Susie Bright's Journal has the best 1-sentence summary I've seen:

"When a natural disaster meets unmitigated poverty, presided over by unsurpassed arrogance and indifference, the results will be brutal beyond any forecast."

E.

Tim Russert interviewed Aaron Broussard, President of Jefferson Parrish on Meet the Press this morning. One of the most heartwrenching things I've ever seen. Those poor, poor people.

The aide said that guys like me were ''in what we call the reality-based community,'' which he defined as people who ''believe that solutions emerge from your judicious study of discernible reality.'' I nodded and murmured something about enlightenment principles and empiricism. He cut me off. ''That's not the way the world really works anymore,'' he continued. ''We're an empire now, and when we act, we create our own reality. And while you're studying that reality -- judiciously, as you will -- we'll act again, creating other new realities, which you can study too, and that's how things will sort out. We're history's actors . . . and you, all of you, will be left to just study what we do.''

Reality-based. Yep. I got yer reality right here.

At this point I think even the devil himself would feel ill.

Good grief. That's awesome in an overwhelming sort of way. Thanks for the heads-up.

cancer alley.

I don't know if this is the best thread to post this on, but

http://www.moveon.org/

...has organized a housing drive.

Y'know, I hadn't planned to go to DC to participate in the "Impeach Bush" rally on September 24, but I'm having second thoughts....

If I hadn't just moved from NC to SF, I would totally drive up for an Impeach Bush rally. Alas, as it is, I have no money.

Have people seen this? It may be in the list. This is unbearable. FEMA en masse is guilty of premeditated mass murder. Remember that "I was only following orders" is not a defense. Not for torture. Not for walling people up to die.

http://atrios.blogspot.com/2005_09_04_atrios_archive.html#112584666746336109

Broussard. Jefferson Parish president. On Timmeh:
"Three quick examples. We had Wal-Mart deliver 3 trucks of water. Trailer trucks of water. FEMA turned them back, said we didn't need them. This was a week ago. We had 1,000 gallons of diesel fuel on a coast guard vessel docked in my parish. The coast guard said come get the fuel right away. When we got there with our trucks, they got a word, FEMA says don't give you the fuel. Yesterday, yesterday FEMA comes in and cuts all our emergency communications lines. They cut them without notice. Our sheriff, Harry Lee, goes back in. He reconnects the line He posts armed guards, said no one is getting near these lines."

Guess FEMA and the Bush administration don't want any word getting out of what they're actually doing. How many lives do you suppose three trailer trucks of drinking water a week ago would have saved?

Nicole, thanks for that--Snohomish county, where I am, is currently seeking housing volunteers, as well. So others who are interested could likely get information from local sources.

I signed up, but I'm having a heck of a time finding out how transportation for the victims is supposed to be happen.

we've got a president who doesn't have a human heart and was brought up too rich trying to compehend people who are at the very opposite end of the spectrum. He cannot possibly comprehend living at such a low state of income, and no matter how incompetent no member of his family ever will be that poor. What a fsking boob to be running the country. sigh.

Broussard. Jefferson Parish president. On Timmeh:
"Three quick examples. We had Wal-Mart deliver 3 trucks of water. Trailer trucks of water. FEMA turned them back, said we didn't need them. This was a week ago. We had 1,000 gallons of diesel fuel on a coast guard vessel docked in my parish. The coast guard said come get the fuel right away. When we got there with our trucks, they got a word, FEMA says don't give you the fuel. Yesterday, yesterday FEMA comes in and cuts all our emergency communications lines. They cut them without notice. Our sheriff, Harry Lee, goes back in. He reconnects the line He posts armed guards, said no one is getting near these lines."

I read the transcript earlier today, but only within the hour have I seen the video.

I'm having an 'Emperor Justinian' flashback again.

PiscusFiche, there'll be a whole lot of protesting going on in San Francisco on 9/24, too. It's not described as an "Impeach Bush rally" per se, but somehow I don't think many of the protesters would object to that sentiment...

Zed,

Right now is a good time for people not to go along with ANSWER.

Paula,

Maybe this should be in the thread about being poor, but I've been having that memory of Bush Senior expressing wonder at how a scanner worked at a check-out counter.

Wasn't the thing with the scanner more complicated than that? ISTR that he was looking at some kind of unusual, more advanced/complicated scanner, which is what he was impressed by.

I seem to recall that George sr was impressed, after leaving office, by being able to call out for pizza. (Been told, by very reliable sources, that he's a really nice guy. Shame about his kids; maybe they didn't get enough exposure to the real world while living in Midland.)

P J,

My epithet of choice for Bush Junior is "bastard" (or, more formally, "that blood-drenched bastard") for just the sorts of reasons you touch on.

Some good news

http://www.enn.com/today.html?id=8695

The animals in the New Orleans zoo almost all are fine, thanks to extensive planning and stockpiles of supplies, supplemented by leaves torn off by the hurricane. The zoo is on high ground.

My epithet of choice for Bush Junior is "bastard" (or, more formally, "that blood-drenched bastard") for just the sorts of reasons you touch on.

And it goes to show that you can be one even if your parents are married to each other. I understand the Shrub tends to take after his mother. 'Very reliable source' didn't say anything about her character. But we can guess at it by looking at the way the kids turned out.

Here's Snopes' commentary on Bush Sr. vs. the grocery store scanner. Their verdict on his being shocked and amazed: false.

If you are in the Northwest and want to do something concrete, you can join Jesse Robbins in building shelters. The shelter fold, World Shelters, are experienced in disaster relief.