Hurricane a'coming!!! ... again

[Rui 'Trovatore' Pires]

I signed up to Michael Moore's mailing list during the hot Farenheit (sp?) season. For a long time I've received nothing... and today I got this. I was quite speechless.

Friday, September 2nd, 2005

Dear Mr. Bush:

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?

Last Thursday I was in south Florida and sat outside while the eye of Hurricane Katrina passed over my head. It was only a Category 1 then but it was pretty nasty. Eleven people died and, as of today, there were still homes without power. That night the weatherman said this storm was on its way to New Orleans. That was Thursday! Did anybody tell you? I know you didn't want to interrupt your vacation and I know how you don't like to get bad news. Plus, you had fundraisers to go to and mothers of dead soldiers to ignore and smear. You sure showed her!

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?

And don't listen to those who, in the coming days, will reveal how you specifically reduced the Army Corps of Engineers' budget for New Orleans this summer for the third year in a row. You just tell them that even if you hadn't cut the money to fix those levees, there weren't going to be any Army engineers to fix them anyway because you had a much more important construction job for them -- BUILDING DEMOCRACY IN IRAQ!

On Day 3, when you finally left your vacation home, I have to say I was moved by how you had your Air Force One pilot descend from the clouds as you flew over New Orleans so you could catch a quick look of the disaster. Hey, I know you couldn't stop and grab a bullhorn and stand on some rubble and act like a commander in chief. Been there done that.

There will be those who will try to politicize this tragedy and try to use it against you. Just have your people keep pointing that out. Respond to nothing. Even those pesky scientists who predicted this would happen because the water in the Gulf of Mexico is getting hotter and hotter making a storm like this inevitable. Ignore them and all their global warming Chicken Littles. There is nothing unusual about a hurricane that was so wide it would be like having one F-4 tornado that stretched from New York to Cleveland.

No, Mr. Bush, you just stay the course. It's not your fault that 30 percent of New Orleans lives in poverty or that tens of thousands had no transportation to get out of town. C'mon, they're black! I mean, it's not like this happened to Kennebunkport. Can you imagine leaving white people on their roofs for five days? Don't make me laugh! Race has nothing -- NOTHING -- to do with this!

You hang in there, Mr. Bush. Just try to find a few of our Army helicopters and send them there. Pretend the people of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast are near Tikrit.

Yours,

Michael Moore
MMFlint@aol.com
www.MichaelMoore.com

P.S. That annoying mother, Cindy Sheehan, is no longer at your ranch. She and dozens of other relatives of the Iraqi War dead are now driving across the country, stopping in many cities along the way. Maybe you can catch up with them before they get to DC on September 21st.

[Anarcho]

I've been meaning to post something about this.  I don't know if everyone in other countries is hearing about what is happening in New Orleans and Mississippi, but cities have literally been wiped off the map.  80% of the city of New Orleans is under water...not nice pool water...gasoline filled, corpse ridden disease infested water.  One of my best friends is from New Orleans, everyone in her family is now homeless.  Their businesses are destroyed.  Her mom and brother are driving up here to DC to live with her and her husband in a tiny one bedroom apartment.  Worst of all, there are thousands of people still trapped in New Orleans and can't get out.  The bridges out of the city have been destroyed.  They have a mini-city in the Superdome (a football stadium), but without water, bathrooms and food---and no clear presence of police/government/aid workers it's largely chaos.  The original evacuation "plan" created by the city depended on people having cars and their own transportation---guess what, a lot of poor people don't have cars or money to get out of the city.  So what you have is the impoverished, mainly African American residents of New Orleans trapped, left behind, homeless and in many cases--dying.

Sorry for the rant, but this is all quite upsetting.  I know it's not as bad as the Tsunami, but a tragedy is a tragedy. 

[TheYak]

You can't measure tradegies by their bodycount.  It's still horrible and I have a great sympathy for any affected.  The most tragic part about it is that some people are saying, "Well, they had notice, they could've evacuated."  A great many people who stayed didn't have the resources to evacuate - for some, an impossibility, for others, they would've been in a nearly hopeless situation anyway.

