It's All Bush's Fault

[Flatrater]

I didn't write this but I do agree with it.

JUST THE SAME ... IT'S ALL BUSH'S FAULT

Now here's something you probably didn't know about Louisiana and Hurricane Katrina. At the very time Katrina was bearing down on New Orleans, there were several top-level officials in the very department of Louisiana government that prepares for emergencies such as Katrina sitting around and waiting for their trial. Trial, you say? Trial for what? Let's try corruption and throw in a bit of fraud.

It seems that these Louisiana officials either misspent or misplaced or ... worse ... about 60 million federal taxpayer bucks. Here are some details ...

In March of this year -- that's about five months before Katrina -- FEMA was asking for the return of $30.4 million that the federal government had sent to Louisiana for emergency planning and preparedness. Most of this money was sent to some state office called the Louisiana Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness. Wait .. it gets worse. According to the Los Angeles Times, much of that money was sent to Louisiana under some federal program called the Hazard Mitigation Grant program. That is a program that is, in part, supposed to help states improve flood control facilities. Flood? Did someone say flood?

Hazard mitigation would have been a great idea in New Orleans, don't you think? Especially that "improve flood control facilities" part, but nobody seems to know where the money went! OK ... let's follow the trail of $15.4 million dollars that was spent by the Louisiana Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness. The $15.4 million was part of a $40.5 million grant of your money that was sent to Louisiana for the Hazard Mitigation Program. You know ... flood control and all that. Oops! Hold on a second here. My bad. It seems we can't follow that $15.4 million.. You see, the Louisiana officials say that they awarded that money to subcontractors for 19 major hazard mitigation programs, but they just can't seem to find any receipts to account of 97% of the funds. Ninety-seven percent of $15.4 million, my friends. No receipts. That's $14.94 million .. gone, and nobody can trace it.

Do any of you think that something good might have been done with some of this money? Lives saved? Flooding prevented? If you're thinking that, remember ... we're talking Hurricane Katrina here, and we all know that every bad thing that happened in Hurricane Katrina was --- all together now ---- Bush's Fault!

Perhaps if these Louisiana officials ever actually go to trial now they will be able to use the "Blame Bush" defense.

AND THAT'S NOT ALL .....

Let's see ... what else have we learned in the past week about the response to Katrina.

Doctors from across the United States poured into Louisiana to offer their services in shelters and hospitals treating Katrina's victims. They could do nothing. They just sat. You see, they weren't licensed to practice medicine in Louisiana. It took the amazing Governor of Louisiana, Kathleen Blanco, five days to sign a waiver to allow these doctors to practice medicine in Louisiana. Five days, while people were suffering and dying. Don't blame Blanco, though. It was clearly Bush's fault.


New Orleans' Mayor Ray Nagin

On the Saturday before the hurricane New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin received a call from Amtrak. There was a passenger train sitting in the New Orleans station with 900 empty seats. Did the Mayor want to put some evacuees in those seats? No thanks. The train left nearly empty. You cannot blame Mayor Nagin for this decision, that clearly would be racist. It just has to be Bush's fault.

In 1997 the U.S. Congress appropriated $500,000 of your money -- not federal money, taxpayer's money -- to the State of Louisiana. The money was set aside to create a "comprehensive analysis and plan of all evacuation alternatives for New Orleans." Now correct me if I'm wrong, but that's the big deal here, isn't it? New Orleans didn't get evacuated, right? Well, for two years nothing happened. Then the Congress demanded of Louisiana a plan for evacuation in the event of a category 3 story, a levee break, a flood or some other natural disaster. The $500,000 of your money got to Louisiana .. but then what? It was spent by the Greater New Orleans Expressway Commission, not on an evacuation plan, but things that needed to be done to the Lake Pontchartrain causeway over the next fifteen years or so. What does the incredible Louisiana Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness have to say about the funds and the causeway study? The spokesman says that they can't find any information. Actually, we shouldn't be holding the Louisiana emergency preparedness folks or the state responsible for this ... not when we all know it was Bush's fault.

