What They Don't Want Us To See

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FEMA is not allowing photos of the dead in NO...

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - When U.S. officials asked the media not to take pictures of those killed by Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath, they were censoring a key part of the disaster story, free speech watchdogs said on Wednesday.
SNIP

But on Tuesday, FEMA refused to take reporters and photographers along on boats seeking victims in flooded areas, saying they would take up valuable space need in the recovery effort and asked them not to take pictures of the dead.

In an e-mail explaining the decision, a FEMA spokeswoman wrote: "The recovery of victims is being treated with dignity and the utmost respect and we have requested that no photographs of the deceased by made by the media."

This is about CONTROLLING the story, NOT dignity for the drowned.
Dignity in America Died last week in New Orleans.

Talk About Resume Padding....

It's painfully obvious that Mike Drownie Brownie failed miserably in heading FEMA and should never have been in that position. Time magazine looked into his resume padding.........

Before joining FEMA, his only previous stint in emergency management, according to his bio posted on FEMA's website, was "serving as an assistant city manager with emergency services oversight." The White House press release from 2001 stated that Brown worked for the city of Edmond, Okla., from 1975 to 1978 "overseeing the emergency services division." In fact, according to Claudia Deakins, head of public relations for the city of Edmond, Brown was an "assistant to the city manager" from 1977 to 1980, not a manager himself, and had no authority over other employees. "The assistant is more like an intern," she told TIME. "Department heads did not report to him." Brown did do a good job at his humble position, however, according to his boss. "Yes. Mike Brown worked for me. He was my administrative assistant. He was a student at Central State University," recalls former city manager Bill Dashner. "Mike used to handle a lot of details. Every now and again I'd ask him to write me a speech. He was very loyal. He was always on time. He always had on a suit and a starched white shirt."

Wow impressive, he was on time. Now I was an intern once and let's say it went without saying I was to be on time and dress professionally. My advisor never told me I excelled or was subsequently hired due to punctuality or appropriate dress.

Brown also lists "Outstanding Political Science Professor, Central State University".
But Time contacted the university and was told:
Brown "wasn't a professor here, he was only a student here......"He may have been an adjunct instructor," says Johnson, but that title is very different from that of "professor."
As for the honor of "Outstanding Political Science Professor," Johnson says, "I spoke with the department chair yesterday and he's not aware of it." Johnson could not confirm that Brown made the Dean's list or was an "Outstanding Political Science Senior," as is stated on his online profile.

Brown also claims "that from 1983 to the present he has been director of the Oklahoma Christian Home, a nursing home in Edmond."
But " an administrator with the Home, told TIME that Brown is "not a person that anyone here is familiar with."

Brown's also lists "a wide range of areas of legal practice, from estate planning to family law to sports."
But his boss said "He did mainly transactional work, not litigation," says Jones. "There was a feeling that he was not serious and somewhat shallow." Jones says when his law firm split, Brown was one of two staffers who was let go."

It's clear the White House did not vet Mr. Brown. The question I have is did the White House do the padding? Because frankly I don't think Drownie would have been capable of even that.

Give That Man an AMEN!

From Raw Story:

Dick Cheney was doing a press conference today when a man in the background yelled:

"Go fuck yourself, Mr. Cheney. Go fuck yourself."

The camera remains on Cheney while we hear scuffling in the background

CNN's reporter asks Cheney, "Are you getting a lot of that Mr. Vice President?"

Cheney replies, "First time I've heard it., Must be a friend of John..., er, ah - never mind."

I hope that grand fellow is not on his way to Gitmo.

"Blowback Barbour" Connected to Intentional Reduction of Refineries

Mississippi Governor and Bush Pioneer, Hailey "Blowback" Barbour whose lobbying efforts I wrote about the other day just keeps popping up if you connect the dots. Read on....

Raw Story has uncovered oil industry memos that show the industry moved to Intentionally reduce refinery capacity to drive up gasoline profits.







In that memo it states "One example of a significant event would be elimination of mandate for oxygenate addition to gasoline. Given a choice, oxygenate usage would go down, and gasoline supplies would go down accordingly."

Of course ....Supply down =Price up=Profit up.

