Area417

Louisiana Congressman Taped Pocketing Bribe

New Orleans Congressman William Jefferson (D) was  videotaped eagerly accepting $100,00 in payola from an FBI informant.

At one audiotaped meeting, Rep. William Jefferson, D-La., chuckles about writing in code to keep secret what the government contends was his corrupt role in getting his children a cut of a communications company's deal for work in Africa.

      As Jefferson and the informant passed notes about what percentage the                    lawmaker's family might receive, the congressman "began laughing and said, 'All these damn notes we're writing to each other as if we're talking, as if the FBI is watching," according to the affidavit. Link: USA Today

If the name sounds familiar, it might be because Jefferson had National Guardsmen attending to his personal property while the floodwaters of Katrina held citizens of New Orleans at bay on their rooftops.

Democrats, do start chanting "culture of corruption" whenever the mood strikes you.

Clarification: Both audio and vidiotapes exist.         

Powered by Qumana
Tags: Politics, Democrats, Corruption

Ray Nagin, Brain Surgeon

Texas-based K & L Auto Crushers offered to clean up all the flooded-out vehicles languishing in the big Easy and pay the city $100 per flooded car. The company figured that it would take approximately 15 weeks to complete the job.

K&L's Dan Simpson said he first made his pitch five weeks after Katrina, on a piece of paper that he slipped to Mayor Ray Nagin at one of his boisterous post-flood town hall meetings. Simpson said he'd bring in between five and 10 mobile crushers. Working them six days a week at scattered sites around the city, K&L offered to crumple and haul the vehicles and handle the "remediation," or environmental disposal of gasoline, oil and other hazardous wastes and do all the paperwork. Link: City spurned offer of cash for cars

So what did that moron, Nagin, do?

Instead of taking the offer from K&L, Ray Nagin is pursing [sic] a car removal plan that will take six months to complete, not 15 weeks, and will cost the city of New Orleans -- make that the taxpayers of New Orleans -- $23 million.
Link: Neal Boortz

Attaboy, Ray. Never do anything that big Brother won't do at greater expense.

Link: City spurned offer of cash for cars.

Katrina Survivors Submit List of Demands

"Show me the money!"

Link: BBC NEWS | World | Americas | Katrina survivors march for aid.

Al Sharpton Supports Katrina Evacuees In Extortion

The remaining Katrina evacuees staying at the Radisson Hotel in Queens, New York, want the hotel to pay each family $2,500 to move.

About 30 families remain at the Radisson, the last of about 120 Gulf Coast-area families who arrived there after the Aug. 29 hurricane. Their rooms are being paid for by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

In January, the Radisson's managers told remaining evacuees that they would need to find new housing by the end of the month because of a scheduled $7 million hotel renovation. That led to a protest in which the Rev. Al Sharpton threatened to lead a boycott against the hotel if it forced the evacuees to leave.

Link: Buffalo News - Katrina evacuees seek payoff to leave hotel.

GAO To Audit Katrina- Related Expenses

The Washington Post notes that Federal employees racked up $39M on government credit cards in purchases related to Hurricane Katrina.

Much of the merchandise, which included $60,639 worth of sleeping bags and four 27-inch televisions purchased for $713, was bought at retail rather than cheaper, volume prices after the Aug. 29 storm, according to federal records. The spending also included $150,000 worth of Jockey underwear, $3,200 for golf carts, and six nail clippers.

Dept. of Homeland Security spokesman Larry Orluskie was quoted as saying that they "were not going to spend days calling all across the country and haggling prices--the initial purchases were about saving lives."

While Mr. Orluskie's attitude is understandable, doesn't the government already have a list of preferred vendors for disaster situations? And by preferred I mean vendors that are capable of delivering  huge lots of goods A.S.A.P. and at the discounted rates one would expect, considering the Fed's purchasing power?

Speaking of government procurements, recall that the top federal procurement officer, David Safavian, was arrested in late September of this year; he was accused on lying and obstructing the  investigation of Rep. lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Here is the U.S. Dept. of Justice's release on that mess.

Temporary Workers Charged In Katrina Aid Scam

Almost fifty employees of Spherion, an agency that provides temporary workers, have been indicted in a scam that diverted funds meant for Katrina victims into their own hands and into the hands of family and friends.

