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sabra Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Sep-21-05 06:45 AM
Original message
Bush administration highlights Rita readiness

http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050921/APN/509210576&cachetime=3&template=dateline

Bush administration highlights Rita readiness

The Bush administration is advertising its stepped-up response plans for Hurricane Rita before the storm hits the Gulf Coast, eager to avoid the public pounding it got for its reaction to Hurricane Katrina.

Hundreds of truckloads of water, ice and ready-made meals arrived Tuesday at locations in Rita's path along the Florida and Texas coastlines, and rescue and medical teams were standing by as the storm swept across the Gulf of Mexico.

"I think we're going to be ready when it does hit land," Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff promised Wednesday.

A military cargo plane evacuated 25 patients from the Florida Keys, and more than 2,000 National Guard troops were put on active-duty alert to assist as Rita slammed into the string of islands and headed west, perhaps toward Texas.


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whistle Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Sep-21-05 06:48 AM
Response to Original message
1. What damage has Rita done so far to the Florida Keys?
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LostinVA Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Sep-21-05 06:52 AM
Response to Reply #1
8. Not that much
From what I heard from Marathon.
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bettyellen Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Sep-21-05 06:48 AM
Original message
why are texas and florida so well treated by the feds?
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bettyellen Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Sep-21-05 06:48 AM
Response to Original message
2. why are texas and florida so well treated by the feds?
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all.of.me Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Sep-21-05 08:12 AM
Response to Reply #2
15. florida=bush, texas=bush, nola=sinners
crystal clear! :crazy:
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bettyellen Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Sep-21-05 08:36 PM
Response to Reply #15
35. um yeah, i was being a wise ass..... the other big point being they are
both more than willing to slime LA as a partial repayment for the kickback rendered.
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all.of.me Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Sep-21-05 10:44 PM
Response to Reply #35
36. i know that. i was affirming your statement.
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bettyellen Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Sep-21-05 10:49 PM
Response to Reply #36
37. Doh! sorry! my head is clogged up...
so, i'm a little out of it. and a litle ranting. :D
:hi:
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all.of.me Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Sep-21-05 10:52 PM
Response to Reply #37
38. that's ok!
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saigon68 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Sep-22-05 01:07 PM
Response to Reply #2
41. ROVE SAYS SO
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The Velveteen Ocelot Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Sep-21-05 06:48 AM
Response to Original message
3. Well, goody for them. That doesn't make up for
the total clusterfuck of Katrina. They damn better be ready this time.
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liberal N proud Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Sep-21-05 06:48 AM
Response to Original message
4. I am sure that makes the people of NOLA feel better!
:sarcasm:
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rodeodance Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Sep-21-05 09:03 AM
Response to Reply #4
22. esp. since the Astrodome LA people are now being shipped to ARK.
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Sgent Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Sep-21-05 06:49 AM
Response to Original message
5. Listen you F*CK (warning... language)
The Govenor of LA declared a state of emergency 36 hours BEFORE Katrina Hit, and it took you to +5 or more days to show your damn face.

Can't let the oil companies and rich people in Houston suffer unduley (income is much higher in Houstan than it was in NOLA). Don't forget you have to keep your pretty boy Rick Perry looking good, or he might stop giving you verbal blowjobs.

Goddamn govt.
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halobeam Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Sep-21-05 06:58 AM
Response to Reply #5
9. They could be called F*CKS whether they (FEMA) did it right or not.
They are in a lose/lose situation. If they do great (the way they are supposed to be) then they lose because it becomes, Texas is more important than LA.

If they suck like they did in LA, then they would be ripped a new one because they "didn't learn anything", they are "inept", etc. Not to mention, if they actually did suck once again, many people will die.

If I had to rip them apart, I'd rather rip them apart for caring more about Texas, at least they'll have done it better, and more people live.

