Louisiana Lt. Governor Mitch Landrieu has been working with the relief workers in New Orleans, helping rescue people from roofs and buildings...this is the second-in-command of the state, getting his hands dirty and virtually putting his life in danger to help his constituents! AP had a story today about his continued efforts to assist in the search and rescue of the citizens of New Orleans, and at the end of the article they had this final bit of information that has made this man a hero in my eyes:
During the search and rescue, many people have asked Mr. Landrieu to call their family members in other areas to let them know that they survived the hurricane and have been taken to safety. When many other politicians (or workers in general) may have told them that he did not have the time or ability to do so, Mr. Landrieu has written down the phone numbers on any piece of paper he can find, and is in the process of calling survivors' relatives to give them the news. According to the report, his pockets were literally full of tiny pieces of paper with names and phone numbers for him to call.
He told the reporter about one such call he made: he called the victim's daughter and told her "Your daddy wanted me to call you and tell you he is OK and that he loves you." When the reporter asked what the response was, Mr. Landrieu said the woman started crying tears of joy because she had been convinced that her father had died in the hurricane.
This was just one of many calls that this man is making over the course of this week while he is helping with the relief effort in this city. He is truly a man of great character.
Thursday, September 01, 2005
President "visits" Gulf Coast disaster area
From the "a picture is worth a thousand words" file:
When Dubya finally decides to visit the devastated areas of the Gulf coast, how does he do it?
In Air Force One, from high above, looking down on all the "little people" below.
Heaven forbid he should actually land and rub elbows with the riff raff and see the suffering of the masses...but then, he might actually need to act like a human being for 5 minutes. Without smirking, snickering, or glaring at anyone.
What a perfect snapshot of this administration...the high-and-mighty president, looking down upon the unimportant masses.
When Dubya finally decides to visit the devastated areas of the Gulf coast, how does he do it?
In Air Force One, from high above, looking down on all the "little people" below.
Heaven forbid he should actually land and rub elbows with the riff raff and see the suffering of the masses...but then, he might actually need to act like a human being for 5 minutes. Without smirking, snickering, or glaring at anyone.
What a perfect snapshot of this administration...the high-and-mighty president, looking down upon the unimportant masses.
Tuesday, August 30, 2005
Today's Lesson: Fascism
Let's get a couple definitions of fascism:
Fascism is defined as that economic system in which Private Industry controls the means of production, but where the Federal Government controls who produces what merchandise, what quantities will be produced, and to whom it will be distributed - from CuttingEdge.org
Historians typically define fascism by the characteristics it assumed in Italy, Germany, and Spain during the second, third, and fourth decades of the 20th century: authoritarian capitalism, superpatriotism, militarism, state secrecy, xenophobia, scapegoating, totalitarian suppression of dissent, and dictatorship. Of these, only the last has not yet appeared on the American scene — though, as Bertram Gross argued in his 1980 book Friendly Fascism, it may be possible for a nation to become fascistic while maintaining formal elections. - from "Bombing our way toward fascism" By Richard Heinberg Santa Rosa, Calif.
Does any of this sound familiar to you, girls and boys? Or were you sleeping through your history classes?
Maybe I was the only person in my age group who actually took a class in European History; it became very clear to me early on what President Evil and his minions were trying to do...
More later......
Fascism is defined as that economic system in which Private Industry controls the means of production, but where the Federal Government controls who produces what merchandise, what quantities will be produced, and to whom it will be distributed - from CuttingEdge.org
Historians typically define fascism by the characteristics it assumed in Italy, Germany, and Spain during the second, third, and fourth decades of the 20th century: authoritarian capitalism, superpatriotism, militarism, state secrecy, xenophobia, scapegoating, totalitarian suppression of dissent, and dictatorship. Of these, only the last has not yet appeared on the American scene — though, as Bertram Gross argued in his 1980 book Friendly Fascism, it may be possible for a nation to become fascistic while maintaining formal elections. - from "Bombing our way toward fascism" By Richard Heinberg Santa Rosa, Calif.
Does any of this sound familiar to you, girls and boys? Or were you sleeping through your history classes?
Maybe I was the only person in my age group who actually took a class in European History; it became very clear to me early on what President Evil and his minions were trying to do...
More later......
Katrina's Devastation
Just when it looked like New Orleans would be saved from the brunt of the storm, the levees broke and/or overflowed. Looking at the photos of the devastation in New Orleans, Mississippi, and Alabama is really starting to make me reconsider living on the Gulf Coast. When (it's only a matter of time, after all) the big one hits the greater Tampa Bay area, it will look much like New Orleans...
