(no subject)

[katallison]

A quote from Michael Chertoff, Secretary of Homeland Security, just scrolled across the bottom of the screen on CNN:

Katrina "breathtaking in its suddenness."

Uh, let's see. Jeff Masters at Weather Underground called it as a major threat to New Orleans on the afternoon of Friday the 26th, which was *three days* before landfall. The NWS made it official Saturday morning. The federal disaster declaration (for what that was worth) was -- Sunday, right? Hell, by 7 a.m. Sunday morning even *I*, complete ignoramus average citizen, was engaging in public freak-out about what was getting ready to happen.

I dunno, maybe Homeland Security takes the weekends off. Maybe to Chertoff a couple of days lead time *is* "breathtaking suddenness." Maybe Homeland Security expects that, oh, let's say, the next terrorist attack will be announced a week ahead of time, with engraved notices giving details of location and probable effects. (Lord knows nobody had *any* advance ideas about the probable effect of a hurricane strike on New Orleans, right?)

Comments

[valerie-z.livejournal.com]

My god. I'm going to link to your post here, if that's okay.

[luminosity]

I dunno, maybe Homeland Security takes the weekends off.

Why the hell not? Bush and his VP and his Secy of State do.

[bitter and enraged]

[debg.livejournal.com]

Man, I wish the little hood ornament had stayed the hell away. If he's bicycling around Crawford, he isn't enraging the rest of the world, getting his news from Condi Rice's wet teeshirts, or sending the bulk of our national guard to Iraq.

(with you on the bitter and enraged, added to by Condi Rice buying Ferragamos as people drowned and starved and died)

[sisabet.livejournal.com]

I was glued to The Weather Channel all weekend, watching in increasing horror as it just got bigger and bigger and I didn't leave my apartment all weekend.

How could they miss this? I am an insurance adjuster in KY and our people were supposed to be ready to enter Mississippi on Tuesday. As late as Thursday and Friday it was still possible to get out of the city as long as you had private means. How do I know this? A friend's brother finally left his house in the Quarter. The Convention Center is in walking distance of the Quarter - I've walked it. If he can get out -- help can get in. Even if it was on foot.

Tenant Healthcare hired private helicoptors and swiftly evacuated its facilities all the while doctors at Charity are contacting any and everyone begging for assistance.

That dude on LJ - the interdictor? If he can receive diesal fuel deliveries from private companies in his Central Business District location, why wasn't the government able to get supplies to the Superdome of Convention Center (also in the CBD) until... fucking today.

I am beyond angry and rage-filled. I am betrayed and I want blood.

[namastenancy.livejournal.com]

They really are complete asshats, aren't they? But people have bought the bull shit before so one can't blame them for trying --- one more time. I certainly hope that they fall face down in the shit that they caused; one blog writer suggested that an appropriate punishiment would be for Bush and Crew to clean up the superdome after all the living had left. I'm on board for that. As far as Homeland Security goes, well, if these jokers are any example, the terrorists could land in Seattle tomorrow and be in Chicago before the goverment would notice.
Buying shoes and fishing in Wyoming and playing guitar is a lot more important than doing the job that he was elected to do -- you know, the one that starts with President.
namaste SF Nancy