Politically, it's great that the Prez is pledging aid and everything but why isn't he accepting aid from other countries that've offered?  Russia, Venezuela, France, all pledging resources to help but we'd much rather take care of it in-house and allocate more of our budget towards something other nations are willing to help with but our pride doesn't allow it.

It's also appalling that some religious nuts are claiming that it's God's judgement of a contemporary Sodom/Gomorrah city.

[Anarcho]

Well, you can't expect Bush to accept money from Chavez when, in the pledge announcement he called Bush some kind of vacationing playboy ( I forget the exact quote).  I mean, I would accept the money, but I don't imagine Bush would.  I doubt Bush will accept any money...after all, in his eyes, we're the country who donates money.  We're the rough & tough cowboy nation!  yee haw.

man, i despise that man.

Andail & SSH...my friends and I have been joking about the same thing.  But this time Bush won't be able to create a war to distract the American people from his incompetance.  Or maybe I'm giving the American people too much credit...

[Snarky]

Actually, the US (through Condoleezza Rice, I believe) has, after much delay, said that it will accept all offers of aid and assistance.

[Blackthorne]

As good of certain points Michael Moore makes in his letter, it sickens me that he's using this tragedy to further his own agenda.  Shame on him this time.


Bt

[shbaz]

As good of certain points Michael Moore makes in his letter, it sickens me that he's using this tragedy to further his own agenda.  Shame on him this time.

His agenda? To remove a generally terrible and retarded leader from power, you mean?

He isn't just trying to hawk videos, and he isn't manipulating anything in that letter. That shit really happened.

[Darth Mandarb]

I despise Michael Moore.  With a passion.  While I tend to agree with what he says, I can't stand the way he goes about saying it.  He's currently just up the road from me at a fat farm (if the rumors I hear are true).

However ...

I watched the concert tonight (on NBC) for the hurricane relief.  It's the first time I've really heard of / seen the devestation that was once New Orleans.

It's simply horrible.

The fact that the federal government sat on their hands for two days ... it would have been inconcionable if they'd sat on their hands for two hours ... but two DAYS!!!  There's simply no [acceptable] reason for that.  None.

I (and most people I know) have already donated to the American Red Cross.  They have a donation section on their website and I urge EVERYbody reading this message, if you're able, to give what you can.

>> American Red Cross: Hurricane Katrina Relief Donations

You know ... certain Nazis and members of the Japanese government were hung/shot after world war II for "crimes against humanity".

If it's true that Mr. Bush (personally) declined the funding to strengthen the levees around New Orleans, HE should be put on trial for crimes against humanity.  Those deaths are on his hands.

I'm going to bed ... disgusted.

[JeebusSez]

I watched the concert tonight (on NBC) for the hurricane relief.Ã,  It's the first time I've really heard of / seen the devestation that was once New Orleans.

Have you not been watching the news? It's absolutely ridiculous. This is like the apocalypse has befallen the city. The only part left standing of New Orleans is what, the french quarter? 20,000 people were in the superdome - bits of the roof collapsed, and so rainwater seeped in. Toilets didn't work; there was no running water. They were caught in essentially less-than-prison conditions. Rescue efforts are merely to recover the living; the dead are marked with a GPS locator and left. Police aren't helping to relocate the deceased; they just tell them "move them to to the side of the road."

Chaos is rampant; looters are ravaging the city. Allegedly, National Guardsmen and Police patrolling the area were told to let people looting food, water, clothes go, and to shoot people looting anything else; there isn't any room to put people. A man who lives down my girlfriend's street has two daughters in New Orleans. One of them works at a prison and the last thing she text messaged him was "Daddy, the prisoners have taken over the prison. Everything is on fire and I'm going to die." The lag in government's response is just ridiculous, and I don't think it's enough at all for Bush to just simply say "yes, it IS ridiculous".

Don't just watch a concert and say it's horrible. Watch the news feeds. It's wrenching to have your own countrymen scream in anguish at the camera halfway across the country in third world (sub third world?) conditions. I can't even watch the news when I'm with my girlfriend; she breaks into tears nearly on sight.

