In the face of another SOTU fantasy speech here's some New Orleans reality

[JohnnyRingo]

New Orleans - What The Media Is NOT Reporting
By Wayne Madsen

<excerpt>
New Orleans: What the media is not reporting and what Congress and the Bush administration are ignoring. Yesterday, two New Orleans journalists, Jason Berry, who writes for New Orleans magazine, and Lolis Eric Elie, columnist for the New Orleans Times-Picayune, spoke at the National Press Club in Washington about the real nature of the situation in New Orleans and surrounding parishes.

The picture they painted of the city is sobering. Only some 100,000 people, out of a total population of 467,000, have returned to New Orleans, just a month and a half before the famous Mardi Gras celebrations. However, the national media and their corporate friends in the urban development business, will paint New Orleans during the next Mardi Gras celebration on February 28 as a city coming back from disaster. Nothing could be further from the truth.

On November 24, 2005, WMR reported, "Florida mental health professionals report that hundreds of evacuees scattered along the Florida Panhandle are ticking time bombs due to the effects of post traumatic stress syndrome from both Hurricanes Katrina and Rita." In addition, WMR reported, "These people are from all walks of life, professionals like doctors and lawyers and those who were from the lower end of the economic scale," related one source close to the scene in Florida. He added, "what they have in common is that they've lost everything, including the will to live." Mental health workers say that some of the evacuees are showing signs that may result in suicides and murder-suicides."

<snip>

There is a profound sense of abandonment in New Orleans. FEMA has still not started moving transitional housing trailers into the city, preferring to leave residents scattered across the country in evacuation locations. Republican Mississippi received five times as much in Federal aid per household than Louisiana.

The two journalists reported that Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco and New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin muzzled themselves after at first criticizing Bush because the president threatened them with abandonment unless they stopped their criticism of the Federal response. They are apparently petrified of Bush after he threatened them with no assistance.

<entire article:>
http://rense.com/general69/what.htm

[Greeby]

1. What a petty pile of shit

He'd condemn all those people to death just to silence two critics :grr:

[Kurovski]

2. K&R

If the Bush administration has threatened to reduce the already meager assistance NO has recieved due to warranted and fair criticism, Americans need to know that as well.

The storms continue to take their toll.

[uppityperson]

3. Letter from a volunteer in 7th Ward, today.

(I removed a couple lines that gave personal information, otherwise this is as I received it)

Dear Friends and Family,

I spent the day at Mama D's house in the 7th ward today. This was my 7th and final day down there and I want you all to know what is happening there.

Crews are continuing to help muck, de-mold, and gut houses. The bodies of the young people who were killed during Katrina have still not been returned to thier families. As a community they are looking for closure and will be holding a memorial at a park the date will be announced soon. Mama D has been sick and just lost on of the elders of her community who was staying in Washington DC. This is the third such death I have heard of. This has not been easy on the older folks who had to relocate.

For the plan to re-build the 7th ward is to happen they have to show that it is a vaiable community so they also need volunteers. It's a cool place. A fire is always burning for the voodoo queens of New Orleans. There is a strong Rasta vibe happening. They are thankful for all of the volunteers that help and cook them lunch and dinner.

The people in this neighborhood need water, cleanning supplies, and love. There is a lot of post tramatic stress syndrome happening all over the Gulf and the 7th ward is no exception. They need healers, shaman, and community organizers.

I'll miss the Gulf. I have fallen in love with all of the people I meet. I learning so very much here and I am grateful to everyone for that.

I have to thank the maker of the "Love packages" again came right on time. Everyone at camp just loves them and now some of us are starting a whole love package movement.

Again please post this info out into the world wide web maybe some volunteers will be inspired to visit the 7th ward and help the soul partrol and Mama D out.

Or at the very least send donations, and prayers.

I have to give the camp MOM's @ the UPR encampment a big thanks for making my stay down here pampered compared to other camps I have visited.

Love you all,

[JohnnyRingo]

6. Well deserving of it's own post

I have to believe personal stories like this will be amplified ten thousand fold by "legacy time" rolls around.

Once the White House smoke and mirror machine winds down Little George will be exposed to history as the miserable failure he is.
Not just at disaster relief, but everything. My newest challenge to friends that still support him is to give me just one thing that worked out well for the Buxh administration.

The only possible answer is that he put a pile of cash in the pockets of those who he views as peers.

[proud2BlibKansan]

4. And some of us trust these morans in DC to keep us safe ??

How the hell can we expect to believe we are really safer now than we were on 9/10/01 if this is how they have helped Katrina victims?

[ClintonTyree]

5. Probably why Landrieu won't support a filibuster...........

these fucking republican pigs don't deserve the air they breathe. These are AMERICANS we're talking about here, not republicans, not Democrats, not Independents, AMERICANS! :grr: To use federal money designated for hurricane relief as a political tool, as a way to stifle political dissent is so far past the pale of decency it's staggering. :wtf:

These bastards, these partisan fucking slime-balls continue to amaze me. When I think that's there is nothing they could do to possibly sink any lower on the food chain, BAM, they come up with a way to do it. Words cannot describe how I hate these scum-bags! :mad:

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

7. American People In Need Of America

It is In(?)Deed ,of the many areas of shame and discrace in how the White House and the current administration have inappropriately managed situations in current and past events that require absolute and undivided attention and care.The President while standing in California with his side twisted grin saying casually that he is sure that the people at the white House are doing everything that can be done.As he George Bush has gloated with a gleam of his eyes about the majority the republicans enjoy,not having enjoyed such a majority since the Cival War, and showing us now that the ways remain the same.It is indeed this cruelness and ways of carelessness about our government being run by this majority that further divides this nation.This is the darkest hour our country has experienced since the cival War.And those republicans have theirselves to thank for it.But this country cannot be what it can be, And thats do, not just for itself ,But for all,Unless We Make It Happen.It falls within the hands of the American people.We must take this country back.

[JohnnyRingo]

8. Indeed they have made a mess of it

The bloodthirsty screams of the 30% of our populace that are the right wing hard core supporters of this administration are drowning out the cries of 180 million working people who want a return to sanity.

What we need is our own Lech Walesa. Someone who hasn't been tainted by corruption of career politics to unify and focus our cause.

Welcome to DU

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

9. Johnny Ringo

Why Johnney Ringo,I didn,t think you would dar--e.W,hat ever you do,do not forget to save the huckleberries, If your really going to be a Georgia peach. I am sure you know what I mean In(?)Deed.