Pictured Molly Ivins. Photo by Tracy Baim-------------------
'In 2001, FEMA warned that a hurricane striking New Orleans was one of the three most likely disasters in the U.S. But the Bush administration cut New Orleans flood control funding by 44 percent to pay for the Iraq war.' — Sidney Blumenthal, via www.bronzecomm.com .
'In a time when everyone needs help ( food, shelter, etc. ) in New Orleans the press seems to be putting a racist spin on things. This is bad ... I guess that according to the Associated Press ( AP ) , white people 'find' and black people 'loot.' Check out the captions for the photos ... . ' — Item on www.bronzecomm.com . In one AP photo a Black man carrying soda was called a looter, while white people in another photo were showing 'finding' supplies.
'Though some scientists connect the growing severity of hurricanes to climate change, most insist that there's not enough proof. Is the rash of powerful Atlantic storms in recent years a symptom of global warming?' — www.truthout.org .
'The devastation of Hurricane Katrina continues to overwhelm the Gulf Coast region, and many of the area's most vulnerable populations, including the elderly, young, and those living with chronic diseases such as HIV/AIDS, are critically impacted. Organizations across the country are mobilizing to provide food, water, medical supplies, and shelter to survivors. The AIDS Foundation of Chicago will continue to keep you posted on what you can do to help. ... Houston is one of the primary destinations for people who have been evacuated from the Gulf region, and many individuals with HIV are turning to the Montrose Clinic, one of the only LGBT health providers in the area. The influx of people with HIV/AIDS and others who need medicine and medical care is significantly taxing their resources. Donations are accepted at: www.montroseclinic.org .' — Alert from AIDS Foundation of Chicago.
'Knowing lesbians, some may want to donate for the express purpose of helping stranded animals. The Web site I went to was: www.hsus.org .' — Lesbian author Lee Lynch.
'To use a fine Southern word, it's tacky to start playing the blame game before the dead are even counted. It is not too soon, however, to make a point that needs to be hammered home again and again, and that is that government policies have real consequences in people's lives. This is not 'just politics' or blaming for political advantage. This is about the real consequences of what governments do and do not do about their responsibilities. And about who winds up paying the price for those policies. This is a column for everyone in the path of Hurricane Katrina who ever said, 'I'm sorry, I'm just not interested in politics,' or, 'There's nothing I can do about it,' or, 'Eh, they're all crooks anyway.'' — Molly Ivins, Creators Syndicate.
'I suppose the National Rifle Association would argue, 'Government policies don't kill people, hurricanes kill people.' Actually, hurricanes plus government policies kill people. ... But in addition to long-range consequences of long-term policies like letting the Corps of Engineers try to build a better river than God, there are real short-term consequences, as well. It is a fact that the Clinton administration set some tough policies on wetlands, and it is a fact that the Bush administration repealed those policies—ordering federal agencies to stop protecting as many as 20 million acres of wetlands. ... Does this mean we should blame President Bush for the fact that New Orleans is underwater? No, but it means we can blame Bush when a Category 3 or Category 2 hurricane puts New Orleans under. At this point, it is a matter of making a bad situation worse, of failing to observe the First Rule of Holes ( when you're in one, stop digging ) .' — Molly Ivins.
'Unfortunately, the war in Iraq is directly related to the devastation left by the hurricane. About 35 percent of Louisiana's National Guard is now serving in Iraq, where four out of every 10 soldiers are guardsmen. Recruiting for the Guard is also down significantly because people are afraid of being sent to Iraq if they join, leaving the Guard even more short-handed. The Louisiana National Guard also notes that dozens of its high-water vehicles, Humvees, refuelers and generators have also been sent abroad. ... The levees of New Orleans, two of which are now broken and flooding the city, were also victims of Iraq war spending. Walter Maestri, emergency management chief for Jefferson Parish, said on June 8, 2004, 'It appears that the money has been moved in the president's budget to handle homeland security and the war in Iraq.'' — Ivins.
'Any idea where all our helicopters are? It's Day 5 of Hurricane Katrina and thousands remain stranded in New Orleans and need to be airlifted. Where on earth could you have misplaced all our military choppers? Do you need help finding them? I once lost my car in a Sears parking lot. Man, was that a drag. Also, any idea where all our national guard soldiers are? We could really use them right now for the type of thing they signed up to do like helping with national disasters. How come they weren't there to begin with?' — Michael Moore to George W. Bush.
'I especially like how, the day after the hurricane, instead of flying to Louisiana, you flew to San Diego to party with your business peeps. Don't let people criticize you for this—after all, the hurricane was over and what the heck could you do, put your finger in the dike?' — Moore.
'Thousands of Houston gays had intended to leave tonight for New Orleans to celebrate Southern Decadence, instead, they're lining up to help members of New Orleans' gay community who have fled the ravages of hurricane Katrina. [ Sally Huffer of the Montrose Counseling Center told 365Gay.com that ] the Houston Gay and Lesbian Switchboard has been inundated with calls from locals offering their homes to people displaced by the hurricane.' — 365Gay.com .