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filthy
SFN Die Hard
USA
14408 Posts |
 Posted - 09/01/2005 : 10:43:10 [Permalink]
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Thanks Kil.
One of our local churchs is collecting and I'm sure that others are also.
What a dreadful mess..
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"What luck for rulers that men do not think." -- Adolf Hitler (1889 - 1945)
"If only we could impeach on the basis of criminal stupidity, 90% of the Rethuglicans and half of the Democrats would be thrown out of office." ~~ P.Z. Myres
"The default position of human nature is to punch the other guy in the face and take his stuff." ~~ Dude
Brother Boot Knife of Warm Humanitarianism,
and Crypto-Communist! 
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Stargirl
Skeptic Friend
USA
94 Posts |
Posted - 09/01/2005 : 12:18:45 [Permalink]
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Well, Bush and his people are ramping up their spin to try and avoid any blame.
Just as they claimed that no one could have predicted that terrorists would use an airliner to crash into a building. Something which the CIA, FBI and even lowly old me predicted back in the late nineties. Bush is now saying that no one predicted that the levees would fail.
From the BBC.
quote:
"I don't think anybody anticipated the breach of the levees. They did appreciate a serious storm but these levees got breached and as a result much of New Orleans is flooded and now we're having to deal with it and will,"
he (Bush) said. Emphasis added.
This is a blatant lie. As I and others have pointed out a levee failure was predicted and work to prevent a failure was started in 1995. The work on reinforcing the levees was stopped in 2003 when the Bush administration cut the funding to help pay for the war in Iraq. At least that's what the Army Corps of Engineers are saying. I wouldn't be surprised if the Army Corps of Engineers is soon under new management er. more administration friendly leadership.
Speaking of charities Theocracy Watch has a list of good and bad charities .
Edited to add
Un-fucking-believable the Reverend Pat Robertson's Operation Blessing is listed second on FEMA's list of suggested charities to help the victims!
You have to scroll down a bit. |
If God did not exist, it would be necessary to invent him - Voltaire |
| Edited by - Stargirl on 09/01/2005 14:44:17 |
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beskeptigal
SFN Die Hard
USA
3834 Posts |
Posted - 09/01/2005 : 16:36:03 [Permalink]
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quote:
Originally posted by gezzam
For a java loop of the storm.....
http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/PS/TROP/DATA/RT/gmex-vis-loop.html
I know Tim lives in Louisiana, exactly where I am not quite sure but I hope all goes okay for him...
They are called cyclones over here.....
Years ago, when I lived in Queensland, a friend and I drove 650 kms to experience one first hand. It was one of the most awesome experiences of my life.
Ahhhh, the impetuousness (or stupidity) of youth
Yah, we went camping near Mt St Helen's flanks a few times before the big one. That wasn't smart. |
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Dr. Mabuse
Septic Fiend
Sweden
9688 Posts |
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beskeptigal
SFN Die Hard
USA
3834 Posts |
Posted - 09/01/2005 : 17:03:35 [Permalink]
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Well, I take my casual and poorly stated post back. I had no idea, as with St Helens, no matter how much one thinks one wouldn't under estimate disaster, I still did and by a great amount. The federal government still hasn't learned anything from Andrew. Or perhaps I should say the current admin hasn't. Unbelievable!
Couldn't they be air dropping food and water and shade? Couldn't they have had more than a couple of buses to take 20,000+ people from the Superdome to the Astrodome? Any chance the Navy might have left their Virgina port sooner than now?
The FEMA medics here have been alerted! That's it, not mobilized, not on their way, merely alerted.
This sucks big time and, "listen up Ann Coulter you fucking bitch, why don't you go down there and look some of those poor people in the eye so they can spit on you in person." What a disgusting piece if cockroach dung.
I remember traveling around Georgia when I was younger. The poverty in the back country rivals some of the third world. That is the people I see now on the news that my heart really goes out to. I can forgive the city scum that are looting and generally acting out like bratty teens, but I feel really sad for those folks who are truly poor and now have no help from Bush and his cronies other than stupid press conferences claiming they should follow the instructions of the local authorities. Really? Gosh I guess since the president said so that will certainly make them do so.
