Rodeo, your post proves that common sense is far from common.

I wish I had the creative energy to do a Mayfield - Nagin/Blanco phone call parody. Pleading, yeah. :rolleyes: 68 foot waves? no. bush spending time with advisors? storytime before bed doesn't count.

we all post speculative stuff on this board, sprinkled with a little fact now and again, but this senior creative writing assignment is special. It's hard to believe ANYONE could read this and say, "yeah, that sounds right, I'm sure that's the real story."

Revisionist history has gained momentum over the last 5 years, it's no longer about facts, but getting any bit of story out there just to cause doubt, that's all you need for a nation of bell curve students graduating our "world class" education system.

Here 'ya go, as an example.
http://www.stormsurf.com/page2/news/news.shtml

The only "factual" detail missing from this "real" story is the Governor's "cackle" as she considered the political benefits of thousands of deaths.

Seriously, its really disturbing to me that this would be posted as the "real" story (by probably a nice-well intentioned guy I would get along in person). And then look at the first several responses! You would think it was a Pulitzer-quality piece of journalism.

Ok, you can all start posting how the Pulitzer is a liberal, wennie, do-gooder, Anti-American award :D

First paragraph:

The National Data Buoy Center (NDBC), the prime source for all buoy data for North America took a direct hit from Hurricane Katrina. The NDBC and their webservers are located at Stennis Space Center 15 miles inland from Bay St Louis Louisiana. The eye of hurricane Katrina passed directly overhead on the morning of 8/29 at 11Z (6 AM CDT). At that time the last reading recorded from any NOAA buoy was received. As a historical reference point: Buoy 42040 located 60 nmiles due south and 23 nmiles east of where the eastern eye-wall made landfall (the strongest part of the storm) reported seas of 51.5 ft @ 14 secs (13Z) with winds 52 kts gusting to 70 kts and pure swell of 37.8 ft @ 14.3 secs.

Point made.

From what I've seen, you are the bravest man on this board! :cool:

This is more garbage...
What does "supplementary Federal assistance is necessary" mean? Does it mean she federalized the area? What do you think this means, in a practical sense?

Also, do you agree that Bush forced her to make this statement/declaration? It came after their call, where Bush contends he begged he to take action...

This is misleading. No where does your source (the press release) state that FEMA was given or has/had "FULL AUTHORITY".

FEMA isn't a 1st responder. DHS isn't a 1st responder.

You realize that FEMA's resources (specifically food & water) are distributed by (along with others) the red cross. The State of LA blocked the Red Cross from going into the disaster area (convention center & dome). Get it?

This is all just misleading. I can't help but wonder if it's purposely so.

- Skip

I think you are seeing ghosts.

The interesting question to me is why? Why go to such lengths to justify what even the President has admitted was an "inadequate" response? I really, truly don't get it ... but in answer to your questions:

Um, it means a supplement to the state and local response, as is not only clear from the context, but also from the White House's own press release:

"The President today [August 27] declared an emergency exists in the State of Louisiana and ordered Federal aid to supplement state and local response efforts"

The anatomy of a rumor .... Look at the first (and wildly slanted) post here, that's the source for your assertion that Bush "begged" for authority! Can we at least stop asserting that unless and until someone other than a Pelican poster vouches for it?

And what if the President of the United States did have to "beg"? He received the authority, he declared an emergency on August 27. Presto, the federal door opens, even if as a result of "begging."

I don't exactly know what this means ... We would have to go deep in the FEMA statute and regs to discuss their precise responsibilities. But can we agree that the FEMA Director should know that there are thousands of starving, desperate people at the convention center before, say, half the world does?

The city did a miserable job
The state did a miserable job
The feds did a miserable job

Acknowledging this does not make you a Democrat.

You don't have to go too deeply into FEMA regs to find out it has overriding authority to step in if the state is overwhelmed. So you have the direct request from Blanco and the FEMA policies -- both on the record.

You guys just don't get it.

Supplement means helping the state & local... not taking control of. Which is what I was arguing!