The scam came to light when Red Cross officials noticed that a suspiciously high number of people were picking up Red Cross money at Western Union outlets near the Bakersfield center, even though few evacuees were in the area.

Read the rest of the article in the Washington Post.

H/T Drudge

Post Katrina: House Fires Suspicious in New Orleans

A spokesman for Allstate Insurance said that their company has seen a surge in the number of suspicious claims coming from New Orleans.

Some of the New Orleans homes drowned by the flooding that followed Hurricane Katrina have been damaged by a second calamity — fire.Both Louisiana investigators and insurance companies are starting to look into the blazes amid reports that some may have been set by desperate people who had no flood insurance but want to collect on their policies.

Insurance companies are also seeing more padded claims.

The policy owner has some damage, but during the period following the storm before adjusters get there they enhance it, he explained. They knock the rest of the fence down, pull off the rest of their shingles.

Two types of automobile fraud are turning up — people passing off flood-damaged vehicles as undamaged and people claiming losses they did not have.

Insurors are being tipped off on some of these claims by the public.

!!!

Looks like Farrakhan was right about those levees.

Two New Orleans Hospitals Declared Unsalvageable

Charity and University Hospitals have been deemed beyond repair due to damage inflicted by Hurricane Katrina.

Link: Two New Orleans Hospitals Declared 'Unsalvageable' Because of Damage From Hurricane Katrina.

A Canadian's View on Hurricane Katrina

...If something happened up here, on the scale of Katrina, we wouldn't even have the resources to arrive late. We would be waiting for the Americans to come save us, the same way the government in Louisiana just waved and pointed at Washington, D.C. The theory being, that when you're in real trouble, that's where the adults live.

Link: davidwarrenonline.com - ESSAYS ON OUR TIMES.

H/T Choose Life

Hurricane Katrina: Folklore vs. Fact

Gateway Pundit does a good jog of separating Fact from Folklore.

GOP not contemplating offsets

Will this be the straw that broke the camel's conservative's back?

According to this article in the Washington Post, the Republican leadership (and I use the term loosely) will seek to pacify conservatives this week--by making soothing, repetitive sounds I gather, because they admit that "wholesale budget cuts envisioned by House conservatives are not being contemplated..."

If that isn't bad enough, the Ali Baba delegation from Louisiana has presented a bill with more pork than Jimmy Dean could ever hope for.

Unless the Republicrats get their act together, it's time to start shopping at the third party outlets.

Approval Ratings in the wake of Hurricane Katrina

While President Bush's approval rating has fallen 2 to 3 points, Louisiana's Gov. Blanco's ratings have tanked. Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour's ratings have improved.

Link: NewsMax

ACLU Says Race Motivated SLED Background Checks

The ACLU is crying racism over the fact that Hurricane Katrina evacuees were run through background checks  in South Carolina, among other places. After all,  they're almost all Black and poor to boot. That's not only racist, it's discrimination against the poor.

But was it racially motivated or just good sense? Consider the mayhem the city was in  before troops arrived. Consider that New Orleans' murder rate  was over 7.5 times the national average in 2003 (1.8 times higher than St. Louis, Kansas City and Springfield combined.)

Just what did South Carolina's State Law Enforcement Chief discover as a result of these background checks? Out of 547 people screened, 301 had criminal records, ranging from minor offenses to violent crimes--that's 55% of evacuees.

Once again, the ACLU is churning the waters of Lake Baseless.

Planning For Emergencies #1

I hope that Hurricanes Katrina and Rita have driven home the point that we need to take responsibility for ourselves and our families.

One of the first things you can do is to put together a survival kit for each member of your family. While your kit should be  customized to fit each person's needs, certain items should be included in each pack. I would consider the following to be the bare minimum:

• Water  (at least a 3-day supply for each person)
• Food  (at least a 3-day supply for each person)
• First Aid Kit
• Flashlight
• Knife (at least for older family members)
• Moist Towelettes
• Radio with extra batteries or a hand-cranked radio (one per family, or one for each person, if you have money to burn) 
• Whistle (cheap) or walkie-talkies (probably better, but not so cheap)
• Dust mask or kerchief to filter dust (a clean T-shirt will do in a pinch)
• Can opener, if you include canned goods in your pack
• Medications: Prescription and OTC
• Important documents

There are different kinds of kits: bug-out kits, get-home kits, kits for your office, kits for your home. Check out the links I've included for more on these.

