FEMA HELD OFF REQUESTS FOR AID

[BBond]

This makes Brown's "I didn't know" excuse all the more telling. CYA "Brownie" "You're doing a heck of a job, Brownie"

There is nor can there be ANY excuse or justification made for this. All of the Republican team leaders who have been on these, and I'm sure other boards, trying without any success to excuse the criminal negligence of the Bush administration in allowing tens of thousands of people to suffer through this national emergence ALONE -- JUST HOW IN THE NAME OF GOD DO YOU EXPLAIN THIS???!

AND WHEN WILL YOU PEOPLE WTFU AND DEMAND ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THESE CRIMES???

The BANNER headline from the Associated Press on my morning newspaper reads;

FEMA held off request for aid

Brown wrote memo hours after Katrina hig Gulf Coast

Note to Homeland Security sought 1,000 workers in 2 days

Criticism of federal response grows stronger in Congress

Wednesday, September 07, 2005
BY TED BRIDIS
Associated Press

The incontrovertible damning facts:

WASHINGTON -- The government's disaster chief waited until hours after Hurricane Katrina already had struck the Gulf Coast before asking his boss to dispatch 1,000 Homeland Security employees to the region -- and gave them two days to arrive, according to internal documents.

Michael Brown, director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, sought the approval from Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff roughly five hours after Katrina made landfall on the morning of Aug. 29. Brown said that among duties of these employees was to "convey a positive image" about the government's response for victims.

Before then, FEMA had positioned smaller rescue and communications teams across the Gulf Coast. But officials acknowledged yesterday the first department-wide appeal for help came only as the storm raged.

Brown's memo to Chertoff, a former federal judge and U.S. attorney for New Jersey, described Katrina as "this near catastrophic event" but otherwise lacked any urgent language. The memo politely ended, "Thank you for your consideration in helping us to meet our responsibilities."

Shortly after Brown wrote the memo, a levee in New Orleans was breached and part of the city became submerged.

The initial responses of the government and Brown came under escalating criticism as the breadth of destruction and death grew. President Bush and Congress yesterday pledged separate investigations into the federal response to Katrina.

"Governments at all levels failed," said Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine).

Republicans and Democrats alike heaped criticism on FEMA, the government's front-line responder agency for national disasters. House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi of California told Bush directly at the White House that he should fire Brown. "The president thanked me for my suggestion," she said afterward.

Stung by earlier criticism, Bush invited congressional leaders to the White House for an afternoon meeting, then dispatched several Cabinet officials to the Capitol to brief rank-and-file members. "Bureaucracy is not going to stand in the way of getting the job done for the people," Bush told reporters.

House and Senate committee chairmen announced investigations, while House Speaker Dennis Hastert suggested a bipartisan House-Senate probe. "We're ready to get going," he said.

Bush said his administration would also conduct an investigation "over time" into "what went right and what went wrong" in the Katrina relief operation.

"I think one of the things that people want us to do is to play a blame game," Bush told reporters. "We've got to solve problems. We're problem solvers. ... What I'm interested (in) is helping save lives."

Bush also announced yesterday he intends to seek as much as $40 billion to cover the next phase of relief and recovery from the storm.

Homeland Security spokesman Russ Knocke said yesterday Brown had positioned front-line rescue teams and Coast Guard helicopters before the storm. Brown's memo on Aug. 29 aimed to assemble the necessary federal work force to support the rescues, establish communications and coordinate with victims and community groups, Knocke said.

Instead of rescuing people or recovering bodies, these employees would focus on helping victims find the help they needed, he said.

"There will be plenty of time to assess what worked and what didn't work," Knocke said. "Clearly there will be time for blame to be assigned and to learn from some of the successful efforts."

Brown's memo told employees that among their duties, they would be expected to "convey a positive image of disaster operations to government officials, community organizations and the general public."

"FEMA response and recovery operations are a top priority of the department and as we know, one of yours," Brown wrote Chertoff. He proposed sending 1,000 Homeland Security Department employees within 48 hours, and 2,000 within seven days.

