I PREDICT: Bush Will Not Survive This Storm >

[Stephanie]

His callous disregard for human life is front and center for all to see. I'm sorry it has to be at New Orleans' expense. Katrina will be Bush's downfall. He won't recover from this.

Vacationing while New Orleans floods? Unforgiveable.

[KyndCulture]

1. Fiddled while Rome burned, anyone? nt.

[merbex]

9. Biking while NO suffers disaster

[Richard Steele]

55. At least Nero could play an instrument! nt

[bvar22]

68. Saw on another DU thread:

Nero Fiddled.
Bush* Pedaled.

[Fla Dem]

2. La is a Red state, guess they haven't done enough for him lately.!!!!

[Flubadubya]

16. Louisinana has a Democratic Governor now...

and Democratic Senator... think they'll get as much aid as Florida did last year, much less an actual visit from the Moran in Chief? Can you see this monkey passing out ice in hip-deep water in the heart of New Orleans? I think NOT!

This will be Shrubby's response... :nopity:

[abluelady]

23. They're Democrat-lite, though, both of them.

[Flubadubya]

25. True, true, true...

But.. A) they still have a (D) after their names... and B) they ain't blood relatives of the Pretzeldent. That's enough to get them what ZILCH from the Town Idiot!

[seemslikeadream]

3. He's always on vacation when something big is going on

BUDDY BUDDY
http://www.gsnmagazine.com.nyud.net:8090/images/aug_05/atta.jpg
DO THE MATH

24 MINUTES

THERE MUST HAVE BEEN A MILITARY ORDER

http://www.bushflash.com/buddy.html

[Double T]

4. bush might get a short bounce in his poll numbers.......

but after reality sets in, his poll numbers will tumble even lower. Where is bush going to get the funds to put this gulf coast area back together again; the deficit will only become larger.

[Imagevision]

21. Bush bounce in polls? - doubt it, but expect gas prices to climb again!

http://downingstreetmemo.com/

[electropop]

41. No bounce. Why would people be impressed with his crisis performance?

He's at the Lazy W, riding his tricycle while New Orleans needs him. This does not spell "bounce."

[BlueJac]

45. no shit

[roguevalley]

56. won't meet with cindy, vacationing during a disaster of monumental

proportions, no words of encouragement before, during and probably after. He's a loser and his party is going with him.

[jbnow]

63. No, he's in Arizona pushing

his horrible Medicare prescription drug plan.

What else would you do during a disaster then go where it's sunny and try to help the drug companies increase their profit at the expense of taxpayers, the elderly and the disabled.

Priorities!

[electropop]

76. I think he's losing it.

He's desperately trying to loot a few billion more $ before the impeachment. He's looking for the golden parachute.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

5. Sorry but this isn't 1992...

If people really added up how decimated police, fire, paramedics and other emergency services were drained or tapped by his war and tax cuts for the uber wealthy, they might put two and two together...but all he has to do is go on TV after the storm and say he is praying for the good people of New Orleans and the soma will kick in...a gram is better than a damn.



...and so it goes

[Poppyseedman]

29. How are these services effected by his war???

If people really added up how decimated police, fire, paramedics and other emergency services were drained or tapped by his war and tax cuts for the uber wealthy, they might put two and two together...

All these services are either state, county or locally controlled.

Not giving bush a pass, but your two plus two doesn't add up.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

33. perhaps you forgot about Clinton's COPS program which

put 100,000 more cops on the street and which Bush slashed...it's ok..the public has a very short legislative memory.

[alarimer]

34. A lot of those people are in the Guard or Reserves

As well as being cops or paramedics or whatever. I imagine there are temporary replacements if the towns have the moeny, otherwise they are short-handed. plus a lot of the Guard/Reserves that normally help with disasters are also deployed. Making this one big mess and probably the death knell for Bush's Presidency once the world realizes that he has left us much less safe at home.

[SmokingJacket]

36. If the "War Against Terra" money had gone to first responders,

as many of us believed it should have, instead of getting blown to dust in Iraq, we'd all be a lot better off.

[Toots]

51. Federal monies that normally would come to the state have not so other

funds are tapped and other cutbacks are made. Yes it is the fault of the Federal Government by way of how tax payer dollars are being spent. When less federal aid is forthcoming then more has to be paid by the state and the states just don't have it. One of the first things Bush* cut was Clinton's 100,000 police on the streets inititive so less police is Bush*'s fault. Emergency Services are normally National guard and that has been cut to the bone both by sending them overseas for unspecified time and virtually no National Guard or Reserve enlistments because of Bush* and his dirty little war.

