Hurricane Katrina....

[EX#996]

Not everyone can be there to help with the clean up, comfort those who have lost so much, or feed those who are hungry.....

... but many of us can afford to donate a few dollars to help the victims of this horrible storm.

The company I work for has donated 1 million dollars in aid for the hurricane victims and will donate up to two million more in the form of a matching funds program.  Now I know that many employers have such a program - If they do, wonderful, if not, I would be more than happy to run it through my employer to make your donation, however small, make more of an impact.  The organizations that Thrivent uses to distribute the funds make sure that most, if not all the funds are used for disaster relief. In fact, the Lutheran Disaster Response will put 100% of donated funds towards this cause.

You can read more about it here....  Link

If you would like to donate, you may use our paypal address of buxton@frontiernet.net or I can e-mail our address to you for a check.  

Dawn

[KBOlsen]

I've been following the news logs on www.nola.com

It is hard to conceive a situation this grave and desperate right here in 21st-century America.  

[EmerWil]

I am very disappointed in the leadership of this country.  President Bush sat on national television this morning and said "well of course gas prices are going to go up.  There are 8 refineries down and most of the drilling rigs in the gulf are down".  He goes on to say " I hope everyone will start conserving..."

This is what happens when we get a lazy, reactive President.  Instead of sending 1000 National Guard troops they should be sending 100,000 troops.  We should be mobilizing every available resource to get this situation under control.

Civil unrest, looting, and gangs of roving bandits are now the norm in New Orleans.  It scares me to think that people are being forced to such a level that they are taking pot shots at the very people and equipment that is coming to help them.

The loss of life and property are mind numbing.  Please visit

http://store.yahoo.com/redcross-donate/

to make a donation.

thank you.

[GSXR RACER MIKE]

I am very disappointed in the leadership of this country.  President Bush sat on national television this morning and said "well of course gas prices are going to go up.  There are 8 refineries down and most of the drilling rigs in the gulf are down".  He goes on to say " I hope everyone will start conserving..."

This is what happens when we get a lazy, reactive President.  Instead of sending 1000 National Guard troops they should be sending 100,000 troops.  We should be mobilizing every available resource to get this situation under control.

Civil unrest, looting, and gangs of roving bandits are now the norm in New Orleans.  It scares me to think that people are being forced to such a level that they are taking pot shots at the very people and equipment that is coming to help them.

The loss of life and property are mind numbing.  Please visit

http://store.yahoo.com/redcross-donate/

to make a donation.

thank you.

     As far as troops goes there becomes that delicate balance between effective and problematic. There is enough trouble feeding and housing those that need help, excessive help could actually be a problem in itself.

[bweber]

I am very disappointed in the leadership of this country.  President Bush sat on national television this morning and said "well of course gas prices are going to go up.  There are 8 refineries down and most of the drilling rigs in the gulf are down".  He goes on to say " I hope everyone will start conserving..."

Typical liberal mentality, blame a natural disaster on bush or try to make it seem like the problems are somehow his fault.  
I am glad you are not a general.  Do you really think 100,000 troops is the solution?  How would you support that many troops in the area?
Now is not the time to make political comments.

[Jeff]

Typical liberal mentality, blame a natural disaster on bush or try to make it seem like the problems are somehow his fault.  

Hang on there B.  I wouldn't call that "typical"...

[bweber]

Hang on there B.  I wouldn't call that "typical"...

Jeff, you might be a Democrat but I wouldn't classify you as a liberal!  You are way too level headed.  You have your own ideas because you can think for yourself.  You are not overwhelmed by a hatred for George W

[EmerWil]

Typical liberal mentality, blame a natural disaster on bush or try to make it seem like the problems are somehow his fault.  
I am glad you are not a general.  Do you really think 100,000 troops is the solution?  How would you support that many troops in the area?
Now is not the time to make political comments.

Seriously...What benefit does the President bring to the equation when he flies around N.O. in Air Force One, then lands and carries his dog to a helo where he flies to his next speaking engagement?

Where is the mayor of N.O.? Where is the Governor of LA?  When is someone going to step up and take control of this situation?  

