OMG WTF
September 1, 2005 11:53 AM Subscribe

"We are dealing with one of the worst natural disasters in our nation's history, and that's why I've called the Cabinet together." ...well, except for the Secretary of State, who was taking a vacation in NY, catching a show, and doing a little shopping.
posted by bashos_frog (257 comments total)

Remember 8 or so years ago when every Republican on Earth was trying to blame every bad thing happening in the world on Clinton?
posted by spicynuts at 11:58 AM on September 1, 2005

I don't get it. You have a link to Bush denying he is on vacation to support a claim that the Secretary of State is?
posted by edd at 11:59 AM on September 1, 2005

A fellow shopper, unable to fathom the absurdity of Rice’s timing, went up to the Secretary and reportedly shouted, “How dare you shop for shoes while thousands are dying and homeless!” Never one to have her fashion choices questioned, Rice had security PHYSICALLY REMOVE the woman.

Wow.

Also, how long untill they rename the "superdome" the "thunderdome"?
posted by delmoi at 12:00 PM on September 1, 2005

Also, doesn't the sec. of state mainly deal with our international policy? Although I suppose she could be busy coordinating international assistance.
posted by delmoi at 12:02 PM on September 1, 2005

I fail to see how she's terribly relevant. What aspect of the Katrina recovery do you feel the State Department should be involved in?

(On preview: delmoi got it).
posted by kickingtheground at 12:03 PM on September 1, 2005

This administration is so fucking clueless and tone-deaf. True leaders lead ... and don't strum guitars a day after a disaster ... and go shopping in New York City days later.
posted by ericb at 12:07 PM on September 1, 2005

At least put up an appearance of caring; set a tone of urgency and responsiveness.
posted by ericb at 12:08 PM on September 1, 2005

"Come on baby lets eat the rich..eat the rich!!"
posted by Mr Bluesky at 12:08 PM on September 1, 2005

How dare you shop for shoes while thousands are dying and homeless!

Wait, what was this self-righteous shopper doing in the very same store? Shouldn't she have been out on a blood drive? Maybe she was buying designer shoes for the designer shoeless of Gulfport?

Rice, while in the cabinet, is Secretary of State, aka, Foreign Minister. Now had this been the Secretary of Homeland Security or Energy, then maybe her role in this disaster issue would be far greater, not that I'm completely letting her off the hook here, but, she has as much role in the relief effort that anyone has.
posted by Pollomacho at 12:12 PM on September 1, 2005

And we're only eight months into this administration's second term! Who knows what surprises lie ahead for us?
posted by fungible at 12:13 PM on September 1, 2005

!*&%@%$*%# Spicynuts it's not *$^*&*&%&^ remotely like that. Sorry to lose my temper but for chrissake it's about time for Bush apologists to put their tails between their legs, admit BushCorp has been a disaster on EVERY < every>> SINGLE ISSUE we've had the misfortune of them "addressing," then shut the *#@$$ up for like the next twenty years. There are people -- old folks and infants -- RIGHT NOW dying in the streets because this administration is so goddamned incompetent that they haven't sent in, oh I don't know, like FIVE THOUSAND or so marines with emergency gear. Oh yeah, I forgot -- they are making all those dying New Orlanders safer in Iraq.
posted by Toecutter at 12:14 PM on September 1, 2005

I fail to see how she's terribly relevant. What aspect of the Katrina recovery do you feel the State Department should be involved in?

This is largely a question of image ('let them eat cake!'), but I think there are international questions that arise. The oil shortage. The fact that NoLa is one of our largest international cargo ports.

In any case, when shit happens at my job, even when it's not my department, it reflects a whole lot better on me when I show up and appear to care and make myself of service.
posted by Miko at 12:15 PM on September 1, 2005

Wait, what was this self-righteous shopper doing in the very same store? Shouldn't she have been out on a blood drive? Maybe she was buying designer shoes for the designer shoeless of Gulfport?

I admit I thought this first, as well. Then came my second thought: Oh yeah -- that woman is not a member of the United States Cabinet.
posted by Miko at 12:16 PM on September 1, 2005

I don't know about all that toecutter, but I will say they have fuckedf up pretty steadily.

And I rememeber the releif efforts in florida the ant'l guard AND reservists did, oh, 15 years ago...that seemed to have saved lives, AFAICR. So, yeah, the Admin is screwing things up big time

But really, what is Rice supposed to be doing?..and pollomacho nailed it with "Wait, what was this self-righteous shopper doing in the very same store? Shouldn't she have been out on a blood drive? Maybe she was buying designer shoes for the designer shoeless of Gulfport?"
posted by das_2099 at 12:18 PM on September 1, 2005

Bush and Condi truly are demonstrating what it is to be "compassionate conservatives."
posted by ericb at 12:19 PM on September 1, 2005

Oh yeah, and thanks, Bush, for all the work on the levees. Fucktard.
posted by Toecutter at 12:22 PM on September 1, 2005

Hmmm, what's Rice supposed to be doing.

I dunno, how 'bout fixing this?

--

On tonight's news, CTV (Canadian TV) said that support was offered from Canada. Planes are ready to load with food and medical supplies and a system called "DART" which can provide fresh water and medical supplies is standing by. Department of Homeland Security as well as other U.S. agencies were contacted by the Canadian government requesting permission to provide help. Despite this contact, Canada has not been allowed to fly supplies and personnel to the areas hit by Katrina. So, everything here is grounded. Prime Minister Paul Martin is reportedly trying to speak to President Bush tonight or tomorrow to ask him why the U.S. federal government will not allow aid from Canada into Louisiana and Mississippi. That said, the Canadian Red Cross is reportedly allowed into the area.

Canadian agencies are saying that foreign aid is probably not being permitted into Louisiana and Mississippi because of "mass confusion" at the U.S. federal level in the wake of the storm.
posted by effugas at 12:23 PM on September 1, 2005

Fellow MeFites in New York City: Anyone want to get together a full-on, pitchforks-and-torches MOB and run that motherfucking wench out of town?
posted by Artifice_Eternity at 12:23 PM on September 1, 2005

This administration is so fucking clueless and tone-deaf. True leaders lead ... and don't strum guitars a day after a disaster ... and go shopping in New York City days later.

Ding.

Perhaps her particular services aren't urgently needed...but it sends a disturbing message when the highest-ranking member of the cabinet takes a very public holiday during one of the greatest disasters ever on American soil. The occasion calls for dignified and sober behavior.

Had she returned to DC and done something relatively simple like coordinating international assistance, it would have at least spoken to the gravity of the situation and the commitment of the administration to doing everything possible to help. But going on vacation? The woman often mentioned as a contender for the '08 nomination? Wow, does that look bad.
posted by Epenthesis at 12:23 PM on September 1, 2005

Wait, what was this self-righteous shopper doing in the very same store? Shouldn't she have been out on a blood drive? Maybe she was buying designer shoes for the designer shoeless of Gulfport?

What difference does it make? This self-righteous shopper isn't fourth in line to be president.

And as I said, she could at least be helping to coordinate international relief efforts. People are starving and dying in the streets at this point. It's a disgrace. An absolute disgrace that this could not only happen in the US, but that the government could be caught so flat-footed about the whole thing.

There should have been a real contingency plan for the levee's breaking. "Everybody go to the superdome" is the kind of plan you have when you don't really think it's going to happen.
posted by delmoi at 12:23 PM on September 1, 2005

there are many international things about Katrina--this clueless nasty piece of work better get back to DC--it was bad enough that Bush ~~fiddled~~guitared while NO flooded.

International cooperation is needed--already a Rescue team from Canada was refused entry into the US after Louisiana asked for them. Rice could have fixed that, but she's busy going to the theater and shoe shopping?!? Unbelievable. Just unbelievable. I want them all removed from office for incompetence.
posted by amberglow at 12:23 PM on September 1, 2005

"But really, what is Rice supposed to be doing?"

I'm kind of in-between here. On the one hand I recognize her department isn't directly involved. On the other, if she is that smart and together, etc. etc. I suspect they could use her ideas in a cabinet meeting.

"Shouldn't she have been out on a blood drive?'

They need blood out there?
*rolls up sleeve*
posted by Smedleyman at 12:25 PM on September 1, 2005

As delmoi suggests, Rice should be fielding the incoming calls from foreign governments, seeking to provide aid to the Gulf Coast.

She could also be working with heads-of-state, seeking ways to address the worsening oil/gas crisis -- one which has resulted in states running out of fuel and now threatens to shut down airports around the country.
posted by ericb at 12:25 PM on September 1, 2005

Aid has also been offered by Venezuela, Russia, Germany, Canada, and the Netherlands. The White House response?

*crickets*
posted by Artifice_Eternity at 12:27 PM on September 1, 2005

Had she returned to DC and done something relatively simple like coordinating international assistance...

Hell, she could've sat at her desk and played Solitaire for all I care...just don't go out shopping. At least look like you're on the job.
posted by NationalKato at 12:27 PM on September 1, 2005

Perhaps her particular services aren't urgently needed...but it sends a disturbing message when the highest-ranking member of the cabinet takes a very public holiday during one of the greatest disasters ever on American soil. The occasion calls for dignified and sober behavior.

Exactly. At the very least, oh, I dunno, how about donating blood? That'd make a decent photo op and show she wasn't completely out of touch with the nation's concerns.
posted by gwint at 12:29 PM on September 1, 2005

Hmmmm....for y'all wingnuts - consider: Hillary Clinton shopping during a disaster like this. Now & when Bubba was President. What criticism would ensue?
And she's not even in the chain of command.
posted by Smedleyman at 12:29 PM on September 1, 2005

Metafilter: At least look like you're on the job.
posted by Smedleyman at 12:30 PM on September 1, 2005

!*&%@%$*%# Spicynuts it's not *$^*&*&%&^ remotely like that.

I really hope you are not actually calling me a Bush apologist because I fail to see how blaming the tragic situation on Condi Rice going shoe shopping is a reasonable stance. I'm merely making the point that foaming at the mouth about Bush's being responsible for the enormity of this tragedy is much akin to the shrill b.s. that Limbaugh used to spout about Clinton being responsible for every bad thing happening in the world. Guess what...LA has governor. She's a Democrat. How about some blame there? Guess what, there were predictions about this problem during the Clinton Administration. Did he do anything? How about we worry about these poor people for a few days before we start freaking out and laying the entirety of this on Bush's doormat.
posted by spicynuts at 12:33 PM on September 1, 2005

She is a public servant, so just like Bu$h playing that stupid guitar while people died one shouldn't act like your having a fukin blast!

I agree she doesn't have to be working but stop acting like ya at a party when your at a funeral.

In closing in case I wasn't clear: "Fuk all the greedy obtuse vapid heartless muthafukers"

And prayer for the rest.
posted by Mr Bluesky at 12:45 PM on September 1, 2005

goddamn...is anybody in this admin human? it's like they're completely unaware of how their actions and decisions reflect upon them, except to the extent that they are very much against ever being criticized for anything they do.

they also seem to be completely unaware of the power of symbolism with regard to strengthening people's spirits or showing respect for anybody outside of their inner circle.

and yet, their supporters and people who take pride in being contrarians and devils' advocates continue to defend them and act as though each instance of the bush government's fucked up actions and utterances should be examined in isolation rather than as part of a pattern of arrogance, incompetence, and a complete lack of empathy for non-rich, non-well-connected people. my god.
posted by lord_wolf at 1:06 PM on September 1, 2005

Well I am glad the disaster in the Gulf has assisted you in making a cheap, irrelevant immature post on MetaFilter.

God work.
posted by xmutex at 1:08 PM on September 1, 2005

If ever there was a situation that cries for -- at least the appearance -- "all-hands-on-deck", this is it. Get your fat ass back to Washingtion, pronto!
posted by ericb at 1:09 PM on September 1, 2005

Well I am glad the disaster in the Gulf has assisted you in making a cheap, irrelevant immature post on MetaFilter.

God work.
posted by xmutex at 1:08 PM PST on September 1

Would you say bashos_frog's FPP is a) more or b) less reprehensible than shoe shopping during an emergency in which Ms. Rice, as a high-ranking cabinet member, could be making a huge difference in people's survival?
posted by Optimus Chyme at 1:15 PM on September 1, 2005

OC: Oh what the fuck does it matter that it get posted to MeFi?
posted by xmutex at 1:17 PM on September 1, 2005

Prime Minister Paul Martin is reportedly trying to speak to President Bush tonight or tomorrow to ask him why the U.S. federal government will not allow aid from Canada into Louisiana and Mississippi.

