Category: Scoutprime

Hurricane Katrina & Federal Flood, Scoutprime8 Comments

Clinton Blasts Federal Response to Katrina

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Good for her. I hope Hillary continues to say this and other Democratic candidates as well. Gulf Coast recovery should be a major campaign issue. From the Times Picayune… Calling the still-ravaged condition of post-Katrina New Orleans “a natural disaster that has become a national embarrassment and an international disgrace,” Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton on Saturday delivered a scorching critique of the federal government’s response to the storm and outlined a 10-point recovery program she promised to enact if voters send her to the White House next year. “Unfortunately, the federal government did not do its job,” the New York … Continue reading Clinton Blasts Federal Response to Katrina

Immoral Values, Scoutprime13 Comments

Let us reflect…

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On the pain and suffering wrought by Falwell. Here is just one part of that legacy, just one. But a very important one that has affected millions of lives world wide to this day… Following discovery of the first cases in 1981, it soon became clear a national health crisis was developing. But President Reagan’s response was “halting and ineffective,” according to his biographer Lou Cannon. Those infected initially with this mysterious disease — all gay men — found themselves targeted with an unprecedented level of mean-spirited hostility. A significant source of Reagan’s support came from the newly identified religious … Continue reading Let us reflect…

Scoutprime, So Called Liberal Media2 Comments

Hitchens To Faux News/Ralph Reed…”Tell it to Jack Abramoff”

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As the Rude Pundit said today of Christopher Hitchens’ appearance on AC 360 to discuss the death of Jerry Falwell…he can be exhilarating when he’s on your side. Tonight Hitchens continued on the subject of Falwell on Hannity and Colmes. He got into it with Hannity and later dished out taunts of Abramoff to Faux News for the other guest of the segment–Ralph Reed– including… “And why not a word now from the friend of Jack Abramoff” and “That’s all it needs now let’s hear from the Abramoff faction…you should be ashamed of yourselves.” And there was more. This was … Continue reading Hitchens To Faux News/Ralph Reed…”Tell it to Jack Abramoff”

Hurricane Katrina & Federal Flood, Scoutprime10 Comments

FEMA head: “air those trailers out”

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That’s the compassionate condescending conservative response to the people of the Gulf Coast living in FEMA trailers with unhealthy levels of formaldehyde… WASHINGTON — Complaints that mobile homes and trailers housing hurricane Katrina and Rita victims have unhealthy levels of formaldehyde were dismissed by Federal Emergency Management Agency Director David Paulison on Tuesday. Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., asked Paulison about the complaints at a House Homeland Security Committee hearing on FEMA’s ability to respond to the 2007 hurricane season. Paulison said he was unaware the trailers posed any health threats. The Sierra Club and other environmental groups, however, say high … Continue reading FEMA head: “air those trailers out”

Hurricane Katrina & Federal Flood, Scoutprime1 Comment

Warning on New Orleans flood protection “system”

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Matt at Fix the Pumps has a new post which examines “a set of condititions which are more likely to cause flooding in New Orleans than before Katrina.” Central to those conditions is the decision by the Army Corps of Engineers to not fix the outfall canal walls in NOLA and instead put up floodgates. I highly recommend reading Matt’s entire post but here is the concluding paragraph… The Corps will not fix the walls. They will rely on their beloved yet untested, unproven, and defective floodgates (we won’t really know they work until a storm hits), leaving New Orleans … Continue reading Warning on New Orleans flood protection “system”

Scoutprime, Uncategorized1 Comment

Link It: For the sake of the Nation

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Why care about New Orlean and South Lousiana? Well because if for no other reason, it affects you. It has been said many times before but read this from John Barry, the author of Rising Tide, on the importance of South Lousiana to the nation. Without action, land loss will continue, and it will increasingly jeopardize populated areas, the port system and energy production. This would be catastrophic for America. Scientists say the problem can be solved, even with rising sea levels, but that we have only a decade to begin addressing it in a serious way or the damage … Continue reading Link It: For the sake of the Nation

