Hurricane Katrina

[Harry]

[QUOTE=Ilium][COLOR=DarkRed]I just found [URL=http://www.pnionline.com/dnblog/attytood/archives/002331.html]this[/URL] on the web. Apperently, money supposed to go to extending and strengthining the leevies in 2003 was diverted to the Iraq war. Many speculate that the budget diverted would have been sufficient to hold back to flood water and withstand the hurricane.

When the wiegggggggggggggggggggghtttttttttt come down...[/COLOR][/QUOTE]
I can link you to a website that says that New Orleans deserved it because they're all queers down there. I bet both of these statements are equally valid.

[quote]I'm not sure if it's appropriate to vent here about this, but I still have not heard from my close friend of ten years, who's flat was about 3 blocks from the river in New Orleans.[/quote]
Unless your friend did something weird like try to tough it out in his house, he's probably just stuck somewhere with no communication. The communication grid is basically shut down along that part of the gulf coast. He's probably doing ok (but homeless).

[quote]Thousands of people died without warning. In New Orleans thousands of people drowned either in their basement or their houses. I just want to say that my family continues to pray about this issue. And if any of you guys have a friend or family member out there.....my family is praying for you guys.[/quote] If people fled to their basements in New Orleans because a hurricane was coming, I'd daresay they deserved dying.

[quote] Although I'm concerned for all the people getting/have been hit, I'm also concerned about the gas prices. This is will make them rise even more, and more quickly, and I while I have NO clue about talking about the economy, I'm sure this will make it worse. I'm even guessing that energy bills will rise, and most of the working class will suffer. A lot. I mean, today our local gas stations announced that they won't be giving out gas after 5, and my mom is in this gigantic line to get gas. Down here, the gas is usually around $2.60, and it will probably rise up to $4.00. Yeah, I know that there are tons of places in the US that are already paying $3.60 for gas, but we've been accustomed to paying $2.60, so...I just don't want 582752 people yelling at me saying that we're lucky or whatever.[/quote] The gas prices really shouldn't be too high for a while. A lot of the high prices is due to the refineries being shut down due to the hurricane. In a month or so the prices should decrease.

[Lafleur]

[QUOTE=Harry]I can link you to a website that says that New Orleans deserved it because they're all queers down there. I bet both of these statements are equally valid.

The gas prices really shouldn't be too high for a while. A lot of the high prices is due to the refineries being shut down due to the hurricane. In a month or so the prices should decrease.[/QUOTE]
[COLOR=DarkRed]
First off, it all depends who you believe. A bunch of radicalists with too much freespeach (Specifically the GHF nuts) or a decently credible source. It's no secret that a lot of money that would have otherwise been spent on social development back in the US was pissed away in Iraq; things deemed unncessessary at the time were first to go, including the money budgeted to repair the Leevies.

With the gas, it all depends. The Gas companies aren't exactly known for their honesty. I mean, remember when the Gas prices spike pre-war? They claimed it was because Oil was becoming for scarce and costing more to find, but they were recording MASSIVE increases in profit; who's to say they won't pull similar **** here and just keep the prices high and invent something to explain it away? Probably worst case scenario, but possible. Probably be a bloody revolt if it happened though :/[/COLOR]

[Ikillion]

[COLOR=DarkSlateGray]Well about the topic of the gas prices I wouldn?t say they have shot up that fast. According on what I saw wile on the way to school and coming back from school the same day. The gas prices at the same station had already shot up 45 cents in less than 10 hours. I?m not sure if it?s that I live in Texas or not but I do believe that is a rapid price change in such a short amount of time

I am also worried about what will happen in the future. According to a report that I have read[URL=http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20050830/sc_afp/usweatherscience] here[/URL] , it says that there is a chance that there could be more Katrina?s coming this yeah. I mean if it?s already enough that we have had one Katrina this year alone. How are we going to react if we see almost three more? If that does happen even though this hurts me in the worst way possible, there could be some cities utterly destroyed in the process.

I am trying to only see this from a scientist point of view. Although it is hard since a lot of my family live down in the areas that are currently being devastated by Katrina. I can?t feel as badly as some of the people who are there right now or are worrying in there friends houses about there homes and other stuff like that, but anyways I guess I can try to feel that sort of pain anyways.

