The Potemkin Photo Op

Blah3 has all the info pulled together:

All of this information has turned up in one spot or another on the web since yesterday, but I wanted to put it all together in one spot for a reason. Bit by bit, parts of Bush’s trip were shown to be less truthful than we deserved. But when you look at the entire trip – and all of the deceit that went into each part of it – it’s an inescapable fact that from beginning to end the trip was a menu of lies and self-serving actions that didn’t do the region any good. In some instances, like the helicopter groundings halting rescue ops, the trip could conceivably actually killed more people.

106,356 beds volunteered – so far

When it comes to the ‘can do’ spirit of private citizens compared to the slogging bureaucracy of big government, the private sector wins, hands down!

MoveOn.org, the civic action, antiwar group, posted a volunteer registry at their website for people wishing to offer shelter in their homes or businesses to families and individuals displaced by Hurricane Katrina. I have been watching with amazement, and a few tears, as the numbers continue to climb, driven by the generosity of Americans throughout the country. While the government gets all the headlines, we, the people, still do a mighty fine job of getting things done … and without costing the taxpayers a dime. It really doesn’t get any better than this.

SUNDAY MORNING UPDATE: 114,006 beds

Watch the numbers here, or better still, participate if you are able.

Have They No Shame?

Have Republican Warmongers No Shame? They are now proud to be warmongers. This website is selling an assortment of Voting Republican Warmonger apparel, housewares, hats, and other assorted items.

Here is a mousepad that Republican warmongers can use as they write their justifications for the Iraq war.

Fighting ‘The Insurgency’ in New Orleans

From the Army Times:

Combat operations are underway on the streets “to take this city back” in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina….While some fight the insurgency in the city, other carry on with rescue and evacuation operations. (emphasis added).

According to the Los Angeles Times, at least some troops aren’t finding insurgents:

But when they arrived, they did not find marauding mobs. They did not come under fire. They found people who had lost everything in the storm and, since then, their dignity.

Some “Insurgents”:

Homeland Security to Red Cross: Stay Out of New Orleans

Outrageous!

As the National Guard delivered food to the New Orleans convention center yesterday, American Red Cross officials said that federal emergency management authorities would not allow them to do the same.

Other relief agencies say the area is so damaged and dangerous that they doubted they could conduct mass feeding there now.

“The Homeland Security Department has requested and continues to request that the American Red Cross not come back into New Orleans,” said Renita Hosler, spokeswoman for the Red Cross.

“Right now access is controlled by the National Guard and local authorities. We have been at the table every single day [asking for access]. We cannot get into New Orleans against their orders.”

Calls to the Department of Homeland Security and its subagency, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, were not returned yesterday.

Continued…