BREAKING: McClellan Refuses To Answer Questions About Levee Funding
BREAKING: McClellan Refuses To Answer Questions About Levee Funding
From today’s White House briefing:
REPORTER: There’s a lot of discussion going on about the funding of projects prior to this, whether projects in New Orleans in particular were underfunded because of the Iraq war or for other reasons. Do you find any of this criticism legitimate? Do you think there is any second guessing to be done now about priorities given that [a disaster in] New Orleans was sort of obvious to a lot of the experts?
MCCLELLAN: As I have indicated, this is not a time for politics. This is a time for the nation to come together for those in the Gulf Coast region and that’s where our focus is. This is not a time for finger-pointing or politics. And I think the last thing that the people who have been displaced or the people who have been affected need is people seeking partisan gain in Washington. So if that’s what you’re talking about, that’s one thing. Now, if you’re talking about specific areas, I would be glad to talk about some of those, if that’s what you want.
REPORTER: I’m talking about policy
REPORTER: One project, for instance, is the one where people felt they needed $60 million in the current ‘06 fiscal year, and they were given $10 million. Those types of projects. And a lot —
MCCLELLAN: Which project is this?
REPORTER: Southeast Louisiana Flood Control.
MCCLELLAN: Flood control has been a priority of this administration from day one.
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And the spin begins… Maybe it’ll progress to outright lies by the end of the week!
September 1st, 2005 at 1:09 pmOh wait I just read the last line.
September 1st, 2005 at 1:10 pm[bob]
[weave]
[jab]
Its the thing this administration knows how to do. Accountability? Not with them in power!
Impeach Bush. NOW!
September 1st, 2005 at 1:12 pmMCCLELLAN: Flood control has been a priority of this administration from day one.
So many things have been a priority of this administration, and yet so little has been accomplished. Other than the wrong war, unfunded school mandates, massive underfunding of countless infrastructure projects, yada yada, etc. Bush should be dragged through the streets — of New Orleans.
September 1st, 2005 at 1:18 pmYes Scotty, controlling the flood of lies has been a priority.
September 1st, 2005 at 1:19 pmThe curtain is up. The masks are off. The Bush administration is transparent now. These bastards are on the ropes. The press is starting to ask the tough questions they should have been asking all along.
September 1st, 2005 at 1:20 pm“Flood control has been a priority of this administration from day one.” Well, he is right on that account. Only not the flood control that could help with disasters such as this.
September 1st, 2005 at 1:27 pmBushCo = LIARS
How much more proof does the media and the public need to stop these arrogant bastards.
September 1st, 2005 at 1:32 pmMY GOD, RICE IS SHOPPING FOR SHOES!!!!!
http://www.gawker.com/ news/ condoleezza-rice/ index.php#breaking-condi-rice-spends-salary-on-shoes-123467
September 1st, 2005 at 1:35 pm#8 asks “How much more proof does the media and the public need to stop these arrogant bastards.”
If we expect the media to “stop” a government, well, the MSM has obviously not been doing it’s job. If we expect the public to “stop” the government, then you’re on to something.
Thinking about history and how many poor leaders Rome had before the final collapse, lazy people will tolerate just about anything.
September 1st, 2005 at 1:37 pm[…] Scott McClellan today, talking about Katrina’s aftermath: […]
September 1st, 2005 at 1:38 pmIs Condi going to walk to New Orleans? In her new shoes, of course.
September 1st, 2005 at 1:38 pm#9, Well she knows that all of America wants to see her in her new shoes, especially those people in New Orleans, who are either swimming or dying in theirs. Ya know, she’s got a life to live too.
Really, would you expect anything other than the unbelievable from anyone in this administration.
September 1st, 2005 at 1:40 pmHow do you think most Americans would react if the front page of every newspaper had a section to post White House press gaggle transcripts each day? How wonderful would that be?
September 1st, 2005 at 1:40 pm#14 - I’m for it. Good idea.
But I’d like to have the newspapers add a couple things. Like, the true number of unemployed in the country. I’d also like to see the national debt figures published daily. And I’d like to see the wealth of the top 1% listed (by name) and the average “wealth” of the bottom 90% in our nation.
September 1st, 2005 at 1:47 pmI’m thinking we need to arm ourselves with undeniable proof that ‘04 was fraud.
September 1st, 2005 at 1:48 pmThen about a million of us march to the W.H. and grab this puke by the throat.
I’m thinking we need to arm ourselves with undeniable proof that ‘04 was fraud.
Then about a million of us march to the W.H. and grab this puke by the throat.
September 24. Be there.
September 1st, 2005 at 1:50 pmCredibility gap, anyone?
“Flood control has been a priority of this administration from day one” but I’m not answering any questions about it.
September 1st, 2005 at 1:52 pmScott McClellan…he slips,slides,evades like a eel in a scum pond….”Hey, are thoes new shoes Conga?”…and I don’t mean Darva.
September 1st, 2005 at 1:57 pmI’m hoping the revolution is being televised. As for W. H, I think you grab him by the throat & drag him through the streets of NO like someone suggested on this blog.
September 1st, 2005 at 1:59 pmThe media should be ashamed for not letting the historical truth come out regarding funding cuts. The reason the administration was so slow on this, is they they messed up!