Because they would rather lose lives than face. It's quite simple really.
posted by PinkStainlessTail at 1:18 PM on September 1, 2005

God work.

There's irony in that typo!
posted by ericb at 1:18 PM on September 1, 2005

A short time ago I had my TV on, listening to the news, and there was Scott Somebodyorother, spokesman for the President. He weas verbose and babbling but in answer to one of the questions asked by a reporter he noted that "we" (the President and his entourage) had viewed the horrors of people standing on rooftops and calling for help. This was, he said, noted as Airforce One flew on its way from Texas Vacationland to the White House. Now I am not a pilot but I figure that when a plane ils some 7y miles high in the air, you are not going to see folks standing on rooftops. Why make up this sort of thing ? It backfires, consistently.
posted by Postroad at 1:19 PM on September 1, 2005

posted by Armitage Shanks at 1:20 PM on September 1, 2005

Actually, it was reported that Air Force One flew at 2,500 feet when over new Orleans ... and later as low as 1,700 feet over Mississippi and Alabama.
posted by ericb at 1:20 PM on September 1, 2005

Bush tours hurricane devastation -- at 2,500 feet.
posted by ericb at 1:21 PM on September 1, 2005

IOKIYAR
posted by fungible at 1:23 PM on September 1, 2005

On the other, if she is that smart and together, etc. etc.

She's trying to get smart and together; that's why she needs the $3000 shoes. She's also playing tennis with Monica Seles.

Guess what, there were predictions about this problem during the Clinton Administration. Did he do anything?

As a matter of fact, he did:

For example, in the 1990s, in planning for a New Orleans nightmare scenario, the federal government figured it would pre-deploy nearby ships with pumps to remove water from the below-sea-level city and have hospital ships nearby, said James Lee Witt, who was FEMA director under President Clinton.

posted by kirkaracha at 1:25 PM on September 1, 2005

"Guess what, there were predictions about this problem during the Clinton Administration. Did he do anything? "

Er, well, spicynuts, see the thing is, um, yeah. He did.

http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/12528233.htm
"For example, in the 1990s, in planning for a New Orleans nightmare scenario, the federal government figured it would pre-deploy nearby ships with pumps to remove water from the below-sea-level city and have hospital ships nearby, said James Lee Witt, who was FEMA director under President Clinton."

(prev. posted by kirkaracha here:http://www.metafilter.com/mefi/44738)
posted by Smedleyman at 1:26 PM on September 1, 2005

"This was, he said, noted as Airforce One flew on its way from Texas Vacationland to the White House. Now I am not a pilot but I figure that when a plane ils some 7y miles high in the air, you are not going to see folks standing on rooftops. Why make up this sort of thing ?"

They went down to about 2400 feet.
posted by Ethereal Bligh at 1:26 PM on September 1, 2005

Wait, what? The motherfuckers are TURNING DOWN INTERNATIONAL AID? Why the fuck isn't that screaming across the headlines? I mean, aside from the fact that all the headlines are screaming about how BushCo gutted FEMA in the past 4 years, and the military can't help because they're all halfway round the world.

Oh, wait...
posted by scody at 1:26 PM on September 1, 2005

also posted by kirkaracha here, seconds before me.
posted by Smedleyman at 1:27 PM on September 1, 2005

Blame Bush and his cabinet all you want (I certainly won't stop you), but the city of New Orleans itself and, to a lesser degree, the state of Lousiana are much more responsible for the magnitude of this mess than DC.
posted by mischief at 1:28 PM on September 1, 2005

and spicynuts, none of this is an attempt to blame bush or rice for the disaster, only for not appropriately responding to it.

think about a crisis or disaster at your place of employment. would you not catch shit for remaining on vacation?
posted by Hat Maui at 1:28 PM on September 1, 2005

Regardless of what you think Ms. Rice might be able to accomplish in Washington, her vacation shopping spree is bad PR after the president's vacation-delayed response. It's also an incredibly stupid political situation for someone who people are talking about as a possible presidential candidate.
posted by kirkaracha at 1:29 PM on September 1, 2005

WTF is it with women and shoes?

posted by a_day_late at 1:30 PM on September 1, 2005

My post may be cheap and immature, but it is not irrelevant. The president says he is calling his Cabinet together to deal with a disaster, and the most senior member of that cabinet is seen doing an Imelda Marcos impersonation at Ferragamo the very next day. That is pretty goddamn relevant.

I don't blame Bush for this disaster even though he cancelled or underfunded a lot of programs that might have mitigated its effects. But once the disaster struck, the president could have found something better to do than go to a birthday party, strum a guitar, and declare that "I don't think anyone anticipated the breach of the levees."

What's next? Cheney waterskiing down Tulane Ave?

Actually, what's next is that FEMA is directing money to Pat Robertson's Operation Blessing (#2 on this list)
posted by bashos_frog at 1:31 PM on September 1, 2005

Armitage Shanks, that picture is tasteless and revolting. I love it.

Come to think of it, I need new shoes.
posted by Faint of Butt at 1:32 PM on September 1, 2005

Oops. Slow on the draw, there with the altitude comment.

Folks, Bush is already in lowest-approval-ratings territory for a second-term President (only Reagan did worse); and he looks to be on his way to the major leagues of unpopular Presidents. He's right at or sub-40 approval, which is really, really low, and he's facing this PR nightmare?

Hate to repeat myself from somewhere else, but this is so relevant:

This (and what it represents):

"Hospitals are trying to evacuate," said Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr. Cheri Ben-Iesan, spokesman at the city emergency operations center. "At every one of them, there are reports that as the helicopters come in people are shooting at them. There are people just taking potshots at police and at helicopters, telling them, `You better come get my family.'"

[...]

A National Guard military policeman was shot in the leg as the two scuffled for the MP's rifle, police Capt. Ernie Demmo said. The man was arrested.

"These are good people. These are just scared people," Demmo said.

...in combination with this (and what it represents, from the same article):

"Terry Ebbert, head of the city's emergency operations, warned that the slow evacuation at the Superdome had become an "incredibly explosive situation," and he bitterly complained that FEMA was not offering enough help.

"This is a national emergency. This is a national disgrace," he said. "FEMA has been here three days, yet there is no command and control. We can send massive amounts of aid to tsunami victims, but we can't bail out the city of New Orleans."

...are going to utterly and completely destroy Bush, I think.
posted by Ethereal Bligh at 1:33 PM on September 1, 2005

They (Bush, Cheney et al) should have been in the White House, burning the midnight oil in a visible way, by Sunday night. Regardless of how useful they would have been, this is just what you do at times like this; and I suspect that just the image would have comforted some. Anyway, the whole C+C structure seems so screwed, that there needed to be someone in DC kicking serious butt and yelling at people.

The govts behaviour so far has been asinine and insensitive, and what is worrying, it is (a) publicly asinine and insensitive, and (b) they don't particularly seem to care. Maybe they've finally drunk their own Kool-Aid.
posted by carter at 1:42 PM on September 1, 2005

I really hope you are not actually calling me a Bush apologist

Can't you read? I am.

I fail to see how blaming the tragic situation on Condi Rice going shoe shopping is a reasonable stance.

No one's blaming her shoe shopping for the tragic situation. We're blaming her cold vampire heart for the inexcusable neglect of both her concrete and symbolic duties as a cabinet member during a time of profound crisis.

I'm merely making the point that foaming at the mouth

People get angry at genuine outrages. Get over it. And its a stupid point.

about Bush's being responsible for the enormity of this tragedy is much akin to the shrill b.s. that Limbaugh used to spout about Clinton being responsible for every bad thing happening in the world.

Finally a Bush apologist that admits Limbaugh was full of shrill BS. Thank you.

Guess what...LA has governor. She's a Democrat. How about some blame there?

Thanks for the civics lesson, sport, but we are talking, on this thread, about FEDERAL officials and their so called response.

Guess what, there were predictions about this problem during the Clinton Administration. Did he do anything?

Well, not cutting funding for the levees to finance a foreign misadventure for one. Christ. What's it gonna take with you people?

How about we worry about these poor people for a few days before we start freaking out and laying the entirety of this on Bush's doormat.

Oh NOW you don't want to be political. For fucksake, YOU posted the FIRST comment on this thread and it was political.
posted by Toecutter at 1:44 PM on September 1, 2005

Prime Minister Paul Martin is reportedly trying to speak to President Bush tonight or tomorrow to ask him why the U.S. federal government will not allow aid from Canada into Louisiana and Mississippi.

Because they would rather lose lives than face. It's quite simple really.

And later, in some other situation, it'll be us against the world - again. The same self-rightious nonsense about America standing alone that's served so well as a rallying point in the past. Wouldn't want to lose that one.

On CNN, Cafferty's question yesterday was: should other countries aid the U.S. in Gulf. He got a lot of responses. No one said "no", or "later", or "let's hold off on that and see if we can handle it ourselves first" ...

How is this different from something like the Russians declining assistance with the Kursk for the sake of national pride? Actually it's worse a) these are civilians b) there's a lot more of 'em c) there's no rationale like a national security risk d) it's an obvious opportunity to build bridges with a lot of countries, maybe help restore some of the damage done post 9-11.

Now, couldn't Condi be busy sorting this kind of stuff out?
posted by scheptech at 1:45 PM on September 1, 2005

OC: Oh what the fuck does it matter that it get posted to MeFi?
posted by xmutex at 1:17 PM PST on September 1

First of all, you need to settle down so people can actually parse and understand your comments.

Secondly, you seem very concerned with the propriety of bashos_frog's decision to post this and not at all concerned with how our purported leaders are dealing with this disaster.

Remember, this is why we elect them, why we pay them, why we trust them with unimaginable power, why we all give the federal government an absurd amount of money out of every single one of our paychecks: to accomplish the things we cannot accomplish as individuals. No single one of us or even the entirety of Metafilter has the resources to get a fleet of buses or squadron of helicopters to New Orleans. None of us can give orders to the armed forces. The authority and ability to do so remains in the hands of the executive branch, headed by Bush and his cabinet members, all of whom have shown a total lack of interest in the human misery in Louisiana and Mississippi. There is total anarchy in a major United States city. Unacceptable.
posted by Optimus Chyme at 1:46 PM on September 1, 2005

What aspect of the Katrina recovery do you feel the State Department should be involved in?

More than anything it shows that we have an administration that doesn't care about appearances. (See Also: Bush record vacation during time of war.)
posted by wfrgms at 1:47 PM on September 1, 2005

Looks like the aid might be accepted after all.

In a dramatic turnabout, the United States is now on the receiving end of help from around the world as some two dozen countries offer post-hurricane assistance.

Venezuela, a target of frequent criticism by the Bush administration, offered humanitarian aid and fuel. Venezuela's Citgo Petroleum Corp. (search) pledged a $1 million donation for hurricane aid.

With offers from the four corners of the globe pouring in, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (search) has decided "no offer that can help alleviate the suffering of the people in the afflicted area will be refused," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said Thursday.

posted by verb at 1:49 PM on September 1, 2005

I made this Comparison of Gallup polls for 2-term presidents last week.

This is before the hurricane.
posted by Heywood Mogroot at 1:50 PM on September 1, 2005

This sniveling, beady eyed cunt couldn't pour water out of a boot if the instructions were on the heel. So what does he do? He calls in two former presidents who at least had the fucking balls to act presidential in times of crisis.

Reading the headlines today and juxtaposing them against this administration's response is a case study in utter dysphoria. I'm getting angrier by the minute which pales in comparison to what people in N.O. are experiencing.

How dare we call him a president.
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 1:52 PM on September 1, 2005

There is total anarchy in a major United States city...

You know, I hate to say it, but if that is what it takes to wake some people up ... perhaps we need a little more. Just closer to DC.
posted by bhance at 1:53 PM on September 1, 2005

It's all about the fashion!
posted by ericb at 1:53 PM on September 1, 2005

Bush is already in lowest-approval-ratings territory for a second-term President (only Reagan did worse)

Does this mean that everything on earth not already named for Reagan will be named for Bush 20 years from now?

