Katrina Investigation

"The president said he's going to lead the investigation into what went wrong. He needs to look only in the mirror."

-- House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi of California

Tired

It's Sunday night and I'm tired. The weekend had some fun in it, but I get weary when I'm around people constantly, and I have been most of the weekend. I'm 4/6 respectively on the introvert/extrovert scale and I need quiet time.

But, we had a good time at the show last night and it was fun to run around. I just need more quiet than other people do, I think. Maybe that comes from growing up as an only child. Maybe if you have siblings around all the time you're used to more noise and commotion. I need quiet to think and relax and restore. I stayed up very late last night to have some quiet time.

I think I'm also just worn out from all the emotion of the past couple of weeks - not that I have been doing anything difficult compared to what evacuees are going through, but listening to people who don't "get it" has just worn me out.

Today, of course, is the four year anniversary of 9-11. It seems that was a world ago and I guess in many ways it was. I lead a very different life now than I did then.

At the time I was working at the radio station and learned about it when I went in that morning. We watched TV for awhile and then the manager sent everyone who didn't have to be there home. He was always wonderful about that.

I went home and thought that I'd take advantage of the day to do some things around the house, but could not tear myself away from the television. I kept trying to, but I'd find myself curled back up on the couch crying, everytime I'd try to get away from it.

It hit me in an odd way - it was four months to the day after my mom's death and I was just getting through the really tough grief part. It was still very fresh and very raw. Very raw. And knowing how grief was, and that all those people were going to experience it en masse, it just seemed like the whole world was going to crumble under the weight of all that grief.

I have felt the same way about the hurricane victims, even though my own grief is more "managed" now. But, there's something about grief that is magnified when many people are suffering at the same time, for the same reason.

I have not watched any television today. The first year it felt like a "celebration" to me more than a commemoration and I haven't wanted to participate in that since then. I'm sure the TV is filled with salutes of various sorts, but I don't want to invite any more sadness into my life. It's not that I don't remember what happened, but I don't want to "celebrate" it in any way.

I'm going to try to get back to a more "normal" sense of posting here, but frankly every time I try to write much these days it just comes off trite if I'm talking about daily life.

But, of course, that's what this blog is about - daily life - so I will get back to that. That does not mean there will not be political posts - those will definitely continue - because I think that is the only way we can make changes.

I looked at the stats last night to see if I had driven away all my readers because of the political stuff, and readership has actually increased.

But, I will also be trying to offer more "normal" things mixed in. I still have not blogged my Puerto Rico or Route 66 trips. Life has just been a really fast merry go round lately and time at the computer has been scarce to do time intensive things like photos. One of these days soon...

But, that's not tonight. I have promised editors that freelance writing will be in their inboxes when them come in Monday morning so I must get about making that happen.

That's a Jackalope

Ace Jackalope and entourage went to the Kansas State Fair tonight where the headlining act was Garrison Keillor with a live broadcast of "A Prairie Home Companion."
Garrison was delighted to make Ace's acquaintance, and pose for a photo after the show. As he exclaimed, "Whatever the joke is, I'm in on it."

How can you not love that?


Kansas native, Kelley Hunt, did a fabulous job during her songs, and made us proud. She's been on the show before, and we're lucky to get to see her around here now and then.

Our beloved Governor, Kathleen Sebelius, played herself during the Guy Noir skit and did a great job. She was on stage again and just handled herself amazingly well. She and Garrison seemed to really hit it off. She is a democrat in this very red state, and is loved by many in both parties.

Garrison is very interested in politics, and did have a few comments about everything from evolution to the lack of response to the hurricane victims. The crowd was very responsive to him.

The set was an elaborate one, including a house front with a porch, from which Garrison started the monologue. But, he only sat down briefly - showing his red socks and shoes off - but then got up to wander the stage as he talked. He does favor the left (his left) side of the stage so if you're planning to see him you might bear that in mind.

Later tonight there was a fundraiser for the democratic party that both Garrison and Kathleen were going to. I wish I could have gone, but I just couldn't. Instead I ended up working the democratic party booth with Debbie, as last minute replacements.

Garrison signed autographs and chatted with people for well over an hour after the show. He was really quite charming, although Greg and Ace were the only ones in our party who visited with him.