Scoutprime, War in Iraq4 Comments

Dept of Defense to block YouTube, MySpace, others

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From Stars and Stripes… Starting Monday, the Defense Department will block access to MySpace, YouTube and a host of other sites on official department computers worldwide, in an effort to boost its network efficiency. Troops and families living on U.S. bases will still be able to view the sites through private Internet networks, but the move leaves servicemembers in Iraq and Afghanistan who use the popular picture- and video-sharing sites with little or no access to them. Defense officials said the move is solely a reaction to the heavy drain the streaming video and audio can put on the defense … Continue reading Dept of Defense to block YouTube, MySpace, others

Scoutprime, Uncategorized4 Comments

Blanco speaking out

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From WaPo’s Jonathan Capehart interview of Louisiana Gov. Blanco… When I asked the governor if she were as baffled as I by the level of resistance in Congress and in the White House to helping Louisiana with post-Hurricane Katrina recovery (the continuing refusal to waive the onerous 10 percent match required by the Federal Emergency Management Agency comes to mind), Blanco let ‘er rip. “It’s all political,” she began. “You know, this country’s run on politics. But when a disaster comes that is not what you expect, you expect a human reaction, not a political reaction. And I will tell … Continue reading Blanco speaking out

Scoutprime, Stupid Republican Tricks12 Comments

There goes Wisconsin

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I knew I sensed a disturbance in cheeseland yesterday. Little did I know at the time how grave matters were. Holy Moly is Sam Brownback a fucking moron. Sorry but there’s no other way to put it when a candidate comes to Wisconsin and says this… The GOP presidential hopeful drew boos and groans Friday at the Wisconsin Republican Party convention when he used a football analogy to talk about the need to focus on families. “This is fundamental blocking and tackling,” he said. “This is your line in football. If you don’t have a line, how many passes can … Continue reading There goes Wisconsin

Scoutprime, War in Iraq1 Comment

5 killed, 3 missing

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From CNN… BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) — Four American troops and one Iraqi army interpreter have been killed and three American troops are missing after an attack on Saturday morning 12 miles west of Mahmoudiya — a city south of the capital in Babil province, the U.S. military said. The coalition team of seven Americans and the Iraqi interpreter was attacked before dawn, the military said. A nearby unit heard explosions, and 15 minutes later, a drone aircraft spotted two burning vehicles, according to a U.S. military statement. “Coalition Forces are currently using every means at our disposal to find the … Continue reading 5 killed, 3 missing

Of Interest, Scoutprime

Friday Quick Links

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Baby Names: “Katrina” not quite as unpopular as “Adolph.” The President of American Name Society connects some big ass dots…“There must be some sort of (negative) threshold and Katrina must have crossed it.” Awarded: A documentary, on Bush’s BFF in St. Bernard Parish– Rockey Vaccarella, won theHumanitarian Vision Special Achievement Award at the Newport Beach Film Festival. That Visionary Achievement–driving faux FEMA trailer to the White House where Prez thanks him for another great photo opportunity. Michael Homan: Allstate will stop writing new home policies for California. Truly the Golden State to be pre-emptively spared the FULL Gulf Coast treatment. … Continue reading Friday Quick Links

Scoutprime, War in Iraq6 Comments

Cheney goes to Iraq to shoot the Parliament’s 2 month vacation in the face

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Must have packed his Airstream because Cheney has made a surprise visit to Iraq which is “aimed at redoubling efforts to end divisive infighting among Iraq’s ethnic factions” according to WaPo. Cocker [U.S. ambassador to Iraq] told reporters traveling with Cheney that urging the parliament to stay in session through these difficult times was clearly on the vice president’s agenda. “For the Iraqi parliament to take a two-month vacation in the middle of summer is impossible to understand,” said Crocker, who traveled with Cheney from Washington. Cheney’s message with Iraqi leaders, according to a senior administration official who briefed reporters, … Continue reading Cheney goes to Iraq to shoot the Parliament’s 2 month vacation in the face

