Write your senators and representative re: Katrina -- lack of planning

[DELUSIONAL]

or other issues you feel need addressing.

I wrote the following to my Senators and one Congressional Representatives. (Murray, Cantwell and Inslee)

Regarding Hurricane Katrina's impact on the Gulf States.

As the drama unfolded I wondered if anyone would be in charge of helping the victims. Would someone in the Bush administration be appointed to organize reliable and responsible relief efforts.

Anyone who has been following the tragedy that is unfolding in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina knows that President Bush was eating cake with Senator McCain and then he was in San Diego using the military as a backdrop for one of his pre-scripted speeches.

But we have not seen anything resembling leadership.

My father was career Navy. I was born in a Navy hospital and grew up on Navy Air Bases. Whenever there was a natural disaster, my father and other military personnel were on hand to help. They were there before the rain stopped falling or as soon as the Tsunami hit. Every piece of equipment that could be used to assist the victims was put into service. During one major flood I learned that my father could drive heavy machinery when he spent the whole night picking up people clinging to roofs.

I've been waiting for news about the Navy's involvement -- and have learned that it will be slow and small. Two or maybe four small ships will be sent to help and perhaps a hospital ship. Most of the Louisiana National Guard has been deployed to Iraq -- so they won't be there to help when they are really needed.

This war of choice in Iraq has stretched the limits of the military -- because if they are not responding in huge numbers then their leaders either don't care about the citizens of the Gulf States or the military is stretched beyond anything we have been told.

I cannot imagine the military just sitting on their hands while watching people in New Orleans clinging to roofs as the water raises. The levees cannot be fixed because the too few helicopters must be used to rescue people on roof tops.

Where are the fleets of small boats I know the Navy has? Where are the Navy personnel?

America is supposed to be one of the richest countries in the world -- but her citizens are being treated like people in a third world country. When Caribbean nations were hit by hurricanes the Bush administration offered a few thousand dollars. Now when a whole city is being submerged -- the Bush administration sends a few boats.

Also the Bush administration was cutting funding to the Army Corps of Engineers for Levee improvements and upgrades around New Orleans -- at a time when hurricanes are predicted to get worse.

While the scientists are still debating about the link between increased hurricane activity and Global warming we have hurricane Katrina who was formed near the Bahamas, raged across the tip of Florida and hit the hot water of the Gulf and Mexico and then surged up through Louisiana. It has been predicted that ONE day a hurricane would hit New Orleans. Well that day came and everything that was predicted has come to pass.

WHY WEREN'T THE PLANS emergency plans IN PLACE?

What other disasters will happen while Nero George Bush plays his guitar?

Sincerely,

XXXXXX (former military brat)

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When selecting the (required) subject of my email -- I decided that military would be as good as any.

[caligirl]

1. sent a news tip to a local SFO tv station instead.

[DELUSIONAL]

2. That works too!

Good for you.

I think I'll send some letters to the editors of local papers.

[Carla in Ca]

3. I did a media blast tonight

and I'm up late making a new poster for a protest tomorrow night.
"BUSH EATS CAKE WHILE KATRINA DEVASTATES" with photos.

[Swamp Rat]

4. If Bushler gave a fuck about New Orleans,

he would have sent the US military to plug up the holes in the levee last Monday. It has become quite clear that he will allow the Crescent City to die a slow death, right before our very eyes.

If I were president, I would have flown there immediately. Then, I would have ordered every person, and sent every resource to save New Orleans... the soul of America.

Again, Bush does not give a fuck about New Orleans.

What will he do next? Have a photo op with some NOPD, with a drowned New Orleans in the back ground? Do not let him fool you with colorful photos and canned speeches... Bush does not give a fuck about New Orleans.

Where is my president? I need my president to save my city, my family, my home!