I say this in all sincerity--what are we going to do???

[Horse with no Name]

:cry:

[iconoclastic cat]

1. RISE UP

[HuskerDU]

2. If anybody has a boat they should drag it down there

and rescue the people! If I had a boat, that is what I would do, motor or row or whatever the damn boat into NO and save the people that have been left to die by our gov't.

[Horse with no Name]

4. You would be shot

The city is guarded. Nobody in.Nobody out.:scared:

[FloridaPat]

15. They did that. They rescued a few. Then they were told to leave.

That was yesterday or the day before.

[Kazak]

26. Why the fuck?!?

:grr:

[FloridaPat]

33. They were told is was too dangerous. They were finding people

still in their attics. You can't find them very well from a noisy helicopter. This guy got all his boating buddies together and they went down to NO. Got in the water and one trip to resuce people. I had the like earlier. Can't find it now.

[nonconformist]

42. There are still so many people trapped in HOMES

I think people forget about that, due to the massiveness of the Superdome and Convention Center tragedies.

But there are people that have been waiting for rescue since Monday from their roofs and attics. Some neck deep in water!

Now it's... Saturday. I wonder how many will make it. I wonder if any will make it.

[Warren DeMontague]

55. Like it's not dangerous to leave people to die?

Unbelievable. The clowns are truly running the circus.

[Guaranteed]

28. Makes NO FUCKING SENSE. nt

[Sugarbleus]

49. I heard that too. I also heard Scarborough (of all people) start

a mini org to get people from his home town, Pensacola, to load up their vehicles with ice and whatever, and caravan to the gulf region to dole out what they had...then turn around and go get more..

Guess what? The HOMELAND S. instructed rent-a-guards TURNED THEM AWAY, saying 'we have it under control'. Scarborough said "IT IS NOT UNDER CONTROL". He was righteously pissed.

I understand that money can do marvelous things for victims when used appropriately..............BUT WHY IN HELL are our own citizens NOT allowed to bring (at their own expense) physical, immediate aid to their neighbors when it's the most needed???? jesus h. christ!!

[Holly_Hobby]

3. Use your imagination

[blonndee]

5. I'm seriously thinking about getting together with some DUers and GOING

to NO. I'll have to board my dogs, and hopefully I'd come back alive and not end up in Gitmo or one of the other secret places that "don't exist."

FUCK! Should we just freaking GO?!? I've called senators, the governor's office, and all I get is BULLSHIT politicalspeak.

[The Traveler]

6. I'm with ya

Let's designate a rendezvous point where we can "form up".

[HuskerDU]

11. I have been itching to just up and head down there too.

If I had any dough at all I would already be gone.

[The Traveler]

19. I don't have any spare cash

I have to shell out 2700 in COBRA payments (900/mo) to keep health coverage for my family. But ... I can hock my guitars. You need gas money? We can work something out. But I'm too much of a chicken to try to get in by myself. We need numbers, man.

For some reason, I been listening to Jefferson Airplane a lot this week ... especially "Volunteers for America".

[blonndee]

20. I'm scared too. You're right, we need NUMBERS!

I think it'd be harder for us to "go missing" if there's a whole bunch of us. OTOH, we could end up at the Convention Center. Numbers aren't helping those people.

[The Traveler]

22. Yeah, but I will not go quietly

Former DOD contractor, respected software developer, too well known by too many people in places that count. And believe me I will make fucking SURE they know I am on the road with like minded folk.

You wanna do this? I'm deadly serious. This could cost me my house. But my wife is 100% behind me on this matter. But I either need companions or I need guns, and for once in my life I wanna get by without guns.

[blonndee]

23. I know, this is so f*&king serious. I WILL go, if we can get some other

people to come too. I wonder how long of a drive from OKC to LA?

[HuskerDU]

24. I don't know where you are, but I am in a small town in Iowa.

Basically, if I don't pay Sept. rent I could afford to drive down there.

This is truly our 'St Crispin's Day.' Were you there on St Crispin's Day?

If DU set up a rendevouz point in Baton Rouge or whereever, I would do my best to get there one way or another.

[blonndee]

27. Husker, I could meet up w/you in AR and we could take our cars south from

there. I do want to have my own car, even with the outrageous gas right now. I can help you pay for gas a little too.

[The Traveler]

31. We can pool what cash we have

and make our way down. Fill every container you have with water. I can bring food bars and protein shake mix. Bring baby formula.

Hit the petstore and buy those anti-biotics they sell for fish ... it works on people, too, in a pinch. Broad spectrum stuff. If anyone has access to insulin ...

We dump the goods and pick up people.