Bubba, it is reality check time! You red states voted for the guy who help cut your flood funding, made FEMA go through an extra mile of red tape to get their job started, and our people and equipment that could have helped get folks out is in Iraq fighting for oil.
Bubba, you voted for Bush… Bubba tell me you would vote for him again…
too bad a lot of poor folk who didn’t vote for him are suffering as well.
September 1st, 2005 at 2:14 pmit sure was more important to spend $200 million to build that bridge to the Alaska island with 50 people on it.
September 1st, 2005 at 2:16 pmThink Progress = Anti-Bush hysterics gone mad
September 1st, 2005 at 2:21 pm[…] I agree. And that’s why there is enough blame for everyone: the GOP at the federal level, particularly the White House, and the Democrats in Louisiana. Unfortunately, Scott McClellan just doesn’t want to answer the question: REPORTER: There’s a lot of discussion going on about the funding of projects prior to this, whether projects in New Orleans in particular were underfunded because of the Iraq war or for other reasons. Do you find any of this criticism legitimate? Do you think there is any second guessing to be done now about priorities given that [a disaster in] New Orleans was sort of obvious to a lot of the experts? […]
September 1st, 2005 at 2:21 pmYes to all the above, let’s start marching and dragging all these guys out of office. Bushes ownership society is owned by the top 1% the balance 99% are fending for them selves. Has any one here checked out their local poverty in their own states. Food stamp reduction and food bank lines.? More in poverty now and has been climbing since 2001. All our disaster and safety net programs have been cut since the ownership society ( conservatives ) took control. Still can’t figure out how this bunch got the conservative tag. Is it because they care and give so little.? Our 2 main issues are get this bunch out of office and in jail and help our southern states and their people through this sad disaster….Blessings
September 1st, 2005 at 2:31 pmFunny how the GOP used 911 for political purposes. Hell, they smeared their s**t all over 911, and now they want a non-partisan discourse?
F**k them, they have BLOWN EVERY MAJOR EVENT IN OUR COUNTRY SINCE COMING TO POWER!! They gutted FEMA, slashed Corp funding, bush played guitar, rice shopping for shoes, and people are dying because of their ineptitude!
As for these trolls, today we should start taking no quarter and give them no quarter. They are the traitors who have actively screwed this country, they deserve nothing but scorn.
September 1st, 2005 at 2:34 pm[…] Today, Scott McClellan claimed that “flood control has been a priority of this administration from day one.” This figures show that the administration has consistently budgeted far less that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has requested for flood control in Louisiana. And over the last several years, the gap between what the Corps requested and what the administration budgeted has increased. […]
September 1st, 2005 at 2:39 pm“Drove my Chevy to the levee, but the levee was…aw dang. I didn’t want to play gittar no how.”
September 1st, 2005 at 2:40 pmAll I’ve got to say right now is, AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!! IIIAAAAHHHH!!!! And other incoherent screams and yelling.
Call in the UN. US needs some outside help.
September 1st, 2005 at 2:44 pm#29, Don’t both with the UN; Bolton’s in charge, remember.
September 1st, 2005 at 2:46 pm#23 - Welcome back NeD
Bush was playing the guitar and ate cake publicly with McCain on Sunday. He grinned during his Katrina speech. He just hired Clinton to do his job for him.
You bet I’ll join newspapers around the country, conservative ones included in BASHING Bush.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4204292.stm
September 1st, 2005 at 2:50 pmHey NED, did Bush undercut the funding for levee work in New Orleans or not?
September 1st, 2005 at 3:05 pm“Flood control has been a priority of this administration from day one.”
Sure, it seems like it’s been about a 17% priority.
September 1st, 2005 at 3:41 pmBad. And Getting Worse
The latest from New Orleans and beyond.
September 1st, 2005 at 4:00 pmYeah, great. But what was the follow-up question by the MSM? How about, “How, Scott? How was flood control a priority if you cut funding?”
September 1st, 2005 at 4:38 pmStop bashing Condi! She, just like President George a couple of weeks ago in reference to Ms. Sheehan, needs to “get on with her life”, and there is nothing better to pick up your day and move on than a shiny new pair of shoes.
September 1st, 2005 at 4:56 pmStop bashing Condi! She, just like President George a couple of weeks ago in reference to Ms. Sheehan, needs to “get on with her life”, and there is nothing better to pick up your day and move on that a shiny new pair of shoes.
September 1st, 2005 at 4:56 pmStop bashing Condi! She, just like President George a couple of weeks ago in reference to Ms. Sheehan, needs to “get on with her life”, and there is nothing better to pick up your day and move on than a shiny new pair of shoes.
September 1st, 2005 at 4:56 pm#17 I will be there. 9/24.
September 1st, 2005 at 5:04 pm[…] (via thinkprogress.org) […]
September 1st, 2005 at 5:11 pmOMIGAWD
I just watched the head of FEMA give a press conference.
It was appalling.
According to him:
If there are dead bodies in the streets, nobody has told him.
The media is to blame for making it look worse than it is because they don’t show the people waiting patiently for help.
Nobody has to stay there if they don’t like the way the rescue is being handled. If they have somewhere to go, they are free to leave.
Unbelievable.
After the press conference, I think he was leaving to go shoe shopping with Condi in Manhattan.
