Katrina Possibly the Deadliest Natural Disaster in US History
Authorities all but surrendered the streets of New Orleans to floodwaters, looting and other lawlessness Wednesday as the mayor called for a total evacuation and warned the death toll from Hurricane Katrina could reach into the thousands.
The frightening estimate came as desperation deepened in the city, with gunfire crackling sporadically and looters by the hundreds roaming the streets and ransacking tiny shops and big-box stores alike with seeming impunity.
“We know there is a significant number of dead bodies in the water,” and other people dead in attics, Mayor Ray Nagin said. Asked how many, he said: “Minimum, hundreds. Most likely, thousands.”
That would make Katrina the deadliest natural disaster in the United States since at least the 1906 San Francisco earthquake.
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September 1st, 2005 at 7:08 am
my sadness slips into anger and i intend those (ir)responsible for this tragedy be held accountable and brought to justice:
http://service.spiegel.de/cache/international/0,1518,372455,00.html
September 1st, 2005 at 8:01 am
It sucks, and it’s a tragedy. But, why on earth would anyone want to live not only on the gulf coast, but BELOW SEA LEVEL!!! Now, I’m going to have to get a part time job just to pay for my F***ing gas! GW needs go blow more brown people up and take their oil.
September 1st, 2005 at 8:46 am
TO AFRICAN AMERICANS…….
WHY DIDN’T YOU EVACUATE WHEN WARNED??????????
ANSWER…… WE WOULD HAVE MISSED A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY TO STEAL MORE THAN WE COULD CARRY….. EVEN THO WE MAY DIE OF A NUMBER OF THINGS BEFORE WE COULD ENJOY OUR ILL GOTTEN GAINES….. IT”S LIKE STEALING MORE LOG CHAIN THAN WE COULD SWIM WITH!!!!!
September 1st, 2005 at 10:06 am
Doesn’t it send chills up and down your back knowing that there are hundreds of alligators, garials, poisonous snakes and the President loose out there, feeding on the flesh of the quick and the dead? CHOMP CHOMP!!
September 1st, 2005 at 11:03 am
Let me say this..
African (Americans?) will never have anything, and they continue to wonder why? They are cursed for a reason. Not that they are not able to receive all of God’s blessings as any other human being, but there truly is something in their makeup that keeps them from becoming all God intended for them. It has nothing to do with the white man or any other excuse they come up with, no matter how much is GIVEN to them, it’s never enough. One of the most interesting things about them is how they claim they should be given restitution for their ancestors slavery hundreds of years ago. Way I see it, restitution has been paid by all of the charity work and immunizations and food and education that has gone on in their Native land by us for years and years and years.When will they see?
September 1st, 2005 at 11:06 am
Oh , and one more thing…not to mention all they receive for nothing in OUR land!!!!!!!!!!!!! ok im done
September 1st, 2005 at 11:12 am
Another black eye for african americans. way to go guys! keep up the good work! You can’t be treated equal unless you act equal! As for the two cops caught on video looting, sad, very sad. And what race were they?
September 1st, 2005 at 11:14 am
I’m disgusted by the racist statements. Humanity doesn’t have one color. To post scathing, hateful comments is just sickening. People are in pain, they are dying. I have family that are unaccounted for. It’s difficult to stomach your nonchalance. Honestly, do you really believe the posion you’re spewing? I pray not. Grow up, quit worrying about your gas and put yourself in these people’s situations. I’m not advocating that lawlessness is acceptable - ever but neither is hatred or stupidity.
September 1st, 2005 at 11:15 am
Oh and…. JUST BECAUSE YOU LIVE IN AMERICA, THAT DOESN’T MAKE YOU AN AMERICAN.EVEN WHEN GIVEN CITIZENSHIP!!! AMERICA IS SO UNIQUE AND BEAUTIFUL, BUT REMEMBER WE ARE THE MOST BLESSED NATION IN THE WORLD….EVEN THOUGH WERE ONLY 200+ YEARS OLD.
We will be judged however as all kingdoms,nations,powers, have been all throughout history. Just remember our forefathers founded this nation on the 10 commandments and Gods word. I really am done now…pinky swear.
September 1st, 2005 at 11:20 am
Excuse me, people steling big screens and liqour and money from slot machines goes above and beyond self preservation… no more excuses please!!!