While you don't have to acquire everything at once, you should get started.

The finest beer around

Six Meat Buffet is in rare form.

The City That Should Not Be

Confederate Yankee has an interesting email interview with a coastal & marine studies scientist up. The topic is the wisdom (or lack thereof) of rebuilding New Orleans on it's present site.

Nagin flew over the cuckoo's nest

I missed this. H/T nygirl

Katrina News Flash! Flood Uncovers Exciting Discovery!

HOT! Flood uncovers the Lost Scrolls of the Bill of Rights!

The Malcom X Grassroots Movement (a "New Afrikan" rights organization) has issued some demands in keeping with information imparted by the Lost Scrolls:

• Right to Immunity for all black survivors charged and/or convicted of crimed of theft, property destruction, and assault. (a.k.a. the Right of Loot N' Shoot)
• The Right to Insurance Reimbursement (legitimate claims or otherwise and regardless of whether or not damages were covered by a policy that I may or may not have)
• The Right to an Income for Black Survivors provided by federal and state governments to ensure their overall wellbeing and that of their families and communities. (Self-evident,      no clarification needed)
• The Right to Education and Health Care. Black survivors have the inalienable right to free quality education and health care including counseling and psychological therapy.(And any and all freebies Sugar Daddy forgot to enumerate in his speech)

(I've provided clarification on some points in italics)

Read the rest here. There's contact info at the end of the article in case you have found any additional Lost Scrolls of the Bill of Rights.

Linked to Basil's Blog

Nagin's Plan for New Orleans deemed 'Problematic'

Cry Baby's Mayor Nagin's plan to let residents back into New Orleans is politely termed  "extremely ambitious" and "extremely problematic" by Coast Guard Vice Admiral Thad Allen.

Some of the problems that Nagin is apparently not considering:

• The levees probably won't protect the city in their degraded state
• scarcity of potable water
• remnants of flood water
• residue from flood waters

Read the rest of the article here.

Some observations from New Orleans

I just spoke with someone on the scene in New Orleans who said that the progress in cleaning up the city is remarkable.

They had a dinner for the 14 senators who were visiting the area. Senator Joe Lieberman was characterized as a really nice guy. On the other hand, Ted Kennedy was  said to be a jerk who either wouldn't let any military sit with him (that or they didn't want to sit at his table.)

Mayor Nagin was characterized as a complete idiot and has earned the nickname of "The Cry Baby."

Update: With regard to Cindy Sheehan's moronic comment about "occupied New Orleans,"  I was told that Nagin doesn't want the troops to leave because he is afraid that things will once again get out of control when people start returning to the city.

There again, Nagin might have good reason to be afraid of his constituents.

Linked with Basil's Blog

More evidence of Louisiana's corruption

Higher-ups in the  Louisiana Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness were awaiting trial prior to Hurricane Katrina.

The problems are particularly worrisome, federal officials said, because they involve the Louisiana Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, the agency that will administer much of the billions in federal aid anticipated for victims of Katrina. (Emphasis added)

A spokesman for the LA emergency office characterized the problems as "largely administrative mistakes, not due to corruption," but the feds think otherwise.

Like I've said before, we need to take a deep breath before we just start shoveling money into this mess.

Link: Louisiana Officials Indicted Before Katrina Hit - Los Angeles Times. (Registration required)

H/T Instapundit

Drowning in pet food

There has been a flood of pet food donated to hurricane relief efforts. So much, in fact, that officials are pleading for people to stop.

Financing Katrina relief

Instapuntit has a poll up that asks "Where should we cut spending to finance Katrina relief?" Go there & vote!

Six Meat Buffet "A River of Cash No Levee Can Hold"

Six Meat Buffet rightfully ponders the sanity of shoveling federal dollars (meaning your money and mine) into the corrupt political system of Louisiana and has a suggestion:

...How about a two-or-three year moratorium on all federal taxes for every resident of Louisiana and Mississippi? Seriously. I realize a huge amount of cash is needed, but instead of a blank check, how about a big check and a tax cut? Wouldn’t that be a way the federal government could help people get on their feet - a conservative way? Wouldn’t that draw people back to their states, attract new businesses and entrepreneurs, create jobs, and jump-start the Gulf Coast economy? (Emphasis added)

I've heard several people float this idea recently and I agree, but I would take it several steps further; enact the FAIR TAX and let the entire nation benefit just as the entire nation is helping rebuild the area.