George W. Bush Memorial Waste Disposal Center located on scenic Ronald Reagan Boulevard in George W. Bush City, DC.
posted by Pollomacho at 1:53 PM on September 1, 2005

Hey, folks, I hope this'll quell the firestorm of doubt and rage swirling about this issue. I just called the Secretary's office (202-647-5291), asked about this whole shoe-shopping business, and was assured that she would be coming home later today. The optics of this situation, i.e., Condi couldn't give half a floating fuck about the wretched, dying, starving, diseased Americans in her backyard, should be remedied by her reappearance tomorrow clad in couture and buffed from a brisk serve-and-volley.
posted by the sobsister at 1:56 PM on September 1, 2005

some FEMA guy is on tv now blaming state officials for not asking for more help--bastard. he should be drowned himself.
posted by amberglow at 1:57 PM on September 1, 2005

I can almost see the lather flying from the mouths here. Careful it doesn't drip on your keyboard.

The fact that anyone is actually asking the question "Well what should she be doing?" is appalling. The answer you shouldn't need is: Anything... anything besides buying shoes.
This is dumb. Dr. Rice is not the principal actor here. For better or worse, GWB is. He's got the people he thinks he needs and there is no question he can get her in an instant if he decides to. It seems to have been decided that she is not essential to the resolution of this crisis. Does it look bad to spend the day in NYC while NO is under water? Judging by this thread, at least to some. But the frenzied posters in this thread seem to think the waters would recede if she would just get back to her office in DC. Give the lady a break. There's finally got a crisis that falls squarely outside of her portfolio. I know there are substantial things to discredit her. Why so much rancor over this?

Oh, and I've never done this before, but here goes,

Metafilter: !*&%@%$*%# Spicynuts it's not *$^*&*&%&^
posted by jaysus chris at 1:57 PM on September 1, 2005

and what if this was a major terrorist attack? we should trust they'd be more capable?
posted by amberglow at 1:59 PM on September 1, 2005

"Why so much rancor over this?"

Cuz lefty extremists are just as rabid as their righty counterparts. tsk tsk
posted by mischief at 2:02 PM on September 1, 2005

Why so much rancor over this?

Pardon my hyperbole but it took nearly 7 seconds for me to cut & paste this:

Death and despair in New Orleans - CNN

Victims say they've been abandoned - CNN

Marooned doctors plead for help - CNN

Residents of New Orleans Struggle to Escape an Increasingly Chaotic and Desperate City - NYT

Does that help?
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 2:03 PM on September 1, 2005

As Kevin points out, the press is doing its job working the masses into a lather.
posted by mischief at 2:06 PM on September 1, 2005

Amberglow has a good point. If they can't protect us from a storm that they knew about days in advance, how can they possibly protect us from terrorism?

What if NO got nuked? Where would we be now?
posted by bshort at 2:06 PM on September 1, 2005

Folks, I must say I actually agree: now is not the time to politicize Condi's shoe shopping trip!

2008 is.
posted by scody at 2:10 PM on September 1, 2005

"U.S. President Bill Clinton said his administration was doing all it could to answer the threat from Hurricane Floyd off America's Southeast coast during a press conference with New Zealand's Prime Minister Jenny Shipley in Christchurch, New Zealand, Wednesday, Sept. 15, 1999. Clinton is cutting his overseas trip by a day so he can return to Washington to deal with the pending hurricane. He and other Pacific Rim leaders were in New Zealand to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit."
posted by Armitage Shanks at 2:13 PM on September 1, 2005

Mischief: Cuz lefty extremists are just as rabid as their righty counterparts. tsk tsk

Hmm - let's see.

Lefty "extremists" responding to national disasters - "Why is the President ~~reading The Pet Goat~~ playing the guitar while thousands are dead or dying?

Yeah, that's awfully extreme.

Our "counterparts" on the Right responding to national disasters - ~~"It's God's retribution for the U.S. allowing gays to live. Hallelujah!"~~ "It's God's retribution for the U.S. allowing gays to live. Hallelujah!"

I'm sticking with the Lefties, thanks.
posted by tzikeh at 2:18 PM on September 1, 2005

As Kevin points out, the press is doing its job working the masses into a lather.
posted by mischief at 5:06 PM EST on September 1 [!]

Yeah, good thing our commander-in-chief quit his vacation early a couple days and is burning the midnight oil to help these people.

If you can run a war with complete disregard for public opinion, you've clearly shown you don't need to run a competent rescue operation, either, no matter what the "lathering masses" want.
posted by Rothko at 2:20 PM on September 1, 2005

Marooned doctors plead for help - CNN

Residents of New Orleans Struggle to Escape an Increasingly Chaotic and Desperate City - NYT

Does that help?

If this had happened in another country where her expertise in international outreach would be relevant, sure, that would help. This is not her field. An assistant secretary can get all the fruit baskets from Moscow where they need to be. Maybe you would like her to make posts on the internet about what a tragedy this all is? Would that make things better?

I can't believe you people have got me defending this administration. I shall have to avoid these ragefilter threads in the future.
posted by jaysus chris at 2:22 PM on September 1, 2005

"..superfriends..."

Laffo, Robocop. I was going to caption my photo "X-Presidents!" but the foam from my mouth dripped all over the keyboard.
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 2:23 PM on September 1, 2005

The Federal governement has blown it on this disaster. And the media is starting to flex its muscles again: Jack Cafferty on CNN, a notorious bunghole himself, finally spoke about the elefant in the room: (from Kos)

I gotta tell you something, we got five or six hundred letters before the show actually went on the air, and no one - no one - is saying the government is doing a good job in handling one of the most atrocious and embarrassing and far-reaching and calamatous things that has come along in this country in my lifetime. I'm 62. I remember the riots in Watts, I remember the earthquake in San Francisco, I remember a lot of things. I have never, ever, seen anything as bungled and as poorly handled as this situation in New Orleans. Where the hell is the water for these people? Why can't sandwiches be dropped to those people in the Superdome. What is going on? This is Thursday! This storm happened 5 days ago. This is a disgrace. And don't think the world isn't watching. This is the government that the taxpayers are paying for, and it's fallen right flat on its face as far as I can see, in the way it's handled this thing.

We're going to talk about something else before the show's over, too. And that's the big elephant in the room. The race and economic class of most of the victims, which the media hasn't discussed much at all, but we will a bit later.
posted by zaelic at 2:23 PM on September 1, 2005

but it might explain why the superfriends didn't all assemble

SuperShopper (mild-mannered Secretary of State Condi Rice by day)-- able to leap tall buildings in her Manolo Blahniks!

*retches*
posted by amberglow at 2:23 PM on September 1, 2005

As Kevin points out, the press is doing its job working the masses into a lather.

Condescending elitist much?
posted by Armitage Shanks at 2:23 PM on September 1, 2005

I shall have to avoid these ragefilter threads in the future.

rage? Try saddened frustration. We've got clowns running our government now, and it shows in oh-so-many ways.
posted by Heywood Mogroot at 2:26 PM on September 1, 2005

Maybe you would like her to make posts on the internet about what a tragedy this all is? Would that make things better?

I will not respond personally to that since I haven't the inclination or energy. I will however, point you to this excellent poignant comment upthread which says it all for me - minus the rabidity.

Re: defending this current administration: good luck with that.
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 2:27 PM on September 1, 2005

Deserves a third helping:

Remember, this is why we elect them, why we pay them, why we trust them with unimaginable power, why we all give the federal government an absurd amount of money out of every single one of our paychecks: to accomplish the things we cannot accomplish as individuals. No single one of us or even the entirety of Metafilter has the resources to get a fleet of buses or squadron of helicopters to New Orleans. None of us can give orders to the armed forces. The authority and ability to do so remains in the hands of the executive branch, headed by Bush and his cabinet members, all of whom have shown a total lack of interest in the human misery in Louisiana and Mississippi. There is total anarchy in a major United States city. Unacceptable.
posted by Optimus Chyme at 4:46 PM EST on September 1 [!]
posted by Rothko at 2:30 PM on September 1, 2005

amberglow: They're Ferragamo, dammit. Manolos are for sluts.
posted by bashos_frog at 2:34 PM on September 1, 2005

Mischief writes:

the press is doing its job working the masses into a lather

Now that's a howler. Ann Coulter-esque catch phrases are SO pre-Katrina.
posted by Toecutter at 2:35 PM on September 1, 2005

Wasn't there something about not having the entire cabinet in the same place in the case of some terrorist attack? I'm not saying this excuses shoe shopping or anything, but it might explain why the superfriends didn't all assemble.

Well, they were all together in Crawford recently. And ... are all frequently in D.C. at the same time - granted not all in the same room together all of the time.
posted by ericb at 2:37 PM on September 1, 2005

"I shall have to avoid these ragefilter threads in the future."

I like to think I'm pretty fair-minded and you'll notice that occasionally some folks around here get confused and don't realize I'm a lefty. And, as a rule, for a long while now I've intentionally avoided getting all that outraged about this President.

But for some reason, I am foaming at the mouth today. I think it the beginnings of it were when it occured to me that on Sunday all the experts were predicting the New Orleans would be wiped off the map and we'd see casuality figures like we've not seen, ever. And, um, Bush made a phone call and released some emergency funds early. Everything Federal that Bush (and down) ordered into place on Monday night or later could have been and should have been ordered on Saturday or Sunday. Remember that it was a surprise that it seemed (initially) New Orleans got off lightly compared to what we were told to expect.

Okay, so that by itself wasn't enough to make me go completely nuts. But what sent me over the edge was reading the point that a TPM reader made to Josh: isn't a huge, enormous, unprecedented relief action caring for refugees of a devastated US city sort of, you know, exactly the kind of thing that our government has been telling us they're concentrating on for these last four years?

There's no excuse, none at all, for the tepid to nonexistent Federal response to this hurricane once it became a Cat 4. Maybe the administrative structure should have seen to it automatically (but how come it's always the case that Presidents make special orders to do these things?) and Bush expected this and it didn't happen, but the buck stops there. Most especially given that he personally is responsible for the leadership of the agency most responsible for this sort of thing. But also certainly because even in smaller things the military is always utilized; something of this magnitude would surely be a CiC thing. Bush should have known there were things that he should have been doing. He didn't, and that is emblematic of his entire practical leadership of this country since his election.

So, yeah, I'm hopping, raving angry.
posted by Ethereal Bligh at 2:37 PM on September 1, 2005

FEMA is now directing donations to Pat Robertson's Operation Blessing.

I am speechless.
posted by Artifice_Eternity at 2:38 PM on September 1, 2005

EB: The funds that were released early were for the cleanup of the aftermath of Cindy. They had nothing to do with Katrina
posted by bashos_frog at 2:40 PM on September 1, 2005

Ethereal Bligh - you put it better than I could.
posted by ericb at 2:42 PM on September 1, 2005

consider: Hillary Clinton shopping during a disaster like this.

I presume that was hypothetical, but Hillary was at the NYC Red Cross offices yesterday, which seems appropriate. I'm sure Condi's help would be welcomed there too, although with her skills she could probably be better allocated elsewhere, like any of the fine suggestions above.
posted by milovoo at 2:42 PM on September 1, 2005

Wasn't there something about not having the entire cabinet in the same place in the case of some terrorist attack?

What part of "I've called the Cabinet together" is unclear?
posted by bashos_frog at 2:42 PM on September 1, 2005

jaysus chris on Condi : "If this had happened in another country where her expertise in international outreach would be relevant, sure, that would help..."

LOLOLOL.

Thanks man, that's the best laugh I've had all day.
posted by illovich at 2:42 PM on September 1, 2005

"lefty extremists are just as rabid as their righty counterparts. tsk tsk"

That's like saying that the anger a woman feels towards a rapist is "just as rabid" as the anger he feels towards his victim.

It's a pretty fucking mindless thing to say, which is why it's promoted on the corporate media all the time as if it's the best way to view politics. Amused neutrality is just so fashionable whenever the rich are in the wrong.

The American Republican Party is systematically destroying the planet's atmosphere (see: Kyoto), undermining decent government everywhere (see: IMF, World Bank), bombing innocent people back to the Stone Age (see: Iraq) and lying to us all about it constantly (see: global media hegemony). The Republican Party's levee repair funding cuts are also directly responsible for the New Orleans disaster.

They are systematically economically raping everybody on this planet - and the planet itself - to satisfy their own perverted greed. And laughing. (In between shoe shopping).

Strangely, those of us who can see what's happening tend to get a little bit angry about that.

Our anger towards our rapists is justified.

Their anger towards their victims is not.

I really wish all you intelligent, amused people would learn that, understand it, and get the fuck off the fucking fence. Especially Americans, because you are the only people with the power to do something about it.
posted by cleardawn at 2:42 PM on September 1, 2005

it's almost like they sat down, figured out what the appropriate way to respond would be, and then decided to do the exact opposite.
posted by lord_wolf at 2:43 PM on September 1, 2005

As Kevin points out, the press is doing its job working the masses into a lather.

