Senate Republicans Block Iraq Timetable - Yahoo! News Reid is quoted as saying that "We can't stay the course."
That is the most obvious summary of the Democratic ideal I've heard: the inability to stay the course.
Agree with the war or not, the last thing the US can do is to pull out with the job half-done. It sends a strong signal that the US can't be trusted to follow through.
Tuesday, November 15, 2005
Republicans now want an "exit strategy"
Some Republicans are now demanding an "exit strategy" be laid out by Bush. It is exactly the last thing we should do. The term is very close to a timetable. It would be a great disservice to the soldiers, marines, sailor and airmen serving in Iraq to give the enemy a timetable. All they have to do is to hold on until that time. We have an exit strategy in Iraq: a freely elected government that can defend itself and its country. Regardless of the news reports and noise from the likes of Reid, Kennedy, (I'm a war hero) Kerry and the other fellow-travellers from the Democratic Party. we see, to be getting there. Elections have come on time, the Iraqi army and police forces are coming up to speed and there are great parts of Iraq that are peaceful.
I guess the Democrats just can't stand winning and the Republicans just can't stand not being Democrats.
I guess the Democrats just can't stand winning and the Republicans just can't stand not being Democrats.
Sunday, November 13, 2005
Keep telling a lie and it becomes truth
At least that seems to be the Democratic Strategy. Keep harping on "Bush lied" and supposedly people will believe it. Today's Fox News Sunday was a case in point. Jay Rockefellar did a wounderful job of tap dancing all around the statements he made strongly supporting the war. Wallace asked him twice if he stood by his statements and Rockefellar danced around it. Basically, the Dems think they have a winning strategy: Keep rewriting history and it will become the truth.
All The WMD Pieces?
I was channel-hopping and caught a discussion on CNN about WMD. BG (ret) Marks, now a CNN "general" was the top MI person in Iraq. He contends that all the pieces for Saddam's WMD program were found. Just no WMD. Iraq had the capability in place. If so, what the heck are the Dems yapping about?
Wednesday, October 26, 2005
What I've Learned from the Media-part II
The media is still on FEMA's case. Now it is the response in Florida. Seemingly FEMA and the (Jeb) Bush administration failed again by not having ice, water and electricity immediately available to people in Florida.
Nevermind that they had a week's warning to evacuate.
Nevermind that the people who didn't leave had a week's warning to prepare water, food and other necessities for three days.
Nevermind that any fool would have topped off with gas before the storm hit.
Nevermind that some people are angry that every wish they had wasn't fulfilled immediately.
Nevermind that the people on Florida have had lot's of practice at hurricanes.
Nevermind that people are standing in line for water in Miami when the city water works and is drinkable.
Nevermind that hurricanes are big winds and typically knock down power lines.
The media carries these tales of woe about people who are out of food and water within 24 hours of the hurricane. And the media is generally sympathetic to their pathetic plight and their righteous anger.
I have great sympathy for the people whose property was damaged by the storm. I have not so much sympathy for those who elected not to evacuate and on top of that, chose not to prepare enough basics to last a day.
I hope most of the media get's trapped in the next one and all the residents leave. TV would be much quieter and saner.
Nevermind that they had a week's warning to evacuate.
Nevermind that the people who didn't leave had a week's warning to prepare water, food and other necessities for three days.
Nevermind that any fool would have topped off with gas before the storm hit.
Nevermind that some people are angry that every wish they had wasn't fulfilled immediately.
Nevermind that the people on Florida have had lot's of practice at hurricanes.
Nevermind that people are standing in line for water in Miami when the city water works and is drinkable.
Nevermind that hurricanes are big winds and typically knock down power lines.
The media carries these tales of woe about people who are out of food and water within 24 hours of the hurricane. And the media is generally sympathetic to their pathetic plight and their righteous anger.
I have great sympathy for the people whose property was damaged by the storm. I have not so much sympathy for those who elected not to evacuate and on top of that, chose not to prepare enough basics to last a day.
I hope most of the media get's trapped in the next one and all the residents leave. TV would be much quieter and saner.
What I learned from the media-Part 1
In the past two days, I've learned that the media can spend more time giving learned answers to something they know nothing about. In this case, the so-called "plamegate" investigation. They don't know what the prosecutor will do since he has refused to indulge in the Washington tradition of leaking. Undeterred, as usual, by the facts, every news program is devoted to uninformed speculation. Chris Matthews takes the prize. He seemingly devoted the entirety of Hardball on Tuesday summing up what he knows about plamgate. Which is nothing, yet he managed to cram no information into an hour of programming. Absolutely amazing.
Tuesday, October 25, 2005
FEMA, Mules and Journalists
Tonight John Gibson carried on the media charade that FEMA is the first responder of record. He evan carried it over to asking the acting FEMA chief about FEMA's role in restoring electricity. The media has decided that (a) the locals and states have no first responder role; (b) FEMA is responsible for everything; and, now, (c) the electric utilities are no longer responsible for repairing electrical failures. Gibson did back off moaning about the fact that people were having to stand in line for ice and water less than 24 hours after the hurricane hit when the FEMA chief reminded him that it had been less than a day and expressed his dismay at the people in Florida knew about hurricanes and had been encouraged for years to have 3 days supply of food and water.
Despite the repeated corrections that Florida is not like Louisiana, the state has an excellent emergency response, the national guard does not work for federal government, the state has the first responder role and is prepared, and, now, that FEMA doesn't do electrical wires, Gibson, like all the rest, doesn't seem to get the message. Better to continue the myth that the Feds are responsible for everything.
The difference between a mule and a journalist is that when you hit the mule between the eyes with a two by four, you get her attention. When you hit a journalist between the eyes with the board, you just waste good wood.
Despite the repeated corrections that Florida is not like Louisiana, the state has an excellent emergency response, the national guard does not work for federal government, the state has the first responder role and is prepared, and, now, that FEMA doesn't do electrical wires, Gibson, like all the rest, doesn't seem to get the message. Better to continue the myth that the Feds are responsible for everything.
The difference between a mule and a journalist is that when you hit the mule between the eyes with a two by four, you get her attention. When you hit a journalist between the eyes with the board, you just waste good wood.
Monday, October 24, 2005
Sad Day for us State Grads
abc11tv.com: N.C. State Distances Itself from Instructor
"North Carolina State University has distanced itself from comments made by an occasional instructor who recently said blacks must "exterminate white people off the face of the planet."
Kamau Kambon, an author who taught in N.C. State's Africana Studies program as recently as this past spring, made the comments Oct. 14 during a conference at Howard University in Washington, D.C., that was televised nationally by C-SPAN. "
The real question is how they hired someone like him in the first place even though it was part time "as needed" in the Department of Africana Studies. Is all of this really "with it" emphasis on special studies(black, women's, etc.) nothing more than a haven for people like him? What happened to Sociology, anthropology, history and the like? I guess "multiculturalism" and "diversity" just can't fit under the umbrella of real cirricula and they need special Departments. What does one do with a BA in "Africana Studies" anyway?
I have three degrees from NCSU and am deeply saddened and offended that a once fine University could stoop so low in its hiring and cirricula.
"North Carolina State University has distanced itself from comments made by an occasional instructor who recently said blacks must "exterminate white people off the face of the planet."
Kamau Kambon, an author who taught in N.C. State's Africana Studies program as recently as this past spring, made the comments Oct. 14 during a conference at Howard University in Washington, D.C., that was televised nationally by C-SPAN. "
The real question is how they hired someone like him in the first place even though it was part time "as needed" in the Department of Africana Studies. Is all of this really "with it" emphasis on special studies(black, women's, etc.) nothing more than a haven for people like him? What happened to Sociology, anthropology, history and the like? I guess "multiculturalism" and "diversity" just can't fit under the umbrella of real cirricula and they need special Departments. What does one do with a BA in "Africana Studies" anyway?
I have three degrees from NCSU and am deeply saddened and offended that a once fine University could stoop so low in its hiring and cirricula.
Sunday, October 16, 2005
Another day in the Twilight Zone
The Miller Case: A Notebook, a Cause, a Jail Cell and a Deal - New York Times
Ms. Miller decided to go to jail to protect the confidentiality of a source who had given her permission to testify a year earlier.
Ms. Wilson's notes indicated that she couldn't even get Plame's name right.
Ms. Wilson doen't recall, nor does she have written records, of the person who suposedly "outed" Plame. Perhaps she elected jail rather than reveal her sloppy record keeping. Do you get a Pulitzer for these kind of notes.
The Times spent millions defending her, for nothing it seems. The Times still wants to try to protect her.
Ms. Wilson, if one believes the news, was not a covert agent at the time, had not been one for 5 years and did not reside in a foreign country. So, "outing" her was not a crime.
So we have a two-year investigation by a special prosecutor covering something that wasn't a crime, a reporter who can't take yes for an answer and then can't remember nor has any record of the details of whom supposedly leaked the information; and the NY Times is supporting her. Rod Serling might have come up with this story but would have shelved it for being too unbelievable.
Ms. Miller decided to go to jail to protect the confidentiality of a source who had given her permission to testify a year earlier.
Ms. Wilson's notes indicated that she couldn't even get Plame's name right.
Ms. Wilson doen't recall, nor does she have written records, of the person who suposedly "outed" Plame. Perhaps she elected jail rather than reveal her sloppy record keeping. Do you get a Pulitzer for these kind of notes.
The Times spent millions defending her, for nothing it seems. The Times still wants to try to protect her.
Ms. Wilson, if one believes the news, was not a covert agent at the time, had not been one for 5 years and did not reside in a foreign country. So, "outing" her was not a crime.
So we have a two-year investigation by a special prosecutor covering something that wasn't a crime, a reporter who can't take yes for an answer and then can't remember nor has any record of the details of whom supposedly leaked the information; and the NY Times is supporting her. Rod Serling might have come up with this story but would have shelved it for being too unbelievable.
HoustonChronicle.com - DeLay's prosecutors lack a key document
HoustonChronicle.com - DeLay's prosecutors lack a key document
The key document is the "list of Texas Republican Candidates" who supposedly received TRMPAC laundered money. I have no idea whether DeLay is guilty or not, but this Travis County kangaroo court run by Earle is a joke. One wonders just how long the Democrats can keep up with their "DeLay is evil" propaganda in the face of Earle's buffoonery. One also wonders just how much longer the good citizens of Travis County will put up with being made a national laughingstock.
The key document is the "list of Texas Republican Candidates" who supposedly received TRMPAC laundered money. I have no idea whether DeLay is guilty or not, but this Travis County kangaroo court run by Earle is a joke. One wonders just how long the Democrats can keep up with their "DeLay is evil" propaganda in the face of Earle's buffoonery. One also wonders just how much longer the good citizens of Travis County will put up with being made a national laughingstock.
Saturday, October 15, 2005
NY Times Intelligence test for reporters
The Miller Case: A Notebook, a Cause, a Jail Cell and a Deal - New York Times
From Drudge
Quite an interesting story about Ms. Miller, who spends 85 days in jail to protect a source whom she can't remember. Let's see.
Plame was not, by law a covert agent. "Outing" her was not illegal because she was not outside the US and had not been a covert agent for 5 years. Miller, had her name in a notebook, but apparently didn't write the source's name in the book. Miller was given permission to testify by Libby, who turned out not to be the source, then decided to protect him for 3 months until she was told personally and in writing a second time "GO FORTH and TESTIFY." Then she couldn't remember the source's name.
In a companion piece on Drudge, Miller is apparently not held in high regard by her co-workers.
Does the time give an intelligence test for its reporters, and if you score too high, you aren't hired?
This thing gets sillier and sillier.
From Drudge
Quite an interesting story about Ms. Miller, who spends 85 days in jail to protect a source whom she can't remember. Let's see.
Plame was not, by law a covert agent. "Outing" her was not illegal because she was not outside the US and had not been a covert agent for 5 years. Miller, had her name in a notebook, but apparently didn't write the source's name in the book. Miller was given permission to testify by Libby, who turned out not to be the source, then decided to protect him for 3 months until she was told personally and in writing a second time "GO FORTH and TESTIFY." Then she couldn't remember the source's name.
In a companion piece on Drudge, Miller is apparently not held in high regard by her co-workers.
Does the time give an intelligence test for its reporters, and if you score too high, you aren't hired?
This thing gets sillier and sillier.
Tuesday, October 11, 2005
A Tale From New Orleans-Read this and Tell Me About FEMA Failures
E-RESPONDER
The article is short and covers the startup of the New Orleans Emergency Operations Center a week after Katrina.
New Orleans did not have a working EOC or ICS on September 8 when Mr. Deno and others from North Carolina, New Jersy and northern Virginia Arrived. They had to assemble a working Emergency Operations Center, install equipment, train Louisiana personnel and make things happen. This was a WEEK after Katrina hit.
Positives: Good work ethic by most of the New Orleanians. NOLA managed to evacuate 300,000 people before the storm.
From a talk before the Wilson County Commissioners
Negatives: No Leadership, no one to tell them what to do. Nagin holed up in a hotel and wasn't around. The staff there had no leadership. The staff had not coordinated with other parishes. The staff didn't know how to get things. In fact, this person, handled some items for Ophelia while in NOLA and the NOLA people were surprised that he could do it with a phone call. They were amazed that North Carolina counties had a mutual assistance network that could be activated by phone calls. New Orleans, and probably Louisiana, hadn't practiced that. NOLA folks weren't familiar with their plan.
One wonders where all the money went in New Orleans, when an Emergency Director from small town and rural county in North Carolina (along with others) can walk in, set up an EOC in a large city they hadn't been to, give ICS classes, work together and become a functioning team in a couple of days when NOLA couldn't do it for years.
One other message from his talk: FEMA isn't there to do things the city and state should do. They are there to assist and provide for things that the locals don't have.
Very positive comments on Honore.
For all the negatives about FEMA, it seems that NC, VA, NJ and other states knew how the system works. LA and the media didn't. People may have died because the leadership in New Orleans and Louisiana did not do their jobs for years before Katrina.
The article is short and covers the startup of the New Orleans Emergency Operations Center a week after Katrina.
New Orleans did not have a working EOC or ICS on September 8 when Mr. Deno and others from North Carolina, New Jersy and northern Virginia Arrived. They had to assemble a working Emergency Operations Center, install equipment, train Louisiana personnel and make things happen. This was a WEEK after Katrina hit.
Positives: Good work ethic by most of the New Orleanians. NOLA managed to evacuate 300,000 people before the storm.
From a talk before the Wilson County Commissioners
Negatives: No Leadership, no one to tell them what to do. Nagin holed up in a hotel and wasn't around. The staff there had no leadership. The staff had not coordinated with other parishes. The staff didn't know how to get things. In fact, this person, handled some items for Ophelia while in NOLA and the NOLA people were surprised that he could do it with a phone call. They were amazed that North Carolina counties had a mutual assistance network that could be activated by phone calls. New Orleans, and probably Louisiana, hadn't practiced that. NOLA folks weren't familiar with their plan.
One wonders where all the money went in New Orleans, when an Emergency Director from small town and rural county in North Carolina (along with others) can walk in, set up an EOC in a large city they hadn't been to, give ICS classes, work together and become a functioning team in a couple of days when NOLA couldn't do it for years.
One other message from his talk: FEMA isn't there to do things the city and state should do. They are there to assist and provide for things that the locals don't have.
Very positive comments on Honore.
For all the negatives about FEMA, it seems that NC, VA, NJ and other states knew how the system works. LA and the media didn't. People may have died because the leadership in New Orleans and Louisiana did not do their jobs for years before Katrina.
Saturday, October 08, 2005
Reporter turns over notes in CIA leak case - Yahoo! News
Reporter turns over notes in CIA leak case - Yahoo! News After two-plus years, a stay in jail, and all the other stuff, Judith Miller suddenly finds (remembers) a conversation in June 2003. Pardon my cynicism, but it certainly sounds a bit fishy.