And who was it that was working on the behalf of oil companies to at least limit their liability from using the harmful oxygenated additives if they can't be rid of the mandates all together?

It was lead by Hailey Barbour's lobbying firm. Yes that is the now Governor of Katrina ravaged Mississippi. He represented "The Oxygenated Fuels Association, which lobbied a House-Senate Conference Committee in 2003 to grant legal immunity to producers of toxic gas additive MTBE." (Learn more about oxygenates and MTBE at EPA site
and the controversy of harmful MTBE at USGS and for latest update of limiting legal liability in present Energy Bill)


And remember Barbour said of his lobbying efforts:
“We don’t represent issues that are inconsistent with what we believe in,” Barbour told the New York Times in 2001.

In other words Hailey believes his constituents and the rest of the US should wait in line for ever increasing priced gas so his oil industry buddies can increase profit and not pay the price for clean up of the harmful MTBE.
How does Barbour sleep at night or look at himself in the mirror in the morning???

Now They Blame the Americans that Lived There:Not Gov't Cronies

WaPo online has this headline:
Americans Ignored Risk In Flocking To Coast

More Blame Game? It sounds like crazy Americans are to blame for foolishly moving to the Gulf Coast.

But the article tells how......
"The federal government also paid prodigious sums in flood insurance claims to property owners who had insisted on building in harm's way."

And .....
"There's been a steadily increasing buildup in high-hazard areas, especially in the Gulf from Louisiana to Alabama," Conrad said. " The federal and local governments don't have the ability to say no, even when the risks are so obvious."

Then there is this.....

In 1998, Deputy Assistant Army Secretary Michael L. Davis tried to stop the Army Corps of Engineers from rubber-stamping casino applications without studying the impact dredging would have on marshes that shelter wildlife, purify drinking water and help prevent flooding. This angered Lott, then Senate majority leader, who had recently flown to Las Vegas in a casino executive's jet and had raised $100,000 for Republicans at a casino-industry fundraiser.

Lott got the moratorium lifted, then he got the Army to launch an investigation of Davis. No wrongdoing was found, but Davis was removed from Gulf Coast permitting issues.

So the government was doing much to encourage this "flocking" to the coast. So before we blame the American people for engaging in such risky behavior I think we should ask who was to benefit from the risky development of this area. Like say Joseph C. Canizaro, CEO of Columbus Properties of New Orleans and one of 4 LA Bush 2000 Pioneer and 2004 Ranger. Mother Jones puts his contribution gathering prowess at $587,250 and that only up to 2000. Canizaro once said, “You have to participate in government if you want to get something out of it.” Yup. It is wise to know folks in high places.....say W. After all "Canizaro was one of 22 wealthy business leaders whom President Bush invited to lunch in 2001 to discuss his tax cut for the wealthy."

And Canizaro's Gulf Coast development......It's called Tradition.
The Tradition web site certainly is heavy on luring those flocking Americans to the Gulf Coast...

The Gulf Coast is fast becoming a premier national destination resort, entertaining over 20 million tourists annually. Located only minutes from the coastline, Tradition offers access to all the benefits that the region has to offer. With the excellent fishing and golfing opportunities, Las Vegas-style gaming and entertainment, and white sand beaches just minutes away, Tradition and the Mississippi Gulf Coast offer an attractive alternative to Florida retirement. The Gulf Coast, however, is more than just a beach town.
INDEED....
Mississippi's low crime rate, which is 14.5% below the national average, provides an underlying level of personal security that stands in sharp contrast to many popular destinations like Florida and Arizona. Additionally, Mississippi is tax-friendly when it comes to retirees. In addition to low tax rates in general, retirees living in Mississippi do not pay state income tax on qualified retirement income. They also gain an additional exemption of property taxes upon reaching the age of 65. Tradition has been diligently working in tangent with several retirement communities in trying to eliminate state taxes for all retirees 55 years of age and older.

There appears to be state government help also in luring those crazy flocking Americans to that risky coast area. In fairness ....Tradition is not right on the Coastline (was there any left for development) and their web site claims the Sierra Club did a nice write up on the development.All the same it looks like once again we see another example of Bush Ranger/Pioneer buddies profiting from state and federal government breaks. This political patronage, graft and corruption needs to stop.

