FEMA Strikes Again!

1) Bush is not running for re-election;

Hi party is and will be. Do you think he is not aware or on board with this?

2) the Federal government is not the answer to every problem;

So True. But then, if that is the philosophy of the Republican Party, then why do they want to take away protections of personal rights and freedoms in laws such as the Patriot Act?


3) The local pols figured out how to use busses to get unregistered voters to the polls in 1996, but failed to use the same busses to evacuate;

What party did that? Don't you think all parties with a vested interest in the elections agreed with this? Ok, maybe one party was down in turn out and used this to their advantage. How does this apply to this disaster?


4) the local government is the first responder that dropped the ball.

Probably true, but then there is enough blame to pass around to all agencies in this instance. There have been times when they all did well, such as in past disasters in Florida and elsewhere.

5) Had the corrupt Democrat local officials used the 65 BILLION DOLLARS in Federal money to re-inforce the levies, instead of lining their pockets, New Orleans would not have flooded.

Most all of the dikes and levey's were built by the Army Core of Engineers, or the Federal Government. If you observe now, the Federal Government is the work force that is repairing these levy's, not the local governments. What is your source for the assertion that the U.S. Government gave Louisiana 65 Billion Dollars for levy construction. They may have appropriated it to the Army Core of Enineers for construction, but that didn't give it to the state to dip into the funds. I am not saying this is not a possible scenario, but what is your source? I have been looking around for it and can find no basis in your assertion.

I am affiliated with no party. But I do demand facts. There is enough wrong with our country right now, and enough blame to cast on both the Republican and Democratic parties. Name calling and disparaging a political party does nothing to add light to what went on in the Gulf Coast States during this emergency. Even American Red Cross has some answering to do.

By the way, being a Democrat does not automatically make one a "Liberal". I know several who are not.

Time to grow up a little OM.

74,

Mike - K7OV

 

Amen

Complaint is Poverty and Gratitude is Richness,
and the worse I ever had was wonderful.

 

W9WHE: "the Federal government is not the answer to every problem";

K7OV: So True. But then, if that is the philosophy of the Republican Party, then why do they want to take away protections of personal rights and freedoms in laws such as the Patriot Act?

W9WHE: So the members of the vast right-winged conspiricy can starve children, end social security, pollute the enviornment, steal from the poor, and install the Bush family as the ruling dynasty.

+++++++++++


W9WHE:  The local pols figured out how to use busses to get unregistered voters to the polls in 1996, but failed to use the same busses to evacuate;

K7OV: What party did that?

W9WHE: Democrat party in N.O.

++++++++++++

W9WHE: the local government is the first responder that dropped the ball.

K7OV: Probably true. There have been times when they all did well, such as in past disasters in Florida and elsewhere.

W9WHE: Yes, because Florida is lrun by competent republicans, while Lousiana is run by incompetent democrats.

+++++++++++

W9WHE: Had the corrupt Democrat local officials used the 65 BILLION DOLLARS in Federal money to re-inforce the levies, instead of lining their pockets, New Orleans would not have flooded.

K7OV: Most all of the dikes and levey's were built by the Army Core of Engineers, or the Federal Government.

W9WHE: The feds granted money for levy construction, but records show that the democratic machine used it for pork barrel projects.

+++++++++++++

K7OV: There is enough wrong with our country right now...."

W9WHE: Funny, the places with the "most wrong" appear to be controlled by liberal democrats. The places with the least wrong appear to be run by republicans. Hummmmm.....

++++++++++++++

K7OV: being a Democrat does not automatically make one a "Liberal". I know several who are not.

W9WHE: Uh Huh.....sure. Whatever you say.

 

Because there are some liberal elements in the Republican Party.  It is certainly not Conservative at this time.  There has been a decided shift to the left.  They look "right wing" only from the viewpoint of a really far left.

The Patriot Act, for example, is decidedly NOT conservative. Another example: After dragging Clinton kicking and screaming to the idea of a balanced budget in 1995, they are now spending like Demos used to.

 

Perhaps you missed the really fine deeds done by the Senate Majority leader in the last couple of days ( a Republican)? So Republicans don't misappropriate funds? Accused of Campaign fraud, he comes out with a statement that the only reason he was caught was because another person had a personal grudge against him, as if not getting caught would have justified wrong doing in office. That, from the Republican Majority Leader! What a fine example he is for his party, or for anyone for that matter!

