Fear of Rita or loss of confidence?

[radfringe]

Rita is a "monster" storm, and the news has been filled with stories about how FEMA is preparing for it

Granted Rita is nothing to scoff at, and people should batten down the hatches and get out of the area.

But, I'm wondering how much of the mass exodus is being driven by fear of Rita versus a lack of confidence in FEMA, feds and bush*'s ability to respond and a fear of it being another New Orleans?

What do you think? Little of both?

[XanaDUer]

1. I think, inside, many now know they are

on their own. I think it is most of it, actually.

[KharmaTrain]

2. Someone Noticed?

I think the panic wasn't in the people, but in the local officials who were sure not going to have another New Orleans on their hands and started to yell for evacuations...before contra-flow was set up and any concept of where one or two or four million people would go.

Yes, Rita is nothing to scoff at, but we're seeing the state and local folks torn between not being tarred later for "not doing enough" and turning a bad situation into a catastrophic one if people are caught out on the roads without shelter when the storm bears down.

I'm not even going in FEMA...they haven't had a chance to screw up yet. And be assured, they will!

[fasttense]

3. I was just talking about this last night.

I'm afraid of brush, his cronies and what they might do. I was never afraid of Raygun (though I didn't like him). I was never of afraid of Bush Sr. (though I thought he was uninvolved). And I was never afraid of Clinton, (though I didn't always respect him). But W. scares me. He is incompetent. I never felt that with the other presidents. I don't trust him and I'm afraid he will destroy this country. It's like everything he touches he pollutes and turns into crap. If I were anywhere near the hurricane I would run for my life because you can't rely on the government for anything, not the smallest insignificant thing anymore.

[acmejack]

4. Not only is he incompetent, he is malevolent

He really is out to destroy the ;lives of the average American and reduce us to third world status. I'm forced to admit, in that he is doing a superb job.

The bad government thing is exactly what they want you to feel. Makes it easier to cut functions which assist the public, something the right has never believed in (unless they need they help, that is).