If I had to give them credit, I'd say they got their shit together fast, the way it should've been to begin with, but lessons learned nonetheless and glad they acted immediately. May what happened in LA NEVER EVER happen again. Ever.
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Sgent Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Sep-21-05 06:59 AM
Response to Reply #9
10. Actually I agree with you
But comments by Rick Perry and a bunch of others about how much more prepared they are than NOLA just piss me off. It's not a contest.
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demo dutch Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Sep-21-05 07:50 AM
Response to Reply #10
13. You know the repugs are going to spin it that way and LA will be
blamed instead of FEMA. It will be the division in the opinion, and general public will fail to realize that NO is a special situtation because of the percentage of poor and low-income families that can't get out of town compared to other cities! We'll see much damage the media will do
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losdiablosgato Donating Member (649 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Sep-21-05 09:11 AM
Response to Reply #5
25. So far the feds have done nothing in TX
The state and local governments are handling the show. They have good plans and are working them.
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July Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Sep-21-05 06:50 AM
Response to Original message
6. While corpses remain uncollected in N.O. nt
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Prisoner_Number_Six Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Sep-21-05 06:51 AM
Response to Original message
7. Nothing quite like having the entire world watching for motivation!
However... WHAT ABOUT NEW ORLEANS AND SURROUNDING AREA????? Mustn't let the world forget about THAT....
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ET Awful Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Sep-21-05 07:10 AM
Response to Original message
11. So let me get this right . . . In Louisiana, you couldn't preposition a
response because you had no idea what the storm was going to do or how bad the damage would be, etc. . . . but on this storm which is even less predictable, you can?

Can you say BULLSHIT boys and girls?

I knew you could.
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Catchawave Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Sep-21-05 08:35 AM
Response to Reply #11
19. Yep, I say Bushit too....
..and hopefully will draw more attention to the NOLA failure of not helping "before" Katrina struck. Can't wait for Nagin and Aaron Broussard (the Jefferson Parish president) get really, really mad now :)
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TheCowsCameHome Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Sep-21-05 07:43 AM
Response to Original message
12. 9 Americans died in Iraq recently - Storms give Bush a nice cover
Terrible as they are, the storms divert attention away from the ongoing Iraq tragedies.
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GOPAgainstGW Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Sep-21-05 07:50 AM
Response to Original message
14. Notice No Katrina Death Toll Update Yesterday While Bush in Area! ....
It has to be over 1,000 now. Dead and missing have been updated daily, but the "powers" "forgot" yesterday (Monday).
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Catchawave Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Sep-21-05 08:31 AM
Response to Reply #14
18. I just heard 801 on CNN.
CNN is still giving the NOLA area full time coverage !
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GOPAgainstGW Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Sep-21-05 09:08 AM
Response to Reply #18
24. That puts us at 1,038+. That's why ignored yesterday when Bush around-eom
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Bridget Burke Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Sep-21-05 08:20 AM
Response to Original message
16. Here in Houston, we hear about LOCAL preparations.
Cities & Counties in the path have planned evacuations (with help for carless folks & their pets). NOBODY is waiting to see what the idiots in Austin or the idiots in DC are planning.

No matter what the damage, we WON"T have the same flooding problem as NOLA. It floods here, but the water goes down within a day.
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rocktivity Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Sep-21-05 08:24 AM
Response to Original message
17. And where was all this stuff three days before Katrina hit?
Why weren't people being airlifted then? The governor of Louisiana ASKED you to!!!!

No wonder Bush thinks God talks to him--he probably thinks Rita is being sent to "cancel out" Katrina!

:mad:
rocknation
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MrBenchley Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Sep-21-05 08:55 AM
Response to Original message
20. Sagging ratings are a crisis...dead black folks not so much....
A telling set of priorities...
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rodeodance Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Sep-21-05 09:02 AM
Response to Reply #20
21. Chretoff was on msnbc a bit ago telling of all the preparations.
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MrBenchley Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Sep-21-05 09:58 AM
Response to Reply #21
28. Yeah, it's only important to prepare if it can make Chimpy look good....
Last time theGOP was hoping to blame it on "lazy black folks" and get away with killing thousands upon thousands...
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JPZenger Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Sep-21-05 09:04 AM
Response to Original message
23. The Worst Natural Disaster in US History: Galveston 1900
Here is a link to info. and photos about the 1900 hurricane that destroyed Galveston Texas. It was the worst natural disaster in US history - killing at least 8,000 people.

http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2000/galveston/

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losdiablosgato Donating Member (649 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Sep-21-05 09:12 AM
Response to Reply #23
26. That does motivate us in TX to take these storms seriously.
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Lorien Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Sep-21-05 09:29 AM
Response to Original message
27. Of course they'll be ready; it's Texas
if it weren't *'s adopted home and their ratings weren't in the toilet, they simply wouldn't care.
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Kadie Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Sep-21-05 11:08 AM
Response to Original message
29. Bush Administration Touts Rita Readiness
Bush Administration Touts Rita Readiness
By LARA JAKES JORDAN, Association Press Writer

Wednesday, September 21, 2005



(09-21) 08:28 PDT WASHINGTON, (AP) --


The Bush administration is advertising its stepped-up response plans for Hurricane Rita before the storm hits the Gulf Coast, eager to avoid the public pounding it got for its reaction to Hurricane Katrina.