[Occulus]

62. Many of the people serving in those occupations are also emergency

responders; so are National Guard members. We needed them here, in the US, and not in Iraq, for situations exactly like this one. I think it's a character trait, and it's a good one, but when it is exploited the end result can be tragic on a grand scale.

President * has emotionally deserted this country, if he ever was invested in such a way to begin with. Knowing this disaster was coming, and doing apparently nothing, and then sitting upon ass whilst the disaster is ongoing, when one has the power to do something, be it ever so small, to prevent the tragedy, could be seen as callous disregard for human life, resulting in the deaths of one or more persons.

I believe I've just defined an actual crime.

[Arkansas Granny]

64. They are reporting in my area of the country,

that many members of the police departments, fire departments, etc. are National Guard members who have been called up due to Iraq. This has left gaps in these departments htat are becoming hard to fill.

[vickitulsa]

74. I'm so glad they are at least *reporting* this where you are!

So many news folk do NOT seem to be reporting this stark and very obvious fact. I even heard the anchor on Faux just now saying that Alabama had PLENTY of National Guard troops available not only to help in their own state but to "lend out" to neighboring states hit harder. She was repeating what an Alabama NG general said yesterday -- I know because I heard him say it.

But that is ONE soldier's version of things! I know AL *is* sending NG troops to Mississippi and Louisiana, as is Florida, I believe. In the case of Florida, this is a "payback" issue and that's significant. Ya don't want to be remiss in returning a favor to a state that helped you out when you needed it in the past or that help won't be there for YOU next time.

But in the case of Alabama NG personnel being sent to LA and MS, I wonder just how many Alabamans feel their family members in the Guard are NOT needed there at home? And how many wish their friends and family who are in the Guard AND IN IRAQ could be home right now? The general's view may be objective, or it may be very biased. But the heartfelt desires of Alabamans to have their NG troopers home during a disaster like this should be considered as well! And I think that with at LEAST 345,000 AL residents having no power -- a number that could easily rise considerably -- it seems likely that the demand for gasoline alone might well cause tempers to flare and signal a need for NG troops to "keep the peace."

I mentioned yesterday the potential for looting that looms in so many areas right now, and someone replied saying s/he didn't think looting would be a problem in Katrina's wake. I don't understand that reasoning, since it's clear there have been "sporadic" incidents of looting that were significant events. Certainly significant to the stores looted! One Winn-Dixie was looted to the point of being described as "ransacked" by a reporter who witnessed the thefts personally. He said people were coming out of the store running but pushing grocery carts loaded to overflowing.

Since then I've heard a great many reports of stores and other facilities that have no walls, or all windows were taken out by Katrina, so that thieves would be tempted beyond resisting to loot them. Governors have warned that looters will be dealt with "ruthlessly." I don't think this is a situation best described by saying "looting won't be a problem."

And who is needed to control looting? In addition to local police and sheriff's departments, it's the National Guard. Who will be needed to man barricades preventing frantic, worried residents from going back in to ravaged areas where they lived? Again, the National Guard would normally be called upon for this duty when there are not enough local law enforcement officers to handle it.

*** I think it REMAINS TO BE SEEN just how seriously the shortage of NG members here at home due to the unnecessary war in Iraq will affect the relief and recovery efforts following Katrina's passage through southern states.***

And it's still cutting a swath northward, of course, causing MANY problems, even if they are minor. Reporters seem way TOO eager to say the damage is "far less than expected." But the *SUM* of all the difficulties, from emergency to merely nuisance, may prove to be what tells the tale in the end once this disaster becomes history and is reviewed by those whose job it is to examine the preparedness and response.

Hundreds of additional deaths are expected to be discovered today, on top of those known fatalities already reported, for instance. And HOW MANY of those deaths, not to mention the hundreds or even thousands of people who will likely be injured, might have been PREVENTED had there been enough NG troops available?

I think that as the aftermath is revealed slowly when rescuers and recovery teams can get in to areas currently inaccessible, we will see a wholly different picture from what we're observing now.

And when GWB spoke in AZ yesterday, I was watching MSNBC. The anchors cut to the president as soon as he began speaking, believing that SURELY he would comment on Katrina early on, before delivering his planned address. Instead he spent about ten minutes THANKING all the local politicians in AZ who had arranged his appearance there! As he rambled on and on with these specific thanks, mentioning every name you can imagine, the MSNBC producers brought their cameras back to the studio anchors again, letting them awkwardly explain that they had THOUGHT W would have comments on the catastrophic storm affecting fellow Americans in several states.

