Re: Bush administration forced cuts in flood protection in N.O. ($ went to Iraq)
i don't know why you losers are comparing your two towns...yes towns.. they are insignificant both..houston and Detroit. NYC in DA House Biyatch!
Re: Bush administration forced cuts in flood protection in N.O. ($ went to Iraq)
NO looks like a war-ravaged African country. So much for being a 'civilised' nation.
Re: Bush administration forced cuts in flood protection in N.O. ($ went to Iraq)
^ i know for real, they cant value human lives.. so much for being muslims
wait Danda is hindu, hes excused
detroit? hell hole? errmm ok
Re: Bush administration forced cuts in flood protection in N.O. ($ went to Iraq)
My family and I were sitting around the tv jaws dropped ... you don't ordinarily get to see that side of the US in the media.
Re: Bush administration forced cuts in flood protection in N.O. ($ went to Iraq)
^ because it is an anomaly than the norm.
Re: Bush administration forced cuts in flood protection in N.O. ($ went to Iraq)
Kanye West is the biggest name in hip-hop right now.
…
Kanye West Slams Bush In Live Telethon
During NBC’s live broadcast of Concert for Hurricane Relief rapper Kanye West, in what appeared to be an impromptu address, told viewers that National Guardsmen were given the unfair order to shoot at African-Americans on the streets of New Orleans.
In a stumbling, yet defiant statement, West proclaimed that when African-Americans were caught stealing in New Orleans, they were called looters. However when whites were caught, they were just feeding their families.
He was joined by former Saturday Night Live star Mike Myers, who returned to the script, and seemed frustrated by the the rapper’s remarks.
West then declared “George Bush doesn’t care about black people.” Before the rapper could complete his statement, NBC producers cut away.
The hour-long NBC telethon Friday raised money for the Red Cross. Other musicians included Harry Connick Junior, Tim McGraw, and Aaron Neville.
Re: Bush administration forced cuts in flood protection in N.O. ($ went to Iraq)
he is kinda right, this is what it seems like from the news.
Re: Bush administration forced cuts in flood protection in N.O. ($ went to Iraq)
Kanye West did’nt curse. Producers should’ve let him complete his impromptu speech. Freedom of speech?
US Govt. doesn’t censor speech but the job is left to the media. Dissenting views are suppressed.
Re: Bush administration forced cuts in flood protection in N.O. ($ went to Iraq)
Well think about it - the situation is already that of an intense emergency - nothing like this has been experienced by Americans, because never before has an entire city been dissolved into oblivion by a storm.
Now if you get people on the TV who start bringing in the race factor in, its going to put people in more distress (those who are already distressed)...do you need that in an emergency situation. After things get sorted out, then the race factor can be delved into - but I don't think its wise to do that when people need to be focused on saving what lives are left (or will be left).
This is going to get a lot worse dekhna. The disease factor has not even kicked in yet.
Re: Bush administration forced cuts in flood protection in N.O. ($ went to Iraq)
^^
Scripted decorum? Please. 
This administration has suppressed criticism, made terrible decision which have cost billions in Iraq and thousands of lives in NO. People need to speak up even at the most inopportune moments.
Re: Bush administration forced cuts in flood protection in N.O. ($ went to Iraq)
The point of the show was to raise money for the relief effort, not to make political statements. That said it was understand why West was frustrated and it’s understandable that NBC cut the Bush comment out of the west coast airing (Originally nothing was cut). So you saying that somehow freedom of speech was violated holds absolutely no water.
Re: Bush administration forced cuts in flood protection in N.O. ($ went to Iraq)
scripted decorum.
Unpopular speech is suppressed in America just like you couldn’t criticize the war lest you were labelled unpatriotic.
Re: Bush administration forced cuts in flood protection in N.O. ($ went to Iraq)
LI, you apparently have been hiding your head up your ass again. Almost every major and non major media has openly questioned the response and have talked/written about the criticism there's been towards the response.
Again you are trying to slam something that isn't there (abuse of free speech) and this is blatent to anyone that has read the news or watched it on television.
Re: Bush administration forced cuts in flood protection in N.O. ($ went to Iraq)
UTD, you apparently have been protrasting too much under the dome with your head drilling up your ass again.
Yes, media have been asking the question. Every two bit idiot like you is asking the question. NObody wants to say the unpopular thing: NO population is primarily comprised of poor black people.
Kayne West had the audacity to say that on TV and he was censored.
Americans just don’t want to hear they have a race problem. Only popular or “acceptable” viewes pass thru the media filters. Two years ago you couldn’t criticize the Iraqi invasion. Today you can’t say on TV that it was poor black people who got shafted.
Re: Bush administration forced cuts in flood protection in N.O. ($ went to Iraq)
Are you kidding me? People have been talking about this on every major news network.
Re: Bush administration forced cuts in flood protection in N.O. ($ went to Iraq)
The president is fuking dumb. It's a fact and everyone knows it. He is the same guy who sat on his arse for seven minutes when he was told the country is under attack. ( 9/11).
The enormity of the storm had been predicted 48+ hours before it actually hit and there were no measures taken by the government to 'force' evacuation. Even now he doesn't know how to address the issue. He has promised the aid but its not the time for promises...people are dying NOW. The need for troops in New orleans is NOW to help women, poor and elderly.
If people are pointing fingers at him and seeing it as a race issue then who can blame them. The ba$tard should focus on his own country for a change.