Knocke said the 48-hour period suggested for the Homeland employees was to ensure they had adequate training. "They were training to help the life-savers," Knocke said.

Employees required a supervisor's approval and at least 24 hours of disaster training in Maryland, Florida or Georgia. "You must be physically able to work in a disaster area without refrigeration for medications and have the ability to work in the outdoors all day," Brown wrote.

The same day he wrote Chertoff, Brown also urged local fire and rescue departments outside Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi not to send trucks or emergency workers into disaster areas without an explicit request for help from state or local governments. Brown said it was vital to coordinate fire and rescue efforts.

Meanwhile, the airline industry said the government's request for help evacuating storm victims didn't come until late Thursday afternoon. The president of the Air Transport Association, James May, said the Homeland Security Department called then to ask if the group could participate in an airlift for refugees.

Reuters contributed to this report.

George W. Bush, "Bureaucracy is not going to stand in the way of getting the job done for the people"

Bureaucracy already DID stand in the way, "Mr. President"!

George W. Bush, "I think one of the things that people want us to do is to play a blame game"

Demanding accountiability from goverment officials WHEN THEIR NEGLIGENCE CAUSES SUFFERING AND DEATH FOR THOUSANDS OF AMERICAN CITIZENS ISN'T A GAME, "MR. PRESIDENT"!

"They were training to help the life-savers," Knocke said.

Aren't these people trained already? Isn't this their JOB??? DON'T THEY WORK FOR FEMA???!

The time to investigate is right now while the events are fresh, to deny these criminals the chance to say they "can't recall" or "it was so long ago and it was such a busy time" -- or other such nonsense to avoid perjuring themselves.

It's time for an independent non-partisan special prosecutor RIGHT NOW! Heads rolling and people moving into cushy private sector jobs afterward just will not do.

THE PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS CRIMINAL NEGLIGENCE AND MALFEASCANCE IN OFFICE MUST PAY A PRICE FOR THEIR ACTIONS. Bush declared ZERO TOLERANCE the day after Hurricane Katrina for anyone "looting" even if it was for food and water! WELL WHERE IS THE ZERO TOLERANCE FOR YOUR INCOMPETENT CRONIES WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DEATH AND SUFFERING OF UNTOLD THOUSANDS OF AMERICANS CITIZENS IN NEW ORLEANS, "Mr. President"???!

 

[BDawg]

What the hell do you want? The President already cut his vacation short to help those people. Seriously, you act like he doesn't even care. He visited with them last Friday and thought hard about the situation. What have you done???

 

[rudder]

fVck you Bush!!!! A traffic light was out on my way to work and the drivers did not treat it as a four way stop!! Damn you to hell, Bush!!!!

 

[BBond]

Originally posted by: BDawg
What the hell do you want? The President already cut his vacation short to help those people. Seriously, you act like he doesn't even care. He visited with them last Friday and thought hard about the situation. What have you done???

Are you insane? The "president" sat on his a$$ in Crawford for TWO DAYS before ending his "vacation". Bush is the most irresponsible president EVER! He sat in Crawford on vacation JUST ON 9/11 JUST LIKE HE DID DURING AND AFTER KATRINA!

And here's a flash for you, I'M NOT THE FVCKING PRESIDENT. WHAT THE HELL DO YOU EXPECT ME TO DO? I CONTRIBUTED! IF I WENT TO NEW ORLEANS TO HELP, THE IDIOTS YOU ARE EXCUSING WOULD ONLY TURN ME BACK LIKE THEY DID WALMART TRUCKS FULL OF WATER AND THE 500 PEOPLE WHO SHOWED UP WITH THEIR OWN RESCUE BOATS TO HELP GET SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE THE HELL OUT OF THEIR ATTICS WHILE THEY WERE STILL ALIVE!

Too late now.