FINALLY they were able to go back to W as he did touch on the hurricane's devastation. BUT he only made VERY BRIEF remarks about it!! Did anyone else notice that? I mean, considering how SERIOUS this situation is, and the climactic time at which he addressed it, I would think he could speak for more than 30 seconds about it!

Grrrrrr ... just makes me sooo angry at his coldness, his lack of feeling for suffering citizens! Some "leader"! Some "president"! :mad: :mad: :mad:

W seems positively PATHOLOGICAL in how he can NOT face people, look human beings in the eyes, talk about serious emotional injury to folks. Just like when he met with Cindy Sheehan soon after Casey's death in Iraq and he wouldn't look at Casey's pictures she had brought to show him or let her TALK about Casey. He changed the subject every time she tried to talk about her dead son!

I know I'm waxing verbose here, but I think this is sooo important. I believe it is this coldness, this callous, uncaring cruelty that is so glaringly obvious to any observer, which may cook W's goose in the end in the eyes of the public. Even the hardheartedest Republican is no doubt moved by the loss of our soldiers in Iraq and elsewhere they are stationed and by the tragic cost in human terms of Katrina. How can Bush-backers continue to insist the man gives a tinker's DAMN about citizens of the United States when he consistently behaves this way?.......

And thanks for describing his CRIMINAL behavior so well, kgfnally! I believe what you outlined is normally called "murder two" or murder in the second degree. Verrrry interesting indeed.

~VV

_________________________________________

[MoonRiver]

6. Numerous and monstrous hurricanes, as well as tornadoes, have long

been predicted as a result of global warming. The Repukes have helped bring about this disaster through their callous disregard for science and human life, to the benefit of big business.
:mad:

[bluestateguy]

7. I fail to see how a storm can destroy a president

Damage? Maybe, but not destroy. Not even close.

After Hurricane Andrew in 1992, George Bush still carried Florida, even though the aid efforts were generally regarded as sloppy and incompetent.

And as for the 4 'canes that hit Florida last fall, that enabled Shrub and his little brother to dispense all kinds of pre-election goodies upon the state, and official presidential visits. John Kerry had no such powers.

[Stephanie]

8. 100,000 people trapped in NOLA because they are TOO POOR to leave

Bush should be in Washington commanding a national effort to evacuate them. They should not be left in the eye of the storm because they can't afford a CAR or a BUS TICKET.

[hlthe2b]

10. I agree....

He should be pulling remaining National Guard from throughout the country to get down there and evacuate everyone as necessary. May God help those people if there is a direct strike. Clearly, our own government will not.

[wakeme2008]

11. And a lot of LA National Guards are in Iraq

with their TRUCKS.

[Chocolatebison]

14. Maybe he thinks they are Democrats?

[MadeinOhio]

44. Oh yeah, his divisive ways is to make it all about the obstructionists....

Those damn obstructionist democrats. Only problem is, the whole country isn't buying what he's selling. It all fell apart and his polls are in the 30s or 20s.....

[bluestateguy]

15. If you're right and I'm wrong, I will apologize and admit it

Because that will mean a major US catastrophe, worse than 9/11.

Fortunately, very often I've seen hurricanes not live up to the pre-storm hype and not do as much damage as anticipated.

[Stephanie]

17. I hope you're right and I'm wrong

But if it happens the way they fear it might, while Bush declines to leave his Waco Compound to acknowledge the seriousness of the situation, then he is toast. The disaster will be compounded by his Iraq folly - the LA governor said 3000 of their Nat'l Guard are over there. There IS NO Homeland Defense - where is it? THIS is when it should be deployed. What is being done? 100,000 who have no means to leave the city? Under a mandatory evacuation? I can't even wrap my mind around it.

[KyndCulture]

18. This is NOT hype though.

And yes we are talking about loss of life GREATER than 9/11...

According to FEMA the top 3 loss of life disasters that could occur,

1. quake in san fran
2. another terrorist attack
3. **CAT 5 HURRICANE IN NEW ORLEANS**

[DoYouEverWonder]

22. Exactly

Every bus in the area should be heading to the O'Dome to pick up people on his orders.

Too bad Katrina picked a day hit when he was too fucking drunk even notice.