I got to see Garrison years ago in Minnesota when the station I worked for did a trip. He was much more casual tonight about chatting with folks.

You can listen to repeats of the show on the website if you miss it. Prairie Home Companion has been the most popular public radio show for years.
http://prairiehome.publicradio.org/programs/archive.php

The show was really great. If you listened to it tonight or if you catch a repeat on Sunday and hear the Catchup script late in the show, you'll know why this photo is here, although I don't have a cheese danish handy.

quote

"The most dangerous thing to average Americans is not some mullah in Iraq, not even Osama Bin Laden, but George Bush." Steve Gilliard

Flood Area Maps

www.condobuzz.com shows the area of the New Orleans flood compared to a number of different US cities. It gives you a sense of the size of it if you're familiar with one of those cities.

These are not my words, I just think they're worth sharing... see the link below for more from this writer.

The Great Uniter
After September 11th, the nation was united as it has not been since World War II. Seen that sentence before? Thing is, it's true. For a good stretch there, Americans had their sleeves up, ready to engage in shared sacrifice. Bush squandered the political unity of that moment, a moment in which he might have done anything, with the foolishness of Iraq. The only sacrifice asked of most of us, was slaughtering our common sense at the altar of trickled on economics.

Now we have another of those extremely rare moments of perfect national clarity. Only this time the theme of the day is they screwed up big time. Four years in which they've done nothing but talk about being prepared for an emergency. Four years in which they've spent huge amounts of money, reshaped the government, eroded rights, suspended laws, broken treaties, and expended blood like it was free, and what do we have to show for it? Rats eating old women in the street, that's what we have.

Read more at: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/9/4/123228/8066#43

George Bush Don't Like Black People

One of the great things about the internet is the speed at which information can travel. Scarcely had I posted about music than a comment from streetdreams pointed me toward this "little ditty" as my piano teacher would have said. (Sorry, I can't resist the personal fun of hearing Mrs. Jerrell say "little ditty" in my head while referring to a rap song. She would have appreciated this one.)

It's titled "George Bush Doesn't Like Black People" and I encourage you to listen. It's rap - of course it has "language" - but at this point, I can't imagine what language is not appropriate to express anger, rage, frustration, or other adjective of your choice.

http://www.ourmedia.org/node/53964

The only thing I might add is that I don't think George limits who he doesn't like to only black people - it could be extended to anyone of any color - and anyone who's poor - or even lower or middle middle class. He doesn't like anyone who's not his "base," defined as: "This is an impressive crowd of the haves and have mores. Some people call you the elite, I call you my base". Governor George Bush-Oct 13, 2000-at the 55th annual Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner in New York.

But, I'll admit, even I never imagined he'd willingly stand by and strum guitar while those of us not his "base" died in the streets. I stand corrected.

Al Gore

Al Gore spoke to environmentalists at the Sierra Club in today at their opening convention. This is one of his comments...

"When the corpses of American citizens are floating in toxic flood waters five days after a hurricane struck, it is time not only to respond directly to the victims of the catastrophe, but to hold ... the leaders of our nation accountable," Gore told environmentalists at the Sierra Club's national convention.

Gore was responsible for getting two plane loads of people out of New Orleans. He did it by placing phone calls - personally - and securing the planes. American Airlines apparently went on the mission without a contract or previous payment.

http://www.fresnobee.com/state_wire/story/11197884p-11949438c.html to read more

So, Al Gore evacuated people with his own money and his own connections. Bush has the whole freaking military at his disposal and couldn't manage it for a longer time period.

It's really a shame Al Gore didn't get in the white house back when he won the election. Of course, Al knows about water, being from Tennessee, so he would have maintained the leeves so this wouldn't be an issue. Because, oh yeah, we wouldn't be using all our resources to fight a useless war. I knew there was a reason.

Timeline

http://www.thinkprogress.org/katrina-timeline

Timeline for Katrina. What really happened when?

Music

OK, I'll admit straight up, I'm not a huge music fan. What that means is I don't go to concerts, I don't worship singers, etc. I sing along with the radio and that's about it. I'm not into fandom. I've met a few celebrities in former jobs and it loses its thrill very quickly.