Scare de jour
I'm getting overloaded with the latest scare and the media hype. I can't be terrified of everything all at once. After the minute-by-minute coverage of the non-news from New York concerning 19 supposed train bombers, I need to organize my terror. So, here's the plan:
8A-12 noon: terror bombings
12noon-4p: flu terror or any other natural disease
4p-8p: terror nuclear, chem bio attack
8p-12M: terror economic terror
12M-4A: weather terror
4A-8A: local terror (robbery, murder, etc)
It may take some refinement, but if I organize the things to be terrorfied by, I can do a better job of paying attention to them.
8A-12 noon: terror bombings
12noon-4p: flu terror or any other natural disease
4p-8p: terror nuclear, chem bio attack
8p-12M: terror economic terror
12M-4A: weather terror
4A-8A: local terror (robbery, murder, etc)
It may take some refinement, but if I organize the things to be terrorfied by, I can do a better job of paying attention to them.
Why Mier Disappoints Conservatives
If you listen to the anti-Mier noise from conservative thinkers it is not hard to come to the conclusion that the main reason they are disappointed is that she will not give them the apocalyptic battle with liberals they are lust after. Many of the names tossed about would, almost assuredly, create a lengthy fight in the mold of Thomas and Bork. The conservatives believe that this battle is winnable and should be fough now.
Blood lust forms the basis of not likig her. It pops up in the form of a bit of snobbery about which law school she attended. It also shows in the sniffs that she hasn't spent most of her life planning to be on the court and, thus, becoming a great constitutional scholar.
The conservative yowlers seem to want someone in the mold of the sitting justices who have made some absolutely apalling rulings. Maybe it's time to get someone who will actually look at the constitution and listen to the arguments within the framework of the constitution, rather than a group of ivy-league types. Maybe then my house will be safe from theft by our city fathers. Maybe then my second amendment rights will be protected.
Blood lust forms the basis of not likig her. It pops up in the form of a bit of snobbery about which law school she attended. It also shows in the sniffs that she hasn't spent most of her life planning to be on the court and, thus, becoming a great constitutional scholar.
The conservative yowlers seem to want someone in the mold of the sitting justices who have made some absolutely apalling rulings. Maybe it's time to get someone who will actually look at the constitution and listen to the arguments within the framework of the constitution, rather than a group of ivy-league types. Maybe then my house will be safe from theft by our city fathers. Maybe then my second amendment rights will be protected.
Tuesday, October 04, 2005
Saving the environment?
Spent a while tonight explaining to my son the absolute importance of me driving about 10 hours for a quart of water and how the environment would be much more protected by me doing this. My company is putting a plant in Maryland. We will dischage water from three cooling towers at a reate of about 1 gallon per minute (less than you use to take a shower). The water will come from a well that is yet to be drilled, and I must characterize the water for the discharge permit. Since the well that will be the source for this water is not yet drilled, I found a well nearby and am driving about 500 miles round trip to get a sample for analysis.
The cooling towers are not treated, so the only thing discharged will be the well water. 80% of the water is evaporated in the cooling tower, so what-ever is in the water will be 5 x the concentration of the well. I've found a well nearby that is probably in the same aquifer and am going to get a sample. I'll also map and take pictures of the 1-2 miles this water must travel to get to a "pond" then to a river and then to the Chesapeak bay. Although the water will never get there, unless there is a heck of a rainfall, this is still very important.
Maryland rules say water discharged in any quantity must be permitted. I feel safer knowing that a 1 gallon per minute flow is just as important as a 5000 gallon per minute flow.
Nothing in the regs that allow applying logic or common sense. And you wonder why industry complains about environmental rules?
The cooling towers are not treated, so the only thing discharged will be the well water. 80% of the water is evaporated in the cooling tower, so what-ever is in the water will be 5 x the concentration of the well. I've found a well nearby that is probably in the same aquifer and am going to get a sample. I'll also map and take pictures of the 1-2 miles this water must travel to get to a "pond" then to a river and then to the Chesapeak bay. Although the water will never get there, unless there is a heck of a rainfall, this is still very important.
Maryland rules say water discharged in any quantity must be permitted. I feel safer knowing that a 1 gallon per minute flow is just as important as a 5000 gallon per minute flow.
Nothing in the regs that allow applying logic or common sense. And you wonder why industry complains about environmental rules?
The Dobbs-Miller Laughin
The media heroine, Judith Miller, had a really warm and fuzzy interview with Lou Dobbs tonight. Dobbs was all agush with praise for her bravery and the support the NYT gave her. He was very sympathetic about the trials and tribulations she bravely faced, a real martyr to the holy order of journalism. It could have been a parody, but I don't think Dobbs and CNN have that much of a sense of humor.
Either Miller won the first two places in a dumb contest with a post by needing not one, but two, releases to testify by Libby plus advice from a judge that her source had released her from the holy vows of silence, or Miller had other motives for her brave stay in jail. My money is on the latter. Miller said on Dobbs' show that she wanted to make a political point. Also, since, after the second release, which included a personal phone call, Miller still had serious negotiations with the prosecutor, my money is on the ulterior motives.
Dobbs missed a great chance to demonstrate that he is not always a political hack, but certainly failed to grasp the brass ring on this one.
Either Miller won the first two places in a dumb contest with a post by needing not one, but two, releases to testify by Libby plus advice from a judge that her source had released her from the holy vows of silence, or Miller had other motives for her brave stay in jail. My money is on the latter. Miller said on Dobbs' show that she wanted to make a political point. Also, since, after the second release, which included a personal phone call, Miller still had serious negotiations with the prosecutor, my money is on the ulterior motives.
Dobbs missed a great chance to demonstrate that he is not always a political hack, but certainly failed to grasp the brass ring on this one.
Saturday, October 01, 2005
Judith Miller-the martyr
The only thing sillier than Judith Miller's jail term for refusing to divulge a source, who, a year ealier, had given her permission to divulge, is the media's coverage of her as a heroine. The "I didn't think he really meant it" story seems pretty weak.
Miller was simply looking to make a name for herself as a brave journalist withstanding the onslaught of an avenging government trying to destroy the constitutional right of the press to protect sources. I also believe she supports the creation of a federal shield law to protect journalists from such grievious invasions by the government.
The media touts itself as a branch of government envisioned by the framers of the constitution established to keep the other three in control by the light of disclosure. Nice line if you can get the gullible to buy it.
Journalist aren't elected.
No formal education from a certified institution is required to be a journalist.
Journalist do not have to pass certification exams by some regulating body. So there are no qualifications they have to meet.
There are not boards who monitor and enforce standards of ethics and performance by journalists.
So, we have a group who set themselves up as a priesthood whose sacred duty is to keep the government in line and the group has no standards, codes of ethics and performance or anything to enforce the standards. We require that of lawyers, doctors, priests, nurses, automechanics, sewage plant operators, pilots, truck drivers, and on and on. Yet the self-appointed fourth branch of the government doesn't?
I'm sure brighter minds than mine can explain it to me if they use small words and speak slowly.
Miller was simply looking to make a name for herself as a brave journalist withstanding the onslaught of an avenging government trying to destroy the constitutional right of the press to protect sources. I also believe she supports the creation of a federal shield law to protect journalists from such grievious invasions by the government.
The media touts itself as a branch of government envisioned by the framers of the constitution established to keep the other three in control by the light of disclosure. Nice line if you can get the gullible to buy it.
Journalist aren't elected.
No formal education from a certified institution is required to be a journalist.
Journalist do not have to pass certification exams by some regulating body. So there are no qualifications they have to meet.
There are not boards who monitor and enforce standards of ethics and performance by journalists.
So, we have a group who set themselves up as a priesthood whose sacred duty is to keep the government in line and the group has no standards, codes of ethics and performance or anything to enforce the standards. We require that of lawyers, doctors, priests, nurses, automechanics, sewage plant operators, pilots, truck drivers, and on and on. Yet the self-appointed fourth branch of the government doesn't?
I'm sure brighter minds than mine can explain it to me if they use small words and speak slowly.
Bennett's Bruhaha
The moral outrage by some on the left about Bennett's comments on abortion leave out the following sentence in which he said the idea was morally reprehensible. It wouldn't make as good a story. However, Bennett has been around long enough to know that sentences like his would be totally taken out of context. Next time he will parse the sentence more carefully so it cannot be so used. He should have known this time.
Thursday, September 29, 2005
Sigh-Another Round of Competing Ideology
Switched through the night news jokes tonight and hit the Abrahms Report just as they had a debate between an ID guy and an evolutionist. The evolutionist was a Ph. D. in anthropology which makes her expertise in biology about as good as mine. I really wonder why they didn't go out and get an evolutionary biologist instead of an ideologue.
The supposedly damning question to the ID guy was effectively "Do you believe God is behind intelligent design." Of course if he answers yes, Abrahms has a gotcha because we know all about those religious fundamentalists. I'm not sure the presence of God eternally damns evolution, but those with a burning true faith seem to think so.
Neither side can prove or disprove their point. Neither side can show how it happened to prove their point. It is a battle of faith and ideology. The question neither can answer is "show me incontrovertable evidence supporting your point of view." Neither can, so both are taking it on faith.
If the science is not iron-clad, only a rabid fanatic would deny the suggestion of an alternative explanation. The entire debate is between two groups of flat-earthers.
The supposedly damning question to the ID guy was effectively "Do you believe God is behind intelligent design." Of course if he answers yes, Abrahms has a gotcha because we know all about those religious fundamentalists. I'm not sure the presence of God eternally damns evolution, but those with a burning true faith seem to think so.
Neither side can prove or disprove their point. Neither side can show how it happened to prove their point. It is a battle of faith and ideology. The question neither can answer is "show me incontrovertable evidence supporting your point of view." Neither can, so both are taking it on faith.
If the science is not iron-clad, only a rabid fanatic would deny the suggestion of an alternative explanation. The entire debate is between two groups of flat-earthers.
EduSolution - Child slavery
EduSolution - Child slavery And the outrage in the US is that we don't pay reparations to the descendents of slaves who were freed 140 years ago.
No outrage about slavery that exists. No one taking to the streets to protest. No demands that the UN take action (well, at least there is a good reason for not waisting one's time), nothing is heard from them. Where is Mr. Jackson, Mr. Sharpton and others? No one they can shake down?
A cynic might question motives.
No outrage about slavery that exists. No one taking to the streets to protest. No demands that the UN take action (well, at least there is a good reason for not waisting one's time), nothing is heard from them. Where is Mr. Jackson, Mr. Sharpton and others? No one they can shake down?
A cynic might question motives.
Wednesday, September 28, 2005
The University Steering Committee on Slavery and Justice
The University Steering Committee on Slavery and Justice. I'm waiting for all those who are so guilt-ridden on this subject to sell all they own and give it to the descendents of slaves.
I'm also waiting for them to strike meaningful blows against slavery that exists in the world today.
I'm not holding my breath.
Slavery ended 140 years ago following a bloody war. One might even feel guilty that it took 100 years to ensure full franchise for the descendents of those slaves. I certainly think slavery was, and is, wrong. I am not guilt-ridden over something that ended eighty years before I was born.
I'm also waiting for them to strike meaningful blows against slavery that exists in the world today.
I'm not holding my breath.
Slavery ended 140 years ago following a bloody war. One might even feel guilty that it took 100 years to ensure full franchise for the descendents of those slaves. I certainly think slavery was, and is, wrong. I am not guilt-ridden over something that ended eighty years before I was born.
The Latest FEMA "failures"-Superglued on Stupid
I watched Gibson on "My Word" tonight and was absolutely flabbergasted at the new FEMA failures Mr. Gibson found. Complaint: only 37,000 homeowners have received aid from FEMA after Rita. Gosh, and they have had 4 whole days to get everyone, if they could find them. Given the devestation and flooding and time, I'm surprised that they have done as many as 37,000. Just what does Gibson want, 500,000 FEMA check writers dropping in by parachute as the storm moves on?
Gibson also parrotted the complaints from the mayor of Port Arthur that FEMA hasn't restored electricity and people who stayed there are living like cavemen. No power, no water, going outside to use toilets. It wan't long ago that the streets of that town were flooded and impassable, what the heck does he expect? Do Mr. Gibson and the Mayor believe that FEMA restores the electrial grid? And here all along I thought the power companies did that, and thought they were damned efficient at doing it. Also, I've seen no one ask the mayor why crtical city infrastructure like wastewater plants and drinking water plants do not have emergency generators installed for power outages. If you use an aeration basin for sewage and lose power to your blowers, you have about 12 hours before the whole basin goes anaerobic and the bugs die. You then get to spend about three months getting the basin re-established. What do those folks do when they lose power in a thunderstorm or lose a transformer, sit around and complain about the feds not bringing them a generator?
Gibson's piece is a prime example of the media stuck on stupid with superglue. They apparently can't see through the mayor using the media to amplfy his squeaking wheel attempt?
Gibson also parrotted the complaints from the mayor of Port Arthur that FEMA hasn't restored electricity and people who stayed there are living like cavemen. No power, no water, going outside to use toilets. It wan't long ago that the streets of that town were flooded and impassable, what the heck does he expect? Do Mr. Gibson and the Mayor believe that FEMA restores the electrial grid? And here all along I thought the power companies did that, and thought they were damned efficient at doing it. Also, I've seen no one ask the mayor why crtical city infrastructure like wastewater plants and drinking water plants do not have emergency generators installed for power outages. If you use an aeration basin for sewage and lose power to your blowers, you have about 12 hours before the whole basin goes anaerobic and the bugs die. You then get to spend about three months getting the basin re-established. What do those folks do when they lose power in a thunderstorm or lose a transformer, sit around and complain about the feds not bringing them a generator?
Gibson's piece is a prime example of the media stuck on stupid with superglue. They apparently can't see through the mayor using the media to amplfy his squeaking wheel attempt?
Monday, September 26, 2005
A New Comedy Show-Lou Dobbs Tonight
I'm not much of a CNN-watcher, but they have had some excellent coverage of the hurricanes. I've even surfed by Lou Dobbs a couple of times. I think he should get comedy billing with all the smirks, pregnant pauses and fatuous comments. His billing for comedy should be cemented by tonight's "discussion" on ID and evolution. Dobb's asked both contestants "how was life started." Of course, neither could answer, although the ID guy did the best job (a creator). Dobb's should have asked them to prove it. He just couldn't carry the joke to its logical conclusion: both creationism and evolutionism are articles of faith.
Creationism (intelligent design or just like the Bible says) relies on faith. ID, at least, says there was a guiding hand that got it going in our direction. "Prove it" for the creationist might require getting the word once again and bringing back the "how." However, the Pearly Gates usually swing one way, to definite proof is hard to come by.
Evolutionism is based on spotty evidence and a lot of guesses. The evolutionists cannot replicate creation of life, do not have a complete enough record to confirm their theory to law and can't in any conceivable time frame (got 200,000,000 years per experiment?), so it will probably remain a theory that can't reasonably be tested and replicated. (do I hear "faith" here?)
If you think it's sound, irrefutable science, then take some methane, ammonia, carbon dioxide, water and other trace molecules and go do it.
I tend to believe that we got here by a process of evolution. The data seem to point that way. Did it get a push? No one knows (for sure) and no one can prove or disprove it. So, what's the argument about? One faith wanting supremacy over another? Dobbs surely missed the punch line on this one.
Creationism (intelligent design or just like the Bible says) relies on faith. ID, at least, says there was a guiding hand that got it going in our direction. "Prove it" for the creationist might require getting the word once again and bringing back the "how." However, the Pearly Gates usually swing one way, to definite proof is hard to come by.
Evolutionism is based on spotty evidence and a lot of guesses. The evolutionists cannot replicate creation of life, do not have a complete enough record to confirm their theory to law and can't in any conceivable time frame (got 200,000,000 years per experiment?), so it will probably remain a theory that can't reasonably be tested and replicated. (do I hear "faith" here?)
If you think it's sound, irrefutable science, then take some methane, ammonia, carbon dioxide, water and other trace molecules and go do it.