September 1st, 2005 at 5:40 pmhttp://americablog.blogspot.com/ 2005/ 09/ breaking-sec-of-state-condi-rice.html
I saw that on TV with the head of FEMA . On top of what you said did you catch the part were he flat out said the people there are lying that there isn’t any food and water. “There was plenty of food last night and this morning and there will be plenty of food tonight , anything you hear to the contrary just isn’t true.
September 1st, 2005 at 6:06 pmVACATION ACCOMPLISHED!!!!
September 1st, 2005 at 6:08 pmDid anyone see/hear R Reagan today on MSNBC out of Seattle talking with Harry Connick Jr?? It was so surreal and awful. Connick was inside the S-dome or perhaps just on the street immed outside, and he was pleading, beging for help for the people around him. One old woman literally collapsed on front of us, and babies are failing (they are terribly vulnerable to dehyration, due to limited body mass), and people were just freaking out….Connick kept insisting…”these people are angry because they’re unlawful or whatever (or something to that effect) but because NO ONE is coming to help them.” It was clearly the worst thing I’ve ever seen on TV, and I was/am but 3 miles north of site of WTC debacle. I fear for the evening and the suffering poor in NO…I mean who the fuck ARE WE, if we let this go gy us without storming the gates?
September 1st, 2005 at 6:08 pmsorry….so freaked out I left bad typos….but if you’ve a brain you can prolly figger out the gist…somebody needs to google R Reagan and see if you can secure that transmission, because it is JUST AWFUL, and totally vomitous.
September 1st, 2005 at 6:13 pmDid I hear that Michael Brown , head of FEMA, is a golfing buddy of Bush? FEMA is now under Homeland Security, that’s Michael Chertoff — anyone recall his credentials? I know Bush has a penchant to reward donors and friends to high places. Any of these guys in charge of this operation actually experienced?
September 1st, 2005 at 9:54 pmi would like to see rush, hannity and coulter take there lily white asses to downtown NEW ORLEANS and see how long they would last without water food and sleep in the streets with all the muck smell dead bodies. walk the walk assholes. they would not last 10 minutes.
September 1st, 2005 at 10:16 pmI think the press corps are getting pretty fed up with McClellon and he wont last much longer. They are finally figuring out his spin tactics and keep pounding him and questioning his answers. Now the CNN reporters are fed up with Bush and his cronies and are not putting up with the sound-bites anymore. I guess when you see a dead body float by or children crying for water or food it wakes you up to reality. Even Rove can’t spin this stuff. Believe me, if it were Texas that was under water Bush wouldn’t have waited days before showing up and they would have everything they needed. He only cares about the South during election season.
September 1st, 2005 at 11:36 pmMemo to McLellan: This is the current spin regarding lack of funding for the levees. Repeat till reporters tire of asking.
“It is not appropriate for me to comment on an ongoing investigation.”
“It is not appropriate for me to comment on an ongoing investigation.”
“It is not appropriate for me to comment on an ongoing investigation.”
Leave the rest to Rove. He’ll slime us out of it.
September 2nd, 2005 at 12:29 amAll this daily rot and incompetence hoisted upon us by the likes of the Bush Administration personnel has given me a lot of gas lately. I will forever remember President Bush as the Flatulence President for causing such upset to my bowels with so much of his tragic political baffoonery of late. -Kevo
September 2nd, 2005 at 2:13 amHi from Sydney,
Watching from afar, I cannot help but feel very, very sorry for US citizens under psychoshrub. He exhibits many outright sociopathic traits - yep, including ‘give-away’ grinning when dealing with death. Under psychoshrub’s heirarchy, people with compassion, ethics or morals will not survive, so the maladministration is full of callous deviots. We are heading down a similar line, sadly. You need a MAJOR PUSH NOW to oust the little impotent pretender. Heads up - his achilles heal is 911!! Go for it.
Cheers
September 2nd, 2005 at 3:49 amOf course, I meant achilles HEEL :-)
September 2nd, 2005 at 4:13 amThe beginning of the 21st Century will be
documented by Historians as ” The Age of Illigitimacy.
**************************************
Bush Diverted Levee-Building Funds to Iraq War, Tax Cuts
In early 2004, as the cost of the conflict in Iraq soared, President Bush proposed spending less than 20 percent of what the Corps said was needed for Lake Pontchartrain.
Repair and maintenance of the fortress-like system of levees around New Orleans has been a fact of life there for decades. The levees themselves are constantly sinking - in one report they sank four feet in about a year. But in 2003 - at the time President Bush cut the taxes of the wealthy (his “baseâ€) while simultaneously launching the invasion of Iraq for no other reason than his personal whim, funding to rebuild the levees was reallocated:
[After] 2003, the flow of federal dollars toward SELA [Southeast Louisiana Urban Flood Control Project] dropped to a trickle. The [Army Corps of Engineeers] never tried to hide the fact that the spending pressures of the war in Iraq, as well as homeland security — coming at the same time as federal tax cuts — was the reason for the strain. At least nine articles in the Times-Picayune from 2004 and 2005 specifically cite the cost of Iraq as a reason for the lack of hurricane- and flood-control dollars.
As the situation in Iraq devolved into the slow-motion bloodbath we are experiencing today, the Bush Administration needed more money to feed the beast it had unleashed. As a result, even more funding was drained away from repairing the levees around New Orleans:
In early 2004, as the cost of the conflict in Iraq soared, President Bush proposed spending less than 20 percent of what the Corps said was needed for Lake Pontchartrain, according to a Feb. 16, 2004, article, in New Orleans CityBusiness.
