M.A.W.B. Squad

Rita: God Bless Texas

This Rita, she sure looks like a monster.

Has it occurred to anyone else that it just doesn't seem fair? After Katrina, Texas really stepped up to the plate.  Of all the states they took in the most refugees, filled their shelters, their hotels, etc. with those who fled Katrina.

Now a couple short weeks later, they're fleeing their own nightmare storm.

Of course, there's always a silver lining.  The nightmare that was Katrina made the huge majority of the population in the way of Rita determined to get out of Dodge.  In addition, both the state and the feds seem to be really stepping up to the plate to make sure any and all possible preparations are in place.

It seems there's no doubt Rita will hit, and hit hard.  But, the fact that Katrina hit first will probably save a lot of lives in Texas.  Property can always be replaced.

Singing our best wishes.....God Bless Texas.

Oh yeah, the Houston Chronicle is running a citizen blog during the storm, called Stormwatchers.

Katrina: Worst. Idea. Ever.

Former New Orleans Mayor, Marc Morial, has called for a compensation fund for the victims of Katrina.  I saw him on Fox & Friends this morning.  He insisted that the fund should be set up with the 09/11 fund as the standard.  Jesse Jackson has also taken up the cry.

Worst. Idea. Ever.

This demonstrates the liberal blindness to what actually happened on 09/11.  They just don't get it. Are we supposed to believe that it's in the same league as a natural disaster? 

09/11 was an act of war against America.  The compensation fund was a defense against losing our airline industry. Compensation was tied to the victims agreeing not to pursue their claims in court.  Remember?  Remember when Wall Street was shut down?  When the market plunged?  Remember how the attack was designed to throw our economy into chaos?

Let's contrast that to a natural disaster.  How many Americans lose everything they own each year due to a tornado?  How many Americans have lost everything they own to a hurricane?  What about the victims of 4 hurricanes in Florida last year?  What about victims of earthquakes?

The only difference with Katrina is the scale of the disaster.  Also, there are numerous governmental and private programs that already assist disaster victims.

09/11 and Katrina cannot be compared.  This is an attempt at a money grab pure and simple.

If for some reason this idiotic idea takes hold, we will be purchasing a property on the coast.  Then we wait for the hurricane that we know will eventually come, and the government check for a million bucks.

Katrina: Blanco: "I need to call for the military."

During a break between interviews on Wed., Aug. 31, Lousiana Governor Blanco says to her press secretary:

"I need to call for the military."  "I should have started that in the first call."

There's another bit before that when she's talking about asking for more military presence.  The middle is garbled, but she ends with:

"put good people in jeopardy, potentially."

If someone can make out what's immediately before that, I'd love to know.  It sure sounds to me like Governor Blanco was intimating that the miltary is scary, which is why Democrats don't control the White House or Congress.

Political Teen and Wizbang have the video.  (The one you can download at Teen is a longer version than the streaming at Wizbang.)

Katrina: Stupid Media Moment

Listening to FOX news on XM Saturday afternoon, Bridget Quinn asked Greta VanSustern the following question:

"What makes the Houston Astrodome any different than the Superdome?"

Um. I'm not a news professional, but let me take a shot at this.  Electricity? (with the perks of air conditioning and lights) Showers? Clothes? Medical attention? Phones? Law enforcement? Plenty of food and water?  Not to mention visits from Oprah.

Sure, I understand that these news anchors are under pressure and can blurt out something that sounds stupid trying to fill time.  You'd expect a softball like this one would be a home run for a professional like Greta to hit out of the park.  Her answer?  Something to the effect that people were on hand to hug the evacuees.  Ack!

While we're on the subject, we need to get the Cookie Monster in touch with Geraldo to hone his counting skills.  He was on the air Friday evening gong on and on about how it had been 6 days and no help had arrived, (of course he had only arrived himself the same day.)

The levees broke Tuesday morning.  Here's how it works.

Wednesday morning was one day.
Thursday morning was two days.
Friday morning was three days.
Friday evening was 3 1/2 days.  (We know fractions are hard, but try to keep up.)

