It sickens me that people here refuse to understand General Honore.

[xultar]

General Honore is taking up for the Dem Gov Blanco of LA.
He's fighting to keep command out of the hands of the FEDS aka HS, FEMA, and DoD.

All the stories of people being sent away refer to FEMA not the NG. Honore has no command over FEMA.

I don't get why y'all don't get this.

Honore is a black man he is fighting to keep control. All I hear from DUers is that Honore is a buffoon an apologist. From my stand point those of u who are jumping to conclusion don't have a clue.

[ohio_liberal]

1. I get it

:hi:

[xultar]

6. Thanks!

:pals:

[ohio_liberal]

16. Well you're welcome of course

General Honore went charging into New Orleans when FEMA people were standing around with their dicks in their hands. Hell yes, he is one bad-ass black man. :loveya:

[liveoaktx]

81. Vid Clip-No Red Tape -that's BS

No Red Tape

Political Videos

[mom cat]

110. I just watched this tape and I think that Gen Honore was saying that

his rescue mission did not have red tape. He is spearheading the rescue of people in NO
The real red tape is with FEMA which is entirely separate.

[Demoiselle]

2. I liked the General the minute I set eyes on him...

I like his style. When a reporter asked him about the crime wave in NO yesterday, he dismissed it with "Crimes are committed everywhere in the country every day. Most of these people are just trying to take care of their families."

[xultar]

14. Straight up!

[Demoiselle]

34. Um, yeah. Straight up.

I have a lot of respect and affection for our military. They usually impress me as having smarts and discipline and an almost romantic sense of duty to country. I really don't have any trouble reconciling those sentiments with my screaming unreconstructed Liberal political beliefs. The problem happens when these mostly pretty good guys are used and abused by schmucks like prezident Bunnypants and his little friends.
Besides, I think General Honore's Louisiana accent is cool. (It's been nice listening to so many authentic southern accents after all these interminable years of Fake Texan.

[CrispyQ]

29. I like him too.

The first footage I saw of him, he was telling the soldiers to point their weapons down, not at the people.

[SeattleGirl]

113. I saw that bit too, telling the soldiers to point their weapons down.

I think he said, "These are VICTIMS, not CRIMINALS!"

[anitar1]

76. Me too, he seems like a real MAN. n/t

[linazelle]

3. I think I heard Nagin even commend him during his rant. n/t

[jbnow]

53. Yes, the mayor said

only one person had come in and made a difference, naming the general and saying he was "the John Wayne type", who got right to work and got everyone else jumping to work.
He liked him.

[Trevelyan]

4. I know very little about Gen. Honore, would like to know your sources for

believing he is honest and not a bush apologist. Willing to consider evidence impartially.

Please post links for the story on contributing to the Louisiana State disaster fund directly because anything going to Red Cross and probably United Way will end up in Bush's pocket.

Just like the humanitarian aid for Fallujah was conveniently left behind in Kuwait so those who did not die from the bombs and napalm or the clusterbombs or the door-to-door murder even of children of our soldiers while the Red Cross, the Red Crescent and journalists were kept out for weeks so that anyone in hiding would die of thirst, starvation or illness in THAT GENOCIDE.

NEVER FORGET THE FALLUJAMO - THE SUNNI MOSLEMS WON'T

[xultar]

22. WTF planet have you been living on????

Can't you READ there are tons of effin posts on this board. Discussing how he took up for the Gov yesterday and today.

So get ta-readin then check back with me.

[Trillo]

97. You mean like this post

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=4639547&mesg_id=4639547

Where Honore claims that it was people's choice to stay? (a paraphrase)

When I read various reports that people weren't allowed to leave NO, claims of it being their "choice" to stay are indicative of either BS or misinformation.

Nevertheless, it was just one small statement he allegedly made, and it wasn't reported as a quote. Edited to add--the news report referenced could have been coporate media spin.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

105. You do understand that what he was saying was in referenced to the

... Superdome, don't you?

You said, "When I read various reports that people weren't allowed to leave NO, claims of it being their "choice" to stay are indicative of either BS or misinformation."