Last summer, local officials recognized that the president’s decision had placed the city in jeopardy:
On June 8, 2004, Walter Maestri, emergency management chief for Jefferson Parish, Louisiana; told the Times-Picayune: “It appears that the money has been moved in the president’s budget to handle homeland security and the war in Iraq, and I suppose that’s the price we pay. Nobody locally is happy that the levees can’t be finished, and we are doing everything we can to make the case that this is a security issue for us.â€
We all have to understand the way we have allowed the crooks in charge to destroy America. The efforts of the rich and powerful to place the dangers and cost of a society in denial on the poorest will be remembered.
New Orleans has sunk and is gone.
Now we must derrive what solace we can from the facts that Halliburton and the oil companies are showing the highest profits ever recorded in history, that the super rich are paying less taxes, and that everything in Iraq is going just great!
Let’s all take a moment to smile and reflect on how good things are going for the richest (and therefore the best) amongst us.
Feel better now? You can feel this good for a long time as long as the elections keep getting stolen …
“New Orleans - Your taxcuts at workâ€
It’s just like the Feds said last year to funding cutting old forrest from Arizona to California and the very day the “NO†decision came from the feds, the mega-multi-state firestorm that could be seen from space, started. They keep saying “NO†to things that can actually benefit Americans, but we are expendable in their criminal war. I believed him, at first, defended him and then realized I was lied to. What gives America?
September 2nd, 2005 at 6:23 amI can’t decide whether to blame Bubba or George Tenant for this whole Katrina mess.
September 2nd, 2005 at 6:40 amCome on Theresa, you don’t believe they actually control the flood of lies. The levee holding that flood back broke the minute Bush took office. Sorry, it broke in Florida, November 2000 to be precise.
September 2nd, 2005 at 7:01 amMarie,
Michael Brown is another ‘Caligula’s horse’ appointment by Chimpy: http://www.warandpiece.com/blogdirs/002458.html He seems to be qualified to hide tax money for dead people and look after the legal affairs of Arabian horses.
September 2nd, 2005 at 11:33 amthe true Patriots of this country, like the “Deepthroat” guy…showed Bush, “Look George, we got to Nixon..we can get to you” Thank God the media is getting its balls and teeth back…..
September 2nd, 2005 at 11:45 amWhile all this focus and monies are being wasted on the “war on terror”, we see how New Orleans was made more vunerable to the present disaster, I question where else is the US at risk? I would say most everywhere in life, as it is obvious and has been for some time, that the “elected” officials do not have this country’s nor the people’s best interest in mind.
September 2nd, 2005 at 12:08 pmI live in So Cal. and god forbid we have an earthquake of major magnitude. With what I am seeing in NO, it would be nothing short of complete unimaginable, worst case, right out of a movie, you are screwed scenario. I can just see Boxer,Feinstein and Arnold speaking for us and asking for help. Bush’s response would be “I have the border wide open, they have all the help they will need to clean things up, I have a war to tend to”.
September 2nd, 2005 at 12:38 pmI have to say, if this isn’t a “make you stop and think event” and what kind admin. we have, then you are BRAINDEAD!
north east dilemma = head up his ass…
September 2nd, 2005 at 12:45 pmAs truly tragic as the Katrina disaster is, the worst disaster to strike the United States is the election of the Bush administration. If it takes years to clean up New Orleans, it will take decades to clean up the mess the incompetent and arrogant crowd in the White House has left us.
September 2nd, 2005 at 12:49 pmIt’s time to rename it:
The Department of Homeland INSECURITY
This is what happens when elected leaders put their personal agendas ahead of the public intrest. This administration does not serve the PEOPLE who “elected (?)” them. Therefore they are not focused on prevention nor are they prepared to react when they are needed. It’s always a day late and a few billion dollars short.
It’s time for this administration to leave Iraq business up to the Iraqi people and start taking care of American business at home.
As the saying goes… you’re either part of the solution or part of the problem. Since Bush has no solutions, he is the problem and needs to resign, or be recalled for incompetence.
September 2nd, 2005 at 1:04 pmThere has certainly been a lot of criticism of Bush and the neocons over their handling of this tragedy in New Orleans, and it is well deserved. Hopefully, the American people will now wake up and see how they have been hoodwinked by the snake oil salesmen (and women). However, as a lifelong Democrat, I must point out that the Democratic leadership (or lack of?) has a fair amount of guilt for abdication of their responsibility as an opposition party. I voted for Kerry only because he wasn’t George Bush. He also wasn’t Howard Dean. He failed to put up a even a token fight and went down in flames. He’s not the only one. Even now, with all the ammunition the Bushies have handed the Democrats over the handling of the war in Iraq, the economy, the environment, and social issues, the Democrats STILL fail to rise to fill the leadership vacuum. Where is the leadership? Where is the resistance? Where is the backbone? I worry for our country. Is the current condition of New Orleans a harbinger of what the rest of the nation can expect to become? Like Russel Means has been saying in his lectures, “Welcome to the reservation.†God help us all.
September 2nd, 2005 at 1:24 pmWhere have you gone Lee Harvey Oswald, out nation turns it lonely eyes to you, oo,oo ,oo.