To ward off flames, note that I'm not saying all the help arrived in a timely manner.  I don't think anyone could have watched the disintegration of the city without understanding the sheer horror of the situation.  My point is that the situation was so bad by itself, exaggeration was entirely unnecessary.

Katrina Flood Aid

Normally, I subscribe to the biblical notion regarding charity, to not let the left hand know what the right hand is doing, (or is it the other way around?), but to every rule there's an exception.

Blogs are uniting to raise donations to support the refugees from the ravages of Katrina.

N.Z. Bear is keeping track of the contributions.  Right now we've raised $364,900.  By the time you click the link, I'm sure it will be higher.  You can enter your contribution here. 

M.A.W.B. Squad is on the list of donating blogs, recommending the Salvation Army. But, really, it's irrelevant which site gets the credit.

If you read blogs and contribute, please log your donation.  (Glenn is also collecting links.)

If you have a blog and contribute, add your blog to the list and log your contribution.

If you have family, remember those who don't.

If you have food and water, give to those who don't.

If you have a home, give to those who don't.

If you have work, give to those who don't.

It's been hell to watch this unfold.  I can't imagine living it.  Mark my words.  Today is the turning point.

I have every confidence that America will rise to the challenge.

Complications and A Day of Prayer

I'd love to be posting more, but, for now, life's complications are keeping me away from the blog.

Put in perspective, compared to the ongoing struggle after Katrina, and the challenges faced by those around me, my problems are mere temporary annoyances. So, I won't bore you with the details.

I did want you to know though, that regular posting will resume as soon as possible.

Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco has called for a Day of Prayer:  (I'm giving the text in full.)

Governor Kathleen Blanco: "As we face the devastation wrought by Katrina, as we search for those in need, as we comfort those in pain and as we begin the long task of rebuilding, we turn to God for strength, hope and comfort.      I have declared August 31, 2005, a Day of Prayer in the State of Louisiana.  I am asking that all of Louisiana take some time Wednesday to pray. Pray for the victims and the rescuers. Please pray that God give us all the physical and spiritual strength to work through this crisis and rebuild.     Please pray for patience for those anxiously waiting to hear from family members or to get word about their homes. Pray for the safety of our hard-working rescuers and those they are bringing to safety.     I know, by praying together on Wednesday, that we can pull together and draw strength we need; strength, that only God can give us.     In my prayers, I will also thank God for the strong and resilient people of this state and how they are working to meet this challenge."

We see the images on TV, families ripped apart, homes destroyed, so many jobs lost.  The problems are enormous.  What can we do to help?  Yet all of us can say a simple prayer. 

Thousands need shelter and food.  The Salvation Army is already there serving meals and passing out supplies.  If you can, please stop by and donate to their efforts.

 

Killer Katrina Updates

In New Orleans, they thought they'd made it through Katrina with less damage than expected, with network anchors using phrases like, "dodged a bullet."  Then the levees broke, dumping Lake Pontchartrain into the city.

The Times-Picayune staff had to abandon their offices, but are reporting on the web, Catastrophic. They also have a photo gallery, with pictures of boat rescues of residents throughout the night.

The Sun Herald is reporting from Mississippi, including a town by town rundown.

WWLTV out of New Orleans is updating their blog as reports come in.

More Katrina blogging at Josh Britton and the Irish Trojan's blog, Brendan Loy.

If you want to help, here's a link to the Salvation Army.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to all the victims of Katrina and it's aftermath.  It sounds like it will be a long, long road to recovery.

Update:  Someone also set up a Wiki for Katrina.

Update II:  It sounds like blogger Big Jim from Mississippi lost everything in their home, but the good news is they're reported safe at a friend's in the comments. Deadly Katrina links to an article Hundreds Feared Dead from Biloxi storm surge. Kaye Trammell blogged through the hurricane with her Blackberry. Metroblogging New Orleans is a group blog. Some authors evacuated and it appears others stayed in the city.