louisiana

Sorry for the lack of posts today. I have been without internet for most of
the day because of high winds. Luckily the tornado's didn't come through here
but my heart goes out to all those suffering in neighboring Indiana. I have
witnessed and lived through some deadly twisters in my life and they can come up
on you with no warning.

For some good news, CNN is reporting that Charles Thompson, the death row
inmate who walked out of prison in Texas last week, has been captured in
Louisiana. That should help put the family of his victims at ease considering
they have been in protective custody since last Thursday.

Ironically, the brother of one of the victims has been on CNN talking about
this ordeal. He seems pretty irritated with the Sheriff's office. He said that
while they have been in protective custody that they have had to pay for
everything themselves. Pretty sad when the Sherriff's department screws up and
the victims have to pay even more.

President Bush’s speech last night appears to be nothing
more than that, just a speech. He talked about a plan to rebuild the Gulf Coast
and restore normalcy to the lives of those affected. He gave a speech that some
have compared to a “FDR speech”.

A real question lies now in the sincerity of the President.
Why should we trust what he says? After 9-11 he promised this new cabinet level
department of Homeland Security that would be ready at a moments notice to
respond and save lives. Well we saw how much that promised paid off with
Katrina.

The President’s honesty track record is highly tarnished.
Just consider the subject of Iraq alone and the number of lies we have been
told. Saddam has WMD. Saddam was involved in 9-11. Iraq won’t cost us that much.
The list goes on, not to mention other lies and promises he has not kept such as
restoring accountability to the Oval Office and healing the great political
divide that is plaguing our nation.

If Katrina happened on September 11, 2001 instead of the
deadly attacks, then the President might have come out looking good after this
speech. Unfortunately he has a precedence of not following through and that
weakens the impact of his speech ten-fold.

We keep hearing horror stories coming from the front lines of Katrina's
aftermath. One that has been echoed numerous times is the lack of helicopters to
help the people. This is an alarming issue you think the government would be
working hard to correct, but think again.

Think Progress
picked up on an important point that I thought of while watching the President
address reporters from Louisiana. If we need helicopters then wouldn't the two
sitting behind his photo op be good ones to use?

Last night I watched Senate do the emergency vote on the appropriations bill
for the $10.5 billion in relief funds. Senator Thad Cochran of Mississippi was
talking about the damage in his home state. He said he was surveying it from a
Coast Guard helicopter. Doesn't that extremely valuable resource have a much
more important need than sight seeing tours?

Bush constantly reminds American's that he goes by what the commanders on the
ground tell him when it comes to Iraq. Why does he not listen to the same
commanders right now? Here's a good commander to listen to; Mayor Ray Nagin. He
told reporters last night how devastated his town was and how there was no help.
He is a commander of the hardest hit city and you won't listen to him George.