Follow the Katrina Rumors

[Walt Starr]

Seriously, follow all of those rumors of rape, murder, mayhem, etc that we were inundated with.

follow them to the beginning point.

Ten to one says any unsubstantiated rumor started with GOP operatives, possibly even FEMA employees.

Why, you might ask?

Simple, the idea was not to stop the heat from the left and center. The idea was to shore up the base. If the base tips over in disgust at teh (in)actions of the administration, it's all over.

[RandomKoolzip]

1. Wasn't the "looter shoots a copter" incident also a hoax?

[Tesibria]

6. see post #4

sorry - I replied to the wrong one ...

[ClusterFreak]

2. I never bought into that rape, murder stuff...

I'm not saying I don't believe some people did some bad things...but there was no wild west of lawlessness.....the evacuated people were remarkably together, as one, helping each other get through the fires of hell...they did NOT all turn on each other. You're right....that stuff has Rovian stank all over it.

[underpants]

3. Wouldn't surprise me at all

From the beginning I thought it was an effort to make animals out of "them". Not worth saving, no one should care if they are gone. See here

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=103&topic_id=152276&mesg_id=152276

[Tesibria]

4. Times Picayune reports arrest today re: shooting at helicopter

http://www.nola.com/newslogs/breakingtp/index.ssf?/mtlogs/nola_Times-Picayune/archives/2005_09.html#077380

First federal arrest
Tuesday, 2 p.m.

By Gwen Filosa
Staff writer

Federal agents arrested a young Algiers man this morning on charges of shooting at a military helicopter designed for rescue missions, U.S. Attorney Jim Letten said, announcing the first federal case against the lawlessness that preyed on New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

Wendell L. Bailey, 20, was arrested outside the building where he had earlier taken aim with a .22-caliber pistol and fired at the helicopter, which was flying in the darkness, federal prosecutors said. Bailey has been charged with the federal crime of trying to "damage and destroy any aircraft," which carries up to 20 years in prison upon conviction, and with being a felon in possession of a handgun, which carries up to 10 years.

* * *

A four-member ATF scout team was patrolling Algiers when members observed gunfire coming from an apartment window. Two young men then walked out of the building and were heard chatting about shooting at a helicopter.

"They won't be back now," one of them said, according to a law enforcement affidavit filed in federal court.

Inside the apartment, ATF agents found a .22-caliber Rhomn revolver and a .32-caliber Smith & Wesson revolver -- both hidden beneath a mattress -– along with a box of 9-mm ammunition.

* * *

Bailey has prior convictions for dealing marijuana and cocaine. He admitted to ATF agents at the scene that he was a felon, and he told them were the guns were, Letten's office said.

At the time of the shooting, Letten said that a number of civilian and military aircraft were in the air performing duties such as evacuation, search and rescue and delivering supplies.

***

[RandomKoolzip]

5. Ah...so that DID happen. My mistake.

Oops!

[DoYouEverWonder]

7. That happened today

the one that was all over the M$M was at the beginning of the week and FEMA used has an excuse to suspend operations.

[Nia Zuri]

8. Just like Saddam's "rape rooms"

Make them look like savages...Unspeakable acts, gang raping a five year old, bludgeoning an old person to death. I can almost see Rove creating his "four pronged strategy". 1) Deflect blame to local and state level 2) Depict victims as cause of their own situation..."why didn't they get out" 3) Place * in hero scenarios e.g. arrival of aid coincides with his visit to NO 4)Depict vistims as brutal savages unworthy of saving...scare the hell out of white America...play on racism. Am I missing anything?

[moobu2]

9. Karl’s Modus Operandi.

I think we’ve all seen it numerous times.