My brother says we shouldn't blame Bush. Well the science says it wasn't global warming yet, and we know Bush's prayers for the end times to get here didn't bring on the hurricane. But diverting funding for the levies to support the Iraq war, then making stupid stupid statements that no one anticipated the levies failing, are you serious? I hope the press takes that comment of his and shoves it in his face, I really do.
The press seems to be there just fine so why isn't FEMA. Sad, sad, sad.
Well, I've donated a couple hundred dollars worth of tetanus and hep A vaccine to one of my police department clients that are going to send some folks down there. I'd go myself if it were closer. For now I have no one to take over my practice or watch my kid.
I am glad to hear that you all near the area are alright. I will be checking my earthquake supplies today as well. Take care. |
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GeeMack
SFN Regular
USA
1093 Posts |
Posted - 09/01/2005 : 18:50:54 [Permalink]
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In the BBC article previously mentioned by Stargirl, George W. Bush, the poorest excuse for a public servant this country has ever seen said...quote:
"I don't think anybody anticipated the breach of the levees. They did appreciate a serious storm but these levees got breached and as a result much of New Orleans is flooded and now we're having to deal with it and will."
Well, as has been said, that is absolutely not true. In a series of articles written before hurricane Katrina in the New Orleans Times-Picayune, all the tragic possibilities of this disaster were outlined. No one can say they didn't see it coming. You can read the articles here... Special Report: Washing Away
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Robb
SFN Regular
USA
1223 Posts |
Posted - 09/02/2005 : 06:42:17 [Permalink]
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quote:
Originally posted by Starman
quote:
Originally posted by pleco
Got power back - everything ok - more later. Has anyone said that this was caused by the casinos or New Orleans lifestyle (you know - god's wrath). If anyone does, can they be banned, the sorry motherfuckers that they are?
Here we go:
"Hurricane hits just before homosexual event"
Christian activist: Act of God prevented 'Southern Decadence' festival
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=46076
I don't know why Christians get involved in this. If God wanted to destroy the homosexuals then why is California, New York etc. still around? There are people that are dieing, need medical help, food, and water, to get the heck out of there and they blame homosexuals for the disaster! These people need to get out from in front of the camera and do what Jesus taught, love God and love your neighbor. Forgive as God has forgiven them. I am fed up with it from Christians! Help or get out of the way!
I watch the news every evening and cannot believe what I am seeing. Most churches and businesses around here are helping with money, supplies and volunteers. I have some concern thought that the people in charge will not know what to do with the help. Sorry for the rant but I am beyond frustrated.
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Government is not reason; it is not eloquent; it is force. Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master. - George Washington |
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Kil
Evil Skeptic
USA
13477 Posts |
Posted - 09/02/2005 : 08:34:07 [Permalink]
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quote:
Originally posted by Robb
quote:
Originally posted by Starman
quote:
Originally posted by pleco
Got power back - everything ok - more later. Has anyone said that this was caused by the casinos or New Orleans lifestyle (you know - god's wrath). If anyone does, can they be banned, the sorry motherfuckers that they are?
Here we go:
"Hurricane hits just before homosexual event"
Christian activist: Act of God prevented 'Southern Decadence' festival
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=46076
I don't know why Christians get involved in this. If God wanted to destroy the homosexuals then why is California, New York etc. still around? There are people that are dieing, need medical help, food, and water, to get the heck out of there and they blame homosexuals for the disaster! These people need to get out from in front of the camera and do what Jesus taught, love God and love your neighbor. Forgive as God has forgiven them. I am fed up with it from Christians! Help or get out of the way!
I watch the news every evening and cannot believe what I am seeing. Most churches and businesses around here are helping with money, supplies and volunteers. I have some concern thought that the people in charge will not know what to do with the help. Sorry for the rant but I am beyond frustrated.
Thank you for that Robb. Hate is hate, no matter where it is coming from. Unfortunately, there seems to be a lot of it going around these days. I guess there always is. I would like to think that most of us follow the golden rule. Perhaps I am naïve but I am not yet cynical enough to believe that most of us don't follow that rule, especially in a crisis…
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Uncertainty may make you uncomfortable. Certainty makes you ridiculous.