September 1st, 2005 at 11:29 am
Lelia,
God is the judge of all. Remember He was so sorry He made man because man was so evil..He flooded the whole earth. His love for us is more than we can understand, but His tolerance for sin is 0. He is telling us to wake up.. no more excuses please. Please read “Noah and the Ark”.
September 1st, 2005 at 11:33 am
God have mercy on ALL of US.
September 1st, 2005 at 12:00 pm
I am from Central Louisiana, and there is a message in all of this. What happened in these three states can happen to anyone at anytime! It’s not by our goodness and mercy that there were allot of cities and towns in Louisiana that escaped the storm, but it was by God’s mercy and grace, and I thank him for it. This is truly a wake up call for everyone in this whole world and not just those that were involved in this catastrophe
. My boyfriend lives in Slidell, and he lost his home to this storm. My heart truly goes out to everyone that is involved in this. Just know that there are some praying people, and the only thing that anyone in this situation needs is our prayers and our help, and not any negativity.
September 1st, 2005 at 12:09 pm
Life is too short for any foolishness and that includes racism and any other atrocious statements that anyone has to say. We’re here today and gone tomorrow, oh let me put it like this, here today and gone today, your life is nothing but a vapor, its here one minute and then it’s gone. Don’t waste it being bigots. This is truly a tragedy that I hope the world will wake up and smell the coffee that God is not playing with us. It’s praying time and not playing time. Don’t live your life on this earth in hell with all of this gall in your hearts and then die and go to hell, it’s not worth it.
September 1st, 2005 at 12:09 pm
to all of you who are missing loved ones…my heart and prayers are with you. I hope you all find happy reunions with your loved ones. All the other junk (yeah the gas prices too) are trivial compared to what some of these folks are going through…my only question? Where was our great leader for the past 2 days? Out jogging again in Crawford?
September 1st, 2005 at 12:12 pm
Oh, yeah, I can see how this stirs passion…another question to mull over folks…where are all the other nations when we need help…..we are the first to respond everywhere……..and I am also getting the feeling that the Tsunami relief efforts which took place over 2 continents away were much more organized than these relief efforts….could it be our fearless leader once again?
September 1st, 2005 at 12:12 pm
Thank you so much Suzy. This is truly what we need, heartfelt prayers and encouraging words, not negativity. Words cannot explain how the people on our end or feeling. The last thing we are worried about is looters and other uneccessary statements.
September 1st, 2005 at 12:42 pm
Good luck and best wish to all the people that are involve in this tragedy. Please hang in there and never give up!
I can’t believe there are still stupid racist people out there b*tching around during this time. You know who are and yes, especialy you “jennifer”. Well, I guess what can we expect, if there were stupid haters like you, who’ll buy the trailers and grow own corn.
September 1st, 2005 at 12:47 pm
Correction - “if there weren’t”
also, who would buy all these gas-sucker red ford pick-ups?
September 1st, 2005 at 12:51 pm
let me say few words about high gas price why the hell we gotta pay 3.00 $ a gallon when our troops are in middle east for 10 years. what the hell is all that war shit if we cant bring the gas price down. i realy cant afford 3.00 dollars a gallon and tell u a trut its not gonna go down matter affect by end of this year we will be paying 4.00 dollars a gallon i hope that we will capture all the gas wells in mid east so i ll be paying 69 c a gallon again GOD BLESS AMERICA
September 1st, 2005 at 2:02 pm
1. IF you had no water and food to survive are you people telling me you wouldnt break into a store to take to live. This city is going to be unliveable for months, the food would have been useless anyways I say let them take what they need to survive. For those who are stealing TVs (WTF) there will be no power and cable for months whats the point.
2. New Orleans is under sea level people!! MOVE THIS TIME. It will happen again.
3. Take over Iraq. Hell I say nuke it. Its worthless. The people there hate us all and have been killin each other for hundreds of years anyways. They do not appreciate life and dont think twice about taking away those that do not follow what they believe in. So take it over and lets use the oil so we all can get gas down to 2 bucks a gallon again. And any other middle eastern country that gives us lip nuke them too.