[NYC]

26. The evacuation has been privatized.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4480507

IEM Team to Develop Catastrophic Hurricane Disaster Plan for New Orleans & Southeast Louisiana
June 3, 2004

IEM, Inc., the Baton Rouge-based emergency management and homeland security consultant, will lead the development of a catastrophic hurricane disaster plan for Southeast Louisiana and the City of New Orleans under a more than half a million dollar contract with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security/Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

In making the announcement today on behalf of teaming partners Dewberry, URS Corporation and James Lee Witt Associates, IEM Director of Homeland Security Wayne Thomas explained that the development of a base catastrophic hurricane disaster plan has urgency due to the recent start of the annual hurricane season which runs through November. {2004}

[sam sarrha]

30. and he canceled Clinton's Emergency Mitigation programs

[sam sarrha]

31. but it will be because he didnt protect the oil docks and pipelines

[Stephanie]

32. that's justice

karma's a bitch, George

[Arkansas Granny]

65. I agree with you. I guess it's a mandatory evacuation IF

you have a way to get out. Otherwise, hold on tight and we'll check back with you when the storm blows over (if you're still here, that is).

[Poiuyt]

20. It happened to the mayor of Chicago

http://www.weathernotebook.org/transcripts/1999/03/02.html

snip -

"But in Chicago, 1979, it was a different story and the incumbent mayor, Michael Bilandic, lost his job thanks in large part to the weather. To help explain why, here's Dr. Andrew McFarlane, the head of the Political Science Department at the University of Illinois at Chicago:

Dr. McFarlane: "The weather did play a major role in the overturn from Mayor Michael Bilandic to Jane Byrne///because Mayor Bilandic was seen on TV as saying that the side streets were being plowed while TV was showing in a split screen they were not being plowed, making him look stupid."

Since the roads weren't cleared, residents had to rely on trains to get them around. As if Mayor Bilandic didn't have enough problems, some snowed in city train stations were bypassed by trains, leading to unforeseen racial problems, and a shift in Chicago politics.

Dr. McFarlane: "There were problems of that the public transit was picking up white people from the suburbs at the ends of the line and running trains non-stop downtown, leaving African-Americans standing and waiting at the platforms. And the African-Americans overwhelmingly voted for Jane Burns. The overturn occurred in the Democratic primary in February 1979, which followed one of the worst winters in Chicago history."

more-

[bdot]

12. Terrorist alert to red. They are rounding up everyone named Katrina.

[Inland]

52. And thanks to bad FBI systems, all Kristens, Kirsties, Krystals, Kokos

Every stripper in unincorporated Cook County is now in detention.

[Virginian]

71. So that explains why Katie Couric wasn't on TV this morning.

It was either that or I was watching the weather channel.

[lonestarnot]

13. WOOO DAMN HOO! GREAT PICTURE! You deserve an

award!

[BayouBengal07]

19. I'd be more concerned for Mayor Nagin

He's a good guy, but he sat on his hands too long assessing the situation. Botched the evacuation. I just hope the emergency services can cope.

[DeaconBlues]

24. it will help him

for awhile at least, people will stop blaming high gas prices on him, and blame them on the disaster in the Gulf. Count on it, this is how the media will spin it.

[Stephanie]

28. If there are many deaths that will overshadow gas prices

And he won't leave his Waco Compound to do anything about speeding the evacuation and assisting the indigent - there's no excuse.

[susu369]

27. My bet is with you

It's obvious bu$h* is a clueless leader. He should be back in Washington NOW taking charge of the pending disaster.

[shadowknows69]

35. maybe a friendly foreign power will offer us aid

of $2 million after it hits. Karma for Thailand? If so Karma needs to get better targeting systems.

[BlueIris]

37. Interesting theory. Works for me.

I continue to pray for the well-being of innocent citizens in the hurricane's path, but as for Bush--Katrina, BE MERCILESS.

[Stephanie]

38. I have to say it again -

WHERE IS HE?

[bear425]

43. I believe he is golfing in Arizona today.

edit: "Now watch this drive."

[mattomjoe]

39. Why should Bush end his vacation early? (WARNING: sarcasm ahead)

After all, this is just a destructive hurricane. I mean, it's not like there's some woman in a persistent vegetative state who's going to have her feeding tube removed. :sarcasm:

[progressivebydesign]

48. Oh yeah, didn't he go back for the whole Terry Schiavo thing?

I'm trying to remember, but I thought maybe he was standing by to sign legislation for her???

Yeah.. and remember, it's important for him to get on with his life, as I recall. :sarcasm:

[mattomjoe]

53. He sure did.

Cuz, you know, it's important to "err on the side of life". :eyes:

[electropop]

40. Oh, you meant "storm" literally.

I have been telling my family and friends to write down my prediction: Bush will be impeached and out by August 2006.