September 2nd, 2005 at 3:06 pmfrontline: the war behind closed doors: excerpts from 1992 draft ‘defense planning guidance’ |
shows that Wolfowitz and Cheney indeed planned to invade Iraq since 1992.
Another major U.S. objective should be to safeguard U.S. interests and promote American values.
According to the draft document, the U.S. should aim “to address sources of regional conflict and instability in such a way as to promote increasing respect for international law, limit international violence, and encourage the spread of democratic forms of government and open economic systems.”
The draft outlines several scenarios in which U.S. interests could be threatened by regional conflict: “access to vital raw materials, primarily Persian Gulf oil; proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles, threats to U.S. citizens from terrorism or regional or local conflict, and threats to U.S. society from narcotics trafficking.”
The draft relies on seven scenarios in potential trouble spots to make its argument — with the primary case studies being Iraq and North Korea.
· If necessary, the United States must be prepared to take unilateral action.
There is no mention in the draft document of taking collective action through the United Nations.
The document states that coalitions “hold considerable promise for promoting collective action,” but it also states the U.S. “should expect future coalitions to be ad hoc assemblies” formed to deal with a particular crisis and which may not outlive the resolution of the crisis.
The document states that what is most important is “the sense that the world order is ultimately backed by the U.S.” and that “the United States should be postured to act independently when collective action cannot be orchestrated” or in a crisis that calls for quick response.
September 2nd, 2005 at 3:20 pmHey, don’t worry, bush has his bullhorn now and he says the pestilent waters hate us for our freedom but he’s gonna ” flush ‘em out”
September 2nd, 2005 at 3:22 pmThe House of Cards is falling. Some Red states are finally turning Blue. I look forward to fall indictments. If enough Red staters have had their fill, and I think they have, we’ll take back the House in 2006 and have enough to impeach “Two terms mandate Bush”.
September 2nd, 2005 at 3:31 pmSorry I had to, this really sums it up.
http://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/262703
September 2nd, 2005 at 3:56 pmSo what else is new? Lies are the ONLY things that come from anyone in this administration. When is the word LIE going to finally be used by the media?
Wouldn’t you like to strap Bush to a polygraph? Here’s what would happen if you did:
Hey George, How About a Polygraph?
September 2nd, 2005 at 4:10 pmCLICK HERE
i’m braiding a rope as we speak. i’m sure there’s a strong tree limb somewhere in washington.
hastert attended a fundraiser today…sheesh. why haven’t we impeached these as_holes?
September 2nd, 2005 at 4:33 pmnow ne, i have made myself very clear before. what part of my message did you not understand?
September 2nd, 2005 at 5:22 pm[…] Think Progress � BREAKING: McClellan Refuses To Answer Questions About Levee Funding Comments » […]
September 2nd, 2005 at 6:31 pm[…] As emergency aid finally comes to the distaster stricken south, we begin to learn the truth behind the Bush administration’s compassionate conservatism. I mean, as Scott McClellan said yesterday: Flood control has been a priority of this administration from day one. […]
September 2nd, 2005 at 11:52 pmI’ve been hearing a lot about policy and its impact on the recent disaster (under funding FEMA, the army core of engineers and other requests regarding the levees etc. etc.). Today I heard pro-Republican talking heads sighting that neither Clinton or Gore did anything regarding the levees or took any action to make the city safer hence its unfair to blame Bush… Is this true?
September 3rd, 2005 at 2:59 amI have been on the frontlines of America’s financial hardships for 2 years. I am a phone representative for a large mortgage company, and talk to people nationwide about thier inability to pay thier mortgage. I supported Bush ( Mortified) until I was inundated with the common response for inability to pay : “I lost my job, I was laid off, the factory shut down.” On and On and On. … Now, I am talking to displaced, jobless and homeless Americans from Louisiana. I’ve heard the cries from people across this country who are loseing everything. Even hope. … Yes, there are people who take advantage of a system to avoid responsibility … paying bills, taxes, leaches on society … but the overwhelming majority are good people just trying to survive and be happy. Do I blame George Bush for this? Damn right I do!…We are in Iraq to secure our petro dollar economy, nothing more!Perhaps George would not have been so desperate to do this, risking American lives and hopes, if he weren’t straddled atop his families oil drilling rigs. Or, perhaps if he and congress would support research into other forms of energy???? Of course, that would weaken the oil rig he sits on. … LETS ALL HOPE THAT GEORGE BUSH IS NOT SUCCESSFUL IN REPEALING THE 22ND AMENDMENT!!! YOU KNOW IT … THE AMENDMENT THAT LIMITS A PRESIDENTS TERMS IN OFFICE - ONLY 2, GEORGE!!! YOU REMEMBER THAT!!! WE, THE PEOPLE, HAVE ONLY 3 MORE YEARS TO TOLERATE YOUR SH**. THEN, GET OUT!!! STAY OUT!!! I ONLY HOPE THAT WE, THE PEOPLE, CAN RECOVER FROM THE DEVESTATION - ECONOMICALLY AND PSYCHOLOGICALLY - THAT YOU, YOUR POLICIES, AND YOUR ADMINISTRATION HAVE HEAPED ON US. WE WILL SURVIVE. THEN, WE WILL ELECT A CONGRESS WHO WILL POUR THE NEEDED FUNDS INTO RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT FOR OTHER ENERGY RESOURCES. WE WILL LAUGH WHEN YOUR KINGDOM OF OIL TOPPLES!!!