What is in the thread you referenced is; "The general said evacuees would have left if the shelter had truly become intolerable."

edit: For clarity of point.

He was not speak of NO or that they should have evacuated there because they were told to. I think you took it out of context, perhaps?

[Trillo]

130. Perhaps you are correct about the context I understood. nt

[Bumblebee]

79. I am with you. The first day I saw him he was spouting the talking points

about two disasters and how they couldn't do it earlier.

[xultar]

88. OK what were the talking points? How about you provide a link to

what you're talking about.

There is a link here of him in video and in audio taking up for the GOV and not wanting Fed control.

Seems to me if he was a Bushie wouldn't he want to be under Bush command.

[MADem]

111. Well, when you figure he probably got his first star under Clinton

...what more do you need to know, really?

[mom cat]

119. Link to Gov Blanco's foundation:

The Louisiana Disaster Recovery Foundation has been established in order to help provide immediate assistance to our citizens in need through a network of Louisiana charities, non-profit and governmental agencies, including clearinghouses like the Louisiana VOAD (Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster). The Foundation is also designed to support long-term family restoration and recovery by focusing on education, housing, health care, legal assistance and jobs for Louisiana families whose lives have been altered by Hurricane Katrina.

By postal mail, please make donations payable to Louisiana Disaster Recovery Foundation, Inc. and mail to:

Louisiana Disaster Recovery Foundation, Inc.
Fed. Tax ID No. 20-3399944
c/o Division of Administration
1201 North Third Street, Suite 7-240
P.O. Box 94095
Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9095
Inquiries may be directed to: LouisianaRecovery

To make an online donation, follow this link:

http://www.katrina.louisiana.gov/donate.htm

The Louisiana Disaster Recovery Foundation is now accepting donations. Please click the Make Donation button to donate now. Thanks for your contribution.

Application has been made for nonprofit status and exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and approval by IRS is expected shortly.

[fooj]

5. Me, too.

Keep the faith!:patriot:

[hlthe2b]

7. He's a local. He's one of them...

He will have to bridge the chasm and do so carefully--but I agree that he is trying.

My guess is our disappointment in the "sell-out" of another famous black general--Colin Powell-- has us all suspicious.

Trust, but verify... THe only comment of Reagan's I ever half way agreed with...

[zippy890]

8. thanks for your opinion

I wasn't sure about him, but your comments put things in better perspective

[Geek_Girl]

9. That's the sense I get

But the feds are doing a good job at blaming the govenor. I noticed this in the conversation with my mother today. She said that the governor should have handed over control to the feds. This tit for tat is just bullshit and I'm glad General Honore is speaking up.

[Generic Other]

10. I singled him out as a hero last Saturday when I made this post

Stuck on Stupid

Across the country, Americans have watched with helpless horror, stunned as the lives of millions in the Gulf coast region were plunged into a desperate state of misery in the face of a natural disaster unprecedented in our history. What Nature unleashed, however, is nothing compared to the misery inflicted by the massive incompetence of our own leaders and their feeble response to this disaster. We have discovered our federal, state and local governments will do very little for us in a national emergency and may actually go out of their way to further exacerbate our suffering.

And why? Because there is no one in command. Instead, a thousand pencil pushing mid-level managers who couldn't manage an orderly evacuation of a public lavatory in a shitstorm have been given the responsibility to protect the lives of ordinary citizens. Lord protect us from our own government agencies.

They waited for authorizations that never came, for paperwork that was never filled out, for help that never arrived. Through it all, there were heroes who defied the quagmire of red tape that impeded the rescue efforts. Mayor Nagin who had to tell the president of the United States to get off his ass and send help to New Orleans. General Honore' who plowed into New Orleans 4 days after the storm ready to make up for lost time--who ordered his troops not to point their guns at American citizens. Jabbar the 20 year old kid who hotwired a bus at the Superdome and drove 100 people to Houston only to be arrested for theft. The police and Coast Guard rescuers who stayed at their jobs throughout the ordeal. The medical professionals who worked under impossible conditions. The ordinary people who helped one another survive. These people are the heroes.