I don?t want to believe that there will be more hurricanes like Katrina out there. However, there has jus been a couple of rapid hurricane strikes not to long ago also. What?s the difference if the hurricanes are just stronger this time? This might just be something that will go down into the history books in some way or another that people 10 or even 20 years won?t even really care about. I'd like to see them here right now.[/COLOR]

[Harry]

[QUOTE=Ilium][COLOR=DarkRed]
First off, it all depends who you believe. A bunch of radicalists with too much freespeach (Specifically the GHF nuts) or a decently credible source. It's no secret that a lot of money that would have otherwise been spent on social development back in the US was pissed away in Iraq; things deemed unncessessary at the time were first to go, including the money budgeted to repair the Leevies.[/quote]
Source then?

[quote]With the gas, it all depends. The Gas companies aren't exactly known for their honesty. I mean, remember when the Gas prices spike pre-war? They claimed it was because Oil was becoming for scarce and costing more to find, but they were recording MASSIVE increases in profit; [/QUOTE]
Well in this case it's almost 100% because of the oil refineries being shut down. Most refineries are on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, and guess what just happened to the coast? Also the massive profits have to do with with the price of oil rising. Think of it this way, what if you have 20,000 barrel of oil that you bought a month ahead of time for let's say $46 a barrel. Then while you're refining it, the price increases to $50. Your investment just increased by $80,000. Imagine that on a larger scale. And you know, some price gouging.

[quote]who's to say they won't pull similar **** here and just keep the prices high and invent something to explain it away? Probably worst case scenario, but possible. Probably be a bloody revolt if it happened though :/[/QUOTE]
There's about a 0% chance the price of gas is going to stay at this price after the refineries are going again.

[ChibiHorsewoman]

[Quote=MIstress Roxie][color=periwinkle]

I heard someone compare Katrina to the Asian Tsunami, and things seem pretty much the same to me. New Orleans, the states of Louisiana, MI, AL, GA, etc., are completely devastated. No lights, no food, no running water - third world conditions. [/color][/QUOTE]

[color=darkviolet]I believe I heard the Mayor of Biloxi, MI saying yesturday that this [hurricane] is their Tsunami. I've seen pictures. They've been talking to peopel in my area who have family in the gulf states. One of the local anchormen finally heard from his brother today via text messaging.

My mom's just glad that is missed Orlando since one of her friends just moved down there to work at one of the colleges. However she has business collegues in New Orleans- she trained there a few years ago for some really nice people. I have no idea if she's heard from any of them yet. I hope they're okay.[/color]

[quote name='MIstress Roxie][color=periwinkle']and that fire raging now, but there's not enough water to put it out. [/color][/quote]

[color=darkviolet]How's that for irony?

I'm really amazed at the ammount of posts I've received to this since last night. I'm also glad that so far the OB members who reside in LA, MI, AL and the like are out of harm's way although greatly inconvienianced.

As I may have mentioned before, I work at a science supply warehouse so I end up shipping things all over the country (US and Canada). Today I had a shipment for a middle school in Baton Rouge, LA- all I could think of was 'Are they going to be able to use this any time soon?' know that's an odd thought, but look who's tyoing.

Elf Pirate, I hope you find out good things about your friend soon.

And I can't wait to read DanL.'s Landover Baptists link. How un Christian can you get to blame people for a natural occurance? :rolleyes:

Blessed be[/color]

[Morpheus]

[QUOTE]Thousands of people died without warning. In New Orleans thousands of people drowned either in their basement or their houses.[/QUOTE]
New Orleans' topsoil is to close to the water line for a basement.

[QUOTE]If people fled to their basements in New Orleans because a hurricane was coming, I'd daresay they deserved dying.[/QUOTE]
Of course, since staying above ground and being killed by debris (such as glass shards) is so much smarter.

[ChibiHorsewoman]

[quote name='Morpheus']New Orleans' topsoil is to close to the water line for a basement. [/quote]

[color=darkviolet]Well, come to think of it houses in the following states don't have basements:

Florida, Texas, Louisiana, Arizona, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia.

Atleast that I know of, there could be more. If you don't have a basement you can't drown in it.[/color]


[quote name='Morpheus']Of course, since staying above ground and being killed by debris (such as glass shards) is so much smarter. [/quote]

[color=darkviolet]That's the optomistic spirit I want to see from everyone on this post.