Now they are trying to manage a "total evacuation" of New Orleans due to the continued rising water. The system of canals and pumps they set up just for such a disaster are not working as they had planned...this is a city that PLANNED for a disaster like this, and they are ready to have everyone leave! I hate to think what will happen here when we get hit with a cat 4 or 5.
My friend Susan and her brother managed to make it through the traffic and are high and dry in New Mexico, but are worried about family and friends back in Mississippi. They are unable to get through to anyone, and can't get any news coverage from the area where he lives. We are all searching over the internet for any photos of Pass Christian and the surrounding small towns along the Gulf Coast between New Orleans and Gulfport.
There is talk over the web about the environmentalists and local communities in the Gulf Coast areas that told their local governments that clearing out the natural barriers to develop homes and businesses would cause more havoc if a hurricane of this size ever hit...needless to say, it fell on deaf ears. Not to say that there wouldn't still be destruction, but maybe not to this extent.
Now they are trying to manage a "total evacuation" of New Orleans due to the continued rising water. The system of canals and pumps they set up just for such a disaster are not working as they had planned...this is a city that PLANNED for a disaster like this, and they are ready to have everyone leave! I hate to think what will happen here when we get hit with a cat 4 or 5.
My friend Susan and her brother managed to make it through the traffic and are high and dry in New Mexico, but are worried about family and friends back in Mississippi. They are unable to get through to anyone, and can't get any news coverage from the area where he lives. We are all searching over the internet for any photos of Pass Christian and the surrounding small towns along the Gulf Coast between New Orleans and Gulfport.
There is talk over the web about the environmentalists and local communities in the Gulf Coast areas that told their local governments that clearing out the natural barriers to develop homes and businesses would cause more havoc if a hurricane of this size ever hit...needless to say, it fell on deaf ears. Not to say that there wouldn't still be destruction, but maybe not to this extent.
Sunday, August 28, 2005
On Relationships
I'm going to keep this short...the only thing I want to say is:
I am somewhat psychic, but I can't read minds. Don't tell me one thing when you mean the complete opposite.
That is all.
I am somewhat psychic, but I can't read minds. Don't tell me one thing when you mean the complete opposite.
That is all.
Katrina
Pray for everyone on the northern gulf coast...that sister is a monsterous category 5 hurricane now. Of all the places that DO NOT need to be hit with a cat 5, New Orleans is the highest on the list. Although I am glad the storm did not come our way once again, I would not wish that mess on anyone.
I'm also keeping my fingers crossed for my friend Susan and her brother, who are driving in the evacuation traffic, on a planned vacation that is taking them from her brothers house in Mississippi to New Mexico and back. I'm sending all the protective energy I can towards you, my friend. Be safe.
I'm also keeping my fingers crossed for my friend Susan and her brother, who are driving in the evacuation traffic, on a planned vacation that is taking them from her brothers house in Mississippi to New Mexico and back. I'm sending all the protective energy I can towards you, my friend. Be safe.
Hope for the future?
I see tiny rays of light popping out of the mess that masquerades itself as the Democratic party these days. I know most people think Howard Dean is insane, but the fact of the matter is he knows how to fundraise and I believe he can be the catalyst for the kind of change that needs to take place within the party to bring it back to some semblance of sanity. He at least brings to the forefront the issues that are important to the core of the party membership, the so-called "liberals". The Dems have been trying too hard to appease the "red state" voters...lets face it, the Dems will never be able to get enough of those voters to make any difference, so why sell their souls to try? They should concentrate on getting their core voters back, and on getting more independent voters. The only way to do that is to start acting like Dems again, instead of like "Republican Lites". What happened to promoting the core values of the party??? There are some good apples in the barrel, however...Barak Obama, Paul Hackett, Barbara Boxer, even John Kerry now that he is back to being just a senator (and a thorn in the side of the administration).
Barak Obama's speech at the Democratic National Convention literally gave me goosebumps...and also gave me hope for the future of this country. I can definitely see him as the first African-American president someday. It is apparent that he has the intelligence, common sense (not necessarily the same thing), and principles to make a positive change in the world. Come to think of it, he may be overqualified to be the president. :)
The more I see of Paul Hackett, the more I like him. That man takes absolutely no shit from anyone. It is refreshing to see a Democratic politician willing to give as good as he gets from the Republican slime machine. Those Reps don't know how to handle it when they have someone who doesn't just roll over and play dead...it's quite funny to watch their reaction to him shooting them back down. And as much as I hate to say it, much of being a successful politician these days has to do with looking good on camera and carrying yourself well in front of the camera, and he certainly has that part of the equation down as well. He looks like exactly what he is...an ex-marine with an attitude. Rumor has it he is running for Senate in Ohio for the 2006 elections...god help whoever the Rep is that is running against him. I don't think any amount of sliming, cheating, or irregularity at the polls is going to beat Hackett - even if it's in an area that is heavily Republican.