The president of the United States and his director of FEMA came to the area like real estate developers after the fact. Faced with all the human misery around him, the president could only speculate about what a great development opportunity had presented itself. He vowed to rebuild Mississippi Senator Trent Lott's beachplace and vowed to make the Gulf Coast area better than it was before. Like a carpetbagger, the president was so transparent in his desire to use the disaster to his advantage that he staged photo-ops to impress the world of his deep and sincere concern for his fellow Americans. Again and again, he stressed that re-opening oil refineries and other businesses were among his first priorities. The suffering of millions of poor victims seems not to have affected him at all.

For his utter disregard for the safety of Americans, for his incompetence and his inability to provide responsible leadership, he deserves to be fired. He failed to do his job. The question before us now is not whether he will accept responsibility for his inaction, for we know he won't, but will he step down and let others more competent take control?

Or will he flail about in a panic pointing the finger of blame at everyone but himself? Blame the opposition party for not fighting hard enough for the funding to strengthen infrastructure in our country. Blame career civil servants in lesser positions of power because they were left helpless by bureauocratic bungling largely created by his appointment of unqualified cronies to positions they had no expertise to fill. Finally, and most despicably, blame the victims themselves. For being poor. And sick. And unable to save themselves.

Yes, we are stuck on stupid, like white on rice.

[xultar]

47. THIS IS EFFIN BRILLIANT!!!!

[FlaGranny]

11. You haven't gotten the memo?

Any one who says anthing at all that certain people on DU don't agree with is "scum." I'm certain I am scum too. It seems anyone who doesn't totally follow the line of thinking of some here is scum. So you are probably scum too. ;-)

[xultar]

13. Well wash my ass and call me Betty.

[zippy890]

24. xultar -what do you think about the fundraising

that Bill Clinton is doing? There's been criticism from DUers about supporting it, but I don't understand that hostility. It seems to me it will help the vitims of this disaster - & I trust Bill Clinton to oversee the money to get to the right people.

[xultar]

28. Bill is in a tough spot. I see Bill as a Black man fightin with BushCo.

He's being diplomatic to get shit done for his people.

There will be a time when he's gonna let shit be known. He's doing it now in really subtle ways. People here are so busy screaming they can't see what's really going on.

[zippy890]

44. Thats what I think -- the black community trusts him

which means a lot as far as politicians go - Bugs me how people here can't see the bigger picture.

This morning on cnn daybreak a young woman who is the head of black advocacy group in the southeast USA (sorry I didn't get her name) did an interview, saying she had been trying to get some help for some people through FEMA & other groups, getting nowhere, she contacted Bill Clinton and he made things happen & the disaster victims got helped. That impressed me, both that the people thought to contact him, & that he helped them.

Thanks for your comments
:hi:

[Blue_Roses]

131. BINGO!

totally agree:bounce:

[kstewart33]

12. Thanks for your post.

Sometimes we shoot from the hip too much, too quick to judge.

[xultar]

30. Thank you for understanting that maybe we do judge too much.

[Glenda]

15. Mayor Nagin said how helpful the "John Wayne" guy is...

and that's enough for me

[tinrobot]

18. Exactly

Nagin said Honore started cussing and things got done.

That's enough for me.

[phusion]

21. Exactly

That "John Wayne dude" has my full support.

:hi:

[CanOfWhoopAss]

17. You've convinced me to look see assuming you aren't an FBI spy blogger

trying to influence and reverse the tide.

[xultar]

27. OK WTF FBI spy blogger...I'll walk away b4 I really respond to your

lil ditty here.

[CanOfWhoopAss]

39. You've got to give more of an explanation than that.

Provide links and quotes supporting what you say. If we don't have a clue give us one.

[ohio_liberal]

48. oh fer chrissakes

Take off your aluminum foil deflector beanie for a minute.

Xultar has been a trusted member of this community for a long time. Links, links, links. Everyone wants fucking links and quotes. Do your own homework and quit relying on other people to make your decisions for you.

[DoYouEverWonder]

66. Honore's own son is serving in the National Guard in Iraq

He probably hates BushCo as much if not more then we do. Nuff said.

Honore's kicking butt and taking names. Go General Honore.

