Action Item: re: half-staff flags.......faked repair scenes

[G_j]

from: the Rapid Response Network
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Action Item
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The flags are flying at half-staff at government buildings today just as they did during another national tragedy, September 11, 2001.

We lost hundreds, perhaps thousands, of Americans during hurricane Katrina and in its aftermath. There continue to be Americans trapped and dying in New Orleans. These are young and old, able-bodied and people with disabilities, African American, Caucasian, Hispanic, and many other races. The majority, though, are African American and poor.

The ineptitude and complete lack of caring exhibited by our government caused many of the deaths associated with the aftermath of Katrina. Surely we at the very least owe those people a period of public mourning. So the flags fly at half-mast.

Except it is not for any of these people that the government chooses to exhibit our public display of mourning. It is for one man – Chief Justice Rehnquist.

Agree or disagree with the late Chief Justice, the public display is traditional and appropriate.

It is an unforgivable disgrace, though, that our government chooses to mourn this one man while showing complete disregard for the lives, and the deaths, of what may end up being thousands of members of our American family. Our government made a great display of national mourning shortly after September 11th. Now, instead of official mourning, the victims are blamed for “choosing” not to evacuate. Yes, there are some who chose not to. And there are thousands who could not evacuate because of poverty, infirmity, and other reasons.

Our government is a shameful bastion full of human waste far more sickening and dangerous than that which now floats down the streets of New Orleans. I, for one, consider those flags at half-mast as my period of public mourning for those who died in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Kentucky, all as the result of Katrina and its aftermath.

Anne Lindsay (NC)

Editor's note: This morning I watched President Bush pay a heartfelt tribute to Chief Justice Rehnquist. It was a stark contrast to the pasted-on-top concern he has demonstrated for Katrina victims.

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Action Item
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There is story playing in European news media but not here which gives the full "behind-the-scenes" (literally) picture of our president's visit to the
Gulf Coast last week.

Apparently, not only were the food supply stations and even the levee repair scenes almost completely faked but real work was actually stopped while the president was in the area. Bush admonished us to not play politics with this tragedy, yet he is.

Shameful, disgusting and weak.

Bush Visit Grounded Relief Helicopters
by Hunter, Sat Sep 3rd, 2005
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2005/9/3/225254/3764

More BushCo Tragedy Fakery?
by Armando, Sat Sep 3rd, 2005
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2005/9/3/22494/85287

Politicizing A Tragedy: BushCo Fakes Levee Repairs for
Photo-Op
by Armando, Sat Sep 3rd, 2005
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2005/9/3/223021/8888

Levee repairs faked for Bush photo-op?
by themis, Sat Sep 3rd, 2005
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2005/9/3/201754/2484

The Republican Skill: Passing the Buck
by Armando, Sat Sep 3rd, 2005
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2005/9/4/03840/59266

Statement by Senator Mary Landrieu:
http://landrieu.senate.gov/~landrieu/releases/05/2005903E12.html

"But perhaps the greatest disappointment stands at the breached 17th Street levee. Touring this critical site yesterday with the President, I saw what I believed to be a real and significant effort to get a handle on a major cause of this catastrophe. Flying over this critical spot again this morning, less than 24 hours later, it became apparent that yesterday we witnessed a hastily prepared stage set for a Presidential photo opportunity; and the desperately needed resources we saw were this morning reduced to a single, lonely piece of equipment. The good and decent people of southeast Louisiana and the Gulf Coast -- black and white, rich and poor, young and old -- deserve far better from their national government."

[blossomstar]

1. So VERY well worded! I grieve for the great country we once had!

[fasttense]

2. People can say what they want about the Governor and the mayor but

the president's uncaring, uninvolved and dispassionate behavior during this whole tragedy has only made the pain worse for the victims.

[ecoflame]

3. The flags are at half-mast

because Rehnquist died....NOT for the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

[G_j]

4. yes, that is the point n/t

[ecoflame]

5. Yep...

sure enough. Mea culpa.

I was reading and watching the clip of Aaron Broussard's appearance this morning on 'Meet The Press.' Obvious proof I cannot do two things at once.:blush:

[ecoflame]

6. Here's something for ya...

from http://americablog.blogspot.com/2005/09/bush-orders-flags-to-half-staff-for.html">White House Proclamation

Check it out...one for the Chief Justice; one for the victims of Hurricane Katrina.