I tend to believe that we got here by a process of evolution. The data seem to point that way. Did it get a push? No one knows (for sure) and no one can prove or disprove it. So, what's the argument about? One faith wanting supremacy over another? Dobbs surely missed the punch line on this one.
Now It's Settled Science
DRUDGE REPORT FLASH 2005-Striesand Declares Global Warming Emergency�. I've been a skeptic, but now that Professor Striesand says it's so, it must be.
I think I'll continue to be a bit skeptical.
I think I'll continue to be a bit skeptical.
Friday, September 23, 2005
Wednesday, September 21, 2005
Interesting Lesson in History
I was channel-flipping earlier this evening and caught Wynton Marsalis on Lou Dobbs. Marsalis was talking about just how much the New Orleans jazz musicians loved the city and wanted to see it return. He was quite positive. The discussion then moved to poverty. Marsalis indicated the long history of black poverty, whose roots started with the end of reconstruction, went through the "Republican Reclamation with assimilation of Dixiecrats" to the present time. Dobbs agreed with him. Mr. Marsalis, who seems to be quite knowledgeable in history, seems to have forgotten the New Deal, Great Society and War on Poverty. Does the fact that simply throwing money at the problem, increasing the funding to failed programs and cloning failed programs not mean something? Perhaps it is time to do something different.
I hate to sound like Limbaugh, but we have had these wonderful programs for at least 40 years that were going to solve the problem, yet, according to the Census Bureau, poverty increases in the US. We have millions of Mexicans illegally entering the country for jobs and we have hard-core unemployed who can't seem to find work. We through money at education and we have declining schools and education rates in poverty blighted areas. Is the answer to throw more money at these problems or to increase the dependency of folks with these terrible problems on the government dole? Seems so. It would seem that the rebuilding effort on the Gulf Coast from Alabama to Texas will require an enormous labor force. It looks like there will be a huge labor demand and, possibly, a shortage of labor, unless we use the New Orleans Busses to round up more illegals.
Somewhere along the line, the folks who are "mired in poverty" have to be responsible for getting out of it, not waiting for the next government program that will keep them there. With the damand for labor that should appear, it seems that they will not have problems finding work and coming out if poverty.
One wonders what Marsalis has done in all these years to push for improvements in the New Orleans he so loves.
I hate to sound like Limbaugh, but we have had these wonderful programs for at least 40 years that were going to solve the problem, yet, according to the Census Bureau, poverty increases in the US. We have millions of Mexicans illegally entering the country for jobs and we have hard-core unemployed who can't seem to find work. We through money at education and we have declining schools and education rates in poverty blighted areas. Is the answer to throw more money at these problems or to increase the dependency of folks with these terrible problems on the government dole? Seems so. It would seem that the rebuilding effort on the Gulf Coast from Alabama to Texas will require an enormous labor force. It looks like there will be a huge labor demand and, possibly, a shortage of labor, unless we use the New Orleans Busses to round up more illegals.
Somewhere along the line, the folks who are "mired in poverty" have to be responsible for getting out of it, not waiting for the next government program that will keep them there. With the damand for labor that should appear, it seems that they will not have problems finding work and coming out if poverty.
One wonders what Marsalis has done in all these years to push for improvements in the New Orleans he so loves.
Tuesday, September 20, 2005
The Myth Continues
Tonight on Fox, Jeff Birnbaum, stated flatly that the Bush administration had blown the response to Katrina. Despite recent attempts to prevent Nagin from repopulating the city and it became obvious that the Federal Government has no real power to control a mayor in these situations, the media clings to the myth that Bush blew it.
Maybe the press should do some homework and answer the following questions:
By law, and plans according to the law, the local authorities (mayor and governor) are responsible for initial response. When does the Federal Government become responsible for this, and under what circumstances?
If the response by FEMA is still believed to be slow, then what was the FEMA response time compared to "policy" and plan and how did it compare to other disaster responses?
Is FEMA's role to coordinate or control? If the role is coordinate, what does that mean? Full control of all responders, or provide requested support from those in control of the response?
Does FEMA control the National Guard?
Does FEMA or the Feds control National Guard forces from other states?
What was the New Orleans plan for evacuation and how did it fit into the Louisiana Plan?
Which response was carried out according to the plan?
Under what laws does FEMA's "coordination" indicate it was to take control of every bit of the response?
Were NOLA, Louisiana or FEMA able to adapt any of the plans in light of a catastrophic hurricane?
When did the response really get moving, before or after the Feds moved in?
How many years of working in FEMA makes one "experienced" enough to head the agency?
How many responses must the FEMA director be responsible for before he is considered "experienced." The answer obviously must be greater than 164.
I think both Brown and Chertoff ought to be removed because of the absolutely clueless statements they made early on. It was obvious that they either didn't want to upset relations with the State or believed everything that the State EOC told them when it was obvious that both Blanco and Nagin were overwhelmed and not competent enough to direct actions in this disaster. In addition, there major disaster response had been in Florida, which appears to have its act together and they were not prepared for Louisiana.
Maybe the press should do some homework and answer the following questions:
By law, and plans according to the law, the local authorities (mayor and governor) are responsible for initial response. When does the Federal Government become responsible for this, and under what circumstances?
If the response by FEMA is still believed to be slow, then what was the FEMA response time compared to "policy" and plan and how did it compare to other disaster responses?
Is FEMA's role to coordinate or control? If the role is coordinate, what does that mean? Full control of all responders, or provide requested support from those in control of the response?
Does FEMA control the National Guard?
Does FEMA or the Feds control National Guard forces from other states?
What was the New Orleans plan for evacuation and how did it fit into the Louisiana Plan?
Which response was carried out according to the plan?
Under what laws does FEMA's "coordination" indicate it was to take control of every bit of the response?
Were NOLA, Louisiana or FEMA able to adapt any of the plans in light of a catastrophic hurricane?
When did the response really get moving, before or after the Feds moved in?
How many years of working in FEMA makes one "experienced" enough to head the agency?
How many responses must the FEMA director be responsible for before he is considered "experienced." The answer obviously must be greater than 164.
I think both Brown and Chertoff ought to be removed because of the absolutely clueless statements they made early on. It was obvious that they either didn't want to upset relations with the State or believed everything that the State EOC told them when it was obvious that both Blanco and Nagin were overwhelmed and not competent enough to direct actions in this disaster. In addition, there major disaster response had been in Florida, which appears to have its act together and they were not prepared for Louisiana.
Don't Get Stuck on Stupid, Reporter
How many times have you seen and heard the questions reporters ask at press conferences and wished the recipient of absolutely dumb and repetitive questions would tell the reporter his questions were just that? Well, I heard it today. CNN was carrying a live press conference with Mayor Nagin. Nagin described the evacuation plan for Rita which was "go to the convention center, busses are waiting to pick you up." He said that no one would be housed at the Convention Center. The press, showing that they have both hearing, memory and intelligence impairments kept asking the same questions, all based on Katrina. LTG Honore finally moved Nagin aside, asked for the reporters' help in getting the message out. The message was (a) go the the convention center; (b) busses are there to pick you up and transport you; (c) 4000 soldiers are there; and (d) military trucks are available if there aren't enough busses. Our press, then started asking the General the same questions they were asking Nagin. Honore answered them, reminded them that this wasn't Katrina and there was a plan and again asked for their help in spreading the message. The reporters continued with the idiotic questions and Honore used the famous "don't get stuck on stupid" and then to a repeated question, "you are stuck on stupid."
It is about time someone told the press that they ought to tie their brains on a little tighter and listen to what was being said.
Congratulations, LTG Honore.
It is about time someone told the press that they ought to tie their brains on a little tighter and listen to what was being said.
Congratulations, LTG Honore.
Friday, September 16, 2005
What a Difference a year makes
The response in Florida
See the Whiskey Bar
of responses.
Attributed to an election year, or better actions by the State Government?
Brown was roasted by the Senate for spending the money:
The Florida feeling about FEMA strongly talks about how well the State Emergency Rescue Team and FEMA work together.
Size of storm coupled with Lousiana's lack of organization seems to have highlighted Brown's inability to make order of of chaos.
See the Whiskey Bar
of responses.
Attributed to an election year, or better actions by the State Government?
Brown was roasted by the Senate for spending the money:
The Florida feeling about FEMA strongly talks about how well the State Emergency Rescue Team and FEMA work together.
Size of storm coupled with Lousiana's lack of organization seems to have highlighted Brown's inability to make order of of chaos.
Thursday, September 15, 2005
Bush Speech and Reactions
I listened to Bush's speech tonight and thought, on the whole, it was positive and put forth some ideas that would start the infrastructure rebuild and recovery in New Orleans. I didn't think the speech was overly political, but he did try to bring in those who seem to believe that evil befell them because our political system oppresses them.
The reactions were indicative of the media's absolute bias or incompetence:
Bryan Williams was troubled that Bush chose to speak from Jackson Square. I guess Mr. Williams just doesn't get the symbolism of Jackson Square and St. Louis Cathedral. Other than some of the French Quarter, that shot is the symbol of New Orleans that everyone recognizes. Guess Mr. Williams would have been beter satisfied if Bush had used a damaged anywhere two-story house as his background.
LA Congressmen and Senator were thrilled that money would be flowing into their area.
Hannity and Colmbs did the usual, but actually had a few folks (Livingston and Breaux) who made comments.
Rita Cosby had some interesting interviews from "just plain folks."
Greta had the obligatory interview with Jesse Jackson. Didn't listen because I believe Jackson is a racist demigod who shouldn't be on without a counter from someone like David Duke. Wonder why no one has the gumption to remind Mr. Jackson that the demographics of the areas hit by the storm are 67% white when he starts carping about the poor and downtrodden blacks.
Scarborough demonstrated that his constituents had the intelligence to find a Congressman with an IQ higher than a fish.
Interesting part was most of the media wanted to talk about Bush's popularity, indicating that it was nothing more than a political stunt. I think I'd give the man credit for figuring out that several million people need help and that the region is very important to the US economically. Oh, well, suppose that that wouldn't sell as well as devling into the deep ulterior political motives.
The reactions were indicative of the media's absolute bias or incompetence:
Bryan Williams was troubled that Bush chose to speak from Jackson Square. I guess Mr. Williams just doesn't get the symbolism of Jackson Square and St. Louis Cathedral. Other than some of the French Quarter, that shot is the symbol of New Orleans that everyone recognizes. Guess Mr. Williams would have been beter satisfied if Bush had used a damaged anywhere two-story house as his background.
LA Congressmen and Senator were thrilled that money would be flowing into their area.
Hannity and Colmbs did the usual, but actually had a few folks (Livingston and Breaux) who made comments.
Rita Cosby had some interesting interviews from "just plain folks."
Greta had the obligatory interview with Jesse Jackson. Didn't listen because I believe Jackson is a racist demigod who shouldn't be on without a counter from someone like David Duke. Wonder why no one has the gumption to remind Mr. Jackson that the demographics of the areas hit by the storm are 67% white when he starts carping about the poor and downtrodden blacks.
Scarborough demonstrated that his constituents had the intelligence to find a Congressman with an IQ higher than a fish.
Interesting part was most of the media wanted to talk about Bush's popularity, indicating that it was nothing more than a political stunt. I think I'd give the man credit for figuring out that several million people need help and that the region is very important to the US economically. Oh, well, suppose that that wouldn't sell as well as devling into the deep ulterior political motives.
FEMA Failure? Well, The Media Says So
Listening to the media, the Katrina response was an absolute failure by FEMA. http://www.michellemalkin.com/ says so. How much of this is urban myth perpetuated by the media who are frankly too lazy to get the facts before they get the glittering sound byte?
Anecdotes of FEMA failure are legend. In a disaster of this scale, I'm sure we will hear for more.
FEMA's job is to "coordinate" and this, somehow means take charge and lead. Not so.
The job of coordinating the response by people, logistics, emergency medical relief over 90,000 square miles is an awesome task. Managing that when the private relief is coming in with unknown quantity, qualifications or even type in an area with lousy communications and difficult circumstances is doubly tough.
Brown's failure may well have been to try to be too "hands on" in Baton Rouge and not manage the process through his regional managers. His failure may also have been not to drill the hell out of his people so they knew what they had to do and worked "seamlessly." Who knows? I'm sure that the congressional investigation by some of the leading lights of our nation (oops, we are using the congress) will get there by all the political posturing and very few facts.
Anecdotes of FEMA failure are legend. In a disaster of this scale, I'm sure we will hear for more.
FEMA's job is to "coordinate" and this, somehow means take charge and lead. Not so.
The job of coordinating the response by people, logistics, emergency medical relief over 90,000 square miles is an awesome task. Managing that when the private relief is coming in with unknown quantity, qualifications or even type in an area with lousy communications and difficult circumstances is doubly tough.
Brown's failure may well have been to try to be too "hands on" in Baton Rouge and not manage the process through his regional managers. His failure may also have been not to drill the hell out of his people so they knew what they had to do and worked "seamlessly." Who knows? I'm sure that the congressional investigation by some of the leading lights of our nation (oops, we are using the congress) will get there by all the political posturing and very few facts.
Wednesday, September 14, 2005
Busses to where?
On one of the radio news shows I was listening today there was an interview with someone from Louisiana Homeland Security. The interview covered the infamous busses in New Orleans. According to this official, New Orleans had problems getting drivers (which we all have heard). However, he also said that the busses would have evacuated people to the Superdome. He also said that many of the people who lined up at the Superdome got there by driving, which, according to the interviewee, explained the number of cars around the building.
Will look for the site. But this seems to fill in the blank I've had over the New Orleans evacuation plan. It doesn't state where the evacuees were to go. Now, I guess we know.
Will look for the site. But this seems to fill in the blank I've had over the New Orleans evacuation plan. It doesn't state where the evacuees were to go. Now, I guess we know.
Tuesday, September 13, 2005
For the Race Baiters
Welcome to Louisiana.gov
Demographics for parishes/counties affected by Katrina
67% white, 30% black.
Make of it what you will. Katrina is a disaster that affected people without being race specific. It's too bad that the political ghouls want to trade on human misery.
Demographics for parishes/counties affected by Katrina
67% white, 30% black.
Make of it what you will. Katrina is a disaster that affected people without being race specific. It's too bad that the political ghouls want to trade on human misery.
Monday, September 12, 2005
Our Friends at CNN
On Aaron Brown's program tonight, we heard CNN's excuses for wanting the film of the victims of Katrina. Remember, CNN didn't want to dishonor the 9/11 dead, harm the families or upset our sensibilities. With Katrina, they have no concern for the victims, families or the audience.
A majority of the victims of Katrina may be black. Does CNN believe that blacks from New Orleans are somewhat lesser people than citizens of New York? Or does CNN simply wish to use the victims of Katrina for some political purposes. I have more respect for the idiot pundits who will admit their political viewpoints before running off at the mouth than I do political viewpoints wrapped up as speech.
A majority of the victims of Katrina may be black. Does CNN believe that blacks from New Orleans are somewhat lesser people than citizens of New York? Or does CNN simply wish to use the victims of Katrina for some political purposes. I have more respect for the idiot pundits who will admit their political viewpoints before running off at the mouth than I do political viewpoints wrapped up as speech.
Best Line of the Day
While I was watching the non-news power outage in LA, the best summary of the Katrina incident was given by a former LAPD Sergeant. When John Gibson mentioned the recent disaster in New Orleans the response was: LA is not New Orleans. The LAPD is not NOPD. We take emergencies seriously, have plans that work and have drills with the fire department, police and sheriff's departments and national guard. When this happened, we went on automatic.
Maybe Blanco and Nagin can stop by LA on their way to the FEMA-paid R&R in Las Vegas and take a few emergency response and incident command notes.
Maybe Blanco and Nagin can stop by LA on their way to the FEMA-paid R&R in Las Vegas and take a few emergency response and incident command notes.