[Name removed]

85. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[CanOfWhoopAss]

99. OK you have my apologies

The added comment wasn't appropriate. My point is that it is frustrating when you try to sway opinion without supporting facts. Everyone else put your fangs away.

[bobbieinok]

84. reverse the tide?????'from posts here DU has constantly supported him

[CanOfWhoopAss]

100. There had to be some reason the thread was started, right?

[Fleshdancer]

19. good, I'm not the only one that thinks so....

Regarding the red tape comment, the people blamed for the red tape was the LA state government so when Gen. Honore debunks that meme, this is a good thing.

[xultar]

40. Welp what he is doing is letting people that it ain't the Nat'l Guard.

FEMA and HS are the ones who are stopping people and wanting paper work.

Apparently FEMA has to run a work on contract basis aka making money for bushco. That is where the paperwork is coming from.

The NG is all about just get the shit done. They don't need no paper cuz they are earning their checks sittin on their asses or workin.

[Maru Kitteh]

20. I LOVE that guy

especially the way he's been calling BULLSHIT! on the media for hyping up reports of violence.

Guy is an ass-kicker and just what we need down there.

[moddemny]

23. No surprise many DUers are knocking Honore........

....after all the threads in the past that have knocked Clinton, Kerry, Hillary, Bill Maher, Jon Stewart, (I think I even saw a few shots at Michael Moore), Levin, etc...... I don't think anyone is immune no matter how anti-Bush they are....... except for, maybe, Howard Dean.

[ohio_liberal]

25. Some folks here are leery of military types, period

n/t

[xultar]

35. I don't get that shit. There's good and bad in all careers and walks

of life.

That same type of mentality is like hating all gays and all blacks from fear.

It is unreasonable and simplistic ignorance.

[ohio_liberal]

45. I dunno, I guess they take those "military industrial complex"

warnings a bit too far. Plus, there is a mentality that anyone who practices the arts of war for a living is not to be trusted.

[moddemny]

37. "Some folks here are leery of military types"

Oh yeah, right, I almost forgot about that...... He's a General, that almost automatically makes him a boogeyman no matter how noble an idividual he may be. After all, he spent most of his life practicing how to break things, how could he be a good person?(sarcasm)

[GeorgeBushytail]

31. Howard Dean smells funny

There. Now we've covered them all.

---

Help Build Camp Katrina!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=4629758

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=2059147

[xultar]

33. I can't believe that shit. People hittin on HD I was like there has to be

a freeper element here now.

[MisterP]

56. dang people and their standards and dissent!

[Pithy Cherub]

26. General Honore took control of EVERYTHING during

that press conference. Brown & Chertoff didn't even see it - he made it clear that he wants as much help in NOLA as possible. That was a thing of beauty that most didn't realize.

My bet is the DHS and THE FEMA imbecile didn't even realize he essentially told everyone if you have an issue see me, not them. And Honore didn't have to call them out just left their excuse making on the floor as he does what he has to for the people.

he is an advocate for the people and the lifestyle of Louisiana, make no mistake about it! :applause:

[xultar]

32. Plus he invited everyone in to help. Basically ignoring FEMA.

Notice how Skeletor followed Honore not the other way around!

[DoYouEverWonder]

73. Exactly, he took charge

and told the assholes to sit down and shut up. We needed a John Wayne to come to the rescue. Sometimes attitude is half the battle.

[glitch]

36. Us out of towners do have to be clued in. Sure as hell aren't going to get

genuine info from the corporate media.
Appreciated.

[Jeanette in FL]

38. I think what the problem is

Is that Honore misunderstood the question from the reporter. Honore had been asking for help from companies and services to get down there and lets get some work done. The reporter, and it was hard to hear his exact question, asked something about help not being allowed in and that people were being turned back. I think at that point Honore thought he meant the NG, not FEMA. And that is when he went into his rant that many believe he was towing the line for the Feds. I noticed how sheepish Brown and Chertoff looked at that point.