Beside only partially quoting me, you did not answer my questions with anything other than your opinion. Opinions are like rear ends, we all have one, but they are usually ugly and disgusting! You seem to operate on the philosophy that if you say nonsense or lies long enough, they become true. Maybe what you are saying is true. I am man enough to allow that, but without actual proof, is is just noise!

One example, the only place I could find any reports of any money being appropriated to Levy work in Louisianna was to the Army Corp for that work. The local governments did not even have access to those funds. Could you please direct us all to the exact place where we could read this for our selves from a credible source? And while your at it, please let us know which department in Louisiana does levy construction and repairs? I have a little knowledge with my past in the Maritime industry and having been there many times in that capacity and have never been witness to anyone but the Corp working on those levy's. So this should be an education for me.

I am reminded of an old Nat King Cole song "Straiten up and fly right" and specifically the verses "Your story is so touching, but it sounds just like lies"! Spouting accusations without corroborating evidence is just so much B.S. or noise. In my last post I should have included that I have many Republican Friends who are not impressed with the "Republican" workings of Florida as well. If you go back far enough, you will note that Democatically controlled offices did well in relief efforts as well. If you are honest, you will note that competing parties always have arguments about what the other side is doing. I for one, don't care about any of that. If FEMA did wrong, it will come out. If the Governor of Louisiana did wrong, it will come out and in both cases, they will pay the price. Some of that is already starting.

You need to separate your hatred from fairy tales, so that you can think in the real world. If you look around even a little bit, you can find much wrong with any political party. The party does not matter. What matters, is what the people in charge at the time did or did not do for their populace. The party is just incidental. You will find winners and loosers on both sides of the fence.What really bothers me about all of the political rhetoric is that when a crisis like we have been discussing on this thread arrises, party politics and hatreds should disappear! There is no room for it in these circumstances. Nor is there any room for baseless rumors. And, even if everything you said were true, it has no place here, where our focus should be on how we can help those in need, not on which party failed to do whatever!

Just one final comment, then I plan to ignore you. You made the statement that "W9WHE: Funny, the places with the "most wrong" appear to be controlled by liberal democrats. The places with the least wrong appear to be run by republicans. Hummmmm..... "

It was not too long ago that I seem to recall that our nation as a whole was doing quite well financially under the leadership of President Clinton, a Democrat. Mr. Clinton was not a favorite of mine, but give the Devil his due. On the other hand, although our economy is showing signs of faultering on President Bush's watch, should we call him a failure? An honest answer would be that it does not matter what political party is in power, good and bad will occur. Mr. Bush is now fighting the economic results of a nation that has been attacked by foreign terrorist, something that Bill Clinton never really had to face. So just lighten up friend.

73,

Mike - K7OV (God! I let myself get sucked into a political bebate with an idiot! I think I will go out and get drunk!)

 

Ahhh, the media. Look what they reported in N.O. dome. Reporting rapes and murders that didn't occur.

 

At one time we were required to have a radio capable of monitoring the emergency network in every ham shack.

 

I have no idea where you got your information, but I can tell you that you are flat wrong.

 

Hi guys,

Don't blame it all on FEMA when PACIFICA hasn't gotten it's act together from the start. Let's simply call it a group of activists with radio stations which have been experiencing fierce infighting for years making the recent FEMA scandal look like a kid's fight in a sand box.

BTW, during the Civil Rights/Vietnam turmoil KPFA had it's tower dynamited and an attempt was made to blow up WBAI's transmitter but the JDL being as confused as ever blew up WPIX-FM by mistake. Nuff said 'bout that.

Those who don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it, aparantly FEMA et al did their homework and made a wise decision in keeping those nuts out of their hair.

 

No, he is exactly right.  Check the latest news reports. It was a case of the media parroting the local "officials" without checking out the facts.

There have been NO documented cases of child rape, gangs in the Superdone, or of snipers firing at rescue helicopters. All reported as fact by the media at the time.

 

K7OV: Perhaps you missed the really fine deeds done by the Senate Majority leader in the last couple of days ( a Republican)? So Republicans don't misappropriate funds?"

W9WHE: Funny...when a murder, rapist or child molester gets accused, Liberals howl: he is "innocent till proven guilty"!
Why do Liberals think Constitutional protections only apply to child molesters, murders & rapists?

++++++++++++++++


K7OV: "In my last post I should have included that I have many Republican Friends who are not impressed with the "Republican" workings of Florida as well"

W9WHE: Only a fool thinks Lousiana did a better job then Florida. Why do Liberals BLAME the Feds in Lousiana, but refuse to give the Feds the CREDIT in Florida?