Intelligence Test
The afternoon news was devoted to the power outage in LA. I watched long enough to discover that it was (a) not a terrorist attack; (b) was caused by a miss dig by the Board of Water and Power; (c) did not create a panic in the city; and (e) was well handled by the LAPD, FD and board of water and power. The news, especially cable, went on and on reporting this non story. It occured to me that the only thing dumber than beating this non-story to death was me watching it. So I fixed the part I could control.
The Lamest Excuse Yet
Yesterday of Fox News Sunday, Senator Landrieu said that the evacuation was difficult because of staffing to drive the busses that ended up being flooded. Her comments were that it was hard "to get them to come to work on sunny days." She then went on to blame Bush.
What an incredible statement. Landrieu is either et up with a stupendous case of the dumbs or really believes that anyone listening is dumber than she is. And one wonders why there was a lousy evacuation plan? Perhaps she believes that Bush should have dropped in to drive busses for the City.
What an incredible statement. Landrieu is either et up with a stupendous case of the dumbs or really believes that anyone listening is dumber than she is. And one wonders why there was a lousy evacuation plan? Perhaps she believes that Bush should have dropped in to drive busses for the City.
The Mayor of Dallas?
Fox news reported tonight that Mayor Nagin has purchased a home in Dallas, moved his family and enrolled his kids in school. I realize that even the mayor needs to take time to take care of his family. However, when your city is underwater, they are still finding survivors and are now pulling bodies out of houses, hospitals and the water, it is not the time to take off on a home-buying spree in Dallas. Fox also reported that Mr. Nagin hadn't been seen on the streets since last Wednesday. All it took was a visit by the President to get him out on the streets.
I don't recall seeing any footage of Nagin walking the streets, encouraging the troops during the last two weeks unless the president or vice-president was in town.
And one wonders why the busses didn't move and the city was in total disarray.
I don't recall seeing any footage of Nagin walking the streets, encouraging the troops during the last two weeks unless the president or vice-president was in town.
And one wonders why the busses didn't move and the city was in total disarray.
Sunday, September 11, 2005
Lack of plan hurt Katrina-hit states' response#
Lack of plan hurt Katrina-hit states' response#. Mississipi had recognized problems with their plans and were rewriting the plans. Louisiana wasn't aware that their plans were inadequate or they needed t do anything.
Jack Kelly: No shame and a few facts
Jack Kelly: No shame. The urban legend that the flow of support to Katrina was slow has a few detractors like Mr. Kelly who looked at the facts. They beat the response to Andrew by two days. Andrew as a storm that covered a smaller area.
Saturday, September 10, 2005
People haters get off Scot-free
John Berlau on Katrina on National Review Online. Found on Junkscience. Mer Berlau recounts a history of the environmentalist elite's work to keep from improving the levees and flood control in New Orleans. This work, they are so proud of, resulted in death and destruction. But, what the hey, it's only people, and the enviros gladly accept the deaths of thousands to save a swamp.
The Sierra Club sued in 1996 to stop levee work. In the suit the Sierra Club thought it more important to protect hardwoods and black bears than people.
American Rivers. has fought any increase in the levees and, according to the Belau article wants levee lowering. Their 8/31/05 statement is We pray for the waters to swiftly recede and for order to be restored, so that America can begin the task of rebuilding homes, roads, and lives. We hope that our nation's lawmakers will extend their rehabilitation efforts to the Mississippi River itself, where decades of severe environmental degradation have left the region progressively more vulnerable to the winds and floods that accompany a storm like Katrina.
The Sierra Club's response is to dismiss finger pointing and call for an independent 911-type commission to investigate. Gosh, the 911 commission did such a good job of putting the foxes in the henhouse and dismissing any information that did not go with their political agenda. We certainly need one of those.
No mention of their role in defeating levee contruction. In fact, no great statements since 8/31/05. Wonder if they have decided to lay low because of the images of death and destruction created by their idiotic passions.
Read the rest of the article. The environmental elite has opposed nearly every flood, stormcontrol and levee project by the administration under Bush. After all, they really don't care about people.
There was even successful opposition to projects that would have reduced the impact of a storm surge in Lake Ponchartrain in 1977. Guess where the water came from? I'm sure those folks are very proud of the fact that their actions resulted in deaths and billions in damage. After all, it's only people.
Enviros have the same level of accountability for their actions as the Congress: none, nada, zero.
The Sierra Club sued in 1996 to stop levee work. In the suit the Sierra Club thought it more important to protect hardwoods and black bears than people.
American Rivers. has fought any increase in the levees and, according to the Belau article wants levee lowering. Their 8/31/05 statement is We pray for the waters to swiftly recede and for order to be restored, so that America can begin the task of rebuilding homes, roads, and lives. We hope that our nation's lawmakers will extend their rehabilitation efforts to the Mississippi River itself, where decades of severe environmental degradation have left the region progressively more vulnerable to the winds and floods that accompany a storm like Katrina.
The Sierra Club's response is to dismiss finger pointing and call for an independent 911-type commission to investigate. Gosh, the 911 commission did such a good job of putting the foxes in the henhouse and dismissing any information that did not go with their political agenda. We certainly need one of those.
No mention of their role in defeating levee contruction. In fact, no great statements since 8/31/05. Wonder if they have decided to lay low because of the images of death and destruction created by their idiotic passions.
Read the rest of the article. The environmental elite has opposed nearly every flood, stormcontrol and levee project by the administration under Bush. After all, they really don't care about people.
There was even successful opposition to projects that would have reduced the impact of a storm surge in Lake Ponchartrain in 1977. Guess where the water came from? I'm sure those folks are very proud of the fact that their actions resulted in deaths and billions in damage. After all, it's only people.
Enviros have the same level of accountability for their actions as the Congress: none, nada, zero.
Didn't think he was bright when he was in the cabinet
Make It an Island - New York Times and Bruse Babbit proves it again. Make NOLA an island. The trouble with the enviro's is that they really don't think people are as important as a swamp.
Disarray Marked the Path From Hurricane to Anarchy - New York Times
Disarray Marked the Path From Hurricane to Anarchy - New York Times. The key to this one is that "no one was in charge." The red tape issues are incredible. One would think that firefighters would have already had courses in sexual harrassment and community relations. Community relations is what they do and everyone has had sexual harrassment courses these days. Of course, the Federal course really makes all the difference when you have a city with no power, under water and on fire.
Ahead of the Government?
New Orleans Executives Plan Revival - New York Times. It seems that groups of New Orleans business executives are planning the revival of New Orleans and are out in front of the government, as it should be. Of course, if my business life depended on this, I would be doing my darndest to restart the city. Given the fierce, unrelenting love of New Orleans by the folks who live there, I know that many would jump at the chance to start early to revitalize the city. Some positive thinking is good for the folks there and the future of the city.
From Drudge.
From Drudge.
Friday, September 09, 2005
More Light Reading
DHS | Department of Homeland Security | National Response Plan. The National response plan. Too bad some of our leading pundits don't bother to have their staffs look it over and give them a few points on it.
Note; the plan seems to allow FEMA to cut through some of the red tape, if it wants to. It seems that Brown's failure, if indeed he did fail, was not to implement some of the waivers to policy.
Note; the plan seems to allow FEMA to cut through some of the red tape, if it wants to. It seems that Brown's failure, if indeed he did fail, was not to implement some of the waivers to policy.
FEMA: Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, as amended by Public Law 106-390, October 30, 2000
FEMA: Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, as amended by Public Law 106-390, October 30, 2000 Not exactly light reading, but the Stafford act is the law prescribing relationships, responsibilities and procedures for emergency response. Guess what, the Governor mut request the aid.
What the Media and Pols won't tell you
the Coast Guard will. This link contains the legislative history
Introduction to Homeland Security Act of 2002 Legislative History . FEMA was placed in the Department of Homeland Security by the Act, first introduced by Rep Thornberry in 2001 before 9/11. During the legislative history, almost all congressmen and senators opted in as co-sponsors. Now some, like Reid, will tell us that it is a terrible thing and ourt to be fixed. One wonders where the accountability from our elected leaders might be? Actually I know. None of them are ever held accountable for their actions.
Introduction to Homeland Security Act of 2002 Legislative History . FEMA was placed in the Department of Homeland Security by the Act, first introduced by Rep Thornberry in 2001 before 9/11. During the legislative history, almost all congressmen and senators opted in as co-sponsors. Now some, like Reid, will tell us that it is a terrible thing and ourt to be fixed. One wonders where the accountability from our elected leaders might be? Actually I know. None of them are ever held accountable for their actions.
Heroes in a time of need
More than a Coast Guard�-�Editorials/Op-Ed�-�The Washington Times, America's Newspaper My navy friends laugh about "shallow-water sailors." But from what I've seen and read, if there is one group who has performed with consistently outstanding work in Katrina, it has been the Coast Guard. I think it is because they went to work, ignored red tape and don't have "ask for forgiveness" in their lexicon. In other words, they ACT.
My picture of the Coast Guard is the rescuer hanging on a cable, going between houses to get to a window to rescue someone. Maybe some of the pols should watch that film. The pilot and rescuer deserve big, bright, shiny medals.
My picture of the Coast Guard is the rescuer hanging on a cable, going between houses to get to a window to rescue someone. Maybe some of the pols should watch that film. The pilot and rescuer deserve big, bright, shiny medals.
Wednesday, September 07, 2005
Why Ignore the Evacuation Recommendations
A lot of folks on the Gulf Coast didn't evacuate. Some of them just didn't believe the weathermen. I think there is a good reason. Weather has turned into an over-hyped media attempt to get viewers. We have "Storm Team," "Dopler Max," "Double Doppler" and numerous other ploys to get us to watch. Recently, Channel 8 in Richmond cut into programming a weather news flash that went on for almost an hour. There was a thunderstorm in the area that could cause tornadoes. Well, this is the summer. We have thunderstorms. Severe ones can cause hail and tornadoes. It is nice to know when this happens, but instead of flashing the alert on the screen and, maybe, cutting in for progess updates or to tell us that something really different is happening, they went on, and on, and on, tracking a thunderstorm. I was rather amazed at breathless, fast talking and excited reporters covering a cotton picking summer thunderstorm.
With all the hype-up weather reporting, I'm willing to be that people begin to tune out real threats, like Katrina. Add to that the attitude that "we've weathered storms before and this ain't no big thing." And you get a disaster like we have had, when a really bad storm comes along. I think the weather folks have cried wolf too often and people just didn't believe them.
Still, if you live in a hurricane or flood-prone zone, you really should pay attention to ones that really matter and ignore the hype from the media.
With all the hype-up weather reporting, I'm willing to be that people begin to tune out real threats, like Katrina. Add to that the attitude that "we've weathered storms before and this ain't no big thing." And you get a disaster like we have had, when a really bad storm comes along. I think the weather folks have cried wolf too often and people just didn't believe them.
Still, if you live in a hurricane or flood-prone zone, you really should pay attention to ones that really matter and ignore the hype from the media.
Katrina Lessons Learned-not many it seems
One of the better sequences of events that I've seen is from http://rightwingnuthouse.com/archives/2005/09/04/katrina-response-timeline/ Rightwing nuthouse. This is a must read.
Clearly, the local and state officials who were the decision makers weren't familiar with their plans. NOLA's plan called for evacuation of citizens who couldn't get themselves out on busses. No busses really moved except to the Superdome. I have, and the city fathers seemed to have, no idea where folks would be bussed to, if they were bussed. Don't trust the locals to know what they are supposed to do.
New Orleans did not have a backup communications plan. It seems that natural gas fired the emergency generators for police communications. They were not allowed to put in propane tanks for backup fuel for the generators. They didn't buy satellite phones (FEMA grant of $11.2 billion for emergency supplies and they didn't use some of the pork for buying sat phones. No other backup communciations. Think anyone will consider this in the future?
Don't Trust the Pols to do the right thing. The Mayor and the Governor dithered over evacuations. They are still arguing about evacuating the remainder of the people there. The mayor says go, the Gov says "not until I make up my mind." Wonder how many more deaths they need to blame FEMA for? The most incredible piece of government crime is the fact that the Louisiana Department of Homeland Security refused to allow the Red Cross or even relief supplies to go into the city because they wanted people to evacuate. Think of thousands of people in the Dome and Convention center with no water, food of sanitation and some group of idiots decided to starve them out.
Trust the pols to make sure that someone else is to blame. It didn't take long for the blame game to start. If half the energy spent shifting the blame was put into fixing the problem, then we'd be much farther ahead in this process. Instead, our friendly Democrats, are making sure that all the political hay can be made while the tragedy is going on. The Senate and House Democratic leadership has taken no actions to alleviate the problems or assist in any way. They have made every effort to blame Bush for even state and local failures. Pelosi was on the news tonight saying that Bush is clueless because of his response to her demands that he fire Brown. Sounds more like Bush's response was what you would say to an idiot who is being obnoxious and she wasn't smart enough to realize it.
Trust the pols and bureaucrats to have a turf first, people last attitude. The internecine squabbles are causing people to die.
Trust the folks who see their duty as getting the job done and don't worry about upsetting someone's fiefdom. There should be a paper shortage for the folks who have selflessly risked their lives saving others. It takes no little skill and courage to do these rooftop rescues we have been seeing. LTG Honore is one of those folks who isn't worried about stepping on toes. He is mission first, devil take the hindmost. I hope he writes some memoires of this period. Trust the thousands of selfless folks who have moved in and started saving people, feeding people and doing other things while the "leaders" are accessing the situation, studying the situation, having group gropes and otherwise dithering. A decision that is less than optimal is better than no decision at all. Be not afraid of criticism of people who aren't in your place and probably couldn't do it half as well. Lead, follow or get out of the way. We have thousands of heroes who have done just that despite the best efforts of the government.
Trust the media to get it wrong. Most of them don't have the education, smarts or will to learn to get it right.
Realize that you are on your own. Especially in Louisiana.
Clearly, the local and state officials who were the decision makers weren't familiar with their plans. NOLA's plan called for evacuation of citizens who couldn't get themselves out on busses. No busses really moved except to the Superdome. I have, and the city fathers seemed to have, no idea where folks would be bussed to, if they were bussed. Don't trust the locals to know what they are supposed to do.
New Orleans did not have a backup communications plan. It seems that natural gas fired the emergency generators for police communications. They were not allowed to put in propane tanks for backup fuel for the generators. They didn't buy satellite phones (FEMA grant of $11.2 billion for emergency supplies and they didn't use some of the pork for buying sat phones. No other backup communciations. Think anyone will consider this in the future?
Don't Trust the Pols to do the right thing. The Mayor and the Governor dithered over evacuations. They are still arguing about evacuating the remainder of the people there. The mayor says go, the Gov says "not until I make up my mind." Wonder how many more deaths they need to blame FEMA for? The most incredible piece of government crime is the fact that the Louisiana Department of Homeland Security refused to allow the Red Cross or even relief supplies to go into the city because they wanted people to evacuate. Think of thousands of people in the Dome and Convention center with no water, food of sanitation and some group of idiots decided to starve them out.
Trust the pols to make sure that someone else is to blame. It didn't take long for the blame game to start. If half the energy spent shifting the blame was put into fixing the problem, then we'd be much farther ahead in this process. Instead, our friendly Democrats, are making sure that all the political hay can be made while the tragedy is going on. The Senate and House Democratic leadership has taken no actions to alleviate the problems or assist in any way. They have made every effort to blame Bush for even state and local failures. Pelosi was on the news tonight saying that Bush is clueless because of his response to her demands that he fire Brown. Sounds more like Bush's response was what you would say to an idiot who is being obnoxious and she wasn't smart enough to realize it.
Trust the pols and bureaucrats to have a turf first, people last attitude. The internecine squabbles are causing people to die.