** On edit **

I cannot over-emphasize this. It is amazing how little food and water it takes to prolong life. Just because we cannot feed thousands doesn't mean we can't save dozens, and that is worth something.

[HuskerDU]

35. I get paid Monday and could head down that night.

Prolly get to AR sometime Tuesday night. From there we could caravan down to NO and each pick up a few people. My g/f and I are willing to house 2 or 3 survivors.

My g/f and I are barely surviving as it is, but as Jerry Garcia once said, 'Somebody has to do something and it's incredibly pathetic that it has to be us.'

[The Traveler]

40. Damned appropriate quote, that

We probably can't pull this off, but my cell phone is **husker has it**. I gotta get some rack ... make my decision tomorrow. Keep up your strength, Husker. Methinks there are labors aplenty in front of us all.

[walldude]

43. Jesus dude get your phone number off of here!

The freeps will have a field day with you. Send PM's with private info! If you can't edit the post notify a mod.. Believe me I know what I am talking about. I made the same mistake!

[The Traveler]

50. Relax man

Its just a cell phone. By now, Husker has the number. Besides, most Freeps don't emjoy a conversation with me. Appreciate the concern, tho.

On Edit, BTW ... I haven;t made my mind up about this. The right thing to do is to gas up the van and go. But I gotta family to take care of. My wife and I are discussing the matter now.

[blonndee]

52. I see neither of us has been able to get that sleep we wanted. nt

[The Traveler]

29. I can't afford this, either

I am so close to the edge financially this month. But ... can I live with myself if I stand by with idle hands?

[blonndee]

34. I'm in the same boat Traveler. I don't want to have to live with myself

not at least trying. I have to go back to grad school and teaching on Tuesday, but how insignificant is that compared to what the fuck is happening to helpless people?!?

And then, I keep thinking, what good would it do? Check out this thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=4585831&mesg_id=4585831

DAMN DAMN DAMN! We have to do SOMEthing.

[The Traveler]

37. When the going gets weird, the weird get going

That's us, babe. We can make this run in a couple of days and try to recover our losses during the work week. Except ... I'm thinking it best if I stay there for a while. I'm still debating that thought ... but if I can find someone trustworthy there to drive the van out, at the very least I will be better hydrated and hence in a better position to survive until relief really arrives.

[blonndee]

38. Well on the timing thing, I could go tomorrow night through Monday morning

OR I could wait till next Friday morning and stay again till NEXT Monday morning. But would it be too late then? CRAP, why didn't I think of this this morning? I guess I thought since the NG was finally coming everything would start to get better.

[blonndee]

39. I'm going to go to bed pretty soon. If this thread disappears in the mash

or anything, and you still want to talk about this send me a PM. Or if anyone wants to join in or organize something else, start a thread on it and we can meet up there.

Don't stress too much Traveler. We don't know what may happen tomorrow. If I prayed I'd pray for a miracle for those people. The way things are looking right now, they're going to need it. Good god.

[The Traveler]

41. I prayed

and this is the answer I got.

I gotta mull this over. Being both Irish and an Aries, I have a tendency to be impulsive ... but this impulse is getting pretty fucking strong.

[HuskerDU]

45. Feel free to PM me too.

Again, I could leave Iowa Monday night and probably house at 2-3 people here.

We must all stick together because it is obvious that our gov't hates us.

[blonndee]

16. Yall think maybe we should drive down to Baton Rouge and at least

do a "Camp Casey"-style protest? If they're not going to let us into NO, that would be an option, but how could we get enough people so quickly? We need action NOW!!

Would local protests be more feasible?

[The Traveler]

21. Protest is OK but

what we really need to do is fuck the protest and take action. People are dying. Even if we only save a handful ... at least some will be saved. We gotta go salvage for our brothers and our sisters and our children.

[Guaranteed]

13. Do it. Some co-workers of mine are talking about it, too.

I told them I'd help if they did it.

We wouldn't be able to get into NO. Probably the closest you could get is Baton Rouge, but that's almost certainly more than close enough to help. Baton Rouge's population has doubled in the past week. They need resources. Anything we can get to them will be great.

The key is to load up whatever vehicle you have with an awesome resource/passenger ratio. Just going down there you're going to take up resources, even by staying there. But if you bring a helluva lot WITH you, you more than make up for it. That's what is important.

So, rent a massive truck, fill it ALL the way up, and go on down. If you can get a bus, that's even better. There's an off-chance they'd let you into N.O. to pick up people and bring...them...out. Which is the most important thing.

[Kazak]

30. If you guys do go, a suggestion...

Try to stay away from large crowds of survivors. A little boat and a large crowd is going to be a bad scene. They're probably going to kill each other just trying to be saved, and likely sink the boat in the process.

