From The Left Coaster: The quake struck Saturday. Within two days, the Bush Administration had already started delivering blankets, tents, food, and water. Plus, water, food, blankets, and medicine for 2500 families will arrive in Pakistan tomorrow. More importantly, heavy lift and supply helicopters and engineering support will be there immediately. Now, tell me again, how many days did it … Read More
Delay Indicted
This just in… WASHINGTON – A Texas grand jury on Wednesday charged Rep. Tom DeLay and two political associates with conspiracy in a campaign finance scheme, forcing the House majority leader to temporarily relinquish his post. DeLay attorney Steve Brittain said DeLay was accused of a criminal conspiracy along with two associates, John Colyandro, former executive director of a Texas … Read More
Sheehan Just Arrested
Good. More headlines for us. Doesn’t look like she’s too upset. And, I might add, it’s nice to know that civil disobedience can be, on occasion, disobedient.
Post Of The Day
From The Talent Show: I gotta say, the federal, state, and local authorities did a fantastic job in responding to Hurricane Rita. It’s almost as if they were trying to make up for something. It’s funny how a "trial run" like the complete destruction of a major American city can motivate people. I just wish every major disaster was immediately … Read More
NotKatrina Ruins Bush Photo-op
Bush was hoping to show the nation that he learned something from his pathetic non-response to Katrina. So he was all set to go to Texas. One problem, though. The weather was too nice. President Bush was supposed to land here on Friday afternoon on the first stop of a tour intended to make clear that he was personally overseeing … Read More
“Sweet Jesus, There’s Always A Tape”*
* Spoken by a Washington Post reporter in the film "Courage Under Fire" And so there is with Katrina. NPR got a hold of several taped conference calls between local, state, and federal authorities to discuss emergency plans, evacuations, supplies, coordination, etc. You should listen to them. Shakespeare’s Sister describes one such conference call, the last call before Katrina hit: … Read More
Hurricane Farce
Read Billmon’s satirical "Hurricane Force" please.
Yes, We Can Blame Global Warming
Yesterday, I blogged about this stupid quote from Jonah Goldberg: If global warming explained the current spate of big hurricanes, there would be more in the South Pacific and elsewhere. It’s my understanding there haven’t been. Jonah’s "understanding" notwithstanding, there’s always this, from the latest issue of Science: We conclude that global data indicate a 30-year trend toward more frequent and … Read More
Editorials We Stopped Reading After The First Paragraph
From our dear friend Kaye Grogan: Sooner or later people need to realize if they keep building homes in high risk areas, they are not putting too much value on their lives or the lives of their families. Yes, hurricanes and tornadoes hit urban and rural areas as well, but not on the same level and magnitude as coastal areas. … Read More
Not-So-Lovely Rita
Looks like this is going to be an interesting blog for the next few days: Editor’s note [Houston Chronicle]: Welcome to our experiment in citizen journalism. The bloggers who are posting here live in various parts of the city, and they will be posting their experiences as Hurricane Rita approaches and moves through the area. Bloggers here are posting on … Read More
How Government Does Biz
I really liked what Robert Reich (Secretary of Labor under President Clinton) said yesterday on NPR’s Marketplace. You should really give it a listen here. But since you won’t, let me restate his commentary in my own words. Why are prices so cheap at Walmart? As most people know, it is because Walmart is so honkin’ huge, that it can … Read More
God Sending Us Another Vague Message
Okay. So according to some wingnuts, God sent Katrina to destroy that city of sin, New Orleans. Because God hates women showing their tits. Or gays. Or jazz. Or the Napoleonic Code. Or streetcars named "Desire". Or something like that. So the question du jour is, what is God trying to say with regard to Rita, the Category 4 hurricane … Read More
John Edwards On “The Working Society”
Sure, it’s political rhetoric, but it’s really good political rhetoric. John Edwards hits all the right notes: So many young people are struggling against the odds to do right, and they need America’s support. Words are not enough. That’s why it is time for a new social compact. When President Bush talks about an "ownership society," he means the more … Read More
Dems Develop Backbone?
House-Senate Katrina probe dies as Dems refuse to participate in GOP-controlled probe.