Trust the folks who see their duty as getting the job done and don't worry about upsetting someone's fiefdom. There should be a paper shortage for the folks who have selflessly risked their lives saving others. It takes no little skill and courage to do these rooftop rescues we have been seeing. LTG Honore is one of those folks who isn't worried about stepping on toes. He is mission first, devil take the hindmost. I hope he writes some memoires of this period. Trust the thousands of selfless folks who have moved in and started saving people, feeding people and doing other things while the "leaders" are accessing the situation, studying the situation, having group gropes and otherwise dithering. A decision that is less than optimal is better than no decision at all. Be not afraid of criticism of people who aren't in your place and probably couldn't do it half as well. Lead, follow or get out of the way. We have thousands of heroes who have done just that despite the best efforts of the government.
Trust the media to get it wrong. Most of them don't have the education, smarts or will to learn to get it right.
Realize that you are on your own. Especially in Louisiana.
The Storm Overwhelmed Everyone
Offers of Aid Immediate, but U.S. Approval Delayed for Days - Yahoo! News. It takes time to sort out what's needed, who can provide it and where it will go, but it looks like the US bureaucracy is either overwhelmed or in the "business as usual mode." As I understand it, New Orleans communications is still a bit dicy. Someone needs to get off the stick and get moving.
Monday, September 05, 2005
Kuwait Pledges $500M for Hurricane Relief - Los Angeles Times
Kuwait Pledges $500M for Hurricane Relief - Los Angeles Times Add to that $100 million from Qatar. As our friends on the left say, Bush has no friends in the Arab world.
"Kuwait's energy minister said his country would provide "oil products that the disaster-stricken states need in addition to other humanitarian aid."
"It's our duty as Kuwaitis to stand by our friends to lighten the humanitarian misery and as a payback for the many situations during which Washington helped us through the significant relations between the two friendly countries," Sheik Ahmed Fahd Al Ahmed Al Sabah said in a statement carried by Kuwait's official news agency, KUNA. "
Democracy Project
"Kuwait's energy minister said his country would provide "oil products that the disaster-stricken states need in addition to other humanitarian aid."
"It's our duty as Kuwaitis to stand by our friends to lighten the humanitarian misery and as a payback for the many situations during which Washington helped us through the significant relations between the two friendly countries," Sheik Ahmed Fahd Al Ahmed Al Sabah said in a statement carried by Kuwait's official news agency, KUNA. "
Democracy Project
Over run by deer.
Independent Online Edition > UK Environment : app2 I guess they don't hunt in Britain. And, Climate changes is responsible in some way.
BostonHerald.com - Business News: Brown pushed from last job: Horse group: FEMA chief had to be `asked to resign'
BostonHerald.com - Business News: Brown pushed from last job: Horse group: FEMA chief had to be `asked to resign'. This may explain the cluelessness in the face of a really taxing disaster.
Herald Sun: Sean Penn's rescue bid sinks [05sep05]
Herald Sun: Sean Penn's rescue bid sinks [05sep05]. Launches the boat without the drain plug and has a large entourage to get to the pics. He would be better off raising money, not "Helping"
Red Cross bureaucracy causing frustrations
The Town Talk - www.thetowntalk.com. I guess the government is not the only inflexible organization.
Many WWII Marines absolutely hated the Red Cross. Their story was that the Red Cross was way back from the fighting and charged for coffee and doughnuts. The Salvation Army was closer to the front and gave their aid away. In any event, they would get really mad if you mentioned donating to the Red Cross.
Many WWII Marines absolutely hated the Red Cross. Their story was that the Red Cross was way back from the fighting and charged for coffee and doughnuts. The Salvation Army was closer to the front and gave their aid away. In any event, they would get really mad if you mentioned donating to the Red Cross.
The Gov dithered while people died
Many Evacuated, but Thousands Still Waiting carries the beginnigs of a tale that seems to be true. The State and Local Governments didn't want to relinquish authority and the internecine squabbling between bureaucracies resulted in additional suffering and deaths.
From the Post Article
Behind the scenes, a power struggle emerged, as federal officials tried to wrest authority from Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Babineaux Blanco (D). Shortly before midnight Friday, the Bush administration sent her a proposed legal memorandum asking her to request a federal takeover of the evacuation of New Orleans, a source within the state's emergency operations center said Saturday.
The administration sought unified control over all local police and state National Guard units reporting to the governor. Louisiana officials rejected the request after talks throughout the night, concerned that such a move would be comparable to a federal declaration of martial law. Some officials in the state suspected a political motive behind the request. "Quite frankly, if they'd been able to pull off taking it away from the locals, they then could have blamed everything on the locals," said the source, who does not have the authority to speak publicly.
A senior administration official said that Bush has clear legal authority to federalize National Guard units to quell civil disturbances under the Insurrection Act and will continue to try to unify the chains of command that are split among the president, the Louisiana governor and the New Orleans mayor.
Louisiana did not reach out to a multi-state mutual aid compact for assistance until Wednesday, three state and federal officials said. As of Saturday, Blanco still had not declared a state of emergency, the senior Bush official said.
"The federal government stands ready to work with state and local officials to secure New Orleans and the state of Louisiana," White House spokesman Dan Bartlett said. "The president will not let any form of bureaucracy get in the way of protecting the citizens of Louisiana."
Blanco made two moves Saturday that protected her independence from the federal government: She created a philanthropic fund for the state's victims and hired James Lee Witt, Federal Emergency Management Agency director in the Clinton administration, to advise her on the relief effort.
Bush, who has been criticized, even by supporters, for the delayed response to the disaster, used his weekly radio address to put responsibility for the failure on lower levels of government. The magnitude of the crisis "has created tremendous problems that have strained state and local capabilities," he said. "The result is that many of our citizens simply are not getting the help they need, especially in New Orleans. And that is unacceptable."
From the Post Article
Behind the scenes, a power struggle emerged, as federal officials tried to wrest authority from Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Babineaux Blanco (D). Shortly before midnight Friday, the Bush administration sent her a proposed legal memorandum asking her to request a federal takeover of the evacuation of New Orleans, a source within the state's emergency operations center said Saturday.
The administration sought unified control over all local police and state National Guard units reporting to the governor. Louisiana officials rejected the request after talks throughout the night, concerned that such a move would be comparable to a federal declaration of martial law. Some officials in the state suspected a political motive behind the request. "Quite frankly, if they'd been able to pull off taking it away from the locals, they then could have blamed everything on the locals," said the source, who does not have the authority to speak publicly.
A senior administration official said that Bush has clear legal authority to federalize National Guard units to quell civil disturbances under the Insurrection Act and will continue to try to unify the chains of command that are split among the president, the Louisiana governor and the New Orleans mayor.
Louisiana did not reach out to a multi-state mutual aid compact for assistance until Wednesday, three state and federal officials said. As of Saturday, Blanco still had not declared a state of emergency, the senior Bush official said.
"The federal government stands ready to work with state and local officials to secure New Orleans and the state of Louisiana," White House spokesman Dan Bartlett said. "The president will not let any form of bureaucracy get in the way of protecting the citizens of Louisiana."
Blanco made two moves Saturday that protected her independence from the federal government: She created a philanthropic fund for the state's victims and hired James Lee Witt, Federal Emergency Management Agency director in the Clinton administration, to advise her on the relief effort.
Bush, who has been criticized, even by supporters, for the delayed response to the disaster, used his weekly radio address to put responsibility for the failure on lower levels of government. The magnitude of the crisis "has created tremendous problems that have strained state and local capabilities," he said. "The result is that many of our citizens simply are not getting the help they need, especially in New Orleans. And that is unacceptable."
Sunday, September 04, 2005
NOLA.com: T-P Orleans Parish Breaking News Weblog
Great place to get what's really happening in New Orleans Area. Stuff you won't see on the national news
NOLA.com: T-P Orleans Parish Breaking News Weblog
NOLA.com: T-P Orleans Parish Breaking News Weblog
Martial Law and Federal Assistance
The Feds have a limited role unless the governor says the State is out of her/his control.
From the Times Picayune:
Military presence isn’t martial law
Active military used in humanitarian role
By Susan Finch
Staff writer
Martial law isn’t a law at all.
But the term has been invoked over and over in the week since Hurricane Katrina struck to describe the enhanced authority assumed by public officials, restrictions on access to some public streets and the presence of armed federal soldiers roaming parts of the New Orleans area.
Some public officials do invoke extraordinary authority during emergencies, under a 12-year-old Louisiana law. But the presence of active-duty military personnel does not mean martial law has been declared.
The role of the active military thus far has been to help the Federal Emergency Management Agency with humanitarian work, search and rescue efforts, medical assistance and supply distribution – not to enforce civil law, a military spokesman said.
The National Guard is trying to enforce civil law in the hurricane zone. It was pressed into service by Gov. Kathleen Blanco.
A true state of martial law would also put the active military in a law enforcement role. That rarely happens. Martial law was declared during labor strikes in the early 20th century and during the Watts riots of 1965 in Los Angeles, said John Baker, constitutional law professor at Louisiana State University.
At all other times, the U.S. system of government is set up to give the states and their own police the primary responsibility to protect residents, with the federal government being called on only as a backup when a state is overwhelmed.
"If a governor will call and say, ‘I no longer have the ability to secure my state, I need help,’ the president could invoke the Insurrection Act and the military could assist in law enforcement activities," said a U.S. Northern Command lawyer who spoke on the condition that he not be identified. "That is not what we are doing."
Baker said martial law is not a written law but has been recognized by the U.S. Supreme Court as a legal concept.
"It’s a suspension of law, and the term goes way back and it’s linked to what is called the law of necessity," doing what is necessary in extreme situations, Baker said. "The question is whether, quite apart from law, there is inherent power to those charged with order in the community to keep it from descending into chaos and insurrection."
What is written is the Louisiana Homeland Security and Emergency Assistance and Disaster Act of 1993. Under the law, the governor and some top parish officials, including Jefferson Parish President Aaron Broussard, have the right to commandeer private property if necessary to cope with an emergency. Specific officials may also suspend any law related to the conducting of official business or any rule previously issued by a state agency if complying would "prevent, hinder or delay necessary action" to mitigate the emergency, the state attorney general’s office said last week.
The law also gives certain officials the right to compel evacuations, suspend alcohol and weapon sales and make provisions for emergency housing, the office said.
Mayors assume similar authority, although not the right to commandeer private property or arrange emergency housing, the office said.
Blanco invoked the 1993 law when she declared a state of emergency last week. Broussard himself has described Jefferson as being "under martial law, and there’s only one marshal: Me."
Broussard has announced that Jefferson Parish is closed to all residents and visitors. Police have been staffing roadblocks on highways entering the parish. Despite widespread criticism from other public officials and utility companies, Broussard plans to let residents return Monday for a brief time but will order them out again until streets are clear, power is restored and the water supply made safe for drinking.
Baker said Louisiana must take care not to "fall into the notion that you look first and primarily to the military to run things.
"The military are not police officers generally; their job is to fight a war. That’s totally different from a police function unless people want to turn this country into other countries where you have the military running the police force,
From the Times Picayune:
Military presence isn’t martial law
Active military used in humanitarian role
By Susan Finch
Staff writer
Martial law isn’t a law at all.
But the term has been invoked over and over in the week since Hurricane Katrina struck to describe the enhanced authority assumed by public officials, restrictions on access to some public streets and the presence of armed federal soldiers roaming parts of the New Orleans area.
Some public officials do invoke extraordinary authority during emergencies, under a 12-year-old Louisiana law. But the presence of active-duty military personnel does not mean martial law has been declared.
The role of the active military thus far has been to help the Federal Emergency Management Agency with humanitarian work, search and rescue efforts, medical assistance and supply distribution – not to enforce civil law, a military spokesman said.
The National Guard is trying to enforce civil law in the hurricane zone. It was pressed into service by Gov. Kathleen Blanco.
A true state of martial law would also put the active military in a law enforcement role. That rarely happens. Martial law was declared during labor strikes in the early 20th century and during the Watts riots of 1965 in Los Angeles, said John Baker, constitutional law professor at Louisiana State University.
At all other times, the U.S. system of government is set up to give the states and their own police the primary responsibility to protect residents, with the federal government being called on only as a backup when a state is overwhelmed.
"If a governor will call and say, ‘I no longer have the ability to secure my state, I need help,’ the president could invoke the Insurrection Act and the military could assist in law enforcement activities," said a U.S. Northern Command lawyer who spoke on the condition that he not be identified. "That is not what we are doing."
Baker said martial law is not a written law but has been recognized by the U.S. Supreme Court as a legal concept.
"It’s a suspension of law, and the term goes way back and it’s linked to what is called the law of necessity," doing what is necessary in extreme situations, Baker said. "The question is whether, quite apart from law, there is inherent power to those charged with order in the community to keep it from descending into chaos and insurrection."
What is written is the Louisiana Homeland Security and Emergency Assistance and Disaster Act of 1993. Under the law, the governor and some top parish officials, including Jefferson Parish President Aaron Broussard, have the right to commandeer private property if necessary to cope with an emergency. Specific officials may also suspend any law related to the conducting of official business or any rule previously issued by a state agency if complying would "prevent, hinder or delay necessary action" to mitigate the emergency, the state attorney general’s office said last week.
The law also gives certain officials the right to compel evacuations, suspend alcohol and weapon sales and make provisions for emergency housing, the office said.
Mayors assume similar authority, although not the right to commandeer private property or arrange emergency housing, the office said.
Blanco invoked the 1993 law when she declared a state of emergency last week. Broussard himself has described Jefferson as being "under martial law, and there’s only one marshal: Me."
Broussard has announced that Jefferson Parish is closed to all residents and visitors. Police have been staffing roadblocks on highways entering the parish. Despite widespread criticism from other public officials and utility companies, Broussard plans to let residents return Monday for a brief time but will order them out again until streets are clear, power is restored and the water supply made safe for drinking.
Baker said Louisiana must take care not to "fall into the notion that you look first and primarily to the military to run things.
"The military are not police officers generally; their job is to fight a war. That’s totally different from a police function unless people want to turn this country into other countries where you have the military running the police force,
Friday, September 02, 2005
Heroes and goats
I've been watching the Katrina tragedy has had more than its share of absolute heroes. I hope someone will get around to telling their stories. The news pool footage this afternoon had a helicopter rescue with the guy on the cable going down between two houses to effect a rescue from a window. The Coast Guard pilot held the helicopter like a rock. I was more than amazed at the skill and courage of these people. I'm willing to bet that, unphotographed, they have done dozens of these. Made it seem routine. Kudo's and big medals for these folks.
I hope someone finds the time to collect the stories of individual and group heroism in this mess. For all my carping, there and hundreds of people risking their lives to save others.
Goats: Secretary of Homeland Security: Congratulating his folks (at a press conference) on the wonderful work they do. Well, folks, people are dying because they haven't quite figured out how to get the stuff to the victims. HMS may be doing wonderful work, but all that counts is results, and they ain't so wonderful.
Director of FEMA: Sits and Baton Rouge and reads the script on how many tons of supplies moved. See above, if they aren't getting there, you can bottle and move Lake Michigan. Results are all that counts.
Mayor of New Orleans: Hides out in the Ritz Carleton and issues radio addresses. Get out and move around. What's with private busses for tourists in the Ritz-Carleton and then putting them in the front of the line at the Superdome?
Governor of LA: Ineffective.
Lieutenant Governor: Out rescuing corpses when he should be making things happen.
Those who are playing the Race Card: From what I've seen, the guys doing the rescues ain't checking for race. Whites saving blacks, blacks saving whites. No race, just victims who needed help. Those playing the race card are doing both the victims and the heroes a disservice. I guess they really don't care about the victims, just political advantage.
I hope someone finds the time to collect the stories of individual and group heroism in this mess. For all my carping, there and hundreds of people risking their lives to save others.
Goats: Secretary of Homeland Security: Congratulating his folks (at a press conference) on the wonderful work they do. Well, folks, people are dying because they haven't quite figured out how to get the stuff to the victims. HMS may be doing wonderful work, but all that counts is results, and they ain't so wonderful.
Director of FEMA: Sits and Baton Rouge and reads the script on how many tons of supplies moved. See above, if they aren't getting there, you can bottle and move Lake Michigan. Results are all that counts.