I just asked my mom about the peopel she worked with from New Orleans. She said the obvious, they're evacuated and they don't have too much power in their cell phones, no electricity and no land lines to call out. I guess everyone can just hope for the best.... Damn optomism[/color]

[Soliel]

[quote name='Morpheus']New Orleans' topsoil is to close to the water line for a basement.[/quote]
[COLOR=GREEN]Finally, someone's corrected this! Uh yeah, think people; if the city is below sea level and could fill up with this much water this fast, don't you think it would be [B]IMPOSSIBLE[/B] to build basements under the houses there.

No, where people were drowning was in the [I]attics[/I] of their homes. Well, now I've heard that marsal law has been declared in New Orleans. Even though things don't look good, I really think the media is blowing things a little out of proportion. My mom told me that there were people who came to the hospital where she works looking for shelter, but they had to be turned away because they simply don't have the resorces to take care of them. As a result they had to lock the doors so people wouldn't get in, but the news reported that the hospital was "under siege" which in turn paniced my brother who just called me wandering if our mom was ok. To get to the point, things may be bad, but they're not as bad as the news is making it sound.[/COLOR]

[SunfallE]

[QUOTE=elfpirate][b][font=Comic Sans MS]I'm not sure if it's appropriate to vent here about this, but I still have not heard from my close friend of ten years, who's flat was about 3 blocks from the river in New Orleans.

The lack of certainty for his well-being is nearly unbearable, as I listen to the reports of corpses floating everywhere, and the lack of fresh water for those who have managed to survive thus far.

I am, however, relieved that my brother returned from living with my friend in New Orleans just a few weeks ago, or I would be in quite a state (aka-sedated and drooling on the floor of my padded cell)...but the relief that my brother is safe does not negate my concern for my friend in the slightest.

My thoughts and my hope are with him...and with all the victims (and their families) of this devistating storm.

Again, I apologise if this was not the right place to vent my concerns.


[/font][/b][/QUOTE]

I sincerely hope your friend is all right and I wish the same for others who have friends and family missing since the Hurricane hit.

I was just down in that area last week so it seems kind of unreal to imagine that so much damage has occured.

As for the rising gas prices, I'm not surprised as the oil companies always seem to take any chance to raise the prices. I remember it quite well as I was driving back to Utah from Reno NV and I got a message from the company I work for telling me to stop and fill the truck as gas was going to go up at midnight.

It's hard to believe that there really is a need to raise prices when so many of the oil companies are making record breaking profits the past few years. :animeangr But compared to the losses of those who have lost their homes and loved ones, I guess it doesn't really matter.

[are i]

[COLOR=DarkRed]This entire situation is completely bizarre.

Here in central MS, we're stuck without running water or electricity (except for a generater, that runs the freezers and a comp, but no AC :animeangr ).

I can't imagine what's going on in New Orleans, though... people must be reverting to "survival" mode... I mean, the city's underwater, and there are hundreds stuck without food and fresh water. I really can't blame people for the (practical) looting.

Around here, we're just stuck without power and water, and people are going completely primal over gasoline. Right now, I'm isolated inside my house, and I have no idea if everyone I know is alright (since the telephones aren't working). School seems like something from a different lifetime...

My parents won't be quiet about how the people stranded in New Orleans should have left sooner... I'm about ready to beat them for being such ********.

My heart's in New Orleans, and I pray for the survival and safety of its people.

I just hope this entire situation will end itself before the gulf turns into "Lord of the Flies" or something... (that's about where my house is headed... :animesigh )

Peace[/COLOR]

[Bloodseeker]

What is all of this BS that I've been hearing? People are attacking medical workers and police/military personnel that are working to rescue the refugees in the area... WHY? Even a big disaster like this one doesn't justify people shooting at people that are trying to help.

[Harry]

[quote name='Morpheus']Of course, since staying above ground and being killed by debris (such as glass shards) is so much smarter.[/quote]
Are you suggesting going into a basement during a hurricane is as safe as finding higher ground? I just really don't understand your point there.

[quote]Well, come to think of it houses in the following states don't have basements:

Florida, Texas, Louisiana, Arizona, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia.

Atleast that I know of, there could be more. If you don't have a basement you can't drown in it.
[/quote]
Texas has basements, just not along the coast. I'm not sure if it's the same for the other states, in Houston the soil expands and contracts due to how much water it's absorbed. So during a drought the soil will contract and then expand when rain comes. It's easy to see why having a basement would be a bad idea there.