[Lars39]

41. When I called him an apologist, the power struggle wasn't obvious,

and my impression was formed because he *was* apologizing for bush at that time. I've since changed my mind about him. I just hope he can hold on to his power thru all of this, 'cause we need everybody we can get to repel this takeover. One thing to keep in mind, though...keeping up with the events has dang near become a full time job. Leave the 'puter for just a little bit and you might miss vital info.

[BootinUp]

42. hey now, don't broadbrush us!

Some of us are in complete agreement.

:hi:

[wellstone_democrat]

43. I definitely get it and furthermore

he's not only a Black man who has to negotiate this mess of a situation from career fuck-ups, but he's a Black officier who needs to be careful in order to get what he wants to do done.

I think many of us who are vets have run across more than one man or woman like this who carefully put on the mask needed to get the end result. He is standing by his governor (c in c) and he got the NG to stop their automatic pointing of guns at civilians. Right there he gets points.

General Honore will have to go far at this point to lose my respect.

[xultar]

46. People here don't get that women and people of colour have to

play the game while effin with the system from the DL.

[wellstone_democrat]

55. yeah, they don't realize the time and energy we have to waste

before we even get to the heart of the matter at hand.

[xultar]

74. OMG this is so true.

[Chovexani]

62. Exactly! (n/t)

[nashville_brook]

68. i know -- it happens all the time and all we get are "loosen up"

the left isn't immune by any means.

[xultar]

75. Earlier people were posting that Honore needed to take a valium or

manage his anger.

WHITE FOLK always tell us that. I HATE THAT SHIT

[BrightKnight]

49. General Honore is fighting for New Orleans and its people.

The federal agencies are not interested in either.

[Pirate Smile]

50. I get it.

Admiral Keating, blew apart BushCo's excuse for not acting earlier in a briefing this morning also.

I'm sure the NG and military has been horrified by the fact that they weren't sent in quickly.

Just like in Iraq, the policy makers at the top are the problem, not the NG or military.

[xultar]

78. Straight up!

[cornermouse]

51. Maybe the difference between military and civilian?

Although the bellowing that he did today was somewhat irritating. Tends to bring out the stubborn side in some of us.

[ohio_liberal]

52. That how military commanders are

Except for a stint at JCS, he's a command officer. That's how they talk.

[cornermouse]

89. That may be how military officers talk, but I'm not in the military.

[still_one]

54. i saw him today

he was the only one who had it together

[autorank]

57. Great point. I agree. Let's hold off on unknown players until we know!

It's so emotional, things change so quickly, this perception can be corrected...and you did it!

Thanks!!!

[Pepperbelly]

58. I knew from the START he was the real deal ...

Nagin hit it exactly right in his interview.

I definately have the good General's back.

[MADem]

112. Also, he was the first guy to say the government screwed up

...and that they simply did not game the worst case scenario, as they should have.

To me, that is humble, centered guy. He told it as it was, warts and all, not as he would have liked it to be.

[Walt Starr]

59. Honore was the first leader to step up to the plate in the entire debacle

Until he showed up, there was not a single leader anywhere to be found.

[xultar]

72. Absofuckinglutely U know U Right!

[NNN0LHI]

60. Hi xultar I will explain why I am troubled by General Honore

First impressions are everything. The first time I saw the General was his yelling at the soldiers scene that Barbara Starr (who had just been flown in for this event that day) and the CNN camera crew just happened to witness. What a coincidence that at the same moment Barbara Starr and her entourage hit the streets of New Orleans this General launches into his cigar-chomping tirade on them confused kids. Wasn't that something?

I don't believe in coincidences. And the Generals performance was not very good. To be honest I have watched more convincing games of three card monty on the street corners of Chicago. I know a show for the cameras when I see one. And we all know our military does that.

Just my 2 cents.

Don

[xultar]

67. Don, he didn't want guns pointed @ his people. Black folk. I woulda

acted the same way and would have been equally as forceful.

If you knew he was black @ the time would you have felt differently?

Honore could easily have been one of those people. Honore could have had family in that crowd. Honore is from there.

How would you react if you lead troops into your home town and they were pointing their guns @ your hometown family and friends?

That is why he wants to keep control. IF chimpy gets it they will be shooting @ his people.

[NNN0LHI]

71. I knew he was black at the time xulter

Yea I did.