Mayor of New Orleans: Hides out in the Ritz Carleton and issues radio addresses. Get out and move around. What's with private busses for tourists in the Ritz-Carleton and then putting them in the front of the line at the Superdome?
Governor of LA: Ineffective.
Lieutenant Governor: Out rescuing corpses when he should be making things happen.
Those who are playing the Race Card: From what I've seen, the guys doing the rescues ain't checking for race. Whites saving blacks, blacks saving whites. No race, just victims who needed help. Those playing the race card are doing both the victims and the heroes a disservice. I guess they really don't care about the victims, just political advantage.
Watching then Lose it
Watched O'Rielly tonight. Usually don't like him, but tonight's show was interesting. Geraldo at the Convention Center; Harrigan on I-10; and Shepard Smith in NOLA and all were losing it. The tale of human misery is just too much to bear. The organization is still not there.
It is past time that someone take charge and "fire" those who can't seem to get their acts together.
The disaster that was Katrina is overwhelming, but the lack of organization after the fact makes it a tragedy. Maybe the leaders ought to assign someone to watch TV. If so, they may actual get some worthwhile intel.
It is past time that someone take charge and "fire" those who can't seem to get their acts together.
The disaster that was Katrina is overwhelming, but the lack of organization after the fact makes it a tragedy. Maybe the leaders ought to assign someone to watch TV. If so, they may actual get some worthwhile intel.
Anyone Check to see if they would start
JunkYardBlog: August 28, 2005 - September 03, 2005 Archives. JunkYardBlog. Has the pic's and more on these 205 school busses. Impossible to tell if they got too wet to move, and I bet no one has tried to find out. One mile from the superdome and no-one has a clue if any of these could provide transportation. The mayor should come out of hiding at the Ritz-Carlton.
"Unacceptable"
The President is right, the response to the situation in New Orleans, and possibly the Gulf Coast has been unacceptable. I sit here comfromtable in Richmond and can only imagine the heartache and misery on the Gulf Coast. But I was getting angry and depressed at the elected officials letting the situation in New Orleans spin totally out of control.
The National Guard is arriving with trucks of food and guards. They should have been rolling in Wednesday.
I recognize the enormous difficulty in getting the relief to where it is needed. Logistics must be a nightmare. However, I got tired of hearing the reading from the press guidance in the "plan" on how many tons of stuff was being moved. If it ain't getting to the people who need it, I don't care how much you are moving.
Maybe Bush finally applied the leadership needed. Let's hope so. It is about time someone acted like he was in charge in LA. I think Alabama and Mississippi fared much better because a couple of governors acted like they were up to the task.
"The surge is starting to work" is a great phrase. Just heard it on the radio. Tell that to the mother who delivered a child on I-10 after waiting in 96F heat for days. I'm sure she will be happy.
The National Guard is arriving with trucks of food and guards. They should have been rolling in Wednesday.
I recognize the enormous difficulty in getting the relief to where it is needed. Logistics must be a nightmare. However, I got tired of hearing the reading from the press guidance in the "plan" on how many tons of stuff was being moved. If it ain't getting to the people who need it, I don't care how much you are moving.
Maybe Bush finally applied the leadership needed. Let's hope so. It is about time someone acted like he was in charge in LA. I think Alabama and Mississippi fared much better because a couple of governors acted like they were up to the task.
"The surge is starting to work" is a great phrase. Just heard it on the radio. Tell that to the mother who delivered a child on I-10 after waiting in 96F heat for days. I'm sure she will be happy.
Thursday, September 01, 2005
Lead, Follow or get out of the way
Or, more bashing on the New Orleans tragedy. Hurricane katrina and the levee break in New Orleans was a disaster. The absolute lack of leadership by the Chief of Police, Mayor of New Orleans, the Commander of the LANG and the Governor of Louisiana turned New Orleans into a tragedy. I hate to sharpshoot folks involved in an overwhelming situation, but the people who stayed behind are being killed by the result of years of corrupt and inept leadership in that town and that state. Heroes abound in the New Orleans tragedy, but the leadership has caused people to die. For example:
1. They are all going by "plans" and don't have the brains to figure out that the plans aren't covering this.
2. There is no one responsible for developing a situation map and acting on the situation. How else could you explain not noticing that thousands are sitting on I-10 without food and water for days? How else could you miss several thousand at the convention center with no food or wate for days? How else could you explain no plan for moving those rescued by boat and then left without an operating collection point or even directions? It ain't in the plan, so we just don't have to do it.
3. NOPD has been ineffective because they didn't have communications. Any of those 5-watt bulbs think about calling the LANG commander and getting guard communications units moving to NOLA YESTERDAY? Add a few hummers with FM sets (up to 3-hummer) and a few command post vans and you have all the command, control and communications you could ever want. If your city ops center is out of power, then start using paper, pens and thumbtacks.
4. Any of those folks think about going into every electronics store, Wal-mart, and sporting goods store and getting the el-cheapo walkie talkies and batteries? Not great, but it's communications. Instead we have had says of whining that our "communications don't work." Any of those dimbulbs ever think about using runners?
5. How the hell can your priority be saving lives when you are not coordinating anything?
6. Where the hell was the LANG commander? He should have been pushing command and control assest on NOLA Tuesday AM. Was he waiting for a 5-part operation order from higher command. He is the bull who makes this happen within the guard. He can't do it, find a 2LT with moxie and get the guard moving.
7. Sen. Landrieu proudly said her brother was personnally recovering bodies. Anyone but me think that the Lieutenant Governor of the State could find better things to do? If that's the best he can do, then replace him now.
8. I'm not sure what the governor has been doing. It certainly doesn't seem that she was taking charge.
9. Charity Hospital is the main city hospital. How the hell do you miss the fact that they have no power, patients and need help? How the hell do you evacuate the one across the street and forget Charity? How the hell do you send patients to the roof for helicopter pickup, cancel the bird and forget the folks on the roof until the next day? (See operations center).
10. Special Kudo's to the FEMA director. He said on tonight's news that he wasn't aware of the situation in the convention center and totally ignored the I-10 refugee camp. Hard to miss the folks on I-10 when your busses travel down I-10 to get to the dome. How do you miss the busses not showing up because a driver got scared? Noone tracking these guys? He was real good at citing the megatons of stuff they had, he just missed the fact that it isn't getting distributed.
From tonight's news, it looks like, after 4 days, a few of these folks are getting their acts together. It's time the leadership got out of the way. People have died because of their incompetence.
1. They are all going by "plans" and don't have the brains to figure out that the plans aren't covering this.
2. There is no one responsible for developing a situation map and acting on the situation. How else could you explain not noticing that thousands are sitting on I-10 without food and water for days? How else could you miss several thousand at the convention center with no food or wate for days? How else could you explain no plan for moving those rescued by boat and then left without an operating collection point or even directions? It ain't in the plan, so we just don't have to do it.
3. NOPD has been ineffective because they didn't have communications. Any of those 5-watt bulbs think about calling the LANG commander and getting guard communications units moving to NOLA YESTERDAY? Add a few hummers with FM sets (up to 3-hummer) and a few command post vans and you have all the command, control and communications you could ever want. If your city ops center is out of power, then start using paper, pens and thumbtacks.
4. Any of those folks think about going into every electronics store, Wal-mart, and sporting goods store and getting the el-cheapo walkie talkies and batteries? Not great, but it's communications. Instead we have had says of whining that our "communications don't work." Any of those dimbulbs ever think about using runners?
5. How the hell can your priority be saving lives when you are not coordinating anything?
6. Where the hell was the LANG commander? He should have been pushing command and control assest on NOLA Tuesday AM. Was he waiting for a 5-part operation order from higher command. He is the bull who makes this happen within the guard. He can't do it, find a 2LT with moxie and get the guard moving.
7. Sen. Landrieu proudly said her brother was personnally recovering bodies. Anyone but me think that the Lieutenant Governor of the State could find better things to do? If that's the best he can do, then replace him now.
8. I'm not sure what the governor has been doing. It certainly doesn't seem that she was taking charge.
9. Charity Hospital is the main city hospital. How the hell do you miss the fact that they have no power, patients and need help? How the hell do you evacuate the one across the street and forget Charity? How the hell do you send patients to the roof for helicopter pickup, cancel the bird and forget the folks on the roof until the next day? (See operations center).
10. Special Kudo's to the FEMA director. He said on tonight's news that he wasn't aware of the situation in the convention center and totally ignored the I-10 refugee camp. Hard to miss the folks on I-10 when your busses travel down I-10 to get to the dome. How do you miss the busses not showing up because a driver got scared? Noone tracking these guys? He was real good at citing the megatons of stuff they had, he just missed the fact that it isn't getting distributed.
From tonight's news, it looks like, after 4 days, a few of these folks are getting their acts together. It's time the leadership got out of the way. People have died because of their incompetence.
Clean fuel?
Just when you thought that more ethanol would help reduce pollution and is good for the environment, you find the EPA is doing this:
Looks like Cargill used "best engineering judgement" and the EPA called their bluff. Best engineering judgement is perfectly acceptable, just make sure you over=estimate the emissions, then add 10%. Explaining less is always easier, and cheaper, than explaining more.
News for Release: Thursday, September 1, 2005
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Federal, Multi-State Clean Air Act Settlement
with Cargill, Inc., Secures Major Pollution Reductions
Eighty-one Percent of Uncontrolled Ethanol Production Capacity Now Under
Federal
Consent Decrees
Contacts: EPA, 913-551-7003; DOJ, 202-514-2007; TDD 202-514-1888
(Washington, D.C.-September 1, 2005) The Department of Justice and the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced a multi-state Clean
Air Act settlement with Cargill, Inc. (Cargill), which will result in a
reduction of approximately 30,000 tons of pollution a year and set new
standards for limiting harmful emissions from specialty oilseed plants.
Cargill is a multi-state agribusiness that owns and operates 27 plants
which process corn, wheat, soybeans, and other oilseeds into value-added
products used in the food, feed, and ethanol industries.
The government's complaint, filed in federal district court in
Minnesota, alleges that Cargill had significantly underestimated
emissions from its operations in 13 states. Under the settlement,
Cargill is required to install air pollution control devices at its 27
corn and oilseed processing facilities and is expected to spend an
estimated $130 million to meet the requirements of the consent decree.
Cargill will also pay a civil penalty of $1.6 million and spend $3.5
million on environmental projects across the country.
Ten states and four counties have joined the federal government in
today's settlement: Alabama; Georgia; Illinois; Indiana; Iowa;
Missouri; Nebraska; North Carolina; North Dakota; Ohio; Memphis and
Shelby County, Tennessee; Montgomery County, Ohio; and Linn and Polk
Counties, Iowa. The civil penalty and environmental project monies will
be shared with the participating states and counties.
"All Americans benefit when large corporations agree to bring their
facilities into compliance with our nation's environmental laws," said
Acting Assistant Attorney General Kelly A. Johnson, of the Justice
Department's Environment and Natural Resources Division. "Today's
settlement is positive proof of the continued progress we are achieving
with the grain industry, through the cooperative enforcement efforts of
federal, state, and local agencies."
Today's settlement calls for broad sweeping environmental improvements
at all nine of Cargill's corn processing plants, significantly advancing
recent efforts by the government to bring the ethanol industry into
compliance. With the lodging of today's consent decree, 81 percent of
uncontrolled ethanol production capacity will now be under settlement
agreements to install air pollution control technologies to reduce
emissions. The new technology standards established by this initiative
apply to all ethanol plants now under construction. Ethanol is
primarily a product of industrial corn and has been increasingly used as
an automobile fuel alone or blended with gasoline. Ethanol's high
oxygen content allows automobile engines to better combust fuel,
resulting in reduced tail pipe emissions. The installation of air
pollution controls at ethanol plants across the country will ensure that
this fuel can be made cleanly.
Cargill's corn processing plants are significant sources of volatile
organic compounds (VOC's) and carbon monoxide (CO). In addition to
contributing to ground-level ozone (smog), VOC's can cause serious
health problems such as cancer and other effects; CO is harmful because
it reduces oxygen delivery to the body's organs and tissues. Cargill's
oilseed plants emit a hazardous air pollutant, n-hexane, and are sources
of VOC pollution.
"Cargill is following others in this industry by installing the
appropriate controls and greatly reducing its air emissions, resulting
in cleaner, healthier air," said Granta Y. Nakayama, EPA's Assistant
Administrator for the Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance.
"This agreement will improve the environment and at the same time create
a level playing field in the industry."
Under the settlements, the corn processing plants are required to
install or enhance thermal oxidizers and scrubbers that will reduce VOC
emissions up to 98 percent, or 10,450 tons per year, and will reduce CO
emissions by 10,900 tons per year--the equivalent of taking 1.16 million
and 157,000 cars off the road each year, respectively. The settlement
also will result in annual reductions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) by 1,350
tons, sulfur dioxide (SO2) by 2,250 tons per year, and additional
reductions in particulate matter (PM) and hazardous air pollutants. The
oilseed processing plants will meet more stringent limits for HAP and
VOC emissions to reduce allowable emissions by more than 2,300 tons per
year. New limits for these plants will, in some instances, be as much
as 50 percent lower than current regulatory standards in the industry.
The United States initiated enforcement action against Cargill with the
issuance of notices of violation against two oilseed plants in 2002 and
all nine corn mill plants in 2003. This settlement comes three years
after federal and state agreements with 12 Ethanol Plants in Minnesota
and the April 2003 settlement with Archer Daniels Midland, Cargill's
largest competitor in this industry.
Under the settlement, Cargill will spend $3.5 million on environmental
projects, which include funding for the Mid-South Clean Air Coalition
Diesel Retrofit Program in Tennessee, as well as wetland restoration
projects in Iowa and Nebraska.
Today's agreement has resulted from the combined enforcement efforts of
many state and local entities whose participation in this federal action
was instrumental in obtaining the quality of the settlement at hand.
The consent decree was lodged in federal district court in Minneapolis,
Minn., and is subject to a 30-day comment period. A copy of the consent
decree is available on the Department of Justice website at:
http://www.usdoj.gov/enrd/pressroom.htm
For more information about the settlement, go to:
http://www.epa.gov/compliance/resources/cases/civil/caa/cargill.html
Looks like Cargill used "best engineering judgement" and the EPA called their bluff. Best engineering judgement is perfectly acceptable, just make sure you over=estimate the emissions, then add 10%. Explaining less is always easier, and cheaper, than explaining more.
News for Release: Thursday, September 1, 2005
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Federal, Multi-State Clean Air Act Settlement
with Cargill, Inc., Secures Major Pollution Reductions
Eighty-one Percent of Uncontrolled Ethanol Production Capacity Now Under
Federal
Consent Decrees
Contacts: EPA, 913-551-7003; DOJ, 202-514-2007; TDD 202-514-1888
(Washington, D.C.-September 1, 2005) The Department of Justice and the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced a multi-state Clean
Air Act settlement with Cargill, Inc. (Cargill), which will result in a
reduction of approximately 30,000 tons of pollution a year and set new
standards for limiting harmful emissions from specialty oilseed plants.
Cargill is a multi-state agribusiness that owns and operates 27 plants
which process corn, wheat, soybeans, and other oilseeds into value-added
products used in the food, feed, and ethanol industries.
The government's complaint, filed in federal district court in
Minnesota, alleges that Cargill had significantly underestimated
emissions from its operations in 13 states. Under the settlement,
Cargill is required to install air pollution control devices at its 27
corn and oilseed processing facilities and is expected to spend an
estimated $130 million to meet the requirements of the consent decree.
Cargill will also pay a civil penalty of $1.6 million and spend $3.5
million on environmental projects across the country.
Ten states and four counties have joined the federal government in
today's settlement: Alabama; Georgia; Illinois; Indiana; Iowa;
Missouri; Nebraska; North Carolina; North Dakota; Ohio; Memphis and
Shelby County, Tennessee; Montgomery County, Ohio; and Linn and Polk
Counties, Iowa. The civil penalty and environmental project monies will
be shared with the participating states and counties.