September 3rd, 2005 at 10:55 am“Flood control has been a priority of this administration from day one.” It’s about time that the MSM made “Flood (of LIES from this administration) control” a priority.
September 3rd, 2005 at 5:48 pmFamous quotations from GWB.July 2007. Gee, nobody ever anticipated a major earthquake in Southern California.
September 3rd, 2005 at 10:05 pm…How can you tell when Scott McLellan is lying? His lips are moving.
How does Scotty look himself in the mirror after his press briefings? Does he not review the tapes of his performances? How can he not be embarrassed to say flood control was a priority after this disaster? Is there no connection between priority and result? He’s been hanging around that barnyard so long he’s lost his sense of smell.
#61
September 4th, 2005 at 1:46 amYou are so right-on!! What is the deal with no leaders in the Dem party? Bushco just continues to expose and embarress(sp)itself, laid wide open for someone to come in for the kill. What gives?!?! Must be time for a hero(or heroine) from way outside to show up, or can a bunch of us collectively run for Pres?
Its the residents of Lousiana’s own fault for their current debacle. They should have used Bush’s tax cut to buy themselves generators. This is just another example of the Bush Administrations incompetance. Four years after 9/11 and they still can’t respond to a disaster; even with a few days notice.
September 4th, 2005 at 9:39 pm[…] Scott McClellan, 9/1/05: As I have indicated, this is not a time for politics. This is a time for the nation to come together for those in the Gulf Coast region and that’s where our focus is. This is not a time for finger-pointing or politics. And I think the last thing that the people who have been displaced or the people who have been affected need is people seeking partisan gain in Washington. […]
September 5th, 2005 at 3:18 amHead of FEMA sounds like the Public information Officer from Iraq, during the beginning of the unlawful WAR: as he speaks on TV, “The united states is not on our land, those are fireworks for your enjoyment,:” People were/are dying. I hope you can sleep good at nights. You are evil. Thank God for Term Limits……
September 5th, 2005 at 10:15 am“Today I heard pro-Republican talking heads sighting that neither Clinton or Gore did anything regarding the levees or took any action to make the city safer hence its unfair to blame Bush… Is this true?”
Not at all. Clinton approved a huge plan in 1995; Bush cancelled the final work. See this article for the facts:
September 5th, 2005 at 10:27 pmhttp://www.editorandpublisher.com/ eandp/ news/ article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001051313
There is a new election coming up soon. With all of the comments of people knowing how to run the country better then G.Bush, you all should run for president.
Things are a little more complexed then just giving orders. Unless your in a dictatorship.
September 10th, 2005 at 1:13 pmI have started a list of questions, similar to the list of questions for 911, on the Katrina disaster. It would be a great if it were posted, and people started adding to it, so when they commission starts, we can send them a list of things to be answered (or ignored).
Edit as you wish, these are the questions I had.
Doug Anderson
Mpls, Mn.
Questions for the next government whitewash, the Katrina Commission.
Bush said that relief efforts have been “not acceptable.” Really? Unacceptable? No shit. Why is that? This wasn’t a sneak attack.. It was a hurricane. We knew it was coming for days.
Yes, America is outraged. We have the right to be. Not only did the Federal Government fail to respond to a disaster that was known to be coming, now they are doing back flips to present an image that they had done everything possible to prevent this catastrophe.
FEMA has been literally caught criminally blocking and sabotaging the relief efforts. Why?
To add insult to injury, some local, state and other law enforcement agencies have tossed out the rule book and have exhibited some of the worst behavior ever seen in this country. Was this staged so that the military would have to be called in, which also, is against federal law and is un-constitutional. Apparently, despite four years of planning with the new DHS, when the first crises arrived, all rule of law and common decency was tossed out the window and it was chaos.
I think the worst thing we have all seen and learned from this disaster is that if a real terrorist attack occurs in this country, and affects a large population, they are all screwed. Not only must they be prepared to survive on their own for weeks, they may even have to resort to armed self protection, and not just from the criminal aspects, but rogue law enforcement agencies. I would like to remind Governor Kathleen Blanco and other officials that if you fail us big time again, ‘The American public has guns. They know how to shoot and kill, they are more than willing to do so and I expect they will…to surviveâ€. What you fail to do, Americans will do on their own. We have survived for over two hundred years in this country, despite the governments ‘help’.
There are many who need to answer for this man made catastrophe…
I have some questions for the Independent Katrina investigation. Please feel free to add to this list and forward it onto the investigative committee created to whitewash the facts.
[Planning]
Why aren’t disaster plans and evacuation plans published or made available to the general public at all city, state and federal levels before a crises happens, so everyone has an understanding of what to do, and who has authority and responsibility for what, including their limits of authority.
There is a difference between incompetence and negligence. The Federal, State and Local governments all exhibited both during this disaster. There is also a difference between resigning and being fired. People get fired for incompetence. Charges should be brought against those negligent and derelict. Will we see a real independent investigation into the Katrina disaster, and actions taken against those who deserve it?
Did the DHS focus on the war on terrorism weaken FEMA?
Did fact that there are so many National Guard troops fighting in IRAQ instead of in their home state effect the timeliness of the response? If not, where were all the National Guard troops?