Hundreds of truckloads of water, ice and ready-made meals arrived Tuesday at locations in Rita's path along the Florida and Texas coastlines, and rescue and medical teams were standing by as the storm swept across the Gulf of Mexico.


"I think we're going to be ready when it does hit land," Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff promised Wednesday.


snip...
"It's nice to have the Bush administration recognize the importance of a federal response to Rita, but why weren't they proactively mobilizing and organizing like this for Katrina?" said Rebecca Kirszner, a spokeswoman for Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid of Nevada.


"These are the questions that need to be asked by an independent commission," Kirszner said.


more....
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2005/09/21/national/w043149D03.DTL

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jimshoes Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Sep-21-05 11:08 AM
Response to Reply #29
30. We'll just call Katrina
a mulligan.
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jwirr Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Sep-21-05 11:08 AM
Response to Reply #29
31. So what! Too little too late.
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tives12 Donating Member (223 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Sep-21-05 11:08 AM
Response to Reply #29
32. I don't think the people are expecting anything less.
I'm sure if they messed up again there would be a revolution or at least an impeachment.
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tainowarrior Donating Member (425 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Sep-22-05 01:07 PM
Response to Reply #32
40. no..
no, because no blowjob occured. Only blowjobs are high crimes and misdeameanors. :sarcasm:
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bowens43 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Sep-21-05 11:08 AM
Response to Reply #29
33. Of course they'll be ready, it's going to hit Texas.
FEMA was ready for hurricane Charley last year too....it was the first of 4 to slam into Florida. We know why he allowed New Orleans to drown and we know why they were prepared for Florida and will be for Rita..
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tainowarrior Donating Member (425 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Sep-22-05 01:06 PM
Response to Reply #29
39. It's just a public relations parade
Look at us, we're actually doing our job!

Chris Rock - "why do people want praise for something they're supposed to be doing".

Doesn't take away from Katrina

REMEMBER KATRINA!
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bush_crimes Donating Member (2 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Sep-21-05 11:32 AM
Response to Original message
34. yup
Bush Supports Home-Bred Terrorists

President Bush, Alberto Gonzales & Senator Dole support terror threats and civil rights violations within the U.S..

The administration and the Bush appointed Justice Department are so obsessed with a foreign “war on terror” that they have chosen to look the other way concerning home-bred terror perpetrated by our own government officials against U.S. citizens.

Below is a quote from an American prosecutor that President Bush and Alberto Gonzales’ Justice Department believe is just fine,

"The last claim involves a statement made to attorney xxxxxxx warning that the defendant would be charged with additional crimes if he did not clam down. The statement is a reference to the defendant's continued harassment of the victim and the investigating officer in this case through the court process. The defendant has filed a civil action against the victim because of his participation in this criminal case. The State is currently reviewing a contempt charge against the defendants because of this activity. The statement was a proper warning made through the defendant's representative."

This is an actual written quote from a powerful republican prosecutor filed in court documents. It is a federal crime to threaten someone for filing civil litigation in federal court or for their participation in federal civil litigation. Threatening someone with adverse consequences whether it be breaking their arm or threatening them with an illegal and frivolous criminal prosecution is known as extortion and obstruction of justice. The above open-ended threat also constitutes violation of the federal racketeering statutes and federal civil rights crimes. The fact that the criminals in this instance carry government issued badges and guns heightens the terror, which is now also approved by the President and Attorney General Gonzales.

