Ray nagin is a moron.

By referring to a bulldozer as military equipment, I am referring to the several thousand bulldozers that the federal and state governments have painted in funny camoflage paint with men and women in funny looking tan/grey/green uniforms driving them.

The national guard can take these bulldozers in time of emergency (or any other horizontal/vertical building equipment in the military inventory), and train civilians in using the equipment, providing contractors with a trained workforce in the area, instead of having contractors import workers from other areas (expensive), and instead of having people sitting on their front porch collecting welfare checks.

The federal government is probably very much involved in the reconstruction of New Orleans, but they shouldn't be. Federal involvement directly means that the state and local governments have fallen flat on their faces and been unable to accomplish the job. Federal involvement should be limited to monetary contributions. If the people of New Orleans don't want to lift a finger to help rebuild the place, let the Gulf and Mississippi river reclaim it.

Again...

I agree with you in concept, but you and I both know that it will not be so simple as to let New Orleans be absorbed by the impending ocean. It will become a sore that will fester and develop into a cancer. It will become a cesspool of poverty and crime and eventually spread. You and I will become infected and ultimately have to clean it up. Pay me now or pay me later!

Again, I can't overstate my position that I agree that "the locals" should be taking the bull by the horns and rebuilding "their town". But they obviously either can't - don't know how, or simply won't. In any event, someone needs to step and and take control. If that is local and state governments, then so be it. BUT if the Federal Government has a "good idea" and the capabilities to render "real, tangible" progressive action - then they should find a way to do it. Actually, I think you and I agree more than perhaps you think!!!

Remember this exchange?
Richard Nugent: Hey, you remind me of a man.
Susan Turner: What man?
Richard Nugent: Man with the power.
Susan Turner: What power?
Richard Nugent: Power of hoodoo.
Susan Turner: Hoodoo?
Richard Nugent: You do.
Susan Turner: Do what?
Richard Nugent: Remind me of a man...

Awhhh... the power of talking in circles....

Haliburton....opps I mean the federal government HAS been involved in this disaster. President Bush suspended the Davis-Bacon Act for reconstruction of this area. The Davis-Bacon Act requires contractors on government construction projects to pay "prevailing wages" -- defined as union wages in the area. This allows contractors to the federal government ...such as Haliburton to pay less than prevailing wage.....and voila! underbid union contractors.

I just finished reading "Rising Tide -- The Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 and How it Changed America" by John M. Barry. Fascinating. An incredible event I had never heard of before. But things don't change very much.....

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Lady's Human

BOB's Dad, there are these little things called laws that limit what the federal government can or cannot do.

---

This is a bit off the subject at hand, but I can't resist after this comment. So far, with this administration, it seems there is no law they won't try to bend or break.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Grace

This is a bit off the subject at hand, but I can't resist after this comment. So far, with this administration, it seems there is no law they won't try to bend or break.

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Or suspend!

Never let a silly law get in the way of helping your friends!

Absolutely! I was trying to be PC - to start with. Not wanting to offend anyone too badly. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...h/happy053.gif

Davis-Bacon was reinstated after protest from congress.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...102601706.html

Congress prevailed with that - too bad it wasn't the President's conscience.

Curious LH....is there anything that this president could do which you would not excuse?

Sara, Yes

Approving congressional spending without asking questions

Forcing unneeded programs on the military (By doing the above).....chances are if the military says we don't want another X# of M-1234567's, we'd rather spend the money on upgrading X, there's a reason for it.

Expanding federal programs. (We need less money filtering through federal bureaucracy, not more)

Line item veto power would be a nice constitutional amendment, but congress wil never pass it.

The Davis-Bacon reinstatement is why we have 3 branches of government, they're supposed to check and balance each other.

And THAT folks, is why The Mayor indroduced the Dog House ;) May we all learn something here, and take another thought and ponder it as being valued and valid ... if perhaps misdirected ;) in some cases. See how easlily I slipped out of this one Karen.. I'm learning ~

Okay...I rephrase my question....anything that doesn't have to do with the military that this president could do that you wouldn't excuse? ;)

What do you think of what he was TRYING to do by suspending Davis-Bacon?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BOBS DAD

Richard Nugent: Hey, you remind me of a man.
Susan Turner: What man?
Richard Nugent: Man with the power.
Susan Turner: What power?
Richard Nugent: Power of hoodoo.
Susan Turner: Hoodoo?
Richard Nugent: You do.
Susan Turner: Do what?
Richard Nugent: Remind me of a man...

---

Ted Nugent: Cat Scratch Fever...............


LH,
The camoflauge paint on the those bulldozers didn't work....I could see them fixing the levees.

ES.
1927?????

THAT IS WHERE THE RUMOR ABOUT the government blowing up the levees to
Flood out the poor folks and save the rich. Yes, it happened once upon a time. :(

If it keeps on rainin', levee's goin' to break
And the water gonna come in, have no place to stay

Well all last night I sat on the levee and moan
Thinkin' 'bout my baby and my happy home

If it keeps on rainin', levee's goin' to break
And all these people have no place to stay

Now look here mama what am I to do
I ain't got nobody to tell my troubles to

I works on the levee mama both night and day
I ain't got nobody, keep the water away

Oh cryin' won't help you, prayin' won't do no good
When the levee breaks, mama, you got to lose

I works on the levee, mama both night and day
I works so hard, to keep the water away

I had a woman, she wouldn't do for me
I'm goin' back to my used to be

I's a mean old levee, cause me to weep and moan

Gonna leave my baby, and my happy home

-Lz

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I was thinking about how GWB got Pluto demoted to a dwarf planet and wondered whay Dick Cheney/Halliburton would gain from that..


Printing up all the new text books and star maps.... :rolleyes:



____________________________________


BEfore I get around to deleting this thread. I want you all to repeat after me.



I want a smaller government.
I want the government to stay out of my business.

Hey, a ________________ just kicked my town's arse....
WHERE IS THE GOVERNMENT.

Silly people,
You can't have everything. :p

Speaking of Nagin: when did New Orleans become the ONLY city effected by hurricane Katrina?

All I have heard on the news the last few days is about poor old New Orleans and their plight. Ok, they went through a really really really tough time and they should be helped BUT THEY AREN'T THE ONLY ONES.

You don't hear a peep about the other cities that were almost washed off the map.

If they don't rebuild New Orleans back ABOVE sea level, one of these days they will have another hurricane and be back in the same situation.