Links: NRO: Tax Cuts Are Katrina Relief; Louisiana Political News Service; Tancredo: Block Aid to Louisiana Politicians, They Can't Be Trusted; METROBLOGGING: NEW ORLEANS; Deroy Murdock: Katrina and the Waves of Cash; World Magazine: Getting a bit carried away?

Clarification/Correction: While "A River of Cash" was posted on Six Meat Buffet, it was written by Johnny Walker Red.

Update: Read Hurricane Economics, written by Alan Reynolds of the Cato Institute

Update #2: Bush Rules Out Tax Hike to Fund Recovery

Rudy in 2008?

Looking ahead to the 2008 elections, I'd say that Rudy Giuliani is in the catbird seat for the Republican nomination, due in part, to Katrina.

I'd be interested to know what others think.

Real bias in sluggish FEMA response uncovered

Independent Sources is hot on the trail.

Herman Cain on the Fair Tax and Hurricane Katrina

We should not let the issue of the Fair Tax die due to Hurricane Katrina. We need the consumption tax now more than ever.

...we must eliminate the income tax code and replace it with a national consumption tax, also known as the FairTax. The income tax code stifles innovation and the entrepreneurial spirit. It is unfair to all taxpayers, and contains too many disincentives to save and invest in our economy. The FairTax will provide the average worker a 30% increase in take home pay. It will eliminate corporate income taxes, which currently are simply passed on to the consumer in the form of higher retail prices. We can eliminate the imbedded taxes in gasoline and in all the new goods and services we purchase – which average 22% of the cost – by switching to a consumption tax.

Read the rest here: Herman Cain: Prevent an Economic Disaster.

Students displaced by Katrina stabbed in Boston

Two Loyola University students who were taking classes at Boston College were stabbed after an early morning argument with five men.

The two walked awar from the argument, but were stabbed moments later.

Abuse of power in the Big Easy

Rep. William Jefferson (D-LA)  had National Guardsmen check his property  and rescue his personal belonging while there were citizens of New Orleans stranded on top of their houses.

While Jefferson says the Guard insisted they accompany him to keep him safe from any stray bullets, the military tells a different story:

Military sources tells ABC News that Jefferson, an eight-term Democratic congressman, asked the National Guard that night to take him on a tour of the flooded portions of his congressional district. A 5-ton military truck and a half dozen military police were dispatched.

H/T Instapundit

When do-gooders do harm

The moral of the story is sympathetic giving destroys society. Expectant giving (where some sort of action is required in return) works.

...white America does remain morally culpable — but because white leftists in the late 1960s, in the name of enlightenment and benevolence, encouraged the worst in human nature among blacks and even fostered it in legislation. The hordes of poor blacks stuck in the Superdome last week wound up there not because the White Man barred them from doing better, but because certain tragically influential White Men destroyed the fragile but lasting survival skills poor black communities had maintained since the end of slavery.

I might add that it has had the same effect on white families here in Missouri.

Link: Focus: White do-gooders did for black America - Sunday Times - Times Online.

It's always better when it is someone else's money

When John Kerry arrived in New Orleans bearing donations, it turns out all the items were donated by others, including the plane ride. Mr. Big Bucks didn't pay for any of it.

Link: John Kerry's Katrina Aid Arrives Late.

FEMA gets a new director

R. David Paulison, Acting Under Secretary/U.S. Fire Administrator, has been named as a replacement for Mitch Brown.

Certainly, Paulison's resume looks stronger. FEMA's site says Paulison was the Director of the Preparedness Div. of the Emergency Preparedness and Response Directorate from 2003-2004.

Before joining FEMA, Mr. Paulison, who has 30 years of fire/rescue services experience, was chief of the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Department. In that position, he oversaw 1,900 personnel with a $200 million operating budget and a $70 million capital budget. He also oversaw the Dade County Emergency Management office.

He began his career as a firefighter.

Web Relief Projects

The truth laid bear has their Hurricane Katrina Web Relief Projects page up now. You can find links for person locating, relief groups, housing assistance, jobs, etc.

Louisiana Guardsmen Return to chaos. How you can help.