Donating money doesn't feel like it's enough [on a related note, i'm wary of making financial donations]. I feel like I have to _do_ something. I'm going to go see if i can crash some donation drives this weekend and give food, blankets - whatever. I work at a retail store, and there's been talk about donating some of our stock; I'd look at the corporate environment much differently if we didso.

[Blackthorne]

I despise Michael Moore.Ã,  With a passion.Ã,  While I tend to agree with what he says, I can't stand the way he goes about saying it.Ã, 

Yes, I'm right there with you. 

After this situation has abated, we can move on to the less than heroic acts of our "hero" president.  Right now, I'm concerned about the lives of the citizens of New Orleans.


Bt

[Tuomas]

Oh my, what is it you yanks have done that makes God punish you with these hurricanes all the time?

It was the agreement in Kioto, for reducing pollution, (don't know the official name). That one was ignored, selfishness, and now it comes back to you.

But all my sympathy goes to people there who cannot affect their own lifes. I know that if this disaster ever is gone, there will be people dying still, they can't buy housees, nor food, the place is dwelling with diseases, the people have lots everything they have, it's a deathtrap. The same thing with the tsunami, there will be thousands of deaths afterward, and the "list" of the dead will never be finished. This sickens me so much, and it's hard to watch the television, what is happening out there...

[JeebusSez]

It was the agreement in Kioto, for reducing pollution, (don't know the official name). That one was ignored, selfishness, and now it comes back to you.

*cough kyoto protocol cough*

The sec.State just said the delay of federal aide to New Orleans was 'routine' as a result of legal framework.

[Darth Mandarb]

Have you not been watching the news? ...

No ... I very rarely watch the "bad" news.  The whole, "if it bleeds it leads" mentaility of modern news agencies disgusts me and angers me ... so I don't watch.

Don't just watch a concert and say it's horrible. Watch the news feeds. It's wrenching to have your own countrymen scream in anguish at the camera halfway across the country in third world (sub third world?) conditions.

You make it sound like I don't care.  The concert was the first time I'd heard anything about it.  As far as I knew, the Gulf Coast got hit by a strong hurricane, woopity-doo ... I had 4 last year and 1 already this year.  I didn't know about the levee break.  I found out last night.  And I think my message made it perfectly clear how I felt about it.

Donating money doesn't feel like it's enough ...

I know what you mean ... but it IS helpful and, in a lot of cases, is all people can do.

[AlbinoPanther]

One day everyone will stay in front of GOD.

At this point everyone are american people.

You bombed Serbia!!!!
Now GOD is bombing you!!!!

We are realy sorry for every innocent people esspecially kids.But you americans are only the dolls of the sistem.Once uppon a time there was one man who wanted to change your dirty society.HIS name was 2PAC.

And you KILLED HIM!!!!Ã, 

You wanted oil and you just make a diversion called WORLD TRADE CENTER tragedy.And after that your president announced WAR to Afganistan inside of CHURCH All your economy is based on a WAR

There was a war in Serbia (Yugoslavia) people die on the every side (Croatian, Bosnian, Serbian) But croatian people dislodge more than 300000 people from their home more then a 300000 refuges and what happened after that Serbia got embargo ???And who gave us an embargo AMERICA 8)

Enough about Serbia let's talk more serius.

Indian people lived for century's in peace and harmony and you came from all sidesÃ,  of Europe( who was a first settlers that came to America and whyÃ,  ) .
And it wasn't enough that Indian tribes gave you a hand of peace.No you don't want peace you wanted ALL.

AND YOU KILLED THEM ALL!!!

( after that you make Western movies where you show indians like they werre EVIL but they only wanted to defend their wifes and children)

You can't stop showing your big ego:

You call NBA world championship ( AND WHAT HAPPEND 2002 IN INDIANAPOLIS ON A REAL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP WE WILL TELL YOU SERBIA WON THAT ONE)

Almost to forget BLACK people You brought them from Africa as slaves is or was in the world worstest thing than that.And now they are better than you.