But, music seems to be a great force for many people. And at times like this national crisis it seems to be helpful to people to turn to music as a unifier. It always happens - generally very quickly.

With that said... where are all these musicians that were writing songs about 9-11 before the dust even settled? Do they not care any more about the south than the president and his staff?

Aaron Neville sang on Larry King tonight and it was wonderful, but is all of country music - generally so quick on the "Where were you?" types of songs - in a cave and unaware of what's going on? Where are our rock crusaders Sting, Bono and the Boss? Does NO ONE care any more than the government?

Aren't most country singers IN the south? As far as I know, Nashville recording studios are still functioning. Are we not even going to get yet another remake of "Candle in the Wind?"

Of course, country singer Mark Wills was with the president when the president should have been in New Orleans, anyway. Wills presented him with a guitar and the president strummed along while people were fighting for their lives in New Orleans. That seems fair. Right?

I was willing to cut Mark Wills a ton of slack - after all he wasn't the one who should have been in New Orleans - and meeting the president is a big deal, regardless of who you are. But, before writing this piece, I went to his website, fully expecting an apology of some sort for the unfortunate timing, but that photo of Bush playing air guitar is the first thing you see and they're obviously very proud of it. www.markwills.com for those of you interested...

The very next thing you can click on is a story about Wills Tour Bus helping block traffic at an accident and the quote is, "What a wonderful example of how God can send us help in the midst of strife. Thank you for your example to all." I don't think that really needs any additional comment from me.

Wills needs to keep better company. And hire a PR person.

Maybe there's no country music because there's nothing patriotic about this. Seeing your countrymen die because you've been gung ho on supporting a president and a war half a world away - and glorifying soldiers dying a la "I Made it to Arlington" - probably doesn't give you much to sing about.

Alan Jackson did his bit with "Where were you." Come on people, he can't write EVERYTHING. Surely some of you patriotic types that always have a pro-war song at the ready have something to say. Oh, no, wait, you love this president and his war that has now killed people in New Orleans as well as Iraq. (read the CNN article that having National Guard tied up in Iraq resulted in deaths in Louisiana)

I wish I could call the Dixie Chicks, the only freaking voice of reason from that quadrant during this whole @*##$(%&# season of war. (There are some words I just don't use and that expletive is really all that will fit in that sentence.)

I See Dead People

Well, I'm up... only about 3.5 hours since I went to sleep. I can't sleep. I see dead people - when I'm awake on television and when I'm asleep in my mind. And I didn't even vote for Bush.

So, I've been out to the garage, doing a little possum proofing. Yes... possums. And before you start telling me how cute the nasty, snarling, rabies laden things are, let me tell you it won't work with me. I grew up on a farm - I'm familiar with many types of wildlife - and little of it is conducive to cohabitation with humans.

Unfortunately, possums are now an urban problem. A friend has had one in his basement. And someone told me they had seen one in our neighborhood.

I have one garage door that won't close all the way to the bottom and so I went out and did a little jury rigging on it to block entry - just in case one of the critters decides it looks like a good place to settle in. My garage is at the alley, a lot away from the house, and I don't use it for a vehicle, so I'm not out there much.

Figured I'd go out while it's still dark so hopefully if there was one who was there he would be active and get out. I opened the door at the front to turn on the light and decided to leave it open. Sure enough, while I was at the back of the garage, messing with the big door, the front door opened as something pushed it open to get out. Could have been a cat, but I'm not taking any chances. Whatever it is won't be getting back into my garage - I'm sure of that - I did a very good job of possum proofing if I do say so myself.

Hutchinson animal control says possums are a major problem in the area. They'll provide you with a trap, but they don't kill them when they catch them - they "relocate" them. This is another example of stupidity - studies show that almost all die shortly after being released - 88% in the first week. I guess animal rights people think it's better for them to be killed by foxes or other predators than put to sleep peacefully.

I just know that they're not compatible with human habitation. And in an urban area they have no predators so flourish unchecked. Man - the one predator they could have - isn't even one I guess.

My theory on such things is simple - they can be anywhere on the planet except my tiny bit of it.

Standing Water

"And most chillingly of all, this is the Law and Order and Terror government. It promised protection - or at least amelioration - against all threats: conventional, radiological, or biological.