September 1st, 2005 at 2:04 pm
the day after tomorrow is today, baby!!!:-)
September 1st, 2005 at 2:11 pm
—–Original Message—–
From: ELIZABETH MENDEZ-BERRY
Sent: Wednesday, August 31, 2005 9:00 AM
dear family and friends…
i did not sleep a wink last night, which is very unusual for me. Note to my sister marisa– the night before, i slept only a few hours. Partly maybe it’s solidarity with your plight, but I know that a significant part of my sleeplessness was the result of my anxiety over what has happened in new orleans. my dear friend shana sassoon and her husband abram, plus friends and kids, are now safe in houston, but she lives and does community work in new orleans, and i was on the phone with her into the wee hours. she has a friend who was trapped on the roof of a four story building the last time anyone heard from him. it is unbelievable what is happening there.I was screaming at the TV yesterday when people were saying that folks who hadn’t left should have left and it was their fault for not leaving, and talking about the people taking food and water when their houses had been destroyed as “looters”. I am beside myself– especially because according to Shana, this is something that people have known would happen for some time. And yet the evacuation plan was only as the writer/one man marching band Ned Sublette describes it as, below.
I am trying to pull some reporting together on this for Time (though my real gig is in the arts section and I have to deal with the passion of Tom Hanks too!!!). I leave you with the incomparable Mr. Sublette’s words to me about what happened (Ned– I hope it’s alright that I’m sharing this with a few of my folks– I just couldn’t say it better myself), and then, below, another e-mail that he put together. Love to all. I hope that you, yours and everybody’s are safe. Or I guess, maybe more accurately, I pray.
Elizabeth
NED’S E-MAIL TO ME:
it’s very simple: the poorest fifth, or tenth, or
whatever — because of course we don’t know a number — of the city was left
behind to drown. it’s as simple as that. no one came to rescue them. if
you had a car, you evacuated. if you didn’t, well, you shoulda had a car
and you shoulda had money for gas. and this was the plan. the evacuation
plan worked pretty well if you had a car, but if you were one of the 134,000
or so new orleanians who didn’t have a car — to say nothing of money to run
with, because you won’t get far without it — you were in trouble.
this is a *social* disaster as much as it is a metereological one.
NED’S E-MAIL TO HIS LIST:
below is an e-mail by a rescue worker that was forwarded to me. i’m leery
of forwarding unattributed material because wild tales spread via internet,
but this comes from a good source.
i have refrained from any political commentary thus far, but i will say
this, re the penultimate paragraph:
the poorest 20% (you can argue with the number — 10%? 18%? no one knows)
of the city was left behind to drown. period. and this was the plan.
forget the sanctimonious bullshit about the bullheaded people who wouldn’t
leave. the evacuation plan was strictly laissez-faire. it depended on
privately owned vehicles, and on having ready cash to fund an evacuation.
the planners knew full well that the poor, who in new orleans are
overwhelmingly black, wouldn’t be able to get out. the resources –
meaning, the political will — weren’t there to get them out.
white per capita income in orleans parish, 2000 census: $31,971
black per capita: $11,332
median *household* income in B.W. Cooper (Calliope) Housing Projects,
2000: $13,263.
and now here’s the rescue worker, whose name i don’t know:
* * *
There are dead animals floating in the water, pets left behind. Surely
people thought they would be back to collect the pets. Not so. The
rescuers smell like gas when they come back in; there’s gas in all of
the water that consumes the area. Fires are burning all over the place.
Our teams are tired and they are thirsty and they are hungry. And they have
a place to sleep and water to drink and food to eat. I can only imagine
how the people without these “luxuries” are feeling right now.
Each night will be a race against time. When night falls, people can’t
get picked up from roofs, the rescuers can’t chop into people’s roofs to
check the attics for anyone alive or for anyone dead (sadly, there are dead).
At night we can’t see power lines we can’t see obstacles, we can’t see any
of the things that will bring down a helicopter or pose a danger to boats
rescuers.
One of the teams came in today after having been out for hours at a
time. One particular rescuer went straight to a corner and collapsed into
tears. I went directly to him and just held his hand. What else could I do?
I said nothing. He said it all. They lowered him 26 times and he pulled
26 people to safety. He wants to be back out there but there are
mandatory rest periods. His tears are tears of frustration.
Entire teams are working on nothing but evacuating the hospitals. All
four of the major hospitals are beginning to flood. Critical patients have
to get out or surely they will be lost. Generators cannot run forever;
that’s just the way it is. There are limited facilities to take those that
are rescued and those that need to be evacuated. Anything that leaves by
air leaves by helicopter. There are no runways for planes that aren’t
under water. Only one drivable way in and out.