Governor Blanco was on hand to greet the first planeload of Louisiana National Guardsmen as they set foot back in their home state. For most of them, it will be trading on kind of battle for another.

After seeing 35 of their number killed in Iraq, members of the 256th Brigade Combat Team readied to take care of relatives made refugees, or, perhaps, mourn family members killed or hurt by the hurricane and its devastating aftermath.

For Spc. Nathan Faust of Chalmette it's a total loss. His family home is flooded to the peak of the roof. His fiancee's home in Plaquemines Parish is at least as devastated. He said his uncle, the warden at the Orleans Parish jail, was trapped in his office by riots for 30 hours in knee-deep water.

Blanco said that the soldiers would be offered the chance to continue to serve in the Guard and help rebuild Louisiana. "That will keep them employed. This will be an opportunity to tide them over."

You can read the rest of the article here: Louisiana Guardsmen Return Home From Iraq

Soldier's Angels is taking donations specifically for soldiers (and their families) from areas affected by the hurricane. They also have suggestions for relief packages you can make and send. Gift cards to stores such as Wal-mart are the most requested items.

Please help these soldiers who have given so much.

News of the 82nd Airborne in the Big Easy

Naturaly, with my son in New Orleans, I'm anxious to find any news I can about the 82nd. Radio Blogger has an interview with Major General William Caldwell, commander of the 82nd Airborne Division.

Oh Crap!

Does New Orleans have to add toxic monkeys to their list of problems?

H/T Six Meat Buffet

Garrett says agencies were blocked in efforts to help hurricane victims

Hugh Hewitt has a transcript of his interview with Major Garret up on Radio Blogger.

Garrett says that several relief agencies were blocked in their efforts to help by the Louisiana  Dept. of Homeland Security.

The Salvation Army basically said look. We...first of all, both agencies also want to let people know that they've served the needs of thousands of people who got out, and who got out just a little bit to high ground, north of New Orleans. But they couldn't get in to meet those needs.                

More troops from the 82nd Airborne head to New Orleans

My son, Sgt. J, is currently involved in search and rescue in New Orleans.

This past Wednesday, more troops from the 82nd Airborne headed to the Big Uneasy to help in the mission and, like J, they're happy to be helping in the effort. (Registration required)

Sgt. J in Iraq

Missouri Doctor Back from New Orleans Relief Effort Says Human Needs Now Being Tackled, but Animal Survivors Dying of Thirst and Starvation

Dr. Stigers saw dogs and mules abandoned and suffering. He also discovered that in some areas, organizations were not being allowed in to help animals, and people were not being permitted to evacuate with their pets. "Now that human relief efforts are solidly under way, we must tackle the horrific situation still threatening so many animals," says Dr. Stigers. (Emphasis added)

Read the rest of the article.

Missouri orders web sites taken down in Katrina scam

A St. Louis man has been accused of illegally soliciting donations for Hurricane Katrina charities.

Ten sites were involved--none were registered as charitable organization, a fact that was not disclosed on the sites.

Weltner, the owner of the sites, is associated with the National Alliance, which is listed by the Southern Poverty Law Center as a neo-Nazi hate group.

Link: TechWeb | Questionable Online fund-raising | Missouri Yanks Offline Alleged Katrina Web Scammer.

Mexico sends aid to Katrina victims

A Mexican army convoy  is headed to Houston with a variety of supplies for people displaced by Hurricane Katrina.

The convoy includes two mobile kitchens that can feed 7,000 people a day, three flatbed trucks carrying mobile water treatment plants and 15 trailers of bottled water, blankets and applesauce. It also includes military engineers, doctors and nurses.

H/T Basils Blog

Cable news "disaster porn"

If you haven't seen it yet, WuzzaDem's take on the coverage of Hurricane Katrina is good stuff.  Part one is here. Part two is here.

Hurricane Katrina: Blog for Relief

Check out the latest on the truth laid bear. Total contributions are $1,319,538, with 37 countries contributing.

Katrina victims come to Springfield

Some of the familes displaced by Hurricane Katrina have found their way to Springfield.

How to help in the Ozarks

You can help refugees both locally and on the Gulf Coast by donating to these agencies:

American Red Cross, 832-9500; Salvation Army, 862-5509; Victory Mission, 831-6387; Crosslines, 869-0563; Convoy of Hope, 823-8998; Healing Quilt Project, 865-4358.