Hmm, ok so the situation itself is lather-worthy but the official response is not?

I honestly can't follow why the country that famously, heroically kept the civilians of West Berlin alive (eventually setting the scene for the fall of the Berlin Wall and the end of communism) during the 1948 Berlin Airlift is having so much trouble with this, especially considering the Dept of Homeland Security was formed, I thought, to help coordinate the now much more complicated machinery of govenment.
posted by scheptech at 2:45 PM on September 1, 2005

bashos, I do think I had in mind the "emergency declaration" of Saturday.
posted by Ethereal Bligh at 2:46 PM on September 1, 2005

Ethereal Bligh writes "isn't a huge, enormous, unprecedented relief action caring for refugees of a devastated US city sort of, you know, exactly the kind of thing that our government has been telling us they're concentrating on for these last four years?"

Wow. I hadn't thought of it that way. It's all very damning, seen in that light.
posted by mr_roboto at 2:48 PM on September 1, 2005

cleardawn: Thank you.

There's an attitude among certain holier-than-thou types that being angry, for any reason, automatically disqualifies you from having a legitimate opinion.

They are not willing to even contemplate that there might be a lot to be angry about in this country right now, after five years of Republican misrule.
posted by Artifice_Eternity at 2:49 PM on September 1, 2005

EB, sorry - I thought you were referring to the call that McClellan was touting.
posted by bashos_frog at 2:51 PM on September 1, 2005

So, analysts had a major hurricane striking New Orleans as one of the top three most likely major incidents to happen in the US.

One of the other two? A major terrorist incident.

Now that we've seen how good the emergency response is to the disaster in New Orleans, even though they had clear warning that it was going to happen, how many of you USians feel safer about a terror incident?
posted by Dipsomaniac at 2:51 PM on September 1, 2005

To be clear: I see how this situation is conjuring images of Nero and his fiddle. It doesn't look good. But in reality she's not going to make or break this rescue/salvage/whatever mission. It's just not her responsibility.

Also: Maybe Condi was picked to be the unofficial Secretary of Patriotic Initiative. From the administration's standpoint, the best thing normal USians can do in the face of disaster is to travel, consume luxury goods, and live their lives. She's doing all this and helping to rejuvenate the economy of the NYC after "the horrible events of 9-11 which we must never forget and which we must relate back to everything we do no matter how tangentally."
posted by jaysus chris at 2:51 PM on September 1, 2005

"...heroically kept the civilians of West Berlin alive..."

Well, partly because the man very chiefly responsible for that amazing action was a borderline psychopath with no respect for the chain-of-command, had enormous paranoia and hatred of the communists, and complete confidence in himself in acting on his own when he believed he was in the right.

A good quality in the right circumstances, as that one was. Not so good of a quality when it's directing SAC flyovers of Cuba during the Missile Crisis without the knowledge of JFK.

So, you know, be careful what you wish for.
posted by Ethereal Bligh at 2:52 PM on September 1, 2005

"FEMA is now directing donations to Pat Robertson's Operation Blessing"."

You left out the other 20 organizations they have listed, most of which are most religion based.

Does it really matter where support comes from at a time like this? If people want to donate, they'll feel more comfortable donating to something they know. If Robertson's name helps generate aid for NO, so be it.
posted by zerokey at 2:52 PM on September 1, 2005

FEMA is now directing donations to Pat Robertson's Operation Blessing.

I am speechless.
posted by Artifice_Eternity at 2:38 PM PST on September 1

I wasn't aware Louisiana had rich diamond deposits. Maybe Pat knows something we don't. What a fucking slap in the face.
posted by Optimus Chyme at 2:53 PM on September 1, 2005

illovich: you're right. Should have made it "her position's traditional role" or something.
posted by jaysus chris at 2:53 PM on September 1, 2005

Operation Blessing is #2 on the list, right after the Red Cross.
posted by Artifice_Eternity at 2:54 PM on September 1, 2005

Bush & Co. apologists: you are among a small and shrinking minority.

You don't seem to get this. Bush and everyone in his administration have failed to lead the country at this crucial time. They have failed to help. They have shown themselves to be insensitive, aimless, and incompetent.

This is not partisan rancor -- this is what righteous anger looks like.

Fucking fucking idiots.
posted by mooncrow at 2:55 PM on September 1, 2005

Does it really matter where support comes from at a time like this? If people want to donate, they'll feel more comfortable donating to something they know. If Robertson's name helps generate aid for NO, so be it.
posted by zerokey at 2:52 PM PST on September 1

Zerokey, it does when an organization has a long history of using private donations to enrich the founder instead of, you know, doing charity.
posted by Optimus Chyme at 2:56 PM on September 1, 2005

At least she cares.
posted by punkfloyd at 2:57 PM on September 1, 2005

EST-DONAT-A@dhs.gov

that's the address, kids.
write to FEMA and asked why that particular faith-based, assassination-fomenting front organization is being given such prominent billing.
and, zerokey, if the Klan were accepting donations, I don't think I'd feel comfortable giving them cash money, irrespective of their stated good intentions.
posted by the sobsister at 3:00 PM on September 1, 2005

"At least she cares."

If she really cared, her suit would truly be as see-through as it promises. Alas, no.
posted by Ethereal Bligh at 3:03 PM on September 1, 2005

isn't a huge, enormous, unprecedented relief action caring for refugees of a devastated US city sort of, you know, exactly the kind of thing that our government has been telling us they're concentrating on for these last four years?"

This has always bugged me. And what about prevention? For instance, during the 2004 campaign, Kerry repeatedly brought up the issue of cargo containers entering New York and other ports as potential cover for WMDs. A few hundred million dollars (a fraction of what we've spent on Iraq), and they could install radiation detectors to keep something like that from ever happening.

So since Bush won the election (and most urban areas didn't vote for him), do you think they've done anything about that?
posted by fungible at 3:11 PM on September 1, 2005

It's been noted before but let me spell it out again:

There's all sorts of FOREIGN countries offering aid, and there's SNAFU's with getting them actually in here. For example, a SAR team from Canada was denied entry into the US this morning, apparently due to "confusion". How fast do you think the Secretary of State could have cleared that up?

So fuck appearances, the Condoleeza has a fucking job to do, and she's not doing it.

And it's fucking Thursday. Even if this was "unexpected", and FEMA is being dismantled by Homeland Security, this strikes me as needing exactly the sort of response that a dirty bomb would entail, so where the hells the fast and trained response?
posted by 31d1 at 3:14 PM on September 1, 2005

Forgive me. I was confusing RObertson with one of the others. That does significantly change things.

if the Klan were accepting donations...

I wouldn't donate to them either. I don't think they would even offer considering that NO is 69% African-American.

But, if you are in a desperate condition, and someone is approaching you with food and water, are you going to stop and ask what organization they are affiliated with?

To be fair, I couldn't even honestly answer that, considering that I have never ever been in a situation remotely like that.
posted by zerokey at 3:30 PM on September 1, 2005

delmoi: "There should have been a real contingency plan for the levee'sbreaking. "Everybody go to the superdome" is the kind of plan you havewhen you don't really think it's going to happen."

I can't resist:

George W. Bush: "I don't think anyone anticipated the breach of the levees." - this am on Good Morning America
posted by 31d1 at 3:32 PM on September 1, 2005

isn't a huge, enormous, unprecedented relief action caring for refugees of a devastated US city sort of, you know, exactly the kind of thing that our government has been telling us they're concentrating on for these last four years?

This is the most damning thing I've read on this thread, or anywhere else for that matter.

For the Condi aplogists: She's a public servant in a position of enormous responsibility. When crisis occurs, you down tools on whatever you're doing and head to your office. Even if it seems counter-intuitive that you will be needed (like the Secretary of State being needed for a domestic crisis), you get your ass home, you offer to help.

The Canadian situation, while it sounds like it is being resolved, is the perfect example -- even if it's hypothetical. It is surely not the only matter that will require the SecState's attention during this crisis.

Perhaps Condi did offer to help, despite existing vacation plans. If this is so, the higher ups must have said, "No, don't worry about it, have a good time," or, even worse, "Go set an example to our citizens, long-term economic growth is more important than you being in Washington during this crisis." Either scenario would be just as despicable -- it means the administration under-estimated the impact of the hurricane after the fact, and can't be trusted to clean up after my cats, much less the next terrorist attack.

It's very possible that the administration's poor response to this crisis is going to shape their legacy. Nero comparisons are appropriate, I think, even almost literal in Bush's case.
posted by crickets at 3:40 PM on September 1, 2005

You people are being way to hard on Bush and company. Their jobs are hard hard work and they need to get on with their lives.

Now lighten up.
posted by darkmatter at 3:44 PM on September 1, 2005

Shades of Iraq! They're deploying 3,000 active-duty ground troops from Fort Bragg to restore order in New Orleans.

Maybe Condi can be relevant to this afterall.
posted by mischief at 3:46 PM on September 1, 2005

Of course, the real question is do they have an exit strategy.
posted by mischief at 3:46 PM on September 1, 2005

Once again, for those who didn't read it the first time:

Aid has been offered by Venezuela, Russia, Germany, Canada, and the Netherlands.

As of last night, none had apparently been accepted.

Now Condi's spokesman (not Condi -- she's still trying on shoes, apparently) says "no offer that can help alleviate the suffering of the people in the afflicted area will be refused".

But the Russians say their offer of search and rescue teams has not been taken up.

And:

Offers have been received from Russia, Japan, Canada, France, Honduras, Germany, Venezuela, Jamaica, Australia, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Greece, Hungary, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Mexico, China, South Korea, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, NATO and the Organization of American States, the spokesman said.

Still, Bush told ABC-TV: “I’m not expecting much from foreign nations because we hadn’t asked for it. I do expect a lot of sympathy and perhaps some will send cash dollars. But this country’s going to rise up and take care of it.”

Ya think maybe there just might be a job there for the Secretary of State to take some interest in?
posted by Artifice_Eternity at 3:47 PM on September 1, 2005

Can anyone here imagine Colin Powell on a shopping holiday in NYC during a similar time?
posted by psmealey at 3:49 PM on September 1, 2005

write to FEMA and asked why that particular faith-based, assassination-fomenting front organization is being given such prominent billing.

Apparently craigslist was unintentionally listing them as well. When they discovered who they were, they pulled the link.
posted by jperkins at 3:54 PM on September 1, 2005

Can anyone here imagine Colin Powell on a shopping holiday in NYC during a similar time?

Christ, I can't imagine fucking Henry Kissinger going shopping at a time like this, and I hate that motherfucker with every fiber of my being.

Let them buy shoes!
posted by scody at 4:01 PM on September 1, 2005

On NPR Michael Chertoff got upset when he was repeatedly pushed about a story that an NPR reporter was reporting about 2000 people in the convention center not having food or water. He lectured about 'rumors' and 'anecdotal' evidence and repeated Bush's speech about all the ice and food they had in place and about how no one was going hungry. The commentator wouldn't let him off the hook pointing out that this wasn't 'anecdotal' but rather reporters who have covered natural disasters and wars. Chertoff got pissy but said he would look into it. Later it was confirmed by his office as true.

Lose the arrogance, bastards. Do your jobs and listen to people. You are supposed to help people dammit.
posted by UseyurBrain at 4:16 PM on September 1, 2005

all of them need to be removed from office for incompetence--i swear it.
posted by amberglow at 4:19 PM on September 1, 2005

"all of them need to be removed from office for incompetence"

Including the career bureaucrats whose performance is measured not by how they respond to an emergency but how well they play the political game the rest of the time?

I'm not talking about agency directors and administrators either, but the branch chiefs and section chiefs, as well as their peons.
posted by mischief at 4:28 PM on September 1, 2005

Okay, come on, no other NYCers know the obvious reason she's shopping this week?

It's motherfucking TAX FREE WEEK ON CLOTHING.

Condi obviously loves herself a deal.
posted by Remy at 4:29 PM on September 1, 2005

People! Easy on Condi already. "Assist-Me pumps" need to be chosen very carefully.
posted by maryh at 4:30 PM on September 1, 2005

What the sobsister said. Why does FEMA give Pat Robertson #2 status on the aid list? Well, ya know... because...

I'm watching CNN at 1:30 AM in Europe. CNN seems to really have hit on the theme that the US federal apparatus has been lying outright about this crisis. Their talking heads are seeming almost human. CNN have addressed the issue of race and class. They are juxtaposing their on-the-ground correspondant's reports with Homeland Security's press conferance lies. This is a major breath of fresh air in the recent history of mass-media news reporting.