Oh and and a few asides.....
Mr. Canizaro founded Coporate Capital in 1998 which invested in Automated Technology Machines or ATM machines, owning 1,000 ATM's in the US.
Think of that next time you are at the ATM......might be giving profit to Bush's Ranger.

And Mr. Canizaro is a member of the Tulane University President's Council. Now you don't think he could have had anything to do with Tulane University Hospital getting their staff evacuated out of NO as Charity hospital patients waited (and died) in vain for choppers that never came? NAW I'm sure that NEVER played into it.

They Couldn't Leave

Read this harrowing account of 2 convention attendees trapped in NO:

In short order, the police commander came across the street to address our group. He told us he had a solution: we should walk to the Pontchartrain Expressway
and cross the greater New Orleans Bridge where the police had buses lined up
to take us out of the City. The crowd cheered and began to move.

SNIP

As we approached the bridge, armed Gretna sheriffs formed a line across the
foot of the bridge. Before we were close enough to speak, they began firing
their weapons over our heads. This sent the crowd fleeing in various
directions. As the crowd scattered and dissipated, a few of us inched
forward and managed to engage some of the sheriffs in conversation. We told
them of our conversation with the police commander and of the commander's
assurances. The sheriffs informed us there were no buses waiting. The
commander had lied to us to get us to move.
We questioned why we couldn't cross the bridge anyway, especially as there was little traffic on the 6-lane highway. They responded that the West Bank
was not going to become New Orleans and there would be no Superdomes in
their City. These were code words for if you are poor and black, you are not crossing the Mississippi River and you were not getting out of New Orleans.

So they set up camp on the freeway until....

Unfortunately, our sinking feeling (along with the sinking City) was
correct. Just as dusk set in, a Gretna Sheriff showed up, jumped out of his
patrol vehicle, aimed his gun at our faces, screaming, "Get off the fucking
freeway". A helicopter arrived and used the wind from its blades to blow
away our flimsy structures. As we retreated, the sheriff loaded up his truck
with our food and water. Once again, at gunpoint, we were forced off the
freeway

SNIP

The next days, our group of 8 walked most of the day, made contact with New
Orleans Fire Department and were eventually airlifted out by an urban search
and rescue team. We were dropped off near the airport and managed to catch a
ride with the National Guard. The two young guardsmen apologized for the
limited response of the Louisiana guards. They explained that a large
section of their unit was in Iraq and that meant they were shorthanded and were unable to complete all the tasks they were assigned.
We arrived at the airport on the day a massive airlift had begun. The
airport had become another Superdome. We 8 were caught in a press of
humanity as flights were delayed for several hours while George Bush landed briefly at the airport for a photo op. After being evacuated on a coast
guard cargo plane, we arrived in San Antonio, Texas.

It didn't end there......

Chickens Come Home To Roost

Haley Barbour, Governor of MS was a Bush 2000 Pioneer and one hell of a lobbyist

Barbour’s firm had the highest lobby revenues in Washington in 2000 ($10.8 million), when Interpublic Group bought the firm for $20 million. (Interpublic triggered a Securities and Exchange Commission probe in 2002, when it restated its earning back to 1997, wiping out $181 million in paper revenue.)

And it seems perhaps some blowback from his lobbying efforts hit 'ol Miss......

Barbour helped convince the Bush administration in 2001 to break its campaign promise to support limits on carbon dioxide emissions that contribute to global warming. “We don’t represent issues that are inconsistent with what we believe in,” Barbour told the New York Times in 2001. Recent Barbour clients include dirty utility Southern Co. (see Dwight Evans), which benefits from the Bush Administration’s weakening of the Clean Air Act, and the Oxygenated Fuels Association, which lobbied a House-Senate Conference Committee in 2003 to grant legal immunity to producers of toxic gas additive MTBE.