Oh GOD Hiroshima ATOM bomb that was your falt you done that.
Vietnam all that young men that died for what you hated Vietnam people but you attaked them first.


America is country where women play football(soccer) where football is not football where seats at stadiums are way too big for ordinary human where you got yourself killed just for sayin out laud the truth.

Is all that because you don't have a tradition.
Is that because you don't have a history and now you are making one.

AMERICANS ARE YOU STILL PROUD OF YOUSELF AND OF USA


ps: sorry if we forgot someone(we are sure that we are)

once again we are praying for souls of the people who died in disaster






Ã,  Ã,  Ã, 

[pslocum]

Yeah.

The best thing about being in Satan's army is the health benefits. The whole thing is pretty sweet, honestly.

[Las Naranjas]

Climate Change can't exactly determine which country did and did not sign a extremely weak pact which isn't even kept by the people who signed it anyway.

Kyoto's only purpose is to give people the impression their governments are doing something. It hasn't reduced emissions a bit.

[Bernie]

One day everyone will stay in front of GOD.
You bombed Serbia!!!!
Now GOD is bombing you!!!!

LJUBI - The hurricane would have come even if all these things you've listed hadn't happened. In no possible way does anybody in the whole world deserve such a desaster, no matter what. Sure, you can be angry at americans for all these things for all I care, but saying this was a form of punishment for any of that goes too far. Please think again.

[TheYak]

Ah, and the forum has its own Pat Robertson - equally insane and equally informed. 

Despite its "sins" the US still has a lot to be proud of and its distressing to hear of this scope of tragedy in any nation, regardless of its political allegiences. Congratulations LJUBI, for helping to maintain the world's average level of stupidity.

On another note: A decent read about the crisis by a New Orleans native, Anne Rice

[Traveler]

You bombed Serbia!!!!
Now GOD is bombing you!!!!

We are realy sorry for every innocent people esspecially kids.But you americans are only the dolls of the sistem.Once uppon a time there was one man who wanted to change your dirty society.HIS name was 2PAC.

And you KILLED HIM!!!! 

You wanted oil and you just make a diversion called WORLD TRADE CENTER tragedy.And after that your president announced WAR to Afganistan inside of CHURCH All your economy is based on a WAR

There was a war in Serbia (Yugoslavia) people die on the every side (Croatian, Bosnian, Serbian) But croatian people dislodge more than 300000 people from their home more then a 300000 refuges and what happened after that Serbia got embargo ???And who gave us an embargo AMERICA 8)

Enough about Serbia let's talk more serius.

*cough* Wasn't it Serbia started that war? *cough*

I happen to live in the US right now but I also happen to be from your general area of the world (Hungary, to be precise.) I remember fairly clearly that Serbia started the whole Yugoslavia-conflict. I'm not going to go into an argument with you on that, though, since you seem to speak with pure hate, rather than any kind of logic.

Your rant about the US deserving the hurricane hit was uncalled for, is insensitive and displays a great deal of ignorance in general about the world.

While the current US government is just a poor (but expensive and crude) joke, the US itself is a decent country - more or less. But that could be said about any country on Earth, with most of them more 'less' than 'more'.

With that said, I still choose to live here rather than in my own country, where deeply rotten politicians and the maffia is in the government and there is hardly any chance of making a decent living. In the US, people in general are much friendlier than in other countries I've been to (I admit, only about 6 or 7.) I could bring up a bunch of other positives (and quite a few negatives, too) of living here, but I won't. I'm sure, Serbia is a much better place to live, right?

As a final note, I refuse to talk to you until you apologise for your comments in front of this forum. Admins: please edit my comment if you deem it in any way unfitting. I don't mean to start a flame war on the forums.

Traveler

[TheYak]

My words were much more blunt, but less eloquent, than your own. If anybody needed censoring, it would be me.  Delete my post, not his.  I am Spartacus.   It's similar to how: despite Iraq's many sins (in particular those of its leader), I'm still against the conflict and have the utmost sympathy for any victims in the general populous.  It's not out of any particular generosity or the big-heartedness but a little quality I like to call, "Humanity."  But I digress. . .