[SoCalDem]

42. Naw.. He'll shed a crocodile tear, show up with bottled water for photo-op

hug a black child, and explain that the "previous adminsitration to his" failed to allocate money for oil rig strenthening and levee building because of the environmentalists..and HE's gonna fix things..

First UP.. tax cuts:)

[progressivebydesign]

46. He should have gotten his ass back to D.C. yesterday!!

I was amazed at his total disregard for the people of Louisiana and Mississippi. A REAL president would have returned to work.. if only for a day or two. I know that his advisors told him to, but he told them to fuck off. Apparently, he does what he wants...

[wryter2000]

47. Silly liberal

This is Clinton's fault. Didn't he have sex with someone named Katrina? :sarcasm:

[EnfantTerrible]

49. Haven't you heard?

It's not a vacation! His interior decorator said, "Everyone out of the West Wing! I can't work like this!"

Vacation... what's wrong with you people? Don't you think home improvement is a national concern?


(Just incase you miss it.... :sarcasm::sarcasm::sarcasm:)

[deutsey]

50. That's a very interesting photo

Did you take it? Kudos to whoever did.

[Stephanie]

54. photo credit >

Lightening strikes in the distance as a cut-out of President Bush is transported in a vehicle on Prairie Chapel Road in Crawford, Texas, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2005. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/050828/480/txlm10808280212

[Theres-a]

61. Chilling.

Nominated.

[Flying Dream Blues]

57. I think the people who voted for **

don't CARE if 100,000 people were too poor to leave NO and had to ride out the worst hurricane in the history of the US in a city that is virtually assured to be unlivable for weeks.

I really doubt most of the people in that line at the Superdome ever were ** supporters.

And if his supporters don't mind that ** and his administration
1) lied to us about Iraq,
2)outed a CIA agent and compromised the investigation of WMD not to mention the lives that were threatened,
3)refuse to give a grieving Gold Star mother the answers she seeks,
4) and on and on and on

Why should we expect they will care about New Orleans??

[LibraLiz1973]

58. If this is what topples him

then something is more wrong with those idiots that voted for him then I thought. Vacationing during a hurricane would upset people more than starting a false war & sending thousands of troops to their deaths?

[vickitulsa]

59. Yep. This is HERE. This is damage and devastation in the Homeland.

God I hate that word. But the Homeland is what's being torn limb from limb right now, as we speak.

Just wait till the skies clear up enough for planes to go up and we see the flyover films of several states' affected regions .............

~VV

_____________________________________________

[Deja Q]

60. We were all whining that the Superdome would collapse too.

:eyes:

There are a couple of holes and part of the dome's surface has peeled but the roof is still there and the people are alive, which is what counts most.

Once again, we shall see. I'm tired of predictions, even the ones I've made.

[vickitulsa]

75. I hear ya, Toad. But the point is, I think, that we should WAIT

before we assume the effects of Katrina are ultimately "not as bad as expected," as so many reporters are way too quick to say!

They thought the flooding had leveled off in NO, but this morning we find there is a 200-foot-long BREACH in a main LEVY, so water is pouring down into Canal Street (I think it is) and levels are rising again in that city.

And the news this morning indicates those folks in the Dome have been going through HELL, with the water coming in through the roof being "heavier than the rain," as one said. Also there are so many special needs people in there, and they have to be moved repeatedly as new holes appear in the roof. One report said the roof is opening up along a "seam" ... and that could mean a ceiling collapse in time.

So much *remains to be seen*, is what I keep saying!

I do understand what you mean about our predictions, though -- especially our predictions about W's demise.

We're all just SO frustrated ... and it's so hard to understand how millions of our fellow citizens just don't seem to be "getting it" re GWB's irresponsible, inexcusable, cruel and uncaring behavior and his abhorrent actions and reactions... or lack of them.

~VV

___________________________________________

[novak goes postal]

66. yeah this is great..

[Stephanie]

69. in fact, it's terrible

[Vinca]

67. The worst part is he interrupted his vacation

and raced back to the White House for the Schiavo legislation. Now, with all of New Orleans and the surrounding coast in peril, he's off to the west coast for some fund raising.

[PatrioticLeftie]

70. It's gonna cost him n/t

[brettdale]

72. HE STAYED ON VACATION?

I wouldn't want a major disaster to ruined his vacation! Can ya imagine if Clinton did that, Faux and the MSM would have a picture of Clinton fishing next to a picture of the disaster area.

[sans-culotte]

73. I'll drink to that!

Gulp!

[madokie]

77. I hope you are right

With the lack of any showing of compassion how can it be true this sorry bastard is president. This is the last straw, it's letter writing time