Has the government realized yet that DHS and FEMA play two different distinct roles, and should remain separate?
Fours years after 911, and billions spent on DHS disaster preparation, and this is the response? This alone deserves an investigation. What was the money spent on? Where are those plans? Show the taxpayers what their money was spent on.
If an individual neither seeks, nor wants assistance, under what lawful authority and/or limits are in affect in a crises?
If Marshall Law is declared, how does this change the current laws and citizens rights?
What exactly does “Mandatory Evacuation” mean? Is it enforceable and how? If you don’t leave, should you expect help later?
Shouldn’t hospitals and other similar intuitions be the FIRST to be evacuated during a mandatory evacuation?
Large clean-up and re-construction bids must come from all sectors, not just for example to Haliburton, Fluor, and CH2M Hill. Americans expect the bidding process to be fair. Will it be this time?
It’s been established that Louisiana governor Katherine Blanco took the necessary and timely steps needed to secure disaster relief from the federal government, so who then dropped the ball?
Is David Paulison, the ‘use Duct Tape and plastic against bioterrorists’ guy any more qualified than Michael Brown?
[Aid & Response]
Where the hell were the Feds? A FEDERAL EMERGENCY was declared Saturday August 27,2005, DHS AND FEMA given full authority to respond to Katrina, which makes landfall Monday august 29,2005. First real fed response doesn’t occur in earnest until Friday, Sept 2, 2005.
Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff is as responsible for the response delay, if not more than Michael Brown, FEMA director, because FEMA was rolled up under DHS. Chertoff has some questions to answer to also.
Why did requests to Washington by local official for medical units, mortuary units, ice, water, generators and troops not arrive for five days?
If New Orleans City officials knew they didn’t have the means to evacuate the city prior to the storm, why didn’t they ask for assistance?
Dozens of tanker trucks carrying 50,000 gallons of water each were parked in rows at a Target parking lot in east Baton Rouge, awaiting orders to travel into affected areas and fill up 10-gallon jugs to hand out. Only a few trucks at a time are allowed in. Who screwed this up?
Despite warnings for years about the emminent failure of New Orleans levees, Bush tells “Good Morning America” that “I don’t think anyone anticipated a breach of the levees.” Is this really the governments position, or just a president out of touch with reality?
What happened to the 379 buses ordered by FEMA to evacuate the SuperDome?
Why were offers of medicine, communications equipment and other desperately needed items ignored by FEMA?
WHO ordered diesel supplies away from the city?
Why did FEMA prevent Coast Guard from delivering diesel fuel?
Why didn’t FEMA accept the U.S. Forest Service offer of aid with water-tanker aircraft available to help douse the fires raging on the riverfront?
Why didn’t FEMA accept Amtrak’s help in evacuations?
Why did FEMA turn away experienced firefighters?
Why did FEMA bar morticians from entering New Orleans?
Why did FEMA fail to utilize Navy ship with 600-bed hospital on board?
Why was FEMA not allowing the Red Cross to deliver Aid?
Why did FEMA turn away generators?
Why did FEMA urge First Responders Not To Respond?
Why has FEMA barred rescue teams from entering New Orleans?
Why did FEMA turn away Wal-Marts trucks of water, saying they didn’t need them?
Why did the Homeland Security Department request American Red Cross not come back into New Orleans?
Why was outside non-governmental help by Citizens being turned away by FEMA?
Who authorized Fish and Game Officers to turn away rescuers and their boats?
Why did FEMA initially turn away outside attempts to bring in fuel, water supplies and assistance?
FEMA director Michael Brown said the agency just learned about the situation at the convention center Thursday and quickly scrambled to provide food, water and medical care and remove the corpses. What were they focused on before that? The situation at the convention center was on national television, doesn’t FEMA have a tv?
Was the effort to plug the breached 17th Street levee during Bush’s visit staged, because 24 hours later, the effort was reduced to a single helicopter?
There are many reports of international aid that had been turned away or refused? Please explain the reasoning behind this to all those that went without food and water during this crises.
[Lawlessness & Crime]
Will manslaughter charges be leveled against caregivers who abandoned and left to die anyone who was in their care?
Who gave the order to hold victims hostage in the Superdome and prevent anyone from leaving, and under what authority?
Under what authority did Gretna Police Chief Arthur Lawson and Gretna’s Police officers forcibly, with gun-fire, prevent flood victims from leaving on foot?
Under what authority did Gretna Police officers order about 200 people to abandon an encampment between the highways near the bridge?
What did the Gretna Police Officers do with the food and water they confiscated from the flood victims?
Why did Gretna police came back a few hours later, fired shots into the air again, told people to “get the f — off the bridge” and used a helicopter to blow down all the makeshift shelters. (Is this their idea of giving comfort and aid to the stricken?)
Will the Gretna Police officers involved in these despicable acts be removed from law enforcement and charged?
Were any of the other looters identified and charged with any crimes?
Private organizations (i.e. Methodist Hospital) who purchased and privately obtained aid on their own had their supplies confiscated by FEMA repeatedly. This is criminal, and can’t be tolerated, even during a crises. A crises is not a reason for FEMA to ignore the law or common decency.
Will the New Orleans police seen looting a Wal Mart on video be charged with any crimes?
Are the New Orleans police who were captured on video looting a Wal Mart going to be charged?