My Pet Goat. Condi's thousand dollar shoes. We will hear more about this. Oh yes, we will hear more.

I notice that the usual GOP trolls have avoided this thread.
posted by zaelic at 4:30 PM on September 1, 2005

Hopefully other media outlets will "grow balls" and tell it like it is. Condi's tone-deafness and indifference needs to be reported on television and not just bandied about the Internets.
posted by ericb at 4:37 PM on September 1, 2005

what zaelic said re: CNN. Anderson Cooper was crying just now. and he told a senator to basically shove it. good job.
posted by mr.marx at 4:40 PM on September 1, 2005

I'm sticking with the Lefties, thanks.

But then who will stop the ~~terrorists~~porn, tzikeh?

Regarding Robertson's organization: But, if you are in a desperate condition, and someone is approaching you with food and water, are you going to stop and ask what organization they are affiliated with?

This comparison makes no sense. The issue is not with the accepting of help from them - they're welcome to show up and assist. As far as I'm concerned the aforementioned Klan can too if they so desire. The issue is with using them as a machine to convert money into aid. Because like all such machines, some amount of energy is lost and the energy in this case is money. Our money. And that overhead for the organization is pertinent, as is what that overhead is comprised of and how they conduct their operations. If the Klan had a charitable arm that did good works would you feel comfortable with the US government giving them money to provide aid?
posted by phearlez at 4:41 PM on September 1, 2005

MetaFilter: No windmill untilted.
posted by Mick at 4:41 PM on September 1, 2005

Bush is no leader. Bush is no Rudi Giuliani.

The GOP is finished.

The differences between this catastrophe and the World Trade Center catastrophe will be absorbed in the next few days. It's not a question of political policy. It is a question of leadership and authority.

Bush is no Giuliani. No, not at all, No he ain't. Cheney? In some bunker somewhere. Delay? Fleecing Indian casinos while there is still time.

No leadership at all. Right now when we need leadership. It isn't there.

Simple as that.
posted by zaelic at 4:42 PM on September 1, 2005

Anderson Cooper was crying just now. and he told a senator to basically shove it.

Wha? What was the exchange?
posted by scody at 4:44 PM on September 1, 2005

Anderson Cooper was crying just now. and he told a senator to basically shove it. good job.

That part about the dead body on the street being eaten by rats--my God. And Landrieu had nothing to say.

scody, Landrieu started off by thanking the national guard and fema and dc, etc, and Cooper went off on her, saying thanking people when others are still starving, etc...then he went to the dead body with rats, etc...he was visibly angry at her.
posted by amberglow at 4:46 PM on September 1, 2005

isn't a huge, enormous, unprecedented relief action caring for refugees of a devastated US city sort of, you know, exactly the kind of thing that our government has been telling us they're concentrating on for these last four years?

This is the most damning thing I've read on this thread, or anywhere else for that matter.

Damning, perhaps, but not shocking when you think about it. It's Iraq all over again: there are no doubt endless supplies and plans to deal with the immediate aftermath of a dirty bomb or anthrax or gas release. Plans for what do do on day 2+ are apparently non-existant.

I have a very clear vision of a crack group of people descending on the site of a dirty bomb, doing decontamination and processing of a few thousand people and then wondering "okay, they're scrubbed, why don't they just go back to their home-OHHHHHH!"
posted by phearlez at 4:48 PM on September 1, 2005

Holy cow. Maybe this (more than the blatant lies over Rove-outing-plame) is going to be the final straw for the mainstream press. I would give every dime I have to see someone like Anderson Cooper finally just stand up and scream, "people, the emperor has no clothes!"

Heh. A girl can dream.
posted by scody at 4:53 PM on September 1, 2005

Anyone catch Robert Segal on NPR about an hour ago interviewing the head of FEMA? Segal rocked and held this guy's feet to the fire regarding the mass of people at the convention center who seemed unaware of the crisis there.
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 4:54 PM on September 1, 2005

Oops. Got trumped by UseyurBrain upthread. Thanks for mentioning this.
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 4:56 PM on September 1, 2005

CrooksandLiars says they'll have the video of Cooper and Landrieu soon.
posted by amberglow at 4:58 PM on September 1, 2005

Crooks and Liars have video and a transcript of Jack Cafferty's comments.
posted by kirkaracha at 5:00 PM on September 1, 2005

I live in Europe - and I am a US citizen, born and bred New Yorker. Europeans and other foreign observers are appalled - yes, appalled - at the response of the administration to this tragedy. Japan suffers typhoons of this magnitude every year. They never LOSE A CITY.

This is more than a shame. This is a catastrophe of nation-endangering potential.

But Condi needs shoes.....
posted by zaelic at 5:00 PM on September 1, 2005

Wolcott: New Orleans Died for Bush's Sins--...No, this is the time for politics, none better, because I can tell you just from being out of NY a few days that a lot of people in this country are shocked and sobered by New Orleans, but they're also worried and pissed off. They're making the connection between the money, manpower, and resources expended in Iraq and how raggedy-ass the rescue effort has been in the Gulf. If you don't say it now when people's nerves are raw and they're paying full attention, it'll be too late once the waters receded and the media-emoting "healing process" begins.

Thankfully, Paul Craig Roberts is ignoring the pleas for sotto voce commentary in a time of tragedy.

"Chalk up the city of New Orleans as a cost of Bush's Iraq war. ...
posted by amberglow at 5:03 PM on September 1, 2005

"I notice that the usual GOP trolls have avoided this thread."

There's been a few people trying to reasonably argue the other position here. But whenever this point is trotted out in these sorts of situations, I always think about a) what if I were them?; and b) what about the times when I have been them? That is, when my "side" screws up big time and I know I can't really defend them? If I go into the hostile forum and admit this, it will be used against me and my position forever and ever and ever. The admission will be seen as a surrender of the entire war, not an admission of the loss of a battle or a particular error. Also, it's humiliating. Your own side has let you down. You've believed in them and then they do this stupid thing. That's how I felt about the "I did not have sex with that woman" speech when I learned it was a lie. Was I supposed to call up all my conservative friends and say, "um, I just wanted to make sure you don't think I'm avoiding the issue or cowardly so I'm calling you to explicitly admit that my favored President fucked up."?

Also, alternatively and confoundingly, more than occasionally there's cases where the matter seems equally self-evident though opposite to the two opposing sides. In that case, if you're in the "opposition" position in unfriendly terrirtory, you just shake your head and figure that these guys are completely freaking nuts. There's no point in trying to argue. Like, for example, the Vince Foster thing. I simply am unable to take that conservative position seriously. But a lot of them think that the evidence about it is so overwhelming that I must be nuts to claim that they are nuts. So, you know, there's just not a lot of dialog happening between the two sides. The silence can indicate this, as well, something quite the opposite of implicit admission of error.

I mean, just pointing that out.
posted by Ethereal Bligh at 5:03 PM on September 1, 2005

I love the Internet. I couldn't believe that "I don't think anyone anticipated the breach of the levees." was a direct George W. Bush quote from this this morning's Good Morning America, but I found proof. Then I didn't believe that could be true, and it isn't.
posted by betaray at 5:09 PM on September 1, 2005

(It's at 3:58 by the way)
posted by betaray at 5:09 PM on September 1, 2005

Behold, ladies and gents, the New Aristocracy. Are they not grand?

Such nice shoes, what a style statement.

/sarcasm

I'm also pretty hopping angry about all this. These dilettantes couldn't be real world leaders if someone put a gun to their heads. Totally clueless. Good riddance to them in 2008.
posted by zoogleplex at 5:14 PM on September 1, 2005

"The GOP is finished."

Honestly, I think this is more true than you probably think it is. Given my certainty that Bush would lost the last election, I could have been just too early, or am still just as self-deluded.

But look at Bush and the Repubs ratings by everyone but the hard-core GOP. Now look at the issues that are driving these falling ratings. Ask youself? Are these going to be resolved? Are they going away? What happens when the housing bubble starts to burst in the areas of the US where it exists and is at its worst?

And then look at the long-term demographic trends which are turning the most populous red states into blue states. Texas just this year hit parity (or perhaps majority) Hispanic population. American conservatism is so reactionary precisely because American liberalism has been dominant for a very long time now. Liberalism has unarguably won the day on cultural matters, conservatism is fighting a rear-guard protect embattled enclaves position. And on the economic front, while it's the case that that US continues to be farther to the right than all the other rich developed nations, if you believe the rhetoric coming from the conservatives, it's been a near steady leftward movement, too. And that's pretty much the case, excepting the early 20th true American flirtation with socialism that, I hate to break it to you, isn't going to happen again. No, just a slow crawl to something sort of like a welfare state and sort of like a model of neoliberal economics. The conservatives aren't winning that war, either, folks.

In fact, that's why they're so enamoured of fighting actual wars. It's something they can do and blowing shit up makes them feel good. As well as lowering the population of the darkies of the world.

So, yeah, this administration and Congress may well be the high-water mark for postwar American conservatism and it's just a slow march into total obscurity from now on. Like, say, already happened in Britain and Canada.

The GOP were complete and utter morons to nominate this man as their Presidential candidate the first time, even moreso the second. They've made sure they've won the battle but lost the war. The only real lasting damage will be to the national debt and, more importantly, to the Supreme Court. But victories in packing SCOTUS have often turned out to be pyrhic.

Republicans, you're watching your President destroy your party. It's happening live on TV. My condolences.
posted by Ethereal Bligh at 5:14 PM on September 1, 2005

rudepundit ...When he told Diane Sawyer that "I don't think anyone could have anticipated the breach of the levees," someone should have taken him, flown him to New Orleans, put him in a tiny pirogue somewhere off Claiborne Avenue, and sent him merrily on his way.

Fuck him. Again. There's insanity in the streets. There's kids dying on the sidewalks of an American city for no other reason than they were too poor to be able to leave the city on their own. And fuck all the commentators that wanna make this about the looters. There's death and disease everywhere, and there's no leader to be found. That's as criminal as anyone who takes a TV.

So let us at long, long last face a stomach-churning, bile-swallowing reality: we have no President. For Presidents at least attempt to lead. Now we are a ship without a rudder, a car without a steering wheel, a pair of balls without a cock. A President would have suspended his schedule of meetings, but the fact that he didn't means that he's insignificant to the whole process. And while that may be seen as a small reason for relief, it is instead a giant void in the center of the American vessel.
posted by amberglow at 5:17 PM on September 1, 2005

I'm watching CNN at 1:30 AM in Europe. CNN seems to really have hit on the theme that the US federal apparatus has been lying outright about this crisis. Their talking heads are seeming almost human. CNN have addressed the issue of race and class. They are juxtaposing their on-the-ground correspondant's reports with Homeland Security's press conferance lies. This is a major breath of fresh air in the recent history of mass-media news reporting.

I don't have cable - is CNN in the U.S. the same on this? CNN Europe is often different, or so I've heard.
posted by davy at 5:22 PM on September 1, 2005

Well, the real weathervane will be Fox, won't it?
posted by Ethereal Bligh at 5:24 PM on September 1, 2005

CNN is different in Europe (more serious and loads better), but i bet they're just showing live feeds of our CNN during all this. Every single correspondent and anchor has also asked the officials why there's no food and water getting to the people, etc.
posted by amberglow at 5:26 PM on September 1, 2005

more from rudepundit:
... For, yes, and it can be said, right now we are facing a choice in this America, where the Bush administration has looted the Treasury as surely as any desperate parent or disgusting opportunist running through the Walgreen's on Canal Street in New Orleans, leaving the coffers as empty as the diaper shelves and the pharmacies: Iraq or the U.S. South?
posted by amberglow at 5:28 PM on September 1, 2005

"I don't think anyone could have anticipated the breach of the levees"
I thought it was an airplane flying into a building that no one could anticipate? Why is this so familiar?
posted by cytherea at 5:33 PM on September 1, 2005

CNN Europe is often different, or so I've heard.

Davy: CNN Europe is a lot different. But they have been broadcasting US CNN for 75% of the time for the last few days.

THe BBC World News station has been really hard core about the situation - point blank asking reporters about the discrepancies between what the reporter sees on the ground vs. what the Homeland Security drones have said.

This is a historic moment. America has suffered a major blow and our leaders are buying shoes and checking out guitars. The symbolism is not lost elsewhere in the world. It is really sad - but not as sad as the situation of the people in New Orleans.