Praise for CNN

I have been critical of CNN in the past. But as I watched CNN's reporters on the ground in NO this past week I have been impressed. Jean Meserve's reports Tuesday afternoon and evening gave us the first indication that the levees had been breached. It was confirmed in the very early morning hours of Wednesday (on CNN) though officials knew Monday. Meserve's report on Tuesday evening's News Night with Aaron Brown was as compelling for how it made one see and hear what was happening in the 9th Ward as it was in demonstrating her compassion and humanity.
Anderson Cooper threw the chair at Sen. Landrieu and maybe it was one of those slaps in the face that she needed to wake up and fight.
Dr. Sanjay Gupta reported that Critical patients from the public Charity Hospital waited on the roof in vain for evacuation helicopters only to watch those choppers go to the roof next door to evacuate nurses and doctors from private Tulane University Hospital. Some of those waiting died.
And that is just a sampling of the many reporters on the ground who did the real work of reporting this past week. This is the CNN we need to continue to see in the future. But for now I just say thanks for keeping me informed and advocating for the helpless and dying abandoned by our government.

Could Have Been Seen at WH.......

The White House

Staff Activities Update: AM August 31, 2005

• President Bush - On Vacation -Texas
• Vice President Cheney- On Vacation-Fishing -Wyoming
  
• Karl Rove-Texas
• Condi Rice-Shopping & Attending Broadway production-NY
• Nicolle Devenish - communications director, getting married in Greece-(to all WH staff with her for her celebration--woo hoo have fun)
• Ken Mehlman - Greece

* To all staff: Beware vacation travel to New Orleans is not advised due to a storm in that area

Plan for George...None for Lake George

They have come up with a plan (started last week!) to save George Bush but where was the plan for what is now Lake George. This is outrageous. Just when I think the Bush Administration can sink no lower it does. They are criminally negligent in protecting the people of the United States but Rove will move heaven and earth to protect W.......
From NYT:

WASHINGTON, Sept. 4 - Under the command of President Bush's two senior political advisers, the White House rolled out a plan this weekend to contain the political damage from the administration's response to Hurricane Katrina.
snip-
The effort is being directed by Mr. Bush's chief political adviser, Karl Rove, and his communications director, Dan Bartlett. It began late last week after Congressional Republicans called White House officials to register alarm about what they saw as a feeble response by Mr. Bush to the hurricane, according to Republican Congressional aides
snip
For example, administration officials who went on television on Sunday were instructed to avoid getting drawn into exchanges about the problems of the past week, and to turn the discussion to what the government is doing now.
snip
One Republican with knowledge of the effort said that Mr. Rove had told administration officials not to respond to Democratic attacks on Mr. Bush's handling of the hurricane in the belief that the president was in a weak moment and that the administration should not appear to be seen now as being blatantly political.

Blatantly Political? Are they completely divorced from reality? NO.... that damage control has been the priority of the administration since last week demonstrates they emphatically Do Not Care about us but only themselves

No Post For A Few Days

I'm taking a few days off due to some health problems.
Nothing serious

Friday Cat Blogging: Teddy's Nightly Ritual

Teddy insists on going through this ritual each night.
She howls at the door to go out.
But this is her idea of Out.

Clear that way

Almost clear this way

ahhhhhhh

Ok I'm just about ready to.....

Come back in now.

It's just a few minutes of rolling around.
I think she likes the carpet in the hall.
And the Freedom to come and go as she pleases.

Madison WI Supports Cindy

These are photos from the Vigil in Madison WI
The crowd was between 300-400 strong.






This is just part of the crowd.
I couldn't even capture all of it in any photos.









This is Jean Jensen of Military Families for Peace speaking.


This is a woman from Share the Sacrifice.
This woman was fired from her teaching job when she said in her class that all avenues should be exhausted before going to war. A parent complained and she was fired. Her son who is in the Navy is now being deployed to Afghanistan to do a job he wasn't even trained to do. She ia asking Why?
Please consider donating to this group. (or her legal fund as she is suing the Indiana school that fired her)







After the vigil the crowd climbed the hill to line John Nolen Drive.
Eventually people were lined along 4 sides for 1/4 mile.



This is just part of the people on just one side of JN Drive.

People held their signs up to passing motorists.
So many cars that went by beeped continuously and waved the peace sign.
I can not convey how incredible this was.
It was car after car beeping.
It was very loud and all I thought was this country is
So Sick of This War!