Water everywhere and more keeps coming. Until they can do something
about the three levees that are broken, more water will come and more water
will kill. The water poses major health threats. Anyone with even a small
open cut is prone to infection. Anyone who touches this water and touches
his eyes, nose or mouth without find a way to “clean” himself first will be
sick with stomach problems before long. It’s bad and it’s getting worse.
It’s not going to be anything better than devastating for days or weeks at
best.
September 1st, 2005 at 2:12 pm
I just wanted to express my concern for the victims and families affected by Katrina. My family and I will be praying for you. I live in Louisiana and volunteer for a Humane Society. There are so many pets that have been left homeless by this powerful storm. If you have been considering getting a pet I would encourage you to adopt a pet from a rescue group or humane society today. That way they could possibly make room for pets affected by Hurricane Katrina. God give us strength.
September 1st, 2005 at 5:43 pm
I believe in equal opportunity law enforcement. I don’t care if your skin color in purple, polka dot or checkerboard, if you are looting you need to be stopped by lethal force if necessary. Our state and local government officials have failed in their duty and should have given shoot to kill instructions from the first day. With the street animals shooting and looting our governor goes on TV and deplores it. Governor Barbour in Mississippi said on the first day that he wanted his police and Guard to deal “ruthlessly” with looters and you will note that there is very little reported there. Our Governess Blanco comes off as mamby pampy. Her lack of forceful action sends a message of permissiveness to the scofflaws.
September 1st, 2005 at 7:35 pm
I really can’t believe the comment that Jennifer made about African Americans. We are Americans because we have and will continue to pay taxes just like everyone. We have helped make this country good and bad. As for as the people stayed behind what did you expect them to do? How were they going to leave? We have to compassion because you never know when you might need it. Sure some of things being stolen is not necessary sure stealing is wrong according to GOOD LORD, but some are stealing for survival. You have to be careful on what you are saying because you never never know when you might be in a situation that requires you to survive anyway you can. I am praying for all the people affect by Hurricane Katrina.
September 1st, 2005 at 7:38 pm
stormsurge 1953 the Netherlands
Hope & Trust for the USA-victims in rebuilding this part of the country.
Never forget that even a well-developed 1st world class couyntry can also be struck by the power of nature.
The Dutch always thought that they were well prepared with dikes for even a big storm untill 1953, but on the 1st of february 1953 it turned out that they were wrong. A part of the country drowned and lots op people died.
Since then, big improvements were made in our protection systems against storm surges.
Now with the changing climate, the existing systems seem not to be sufficiënt anymore, but we will go on struggling against the rising see-level and intinsifing storms by thinking in advance and making big investments in further protection systems.
best wishes for quick recovery from Netherlands!
September 1st, 2005 at 7:42 pm
Folks, the fact that the people looting are black is the direct result of New Orleans having an very high concentration of black citizens-approximately 65% some people have said. The poor are overwhelmingly minorities in any community, and the poor districts of New Orleans were the one flooded out first. If teeh vast majority of those left behind are minorities, the vast majority looting will be minorities as well. If those left behind were from the Klan rally that some of you obviously attended, then the looters would be a bunch of crackers. This is a matter of geographical distribution, relative wealth, and to some extent, intelligence and education. Race is a secondary issue.
I’m a North Carolinian, and I’ve seen my fair share of hurricane eyewalls up close and personal. Under the right conditions anyone-including you smug, lily-white, green tea-drinking liberals-can become a violent thug.
Don’t pawn this off as purely a matter of skin color. I’ve seen white, well-off college kids looting with the best of them.
September 1st, 2005 at 9:05 pm
I am reading this from the United Kingdom - having found this from a link on another site. And I am so shocked by the rascist postings here! Unbelievable! People are drowning, stranded, thirsty, starving and here being blamed for their race! Phowey! Oh, also, BUT REMEMBER WE ARE THE MOST BLESSED NATION IN THE WORLD…. Get over it guys, you are just like the all the rest of the world - as I think this disaster proves. But, we wish you well and hope that this tragedy is over for you soon.
September 1st, 2005 at 9:14 pm
I agree with Confederate Yankee in this matter. It’s a matter of socio-economics at it’s worse. I live in the South as well…..transplanted from the North as many are these days…..However, I was born here.
It’s easy for people are sitting comfortably at their computer desk, drinking bottled water and looking for something to be offended by to bless us with thier opinions when they have no idea of the realities of life. Humans are by no means as civilized as they wish to believe and a disaster of this magnitude brings out the best and the worst of people depending on there situation.
