shush, we shouldn’t be critical of Bush, it’s not “helping.” And tell Cindy Sheehan to STFU too, it’s demoralizing the troops.

God Bless America!

Do you know how idiotic you sound? And who are you to presume that I or anyone critical of our “leaders” for that matter, have not done anything “useful” to help???

Strcpy,

I’m not going to play your game of diversion/deflection from the real issue that you folks are so accustomed to. That only works with you koolaid types. Consider katrina a test of the disaster preparedness of DHS, and they failed period. They failed miserably, and many have died unneccesarily as a consequence. It’s pathetic and it’s shameful.

anon,

“The Feds are there to save us from ourselves no matter what we do, no matter how stupid we are. We can’t possibly be responsible for ourselves. We need our ‘great protectors’ to look after us at all times…”

I suppose the dozens (probably hundreds) of folks in nursing homes who have drowned waiting for help deserved their wretched fate… because it’s their fault for being so old and decrepit.

You’ll have to forgive me, but I find that tenet of compassionate conservative credo to be vomit inducing.

And btw, I didn’t really think I’d had to spell it out, but the term “great protector” was used in jest, you know to make a mockery of the self portrayal of fearless leader. It’s rather ironic to see someone who uses sarcasm to make a point, utterly fails to recognize it.

That makes no difference, though. The Feds are there to save us from ourselves no matter what we do, no matter how stupid we are. We can’t possibly be responsible for ourselves. We need our ‘great protectors’ to look after us at all times. If anything goes wrong it’s their fault, no matter how lame we’ve been in our own preparations. We love Big Brother.

good gawd, are you really insisting on arguing with me on this score??! Let’s keep our eye on the ball ok — DISASTER RESPONSE.”

Pretty much – is this the best you can do? That isn’t much of a response. Either my description is correct or incorrect. You presented a scenario in which you think they could have been damaged, and I called a bullshit. You have based a large part of your ideas on bogus, easily refutable “facts” and then want others to follow you on trust. The best you can come up with is “good gawd”.

“”This is has been the speediest response by *any* govt in the history of mankind – and you are angry?”

Really???! And I suppose the war in Iraq is going swimmingly well and it’s the best planned and executed war in the history of mankind too, huh? Okie. Do be careful if and when you snap out of your psychosis (perhaps neo-neocon can help out here), because reality is going to be a bitch.”

Simple – name one that has been faster or better. Since you are so fully knowledgable it should be simple – right? Or have you, once more, made a decalaration without the knowledge to back it up and simpyl want us to belive you? It would have been simple, if you knew what you re talking about, to refute me.

“To everyone else here, you can blame the local & state gov’ts all you want (and yes, they’re not without blame), but the main fault lies at the federal level. Here is a mission statement from the DHS website on primary responsibilty for a disaster of this magnitude:

“In the event of a terrorist attack, NATURAL DISASTER or other large-scale emergency, the Department of Homeland Security will assume primary responsibility on March 1st for ensuring that emergency response professionals are prepared for any situation.” (emphasis mine)”

Ah yes, but have you failed to quote the rest? Say the parts that talk about the *state* parts of that plan? Say the parts that outline that the federal govt *can not* do as you want them too unless they ursurp state control (that is they need them to request it)? Do you want them to legally be able to do so? I highly suspect that you do not want the federal govt to unilaterally declare martial law and move the military in to take control and are only using this case as a political attack.

“I do urge you all to tune away from FOX NEWS and Rush Limbaugh for a moment and read this very informative piece in the WaPost entitled “Storm exposed disarray at the top.””

I’ve read it, and similar. Would you please then read the plans outlined by the authorities as to each responsibilties? You will note that in almost every case the local authorities failed, even in the face of federal advising against thier actions.

“Can a city of this size be evacuated in two days, even with planning beforehand and the absolute knowledge that a disaster will happen?”

We used to be able to empty Los Alamos in 15 minutes. The lab and the town. It was about 10 miles from the most farflung laboratories to the remotest neighborhoods, there were no freeways and no mass transportation. I can go into the details, but think it would be pointless; as is missed by everyone insisting on a federal response to everything, the center of a response has to be local.

It can be done, but you have to think about it, get the details out to everyone, and practice it. In other words, it has to matter, and you have to care about it.

Please think about what is happening right now in the South. Then ask yourself whether your behavior is making it easier or harder for those who actually have to do something about it. Can you stop obsessing about your own political opinions long enough to…hmm, let’s see…help?

So yeah, I guess I’d say “we” should just STFU – at least for a moment, in the name of decency – and do something USEFUL.

Your quote really doesn’t apply here, for obvious reasons. But let’s think about its implications. So if we’re stuck in a “burning house” and you’re charged to lead us out but haven’t a clue on how to do so. So are we all to just STFU and accept our fate?

you see? the world is not so black and white is it?