A glance at the legal system’s own ethical cannons explain very clearly why threats of this nature against civil proceedings are forbidden and criminal,

…“ The civil adjudicative process is primarily designed for the settlement of disputes between parties, while the criminal process is designed for the protection of society as a whole. Threatening to use, or using, the criminal process to coerce adjustment of private civil claims or controversies is a subversion of that process; further, the person against whom the criminal process is so misused may be deterred from asserting his legal rights and thus the usefulness of the civil process in settling private disputes is impaired. As in all cases of abuse of judicial process, the improper use of criminal process tends to diminish public confidence in our legal system.” …

Obstruction of federal civil litigation by the government itself is not only a crime against individual victims, it constitutes an attack on the integrity of the federal court system signaling a demise of the rule of law and adversary court process in this country. This trend is advocated by the current administration and the Justice Department. The courts have become a powerful tool for the government to abuse and manipulate.

In correspondence, President Bush failed to respond to this issue. Alberto Gonzales and his Justice Department indicated that the conduct was fine and not even a civil rights violation. Senator Elizabeth Dole had an equally callous and unethical response to this crime targeting the federal courts.

The above quote constitutes the on-going threat of violent arrest and incarceration for exercising a right clearly protected by the first amendment –redress of grievances in federal court. Government threats of criminal retaliation for a citizen’s pursuit of civil claims in federal court is also an impermissible coercion tactic violative of Due Process.

Constitutional rights of our own citizenry must be secured before preaching abroad concerning foreign constitutions, rights and freedoms.

In the same series of correspondences, the President, Attorney General Gonzales and Senator Dole expressed no concern about the threats of violent arrest and incarceration targeting citizens for merely attempting to exercise the clearly established first amendment right to attend and observe courthouse proceedings. Secret courts are not a precept that should be sheltered or embraced by our President or the Justice Department.

While the above instances reveal how this country is evolving into a police state with zero concern for rights, liberties and freedoms, ironically, we hold ourselves up as the example for others to emulate. President Bush, lets get it right here before we attempt to impose our system on others. Our military is risking their lives in foreign lands to protect rights, freedoms and liberties that currently exist only on paper in this country. The politicians that have directed our troops to engage in foreign conflict are the very same individuals who have waged a war to undermine our constitutional rights within our own borders.

The willingness of those in power to inspire fear in the public with threats of political imprisonment for stating a position, filing a paper in court or merely attending a court proceeding is terrorism. The President and Justice Department’s willingness to allow these practices supports and encourages further terror and terrorism.

Alberto Gonzales’ Justice Department concludes that the above, “does not involve a prosecutable violation of federal criminal civil rights statutes <18 U.S.C., §§ 241, 242>.”. See statutes below. In the United States today, the mere exercise of basic First Amendment rights is met with terrorist threats of arrest and political imprisonment reminiscent of Stalinist Russia while the courts have become government manipulated secret tribunals hiding the terror acts.

Scott Huminski
North Carolina
S_huminski@hotmail.com

Letters from the Justice Department, Elizabeth Dole and letters to the President, Justice Dept. & Sen. Dole available on request via fax.

UNITED STATES CODE Title 18

Sec. 241. - Conspiracy against rights

If two or more persons conspire to injure, oppress, threaten, or intimidate any person in any State, Territory, Commonwealth, Possession, or District in the free exercise or enjoyment of any right or privilege secured to him by the Constitution or laws of the United States, or because of his having so exercised the same; or

They shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both; and if death results from the acts committed in violation of this section or if such acts include kidnapping or an attempt to kidnap, aggravated sexual abuse or an attempt to commit aggravated sexual abuse, or an attempt to kill, they shall be fined under this title or imprisoned for any term of years or for life, or both, or may be sentenced to death

Sec. 242. - Deprivation of rights under color of law

Whoever, under color of any law, statute, ordinance, regulation, or custom, willfully subjects any person in any State, Territory, Commonwealth, Possession, or District to the deprivation of any rights, privileges, or immunities secured or protected by the Constitution or laws of the United States, or to different punishments, pains, or penalties, on account of such person being an alien, or by reason of his color, or race, than are prescribed for the punishment of citizens, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both; and if bodily injury results from the acts committed in violation of this section or if such acts include the use, attempted use, or threatened use of a dangerous weapon, explosives, or fire, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both; and if death results from the acts committed in violation of this section or if such acts include kidnapping or an attempt to kidnap, aggravated sexual abuse, or an attempt to commit aggravated sexual abuse, or an attempt to kill, shall be fined under this title, or imprisoned for any term of years or for life, or both, or may be sentenced to death





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