WHAT THEY NEED

All the agencies will accept money. Donate clothing, new personal items and nonperishable food to Salvation Army, Crosslines and Victory Mission. If time is what you can offer, answer phones at the Red Cross, sort clothing at the Victory Mission or stack food at Crosslines.   Link: Springfield News Leader

Read the rest  here and here.

A MUST READ

A long post that is worth reading every word Link: Eject! Eject! Eject!: TRIBES.

H/T Six Meat Buffet

Update on Katrina donations

The total for blog-based contributions is $908,358 $1,049,896 so far; a total of 34 32 (corrected figure) countries have contributed. You can check out the latest on the truth laid bear.

Thieves rip-off FEMA

Thieves are posing as representatives of FEMA.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency said Saturday that many FEMA uniforms, badges and letterheads have been stolen in the New Orleans area are being used as fake identification by robbers.
[...]
The agency said that the robbers are using the phony status to steal vehicles, fuel and valuables.In some cases, the robbers are armed. FEMA said its agents are never armed.
[...}
Anyone with information about people who may be claiming to be FEMA personnel, call the offices in Baton Rouge at (225) 296-3421 or (225) 296-3335.

H/T  Evil Conservative Blog.

More Links

GentleWhisper has posted an email from a New Orleans police officer. READ 100,00 BODY BAGS and if you haven't gotten around to donating yet, please do.

little green footballs says that flyers have been circulating that call for gangs to join with Islamists in jihad against the LAPD.

Modern Tribalist has an article on child labor in India.

NewsBusters says a poll shows that U.S. citizens aren't nearly as ready to take Bush to task on Katrina as the media would suggest.

UNCoRRELATED has a different take on Kayne West's comments about hurricane relief efforts.

Wizbang is unperturbed by the promise of vacations for New Orleans' first responders.

InstaPun***K is floating some ideas of how bloggers can help disaster victims.

Random Responses has a link to a petition to make Giuliani Hurricane Relief Coordinator.

katrina.im-ok.org - Hurricane Katrina "I'm OK" Registry

Here's a resouce for checking on people who were in the path of Katrina.

Why this registry is different...  By using the person's telephone number, you can find out immediately if there is information or not.  This allows you to pinpoint a specific person or household.  You don't have to comb a bunch of message boards or try different search criteria in a database.  Just use the person's phone number, that's it!

Link: katrina.im-ok.org - Hurricane Katrina "I'm OK" Registry.

H/T Instapundit

Help for Katrina victims with Celiac disease

The Celiac Sprue Association has a list of companies offering assistance to Celiacs.

Buy Jesse a dictionary

For some reason, Jesse Jackson thinks "refugee " is a racist term.

New Orleans

Looters aren't the only thing cruising the ruined streets of the Big Easy. Officials reported a 3-foot shark swimming in the city.

You'd have to actually READ the plan

Mudville Gazette points out that New Orleans had a plan, had anyone bothered to make use of it.

Katrina fund raiser: Make Independent Sources pay through the nose

Make Independent Sources pony-up!

The Independent Sources Challenge.

For the next week I will do the following:

For every link to this page of Independent Sources I will donate $5.
For every blog roll addition to Independent Sources I will donate $20.
For every comment to this posting I will donate $1.
For every comment that says something nice about Insider $2.

Leave comment below and make me pay. If you are linking let me know in the comment. Make me pay. Thank you for the support and making the donation fun and successful. Make me pay!

You heard the man--now make him pay!

7,000 extra troops deploy to aid Katrina victims

Additional troops from the 82nd Airborne, the 1st Calvary, and the 1st & 2nd Marine Expeditionary Forces have deployed for areas ravaged by Hurricane Katrina.

I know Airborne actually left yesterday morning, because my son, Sgt. J, called the afternoon of the 1st and said there was a strong possibility that they would be deployed to the disaster area; they had loaded their equipment and were gone early the next morning.

In all seriousness, it seems to me that some of these local governments and agencies charged with disaster relief should ask our military how to get organized to go at a moment's notice.

Case in point:why you need to become engaged on the local level

Link: Nola.com: NewsFlash - Mandatory evacuation ordered for New Orleans.

Gov. Kathleen Blanco, standing beside the mayor at a news conference, said President Bush called and personally appealed for a mandatory evacuation for the low-lying city, which is prone to flooding.