It has just proved that it cannot save its citizens from a biological weapon called standing water." Keith Olbermann

Read more at: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8514671/

Taking to My Bed

Well, as Southern Belles have done for generations, I'm "taking to my bed." Unfortunately, I'll be rolling out of it about 6:30 in the morning for a normal work day. Geez, how did they manage *that* part...

Barack Obama's Words

Part of Senator Barack Obama's Statement regarding the Hurricane response...

Whoever was in charge of planning and preparing for the worst case scenario appeared to assume that every American has the capacity to load up their family in an SUV, fill it up with $100 worth of gasoline, stick some bottled water in the trunk, and use a credit card to check in to a hotel on safe ground. I see no evidence of active malice, but I see a continuation of passive indifference on the part of our government towards the least of these.

...I hope we realize that the people of New Orleans weren't just abandoned during the Hurricane. They were abandoned long ago - to murder and mayhem in their streets; to substandard schools; to dilapidated housing; to inadequate health care; to a pervasive sense of hopelessness.

First Person Account

To read a first person account of New Orleans...

http://www.livejournal.com/users/selphish/

Finally Red

I mentioned I was painting my dining room red. Well, it's finally red. Nearly three gallons of paint and 5 coats and it's the deep red I wanted. This isn't a great photo because I just noticed I've got some crud on the lens that is making it spotty. But, you get the idea.

And... hey... it's just a "normal" post. No rant included.

You know that question... if you were a color, what color would it be... this is the color I am - a deep, rich red with blue undertones... deep, ruby red... I hope I don't ever feel the urge to make a whole room this color again. Or if I do that it's only after they've come up with a way to make red paint actually COVER.

I'm starting to live like a grown up - I have curtains up and everything. OK, not everywhere... but I'm making progress. OK, it's slow progress... but it's progress.

Quote of the Day

"Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed."
-Martin Luther King Jr.

God is Not American - Who Knew?

So... today for lunch Greg and I are tooling down Adams Street, headed to fifth, for a run to Roy's. We're chatting - had to stop for a train - looking forward to some exceptional barbecue.

We have to stop at a light at fourth street and I glance to my left and what do I see? Well, it's a billboard. But it's one I can't believe I'm seeing my little red midwestern town that's smack dab in the middle of a red state.

I don't know who put it up - no doubt they'll keep their identity well under wraps in this conservative spot. But, oh my gosh, there it was for everyone to see in stark black and white - "GOD IS NOT AMERICAN ...think about it."

We both whipped out the cameras and started snapping away. I'm sorry I didn't have time to post it earlier in the day but it was a busy day today. Thank goodness for digital cameras and the convenience of always having them handy.

I'm surprised there have not been massive pile-ups at the intersection. And I'm amazed churches are not demanding it be taken down because of its lies. We all know God is an American - more specifically a REPUBLICAN American. Right? (Hopefully all readers of my blog recognize sarcasm.)

I'm guessing it's a take off from the book, "God Is Not: Religious, Nice, One of Us, an American, a Capitalist" but I don't know. I just know someone paid some money to print it and post it. I'm curious who.

Hee hee hee... and right in time for the Kansas State Fair that starts in town tomorrow...

There's someone around I like, and I don't even know who it is. Obviously, there's another group I need to join.

Quote of the Day

Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one
wild and precious life? --Mary Oliver

For Hutchinson Residents

For those of you in Hutchinson, Love Box will provide a box you can fill with supplies for victims of the hurricane, and they will ship it free for you. Pick up a box at their location by the mall. Return it by the 12th. Bravo Love Box.

Are You A Democrat?

From: Sharon Webb, www.fractalus.com/sharon

Ask yourself these questions:

1. Do you believe that the country should have public schools?

2. Do you believe that the federal government should offer aid to our citizens in times of emergency such as flood, fire, earthquake, etc.?

3. Do you believe that people should be able to earn a living wage?

4. Do you believe that the people of New Orleans are worse off now than they were before hurricane Katrina?

5. Do you believe that Americans should be able to receive affordable medical care?

6. Are you concerned about clean water and air? And do you think we need to develop alternate forms of energy?

If you answered yes to two or more of the above questions, then you are a democrat, whether or not you are aware of it.