[Morpheus]

[quote name='Harry']Are you suggesting going into a basement during a hurricane is as safe as finding higher ground? I just really don't understand your point there.[/quote]
Considering Katrina was tossing around a large number of vehicles, I'd say choosing either (even though one doesn't even exist) would be equally pointless. When your house is demolished (or covered in water), your choice of hiding place isn't really a factor.

[SilentSecurity]

[quote]Looting became a problem in both Biloxi and in New Orleans, in some cases in full view of police and National Guardsmen. One police officer was shot in the head by a looter in New Orleans, but was expected to recover, Sgt. Paul Accardo, a police spokesman. [/quote]

May god save us. It's really ****** pathetic that people are looting things like game stores when thousands are suffering.

[quote]Outside the broken shells of Biloxi's casinos, people picked through slot machines to see if they still contained coins. "People are just casually walking in and filling up garbage bags and walking off like they're Santa Claus," said Marty Desei, owner of a Super 8 motel.[/quote]

I was amazed when I read this. People are actually wasting time looting slot machines?!?!

I also heard that the helicopters evacuating people from the super dome were being shot at. OK, cops stopping looters getting shot makes little sense, but helicopters saving peoples lives being shot at WHAT THE **** IS WRONG WITH US?!

[Lafleur]

[COLOR=DarkRed]The **** is really hitting the fan in the Big Easy. Lootings abound, there are snipers - SNIPERS - shooting at medical evacuation vechials, and the evac plans are a mess. Bush is yet to even issue a official request for aide to help quell the violent uprisings and evac the survivors - Canada's DART teams are on standby but no request has come. It really could be an awful long time before any progress is made in New Orleans at this rate, especially with looting and armed criminals on the rise (See: Two Wal-Marts found robbed of all guns and ammunition) many more could die before the whole thing is worked out.

[/COLOR]

[Harry]

[QUOTE=Ilium][COLOR=DarkRed]The **** is really hitting the fan in the Big Easy. Lootings abound, there are snipers - SNIPERS - shooting at medical evacuation vechials, and the evac plans are a mess. Bush is yet to even issue a official request for aide to help quell the violent uprisings and evac the survivors - Canada's DART teams are on standby but no request has come. It really could be an awful long time before any progress is made in New Orleans at this rate, especially with looting and armed criminals on the rise (See: Two Wal-Marts found robbed of all guns and ammunition) many more could die before the whole thing is worked out.

[/COLOR][/QUOTE]
This is New Orleans we're talking about here people. I don't know if you've never been, but it basically has a history for being an extremely shady place.

[quote]Considering Katrina was tossing around a large number of vehicles, I'd say choosing either (even though one doesn't even exist) would be equally pointless. When your house is demolished (or covered in water), your choice of hiding place isn't really a factor.[/quote]
I don't think vehicles were literally being tossed around. I'd have to guess it takes more than 160mph wind to do that. I don't really know since I'm too lazy to check.

[SilentSecurity]

[quote]The military was seen going in last time I checked. And really, this is New Orleans we're talking about here people. I don't know if you've never been, but it basically has a history for being an extremely shady place.[/quote]

Yeah, the military is in there. The have those high water vehicles and helicopters bringing supplies and helping with evacuation.

Not all of New Orleans is 'shady'. The French Quarter isn't, it's just like every other large city, some areas are fine, other areas you'll be asking for trouble.

[Lafleur]

[QUOTE=Harry]This is New Orleans we're talking about here people. I don't know if you've never been, but it basically has a history for being an extremely shady place.


I don't think vehicles were literally being tossed around. I'd have to guess it takes more than 160mph wind to do that. I don't really know since I'm too lazy to check.[/QUOTE]
[COLOR=DarkRed]
Shady, yea. But shooting at Med Evacs? That's just... wtf? One of my friends aunts worked in one of the hospitals along the river until recently when she was rescued, but they've been working tirelessly to keep 350 critical patients from dieing, literally keeping them alive with manual lung-pump thingies. One of the nurses went out to get a breath of air and was attacked and robbed. I know the Big Easy has a history... but...
Even if New Orleans isn't a great place, DART or JTF2 could really be of help there; DART and JTF2 are two of the most well trained urban combat and rescue squads around and not even a request has been made. What's the government thinking?