"All Americans benefit when large corporations agree to bring their
facilities into compliance with our nation's environmental laws," said
Acting Assistant Attorney General Kelly A. Johnson, of the Justice
Department's Environment and Natural Resources Division. "Today's
settlement is positive proof of the continued progress we are achieving
with the grain industry, through the cooperative enforcement efforts of
federal, state, and local agencies."
Today's settlement calls for broad sweeping environmental improvements
at all nine of Cargill's corn processing plants, significantly advancing
recent efforts by the government to bring the ethanol industry into
compliance. With the lodging of today's consent decree, 81 percent of
uncontrolled ethanol production capacity will now be under settlement
agreements to install air pollution control technologies to reduce
emissions. The new technology standards established by this initiative
apply to all ethanol plants now under construction. Ethanol is
primarily a product of industrial corn and has been increasingly used as
an automobile fuel alone or blended with gasoline. Ethanol's high
oxygen content allows automobile engines to better combust fuel,
resulting in reduced tail pipe emissions. The installation of air
pollution controls at ethanol plants across the country will ensure that
this fuel can be made cleanly.
Cargill's corn processing plants are significant sources of volatile
organic compounds (VOC's) and carbon monoxide (CO). In addition to
contributing to ground-level ozone (smog), VOC's can cause serious
health problems such as cancer and other effects; CO is harmful because
it reduces oxygen delivery to the body's organs and tissues. Cargill's
oilseed plants emit a hazardous air pollutant, n-hexane, and are sources
of VOC pollution.
"Cargill is following others in this industry by installing the
appropriate controls and greatly reducing its air emissions, resulting
in cleaner, healthier air," said Granta Y. Nakayama, EPA's Assistant
Administrator for the Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance.
"This agreement will improve the environment and at the same time create
a level playing field in the industry."
Under the settlements, the corn processing plants are required to
install or enhance thermal oxidizers and scrubbers that will reduce VOC
emissions up to 98 percent, or 10,450 tons per year, and will reduce CO
emissions by 10,900 tons per year--the equivalent of taking 1.16 million
and 157,000 cars off the road each year, respectively. The settlement
also will result in annual reductions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) by 1,350
tons, sulfur dioxide (SO2) by 2,250 tons per year, and additional
reductions in particulate matter (PM) and hazardous air pollutants. The
oilseed processing plants will meet more stringent limits for HAP and
VOC emissions to reduce allowable emissions by more than 2,300 tons per
year. New limits for these plants will, in some instances, be as much
as 50 percent lower than current regulatory standards in the industry.
The United States initiated enforcement action against Cargill with the
issuance of notices of violation against two oilseed plants in 2002 and
all nine corn mill plants in 2003. This settlement comes three years
after federal and state agreements with 12 Ethanol Plants in Minnesota
and the April 2003 settlement with Archer Daniels Midland, Cargill's
largest competitor in this industry.
Under the settlement, Cargill will spend $3.5 million on environmental
projects, which include funding for the Mid-South Clean Air Coalition
Diesel Retrofit Program in Tennessee, as well as wetland restoration
projects in Iowa and Nebraska.
Today's agreement has resulted from the combined enforcement efforts of
many state and local entities whose participation in this federal action
was instrumental in obtaining the quality of the settlement at hand.
The consent decree was lodged in federal district court in Minneapolis,
Minn., and is subject to a 30-day comment period. A copy of the consent
decree is available on the Department of Justice website at:
http://www.usdoj.gov/enrd/pressroom.htm
For more information about the settlement, go to:
http://www.epa.gov/compliance/resources/cases/civil/caa/cargill.html
Wednesday, August 31, 2005
Thoughts on Katrina
I lived in New Orleans for five years. Three of my kids were born there. I loved the town, the area and the people. The devestation to New Orleans and the Gulf coast is terrible and depressing. It is too bad that it takes a hurricane to get me off my duff and attempt to contact people I've known for years and just haven't taken the effort to communicate and keep up. Luckily, they left for safer ground before the storm.
We've been glued to the TV watching very repititious footage and reporting, in hopes that we would see if some of the places we knew and lived survived. If you didn't have a map, and all you knew was based on the media, you wouldn't know that Jefferson Parrish abuts New Orleans (that's how they get the 1.3 million people). You would hardly know that that the airport is in Kenner and you would have to guess just how much of the east bank of Jefferson Parrish is damaged. You wouldn't know that Orleans and Jefferson Parrishes extend across the Mississippi River to the West Bank and that a few hundred thousand people live over there. You wouldn't know if there is any significant flooding in Algiers, Gretna, Harvey, Marrero or Westwego. You would have no idea if any of the refineries are damaged, or just waiting for the infrastructure to be restored to the point that they can return to work. The media is doin a fine job of showing helicopter rescues and a lousy job of giving the big picture of the entire city, just as they are doing a lousy job of showing what's going on in Mississippi and Alabama. One more shot of the Hard Rock Casino and I'll scream.
I got quite angry with the sharpshooting going on the Cafferty and Aaron Brown on CNN last night. I thought the response was excellent for the first 24 hours. However, by tonight I'm becoming convinced that the governor, lieutenant governor, mayor of New Orleans and other elected leaders have been measured and found wanting. The task before them is overwhelming. Which priority would you choose with limited resources? However, they aren't doing simple things:
People are dropped off on I-10 by boats. No one is assigned to coordinate these drop-off points and record names, set up some types of rescue triage and the like. Doesn't take a massive manpower effort, but it certainly would make the process more manageable. Instead, they are dropped off and begin wandering down the road looking for something.
The looting has gotten out of hand. I couldn't blame the police last night. If they arrested a looter, what were they going to do with him?
Part of the problem is communications failures. Certainly, somewhere there is replacement communications equipment. If not, why weren't military FM radios and anttennae set up to allow some sort of communications? There has to be some signal companies in the Guard, hell, even an artillery battalion (try Washing artillery, NOLA) with generators, FM communcations gear, command vans and all that stuff. Why hasn't anyone thought of that. Where is the STARC in all this? If you have to, deploy some active duty assets. A battalion of the 82d could move in and support itself for a couple of days. Is all of the 101st off in Iraq?
How can they "forget" that Charity Hospital is trying to operate and people are now trapped in the hospital when they evacuated Tulane Hospital right across the street?
The human tragedy in New Orleans is being magnified because the City and State leaders have failed to take charge and do what they were elected to do, lead. Ms. (Send) Landrieu may be very proud of her brother the Lieutenant Governor because he has been in NOLA collecting bodies and doing rescues, but that is exactly what he shouldn't be doing. He should be actively getting the rescue efforts mobilized. Enough screaming from the governor or lieutenant governor and even FEMA would take notice.
We've been glued to the TV watching very repititious footage and reporting, in hopes that we would see if some of the places we knew and lived survived. If you didn't have a map, and all you knew was based on the media, you wouldn't know that Jefferson Parrish abuts New Orleans (that's how they get the 1.3 million people). You would hardly know that that the airport is in Kenner and you would have to guess just how much of the east bank of Jefferson Parrish is damaged. You wouldn't know that Orleans and Jefferson Parrishes extend across the Mississippi River to the West Bank and that a few hundred thousand people live over there. You wouldn't know if there is any significant flooding in Algiers, Gretna, Harvey, Marrero or Westwego. You would have no idea if any of the refineries are damaged, or just waiting for the infrastructure to be restored to the point that they can return to work. The media is doin a fine job of showing helicopter rescues and a lousy job of giving the big picture of the entire city, just as they are doing a lousy job of showing what's going on in Mississippi and Alabama. One more shot of the Hard Rock Casino and I'll scream.
I got quite angry with the sharpshooting going on the Cafferty and Aaron Brown on CNN last night. I thought the response was excellent for the first 24 hours. However, by tonight I'm becoming convinced that the governor, lieutenant governor, mayor of New Orleans and other elected leaders have been measured and found wanting. The task before them is overwhelming. Which priority would you choose with limited resources? However, they aren't doing simple things:
People are dropped off on I-10 by boats. No one is assigned to coordinate these drop-off points and record names, set up some types of rescue triage and the like. Doesn't take a massive manpower effort, but it certainly would make the process more manageable. Instead, they are dropped off and begin wandering down the road looking for something.
The looting has gotten out of hand. I couldn't blame the police last night. If they arrested a looter, what were they going to do with him?
Part of the problem is communications failures. Certainly, somewhere there is replacement communications equipment. If not, why weren't military FM radios and anttennae set up to allow some sort of communications? There has to be some signal companies in the Guard, hell, even an artillery battalion (try Washing artillery, NOLA) with generators, FM communcations gear, command vans and all that stuff. Why hasn't anyone thought of that. Where is the STARC in all this? If you have to, deploy some active duty assets. A battalion of the 82d could move in and support itself for a couple of days. Is all of the 101st off in Iraq?
How can they "forget" that Charity Hospital is trying to operate and people are now trapped in the hospital when they evacuated Tulane Hospital right across the street?
The human tragedy in New Orleans is being magnified because the City and State leaders have failed to take charge and do what they were elected to do, lead. Ms. (Send) Landrieu may be very proud of her brother the Lieutenant Governor because he has been in NOLA collecting bodies and doing rescues, but that is exactly what he shouldn't be doing. He should be actively getting the rescue efforts mobilized. Enough screaming from the governor or lieutenant governor and even FEMA would take notice.
Sunday, August 28, 2005
TimesDispatch.com | Hispanics find they can't drive with this license
TimesDispatch.com | Hispanics find they can't drive with this license: Hispanics in this area are getting conned by an international driver's license scam. Reading the article, I wondered why they thought they needed it. Legal residences can get driver's licenses. You have the read the entire article to get to the last three paragrpahs:
"Juan Santacoloma, a Hispanic liaison in Chesterfield, said the problem has no easy solution.
'About 90 percent of Hispanics are illegal and cannot obtain a legal driver's license. But they have to work, go to the grocery store and the supermarket,' he said. 'They have to obtain a license. So when they talk to someone who says, 'This is a legal license, you can get it for $300,' they say OK.
'They pay it because they need it.'"
According to the article the Hispanics make up about 5.3% of Virginia's population. If about 90% are illegal, then 4.5% of Virginia's population are illegal aliens and our legal system condones it. I wonder what laws a citizen may break for a $67 fee in Chesterfield and if it would be ignored as they do this one?
"Juan Santacoloma, a Hispanic liaison in Chesterfield, said the problem has no easy solution.
'About 90 percent of Hispanics are illegal and cannot obtain a legal driver's license. But they have to work, go to the grocery store and the supermarket,' he said. 'They have to obtain a license. So when they talk to someone who says, 'This is a legal license, you can get it for $300,' they say OK.
'They pay it because they need it.'"
According to the article the Hispanics make up about 5.3% of Virginia's population. If about 90% are illegal, then 4.5% of Virginia's population are illegal aliens and our legal system condones it. I wonder what laws a citizen may break for a $67 fee in Chesterfield and if it would be ignored as they do this one?
Saturday, August 27, 2005
Long, But Worth Reading
FrontPage magazine.com :: A Classroom Indoctrination by Lee Kaplan. This would be unbelievable if it weren't for reading about indoctrination at other schools, some much more academically prestigious.
Maybe it's too radical, but why not stick to the facts in class and do the political bit outside the class?
Maybe it's too radical, but why not stick to the facts in class and do the political bit outside the class?
Friday, August 26, 2005
Wednesday, August 24, 2005
Now they are targeting wounded soldiers
DRUDGE REPORT FLASH 2005� Being against the war is perfectly OK in my book. It is your right. However, the use of names of heros without family permission and then going after the wounded is completely wrong. These folks lose any claim to legitimacy.
ATF, Virginia Police Accused of 'Persecuting' Gun Shows -- 08/23/2005
ATF, Virginia Police Accused of 'Persecuting' Gun Shows -- 08/23/2005 Read this! It sounds like ATF and the Henrico boys are doing some "out of the box" checks and harrassment. Been to the Richmond gun show and haven't seen anything that looks like shady characters and crooks wandering around.
Tuesday, August 23, 2005
War News
Powerline had an interestng piece on casualties in the mid-east war, mentioning that the death rate is about half the 18-year peace-time average. Dying in harm's way is different that dying in peace time. However, it does point out that these men and women do dangerous work, even at home.
We also don't hear much about strategy, tactics and fights unless it is a big push somewhere newsworthy. Big pushes in Iraq are really smaller than in previous wars. Soldiers doing things in battle or just good things are not the stuff news broadcasts, even on cable seem to be made of. It is much duller, I suppose, than the umpteenth shot of smoke rising on the Baghdad horizon.
Perhaps we wouldn't be so negative about the war if the news actually gave us the whole picture. I know military doctors doing heart surgery in Afghanistan or the fact that a new sewer project is being completed in Baghdad is not news, but then neither are the canned shots of "insurgents" running around in ski masks holding RPG's.
We seem to be gettng a very selected news feed from Iraq.
We also don't hear much about strategy, tactics and fights unless it is a big push somewhere newsworthy. Big pushes in Iraq are really smaller than in previous wars. Soldiers doing things in battle or just good things are not the stuff news broadcasts, even on cable seem to be made of. It is much duller, I suppose, than the umpteenth shot of smoke rising on the Baghdad horizon.
Perhaps we wouldn't be so negative about the war if the news actually gave us the whole picture. I know military doctors doing heart surgery in Afghanistan or the fact that a new sewer project is being completed in Baghdad is not news, but then neither are the canned shots of "insurgents" running around in ski masks holding RPG's.
We seem to be gettng a very selected news feed from Iraq.
Iraqi, AF C-130 crew flies boy to receive heart surgery
Sunday, August 21, 2005
Political Correctness Watch
Political Correctness Watch Found this link on Tongue Tied . It is a great addition to anyone wanting to follow the absolutely crazy world of the politically correct.
Air America - The New York Sun - NY Newspaper
Air America - The New York Sun - NY Newspaper Just in case anyone wants to keep up the the left's running joke.
'Peace Mom's' marriage a metaphor for Dems
Mark Steyn's artical found on Power Line is a great piece about Sheehan. See also the email on Power Line. I really like Sheehan saying that she wished she had driven her son to Canada as if we had a draft. Her son volunteered. We should honor him, but his mother now seems to be using her son for other purposes.
Wednesday, August 17, 2005
A sucker born every minute and they all are on University faculties
Interview from Town Hall
One of the most laughable cases of "a sucker born every minute" I've read about in years. Let's see, a professor at an esteemed institution wants to make a porn film. To sell the film, his schtick is Asian males are somehow being emasculated by the American porn industry which discriminates against Asian males. He packages this as something with great social significance and then takes it on a tour of our schools of higher education. He knows that with the buzz of multiculturalism and, by throwing in a little "censorship" the intellectual elite will support this to the last ounce of the taxpayer's blood. And, golly-gee, it works.
How many porn films have been works of art with great social significance? I admit to being out of the porn film viewing since "The Devil and Ms. Jones" The hype was the film's great social significance. The reality was a poorly made, poorly acted, film with terrible sound, picture quality and editing. It didn't have much of a story line. No great moralism, here. I just decided that I can find more enjoyable ways to waste my time.
Porn films have a market. They are made to the reflect the desires of the market, not as some instrument of social justice. I'm willing to bet that if an Asian male was in a porn film that was popular and made money, then the producers would have them lined up four abreast to make the films.
It is, I think, very telling that the intellectual elite seem to miss the fact that they have been taken in by quite a huckster. I also loved the comment bragging about a liberal arts education allowing exposure to richness of culture unmitigated by moralists. Gosh, that sounds good. Since when is the Porn industry the "richness of culture?" My daughter wants a liberal arts education. Currently she thinks that art, good music and good literature have something to do with the "richness of culture." I live in dread the day when our institutions of higher education beat that (and the last milligram of intelligence) out of her.