Why not question something for a change?
Genetic Literacy Project |
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BigPapaSmurf
SFN Die Hard
3192 Posts |
Posted - 09/02/2005 : 10:20:53 [Permalink]
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For anyone who says that this wasnt anticipated, read this to them,
From Oct 2004 National Geographic
http://205.188.130.53/ngm/0410/feature5
quote:
But the next day the storm gathered steam and drew a bead on the city. As the whirling maelstrom approached the coast, more than a million people evacuated to higher ground. Some 200,000 remained, however—the car-less, the homeless, the aged and infirm, and those die-hard New Orleanians who look for any excuse to throw a party.
The storm hit Breton Sound with the fury of a nuclear warhead, pushing a deadly storm surge into Lake Pontchartrain. The water crept to the top of the massive berm that holds back the lake and then spilled over. Nearly 80 percent of New Orleans lies below sea level—more than eight feet below in places—so the water poured in. A liquid brown wall washed over the brick ranch homes of Gentilly, over the clapboard houses of the Ninth Ward, over the white-columned porches of the Garden District, until it raced through the bars and strip joints on Bourbon Street like the pale rider of the Apocalypse. As it reached 25 feet (eight meters) over parts of the city, people climbed onto roofs to escape it.
Thousands drowned in the murky brew that was soon contaminated by sewage and industrial waste. Thousands more who survived the flood later perished from dehydration and disease as they waited to be rescued. It took two months to pump the city dry, and by then the Big Easy was buried under a blanket of putrid sediment, a million people were homeless, and 50,000 were dead. It was the worst natural disaster in the history of the United States.
When did this calamity happen? It hasn't—yet.
Damn disturbing in so many ways. |
"...things I have neither seen nor experienced nor heard tell of from anybody else; things, what is more, that do not in fact exist and could not ever exist at all. So my readers must not believe a word I say." -Lucian on his book True History
"...They accept such things on faith alone, without any evidence. So if a fraudulent and cunning person who knows how to take advantage of a situation comes among them, he can make himself rich in a short time." -Lucian critical of early Christians c.166 AD From his book, De Morte Peregrini |
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beskeptigal
SFN Die Hard
USA
3834 Posts |
Posted - 09/02/2005 : 11:24:15 [Permalink]
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Wow, BPS, that is fascinating. There also was a previous flood. The author of a book on the event was interviewed on Democracy Now this AM.
Bush's photo op today being briefed....what a joke. Anyone who didn't see that for what it was is an idiot. He lands at an airport then listens to some folks briefing him in front of the cameras.  The guy loves his fantasy world, doesn't he? Of course there's no need for him to actually go to New Orleans. Much better to hunt out some photo ops in safer more Republican leaning territory than an inner city full of desperate poor people.
Interesting statement by Jesse Jackson, Jr on the Black Caucus press conference...(paraphrased a bit due to my memory of the exact words), "After 911 Bush stood on the ruins with a bullhorn and said to the people who did this, "You're going to hear from us." I'd like to see him say now to God who did this, "You're going to hear from us" ". It was a bit of a shocking statement until he went on with some stuff about how hearing from us meant Christians should be helping out.
I agree many churches are first to the plate to offer food, refuge and money. But those rich church spokespersons are just as corrupt as many other rich persons in positions of power. Anyone see Pat Robertson out there pitching in? Bush asked for the public to contribute. I wonder how much he's planning to give? His Texas charity consisted mainly of money for some door to door proselytizers to carry on.
I had to watch C SPAN to hear what the Black Caucus had to say since FOX cut away first but then so did CNN. 24 hours of Katrina re-run clips and none of the stations saw fit to put more than a sound bite of the caucus on air. Interesting that the Army Corp of Engineers chose that very moment for their press conference. That conference got more air time than the Black Caucus, what a surprise.
FOX and MS NBC did a lot more government bashing than I expected. Of course FOX managed to keep the bashing to the local politicians and not the Feds. FOX also showed all the speeches of what was being done, while the other stations showed all the people not being helped.
Looks like the red faced government officials have finally gotten some truck convoys to start showing up.