Don

[xultar]

77. So you didn't think he was being honest not wanting guns pointed

@ people who were suffering?

:wtf:

[NNN0LHI]

87. Phony as a three dollar bill. You may want to read this?

http://www.kimsoft.com/2002/teen3.htm

The Saga of Two Korean Girls Slain by Americans Continues

On July 14, the relatives of the two slain Korean teenage girls met with Major General Honore, the commander of the US Army 2nd Infantry Division. False promises made by this officer came to light belatedly. These empty promises were kept unpublished on the expectation that Maj. Gen. Honore would meet again with the Koreans and make his promises official. In fact, Honore requested the Koreans to keep his words confidential until the second meeting, which did not happen and the good general left Korea without saying goodbye to the Koreans.

Attending the July 14th meeting were Honore and his wife, Lee Shin Oh, US-ROKA Combined Command deputy divisional commander, Major Ohno and others from the US side and seven members of the victims relatives. The conversations at the 'friendly' get-together were taped with the consent of the general, who had agreed to sign the transcripts. The general was replaced on July 19th and there was no 2nd meeting or signing of the transcripts.

Honore was given a grand farewell party on July 19 with US Army honor guards and salutes from Korean generals.

[xultar]

93. Have you ever been in a situation where you made a promise to

someone you didn't have the autority to make and had to go back on that promise because your higher ups yanked your chain?

You're not black. I can tell that you haven't had to deal with a situation where you have the title but not the power or respect that goes along with that title. When white people second guess your every move and cut your powerbase while allowing less qualified better connected white boys run the shop.

I've made many promises to people in my job that I'm going to help them because in the moment I really want to. But I tell'em hey give me a chance to talk this out with my boss first before telling anyone. Then go back to my boss and say hey we really have to do this for these people and they say you don't have to power to do that. You got tell them no after getting your ass whooped.

For some reason you seem to think that black folk can say and to things just like white folk.

THAT AINT THE FUCKIN CASE.

I feel bad that he had to go back on his promise. But in a stiuation like he is in I can understand.

I can also see why you don't you haven't had the same experiences or haven't been accountable to someone after making a promise you probably shouldn't have.

[Joe Chi Minh]

61. The more I read aggressively divisive

and incredibly unperceptive posts on here, the more I'm inclined to think they are trolls, fifth columnists.

[xultar]

65. FUCK YEAH!!! FREEPERS are in force.

[omega minimo]

63. I made a snap decision

when I saw Gen. Honore on 60 Minutes last night-- highly recommended (and NO I don'thavealink!) :hi:

After only hearing of him from Mayor Nagin talking about the "John Wayne type guy" who hit the ground running and got people moving......

Very elegant, focused, dignified person. On 60 Minutes in a sit down interview, he was asked about criticisms that the dead were left in the open.

"Collect the dead" his eyes flicked up down up down as he paused to check his emotion that would not stay hidden beneath the military veneer-- a human heartfelt response-- It was only a moment, you blink and you miss it, INTENSE and one of the most touching things I've seen through ALL this....

"Collect the dead -- -- -- or help the living." Looks at interviewer. "Which would you choose?"



That's all I need to know about this honorable man. :patriot:

[DoYouEverWonder]

69. Put down the damn guns and do something

I knew then that he was going to be a good one.

[nashville_brook]

64. there's going to be lots of this. stay alert to the spin. n/t

[DoYouEverWonder]

70. They can spin all they want

None of it is sticking anymore.

[Libby2]

80. All I know about the man is he got the ball rolling

Nothing was happening until he got there.
I give him all the credit in the world.

[txindy]

82. I have no problem with him.

I believe him to be a true, take-charge patriot. As in, a concerned human being, not a moranic Borg.

[Peace Patriot]

83. Thanks for giving me a new perspective on Honore. The first news I

read about him was confusing. I thought Bush had appointed him, and although he seemed to have the right attitude (get. it. done.), I was suspicious because, a) I thought Bush was involved, and b) he seemed late on the scene. I realize now what was going, who delayed whom, and why: Bush strongarming Blanco, Honore and Nagin, to get control of the real estate, while they were trying to save people--and Bush blockading them.