It's my understanding (based on just about every report I've seen on tv dealing with the issue) that FEMA doesn't take control, have full control, etc. until the governor federalizes. The governor still hasn't federalized. Also, FEMA can't TAKE control unless the local & state gov't have been destroyed, killed, unable to function, etc. Since I saw both the leaders of the state & local gov't on the tv holding press conferences, I don't think they were incapacitated. If I am wrong with the details on this point, which is always a possibility, I will gladly post a retraction.

Also, why have both of you guys (weenie & rodeo) completely ignored the FACT that the red cross was kept from supplying the superdome & convention center with food & water? This has been repeated, yet (IIRC) no one has commented. Is it because you don't believe it? Is it too damaging to admit the democrats screwed up so badly? What???

I believe the America is upset over what they saw on tv (i.e. superdome). Democrats really need the suffering there to be Bush's fault.

- Skip

I'm defending the local response? I don't think so. It sucked, as I have said repeatedly.

In response to your question,

1. I goggled the ***** of this FACT, and all that came up was a bunch of conservative web sites. The story apparently originated with a "Major Garret" of Fox News. I guess he is a reporter at that "fair and balanced" network. There is no confirmation from the Red Cross, anyone on the ground, or anyone in the government. Is this FACT true? I have no idea, and neither do you.

2. Why and how does slamming the local response mean that the feds performed up to adequate standards? Answer: It does not. Its called a distraction, a straw man, a red herring.

3. If you want to justify DHS' and FEMA's response, please point to all the good things they did. Instead of this, all I see are slams. Of the mayor, governor, "stupid" victims, Clinton, liberal weenies, etc. etc. It doesn't help your case, at least among thinking people.

How many of you can honestly say, "if there is a life-threatening situation in my town, I hope to God that Mike Brown is on the job."

Skip, put the Red Cross complaint on the timeline.

As has been posted here before (hasn't everything?) the Superdome 'refugees' had MREs and bottled water. Not an overabundance, but IIRC, they had enough for 3 days. The local government wanted everyone out of the Superdome and convention center, not flocking to it to get Red Cross supplies. Why the buses were delayed for a day and a half, I do not know.

The people put in charge of NO were a couple of generals. Whether they were Democrats or Republicans, I don't know, but I guess you do.

Careful, Steve. Arguing on here is an insidious addiction that will pull your personal productivity level down to, well, mine. :D

And that Mike Brown could fuch up a wet dream, as the old saying goes. Perfect fit for this administration. :rolleyes:

Oh yea, I'm doing my best to answer your questions. Can you answer one of mine:

"But can we agree that the FEMA Director should know that there are thousands of starving, desperate people at the convention center before, say, half the world does?"

Well, FEMA works with the redcross, and the food & water was there ready to go.

FEMA has 1,200 people, total. The coordinate things. Not drive and deliver things. They coordinated the delivery and had it ready to go. The governor/state blocked the delivery.

But yes, we can agree FEMA should know - as he did in this case.

You & weenie need to talk. He says they had plenty of mre's & water at the dome. You say they 1,000's were starving, which we all know as truth.

- Skip

Rodeo- Forgot to mention... I saw the head of the redcross interviewed... She went into the blockade in lengthy detail. She was not happy!

So yes, I do have a clue and there is confirmation from the redcross.

- Skip

Wasn't the primary message of bush's campaign for re-election last fall something like, "I'm the guy you can trust to keep you safe."?

Anyone feel safe knowing how badly DHS is organized?

Al Qaeda is taking notes. Who knew our own administration would be telling terrorists exactly how best to hit us and do a ton of damage while local, state and federal response argues who was most right or least wrong. :rolleyes: bush has killed our Country.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by speeder
[B]There will definitely be a congressional investigation into the federal response to the storm, as well as the state and local response. If everything in this "timeline" is true, it sounds like your boy Jr. will get a pass on any wrongdoing/negligence. I highly doubt it.

QUOTE]

How is Bush wrong because dems are too stupid to get out of the way of a Cat 5???

QUOTE]

How is Bush wrong because dems are too stupid to get out of the way of a Cat 5??? [/B][/QUOTE]

Byron, very well said!!!