(Damn, how long did it take to get aid in after the X-mas tsunami?)
posted by zaelic at 5:34 PM on September 1, 2005

CNN is on fire: Paula Zahn is about to kill the head of FEMA
posted by amberglow at 5:41 PM on September 1, 2005

cytherea : >Predictable Events are a Constant Surprise to the Administration
posted by amberglow at 5:43 PM on September 1, 2005

I just got a chilling, horrible thought.

Anyone think that the troops being sent to New Orleans are going to be killing Americans in the next few days?

Some #$%^ing war on terror. This adminstration is so, so dead. They'll be lucky if they're not lynched, I think.
posted by zoogleplex at 6:08 PM on September 1, 2005

"The GOP is finished."

Too bad that there isn't actually what one might reasonably call an opposition party.

The GOP were complete and utter morons to nominate this man as their Presidential candidate the first time, even moreso the second.

Al Gore? John Kerry? If you want to call a party "complete and utter morons," please don't leave out the Democrats.
posted by leftcoastbob at 6:17 PM on September 1, 2005

"Anyone think that the troops being sent to New Orleans are going to be killing Americans in the next few days?"

That's extremely astute and possibly prescient. We already know that our troops are not well-trained for any sort of violence-prone civilian peacekeeping environment and tend to respond to threat with extreme prejudice. It's what they've been screwing up on for years now in Iraq. They all have itchy fingers and are frightened of some crazy apparent civilian shooting at them.

Meanwhile, the NO refugees are trapped and neglected and extremely pissed-off at the Powers That Be for abandoning them. And all the gun shops have been looted.

This could be a true disaster in the making, something to make anything we are familiar with to look warm and fuzzy.

I'm suddenly reminded of (okay, I'm a real geek) watching the podcasts for Battlestar Galactica just two weeks ago where, in a similar environment the troops open fire (because they've possibly been fired upon) civilians who are clamoring for food, water or a ride of the ship. Why I mention the podcast is because Ronald D. Moore, the showrunner and writer, a man with a Poli Sci degree from Cornell on a Navy ROTC scholarship, said that what he had in mind was both Kent State and the Boston Massacre, but the scenario really is much more like the Boston Massacre. Then he digressed into some of its history and political effects.

Point is, the military firing on its own civilians who are angry refugees lacking food and water and have been ignored...well, that's just A Very Bad Thing.
posted by Ethereal Bligh at 6:25 PM on September 1, 2005

This is gonna go waaaaay beyond party politics. And yeah, the Dems are morons too.

This is really going to shake things up and change things. Just wait until the gas prices shoot up this month. Hoo boy.

EB: how much you wanna bet some of those now-heavily-armed angry hungry civilians can actually organize a real assault team?

This is gonna get beyond ugly.
posted by zoogleplex at 6:29 PM on September 1, 2005

This going to turn Bush into an instant Michael Bilandic.
posted by Bighappyfunhouse at 6:31 PM on September 1, 2005

Maybe she was buying some hip waders.

We just don't know yet.

(This is possibly the most depressing thing I've read in the past year.)
posted by Coda at 6:34 PM on September 1, 2005

Well, the real weathervane will be Fox, won't it?

FWIW, I just saw Shephard Smith trying to talk over Bill Reilly, Reilly was repeatedly trying to give it the looting/law'n'order angle and Shephard Smith was saying something to the effect of "You're not here Bill and you haven't seen what I've seen."
posted by carter at 6:52 PM on September 1, 2005

This is gonna get beyond ugly.

It is, and people will die, and the media spin will probably turn too, away from the suffering, starving people and questioning why it took so long for help to come, and towards how "maintaining law and order" and "stopping lawlessness" is more important than feeding people. There's already the "anarchy" thing in place and constantly being repeated along with the same looting images from Tuesday over and over, and many stories about all the scared white people still there.
posted by amberglow at 6:58 PM on September 1, 2005

and what carter said. it'll all depend whose voice prevails, and whether people actually get fed/evacuated safely. Already the FEMA head is saying everyone left "chose" to stay.
posted by amberglow at 6:59 PM on September 1, 2005

Bighappyfunhouse: That's gotta be the understatement of the century, and we still have 95 years to go! (thanks- needed the laugh.)
posted by maryh at 7:03 PM on September 1, 2005

I was curious about what CNN's talking heads were saying compared to CNN-Europe's, not about the reporters' footage being shown; it seems to me that it's the voice-over and commentary that people go by, that without it the footage is just pictures, like a TV show or video game. (Of course I might be wrong, it can happen.)

And I agree with leftcoastbob about the Democrats, but I think I still go farther: I recall the Democrats in the federal House and Senate getting all bipartisan and voting overwhelmingly for the Patriot Act, for the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq, and for various and sundry other not-very-liberal (and certainly not leftist) measures, right up until the 2004 election got close when they remembered they were supposed to sound something like a "liberal" "opposition" party. A case in point is Kerry, who was right up there with Lieberman most of Bush's first term until he decided he wanted to sit in the Oval Office enough to make pseudo-liberal noises he really didn't mean; however "radical" and "antiwar" Kerry was during Nixon's first term he sure wasn't anywhere close to that 30 years later. The U.S. Democratic Party is, like the Republican Party, a bunch of whores for the ruling machines and corporations, and Democratic whores cannot be trusted to run this country any more than Republican ones.

Remember this post? To clarify my point because some commentators in that thread didn't seem to get it, I was not saying that it was a bad idea, I was saying it sounds unlikely to ever happen. I will say now however that, especially after the total debacle in New Orleans, I don't think I'm alone in losing my patience with the U.S. Government and the corporations for which it stands, and that I hope our American troops remember who they are and where they came from. A day might come when the American people will call on our brothers and sisters in uniform to help us save our people and our country from the sonsofbitches who let shit like this happen. At the very least I call on those troops now responding to those scenes of crisis to think about orders to fire on our own people -- people who have been through a terrible enough ordeal already -- instead of automatically following commands.

And if I sound more incoherent than usual now it's because this crisis is still going on I'm getting more and more upset. How many more Americans will have to die because the Government decided we're not worth saving?
posted by davy at 7:09 PM on September 1, 2005

On the contrary, davy, you sound completely lucid and cogent to me. BushCo have accomplished all of this -- all of it, from the Patriot Act to a pointless, costly war to the boondoggle in NO -- with the collaboration of the Democratic Party, with time out for mildly oppositional yips once every two or four years (provided that the yips don't seem too oppositional, of course; see "Kucinich, Dennis; marginalizing of" and "Nader, Ralph, demonizing of").
posted by scody at 7:24 PM on September 1, 2005

CNN is on fire: Paula Zahn is about to kill the head of FEMA

Fucking, total incompetence!!!
posted by ericb at 7:27 PM on September 1, 2005

It is, and people will die, and the media spin will probably turn too, away from the suffering, starving people and questioning why it took so long for help to come, and towards how "maintaining law and order" and "stopping lawlessness" is more important than feeding people. There's already the "anarchy" thing in place and constantly being repeated along with the same looting images from Tuesday over and over, and many stories about all the scared white people still there.

You can't feed people without order. The lack of effective authority stemming form the utter incompatence and malfeaseance from the feds has lead to the lack of civil order in the city, but I guess since you put anarchy in quotes you don't beleive it's not really happening and isn't a problem there, huh? I guess you know better in New York.
posted by Snyder at 7:29 PM on September 1, 2005

Not Paula Zahn, but the remarks of FEMA Director Mike Brown - what a fucking tool!
posted by ericb at 7:29 PM on September 1, 2005

I'm just waiting for the news that Bush and Rice were seen at Crawford Texas in 2004 reading a report titled

"Hurricane Determined to Attack Inside The United States."

(sheesh)
posted by Bighappyfunhouse at 7:31 PM on September 1, 2005

I'm just waiting for the news that Bush and Rice were seen at Crawford Texas in 2004 reading a report titled

via Towleroad.
posted by ericb at 7:36 PM on September 1, 2005

Those who are saying the GOP is done: You're right.

I'm a media junkie, and I've been flipping through the 24-hour news channels and reading online papers for the past two days. And today -- not yesterday, really, today, and particularly in the last four hours -- it's like someone just said the magic word that removed the spell that the mainstream media has been under for five years now.

Their tones of voice are shocked. They're indignant. They're asking hard questions. They're indignant. They're not giving up. They're not taking the pat answers, because reality is plainly and painfully contradicting it. Reporters in New Orleans on MSNBC are now comparing notes and working the 'mishandled response' angle -- one says "I wrote it down, I looked at my watch -- 5:11 PM today was the first National Guard truck I saw.

And God bless 'em, they're reporting it. Finally. The veil may be lifting; the shell game may be ending at last.

Look how much it took.
posted by Miko at 7:39 PM on September 1, 2005

here's what i don't get: why are the drones lying? how can they not know how bad things are in n.o.? do they really think the rest of us don't know?

i mean, it's been said before that this admin and its tools lie and coverup for practically no reason all the time, but this is just...i'm utterly bewildered by their actions and utterances.

how can they be so completely disconnected from reality and not be bothered by that disconnect?
posted by lord_wolf at 7:41 PM on September 1, 2005

I really wish all you intelligent, amused people would learn that, understand it, and get the fuck off the fucking fence. Especially Americans, because you are the only people with the power to do something about it.
posted by cleardawn

cleardawn, your entire post was extremely well put. I could not have said it better myself.
posted by qwip at 7:52 PM on September 1, 2005

"You can't feed people without order."

I've seen a lot of photos recently of people managing to feed themselves; what I'm saying is people should not be shot for finding food and necessities for themselves and their families.
posted by davy at 7:52 PM on September 1, 2005

Man, I just got the link to an incredible LiveJournal that's been written since Monday by an IT guy who's in an office tower in the CBD. The NOPD is using the floor below him as an operations area. I really wanted to make this an FPP, but I'm too afraid of being smacked down for posting yet another blog. But it's pretty amazing -- this guys' perspective is pretty upclose and personal (if a bit aggro at times...)
posted by Miko at 7:53 PM on September 1, 2005

What's this about a dead body being eaten by rats? URL please?
posted by davy at 8:04 PM on September 1, 2005

CNN transcript of Cooper's interview with Sen. Landrieu:

COOPER: Joining me from Baton Rouge is Louisiana Senator Mary Landrieu. Senator, appreciate you joining us tonight. Does the federal government bear responsibility for what is happening now? Should they apologize for what is happening now?

SEN. MARY LANDRIEU (D), LOUISIANA: Anderson, there will be plenty of time to discuss all of those issues, about why, and how, and what, and if. But, Anderson, as you understand, and all of the producers and directors of CNN, and the news networks, this situation is very serious and it's going to demand all of our full attention through the hours, through the nights, through the days.

Let me just say a few things. Thank President Clinton and former President Bush for their strong statements of support and comfort today. I thank all the leaders that are coming to Louisiana, and Mississippi, and Alabama to our help and rescue.

We are grateful for the military assets that are being brought to bear. I want to thank Senator Frist and Senator Reid for their extraordinary efforts.

Anderson, tonight, I don't know if you've heard -- maybe you all have announced it -- but Congress is going to an unprecedented session to pass a $10 billion supplemental bill tonight to keep FEMA and the Red Cross up and operating.

COOPER: Excuse me, Senator, I'm sorry for interrupting. I haven't heard that, because, for the last four days, I've been seeing dead bodies in the streets here in Mississippi. And to listen to politicians thanking each other and complimenting each other, you know, I got to tell you, there are a lot of people here who are very upset, and very angry, and very frustrated.

And when they hear politicians slap -- you know, thanking one another, it just, you know, it kind of cuts them the wrong way right now, because literally there was a body on the streets of this town yesterday being eaten by rats because this woman had been laying in the street for 48 hours. And there's not enough facilities to take her up.

Do you get the anger that is out here?

LANDRIEU: Anderson, I have the anger inside of me. Most of the homes in my family have been destroyed. Our homes have been destroyed. I understand what you're saying, and I know all of those details. And the president of the United States knows those details.

COOPER: Well, who are you angry at?

LANDRIEU: I'm not angry at anyone. I'm just expressing that it is so important for everyone in this nation to pull together, for all military assets and all assets to be brought to bear in this situation.

And I have every confidence that this country is as great and as strong as we can be do to that. And that effort is under way.

COOPER: Well, I mean, there are a lot of people here who are kind of ashamed of what is happening in this country right now, what is -- ashamed of what is happening in your state, certainly.

And that's not to blame the people who are there. It's a desperate situation. But I guess, you know, who can -- I mean, no one seems to be taking responsibility.