We may never get to see Bush in the orange jumpsuit that he deserves to wear, and in the prison that he deserves to be put into--but we may at least find that this criminal has finally alerted the American people to the dire cost of non-transparent, unverifiable elections--such as the one that was just held by Diebold and ES&S, using secret, proprietary programming code to "tabulate" all the votes--code so secret that not even our elected secretaries of state are permitted to review it.

We must change this, you know. We MUST. It may be a hard fight, due to the bipartisan corruption in the electronic voting boondoggle, but we must win. Our democracy is hanging in the balance.

And it's quite interesting that both things--the disaster scandal, and electronic voting--come down to a state vs. fed (Bush Cartel) struggle. Under the guise of election "reform," Bush's "pod people" in Congress appropriated $4 billion to bribe the states into purchasing unreliable, insecure, hackable, new electronic voting systems, and then let their buddies at Diebold and ES&S run rampant through the states, with lavish lobbying, extracting contracts with "trade secret" vote tabulation. The intent of this federal boondoggle seems clear now: utter corruption of our election system. And I'm sure they want--and have plans to--go further, and to federalize, or effectively federalize, elections under Bush Cartel control. Right now, the power over election systems still resides in state/local venues, where ordinary people still have potential influence. And there are many state/local movements to get rid of Diebold and ES&S, or at least get rid of the secret, proprietary programming code, and the worst of their election theft machines (the touchscreens), and to achieve better security and some kind of paper backup.

Outright federalization of elections will likely be opposed by many secretaries of states. Control over elections is a CONSTITUTIONAL right granted to the states. So the method of federalization may be through more national rules, more porkbarrel money, etc., and there are plenty of sec of states who are vulnerable to that, and who are enjoying the heady power of brokering these big business deals (--turning our taxpayers' money over to the likes of Wally ODell--ye gods!).

Bush's Congress and collusive and corrupt Democrats encouraged all this to happen. Paperless voting, "trade secret" programming code, partisan vendors. Typical of the Bushites. Mind-boggling insanity, as to the Democrats. Now we have to do true reform from the bottom up--and try to undo all this--and fight off FURTHER federalization.

What ever happened to Republicans and "states' rights"? Seems to have vanished into the haze of "compassionate conservatism." (...gag).

But let me be clear. The Bushites had criminal intent in arranging for their close buds at Diebold and ES&S to gain control of our election system. That's how they stole the 2004 election (primarily). It was carefully planned. Just as their criminal designs upon NO and LA have been carefully planned, and are becoming very apparent--especially with the first contract going to Halliburton. They are using their stolen federal powers--powers that can only be conferred by the people--against us, and now they are even killing us, for greed, for control of property, wealth, more taxpayers dollars, and boondoggle donations.

And it's also becoming clear that our STATES' RIGHTS are a bulwark against them.

We need to back up Gov. Blanco and LA's National Guard and Honore in this struggle.

[xultar]

86. WOW! I love your post!

[bobbieinok]

90. greatly appreciate your info on voting ......a separate thread.??????

[Desertrose]

92. Great post- deserves its own thread IMHO

We have to back up the states before its too late.

Bless Blanco, Nagin & Honore for having the guts to stand up to crapweasel bushco.

[xultar]

96. This does need to be it's own thread.

[boomboom]

91. I understand

I think he's doing a great job. He is one who reminds me how proud we all should be of our troops. Sure hope he isn't one day swiftboated

[riverwalker]

94. I like him

when he shouted at the troops to "put them goddamn guns down dammit! These are civilians! guns down! guns down!" he won me over.

[watercolors]

95. I think he is great

Just what NO needs right now.He's my hero!Dont pussy foot around, tell it the way it should be. Need some politicains like that.

[JNelson6563]

98. Agreed, I saw him

refuse to blame state and local folks when some talking head was tryin' real hard to get him to do so.

Julie

[Connie_Corleone]

101. Absolutely agree!! nt

[Carni]

102. Honore IS black?

I have wondered for days if he was an African American, or just an older man who's spent a lot of time in the sun.