Bless you all for the sentiment! (I'm an atheist, btw...)

[shance]

47. That's not a bad idea Blonndee. We girls think alike*

I think its the best idea Ive heard all day. However I think we need to get America to go to NO.

[Guaranteed]

7. Write up an extremely professional list of grievances

along with a call for resignation, and distribute it widely.

That is what must be done.

[stevietheman]

44. I have a strong hunch many "resign now" articles are being crafted...

"as we speak".

[Guaranteed]

51. I sure hope so. And the grievance lists should be consolidated,

given that they're equally reasonable in their wording.

[shugah]

8. in all sincerity

i don't know

:cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:

[wli]

9. some of us do that, others should go the lawsuit/etc. route n/t

[chomskysright]

10. I just plastered the Asheville Citizen-Times front door with this:

....and glued it with a can of spray glue:

WHERE'S OUR COVERAGE:

There is real urgency here: These are not blogs: there are singular comments here only:

Item 1: Flotilla turned back by La. Dept of Wildlife and Fisheries: 9.2.05

My name is Jason Robideaux, I am an attorney from Lafayette Louisiana and have dealt with all of the various law enforcement agencies in Louisiana during the past 18 years. Although I have had a positive relationship with law enforcement personnel throughout the State for many years, I regretfully have a story to share that will shake your head in disbelief about the La. Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries.

A group of approximately 1,000 citizens pulling 500 boats left the Acadiana Mall in Lafayette this morning (Weds.) and headed to New Orleans with a police escort from the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Department. The "flotillia" of trucks pulling boats stretched over five miles. This citizen rescue group was organized by La. State Senator, Gautreaux from Vermilion Parish. The group was comprised of experienced boaters, licensed fishermen and hunters, people who have spent their entire adult life and teenage years on the waterways of Louisiana.

The State Police waved the flotillia of trucks/boats through the barricades in LaPlace and we sped into New Orleans via I-10 until past the airport and near the Clearview exit. At that time we were stopped by agents of the La. Dept. of Wildlife & Fisheries. A young DWF agent strolled through the boats and told approximately half of the citizens that their boats were "too large" because the water had "dropped during the night" and that they should turn around and go home.

We were pulling a large (24ft) shallow draft aluminum boat that can safely carry 12 passengers and had ramp access which would allow the elderly and infirm to have easier access to the boat. We politely informed the DWF agent that the local and national media had consistently reported that the water level had "risen" during the night which contradicted his statement to us that the water "was dropping" and no boat over 16ft. in length would be allowed to participate in rescue operations.

We then specifically asked the DWF agent that we (and other citizens in the flotillia) be allowed to go to the hospitals and help evacuate the sick and the doctors and nurses stranded there. We offered to bring these people back to Lafayette, in our own vehicles, in order to ensure that they received proper and prompt medical care.

The DWF agent did not want to hear this and ordered us home. We complied with the DWF agent's orders, turned around and headed back to Lafayette along with half of the flotillia. However, two of my friends were pulling my other boat, a smaller 15ft alumaweld with a 25 hp. The DWF agents let them through to proceed to the rescue operation launch site.

My two friends were allowed to drive to the launch site where the La. Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries were launching their rescue operations (via boat). They reported to me that there were over 200 DWF agents just standing around and doing nothing. My friends were kept there for approximately 3 hours. During that time they observed a large number of DWF agents doing nothing. After three hours had passed they were told that they were not needed and should go home. They complied with the DWF's orders and turned around and went home to Lafayette.

Watching CNN tonight, there was a telephone interview with a Nurse trapped in Charity Hospital in New Orleans. She said that there were over 1,000 people trapped inside of the hospital and that the doctors and nurses had zero medical supplies, no diesel to run the generators and that only three people had been rescued from the hospital since the Hurricane hit!

I can't come up with one logical reason why the DWF sent this large group of 500 boats/1000 men home when we surely could have rescued most, if not all, of the people trapped in Charity Hospital. Further, we had the means to immediately transport these people to hospitals in Southwest Louisiana.

On Tuesday afternoon, August 30, Jefferson Parish Sheriff Harry Lee asked for all citizens with boats to come to the aid of Jefferson Parish. A short time later Dwight Landreneau, the head of the La. Depart. of Wildlife and Fisheries, got on television and remarked that his agency had things under control and citizen help was not needed. Apparently, Sheriff Lee did not agree with that assessment and had one of his deputies provide the Lafayette flotillia with an escort into Jefferson Parish.