I mean, I know you say there's a time and a place for, kind of, you know, looking back, but this seems to be the time and the place. I mean, there are people who want answers, and there are people who want someone to stand up and say, "You know what? We should have done more. Are all the assets being brought to bare?"

LANDRIEU: Anderson, Anderson...

COOPER: I mean, today, for the first time, I'm seeing National Guard troops in this town.

LANDRIEU: Anderson, I know. And I know where you are. And I know what you're seeing. Believe me, we know it. And we understand, and there will be a time to talk about all of that. Trust me.

I know what the people are suffering. The governor knows. The president knows. The military officials know. And they're trying to do the very best they can to stabilize the situation.

Senator Vitter, our congressional delegation, all of us understand what is happening. We are doing our very, very best to get the situation under control.

But I want to thank the president. He will be here tomorrow, we think. And the military is sending assets as we speak.

So, please, I understand. You might say I'm a politician, but I grew up in New Orleans. My father was the mayor of that city. I've represented that city my whole life, and it's just not New Orleans. It's St. Bernard, and St. Tammany, and Plaquemines Parish that have been completely underwater.

Our levee system has failed. We need a lot of help. And the Congress has been wonderful to help us, and we need more help.

Nobody's perfect, Anderson. Everybody has to stand up here. And I know you understand. So thank you so much for everything you're doing.

COOPER: Well, I appreciate you joining us on the program tonight. I can only imagine how busy you are. Thank you very much, Senator Landrieu.

LANDRIEU: Thank you, Anderson. Thank you so much. Thank you.

COOPER: And good luck to you and all the people working to solve this problem. Because, at this point, it is very hard to try to figure our how this problem is going to get solved.

posted by Vidiot at 8:08 PM on September 1, 2005

You made a good choice, Miko.
posted by normy at 8:10 PM on September 1, 2005

FEMA to rescue workers: Pay for your own gas! ... FEMA called in a company that owns and operates a fleet of air boats, to aide with the search and recovery of citizens trying to survive the disaster and who are still in their homes, etc. A friend of mine (from Arkansas) is one of the owner/operators of an air boat in that fleet. He responded to FEMA's request and went down to assist, all at his own expense. When there,
he reported to a FEMA manager or supervisor who told him, and I quote: "We need your assistance and can use your help every day, there's a lot of folks who have not been found. But, you will have to pay for your own gasoline for your air boat."

The cost of gasoline for that air boat, for each day, amounts to approximately $550.00 per day, minimum. With the current gasoline crisis, it could cost considerably more, up to $600 - $700 per day.

This young man volunteered his time AND his boat to help - and was then told by FEMA that he would have to pay, additionally, out of his own pocket, all of the costs for his gasoline - to find the people who were in flooded homes across the entire flooded area in the City of New Orleans, where FEMA is assigned.

This young man doesn't have the money to donate his costs for gasoline for FEMA's project, so, guess where he is right now: yup, on the way back to Arkansas. ...
posted by amberglow at 8:11 PM on September 1, 2005

Thanks for the find, Normy. My search didn't turn it up because none of the search terms were in the FPP. I just had a hunch I was not the first to have seen it....
posted by Miko at 8:14 PM on September 1, 2005

I've seen a lot of photos recently of people managing to feed themselves; what I'm saying is people should not be shot for finding food and necessities for themselves and their families.

Neither do I, (and from what I heard on NPR, it's how people at the convention center survived, looters would bring back food and ater and distribute it,) but that food's gonna run out quickly, and when you have people shooting at helicopters and hospitals try to evacuate patients, or shooting at people trying to deliever pumps, then it makes food distribution and evac that much motre difficult. The thing is, this is not an unexpected occurance, at least to people with functioning brains, that after 5 days some people are going to go kill-crazy for some reason. Order needs to be achieved now, because it's only going to get worse as people become more and more desperate.
posted by Snyder at 8:23 PM on September 1, 2005

Just heard that the next stage of lawlessness has been reached: that is, 'vigilante sheriffs' who are armed, and who take an area under protection and shoot at looters.

Oy.
posted by Miko at 8:26 PM on September 1, 2005

"Mme. Rice, the people have no water."

"Let them drink Chateau Lafite."
posted by NorthernLite at 8:27 PM on September 1, 2005

"Mme. Rice, the people have no water."
But look at my new shoes!
posted by amberglow at 8:32 PM on September 1, 2005

the media spin will probably turn too, away from the suffering, starving people and questioning why it took so long for help to come, and towards how "maintaining law and order" and "stopping lawlessness" is more important than feeding people

And the 'looters,' like the 'insurgents,' will be transformed from being symptoms and creations of a much wider problem, into being the problem *themselves*, while at the same time the wider problem they pointed to magically disappears from public view.
posted by carter at 8:42 PM on September 1, 2005

This is getting incredibly fucked up:

"These troops are fresh back from Iraq, well-trained, experienced, battle-tested and under my orders to restore order in the streets," Blanco said.
"They have M-16s and they are locked and loaded.

"These troops know how to shoot and kill and they are more than willing to do so if necessary and I expect they will," said Blanco.
posted by strawberryviagra at 8:45 PM on September 1, 2005

Local official calls FEMA effort a ‘national disgrace.’
posted by ericb at 8:48 PM on September 1, 2005

the response by the US govt. to the devastating hurricane in the gulf states is deplorable. makes me ashamed to live in this country. this is INSTITUTIONAL FAILURE of the highest magnitude imaginable! just sickening.
posted by brandz at 8:49 PM on September 1, 2005

I think we are witnessing an emperor has no clothes moment and that even Bush himself is starting to recognize that he has been exposed.
posted by madamjujujive at 8:58 PM on September 1, 2005

Video of Cooper's Landrieu interview.
posted by Vidiot at 8:59 PM on September 1, 2005

the Astrodome is full and turning buses away.
posted by amberglow at 8:59 PM on September 1, 2005

I don't understand how so many politicians, apointees, directors and officials can be so God-damned relaxed right now.
I live in _Califuckingfornia_ and I'm want to go there and work ten hours a day in any way I am able because I care about human beings. Why is the federal government in slow-motion when it comes to helping Americans who can no longer help themselves? Why am I more anxious about my countrymen starving in a sports arena than the woman they elected to the Senate? (and I already take Seroquel)

Why do the remarks of Mike Brown remind me of a certain other FEMA director?
posted by Joybooth at 9:01 PM on September 1, 2005

i'm appalled ... i'm outraged

fuck politics ... it's the president's job to make sure that national emergencies are met ... and he's FAILED

no excuses ... no arguments ... the national guard should have been in control yesterday ... helicopters should have been dropping supplies 2 days ago

the president FAILED to come up with the manpower, the supplies and the plan to get them in place ... he had a job to do and he missed the deadline

no excuses ... no arguments ... he FAILED

his only honorable course of action? ... resign ... even if i don't like dick cheney, at this point i'll take my chances ...
posted by pyramid termite at 9:04 PM on September 1, 2005

the Astrodome and another lie/failure:US State Dept. -- ... For 25,000 residents who had taken shelter in the city’s Superdome sports arena, the city of Houston, 350 miles away, offered shelter in its Astrodome, where they may stay until December. ...
posted by amberglow at 9:06 PM on September 1, 2005

Is the president's latest press conference online? I really want to see his face right now. See how he's getting on with his damn life.
posted by maryh at 9:08 PM on September 1, 2005

8,000 only in the Astrodome, they're saying. Buses continue to arrive and are being turned away.
posted by amberglow at 9:09 PM on September 1, 2005

Yep, he's doing just fine. Two paragraphs about saving lives; six grafs about oil and gas.
posted by Vidiot at 9:10 PM on September 1, 2005

So, when there is an investigation of the Bush administration's incompetence, will they be able to cry "National Security" and thereby withhold incriminating documents?

Haven't seen this upthread yet, CNN just reported they are turning buses away at the Astrodome. They said they could 25,000 in there, but now they're saying it is full with about 4 or 5,000. Great planning there. The people on the arriving buses would probably riot if they weren't too starved and dehydrated.
posted by marxchivist at 9:15 PM on September 1, 2005

8,000 only in the Astrodome, they're saying. Buses continue to arrive and are being turned away.

I was there just an hour ago and they were still unloading buses. But there were a lot of damn buses waiting.
posted by Cyrano at 9:23 PM on September 1, 2005

what pyramid termite said. a miserable FAILURE!!!
posted by brandz at 9:23 PM on September 1, 2005

There was tons of empty parking lot space. You'd think they'd be putting up tents or something, though.
posted by Cyrano at 9:24 PM on September 1, 2005

meanswhile, back at the ranch, Karl Rove visits *Camp Reality*

Glad our senior-most officials are have such a laser-like focus on relieving human suffering and planning for the economic fallout of this catastrophe.
posted by madamjujujive at 9:26 PM on September 1, 2005

They said they could 25,000 in there, but now they're saying it is full with about 4 or 5,000. Great planning there. The people on the arriving buses would probably riot if they weren't too starved and dehydrated.

An official at the Astrodome explained on MSNBC about an hour ago that, after watching the debacle at the Superdome, they revised the occupancy plan for the Astrodome. They do not want to repeat the scenario. I think that's highly regrettable, but not crazy.

Some people will have to continue on to San Antonio, or any other place they can find.
posted by Miko at 9:26 PM on September 1, 2005

An official at the Astrodome explained on MSNBC about an hour ago that, after watching the debacle at the Superdome, they revised the occupancy plan for the Astrodome. They do not want to repeat the scenario. I think that's highly regrettable, but not crazy.

That makes sense (as much as anything makes sense w/this debacle), thanks for the clarification Miko.
posted by marxchivist at 9:31 PM on September 1, 2005

this is criminal--truly criminal. If this were suburban white people, would it be happening?
posted by amberglow at 9:33 PM on September 1, 2005

Some people will have to continue on to San Antonio, or any other place they can find.

Reliant Staduim is just across the street. But football season starts soon, so...
posted by Cyrano at 9:34 PM on September 1, 2005

From the WWL blog:

(AP): Col. Henry Whitehorn, chief of the Louisiana State Police, said he heard of numerous instances of New Orleans police officers - many of whom from flooded areas - turning in their badges.

"They indicated that they had lost everything and didn't feel that it was worth them going back to take fire from looters and losing their lives," Whitehorn said.

posted by Vidiot at 9:37 PM on September 1, 2005

Reliant Staduim is just across the street. But football season starts soon, so...

Normally, I would chalk this up to rampant cynicism. After hearing of refugees being removed from hotels to make room for some Floridian college football game, I'm bracing myself for this exact announcement.
posted by truex at 9:37 PM on September 1, 2005

Wait, did they really turn down international help? I can't get my head around that.
posted by muckster at 9:49 PM on September 1, 2005

Wait, did they really turn down international help?

Yes, they really did. The Disaster Assistance Response Team is on one hour standby in Kingston, ON, supplied with generators and water purification stations, and fresh from deployment in Asia for the tsunami, just waiting for the go - and Bush has already turned them down, as he has offers from around two dozen countries plus NATO and the OAS.
posted by Dipsomaniac at 10:04 PM on September 1, 2005

They turned down DART? Do you have a link? How on EARTH could the administration justify that?? WTF??
posted by maryh at 10:11 PM on September 1, 2005

DART is on standby. Doesn't sound like we said yes.
posted by Bighappyfunhouse at 10:27 PM on September 1, 2005

Isn't that back to this? (top o the thread, but DailyKos)
posted by dreamsign at 10:31 PM on September 1, 2005

FEMA chief: Victims bear some responsibility
posted by muckster at 10:32 PM on September 1, 2005

posted by cheineking at 10:37 PM on September 1, 2005

From the blog of the IT linked above:

"Bigfoot" is a bar manager and DJ on Bourbon Street, and is a local personality and icon in the city. He is a lifelong resident of the city, born and raised. He rode out the storm itself in the Iberville Projects because he knew he would be above any flood waters. Here is his story as told to me moments ago. I took notes while he talked and then I asked some questions:

Three days ago, police and national guard troops told citizens to head toward the Crescent City Connection Bridge to await transportation out of the area. The citizens trekked over to the Convention Center and waited for the buses which they were told would take them to Houston or Alabama or somewhere else, out of this area.

It's been 3 days, and the buses have yet to appear.

