Anyone else hear Paulson (acting FEMA Director) Call Gulf folks "Stupid'

[KoKo]

for not evacuating? He said, some people who didn't heed evacuation warnings were "stupid," Doesn't he have to be confirmed by the Senate? (He was on C-Span this a.m.)

Sounds like he's a real loser....We are definitely on our own. Strict rules about "no help before 72 hours." Which, given the Bushies means...no help at all unless you live in Texas or Florida.. :-(

[acmavm]

1. Hey, I got into a small hissy with someone here who had the

gall to say that no one who wanted to leave NO would be left behind. The context of the spat was because I was upset that there were so many vehicles (especially trucks) with empty space. I thought that maybe out of decency those people could have taken some poor or aged or whatever people who otherwise would be stranded. In fact, the person here was rather obnoxious and rude about it.

I only bring this up to point out that sometimes 'stupidity' is an equal opportunity trait.

[Maddy McCall]

2. Yes, I did.

And right before he said it, he had just said that over 100,000 people in South Louisiana lacked the means of transportation to evacuate.

It's just like I've always said. People in these positions are usually there by cronyism and nepotism--they have no idea how normal--much less poor--folks live.

:grr:

[rodeodance]

3. sad. and we have a congress who does not care.

[Coexist]

4. I live in Florida, and lots of people here don't evacuate

even when mandatory.

Some are afraid of looters taking what little they have. Some are the elderly who just can't (mentally) leave the place that kept them safe their entire lives. Some believe it will be (yet another) false alarm, and the hurricane will hit somewhere south (or north) of them.

I for one, during Andrew, evacuated to a local High School with my 2-year old and my 6-week old baby. My entire family fit on a mat (we were lucky, most didn't get mats on the hard gym floor) barely big enough for all four of us to lay down. The a/c went out early and it was hot, smelly and miserable. When we left to go home the next day, our power had never even gone off. We were bummed that we could have been comfortable the entire time. The next time, we decided to board up at home instead.

Were we taking a chance, yes. But we thought it out long and hard, as we do everytime we are under a hurricane warning or watch.

I am not saying it is right to stay - I am just saying that a lot of people who live with the threat every year, have different reasons for not always evacuating. I can't blame them. I understand perfectly.

[elehhhhna]

5. stoopid wheelchair bound oldies.

[Coastie for Truth]

6. I can see it now

the Fire Fighters, Rescue Medics, and Coasties are going to leave people behind.

Not in my (1960's) Coast Guard we won't.

Saint Florian protects us when we go in harm's way to protect those in peril.

SEMPER PAR

<>

[BOSSHOG]

7. The Tacky T-Shirt on Bourbon Street sums it up very nicely

FEMA EVACUATION PLAN
RUN MOTHERFUCKER RUN

A perfect plan from a party which wants as small a government as possible.