care of.

Holding a baby up to a camera and yelling about the government is not able to care for it shows how prepared this man was to be a parent.

[carole]

Richard I am hardly going to bash you for your comments, some of them are very valid and I even agree with them, but it is easy for us standing on the side in our comfortable homes to say all these things, I don't think anyone has the right to tell someone they can or cannot have children just because they do not have a six figure bank balance, so the guy was poor and unable to stock up, I honestly did not take the scene the way some of you have, I didn't think he was like standing there asking for a hand out, he sounded to me a desperate man, with a desperate situation on his hands, and I felt sorrow and empathy for him, it brought tears to my eyes, I just cannot understand how some of you can be so judgemental and lacking in compassion.

How many of us are prepared for a national disaster eh? it appears the super power wasn't even!!!!

[RICHARD]

Originally posted by carole


How many of us are prepared for a national disaster eh? it appears the super power wasn't even!!!!

Carole,

I live in a land of earthquakes, landslides and civil unrest:rolleyes:

I am prepared.

We Americans bitch about everything.

We are spoiled, lazy and even tho we want the gov't. to leave us alone, we expect them to be there when the fit hits the shan.

The thing that people lack is FORESIGHT.

I do not have any kids.

But I can tell you that when my father was alive he would have
"walked on his lips, thru busted glass" to make sure his kids were safe.

A three week old child is beyond helping himself.

--------------

The clip right before the 'baby' clip showed another gent with a large pair of headphones draped around his neck....

He wasn't a newsperson or pilot.

I took it that there were connected to an iPod or DVD player.

If this guy had enough 'sense' to grab his music and save it from the flood, along with enough batteries to power it, then I think it would be a small matter to have prepared a bag for a child.


This man lived in a hurricane zone. Our government supplies money, food stamps and housing to our poor.

It has nothing to so with a 6 figure bank account.

It has to do with the responsibility of creating a life and being man enough to be responsible for that life.

Taking one can of formula a month, for the preceding months before the hurricane season can be done.

You don't have to be a millionaire to prepare for a disaster.

You just have to have half a brain.

[delidog]

Richard,
I am in YOUR Corner on this issue!!!!
as Bill Cosby said...."You are My Child,I can bring You Into this world,and I can Take You Out!!!!"
The Minute a Mother Knows she is Pregnant,Her Whole Life must Change!!!She must be "Pro-Active' in these situations...Because a 3 week old baby CANNOT fend for themselves....
So when YOU Elect To Have a Baby....You must Weigh ALL Positives and Negatives...and figure What is Best For YOU & Your Lifestyle!!!
And If YOU can Handle it!!

Just a Thought

[RICHARD]

Having children and caring for them is the one thing in life that can enrich your life beyond any material thing.

I have often envied my brothers and sisters, friends and strangers for being able to have the chance to bring a child into the world, show it love and to breathe character into it's life.

It's a huge job and it doesn't pay you anything........
It's a huge responsibility and it's a life long task.

My mom told me this once.

You have children, you bring them up the best you can and then they tear your heart out.

Some people, by having kids when they aren't ready to care for them, do it backwards-

They have them, tear their hearts out and let someone else bring them up or care for them.

I don't have kids because I do not think I could be a proper role model, safe haven or hero to them.

Selfish?

Yes, and all the more reason to admire and put the people who do have children on a pedestal.

It just galls me to to see people who are supposed to be the protectors, advocates, supporters and parents to small children not using their bean.


Here in the U.S. some babies haven't been born yet and the parents have already picked out a profession, a college and the house they are going to live in....


Why can't some parents plan a few weeks in advance?

I really don't know, but my heart bleeds for these kids knowing the are going to grow up hampered by some knucklehead parents.

-----------------------------------------

In closing, One media reporter was criticizing the government for not having top ranked schools in the gulf area.

He went on to say something like, "How can a poor kid get an education in an enviroment like that?"


You can tell that to every child who had a hunger for knowledge,
someone who asked, "Why?" over and over again.
Someone who looked at the horizon and thought "What's over there?" of looked into the sky and said,. "what's OUT there?"

They blame it on the government and the money spent, when it starts at home with love and hope invested.

Some of these kids got the short end of the stick.

They were born to a couple who don't care.
They are not encouraged to reach and then some
fricking hurricane really kicks their arse.

Just because life ain't fair doesn't mean you have to toss in the towel.


Sometimes you have to fight.

And when you do, you have a 50 percent chance of winning, and the loser???

No losers there, you went down swinging.