Holy Cow, she had to be told?! The local government needs to indict themselves first.

H/TFree Will

Allow Americans to give and they will be generous; no tax robbery is needed

Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. attributed to Albert Einstein

I knew it wouldn't take long before someone offered up raising taxes as the answer to our problems. See NewsBusters: NYTimes Uses Hurricane Katrina to Push for Higher Taxes.

Sadly, this disaster has probably killed any hope for tax reform.

Look people, the answer is NOT rolling back the tax cuts or raising taxes. We must  pass tax reform (preferably the FAIR TAX) and put government on a diet. We MUST hold our local officials responsible. We must be responsible citizens, take it upon ourselves to help our neighbors(which is being done), and become engaged in our local government. Put the money back in the hands of the states and let them govern as this country was meant to be governed.

The response by federal government has been slow and inefficient. The local response, New Orleans in particular, has been beyond pathetic--exactly the sort of response you can expect when you become enamored of the federal nanny state. While even the best laid plans go astray, given the history and topography of that area, they should have had an exacting plan of action.

If you do not care to make an effort to become better informed, kindly do your neighbor a favor and DON'T VOTE.

Race-baiting news media

CNN's Wolf Blitzer and Aaron Brown play the race card. NewsBusters has more.

H/T Zebrality.com

Mississippi airmen to come home from overseas

The Air Force is sending 300 airmen home from Iraq and Afghanistan. All the men are from Keesler AFB which suffered a direct hit from Hurricane Katrina.

Link: Air Force to Send 300 Airmen to Gulf Coast - Yahoo! News.

Branson offers aid

Branson businesses, entertainers, and even Girl Scout Troop 313 step up to the plate.

Link: News-Leader.com | Branson.

La Shawn Barber's thoughts on Katrina

La Shawn Barber, like many of us, is disgusted with the way things have been handled:

Update (9:00 a.m.): I’m listening to a CNN anchor quote the cops down in New Orleans. The area is a war zone, but the federal government is NOT treating it like one. Thugs are riding around shooting at them with AK-47s, they’re finding bodies riddled with bullets, and one saw the top of somebody’s head blown off. The police say when darkness falls, they have to hide and wait out the night. The police have to steal cars and siphon off gas to get around! If the cops are hiding, can you image what’s happening to defenseless people?

I've been thinking this and a lot more; I'm too depressed to write about it at the moment. Plenty of time later to pass out the blame.

Countries donating to Katrina aid

I know that there are more donations coming in than are being logged, but the truth laid bear shows 20 other countries donating funds through blogs. Thank you all!

Katrina victims with Celiac disease

Speaking as a Celiac, I can barely imagine what Katrina victims who have special dietary needs must be going through right now.

For anyone who is interested in helping those people who are Celiacs or are allergic to wheat, the Gluten Free Pantry is giving a 10% discount plus free shipping on all orders going to Hurricane Katrina victims. It is suggested that you send only those items that don't need to be cooked, such as breakfast bars. I plan on sending a case as soon as they respond to my email asking for particulars.

If anyone has links for people with other special needs, I'd be happy to post those.

Missouri aids Katrina victims

Drake Cox, owner of The American Bodyworks Tattoo, rented a truck, filled it with essentials, and headed south.

Link: News-Leader.com | Local News.

Troops on their way to disaster area

Members of the 82nd Airborne are loading up & headed to the Gulf Coast area as I write this. Sgt. J is on his way...

Katrina Update

Got a call from my son a little earlier. Sounds like the 82nd Airborne might be going to New Orleans.

Katrina Flood Aid

The Truth Laid Bear has a total of $110,180 in contributions at this moment. There are 1,159 blogs participating. bookmark them so you can watch as the numbers are updated.

Glen Reynolds has done a lot of work posting tons of charity links and suggestions on Instapundit.

Please consider giving to America's Second Harvest, the U.S.'s largest charitable hunger-relief organization. They are one of the charities recommended by Charity Navigator and guarantee that 100% of your donation will be used to aid the victims of Katrina.

UPDATE: CONTRIBUTIONS ARE $128,630 $159,708 $172,146 $227,813 AND COUNTING!

Countries offer aid

There are lots of countries offering aid. Bush's reaction? "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."

God help us, what is he thinking?

Link: WWLTV.com | News for New Orleans, Louisiana | Local News.