Although obviously he has no exact count, he estimates more than 10,000 people are packed into and around and outside the convention center still waiting for the buses. They had no food, no water, and no medicine for the last three days, until today, when the National Guard drove over the bridge above them, and tossed out supplies over the side crashing down to the ground below. Much of the supplies were destroyed from the drop.
posted by cell divide at 10:37 PM on September 1, 2005

From Sploid

Lies Revealed: No Shots Fired at Helicopter
An FAA spokeswoman said she had no such report. ‘We’re controlling every single aircraft in that airspace and none of them reported being fired on,’ she said, adding that the FAA was in contact with the military as well as civilian aircraft.

FEMA has used the “shots fired at rescue helicopter” as reason for shutting down rescue operations today.
posted by cell divide at 10:40 PM on September 1, 2005

After New Orleans:

1. gas prices spike
2. the stock market tanks.
3. the housing market bursts.
4. one more fuckup happens.
5. the government collapses.

Look to Bush to take medical retirement in 2007 if not before. You heard it here first.

The thousand dollar shoes is SUCH a priceless detail. You just can't make this shit up.

This whole turn of events leaves me breathless. It's like the Repigs went out of their way to do the worst possible thing in the most visible way, blaming the victims, knowing less about the disaster than the average TV viewer, congratulating themselves on doing good jobs, turning down offers of outside assistance.

One finally has to believe that the Bush government they actually are every bit as incompetent and evil as we always feared they were. I suppose I always thought that there were other competent people at some level involved running the ship of government, but we saw no evidence of that on 9/11 and we see no evidence of that today.

After the New Orleans enquiry, do we get to re-open the 9/11 investigation?
posted by lupus_yonderboy at 10:42 PM on September 1, 2005

Wait let's not panic, lupus-- that's not good for anyone. This can be handled, but people need to approach it calmly and with respect for just how seriously unprepared, short-sightted, and selfish our alleged leadership is. We are dealing with incompetent people who must be replaced.

Funds Diverted From Flood, Hurricane Programs to Fund War in Iraq
posted by cell divide at 10:49 PM on September 1, 2005

Well, at least he's not getting any blowjobs from an intern. That would be an outrage!
posted by scody at 10:57 PM on September 1, 2005

He's going to be on the ground somewhere tomorrow--his hardhat and bullhorn moment. If i was a survivor of that and saw him, i'd tear him apart. I bet they put him in a safely Republican area of Mississippi and pre-screen some survivors and coach them to thank him, all while more people die in New Orleans.
posted by amberglow at 11:07 PM on September 1, 2005

Oh, come on everyone ... this Gulf Coast shit happened at the end of a five-week vacation! Give the fucker a break. It's "hard work" being the President of the U.S.A.

As such, GWB is immune from any allegations of being "out-of-touch." Give him a fucking break! He had brush to clear on his ranch in Crawford, TX ... and needed to avoid the "crack-pot" who stood at his doorstep. What do your expect? Sympathy? Empathy?
posted by ericb at 11:11 PM on September 1, 2005

Even Joe Scarborough (former GOP Rep) on MSNBC is calling the government's efforts "amateur hour"
posted by amberglow at 11:14 PM on September 1, 2005

He's going to be on the ground somewhere tomorrow--his hardhat and bullhorn moment. If i was a survivor of that and saw him, i'd tear him apart.

Drop the fucker in front of the Superdome -- or, better yet in fornt of the Convention Center -- and let him fend for himself!
posted by ericb at 11:15 PM on September 1, 2005

*in front*
posted by ericb at 11:16 PM on September 1, 2005

1. Because I think it's a bit appalling that his administration evacuated the bin Laden family out the U.S. almost faster than they're evacuating dying Americans out of drowning New Orleans.

Thanks NorthernLite. Everyone needs to read that again. If we can send reporters, photographers, and cameramen with expensive equipment, then we must be able to send food and supplies.. There are trucks out there supplying Walmart.. redirect them to NoLa and compensate Walmart later.. We can order laptops and receive them within a day, but not water? Can I order water from Dell otherwise I would and ship it to NoLa.. THen I know it'll be there within the day..

Hurricane was Monday people.. It's Friday!!! 5 days and people are STILL DYING? I can order pizza online but they can't get water?!
posted by pez_LPhiE at 11:29 PM on September 1, 2005

Poll: Government Not Helping Hurricane Victims--A new Survey USA tracking poll finds that 59% of Americans say the federal government "is not doing enough to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina," up from 50% just 24 hours ago.

Other findings:

* 75% of Americans today say that local officials are unprepared to meet the challenge that is before them. This is up 14 points, from 61%, in the past 24 hours.
* 34% of Americans today say the government’s response to the hurricane has been surprisingly disorganized, up 14 points in 24 hours.
posted by amberglow at 11:31 PM on September 1, 2005

cheineking's pic c: What a waste of an otherwise perfectly good Carvin. tsk tsk
posted by mischief at 11:35 PM on September 1, 2005

On MSNBC it's about 84% disapproval, from about 70,000 votes.
posted by carter at 11:38 PM on September 1, 2005

It’s moments like this when you need a party in power that actually believes in the affirmative power of government to help its citizens, rather than the party that sees government’s role as protecting the property of the well-off from the predations of the underclass. It’s when the true ugly soul of American conservatism is borne out for what it is: a rationalization of selfishness and the hysterical denial of community. America is about to see what happens when the government is staffed by people appointed to their jobs precisely for their disdain for the whole notion of policy in the public interest. It’s won’t be pretty. ( This Is Your Accountability Moment, Mr. Bush--Shakespeare's Sister, including the Norquist "drown it in a bathtub" quote--tragically apt.
posted by amberglow at 12:10 AM on September 2, 2005

I've been afk for a while, but reading far above that Cooper-Landrieu interview...

She says nothing. Nothing at all. There is no substance in her empty, cardboard words, her limp semi-assurances, her feigned empathy. She's just as detached as all the rest of the politicos.

Cooper, on the other hand, is clearly deeply shaken (I watched some CNN and saw his face, heard him speak, he's barely articulate compared to his usual pro reporter mien) and attempting to maintain his composure. He's seen some intensely traumatizing things.

Also, Blanco's statements... bloodthirsty much? Almost salivating for troops to go in and blow away the gangs of young men prowling the streets, as if they weren't Americans in a desperate situation. I wonder if she understands that US troops gunning down predominantly black poor people - whether armed or not - could spark tremendous civil unrest all over the US.

That "Freedom Walk" farce they want to do this Sept. 11... have they noticed that the population of Washington DC is mostly lower-class African-Americans? A couple of videos of young black people - or worse, children - shot to death would fire a rage that they've never seen before, and justifiably so, IMO.

The administration and all the "middleman" politicians are completely out of their depth here. They really have no idea what they're bringing on themselves.

The winds of Katrina will be blowing for a very long time indeed. Hang on tight, folks.
posted by zoogleplex at 12:23 AM on September 2, 2005

The GOP is finished.

Having seen the media explain away debacle after debacle, I won't hold my breath, but I can only hope. A large portion of the world has been waiting (and praying) for the U.S. to wake up -- and many have sadly suspected that only American deaths at the admin's hands would do (since the media seems to care more about the deception surrounding Iraq than the deaths of innocent Iraqis resulting from it). It's always the innocents who pay. The Pres is losing popularity, you say? People are losing their lives.

And even at this point, to see some people say "what good does blaming do?" is pretty incredible. Yeah, I won't hold my breath. Prove me wrong, America.
posted by dreamsign at 12:44 AM on September 2, 2005

I feel utterly ill. And for some reason I keep focussing on wondering how much money Condi makes to afford designer shopping sprees. Or maybe she gets Halliburton kickbacks?

Every time I see the news I want to weep. I feel worse than I did on 9/11 watching the towers fall (in person) because at least then I saw Guiliani's leadership and knew he would do his best. This...this "locked and loaded" and ready to fire on these people...Fuck.
posted by miss tea at 5:22 AM on September 2, 2005 [1 favorite]

miko - 'one says "I wrote it down, I looked at my watch -- 5:11 PM today was the first National Guard truck I saw.'

And that was hard line rightie and former Congressman Joe Scarborough talking. This is equal opportunity outrage we're seeing here. I'm thinking the head of FEMA, and maybe even the Director of Homeland Security, are going to be looking for work when this is all said and done.
posted by schoolgirl report at 5:50 AM on September 2, 2005

Hm -- that's interesting, because until this crisis I had never seen Joe Scarborough before. I've watched his show over the last couple of days, and actually would not have guessed that he was a hard-line rightie, because he is clearly so shocked, angry, and unwilling to settle for the lame explanations.

I admit I'm somewhat encouraged by the number of people on the right that have stopped making excuses for their ignorant, incompetent 'leadership'
posted by Miko at 7:31 AM on September 2, 2005

Dick Cheney is ~~still on vacation~~ "working from Wyoming."

And when is he coming back? "He will certainly be coming back. I'm not able to tell you the day right now. I don't have that handy."

posted by kirkaracha at 7:53 AM on September 2, 2005

equal opportunity outrage

"The Washington Times — a conservative paper — and the Manchester Union Leader up in New Hampshire both just absolutely denouncing the response of the federal government, state government, local government. They are basically saying the government has one function and that’s’ to protect the citizens and it hasn’t happened this week in New Orleans.

I think liberals and conservatives, Democrats and Republicans, are just absolutely outraged and confused at the scenes we’re watching on TV. And the world is watching.

Why are we apparently incapable of rescuing people and in the process of witnessing an American city being lost?" [MSNBC | September 2, 2005]

posted by ericb at 8:39 AM on September 2, 2005

Dick Cheney is still on vacation "working from Wyoming."

What -- shopping for cowboy boots?
posted by ericb at 8:41 AM on September 2, 2005

Condi Returns to D.C. After Bloggers and 'Post' Expose Vacation .
posted by ericb at 9:31 AM on September 2, 2005

WORST ADMINISTRATION EVER!
posted by los pijamas del gato at 10:12 AM on September 2, 2005

This State Department press conference transcript inadvertantly provides plenty of answers to the question: was there anything more urgent for the Secretary of State to do besides buying shoes and taking in a show? YES.

* Dealing with the shutdown of the New Orleans passport office
* Getting foreign nationals in contact with their embassies
* Gathering an accurate list of international aid offers
* Responding to the aid offers, or at least writing a perfunctory thank you note.
* Taking less than 4 days to decide whether to accept the offers (note that originally State published a bulletin that very politely requested the international community to go fuck their offers of charity because the U.S. considers this a purely "internal" matter)
* Coordinating efforts to find out what the affected areas need, and which countries have those capabilities on offer
posted by nakedcodemonkey at 1:37 PM on September 2, 2005

she's going to be giving a press conf soon, to prove she's on the job finally. I wonder if she'll show off those new shoes and clothes?
posted by amberglow at 1:40 PM on September 2, 2005

As for where the refugeees from New Orleans might go, what about some military bases that they have closed down or will close down? And what about all those towns in the Midwest that according to a previous Metafilter thread have been emptying out for years?

(This might be a good FPP for somebody.)
posted by davy at 1:58 PM on September 2, 2005

Condi's speaking now, and incredibly, the text below her says her own family was affected??? And she still went shopping and to the theater???
posted by amberglow at 2:15 PM on September 2, 2005

Third cousin on her sister's husband's side? Anything to demonstrate that she feels their suffering.
posted by dreamsign at 2:57 PM on September 2, 2005

I know I should let this thread retire, but someone just pointed this incredible picture and press release out to me -- Bush, giving aid and comfort the victims of Florida hurricane Frances, last September.

This picture was taken one day after the hurricane. Why was his response so much quicker then? Oh -- yeah! It was an election year.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/09/images/20040908-12_florida1-4-515h.html
posted by Miko at 8:04 PM on September 2, 2005

I only just got to this thread (so much else to read and watch!) but I was laughing so hard and so bitterly that I cried. It is all so surreal. My husband and I caught a bit of The US Open on TV and we wondered if we had tickets would we feel comfortable going to a game. We both agreed that although neither one of us has any family affected nor do we work for the government, still it would not feel right.

This is something I just don't understand about this administration. They are all tone deaf. They seem incapable of even pretending to feel any empathy for their fellow Americans.

If a grieving mother had asked any other president why her son had to die, he would have responded with something like:

Madame, every drop of blood shed in this war grieves me mightily. I will bear the burden of each and every death upon my shoulders until my death. In my bed at night I beg the Almighty for his guidence and pray for his forgiveness for any error I have made in judgement. I swear to you that I do not take your great sacrifice lightly.

But instead George Bush says, "I think about Iraq. I think about Iraq every day."

It's like he is a hollow shell with nothing inside him.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 2:25 AM on September 3, 2005

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