Sheriff Lee and Senator Gautreaux - 1000 of Louisiana's citizens responded to your pleas for help. We were prevented from helping by Dwight Landreneau's agency, the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. When I learned that Charity Hospital has not been evacuated and that no one has been there to attempt a rescue, I became angry.

The "turf-marking" by some minor state agency should never take priority over the lives of citizens!

Signed,

Bewildered and Frustrated,

Jason Robideaux

Attorney At Law

1005 Lafayette Street

Lafayette, La. 70501

[phone] office

http://www.thedeadpelican.com/lawyer.htm

there seems to be a theme.... govt refusing aid and people dying

Item 2: American RedCross barred from N.O.:9.2.05

http://www.redcross.org/faq/0,1096,0_682_4524,00.html#4524

Hurricane Katrina: Why is the Red Cross not in New Orleans?


Acess to New Orleans is controlled by the National Guard and local authorities and while we are in constant contact with them, we simply cannot enter New Orleans against their orders.

The state Homeland Security Department had requested--and continues to request--that the American Red Cross not come back into New Orleans following the hurricane. Our presence would keep people from evacuating and encourage others to come into the city.


item 3: deathtoll 9.2.05

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20050902/pl_afp/usweatherde...

Death toll in Louisiana could be above 10,000: US Senator

BATON ROUGE, United States (AFP) - US Senator David Vitter said that the death toll from Hurricane Katrina could top 10,000 in Louisiana alone.

"My guess is that it will start at 10,000, but that is only a guess," Vitter said, adding that he was not basing his remarks on any official death toll or body count.

Vitter, a Louisiana Republican, also called for the immediate deployment of regular US combat troops in New Orleans, saying the build-up of National Guard troops was too slow to quickly restore order.

[political_invader]

32. I just blasted this>>

To all of california media I have. please everyone get this out as far as you can. Great post!!!

Peace from a BLUE STATE !!!

[RevolutionStartsNow]

12. Seriously, I'm at a loss, too

I will donate as much money as I can, but even that feels so passive in the face of this utter madness.

I'm in a bit of shock, I think, it's not quite processing that people are dying BECAUSE WE'RE NOT HELPING THEM. In America, the richest fucking country in the world (or is that Saudi Arabia?).

If I thought getting in my car and going there would help, all the way from California, I would. But it's much much worse than that.

I don't know what to do. A natural disaster is one thing, but this seems like genocide. Whether it's from evil or ineptitude, I don't know, but it's a disgrace.

[liveoaktx]

14. Reading about the Red Cross being barred from NO has stymied me

I can't fathom that happening at all. All of the money that people poured in to donate to them.. and, what, it's on hold??????

[FloridaPat]

17. Daily emails and call to congress. Not that I really think any of them

will do much. OK, there's a few. Then daily letters to the news places forwarding survivor stories about how the Red Cross can't get in, the people with food, water and generators can't get in. Keep hammering and hammering. This is unbelieveable.

[jody]

18. Don't worry, a billion years from now, what we do or don't do won't matter

so don't sweat the small stuff.

Just believe in yourself and find a few friends. Together try to make a difference.

No guarantees but you will die at peace with yourself by knowing you fought the good fight.

Have a peaceful night and awake refreshed, ready to attack evil on the morrow.

:hi:

[shance]

48. Yes it will. All actions create reactions. We are part of the future.

Our actions do matter very much how things improve or don't.

[buddysmellgood]

25. Develope antidote to KoolAide

[Horse with no Name]

36. Gator-Ade?

Operation Gator-Aid?

[buddysmellgood]

46. Too Florida

[imaginary girl]

53. Take a video camera

If you can. Get footage of them turning down your offers of help (if they do) and send it to any station you can ....

[OneBlueSky]

54. bottom line . . . we MUST get rid of BushCo . . .

completely take it apart and grind it into sand . . . as a start, we MUST demand impeachment proceedings . . .

and not only for dereliction of duty in New Orleans . . . there's a lengthy list of crimes of which they are all guilty, from illegally invading and occupying a sovereign nation to war profiteering . . .

this latest example of their hubris (i.e. seizing the opportunity to intentionally destroy our most vibrant, poorest, and most Democratic urban African-American community) is simply the last nail in their coffin . . .

[applegrove]

56. Let's stick together and vet the bullshit as a group. That way we

can check out all the news together and get rid of the "theories" that get pumped out of GOP sweatshops to divide us.

So far so good. We have been close together all the way through this. It is a nice feeling.


We need to be discerning about the disinformation that will come in the next weeks. They divided us over 9/11, they divided us over the 2004 election - let's stick tight together. And err on the side of caution. And only take in news sources (not necessarily MSM of course) that we can trust and rely on.