Well, a class-4 hurricane is like having a tsunami for 12 hours; so cars could have very likely been thrown around, but I don't know of any.[/COLOR]

[ChibiHorsewoman]

[QUOTE=Harry]Texas has basements, just not along the coast.
.[/QUOTE]

[color=darkviolet]One of my aunts lived in Grapevine- a suburb of Dallas and her friends lived in Irving- no basments and as we all know Dallas is in North Texas.

I lived in central Texas, my friend's houses didn't have basements, my apartment complex didn't have basements. None of the houses I saw from Dallas/FT. Worth to Brian/ College Station had basements. Heck, the Dallas Ft. Worth air port doesn't have a basement. They have lower levels for passengers to stay during inclimate (ie tornadoes) weather. Buit it's not a basement.

The topsoil is either too hard, too close to the watershed (where the water is in the ground) or there is too much expanding and contracting in the topsoil for homeowners to have basements.

That said the situation for people in the Gulf States is getting worse. For example there are diabetics who have gone for three days without their insulin- at least two in one shelter have died from insulin shock. The infants and children in other shelters are sick and people are going hungry and thirsty. Yet G.W. can't be bothered todo anything but send trucks down.

He keeps saying that the government is doing the best they can. Well, obviously their best isn't good enough. Peple are dying from lack of supplies because this genius decided that trucks are teh only way. Why can't he do air drop supplies? IF this was a foreign country help would have been there last week, but when it happens on our own doorstep, it'll take a while.

I'm watching Dateline right now. There are babies going without formula- or at the very least milk because president Bush is more concerned with Iraq than with his own citizens. All he can keep saying is that he's doing the best he can.

Mothers are watching their children starve because of our governemnt. I'm sitting here at my computer crying because there are mothers holding their children who are barely alert and I keep picturing [i]my own daughter[/i] going through that without any help. Trust me, it's no fun watching your child be sick in the first place, but being completely helpless is something I just don't want to immagine. I'm not ashamed to admit I'm crying about this.

Maybe he should do something like donate his own money along with the ordinary citizen.

I'm sorry, maybe this wasn't the best place for a rant, but as a mother of a young child watching other parents unable to help keep their children it's heartbreaking. I wish I knew how to set up a collection to send down diapers, bottles formula and water. And some baby wipes[/color]

[Harry]

[QUOTE=SilentSecurity]

Not all of New Orleans is 'shady'. The French Quarter isn't, it's just like every other large city, some areas are fine, other areas you'll be asking for trouble.[/QUOTE]
It's nice where all the tourists go, but go anywhere else and you'll see what I'm talking about.

As for Chibi's comment, people have basements around the Lubbock, but you're right, they don't in the Dallas area from what I've seen.

[Guest JediStorm]

Even way over here i've heard alot about it. This is definatly something that has affected many people. It hurts me to think of all the people who doed who did absolutly nothing wrong.

[Soliel]

[QUOTE=ChibiHorsewoman][color=darkviolet]That said the situation for people in the Gulf States is getting worse. For example there are diabetics who have gone for three days without their insulin- at least two in one shelter have died from insulin shock. The infants and children in other shelters are sick and people are going hungry and thirsty. Yet G.W. can't be bothered todo anything but send trucks down.

He keeps saying that the government is doing the best they can. Well, obviously their best isn't good enough. Peple are dying from lack of supplies because this genius decided that trucks are teh only way. Why can't he do air drop supplies? IF this was a foreign country help would have been there last week, but when it happens on our own doorstep, it'll take a while.

I'm watching Dateline right now. There are babies going without formula- or at the very least milk because president Bush is more concerned with Iraq than with his own citizens. All he can keep saying is that he's doing the best he can.

Mothers are watching their children starve because of our governemnt. I'm sitting here at my computer crying because there are mothers holding their children who are barely alert and I keep picturing [i]my own daughter[/i] going through that without any help. Trust me, it's no fun watching your child be sick in the first place, but being completely helpless is something I just don't want to immagine. I'm not ashamed to admit I'm crying about this.

Maybe he should do something like donate his own money along with the ordinary citizen.