Instead, "Team Leader", the FEMA director failed to act and any president should have acted IMMEDIATELY especially, as CNN is reporting RIGHT NOW and as anyone who reads the news also knows, the president signed emergency orders on August 27th but sat on his a$$ on vacation as New Orleans DROWNED!

Now they're reporting that DeLay is "delaying" the House hearings into this. This is not only a crime and a naitonal disgrace, it is turning into a FARCE!

It is time to name a special prosecutor, and independent non-partisan counsel RIGHT NOW to get to the bottom of this fiasco while events are still fresh and HOLD THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS CRIMINAL NEGLIGENCE ACCOUNTABLE!!!

 

[ShadesOfGrey]

Originally posted by: rudder
fVck you Bush!!!! A traffic light was out on my way to work and the drivers did not treat it as a four way stop!! Damn you to hell, Bush!!!!

:laugh: You think he should fire everyone at the DOT? 😉

 

[BBond]

Originally posted by: rudder
fVck you Bush!!!! A traffic light was out on my way to work and the drivers did not treat it as a four way stop!! Damn you to hell, Bush!!!!

Pal, you have WAY more that just a traffic light out.

You joke about one of the worst catastrophes in U.S. history while the people who were BOUND BY LAW to respond sat on their a$$es on vacation or doing God only knows what other than what they were supposed to be doing -- resposnding to a DECLARED national emergency and providing aid to the tens of thousands of American citizens in New Orleans and the surrounding region.

INSTEAD THEY IGNORED THEM FOR FIVE DAYS!

And you people still defend them. You are lower than pond scum.

 

[BDawg]

Originally posted by: BBond

Originally posted by: BDawg
What the hell do you want? The President already cut his vacation short to help those people. Seriously, you act like he doesn't even care. He visited with them last Friday and thought hard about the situation. What have you done???

Are you insane? The "president" sat on his a$$ in Crawford for TWO DAYS before ending his "vacation". Bush is the most irresponsible president EVER! He sat in Crawford on vacation JUST ON 9/11 JUST LIKE HE DID DURING AND AFTER KATRINA!

And here's a flash for you, I'M NOT THE FVCKING PRESIDENT. WHAT THE HELL DO YOU EXPECT ME TO DO? I CONTRIBUTED! IF I WENT TO NEW ORLEANS TO HELP, THE IDIOTS YOU ARE EXCUSING WOULD ONLY TURN ME BACK LIKE THEY DID WALMART TRUCKS FULL OF WATER AND THE 500 PEOPLE WHO SHOWED UP WITH THEIR OWN RESCUE BOATS TO HELP GET SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE THE HELL OUT OF THEIR ATTICS WHILE THEY WERE STILL ALIVE!

Too late now.

Instead, "Team Leader", the FEMA director failed to act and any president should have acted IMMEDIATELY especially, as CNN is reporting RIGHT NOW and as anyone who reads the news also knows, the president signed emergency orders on August 27th but sat on his a$$ on vacation as New Orleans DROWNED!

Now they're reporting that DeLay is "delaying" the House hearings into this. This is not only a crime and a naitonal disgrace, it is turning into a FARCE!

It is time to name a special prosecutor, and independent non-partisan counsel RIGHT NOW to get to the bottom of this fiasco while events are still fresh and HOLD THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS CRIMINAL NEGLIGENCE ACCOUNTABLE!!!

Haven't you seen the picture of the President flying over the hurricane area when he ended his vacation (for obviously ungrateful people) last Wednesday? He was obviously thinking hard about the situation.

He couldn't mobilize troops faster. Most of our troops are performing more important work, keeping us safe from mushroom clouds in Iraq.

He couldn't end his vacation earlier. What would the survivors in NO think if they escaped the city, only to find our current social security mess.

Seriously, people.

 

[BBond]

Originally posted by: ShadesOfGrey

Originally posted by: rudder
fVck you Bush!!!! A traffic light was out on my way to work and the drivers did not treat it as a four way stop!! Damn you to hell, Bush!!!!

