Senate Democrats voice concerns (with emergency response to Katrina)

[UpInArms]

http://www.marketwatch.com/news/print_story.asp?print=1&guid={288EA0D1-84F4-4478-8778-EAE1A06227C4}&siteid=mktw

BOSTON (MarketWatch) -- Two Democratic U.S. Senators expressed concern Saturday about the "serious problems and chaos" that have marked the Federal government's initial response to Hurricane Katrina, and urged President George W. Bush to do everything possible to help its victims.

"We are concerned that rescue and recovery efforts appear to remain chaotic and that many victims remain hungry and without adequate shelter nearly a week after the hurricane struck," Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid of Nevada and Sen. Mary Landrieu of Louisiana said in a letter to the President.

Reid and Landrieu said the Stafford Act gives Bush broad legal authority to help Katrina's victims, including providing cash benefits to those stranded without financial resources.

"Yet we have heard reports that some victims who have contacted the Federal Emergency Management Agency have been told that FEMA is not accepting applications for financial assistance," the letter said. " This is deeply troubling, and we urge you to address it immediately."

Current law also gives the President broad authority to use Federal facilities in order to provide emergency housing and food for those in need, the senators said.

"We urge you to use your existing authority to ensure that all victims have at least enough food to survive, and to immediately identify military bases and other federal facilities that can house these victims on a temporary basis," the letter said.

...more...

[Massachusetts]

1. Two Democratic U.S. Senators expressed concern Saturday

There better be MORE than 2.

[antonialee839]

2. Express concern? They should pull a Nagin on these bastards.

[AlamoDemoc]

4. My thinking exactly

[mom cat]

7. It is time to tell them to start screaming about this!

[VegasWolf]

3. "Voice concerns!?!" What a bunch of pansies. nt

[AngryWhiteLiberal]

5. Landrieu's CYA move for being a complete Bush asslicker

Anderson Cooper tore into her for being a typical wishy-washy Bush-loving DINO a couple of days ago. It was really something to see. Even after being taken to task by Cooper, Landrieu still remained on her DINO-apologist message.

IT IS TIME FOR THE RISE OF A THIRD PARTY PROGRESSIVE CANDIDATE.

JB

[damntexdem]

10. At least Landrieu had been speaking out for her own state for awhile.

Where have all the other Senate Democrats been? Where are most of them now?

At least actual-president Gore has taken some practical action.

[bemildred]

6. The Republican wing of the Democratic party tries to cover its ass.

Heaven forfend someone get excited about this. It's just a major fraction of US energy production and export capability that the Bushites have allowed to be trashed without batting an eye.
:puke:

[Sabriel]

8. Concern? I'm more than concerned

This event has shown me that if anything happens on a large scale near my family, we'd better be ready to support and defend ourselves.

Concern? That's a word you use when your football team loses a pre-season game, not when people in a major U.S. city are left to die through neglect and graft.

[damntexdem]

9. That's it, Dem Sens, get out there and lead ...

the people to where they've already been for days now!

Well, better late than never.

[lyonn]

15. What democratic party?

Haven't heard from them in years, like about 6 years.

[Erika]

16. Democratic party? You mean the Bush lites?

Whom I've quit donating to. I can just see them kissing W's ass for knowing there was a state known as Louisiana. Mary leads the way.

[NashVegas]

19. They Do Not Have the Power Needed

To step into the spotlight and lead. They have to be seen acting, not talking.

[Buns_of_Fire]

11. "We are concerned..."

"This is deeply troubling..."

"We urge you..."

"Oh, please Supreme High Lord Protector boosh*, we don't wish to intrude on your Playstation time or your nap, but we wish to bring to your exalted attention a potential problem that we're sure that you have already thought out in exquisite detail, but if we may be excused for our impertinence, blah, blah, blah..."

Jeez. Sic Nagin on him and be done with it.

So much for these people growing a spine.

[Erika]

18. and we hope in your kindness, your majesty,

that you throw us a few popsicles. We would kneel to you for a very long time if you were so generous and sensitive as to give us lowly tax-payers such honors.

[Roy]

12. After the Florida hurricanes....

Didn't they show FEMA officials on TV passing out checks on the spot in Florida to highlight the swiftness of FEMA response.

I'm not sure but this scene is tugging at the back of my mind.

[devinsgram]

13. So, let me get this straight

People are dying because of WH incompetence and the rest of us are being price gouged because of gas, and they are "voicing concern," my gosh, what a bunch of A**HOLES. Hope they don't get themselves too excited now. (sarcasm)

[stickdog]

14. People are DYING of thirst, hunger and a lack of medication.

Fuck your milquetoast, ass-covering "concern" about FEMA not accepting paperwork!

[Amy6627]

17. We need to ALL call ALL of our representives and tell them

If they do not get real visable real vocal real fast and real loud
we will form grassroots groups in our district to vote them out! We need to let PDA members know that they better start screaming at the top of their lungs. We can not support DLC members any longer, just because they are running against a repuke. I will not vote if a DLC is the only dem on the ticket. Don't the Dems listen to Air America or visit the DU????? Members from both parties, rep and dem a like need to stand up each and every time there is an injustice!!! Martin Luther King said "It's always the right time to do the right thing", not just when you can win. People need to know that the Dems are for the people, social and economical justice period. I am just ranting but I am soooo angry I could chew nails!!!! This whole thing looks like ethnic cleansing to me! Where were the Red Cross or the Salvation Army, forget about the Feds!! That poem keeps running through my head, first they came for the communist.......

[MadeinOhio]

20. DAMN RIGHT!!!!!! Stop the god shit complicty.....

Scream your heads off until these people get SERIOUS!!!!

http://www.conservativeusa.org/mega-cong.htm

[MadeinOhio]

21. No now this is what being enraged is...These two aren't enraged...

Below...

This entire incident lies on all of your shoulders.

The response time and emergency aid given by FEMA Is totally and completely unacceptable. This is an abysmal failure at ALL levels of government, and nobody can tell me anything else when it comes to Hurricaine Katrina.

The first mistake for this unbelievable hole was diverting funding to the Iraq war, which has caused a clusterfuck in the middle east and completely stripped our National Guard presence in the coast. We should have at least 60,000 or more troops, and taken from Iraq alone where the LA and MS guard are stationed.

We're in that war to begin with for oil, and oil alone and it is high time Congress re-evaluate its priorities once and for all. All democrats and republicans both, who stand by and continue to fail to hold this administration accountable are at fault for this disaster.

In light of that, read the news from the front page of CNN: http://www.cnn.com

The horror stories, racism and class division are extra-ordinary!!!! We do not ever have this happen in America, only in sickening third world countries. We are human beings and its time we damn well act like it!

Further, if you are not going to be part of the solution you are part of the problem and we the people will NEVER forget. So if you want to associate with this horror story of government and become part of the problem, we're going to hold you as the same failure that our administration is.

So shape up or ship out!!! One of you better damn well be calling for their resignations and starting impeachment proceedings. The Pentagon people who were stalling investigations are gone now, there is no exscuses now. We got the Guard out of Iraq, but can we get the Iraq out of the guard? Shame on you, you work for us and don't you forget it!

Do what you were put in place to do and bring accountability NOW, not later and end the price gouging. Hold hearings on the administrations failures. And to all those who are even thinking about doing something else, I demand your resignation right now. This is completely appalling and we the people of these United States will not have it for one day more!

We're not going anywhere.

Write your outrage to LTTEs and into cong. to make your demands:
http://www.conservativeusa.org/mega-cong.htm