FEMA has suspended their boat rescue operations due to people shooting at searchers/rescuers.  While other parts of downtown N.O. burn people walk along I-10 looking for a drink of water and leaving the dead where they lie.

Yeah...this is a political attack on George Bush.  Gimme a break pal.

[Jeff]

seriously...What benefit does the President bring to the equation when he flies around N.O. in Air Force One, then lands and carries his dog to a helo where he flies to his next speaking engagement?

While I have no love for GWB, I'll take a stab at a response...  

The benefit is that of witnessing and understanding the magnitude of the situation he is dealing with.  Do you expect him to grab a shovel?  To stop being President to handle *ONLY* this?  Find me a world leader in HISTORY who did/would...

Where is the mayor of N.O.? Where is the Governor of LA?  When is someone going to step up and take control of this situation?  

Great questions, and I won't argue with this.  While I also have no love for Rudy G (NY), his leadership immediately following 9/11 was stellar.  This situation requires the same leadership and thus far it doesn't seem to be happening.  Then again, maybe it is, but it's behind closed doors or outside of view of TV cameras whereas 9/11 consumed every available media source for a week.

FEMA has suspended their boat rescue operations due to people shooting at searchers/rescuers.  While other parts of downtown N.O. burn people walk along I-10 looking for a drink of water and leaving the dead where they lie.

Do you expect FEMA personnel to take a bullet?  Their job involves risk, don't get me wrong, but not this type of risk.  Until the thugs can be pushed back, I wouldn't expect rescue activities to be full-scale.

The whole situation sucks.  It does require leadership.  HOWEVER, just because you don't see a clearly defined leader doesn't mean that one doesn't exist or that things aren't being handled.

Thus far, the relocation of mass people to TX is a fantastic step forward, and one of I'm sure many which we will see come out.

Yeah...this is a political attack on George Bush.  Gimme a break pal.

That's exactly what you are conveying...  Whether you intend it or not, it is what's coming across.

[Fat_Nate]

I'm not ready to take sides on this one, but it seems that calling for leadership or being critical of how the situation is being handled is not a political attack.  It's criticizing an administration or a politician, but it's not a political attack.  There Republicans and Democrats, conservatives and liberals who think there could be more or better leadership at this point.

I remember that it counted for something in my mind when the president went right to Ground Zero and said: we'll get the people who did this.  I don't suppose he could go to New Orleans and say "we'll get the hurricane that did this!" but a strong leadership figure has not yet stepped forward.

[gsxr_rcr]

GSXR MIKE you are killing me.  President bush is doing what a leader can at this point.  With a natural disaster this large there is no easy fix.  What do you want a snap of the fingers and everything is back to normal.

You complain about GW Bush but tell me the name of one other president that has to deal with as much stuff as GW has.

Lets make a list shall we:
9-11
2004 hurricanes
Hurricane Katrina
Gulf War
and many other smaller problems

The real question is where are the other countries we have helped in the past with their natural disasters?

Where are the bleeding heart democrat singers doing benfiet concerts???

Can you only imagine what John Kerry would have done to this country???

Oh my god that puss would be hiding underneath the bed waiting for it to go away.

In the end be glad Bush is taking care of the  situation.


Any body that says Bush is not doing anything can ass my white @$$.

We are gettting troops there to help out 10,000 is too many 1000 should be good.

As far as these idiots shooting at the helicopters they are commiting treason and should be shot on sight, same with the looters.

[roadracer67]

How can any one person sit and say that things are not being handled and that there needs to be better leadership floors me. Are you down there right now in the middle of whats going on???? No you are not. Your sitting thousands of miles away making judgements on how things are being handled by what you see on T.V. Look at the big picture of whats going on. Your talking about several states that are devistated, millions of people that are displaced w/ no place to go, water up to the top of your head, idiots loiting, people shooting at people trying to help. Thats alot crap to go on all at once. Things could be going alot worse. Lets try not to judge the people actually making decisions yet.... We can always review everything later on and then point fingers and place blame ;)