I'm sorry, maybe this wasn't the best place for a rant, but as a mother of a young child watching other parents unable to help keep their children it's heartbreaking. I wish I knew how to set up a collection to send down diapers, bottles formula and water. And some baby wipes[/color][/QUOTE]
[COLOR=GREEN]Now, usually I'm the first one to critisize Bush on his actions, but from my standpoint as a New Orleanian, I greatly, [B]GREATLY[/B] appreashiate any help we can get, even if it is slow coming. But even bush said that the relief they've received is "not acceptable". The problem with simply dropping relief suppies is that 1) Most of the city is still under water, 2) There is mass confussion on the ground so survivers would not know what the supplies were, or even where they were, 3) The armed gangs of looters could pick up the supplies and my even try to profit off of them.

Also, about those trucks. They contain [B]TONS[/B] of food, water, and other provitions that will tie them over until they are moved out of the city. There are also law enforcement vehicles, fire trucks, ambulances, and most importantly, buses to move them out, that are part of these convoys now moving into the city.

We also need to understand that this is bigger than anything our modern nation has faced, even bigger than 9-11. I mean, during Sept. 11th, we had a clear enemy to blame, NYC could still function as a city immeadiately following that tragity, and the death toll was about 3,000. Here, there is really no one to directly blame besides mother nature, NO is not functioning and probibly won't for months, and the death toll in the city alone is exceading that of 9-11.

Now we can probibly spend the rest of our lives pointing fingers saying things like they should have reinforced the levees or that they should have had a disaster plan in place for this sort of thing. But pointing fingers isn't going to earase what happened. Instead we should learn from our mistakes and rebuild New Orleans and the rest of the gulf coast so that it will stand up to a Cat. 5 hurricane next time one should hit.[/COLOR]

[eleanor]

[color=darkslateblue] Our school just started a relief aid program for the disaster areas of Hurricane Katrina. We're even collected parts of the football game ticket money to donate, and anything else that students pay for. So...I'm just encouraging everyone to donate. Don't be a effball and be cheap, or say you're poor or whatever. I've gone around trying to collect money because I'm on Anchor Club, and people I know who get 80 dollars a week for allowance (for their own spending use!) wouldn't budge.

I mean, I don't know about comparing this to 9-11, but this definatly is one of, or possibly [i]the[/i] worst natural disaster occurance in the US. My history teacher backed me up on this one, but I'm not sure.

And to everyone complaining about Bush...

Yeah, a lot of our money is being pissed away in Iraq, but what's done is done. It's horrible and somewhat disgusting that we've been watching so much money drain in Iraq, and that preventing us to have better programs in which to help these people, but all we can do is just hope and pray. Bush is trying, it's not like he's sitting around getting a tan somewhere.

But, people there also have a very good reason to be angry. This is our country...it should be the president's very first priority. I wonder how this will all effect his popularity. [/color]

[Lafleur]

[QUOTE=Lunox][color=darkslateblue]
Yeah, a lot of our money is being pissed away in Iraq, but what's done is done. It's horrible and somewhat disgusting that we've been watching so much money drain in Iraq, and that preventing us to have better programs in which to help these people, but all we can do is just hope and pray. Bush is trying, it's not like he's sitting around getting a tan somewhere. [/color][/QUOTE]
[COLOR=DarkRed]
Actualy, Bush did spend the rest of the day after the hurricane getting guitar lessons and biking - Condi was at an Eric Idle show and buying new shoes, go figure - guess they call him the Vacation President for a reason...

Even with the money being pissed away in Iraq, I gotta wonder what Bush and congress are up to. This basically how the conversation went:

Paul Martin: Gee George, I'm really gosh darn sorry to hear about Katrina and the loss of the Big Easy... Is there anything I can do to help? I've got billions of dollars, well-trained rescue personal, tonnes of supplies, Canadians everywhere are just waiting for the request.

George Bush: Nahhh I'm good, umm... What was your name again? Ahh it's not important. Well anyway, I [I]could[/I] accept DART and JTF2 aide, I [I]could[/I] accept the largest cash donation of any nation to date, I [I]could[/I] do what I promised and save thousands from the hell that is the Superdome. Buttttttt... nahh. We're the US! We don't need any help from [I]Canadians[/I] of all people. My personal ego is much more important than the well-being of the American people.

Paul Martin: But George, there are hundreds still trapped on roof tops that have gone without water and food for days, nearly 70,000 people trapped in the Superhell, and not nearly enough National Guardsmen to save them all - I seem to remember a certain conflict their all tied up in. George, ask congress. They'll make the sensible decisions.

George Bush: *Snicker Snicker* Okkkk whatever you say. Congressssssssssss...