[xultar]

118. Straight up. Remember the history of LA and the French and Slaves

mixed.

But yes, he's a black man.

[troubleinwinter]

103. Honore and Blanco are looking like true patriots in this battle.

[esvhicl]

104. Honore rocks!

At least that is what I think so far.

[KingFlorez]

106. Gen. Honore is black?

I didn't know that

[MADem]

114. In White America, all you need is a dash!

He is six o' one, half dozen of the other...a shade or two darker than say, BOB BARR....!!! (Who would die rather than admit it, the ignorant putz).

[xultar]

117. U know U RITE!

[KingFlorez]

123. I thought I was the only one

Who thought that about Bob Barr!

[butterfly77]

107. I was almost asleep from watching the events of the day when...

All of a sudden I heard someone say thats BS. I jumped to attention and said now thats what I'm talking about he knocked Chertoffs ass out of the way, Chertoff was thinking ... what the

[mzmolly]

108. Were it not for Honore people would still be starving in sewage at the

convention center.

Honore has a cousin who's missing and a displaced daugther - he's an LA native and he's doing as good a job as any human can.

[leftyleftist]

109. It's tough for active military to criticize the president...

I do think he's done a good job, and I don't think he's just an apologist. They needed someone to go in there and get something done, and he did it, and he did it without resorting to shooting civies.

[MADem]

116. It is impossible to so do without risking consequences, IF you are still

on active duty. Once you are gone, you can bitch all you want.

As we know,the monkeyking's other title is (vomit, vomit) Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces--that chickenshit ninny has the authority under to the Constitution, he is the top cluck in the chain. And disrespect is a punishable offense, as is disobedience of a direct order.

Yes, it is horrifying.

[leftyleftist]

120. Absolutely

We'll see what happens if/when Honore resigns his commission.

[Redstone]

115. Hey, the Mayor said he's a good guy and getting the job done.

That's all the endorsement I need.

Haven't been on much this weekend, so I haven't seen the criticisms of him, and can't imaging where they're coming from.

The Mayor said that the General "hit the ground and started cussing, and things started getting done."

Which is exactly what was needed. So what the hell is there to criticize about the guy?

Redstone

On edit: Now I'm angry. Anyone doesn't like the job he's doing? Go do it better. There are six or seven political / military people we know about who have stoood up big time in the whole fucking mess, and he's one of them. so leave him alone, or go there and take over yourself and do better.

PS: There are thousands and thousands who have stood up big in this disaster; the "six or seven" referred to above means the high-profile ones we've all heard about. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of genuine heroes down there whose stories we'll never know.

[Mr_Spock]

121. Yeah, I figured out that he was OK after a few minutes

Ya just gotta give him a chance and not be influenced by his style.

[BooScout]

122. I like him............

Anyone who tells his soldiers to put "those fucking guns down and help these people" is ok by me.

I have seen him get interogated by reporters trying to put the blame on him and he was having none of it. He went into New Orleans when he was ordered to...........I got no problem with him..........I got a problem with the Son of a Bitch( AKA BUSH) who ordered him to move a week too late.

[Old and In the Way]

124. I'm a fan.....over.

:-)

[demo dutch]

125. Totally agree, and Nagin is very happy with him!

[HuskerDU]

126. The Mayor re: Gen. Honore-

'so he shows up and starts cussin' and stuff starts to get done.' Good enough for me!

[goclark]

127. Thanks for verifying @ Honore

Yesterday I believe he was with Rumsfeld.
When he was being called to the mike there was a cheer/

I guess the realize that Honore would save there butts.
They have/had no plan.
He seems to have a plan and I am with the Brother, 100%.

[Groggy]

128. I get him!!

He's getting things done...I respect the guy totally..from the start I could tell he was a good guy. They needed somebody like him to get in there and take charge.

[Karmakaze]

129. Honore is black?

I wouldnt have guessed it from this photo:

[markus]

132. Honore' is a Louisiana boy

and if I'm not mistaken a Creole.

These are his fucking people.

Give him some space. I think all of the shakeups at the Pentagon show that the career military are no longer Bush's people.

Give him some space.