:laugh: You think he should fire everyone at the DOT? 😉

I pray to God that when the inevitable catastrophe hits YOUR region, we can all have a laugh at your expense. Very funny guy as the bodies float down the streets or rot in the attics of New Orleans DUE TO THE CRIMINAL NEGLIGENCE OF THE PEOPLE YOU SUPPORT, "TEAM LEADER".

 

[yllus]

Originally posted by: rudder
fVck you Bush!!!! A traffic light was out on my way to work and the drivers did not treat it as a four way stop!! Damn you to hell, Bush!!!!

LOL! 😀

Hey wait a moment...

THIS IS NO JOKING SITUATION! A BLUBBERING OLD MAN IS SCREAMING AT HIS COMPUTER AT THIS VERY MOMENT FOR JUSTICE TO BE DONE, AND YOU FIND HIS WHACKO-LEVEL ANGER AMUSING? PERHAPS READING SOME MORE TEXT IN CAPS WILL CHANGE YOUR MIND, EVIL-DOER!!!

 

[ShadesOfGrey]

Originally posted by: BBond

Originally posted by: ShadesOfGrey

Originally posted by: rudder
fVck you Bush!!!! A traffic light was out on my way to work and the drivers did not treat it as a four way stop!! Damn you to hell, Bush!!!!

:laugh: You think he should fire everyone at the DOT? 😉

I pray to God that when the inevitable catastrophe hits YOUR region, we can all have a laugh at your expense. Very funny guy as the bodies float down the streets or rot in the attics of New Orleans DUE TO THE CRIMINAL NEGLIGENCE OF THE PEOPLE YOU SUPPORT, "TEAM LEADER".

:roll: Sure, whatever you say troll.

No where was I laughing about the victims or disaster, so you can keep your fake outrage. However, I dare say that instead of trying invent disrespect in my statements, you look at your own statements and actions. You and your sidekick conjur have politicized this disaster to no end. THAT is disrespectful. THAT is disgusting. THAT sort of behaviour just shows how out of touch with reality you are.

 

[BBond]

These are the people who promied over and over during the last election that they were the only people capable of "keeping America safe". Cheney himself almost guaranteed that if Bush/Cheney lost America would be attacked.

Now you group of jerk offs defend these morons for abandoning 100,000 or more American citizens for FIVE LONG DAYS. How many would be alive today if the U.S. government had acted in hours instead of days?

Fvck every one of you. I curse you to suffer the same fate as those poor people in New Orleans. Dying of thirst, hunger, lack of medication, drowning, while your "president" plays guitar on vacation. While your Secretary of State goes shopping for shoes and laughing it up at Broadway theaters. While your vice president closes on his $3 million mansion.

WHILE FEMA AND HOMELAND SECURITY AND YOUR PRESIDENT AND HIS ENTIRE ADMINISTRATION DO ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.

 

[FuzzyBee]

Originally posted by: BBond


"They were training to help the life-savers," Knocke said.

Aren't these people trained already? Isn't this their JOB??? DON'T THEY WORK FOR FEMA???!

What part of "volunteers" do you not understand? These people have jobs of their own, and, believe it or not, want to make sure they have jobs when they come back.

 

[BDawg]

Originally posted by: BBond
WHILE FEMA AND HOMELAND SECURITY AND YOUR PRESIDENT AND HIS ENTIRE ADMINISTRATION DO ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.

That is close to libel.

Condi was watching Spamalot and shopping for designer shoes in NYC.

Cheney was shopping for a new mansion.

Andy Card was vacationing in Maine.

Next.

 

[slyedog]

he gets drunk and starts to rant. and watching tv only makes him madder. he should bring his drunk ass down here and see all the good that is being done. good things that are happening donot make good tv.

 

[BDawg]

Originally posted by: slyedog
he gets drunk and starts to rant. and watching tv only makes him madder. he should bring his drunk ass down here and see all the good that is being done. good things that are happening donot make good tv.