One of the most laughable cases of "a sucker born every minute" I've read about in years. Let's see, a professor at an esteemed institution wants to make a porn film. To sell the film, his schtick is Asian males are somehow being emasculated by the American porn industry which discriminates against Asian males. He packages this as something with great social significance and then takes it on a tour of our schools of higher education. He knows that with the buzz of multiculturalism and, by throwing in a little "censorship" the intellectual elite will support this to the last ounce of the taxpayer's blood. And, golly-gee, it works.
How many porn films have been works of art with great social significance? I admit to being out of the porn film viewing since "The Devil and Ms. Jones" The hype was the film's great social significance. The reality was a poorly made, poorly acted, film with terrible sound, picture quality and editing. It didn't have much of a story line. No great moralism, here. I just decided that I can find more enjoyable ways to waste my time.
Porn films have a market. They are made to the reflect the desires of the market, not as some instrument of social justice. I'm willing to bet that if an Asian male was in a porn film that was popular and made money, then the producers would have them lined up four abreast to make the films.
It is, I think, very telling that the intellectual elite seem to miss the fact that they have been taken in by quite a huckster. I also loved the comment bragging about a liberal arts education allowing exposure to richness of culture unmitigated by moralists. Gosh, that sounds good. Since when is the Porn industry the "richness of culture?" My daughter wants a liberal arts education. Currently she thinks that art, good music and good literature have something to do with the "richness of culture." I live in dread the day when our institutions of higher education beat that (and the last milligram of intelligence) out of her.
Tuesday, August 16, 2005
My Tax Money at Work
TimesDispatch.com | iBook sale erupts in chaos, stampede
All high school, and now middle school, students in Henrico County have a school-issued laptop. Up until this fall, the laptops were Mac iBooks. For the upcoming year they switched to dell laptops for high schools. After making sure that the middle schools had enough iBooks and offering graduating seniors (class of 2005) iBooks (for $50), the remaining 1,000 were put on sale. First the sale was to anyone and then it backed down to county residents had first crack. 12,000 people showed up for the 1,000 computers (one to a customer). The link to the Richmond Times Disgrace gives a flavor of the morning.
We got some real bright bulbs spending our money in the county:
The county management, including the Police Chief were surprised by the rush and weren't prepared for it. Never mind that this has been an internet buzz for a couple of months and there has been some contentious county supervisors meetings about it. A few clues:
No one was to be in line before 6:00 AM. No one noticed that the line started forming at 1:00 AM
3 off-duty cops were hired for crowd control. After the near riot, 41 of the ~100 Henrico Police were called to the Raceway Complex for crowd control, but not until after the 7:00 AM rush.
17 people were removed by ambulance.
People brought kids to this mash. One stroller was destroyed in the first rush.
Patricia has used one for three years and has had problems with the ones she has been issued. She didn't want one of these. They have high security and you cannot load things like printer drivers on them. I would think that the county culled the worst ones out for sale, however, seeing how they handled this, they probably gave the best ones away. So, for a $20 mil program, the county recouped $50,000 (less the cost of the RIR complex, half the police force, ambulance service and other minor expenses).
I'm not sure how many of our county "leaders" you would have to pack together to get a 5-watt bulb. But News at 6 was a real laugher.
All high school, and now middle school, students in Henrico County have a school-issued laptop. Up until this fall, the laptops were Mac iBooks. For the upcoming year they switched to dell laptops for high schools. After making sure that the middle schools had enough iBooks and offering graduating seniors (class of 2005) iBooks (for $50), the remaining 1,000 were put on sale. First the sale was to anyone and then it backed down to county residents had first crack. 12,000 people showed up for the 1,000 computers (one to a customer). The link to the Richmond Times Disgrace gives a flavor of the morning.
We got some real bright bulbs spending our money in the county:
The county management, including the Police Chief were surprised by the rush and weren't prepared for it. Never mind that this has been an internet buzz for a couple of months and there has been some contentious county supervisors meetings about it. A few clues:
No one was to be in line before 6:00 AM. No one noticed that the line started forming at 1:00 AM
3 off-duty cops were hired for crowd control. After the near riot, 41 of the ~100 Henrico Police were called to the Raceway Complex for crowd control, but not until after the 7:00 AM rush.
17 people were removed by ambulance.
People brought kids to this mash. One stroller was destroyed in the first rush.
Patricia has used one for three years and has had problems with the ones she has been issued. She didn't want one of these. They have high security and you cannot load things like printer drivers on them. I would think that the county culled the worst ones out for sale, however, seeing how they handled this, they probably gave the best ones away. So, for a $20 mil program, the county recouped $50,000 (less the cost of the RIR complex, half the police force, ambulance service and other minor expenses).
I'm not sure how many of our county "leaders" you would have to pack together to get a 5-watt bulb. But News at 6 was a real laugher.
Monday, August 15, 2005
Help BP out of the Oil Business
BP, which I thought stood for British Petroleum and, according to the adds is "Beyond Petroleum," is recycling some of the silliest adds ever. BP is trying to impress us with just how environmentally friendly it is with a group of adds that seem to indicate that the company is embarrassed about being in the oil business. Look at all the mousy, enviro-looking actors acting like oil products are just terrible. All the ads end with just all the wonderful things they are doing for the environment.
If BP is embarrassed with the business they are in, I decided to help them out as much as possible. I do not go to BP stations and buy gas. Since BP won't help themselves out of their embarrassment by selling their petroleum business to someone who wants to be in that business, I think we should go along with them and not support them financially. Maybe they could make it just as well with wind turbines.
Yeah, I know that BP is really "Big Oil." I know that the products of their refineries go into a pipeline or other bulk transport for sale to whoever buys it. Yeah, I know that if BP closed all their gas stations, they would continue to refine and market petroleum products. That's what makes the ads so silly. If there was an award for stupid ads, BP's would get special recognition.
If BP is embarrassed with the business they are in, I decided to help them out as much as possible. I do not go to BP stations and buy gas. Since BP won't help themselves out of their embarrassment by selling their petroleum business to someone who wants to be in that business, I think we should go along with them and not support them financially. Maybe they could make it just as well with wind turbines.
Yeah, I know that BP is really "Big Oil." I know that the products of their refineries go into a pipeline or other bulk transport for sale to whoever buys it. Yeah, I know that if BP closed all their gas stations, they would continue to refine and market petroleum products. That's what makes the ads so silly. If there was an award for stupid ads, BP's would get special recognition.
Friday, August 12, 2005
Fugitive Couple Refuses Return to Tenn. - Yahoo! News
Fugitive Couple Refuses Return to Tenn. - Yahoo! News. Amazing that anyone would consider allowing a convicted felon, just sprung by his wife who murdered a deputy would get any news play or court sympathy for not wanting to go back in order to be with his wife. The courts never cease to amaze me.
Thursday, August 11, 2005
Able Danger
The 9/11 commission finally admits that they refused information on the Atta cell. This puts another nail in the 9/11 commission coffin. It seemed like they were just playing the political hack, bureaucratic game of fixing the blame. Admitting to ignoring the information from Able Danger fixes it.
I wonder why no one is asking the question about why the Able Danger group, although disbanded, didn't make an attempt to highlight this after the Bush inaugural. If they did, then who didn't listen or who stopped them? If they didn't, then why?
I wonder why no one is asking the question about why the Able Danger group, although disbanded, didn't make an attempt to highlight this after the Bush inaugural. If they did, then who didn't listen or who stopped them? If they didn't, then why?
I'm Glad the cold war is over
Military commands drop Indian terms from exercise titles�-�Nation/Politics�-�The Washington Times, America's Newspaper. Read the article, it is obvous that the Air Force leadership are total and and complete idiots.
Since when does the word "warrior" denote only American Indians? Since when does the word "Chief" denote only American Indians. "Warriors" are people capable of combat and, just a few years ago, military types were proud to be warriors. "Chief" usually denotes a leader or a senior person. The Air Farce has a rank of "Chief Master Sergeant." Have they changed that to "Dart Master Sergeant?". Wait a minute, does "master" have some connection with slavery? So is the title now "Top Dart Sergeant?" What do I call my Master of Science degree?
If NORAD has people with enough time to come up with stuff like this and leaders who would buy into it, then I can suggest some significat cuts in the Pentagon budget.
Since when does the word "warrior" denote only American Indians? Since when does the word "Chief" denote only American Indians. "Warriors" are people capable of combat and, just a few years ago, military types were proud to be warriors. "Chief" usually denotes a leader or a senior person. The Air Farce has a rank of "Chief Master Sergeant." Have they changed that to "Dart Master Sergeant?". Wait a minute, does "master" have some connection with slavery? So is the title now "Top Dart Sergeant?" What do I call my Master of Science degree?
If NORAD has people with enough time to come up with stuff like this and leaders who would buy into it, then I can suggest some significat cuts in the Pentagon budget.
Wednesday, August 10, 2005
Monday, August 08, 2005
Another Round on the "Stolen" Elections. It just won't die
Crosswalk.com - Bush, GOP Labeled 'Thieves' Who 'Need to be Locked Up'. Once again, from the left we hear about two "stolen" elections. This time it is from the black "leadership" and actor Harry Belafonte. The way to fire up the crowd is to claim the election was stolen. Let's see, the first was stolen by the evil Bush cabal going into three heavily democratic counties in Florida and somehow convincing the democratic leaders to make the ballots hard to read. The second, which Bush won handily, was stolen by the fact that those who showed up in Ohio had to stand in line. On the first election, the crowing was about the popular vote. Seems the left realized that we don't elect based on national popular vote in the in the US and haven't for a couple of hundred years. Or, maybe it was just that Bush won by a mere 3 million "national popular" votes.
The other piece in this diatribe is the strangest part. Let a black move to high office in a Republican administration and they get the full attack. Something about the black liberals just really not liking it when any of their own leave the liberal plantation.
The other piece in this diatribe is the strangest part. Let a black move to high office in a Republican administration and they get the full attack. Something about the black liberals just really not liking it when any of their own leave the liberal plantation.
ACLU's 30 year war
The ACLU's 30 Years War by Scott Johnson (Powerline has an excellent piece on the on-going war on Scouting waged by the ACLU. Johnson is much too nice about the ACLU. I was in Scouting off and on for a very long time. I was a Life Scout and, much later, an adult leader.
Some of the finest boys and adults were part of Scouting. The long-time Scoutmaster of the troop was also President of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association. He was one of the finest people I've known. One of the adult leaders got into Scouting because, while in the military, he ran across a kid, who had nothing, but tried to start a Scout Troop without adults. Ted got involved and was, for the rest of his life, an avid supporter of Scouting because of that young man.
My Troop was not the best in town. But, with hard work by the kids and some very dedicated adults, we managed to have more than our share of Eagle Scouts. Those are young men who, not only show up and have fun earning a few merit badges, but show leadership, committment to service, and have the drive and gumption to set goals and complete them. If you pooh-pooh the leadership thing, try leading a bunch in a volunteer organization. Try it as a kid leading a bunch of other kids.
I was always more impressed with the kids who showed up scared and helpless on the first campout and had confidence grow from the first fire they built and the first edible meal they cooked. I enjoyed the fun they had learning the mysteries of knots, map reading, first aid and other Scout things. Our troop did a number of "Wilderness Survival Merit Badge" campouts. We always did them in the late fall. We could count on cold, snowy wet weather. The kids loved the challenge and wanted more of it.
Yes, we did the "Trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind..." "Do a good turn daily" "on my honor ...." things. Yes, we meant every word of it. However, if you live the Scout oath, law and motto, you don't have to get very strident about the words. The troop expected its members to live up to those things. The Troop expected its members to show leadership. The kids usually lived up to the Troop's expectations. I learned a long time ago that people will live up (or down) to your expectations. There are a couple of young men who probably would have been in jail before the end of high school had it not been for Scouting. Instead they turned into excellent leaders, good students and exemplary young men.
One of my favorite Scouts was a young man with speech and learning disabilites. Scouting helped is other schooling by giving him something concrete to work for. When I first started, we spent hours learning how to build a fire for First Class. When I left he had earned the Rank of Eagle and was working on his third palm. Joe made it with no "gimmes." Just a dedicated effort from the young man and dedicated work from several adults. Joe could get there, it just took him a bit longer than most folks. He gave more to the rest of us, than we ever gave him.
I get steamed every time I hear about the latest assault by the ACLU on Scouting. For more than 100 years, Scouting has been a positive force in many young lives. I fail to understand why the ACLU wants to destroy, or remold it in their on image. How many government social programs have tried to do half as much as Scouting has done with volunteers? How many of the social programs have succeeded, much less lasted?
Scouting gets all this done and keeps the one element none of these social programs seem to come up with. Good Scouting makes it fun. If they don't the kids find something else to. How many in the ACLU would take a group of kids 12-18 years old for a week on the Appalachian trail with all they eat, wear, use on their backs. How many would do it with 2-3 adults? Hell, how many of the attackers of Scouting would go camping monthly with a group of kids, and the kids are responsible for food and activities? Happens regularly in Scouting and no one thinks its exceptional.
Yep, we surely don't need programs like that.
Some of the finest boys and adults were part of Scouting. The long-time Scoutmaster of the troop was also President of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association. He was one of the finest people I've known. One of the adult leaders got into Scouting because, while in the military, he ran across a kid, who had nothing, but tried to start a Scout Troop without adults. Ted got involved and was, for the rest of his life, an avid supporter of Scouting because of that young man.
My Troop was not the best in town. But, with hard work by the kids and some very dedicated adults, we managed to have more than our share of Eagle Scouts. Those are young men who, not only show up and have fun earning a few merit badges, but show leadership, committment to service, and have the drive and gumption to set goals and complete them. If you pooh-pooh the leadership thing, try leading a bunch in a volunteer organization. Try it as a kid leading a bunch of other kids.
I was always more impressed with the kids who showed up scared and helpless on the first campout and had confidence grow from the first fire they built and the first edible meal they cooked. I enjoyed the fun they had learning the mysteries of knots, map reading, first aid and other Scout things. Our troop did a number of "Wilderness Survival Merit Badge" campouts. We always did them in the late fall. We could count on cold, snowy wet weather. The kids loved the challenge and wanted more of it.
Yes, we did the "Trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind..." "Do a good turn daily" "on my honor ...." things. Yes, we meant every word of it. However, if you live the Scout oath, law and motto, you don't have to get very strident about the words. The troop expected its members to live up to those things. The Troop expected its members to show leadership. The kids usually lived up to the Troop's expectations. I learned a long time ago that people will live up (or down) to your expectations. There are a couple of young men who probably would have been in jail before the end of high school had it not been for Scouting. Instead they turned into excellent leaders, good students and exemplary young men.
One of my favorite Scouts was a young man with speech and learning disabilites. Scouting helped is other schooling by giving him something concrete to work for. When I first started, we spent hours learning how to build a fire for First Class. When I left he had earned the Rank of Eagle and was working on his third palm. Joe made it with no "gimmes." Just a dedicated effort from the young man and dedicated work from several adults. Joe could get there, it just took him a bit longer than most folks. He gave more to the rest of us, than we ever gave him.
I get steamed every time I hear about the latest assault by the ACLU on Scouting. For more than 100 years, Scouting has been a positive force in many young lives. I fail to understand why the ACLU wants to destroy, or remold it in their on image. How many government social programs have tried to do half as much as Scouting has done with volunteers? How many of the social programs have succeeded, much less lasted?
Scouting gets all this done and keeps the one element none of these social programs seem to come up with. Good Scouting makes it fun. If they don't the kids find something else to. How many in the ACLU would take a group of kids 12-18 years old for a week on the Appalachian trail with all they eat, wear, use on their backs. How many would do it with 2-3 adults? Hell, how many of the attackers of Scouting would go camping monthly with a group of kids, and the kids are responsible for food and activities? Happens regularly in Scouting and no one thinks its exceptional.
Yep, we surely don't need programs like that.
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