Thompson Getting Chipped

So what do former Bush administration officials do to make a buck once they leave the administration. Well I would have thought get a good lobbying job. Tommy Thompson my former Governor and everyone's former Health and Human Services Secretaty has announced he will have a medical info chip implanted in his arm.

Now before you think Tommy is just doing this for science, guess again. The chip is made by Florida-based VeriChip, which recently added Thompson to its board of directors. And then there is this:

Another possible interest in VeriChip may stem from Thompson's other business activities since leaving government. He also serves as president of La Crosse-based Logistics Health Inc., which has ambitions of expanding business with the military and Homeland Security.

Among other things, Logistics Health provides "medical readiness solutions" for the U.S. military reserves, according to its Web site. It's homeland security unit "provides disaster response training services and vaccination scheduling, management and delivery, including the coordination and networking of critical disease information to thousands of healthcare providers across the country."

But only 5 hospitals in the DC and Boston areas are able to use the technology. Thompson is in the little town of Elroy WI which is really in the sticks. Doesn't seem practical medically speaking. But financially...oh yeah. And hey he's supporting the troops.

Finding Your Voice

NTodd of Dohiyi Mir is giving his voice to these Internets. He has a podcast interview with 2 of the St. Patricks Four up along with a whole bunch of other podcasts.

It Only Takes One

David (Austin TX) of Supreme Irony of Life raises what I fear may happen down in Crawford. Like he says it only takes one.

Greatscat On the Case with Kittens

Kittens are making alot of points in the blogosphere recently. I like this one from Greatscat!.

Al-Qaida's PNAC??

Spiegel Online reports on a new book entitled "al-Zarqawi - al-Qaida's Second Generation" by Jordanian journalist Fouad Hussein. Hussein has had contact with al-Qaida including having been in prison with Zarqawi. Spiegel says "Hussein is far from an hysterical alarmist -- in fact he is seen as a serious journalist and his Zarqawi book is better than most of the reports in Arabic on the subject."
Hussein outlines a 7 phase, 20 year plan of Al Qaida to establish a Islamic caliphate....

The First Phase Known as "the awakening" -- this has already been carried out and was supposed to have lasted from 2000 to 2003, or more precisely from the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 in New York and Washington to the fall of Baghdad in 2003. The aim of the attacks of 9/11 was to provoke the US into declaring war on the Islamic world and thereby "awakening" Muslims. "The first phase was judged by the strategists and masterminds behind al-Qaida as very successful," writes Hussein. "The battle field was opened up and the Americans and their allies became a closer and easier target." The terrorist network is also reported as being satisfied that its message can now be heard "everywhere."

The Second Phase "Opening Eyes" is, according to Hussein's definition, the period we are now in and should last until 2006. Hussein says the terrorists hope to make the western conspiracy aware of the "Islamic community." Hussein believes this is a phase in which al-Qaida wants an organization to develop into a movement. The network is banking on recruiting young men during this period. Iraq should become the center for all global operations, with an "army" set up there and bases established in other Arabic states

The Third Phase This is described as "Arising and Standing Up" and should last from 2007 to 2010. "There will be a focus on Syria," prophesies Hussein, based on what his sources told him. The fighting cadres are supposedly already prepared and some are in Iraq. Attacks on Turkey and -- even more explosive -- in Israel are predicted. Al-Qaida's masterminds hope that attacks on Israel will help the terrorist group become a recognized organization. The author also believes that countries neighboring Iraq, such as Jordan, are also in danger.

The Fourth Phase Between 2010 and 2013, Hussein writes that al-Qaida will aim to bring about the collapse of the hated Arabic governments. The estimate is that "the creeping loss of the regimes' power will lead to a steady growth in strength within al-Qaida." At the same time attacks will be carried out against oil suppliers and the US economy will be targeted using cyber terrorism.

The Fifth Phase This will be the point at which an Islamic state, or caliphate, can be declared. The plan is that by this time, between 2013 and 2016, Western influence in the Islamic world will be so reduced and Israel weakened so much, that resistance will not be feared. Al-Qaida hopes that by then the Islamic state will be able to bring about a new world order.