I don't think the President drinks anymore.

 

[ShadesOfGrey]

Originally posted by: BBond
These are the people who promied over and over during the last election that they were the only people capable of "keeping America safe". Cheney himself almost guaranteed that if Bush/Cheney lost America would be attacked.

Now you group of jerk offs defend these morons for abandoning 100,000 or more American citizens for FIVE LONG DAYS. How many would be alive today if the U.S. government had acted in hours instead of days?

Fvck every one of you. I curse you to suffer the same fate as those poor people in New Orleans. Dying of thirst, hunger, lack of medication, drowning, while your "president" plays guitar on vacation. While your Secretary of State goes shopping for shoes and laughing it up at Broadway theaters. While your vice president closes on his $3 million mansion.

WHILE FEMA AND HOMELAND SECURITY AND YOUR PRESIDENT AND HIS ENTIRE ADMINISTRATION DO ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.

Is that a threat? :laugh:

Time for your double dose of Xanax and Valium.

 

[BBond]

Originally posted by: slyedog
he gets drunk and starts to rant. and watching tv only makes him madder. he should bring his drunk ass down here and see all the good that is being done. good things that are happening donot make good tv.

If I "brought my ass" down there I'd only be turned away like all of the other aid the morons you defend turned away. And all of that good work is being done courtesy of donations from people like me.

Maybe green tea gets you drunk but it's never worked for me, junior. When I do get drunk it's Gentleman Jack or a good single malt scotch.

Only pussies like you get drunk on green tea.

 

[BBond]

Originally posted by: ShadesOfGrey

Originally posted by: BBond
These are the people who promied over and over during the last election that they were the only people capable of "keeping America safe". Cheney himself almost guaranteed that if Bush/Cheney lost America would be attacked.

Now you group of jerk offs defend these morons for abandoning 100,000 or more American citizens for FIVE LONG DAYS. How many would be alive today if the U.S. government had acted in hours instead of days?

Fvck every one of you. I curse you to suffer the same fate as those poor people in New Orleans. Dying of thirst, hunger, lack of medication, drowning, while your "president" plays guitar on vacation. While your Secretary of State goes shopping for shoes and laughing it up at Broadway theaters. While your vice president closes on his $3 million mansion.

WHILE FEMA AND HOMELAND SECURITY AND YOUR PRESIDENT AND HIS ENTIRE ADMINISTRATION DO ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.

Is that a threat? :laugh:

Time for your double dose of Xanax and Valium.

I don't do drugs, team leader, but you seem to be quite familiar with them. Is that what you people put in the kool-aid?

 

[BBond]

Originally posted by: BDawg

Originally posted by: slyedog
he gets drunk and starts to rant. and watching tv only makes him madder. he should bring his drunk ass down here and see all the good that is being done. good things that are happening donot make good tv.

I don't think the President drinks anymore.

Think again. If he wasn't off the wagon already, Katrina will knock him off. He's a dry drunk with the IQ of a chimp.

 

[ShadesOfGrey]

Originally posted by: BBond

Originally posted by: ShadesOfGrey

Originally posted by: BBond
These are the people who promied over and over during the last election that they were the only people capable of "keeping America safe". Cheney himself almost guaranteed that if Bush/Cheney lost America would be attacked.

Now you group of jerk offs defend these morons for abandoning 100,000 or more American citizens for FIVE LONG DAYS. How many would be alive today if the U.S. government had acted in hours instead of days?

Fvck every one of you. I curse you to suffer the same fate as those poor people in New Orleans. Dying of thirst, hunger, lack of medication, drowning, while your "president" plays guitar on vacation. While your Secretary of State goes shopping for shoes and laughing it up at Broadway theaters. While your vice president closes on his $3 million mansion.

WHILE FEMA AND HOMELAND SECURITY AND YOUR PRESIDENT AND HIS ENTIRE ADMINISTRATION DO ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.