Conservative Congress (Majority): ALL GLORY TO THE VACATION PRESIDENT!

Lib Congress (Minority): Well comon, that doesn't sound right! The American people come before the presidents ego!

Conservative Congress (Majority): QUIET YOU UNPATRIOTIC HEATHENS! HOW DARE YOU QUESTION OUR PRESIDENT! ALL GLORY TO VACATION PRESIDENT!

Lib Congress (Minority): **** it, let them have their ego. I've got five dollars on me, lets go see if we can find some imported beer. Beerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeer...

George Bush: Funny what a little money and electroshock can do... Well, anyway... you, we're turning down your aide. *snicker* Oh, while I've got you here, how's the lumber industry do- Ah, sorry, gotta go. My guitar teachers a'callin. Condi'll be right... oh that's right, shoe shoping. Umm... Call back later!

Paul Martin: What the **** just happened here?

The saddest part is that's the basics of what happened: Canada offered the most aide of any nation and were brushed aside by Bush and the Cons for whatever reason, costing hundreds if not thousands of lives in the process. What's so hard about letting Canada help out? The gov't make to much money screwing us to allow us some leverage? Comon, this is just pathetic on behalf of the Government. Trucks full of aide can only do so much; nothing the US has at home can match the DART or JTF2 for search & rescue prowess and they just laugh in our faces. Pathetic...[/COLOR]

[eleanor]

[QUOTE=Ilium][COLOR=DarkRed]
Actualy, Bush did spend the rest of the day after the hurricane getting guitar lessons and biking - Condi was at an Eric Idle show and buying new shoes, go figure - guess they call him the Vacation President for a reason...

Even with the money being pissed away in Iraq, I gotta wonder what Bush and congress are up to. This basically how the conversation went:

Paul Martin: Gee George, I'm really gosh darn sorry to hear about Katrina and the loss of the Big Easy... Is there anything I can do to help? I've got billions of dollars, well-trained rescue personal, tonnes of supplies, Canadians everywhere are just waiting for the request.

George Bush: Nahhh I'm good, umm... What was your name again? Ahh it's not important. Well anyway, I [I]could[/I] accept DART and JTF2 aide, I [I]could[/I] accept the largest cash donation of any nation to date, I [I]could[/I] do what I promised and save thousands from the hell that is the Superdome. Buttttttt... nahh. We're the US! We don't need any help from [I]Canadians[/I] of all people. My personal ego is much more important than the well-being of the American people.

Paul Martin: But George, there are hundreds still trapped on roof tops that have gone without water and food for days, nearly 70,000 people trapped in the Superhell, and not nearly enough National Guardsmen to save them all - I seem to remember a certain conflict their all tied up in. George, ask congress. They'll make the sensible decisions.

George Bush: *Snicker Snicker* Okkkk whatever you say. Congressssssssssss...

Conservative Congress (Majority): ALL GLORY TO THE VACATION PRESIDENT!

Lib Congress (Minority): Well comon, that doesn't sound right! The American people come before the presidents ego!

Conservative Congress (Majority): QUIET YOU UNPATRIOTIC HEATHENS! HOW DARE YOU QUESTION OUR PRESIDENT! ALL GLORY TO VACATION PRESIDENT!

Lib Congress (Minority): **** it, let them have their ego. I've got five dollars on me, lets go see if we can find some imported beer. Beerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeer...

George Bush: Funny what a little money and electroshock can do... Well, anyway... you, we're turning down your aide. *snicker* Oh, while I've got you here, how's the lumber industry do- Ah, sorry, gotta go. My guitar teachers a'callin. Condi'll be right... oh that's right, shoe shoping. Umm... Call back later!

Paul Martin: What the **** just happened here?

The saddest part is that's the basics of what happened: Canada offered the most aide of any nation and were brushed aside by Bush and the Cons for whatever reason, costing hundreds if not thousands of lives in the process. What's so hard about letting Canada help out? The gov't make to much money screwing us to allow us some leverage? Comon, this is just pathetic on behalf of the Government. Trucks full of aide can only do so much; nothing the US has at home can match the DART or JTF2 for search & rescue prowess and they just laugh in our faces. Pathetic...[/COLOR][/QUOTE]

[color=darkslateblue] Sadly, I almost believe it. But do you have any sources? I've looked around on Google and I can't really find any article that directly says the US is rejecting Canada's aid. [/color]