There were reports of rape, murder and other crimes going on in the Superdome, yet it’s reported that authorities didn’t go in and investigate or remove the dead bodies. Who was negligent here and what actions have been taken against these individuals?
Is anyone watching Kenyon, a subsidiary of Service Corporation International (SCI), to insure they are properly handling the body counts this time?
Why did the National Guard surround New Orleans and not allow anyone in or out, including those bringing aid?
Who authorized cameras to be confiscated by National Guard Troops?
Who, and under what authority, authorized the suspension of the constitution during a crises?
Under what authority was the Posse Comitatus law ignored and placed armed military in an American city?
(Posse Comitatus prohibits Federal military personnel and units of the United States National Guard under Federal authority from acting in a law enforcement capacity within the United States, except where expressly authorized by the Constitution or Congress. Coupled with the Insurrection Act the powers of the federal government to use the US military for law enforcement are limited and delayed.)
Is it really necessary to drag people out of the city by gunpoint if they aren’t asking to for help?
Under what authority are law enforcement breaking down doors and confiscating legally owned guns?
Will the confiscated guns be returned to their owners?
Since when is it acceptable for a Governor to issue shoot to kill orders to National Guard Troops?
Why did the Governor deputize heavily armed paramilitary mercenaries from the Blackwater and ISI, private security firms to operate in this city during this crises?
There were reports that the mercenaries were roaming the streets fully armed. If they were hired to protect property, why are they roaming the streets? Who actually hired these guys and why?
Were any citizens killed or injured by these mercenaries?
Who ordered soldiers to break down doors in violation of the Fourth Amendment and even “shoot to kill” if they believe they are threatened.
Were any gunmen apprehended?
Was anyone killed by gunfire, and have the killers been caught and identified?
There are reports from the FAA that say shots taken at helicopters is false. Was there really any shots taken at helicopters?
Why was it ok for some businesses to protect their property with guns and not private citizens?
There are reports that prison inmates died because they drowned, had no water, etc because they weren’t evacuated. This is inexcusable negligent criminal behavior. Who did you fire and level charges against for this crime?
There are numerous reports of invalid arrests by local authorities, and even when the victims tell the police they have the wrong person, they are still in jail and prosecution still going forward. Somebody needs to look into the case of Merlene Maten for example. What a travesty. Police need to be reminded that even during a national crises, laws still apply to them also.
Despite assurances that the media could report un-obstructed in NO, they have reported they have been threatened by military and have had cameras confiscated. Does this administration remember or know anything about Freedom of Speech and the First Amendment?
There are a lot of photos and videos, some even from CNN and FOX, showing fully armed FEMA, Mercenaries, National Guard troops, Military troops, Swat, police officers, and others locked and loaded and at the ready. It looked like a war zone, instead of a search and rescue. When citizens envision a mobilization of aid, this is not what we expect, want or nor deserve. This isn’t a third world country on the verge of collapse (at least not yet). This situation must be addressed, and never repeated. This type of response and behavior is totally un-acceptable. Even the media using words like ‘refugees and insurgents’, and worse, Superdome hostages.
[Suspicious activities and unacceptable behavior]
Why was it necessary for local police to put armed guards on key infrastructures in order to defend them from FEMA federal agents?
There are many questions and allegations against Red Cross’s management of funds after 911. Now reports are coming out that they again did not utilize much of their resources or donations during the Katrina disaster. Will the Feds investigate and find out whats going on with the Red Cross organization?
Who really shot the contractors on the Danziger Bridge?
There are already reports that the actual death toll numbers are being manipulated. Can you assure or prove to the American people this is not happening?
Are Reports that Plaquemines Parish Sheriff Jeff Hingle had his deputies patrol the county line under orders not to let FEMA in because of FEMA’s sabatoge efforts true?
Why was FEMA actively sabotaging the relief effort in New Orleans?
Why has FEMA cut emergency communication lines?
Was the levee around New Orleans blown up and by whom and why?
Who was jamming radio and other communications?
Under what authority did doctors commit euthanasia on the sick and dying? If it’s illegal in that state, then wasn’t it murder?
Governor Kathleen Blanco when she essentially committed an Act of Terrorism when she issued a warning to lawbreakers: hundreds of National Guard troops hardened on the battlefield in Iraq have landed in New Orleans. “They have M-16s and they’re locked and loaded,” she said. “These troops know how to shoot and kill, they are more than willing to do so and I expect they will.
There are reports that the number and severity of shootings going on has been greatly exaggerated. There are reports of police snipers on roof tops protecting the city from roaming gunmen in pickup trucks. A report later showed pickup trucks with law enforcement agents riding around in search of gunshots. Some have reported that the reports of many shootings were actually a result of law enforcement fighting each other because of communications breakdown? One CNN report clearly showed a confrontation between two different law enforcement agencies.
Did Congressman Jefferson violate any laws when he used troops and helicopters to retrieve personal belongings in MO?
The price of gasoline at pumps across America jumped even before the storm was over. This clearly indicates gouging, not supply and demand. Will there be real investigations into the real reason gas prices jumped so quickly?
There were reports of armed Mexican Troops in Texas. Please investigate this, because any armed foreign troops in the US is absolutely intolerable, even in a state of emergency. It technically constitutes an invasion. If Mexico wants to send troops for support, great, just not with guns.
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