As reported here: Rather than fight a lawsuit by CNN, the federal government abandoned its effort Saturday to prevent the media from reporting on the recovery of the dead in New Orleans. Joint Task Force Katrina "has no plans to bar, impede or prevent news media from their news gathering and reporting activities in connection with the deceased Hurricane Katrina … Read More
Dubya Should Have Read Clinton’s Biography
Sadly, that would require Dubya to, you know, read. Because if he had, he might have come across this prescient quote (via Atrios): "… I went to Florida a few days after President Bush did to observe the damage from Hurricane Andrew. I had dealt with a lot of natural disasters as governor, including floods, droughts, and tornadoes, but I … Read More
New Orleans Photos
This is a very good slideshow of New Orleans living (and dying) through Katrina, taken by an amateur photographer who lived throught the thing. You can see how things went from good, to bad, to better, to really bad, to even worse. Read the captions to get the full experience.
“Go Fuck Yourself Mr. Cheney” — The Rest Of The Story
Remember the Mississippi local who shouted "Go fuck yourself, Mr. Cheney" while Cheney was being interviewed on CNN? His name is Ben Marble. Doctor Ben Marble. He’s an emergency room MD who plays in alternative rock bands. His house in Gulfport, MS was destroyed by Katrina. He was visiting it on September 8 when he learned that Cheney was down … Read More
A Day Late; A Dollar Short
Breaking news: FEMA Chief Relieved of Katrina Duties WASHINGTON – FEMA Director Michael Brown is being removed from his role in managing the Bush administration’s Hurricane Katrina relief efforts and is returning to Washington. Brown, who has been under fire for the federal government’s slow response to the storm that devastated much of the Gulf Coast region, will be replaced … Read More
Good Karma, Curt
From the Boston Globe: Last autumn, Curt Schilling helped the Red Sox win it all. Now, he and his wife, Shonda, are helping a New Orleans family of nine who have lost almost everything. Moved by the plight of thousands of Gulf Coast residents whose lives were shattered by Hurricane Katrina, the star pitcher and his wife arranged to fly … Read More
Wanker Of The Day
Representative Baker of Baton Rouge overheard telling lobbyists: "We finally cleaned up public housing in New Orleans. We couldn’t do it, but God did." Yup. God sure did. And then some.
“Welcome To Krakow”
I’ve been seeing these stories pop up all over the place. Very disturbing. Here’s one Oklahoma family’s account of trying to bring food to Katrina victims located in a FEMA Gulag Shelter: He then precedes to tell us that some churches had already enquired into whether they could send a van or bus on Sundays to pick up any occupants … Read More
Bush Incompetency Continues
If New Orleans is going to get on its feet, the people there are going to need good jobs with decent pay. It shouldn’t be a problem. God knows there is plenty of work to be done. Except . . . One action Bush did not trumpet publicly drew a quick protest from a leading Democrat. By executive order, Bush … Read More
New Orleans 2.0: Richer & Whiter
That’s what the rich & white New Orleanians want. The Wall Street Journal: The mostly African-American neighborhoods of New Orleans are largely underwater, and the people who lived there have scattered across the country. But in many of the predominantly white and more affluent areas, streets are dry and passable. Gracious homes are mostly intact and powered by generators. Yesterday, … Read More
Brown’s Padded Bio
Time Magazine reports: An investigation by TIME has found discrepancies in his online legal profile and official bio, including a description of Brown released by the White House at the time of his nomination in 2001 to the job as deputy chief of FEMA. The weird thing is this: even taking his padded resume at face value, he still wasn’t … Read More
Katrina Aid Package
Congress passed a $51 billion Katrina aid package today. Eleven (!!) voted against it. Take a guess: Were they (a) members of the "culture of life" Republican party, or (b) Democrats?
More Katrina Punditry
Today, we’re going to have some fun with Renew America columnist Karen Pittman, living proof that beauties and brains tend not to run together. Or not run at all. Keep in mind as you read that, according to her bio, she’s known as the "Lay’s Potato Chip of political punditry". Which is saying something. I have heard it all now. … Read More
Hurricane Victims To Cheney: “Go Fuck Yourself”
Well, turnabout is fair game. Months ago, Cheney (on the Senate floor) told Senator Leahy to "go fuck himself". Today, some local in Mississippi said the same thing . . . to Cheney. It aired on CNN. Crooks and Liars has the video. Raw Story has the transcript: Off camera, a protester shouts, "Go f–k yourself, Mr. Cheney. Go f–k … Read More