Purpletigron

http://sideshow.me.uk/ssep05.htm#09151157

"76% of Americans say they want an independent investigation of what went wrong in the government response to Hurricane Katrina, but when Hillary Clinton proposed setting one up, the Republicans killed it on a party-line vote."

sideshow_avedon

http://www.alternet.org/story/25227/

Edit: From the link above, I quote:

1. Bush: "I don't think anybody anticipated the breach of the levees"

2. Chertoff strained credulity in defense of Bush, claimed levee breaks and massive flooding came as a surprise -- more than 12 hours after local media reported them

3. Brown: "We've provided food to the people at the Convention Center so that they've gotten at least one, if not two meals, every single day"

4. Chertoff: "Apparently, some time on Wednesday, people started to go to the convention center spontaneously"

5. Chertoff pointed fingers: "New Orleans officials and the state officials ... called for the Superdome to be the refuge of last resort"

6. Chertoff falsely minimized federal government's role in Katrina response as subordinate to states

7. Wash. Post, Newsweek, Gingrich falsely claimed that Blanco did not declare a state of emergency

8. Gingrich falsely claimed that Nagin could "have kept water pumped out" of city had he ensured that pumps worked

House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi announced today that she supports forming an independent commission to investigate the federal government's failed initial response to Hurricane Katrina, and that she would not appoint Democratic Members to Speaker Hastert and Leader Frist's bicameral committee.

Some 3000 people were killed in the attacks on 11 Sept 2001. The death toll from Katrina may also reach thousands.

Most people will have a gut level reaction to those statistics. What rational reaction follows will depend very heavily on their prior knowledge and beliefs.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/9/1/24329/18916

"Hurricane Katrina was a natural disaster, but the flood wasn't. ... The money to prepare for something like this years in advance went to Iraq, and the National Guard to clean up after it went to Iraq too. The flood is "man-made."

... Katrina is just what the hurricane is called for short. Its real name was "global [climate change]"

I do not like to feel powerless against this. I want to do whatever I can to make a difference. Red Cross donations after the fact are not enough because they do nothing for the next Katrina (aka Global [Climate Change])."

http://www.dailygranola.com

"The purpose of this site is to provide at least one small lifestyle change per day that liberals can make to support the liberal agenda."

daily_granola

"However, even non-liberals might find themselves agreeing with some of the ideas posted on the site. Debate is encouraged, but trolls will be banned."

Hurricane Katrina: BBC report on continuing disaster. It seems that that the official 'mandatory' evacuation of New Orleans left 50,000 people to suffer because they didn't own cars - no official evacuation transport was provided.

G's sister has suspected thyroid cancer, and goes under the knife tomorrow morning. Just spent 40 mins on a stream of phonecalls to help Mater's continuing recovery. Edit Back from vet - Floogerous thyroid probably going off on one - blood test results for hyperthyroid due back Monday. May need to take off a thyroid lobe and the face lump* in one operation...

No wonder I'm way behind with my work.

* He's developed a hemispherical outward growth on his right cheek, which seems to be itchy although not yet bothering him otherwise.

now Cat 3 (125 mph winds).