Re: Bush administration forced cuts in flood protection in N.O. ($ went to Iraq)
Not to swim against the tide here, but there is plenty of blame to go around. Specifically I looked at the evacuation notice from the Mayor. Nothing was mentioned about busing or evacuation prior to the storm for those without transportation. His own evacuation order is voluntary not manditory. In the city evacuation plan it mentions shelters, but there are absolutely no instructions on how to get out of town if you are to be evacuated.
From the Mayors press release:
Mayor Nagin Urges Citizens to Prepare For Hurricane Katrina
(New Orleans, LA) In response to the potential threat of Hurricane Katrina, Mayor C. Ray Nagin is urging all citizens to begin preparations now for the coming storm. Mayor Nagin will hold the next press briefing at 5 p.m. today in the Mayor’s Press Room, second floor of City Hall.
“Although the track could change, forecasters believe Hurricane Katrina will affect New Orleans,” said Mayor Nagin. “We may call for a voluntary evacuation later this afternoon or tomorrow morning to coincide with the instatement of contraflow. This will give people more options to leave the area. However, citizens need to begin preparing now so they will be ready to leave when necessary. Do everything to prepare for a regular hurricane, but treat this one differently because it is headed our way. This is not a test.”
The Mayor also recommended that residents of Algiers, the Lower Ninth Ward and low-lying areas begin evacuating now.
Gov. Blanco also urged citizens to take the storm seriously. “We can restore property, but we cannot restore lives,” she said.
Mayor Nagin is working with Gov. Kathleen Blanco and other City, local and State officials are watching the storm’s path and working together to make decisions that affect citizens. Gov. Blanco has declared a state of emergency in Louisiana, which provides city government with additional authority and improved access to resources needed when responding to elevated threats, such as natural disasters.
A state of emergency has been declared for the City of New Orleans. Citizens are advised to:
• Fill their cars with gas. Tolls have been suspended on roadways.
• Remove potential debris from their yards (including lawn furniture, potted plants, loose tree branches, etc.)
• Board windows and glass doors
• Make sure that nearby catch basins are clear of leaves or trash
• Stock up on bottled water, batteries, and non-perishable food items
• Check on family, friends and neighbors, especially the elderly, to make sure everyone has an evacuation plan
• Make provisions for pets. Shelters and many hotels do not accept pets.
-MORE-
“The key is being prepared for the event,” said Mayor Nagin. “We’re doing everything we can to make sure our city is safe.”
Shelters for Citizens with Special Medical Needs
There are two shelters for people with special medical needs open in the state. Citizens should call prior to going to the shelters. The shelter in Alexandria can be reached at (800) 841-5778; the number for Monroe’s shelter is (866) 280-7287. If it becomes necessary, other shelters will be opened in various cities. The Superdome will be opened as a refuge of last resort for special needs patients if it becomes necessary. All individuals may have one caretaker.
Anyone planning to spend time in a shelter should bring three to four days’ worth of food, sleeping gear, and medical supplies including oxygen, medicine and batteries for any necessary devices. No weapons or bulky items are allowed in any shelters.
New Orleans EMS is responding to medical emergencies only. For non-emergency transportation needs, citizens should contact local non-emergency ambulance providers.
http://www.cityofno.com/portal.aspx?portal=46&load=~/PortalModules/ViewPressRelease.ascx&itemid=3139
When you go to the city of New Orleans web site, there is absolutely no mention of how a poor person could evacuated if tey chose to. There are no bus depots or anything other types of information. The only thing they had was the following evacuation guidelines that are clearly designed around people with cars. My conclusion is that in part, the City of New Orleans disaster plan was a farce. Although they knew that they were at risk, there was no manditory evacuation, and there was never a plan created to evacuate at risk people. The plan for poor people was, survive the storm and get to a shelter, and we will wait for help. Not much of a plan.
http://www.cityofno.com/portal.aspx?portal=46&tabid=18
And, doesn’t the National Guard report to the Governor, not the President?
Re: Bush administration forced cuts in flood protection in N.O. ($ went to Iraq)
I mean FEMA et al hit the Snooze button becuase … That’s what Kayne was saying.
Re: Bush administration forced cuts in flood protection in N.O. ($ went to Iraq)
^i dont want to blame anyone in particular, but shouldn't the buck stop somewhere? OG, if heads should roll, whose heads do you recommend? Nagin? Blanco? FEMA's Brown?
Re: Bush administration forced cuts in flood protection in N.O. ($ went to Iraq)
Agreed, FEMA is one part, but the troops are actually controlled by the Governor, and the evacuation plan is the reposnsibility of the city and the state. The question I have is why was FEMA so good in Florida last year, and so bad now. It's the same agency, the same people, the same plan. It had really high marks from everyone. I have a home in Orlando, and we had two families staying in the home, and they raved about FEMA, who even paid thier rent and relocation expenses when the roof came off thier apartment building.
Certainly a critical lack of decision making and leadership. But I suspect that New Orleans was sunk long before the storm.
This morning I listened to a discussion of special New Orleans Levy Board, a Supervisory Board for the cities levys. Last year they purchased a Casino, a new headquarters, and a private plane.
City services at all levels have just collapsed, I have yet to see the Fire Department, unlike 9/11. The police were clearly unprepared and overwhelmed.
To limit the criticism to FEMA is probably a bit unfair, as if all these other elected officials had no role and no repsonsibility.
Heads should roll at plenty of levels.