Of Interest, Scoutprime9 Comments

Snow, Sebelius and Just one thing about that federal declaration for Kansas

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Earlier today Tony Snow was pointing a finger of blame at Kansas Gov. Sebelius as part of his push back at her criticism that National Guard deployments to Iraq were slowing the disaster response to the Greensburg tornado. Later in the day he backed off. (see Holden’s Gaggle) However at the White House press briefing he did say this… The President also signed an emergency declaration that makes immediately available individual aid for people saying, my house is down, I need help; public aid, for instance, for the state —if you need equipment, you can get it from private vendors, … Continue reading Snow, Sebelius and Just one thing about that federal declaration for Kansas

Hurricane Katrina & Federal Flood, Scoutprime2 Comments

New Orleans still vulnerable to even small hurricane due to incomplete levee protection

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Bush’s plan last year… It’s going to be interesting — let’s pray — first of all, pray there’s no hurricanes. That would be, like, step one.–GW Bush 4/28/2006 And again this year… The New Orleans metropolitan area will enter the 2007 hurricane season with an incomplete levee protection system that could fail on its eastern and southern borders — even during smaller hurricanes, independent critics and officials with the Army Corps of Engineers agree. Lt. Col. Jeffrey Bedey, commander of the corps’ Hurricane Protection Office that oversees levees on the east bank of the Mississippi River, agreed that the protection … Continue reading New Orleans still vulnerable to even small hurricane due to incomplete levee protection

Scoutprime, War in Iraq6 Comments

Targets

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US soldiers ask.. “What do you want us to accomplish over here? We aren’t hearing any end state. We aren’t hearing it from the president, from the defense secretary,” Sgt. 1st Class Michael Eaglin said in a room cluttered with bunk beds, rucksacks and weapons at the Sadr City outpost. “We’re working hard and the politicians are arguing. They don’t have bullets flying over their heads. They aren’t on the front lines, and their buddies aren’t dying,” he said, echoing the sentiments of a group of soldiers around him. “It’s almost like the Vietnam War. We don’t know where we’re … Continue reading Targets

Scoutprime, Uncategorized2 Comments

GAO knew that

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The news that Kansas National Guard is lacking equipment needed to respond to the tornado devastation in Greensburg because it is instead in Iraq would not come as a surprise to those who read this GAO Obsession post from January. In that post I wrote… As regards the NG’s readiness the GAO reported… DOD does not routinely measure or report to Congress the equipment readiness of nondeployed National Guard forces for domestic missions.DOD’€™s legacy readiness reporting system and its annual National Guard equipping report to Congress address warfighting readiness but do not address the Guard’€™s domestic missions. On average, states … Continue reading GAO knew that

Of Interest, Scoutprime3 Comments

Peace in our time

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From the Irish Times… The Rev Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness today mark the end of almost four decades of bitter and bloody conflict in Northern Ireland when they are formally appointed first minister and deputy first minister. Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and British prime minister Tony Blair will be in the visitors’ gallery of Parliament Buildings, Stormont this morning to witness the creation of a powersharing government led by political polar opposites the Democratic Unionist Party and Sinn Féin. This will be the first time that Northern Ireland will be run by a government in which all the main nationalist … Continue reading Peace in our time

Hurricane Katrina & Federal Flood, Scoutprime5 Comments

Experts Warn of Flaws in Rebuilt New Orleans Levees

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(PHOTO: Tyrone Turner/National Geographic Magazine) The NYT has an article today on the “signs of serious flaws” in the levees of New Orleans. It is based on a feature by National Geographic and that is the must read. During a recent inspection of the levee system with National Geographic Magazine, engineering professor Bob Bea of the University of California, Berkeley, found multiple weak spots. The most serious flaws turned up in the rebuilt levees along the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet ship channel, which broke in more than 20 places when Katrina’s storm surge pounded it, leading to devastating flooding in … Continue reading Experts Warn of Flaws in Rebuilt New Orleans Levees