I notice in the background of the Superdome there is a towering Marriott Hotel with many many floors above the water line. Yet we are going to bus the masses to the already full Astrodome. It's not likely that many of those rooms have occupants. Except of course I heard FEMA will be moving in there. It's a disgrace. Ten billion in emergency relief so the FEMA folks will be staying at the Marriott. Nice to see our tax dollars going where they're needed. |
| Edited by - beskeptigal on 09/02/2005 11:29:48 |
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Dr. Mabuse
Septic Fiend
Sweden
9688 Posts |
Posted - 09/04/2005 : 01:15:44 [Permalink]
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Someone (I don't know who) said (or paraphrased) "civilization is only three meals away from anarchy".
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Dr. Mabuse - "When the going gets tough, the tough get Duct-tape..."
Dr. Mabuse whisper.mp3
"Equivocation is not just a job, for a creationist it's a way of life..." Dr. Mabuse
Support American Troops in Iraq:
Send them unarmed civilians for target practice..
Collateralmurder. |
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filthy
SFN Die Hard
USA
14408 Posts |
Posted - 09/04/2005 : 02:18:14 [Permalink]
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quote:
Originally posted by Dr. Mabuse
Someone (I don't know who) said (or paraphrased) "civilization is only three meals away from anarchy".
I heard it: "Any country is only three meals away from revolution." It's been around for a long time, and works either way.
I have heard that the Red Cross was at least temporarly stopped from rendering aid, but didn't get the whole story. What's up with that?
I fear that now this disaster will turn into a typical, Bush clusterfuck, if it hasn't already.
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"What luck for rulers that men do not think." -- Adolf Hitler (1889 - 1945)
"If only we could impeach on the basis of criminal stupidity, 90% of the Rethuglicans and half of the Democrats would be thrown out of office." ~~ P.Z. Myres
"The default position of human nature is to punch the other guy in the face and take his stuff." ~~ Dude
Brother Boot Knife of Warm Humanitarianism,
and Crypto-Communist!
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GeeMack
SFN Regular
USA
1093 Posts |
Posted - 09/04/2005 : 07:30:49 [Permalink]
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quote:
Originally posted by filthy...
I have heard that the Red Cross was at least temporarly stopped from rendering aid, but didn't get the whole story. What's up with that?
I fear that now this disaster will turn into a typical, Bush clusterfuck, if it hasn't already.
It has already. As of yesterday the City of Chicago has stepped up to the plate by making some extremely generous and selfless offers to help out with the disaster. These offers are being refused by the Feds while hundreds more people suffer and die.
Daley 'Shocked' as Feds Reject Aidquote:
A visibly angry Mayor Daley said the city had offered emergency, medical and technical help to the federal government as early as Sunday to assist people in the areas stricken by Hurricane Katrina, but as of Friday, the only things the feds said they wanted was a single tank truck.
That truck, which the Federal Emergency Management Agency requested to support an Illinois-based medical team, was en route Friday.
"We are ready to provide more help than they have requested. We are just waiting for their call," said Daley, adding that he was "shocked" that no one seemed to want the help.
At least 44 other nations have offered to provide a wide range of assistance, although apparently none of their offers have been accepted as of a couple days ago. The delay? The US Federal Government bureaucracy, of course.
Governments Line Up to Help After Katrinaquote:
A State Department official said a needs assessment was being done and it would probably become clearer today which offers would be accepted.
If from this point on anyone has the audacity to be supportive of George W. Bush in any way whatsoever, consider it an out and out declaration of their complete lack of ability to function as a sane, rational human being. You can reasonably consider it their admission to being dangerously out of touch with reality.
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filthy
SFN Die Hard
USA
14408 Posts |
Posted - 09/04/2005 : 11:36:03 [Permalink]
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The The blame Game has begun,,,
quote:
The administration sought unified control over all local police and state National Guard units reporting to the governor. Louisiana officials rejected the request after talks throughout the night, concerned that such a move would be comparable to a federal declaration of martial law. Some officials in the state suspected a political motive behind the request. "Quite frankly, if they'd been able to pull off taking it away from the locals, they then could have blamed everything on the locals," said the source, who does not have the authority to speak publicly.