If you answered no to the questions above, then you subscribe to the same ethic as George W. Bush, whose tactic is to "starve the beast" by cutting funding for disaster relief, education, conservation, and medical care...and then cutting it again, and again, until those agencies concerned with these matters cease to exist.

Politicians who believe as George Bush does are usually republican, and believe that government disaster aid is a boondoggle which awards slackers and those unwilling to work.

They further believe that the federal government should tax unequally, drawing a higher percentage from the poor and middle class with the idea that those people get more services than the rich and should pay more for it.

They believe that disaster relief should be provided by churches and charities and the federal government should not be saddled with the bill.

They believe that education should be provided by churches or the private sector.

They believe that the minimum wage is already too high and only those too shiftless to work hard benefit, and they further believe that it is unfair because it cuts into the profits of big business.

They believe that to be concerned with environmental issues is to live in an ivory tower and be out of touch with the realities of business.

They believe that the only function of government should be to provide an army and military capability.

They didn't tell you any of this when they ran for office, because they knew that you wouldn't vote for them if they did. But this is what they believe to the marrow of their bones.

Typing

Today it was suggested that those of us typing should be DOING something more. People spoke up to say we should all pull together and we should stop slandering the president.

A combination of my responses there, and to another list, is below...

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

For something to be slander, it has to untrue. It's true people were left to die for days with no food or water. That's not slander. That's fact.

If you really think all we need to do is pull together and do something for victims you have no understanding of how our political system works. *Someone* has to speak out about the horrible injustices or they just continue unchecked. And, they get worse. This should be an example of how things get worse.

If you just want to pull together that's great. I applaud your efforts. But don't criticize mine because I want to do something beyond this disaster.

We all do what we can. Frankly, writing is one of the things I do best and it can have a small impact in a different way than handing out sandwiches or taking in a family or whatever. I get over 65,000 hits a month on my website. If I can convince a couple of those people that we need to make major changes and do something beyond the immediate concern, then I've done something very valuable for the next group of potential victims.

You're concerned for these folks who were harmed by this - and so am I - but I'm also concerned for the next folks and the ones after them and on and on and on. We can't always just be reacting to the current situation. We have to change. And in our system - broken though it may be - change doesn't happen until a bunch of people do a bunch of bitching and holding people's feet to the fire. We all have our talents. I'm not good at one on one relief efforts but I'm damned good at holding people's feet to the fire and I don't intend to stop anytime soon.

The need is far greater than it should have been. Many people have died that didn't have to. We were ill prepared and unwilling to even admit it, much less change it. NOW is the time to keep this in the news.

Six months from now when people are resettled and there's a Mardi Gras and things are moving along, it will be very easy for the public to forget that our government messed up - big time - and no matter what they do to "fix" it - it can't be undone. Our government the last few years has been very big on "accountability" and I want to see some of that.

This should be a huge wake up call to everyone who thinks security on the homefront is all we need to be concerned with. I participated in a mock disaster a year ago - funded by homeland security - to make sure we were all prepared in case of a terrorist attack. It was so horribly mismanaged and confused that I knew it was hopeless if anything ever happened here.

I live near a city that's in the top ten of their guess of potential targets. I stockpiled some bottled water in my basement and decided to hope for the best because I knew there was absolutely no hope that anything "official" would happen if we were hit. There were three agencies involved - they didn't even bother to CALL one of them when the supposed disaster hit - the medical one. And, of course, they *could* call.

Why do you assume that those of us who "type" are ONLY typing? We're multi talented people who can manage many things. Just because we don't chose to share with the world what we may view as private business does not mean we have no right to point out what is wrong with the system.

Absolutely we need to be doing all we can to help these victims. But that only addresses the RESULT of the real problem, which is our government is broken. I want to address the real problem so this doesn't happen again in another circumstance. And, trust me, it will.

Not everyone understands the frustration I - and others - have expressed. Not at all. You may, most of the people here may, but about half of the people in the country approve of how this was handled. Those people are the ones that want the rest of us to shut up - to get about doing something to help. I *am* doing something to help. I'm trying to fix what's broken.

I'm fed up with the people who say we should stop criticizing about any idiotic thing the government does. I thought leaving people to die in the freaking streets would wake people up, but apparently not. Well, I won't be silenced. I've had all of the ineptitude I'm going to take.