+++++++++++++++



K7OV: "What really bothers me about all of the political rhetoric is that when a crisis like we have been discussing on this thread arrises, party politics and hatreds should disappear"

W9WHE: If you honestly believed that, why did YOU take a cheap shot at Tom Delay?

+++++++++++++++


K7OV: "It was not too long ago that I seem to recall that our nation as a whole was doing quite well financially under the leadership of President Clinton, a Democrat"

W9WHE: You ignore facts. In the last 18 months of Willie's white house occupancy (he only got 39% of the vote) the economy began to decline. Economic factors were eroding UNDER Willie's tenure. Since the economy is like a battleship (turns slowly) how is it you expect Bush to turn it arround in the 12 months before September 11, 2001 when Willie had 6.5 years of Enron & Global Crossing style excess?

++++++++++++++++++


K7OV: "On the other hand, although our economy is showing signs of faultering on President Bush's watch, should we call him a failure?

W9WHE: MORE AL FRANKEN BULL. LOOK AT THE FACTS:

Unemployment under Clinton was 5.9%, but under Bush only 5.6%.

Percentage people living under the poverty line under Clinton
13.7%, but under bush only 12.8%


Using the very criteria Liberals love most (unemployment & poverty) the US is better off under Bush then Clinton. Don't you just hate facts?

W9WHE

 

Lee, can you explain more about your comment about Bush? As a physician, I can assure you physicians are all fighting to protect the most recent HIPPA laws!

Dr Ed

 

Let's get some facts straight.

1. The law under which Delay was indicted was passed AFTER the election in which it was supposedly violated. Therefore, the indictment is essentially moot.

2. Ronnie Earle is the DA in Austin, Travis County, Texas. Austin is more liberal than Boston, and is FAR out of step with the rest of Texas.

3. Ronnie Earle has a habit of hand-picking Grand Jury members who will return a rubber stamp -- always perfectly timed to influence an election. (This one is for his next election.)

4. The trail of evidence Ronny Earle claims to have will evaporate just as every other claim he has made against any office holder.

5. The one really good case Ronnie Earle SHOULD have won was against Jim Mattox. Mattox was probably the second most corrupt person ever to hold office in Texas. (Lyndon Johnson still holds the number one rank.) I am personally directly aware of Mattox's illegal campaigning and illegal use of funds. Amazingly, the case was lost by Ronnie Earle. Of course, as a liberal Democrat, once tried = forever free. That was his "get out of jail free card". (The voters then threw Mattox out on his ear -- by about a 6 to 1 margin!)

6. The Democratic party has become so corrupt that I have finally reached the point that I cannot find a single Democrat to vote for. The truly sad thing is that an honest person with ANY conservative tendency could not get on the Democratic ballot. The last "conservative" (actually a centrist) Democrat around was Ralph Hall. He just switched parties. I voted for him as a Democrat, and would vote for him as a Republican.

7. I dislike polarization, and I dislike intensely a single "choice" for anything. The Democratic machine has bulldozed all but the most liberal and "out there" candidates from its ballots. That has created a single choice for many, many people.

8. Ronnie Earle is a HUGE part of the PROBLEM, and ZERO part of any solution. His smokescreens detract from real crimes committed by a machine.

9. Hang the criminals -- especially those who try to rig elections. Start with the judge who ordered polls to remain open until after 10:00 PM in 99% Democratic precincts -- and closed at precisely 7:00 PM in others. Add the people who refused entry to poll watchers -- and stole their credentials in some cases. Throw in the people who allowed those with NO identification to vote. Mix in those who voted in both New York (or New Jersey, or Massachusetts) and Florida. Give them one year for every fraud -- and count each illegal vote as a separate count. Force parties to have open nominations in open meetings -- and open single party "pre-elections" to pick the people on the primary ballot. Bring back the rule of the WHOLE neighborhood -- not the closed caucus.

Limit terms.

Every citizen has the right to vote ONCE. Protect that at all costs. Nobody has the right to vote TWICE (or more). Prevent that at all costs.

There are times when the characters portrayed by Moe, Larry, and Curly would have been our better choices. At least we would have known they were clowns! And, folks, no one party has a corner on the bumbling idiots and well intentioned but ineffective congressmen, senators, and/or presidents.

Look in the mirror. You and I put them there. (And if you didn't vote, don't complain!)

Illigitimi non carborundum est!