Kudos to Barbara Boxer & John Kerry for being in the minority of the Dem Senators who have the guts to stand up and ask questions of this administration, question the validity of the candidates President Moron is putting up for various positions, and for asking the tough questions during the hearings.
There may be hope for this country to regain our credibility around the world if we can get more people like this group elected during the midterm elections in 2006. If the Dems can regain a majority, or at least lessen the Rep stronghold, there may be a chance to get some real investigations into this administration's wrongdoings. Then maybe, just maybe, this country will be able to get back on track once this poor excuse for a president and his evil cohorts are out of office.
Barak Obama's speech at the Democratic National Convention literally gave me goosebumps...and also gave me hope for the future of this country. I can definitely see him as the first African-American president someday. It is apparent that he has the intelligence, common sense (not necessarily the same thing), and principles to make a positive change in the world. Come to think of it, he may be overqualified to be the president. :)
The more I see of Paul Hackett, the more I like him. That man takes absolutely no shit from anyone. It is refreshing to see a Democratic politician willing to give as good as he gets from the Republican slime machine. Those Reps don't know how to handle it when they have someone who doesn't just roll over and play dead...it's quite funny to watch their reaction to him shooting them back down. And as much as I hate to say it, much of being a successful politician these days has to do with looking good on camera and carrying yourself well in front of the camera, and he certainly has that part of the equation down as well. He looks like exactly what he is...an ex-marine with an attitude. Rumor has it he is running for Senate in Ohio for the 2006 elections...god help whoever the Rep is that is running against him. I don't think any amount of sliming, cheating, or irregularity at the polls is going to beat Hackett - even if it's in an area that is heavily Republican.
Kudos to Barbara Boxer & John Kerry for being in the minority of the Dem Senators who have the guts to stand up and ask questions of this administration, question the validity of the candidates President Moron is putting up for various positions, and for asking the tough questions during the hearings.
There may be hope for this country to regain our credibility around the world if we can get more people like this group elected during the midterm elections in 2006. If the Dems can regain a majority, or at least lessen the Rep stronghold, there may be a chance to get some real investigations into this administration's wrongdoings. Then maybe, just maybe, this country will be able to get back on track once this poor excuse for a president and his evil cohorts are out of office.
For those who doubt he is evil
Here's the evidence, courtesy of "WTF is it now"...check out the blog at www.maruthecrankpot.blogspot.com.
Bush's obscene tirades rattle White House aides
Jebus, is this for real??!
While President George W. Bush travels around the country in a last-ditch effort to sell his Iraq war, White House aides scramble frantically behind the scenes to hide the dark mood of an increasingly angry leader who unleashes obscenity-filled outbursts at anyone who dares disagree with him.“I’m not meeting with that goddamned bitch,” Bush screamed at aides who suggested he meet with Cindy Sheehan, the war-protesting mother whose son died in Iraq. “She can go to hell as far as I’m concerned!”Bush, administration aides confide, frequently explodes into tirades over those who protest the war, calling them “motherfucking traitors.” He reportedly was so upset over Veterans of Foreign Wars members who wore “bullshit protectors” over their ears during his speech to their annual convention that he told aides to “tell those VFW assholes that I’ll never speak to them again is they can’t keep their members under control.”- more here (via BartCop).
Spoiled brat @**hole.
Bush's obscene tirades rattle White House aides
Jebus, is this for real??!
While President George W. Bush travels around the country in a last-ditch effort to sell his Iraq war, White House aides scramble frantically behind the scenes to hide the dark mood of an increasingly angry leader who unleashes obscenity-filled outbursts at anyone who dares disagree with him.“I’m not meeting with that goddamned bitch,” Bush screamed at aides who suggested he meet with Cindy Sheehan, the war-protesting mother whose son died in Iraq. “She can go to hell as far as I’m concerned!”Bush, administration aides confide, frequently explodes into tirades over those who protest the war, calling them “motherfucking traitors.” He reportedly was so upset over Veterans of Foreign Wars members who wore “bullshit protectors” over their ears during his speech to their annual convention that he told aides to “tell those VFW assholes that I’ll never speak to them again is they can’t keep their members under control.”- more here (via BartCop).
Spoiled brat @**hole.
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