When we get to the point that we're leaving corpses to be eaten by rats in the streets, it's time for SOMEONE to take notice. I'm not going to be the nice little quiet person who just hushes up about this mess and digs in with both hands to tidy up yet another of our government's screw ups. I'm mad as Hell and I'm not going to take it anymore. We've been putting bandaids on the results of the screw ups for a few years now and I'm sick of it.

I COMPLETELY applaud the efforts of people who are doing hands on, in the trenches, relief work. I am truly amazed at the generosity of people who are taking people into their homes for some undetermined amount of time. I'm awed by that. Totally, completely, awed. I'm grateful that people want to volunteer for the Red Cross and hand out sandwiches and do paperwork for new ID information and whatever else needs to be done. It's all great - and very important - and I never want to diminish that in any way. I'm thankful that so many are willing to do so much. I am touched by the heart warming stories.

But, I'm insulted by your suggestion that keeping the topic of the gross mismanagement on people's minds is not helping. It's the only way something will change long term.

The public's memory is very short. We have to talk about it now - while it's hot news - and keep talking about it - for something to change. Pretty soon the memory of people languishing in filth and wading through water with corpses floating in it while Rice bought shoes and Bush strummed a guitar and Lance Armstrong cycled with him will fade. We'll focus on the good news - like Jabbor Gibson - and we'll forget there should have been no reason for those hero stories.

White House aides, after the poll I've mentioned here, were "relieved" that the numbers were so good for the president. They were worried about his approval rating. If someone had been worrying about the people drowning in their homes instead, we might not have lost so many. This insensitivity is what makes my blood boil.

I'd just as soon not repeat this whole scenario. If we don't fix the problem, we will. People who are concerned about terrorists should realize they have TVs. They can see that we can't handle even something we've planned for. They could blow up dams. Obviously, we don't know how to deal with water. We've already demonstrated with people fleeing NY during a 6 hour power outtage that we can't deal with not having power. How many more vulnerabilities should we demonstrate in full blown, living color?

Our government is in chaos and incapacitated by its own bureaucracy. I, for one, am not going to be silenced about it, regardless of how many want us to be quiet so they can keep their heads in the sand about the real problems.

If we do not keep the *reasons* this happened in the forefront, and make changes, the next time people die because our government failed, their blood is on all our hands.
___________________

"To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public."
Theodore Roosevelt (1858 - 1919)

Pink

I've been remiss in not mentioning how much I enjoy Pink. I wonder if Natalie Maynes has one of these.

And this was before the hurricane. Apparently a long standing view. Geez, I like that woman.

****************
I found the pic at: http://p099.ezboard.com/fjjboardfrm12.showMessage?topicID=89535.topic

Poll Question

Someone asked what the exact question was that led to 46% of people saying they approve of how Bush has handled the hurricane situation in the ABC/Washington Post poll. Here is the question:

2. Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling the situation caused by Hurricane Katrina? Do you approve/disapprove strongly or
somewhat?

Total Approval - 46%
Approve Strongly - 26%, Approve Somewhat - 20%
Total Disapproval - 47%
Disapprove Strongly - 31%, Disapprove Somewhat - 16%
The remaining 8% had no opinion.

See the whole survey at:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/
politics/polls/postpoll090305.pdf

Disclaimer

Just in case anyone is confused, although I can't imagine why in the world you would be, since this is a PERSONAL blog - what I say here - past, present and future - has absolutely nothing to do with my employer, my former employers, my future employers, my family, my friends, my neighbors, my home town, my current home, my former residences, boards I've served on, restaurants I've eaten at, plumbers I've hired, former lovers, long dead relatives, ISPs current/past or future, trips I've taken, former co-workers, future colleagues, hotels I've slept in, or any other thing you can imagine. It's just ME and my thoughts, rants, and views - no connection to any one/thing else. OK. Did I cover it all? If there's anything I left out, consider that covered too. There's no connection. OK? Good Deal. Now, we're clear.

NYT editorial - In Case You Missed It

From The New York Times

A Failure of Leadership -
"Bush to New Orleans: Drop Dead"

Neither the death of the chief justice nor the frantic efforts of panicked White House political advisers can conceal the magnitude of the president's failure of leadership last week. The catastrophe in New Orleans billowed up like the howling winds of hell and was carried live and in color on television screens across the U.S. and around the world.