The Sixth Phase Hussein believes that from 2016 onwards there will a period of "total confrontation." As soon as the caliphate has been declared the "Islamic army" it will instigate the "fight between the believers and the non-believers" which has so often been predicted by Osama bin Laden

The Seventh Phase This final stage is described as "definitive victory." Hussein writes that in the terrorists' eyes, because the rest of the world will be so beaten down by the "one-and-a-half billion Muslims," the caliphate will undoubtedly succeed. This phase should be completed by 2020, although the war shouldn't last longer than two years.

When I read the above my mind drifted to the neo-cons PNAC (Project for a New American Century) In their Statement of Principles they say....

But conservatives have not confidently advanced a strategic vision of America's role in the world. They have not set forth guiding principles for American foreign policy. They have allowed differences over tactics to obscure potential agreement on strategic objectives. And they have not fought for a defense budget that would maintain American security and advance American interests in the new century.

We aim to change this. We aim to make the case and rally support for American global leadership.
SNIP

Of course, the United States must be prudent in how it exercises its power. But we cannot safely avoid the responsibilities of global leadership or the costs that are associated with its exercise. America has a vital role in maintaining peace and security in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. If we shirk our responsibilities, we invite challenges to our fundamental interests. The history of the 20th century should have taught us that it is important to shape circumstances before crises emerge, and to meet threats before they become dire. The history of this century should have taught us to embrace the cause of American leadership.

Our aim is to remind Americans of these lessons and to draw their consequences for today. Here are four consequences:
• we need to increase defense spending significantly if we are to carry out our global
responsibilities today and modernize our armed forces for the future;
• we need to strengthen our ties to democratic allies and to challenge regimes hostile to our interests and values;
• we need to promote the cause of political and economic freedom abroad;
• we need to accept responsibility for America's unique role in preserving and extending an international order friendly to our security, our prosperity, and our principles.

It certainly seems these 2 plans for the future are being fought out now in Iraq. Just how many Americans have signed up for this project? How many are even aware of it as it even now unfolds? Again and again we hear the West chastize moderate Muslims to reign in the radicals of Islam. But what about the neo-cons? This foreign policy ideology has not been discussed or scrutinized by Americans.
Now before the wing nuts say I'm calling neo-cons terrorists, let me say the plans above represent 2 ideologies. The means to achieve their ends differ. I do not condone terrorism. I do not want to see an Islamic caliphate at any time in the future. The question is whether our present foreign policy is on the right path to avoid such or are we playing right into Al-Qaida's hand? As an American I certainly do have a say in my country's foreign policy. We all do. And all I am saying is it is time we have that say. If Americans actually study all of PNAC and decide that's the way to go then that is one thing. However that has not happened and it is time is does.

Deja Vu All Over Again.

This is sounding painfully familiar like a bad Ground Hog Day. Starting with Saturday....

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - President Bush said on Israeli television he could consider using force as a last resort to press Iran to give up its nuclear programme.

"All options are on the table," Bush, speaking at his ranch in Crawford, Texas, said in the interview broadcast on Saturday.

On Sunday we have ...

German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder has warned the US to back away from the possibility of military action against Iran over its nuclear programme.
SNIP
"Let's take the military option off the table. We have seen it doesn't work," Mr Schroeder told Social Democrats at the rally in Hanover, to rapturous applause from the crowd.
SNIP
"The Europeans and the Americans are united in this goal," he said. "Up to now we were also united in the way to pursue this."

Is it possible we will go down this Path to war again? Freedom Fries, Old Europe and all that?
We don't have the military capacity for a war with Iran. With 61% of Americans not supporting the war in Iraq I doubt there is the will for another war with Iran. Yet this is the Bush administration so I worry.
Bush should too...

Iran's newly elected President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has nominated a string of known hardliners for key positions in his first cabinet.Conservative candidates were earmarked for the foreign, intelligence and interior ministries. The appointments come as concern mounts over Iran's resumption of uranium processing at its Isfahan nuclear site.

Does Bush understand that Iran is no Iraq? The Iranian military will not melt away as the Iraqi Republican Guard did.

Friday Cat Blogging