Speaking of flood control. You did know, didn't you, that in 1996 the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was going to raise and strengthen the very levees that failed in New Orleans. They were going to, but they didn't. And why not? Because of a lawsuit, that's why. The plaintiff in the lawsuit didn't want the work done until extensive and expensive environmental impact statements were prepared by the Corps of Engineers and approved by the EPA. And who filed that lawsuit? Why .. it was the Sierra Club. The very same Sierra Club, by the way, that listened with rapt attention in San Francisco on September 9th while Al Gore told them that the leaders of this country ought to be held accountable for the flooding in New Orleans. Now, some of us might be so twisted as to think that the very Sierra Club that was so enthralled by Gore's rantings should bear some of the blame here ... but that's only because we just don't realize that it was all Bush's fault. Oh .. and by the way. Why haven't we heard more about this Sierra Club lawsuit in the mainstream media? Remember the template.

Mayor Ray Nagin is inviting residents of some areas of New Orleans to come back to their homes and businesses and begin the cleanup process. There's another possible hurricane bearing down on the Florida Keys --- a tropical storm that could become a hurricane and could head toward New Orleans. Now it's possible that if over 100,000 residents return to New Orleans and are further victimized by another hurricane and another flood .. will it be Mayor Ray Nagin's fault? Of course not, you idiot! It will be George Bush's fault! Haven't you been paying attention?

[TexasF355F1]

And the all the SUV's and Bush caused Hurricane Katrina. Bush is only targeted because so many people can't stand the thought of blaming Nagin or Blanco because they're democrats and put politics aside. This country is set up for each state to help themselves before the feds step in. No matter what's said Nagin fucked up big time protecting his city, but then again his entire police squad is corrupt as hell.

[YogsVR4]

The get Bush crowd remain as entertaining idiots like they were before Katrina. I think that the mayor and the governer sounded like cry baby politicians looking to lay blame on someone.

[BNaylor]

With Rita turning into a 135 mph Cat 4 hurricane and heading towards Texas and possibly Louisiana, I wonder how the outcome will be? Sounds like Texas isn't taking any chances based on the Katrina debacle.

Are the Bush haters gonna blame Rita on him too? Sounds like a re-hash of the loss of the 2004 election to me. Whenever you point fingers, remember there are always at least 3 pointing back at you. Just my 2 cents.

[TexasF355F1]

Originally Posted by bnaylor3400

With Rita turning into a 135 mph Cat 4 hurricane and heading towards Texas and possibly Louisiana, I wonder how the outcome will be? Sounds like Texas isn't taking any chances based on the Katrina debacle.

Are the Bush haters gonna blame Rita on him too? Sounds like a re-hash of the loss of the 2004 election to me. Whenever you point fingers, remember there are always at least 3 pointing back at you. Just my 2 cents.

I can tell you everyone down here is going nuts. Galveston has already started evacuating all of its elderly and mentally challenged today and by later this afternoon or tomorrow it will be mandatory for everyone to get out. The stores are running out of everything. This is my first really big storm to be of age to understand what's going on. I went through Allison in '01 but this is way crazier. I'm on an adrenaline rush, and as sad as I am about this it's sort of exciting. I feel so bad for my friends that are (suppose) to get married Saturday. I picked up my tux yesterday and now I don't know what.

[BNaylor]

Originally Posted by TexasF355F1

I can tell you everyone down here is going nuts. Galveston has already started evacuating all of its elderly and mentally challenged today and by later this afternoon or tomorrow it will be mandatory for everyone to get out. The stores are running out of everything. This is my first really big storm to be of age to understand what's going on. I went through Allison in '01 but this is way crazier. I'm on an adrenaline rush, and as sad as I am about this it's sort of exciting. I feel so bad for my friends that are (suppose) to get married Saturday. I picked up my tux yesterday and now I don't know what.

Our prayers are with you, your family, friends, and all others that are being affected.

Fellow Texan from El Paso

[lamehonda]

After living in Louisiana for most of my life, I don't blame them for not sending them money to build up the levy. The politicians would have just spent it on booze and women.

355F1-You are west of houston right? That should seriously lessen the winds that you get even if this is a real killer storm. You are most likely not going to that wedding on Saturday. How unlucky would that be to have your wedding on the one day that the hurricane decides to hit?

[TexasF355F1]

Thanks for your blessings and concerns I greatly appreciate it.