The Big Easy had turned into the Big Hurt, and the colossal failure of George W. Bush to intervene powerfully and immediately to rescue tens of thousands of American citizens who were suffering horribly and dying in agony was there for all the world to see.

Hospitals with deathly ill patients were left without power, with ventilators that didn't work, with floodwaters rising on the lower floors and with corpses rotting in the corridors and stairwells. People unable to breathe on their own, or with cancer or heart disease or kidney failure, slipped into comas and sank into their final sleep in front of helpless doctors and relatives. These were Americans in desperate trouble.

The president didn't seem to notice.

Death and the stink of decay were all over the city. Corpses were propped up in wheelchairs and on lawn furniture, or left to decompose on sunbaked sidewalks. Some floated by in water fouled by human feces.

Degenerates roamed the city, shooting at rescue workers, beating and robbing distraught residents and tourists, raping women and girls. The president of the richest, most powerful country in the history of the world didn't seem to notice.

Viewers could watch diabetics go into insulin shock on national television, and you could see babies with the pale, vacant look of hunger that we're more used to seeing in dispatches from the third world. You could see their mothers, dirty and hungry themselves, weeping.

Old, critically ill people were left to soil themselves and in some cases die like stray animals on the floor of an airport triage center. For days the president of the United States didn't seem to notice.

He would have noticed if the majority of these stricken folks had been white and prosperous. But they weren't. Most were black and poor, and thus, to the George W. Bush administration, still invisible.

After days of withering criticism from white and black Americans, from conservatives as well as liberals, from Republicans and Democrats, the president finally felt compelled to act, however feebly. (The chorus of criticism from nearly all quarters demanding that the president do something tells me that the nation as a whole is so much better than this administration.)

Mr. Bush flew south on Friday and proved (as if more proof were needed) that he didn't get it. Instead of urgently focusing on the people who were stranded, hungry, sick and dying, he engaged in small talk, reminiscing at one point about the days when he used to party in New Orleans, and mentioning that Trent Lott had lost one of his houses but that it would be replaced with "a fantastic house - and I'm looking forward to sitting on the porch."

Mr. Bush's performance last week will rank as one of the worst ever by a president during a dire national emergency. What we witnessed, as clearly as the overwhelming agony of the city of New Orleans, was the dangerous incompetence and the staggering indifference to human suffering of the president and his administration.

And it is this incompetence and indifference to suffering (yes, the carnage continues to mount in Iraq) that makes it so hard to be optimistic about the prospects for the United States over the next few years. At a time when effective, innovative leadership is desperately needed to cope with matters of war and peace, terrorism and domestic security, the economic imperatives of globalization and the rising competition for oil, the United States is being led by a man who seems oblivious to the reality of his awesome responsibilities.

Like a boy being prepped for a second crack at a failed exam, Mr. Bush has been meeting with his handlers to see what steps can be taken to minimize the political fallout from this latest demonstration of his ineptitude. But this is not about politics. It's about competence. And when the president is so obviously clueless about matters so obviously important, it means that the rest of us, like the people left stranded in New Orleans, are in deep, deep trouble.

I agree with Newt

Well, there truly is no doubt now that the end times are near, because I agree with Newt Gingrich.

"I think it puts into question all of the Homeland Security and Northern Command planning for the last four years, because if we can't respond faster than this to an event we saw coming across the Gulf for days, then why do we think we're prepared to respond to a nuclear or biological attack?"
- Newt Gingrich, former House Speaker

Someone Else's Rant

If you're livid, but don't have the energy to vent, you might want to read this rant. Language is "intense."

http://stevegilliard.blogspot.com/2005/09/we-told-you-so.html

Oil Prices

Steve Forbes thinks oil prices will go bust before the end of the year. He says the oil price bubble is going to be like the tech bubble was a few years ago and when it goes it will be big. He says maybe half what it is now... We can only hope he's right.

Read more...

http://heraldsun.news.com.au/
common/story_page/
0,5478,16441087^664,00.html

Quote of the Day

Creativity is the power to connect the seemingly unconnected.
--William Plomer