Is that a threat? :laugh:

Time for your double dose of Xanax and Valium.

I don't do drugs, team leader, but you seem to be quite familiar with them. Is that what you people put in the kool-aid?

I didn't ask you if you wanted your meds, I asked if what you posted was a threat. Take your meds, wait for them to kick in, then try rejoining us here in reality.

 

[BBond]

Originally posted by: ShadesOfGrey

Originally posted by: BBond

Originally posted by: ShadesOfGrey

Originally posted by: BBond
These are the people who promied over and over during the last election that they were the only people capable of "keeping America safe". Cheney himself almost guaranteed that if Bush/Cheney lost America would be attacked.

Now you group of jerk offs defend these morons for abandoning 100,000 or more American citizens for FIVE LONG DAYS. How many would be alive today if the U.S. government had acted in hours instead of days?

Fvck every one of you. I curse you to suffer the same fate as those poor people in New Orleans. Dying of thirst, hunger, lack of medication, drowning, while your "president" plays guitar on vacation. While your Secretary of State goes shopping for shoes and laughing it up at Broadway theaters. While your vice president closes on his $3 million mansion.

WHILE FEMA AND HOMELAND SECURITY AND YOUR PRESIDENT AND HIS ENTIRE ADMINISTRATION DO ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.

Is that a threat? :laugh:

Time for your double dose of Xanax and Valium.

I don't do drugs, team leader, but you seem to be quite familiar with them. Is that what you people put in the kool-aid?

I didn't ask you if you wanted your meds, I asked if what you posted was a threat. Take your meds, wait for them to kick in, then try rejoining us here in reality.

Check it out, jerk off, I don't do drugs. That includes "meds". Reality isn't something you Bushie a$$holes have ANY experience with. You can't even ascertain when you've been lied to, or when your government fails its citizens in the most spectacular ways.

I'm wasting my time here arguing with a bunch of teenaged "team leaders". You people are so terminally fvcking stupid you'll get just what you deserve. I can't believe that you represent what is supposedly the world's greatest democracy.

That's just another of the lies. You pathetic excuses for human beings.

 

[FuzzyBee]

In all of your ranting, you may have missed this post:

Originally posted by: FuzzyBee

Originally posted by: BBond

"They were training to help the life-savers," Knocke said.

Aren't these people trained already? Isn't this their JOB??? DON'T THEY WORK FOR FEMA???!

What part of "volunteers" do you not understand? These people have jobs of their own, and, believe it or not, want to make sure they have jobs when they come back.

 

[yllus]

You guys'll have to excuse poor BBond. This disaster and all the lives lost was his perfect opportunity to bash a President he doesn't like. Some people put partisanship behind them at a time like this and act like civil human beings, and some act like BBond. There's one in every crowd. *shrugs*

 

[Pabster]

Originally posted by: BBond
Now you group of jerk offs defend these morons for abandoning 100,000 or more American citizens for FIVE LONG DAYS. How many would be alive today if the U.S. government had acted in hours instead of days?

How many might be alive today if Mayor Nagin had used those damn school buses to get his citizens out?

How many might be alive today if Governor Blanco had taken Bush's advice (as well as the National Hurricane Center's advice) to order a mandatory evacuation of New Orleans?

Fvck every one of you. I curse you to suffer the same fate as those poor people in New Orleans. Dying of thirst, hunger, lack of medication, drowning, while your "president" plays guitar on vacation. While your Secretary of State goes shopping for shoes and laughing it up at Broadway theaters. While your vice president closes on his $3 million mansion.

And where were "your" people?

 

[Pabster]

Originally posted by: yllus
You guys'll have to excuse poor BBond. This disaster and all the lives lost was his perfect opportunity to bash a President he doesn't like. Some people put partisanship behind them at a time like this and act like civil human beings, and some act like BBond. There's one in every crowd. *shrugs*

There's no excusing the P&N Troll Master and Team Leader known as BBond, head Anti-Bush propagandist.