A senior administration official said that Bush has clear legal authority to federalize National Guard units to quell civil disturbances under the Insurrection Act and will continue to try to unify the chains of command that are split among the president, the Louisiana governor and the New Orleans mayor.
Louisiana did not reach out to a multi-state mutual aid compact for assistance until Wednesday, three state and federal officials said. As of Saturday, Blanco still had not declared a state of emergency, the senior Bush official said.
"The federal government stands ready to work with state and local officials to secure New Orleans and the state of Louisiana," White House spokesman Dan Bartlett said. "The president will not let any form of bureaucracy get in the way of protecting the citizens of Louisiana."
Blanco made two moves Saturday that protected her independence from the federal government: She created a philanthropic fund for the state's victims and hired James Lee Witt, Federal Emergency Management Agency director in the Clinton administration, to advise her on the relief effort.
Bush, who has been criticized, even by supporters, for the delayed response to the disaster, used his weekly radio address to put responsibility for the failure on lower levels of government. The magnitude of the crisis "has created tremendous problems that have strained state and local capabilities," he said. "The result is that many of our citizens simply are not getting the help they need, especially in New Orleans. And that is unacceptable."
In a Washington briefing, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said one reason federal assets were not used more quickly was "because our constitutional system really places the primary authority in each state with the governor."
...and soon we will be listening to all manner of federal whining. Anything to evade any sort of responsibility for anything.
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"What luck for rulers that men do not think." -- Adolf Hitler (1889 - 1945)
"If only we could impeach on the basis of criminal stupidity, 90% of the Rethuglicans and half of the Democrats would be thrown out of office." ~~ P.Z. Myres
"The default position of human nature is to punch the other guy in the face and take his stuff." ~~ Dude
Brother Boot Knife of Warm Humanitarianism,
and Crypto-Communist!
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the_ignored
SFN Addict
2562 Posts |
Posted - 09/04/2005 : 23:36:29 [Permalink]
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And the religious right ranting is continuing:
http://headlines.agapepress.org/archive/9/22005b.asp
quote:
The pastor explains that for years he has warned people that unless Christians in New Orleans took a strong stand against such things as local abortion clinics, the yearly Mardi Gras celebrations, and the annual event known as "Southern Decadence" -- an annual six-day "gay pride" event scheduled to be hosted by the city this week -- God's judgment would be felt.
"New Orleans now is abortion free. New Orleans now is Mardi Gras free. New Orleans now is free of Southern Decadence and the sodomites, the witchcraft workers, false religion -- it's free of all of those things now," Shanks says. "God simply, I believe, in His mercy purged all of that stuff out of there -- and now we're going to start over again."
The New Orleans pastor is adamant. Christians, he says, need to confront sin. "It's time for us to stand up against wickedness so that God won't have to deal with that wickedness," he says.
I swear, this kind of thing....
He calls shit like that "mercy", says that the people of NO brought it on themselves through the way they acted, and then fundies believe that they're hated simply because "they preach the gospel"?
Then of course, there's Fred Phelps:
http://www.godhatesfags.com/featured/20050831_thank-god-for-katrina.html
"Thank God for Katrina?" The hell? You know, it wouldn't be so bad if it was just him beaking off, but he isn't.
How disassociated from reality does religion make people, anyway? |
>From: enuffenuff@fastmail.fm
(excerpt follows):
> I'm looking to teach these two bastards a lesson they'll never forget.
> Personal visit by mates of mine. No violence, just a wee little chat.
>
> **** has also committed more crimes than you can count with his
> incitement of hatred against a religion. That law came in about 2007
> much to ****'s ignorance. That is fact and his writing will become well
> know as well as him becoming a publicly known icon of hatred.
>
> Good luck with that fuckwit. And Reynold, fucking run, and don't stop.
> Disappear would be best as it was you who dared to attack me on my
> illness knowing nothing of the cause. You disgust me and you are top of
> the list boy. Again, no violence. Just regular reminders of who's there
> and visits to see you are behaving. Nothing scary in reality. But I'd
> still disappear if I was you.
What brought that on? this. Original posting here.
Another example of this guy's lunacy here. |
| Edited by - the_ignored on 09/04/2005 23:45:54 |
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