Lamehonda, I live on the NW side of Harris County, which if you're not familiar with Houston, is NW of downtown. With all of the paths I've seen it looks more and more like well be right on the inside of the easterly path of the storm (not good). Thankfully we are further north though. My parents rode out Alicia in '83 and it appears thus far we will do the same for this storm. We've stocked up on water and batteries and have a generator provided we need it after the storm. Probably be boarding up the house today. I know I'm helping my dad move all of his extremely important computer equipment to higher ground at his office.

I talked to my friend yesterday and while he was being as positive as I was, I could hear worry in his voice. I've been friends with he and his fiance since high school. I can only imagine how much of a basket case she is right now. I'm going to call him later today, but I'd imagine he should get notified of cancelations by no later than tomorrow. I just hope they don't get screwed on all their reservations and whatnot and have to pay more money. I'm sort of stressed, but I'm not sure if it's my interview I have today or partly stressed b/c of the storm or just for my friends. At least I know that they're not the only ones with a wedding being postponed.

[KustmAce]

Oh look, another anti-liberal rant.

[tenguzero]

Best of luck to you folks in Texas dealing with the hurricane. Everything's bigger in Texas, right? Tell your friends they should go on with the wedding anyways. Down the road they could tell people:

-"Remember hurricane Rita?"

-"Oh yeah, that big bitch that nailed you guys back in '05. I remember."

-"Yeah, well we got married in it."

-"..."

-"Damn right."

[carrrnuttt]

As Yogs would probably attest, I am one of the biggest anti-Bush people on these boards. I'm no Liberal. I just think he's a liar, a cheat, and jackass - pretty much the same as the guy he superseded, except the last guy at least had SOME semblance of good plan (though I personally believe it was only because of a check and balance system between a Republican Congress, and a Democratic White House, that had them too busy dealing with each other to ruin our country, like the current jackass has).

Anyhow.

I have never blamed Bush for New Orleans, and those that do are just idiots. This is why we have state, and federal governments, not to mention local ones.

I'd understand if the Mayor, and the Governor of LA were proactive, and begged the federal gov't for support, and Bush refused, but damn.

This is nowhere near Bush's fault, BUT he did hire the idiot from FEMA who has now resigned in shame. If anything, I'd say his advisors are bad judges of characters (c'mon, they endorsed a fucking chimp, for chris'sakes!).

I do feel, however, that the governor, and his whole advisory panel, and staff, along with the mayor's, and the mayor himself, of Naw'lins, should be locked in the Superdome, along with at least 2000 of the people who had to live through their incompetency.

[BNaylor]

Originally Posted by tenguzero

Best of luck to you folks in Texas dealing with the hurricane. Everything's bigger in Texas, right?

The whole State of Texas is dealing with the situation. We take care of our own and others too. We just got over 1500 Houston area evacuees that made the 900 mile drive to El Paso. Our motels are booked solid.

We have special areas and facilities setup to handle and help the people. BTW - We took in over 500 Katrina evacuees. Half of them are making Texas their new home.

And we do not care what their political affiliation is. It's irrelevant. They are Americans and that's all that matters.

BTW - El Paso is one of the only remaining Democrat (blue) counties left in Texas so to others let's not make this a political or it's Bush's fault issue.

[TexasF355F1]

Now I'm worried about looters here. I drove around earlier and not a whole lot of people but still quite a few. I applaud our Mayor for doing such an outstanding job. The traffic jam just couldn't have been predicted. Plus it's all the morons freaking out beyond what they should and all rushing out at the same time when they are physically capable of staying around at least till later.

Not to back-track, but my friend was telling me that the accountant at works husband is a sheriff and was one responsible for patting people down going into the Astrodome. He said every 3-4 people had some sort of weapons, drugs, or other illegal contraband on them. No wonder so many of the people didn't want to go into the dome b/c of those people.

The front of my neighborhood was littered to complete shit by all of these type of people trashing my neighborhood. The NW side of town now looks like Lousiana and the worst parts of Houston thanks to them. No wonder the city doesn't want to clean their side up. They don't pick up after themselves anyway.

[2.2 Straight six]

you'd be surprised how many british people hate bush.....about all of them, i've heard people talking about how much they'd like to have him killed. i feel the same way i would probably celebrate is the stupid f**k got killed.

[YogsVR4]

Thats not saying a lot for the British now is it.






President Dick Cheney! I like it.