Many of the poor that stayed in the area when warned to leave, and had no means of leaving, feel that they were abandoned by the government who knew that they had no way to leave. As a result, they take what they can. I didn’t say it was right, just a fact. People always look for reasons for something happening to them - someone to blame, no matter what skin color they are.
If I were under the same circumstances, I would DEFINATELY loot what I needed for my family to survive - Not even a question of it. The people stealing TVs - Well, they are bottomfeeders. However. They are no more bottomfeeders than the people trying to turn this disaster into a rallying cry for their own person agendas (political or otherwise) or people who were selling Hurricane Kristina crap on eBay the day after the storm, trying to make a profit on others lives and the catastrophy.
Bottom line…..until you have been homeless and lost everything that you have ever known in your life don’t be so quick to judge what others do at the worst point in their life.
As for Jennifer…..and some others…..You give Christianity a BAD name and are the reason that so many turn from God. You use your “religion” to spread hate in the world and there is a special place waiting for you in hell right beside Jerry Falwell and others. God is LOVE, not hate. Quit using religion as a way of broadcasting your own hate and ignorance upon society.
September 1st, 2005 at 11:33 pm
Ron, you couldn’t have said it more eloquently. I wish the energy that is being spent on some of these messages of hate and racism could be spent on helping the survivors of Katrina. Good thoughts and prayers to our neighbors in the stricken areas. Better yet, go make a cash donation to The American Red Cross!
September 1st, 2005 at 11:55 pm
You people that believe in God are a riot. If something good happens you give God all the credit, but if something bad happens no one will blame it on him. According to the bible, God creates everything. Well guess what, Godd created the hurricane and God wiped out New Orleans. No one else to blame.
September 1st, 2005 at 11:57 pm
Everyone is praying for help from the one who created the problem.
September 2nd, 2005 at 12:51 am
I just want to say the best thing we can do is to pray and try to come up with ways to help these people we are all responsable for these people because they are all are bothers and sisters regardless of color!!!!Please lets come together for once!!!!
September 2nd, 2005 at 12:53 am
I think that what happened in New Orleans was just so heartbreaking. I can’t believe that New Orleans has suffered such devastation. I was just down there in July for the Essence Festival, and New Orleans was so beautiful. I cannot believe that just has happened. I have to say that I am African American, and people need to stop putting judgement on those people. What would you do if seven tornadoes destroyed everything where you were at the blink of an eye and you had no money, no food, no shelter. Survive. When everything you have is taken away from you there is no civilization, there are no laws, there is only survival. So instead of saying something negative about my people, pray for them
September 2nd, 2005 at 1:24 am
And the torch holding, bible toting, crazed masses appear…..there are bigger things here than gas prices first of all. African Americans are just as entitled to be here as any of the rest of us (unless youre an Indian, ofcourse) Also, maybe, just maybe its not God that has done this to punish, as Ive read in so many blogs….perhaps its that global warming thing you may have heard about.
Science has predicted and Mother Nature has proven that this would happen. If things persist to destroy our resources, air, land, etc. it will happen again, and again, and again…….Hurricanes happen….. the intensity however, we may be able to change, if we change. Ignorance and a voice (or keyboard) is all some need to get the crowds to roar in sync with their madness. Let’s sit back and take note at the insane comments spewed by the hypocritical and iggnorant. Remember a wise man once said nothing.
September 2nd, 2005 at 3:45 am
Hey John- I feel very sorry for you. There is a God, and you know what, He is a loving and caring God, but He is also a God to be feared. Did you have parents that punished you? They still loved you, though, didn’t they? God punishes us but still loves us. No one knows why He does what He does- that’s the reason He’s omnipotent. But in the end it works out for good. Maybe it’s to show America that we help and love each other and we will love our neighbors. Remember 9/11? How patriotic and caring was this country after that. Maybe we needed a little kick in the pants to get us moving in the right direction again. Yes, there is a God. I’m sorry you don’t know Him.
September 2nd, 2005 at 4:11 am
The racism here goes to what’s wrong with America. People are angry, scared and trying to survive. None of you have any idea what these people are going through. You do realize many have not eaten since Monday- many have had no water since Monday. Of course there are idiots who have shown their evil faces. But, evil knows no color. I also saw pictures and film of brave African American police officers, soldiers and Coast Guardsmen risking their lives to save others. This is an American tragedy, and the looting is an American disgrace. This is not about black or white. God have mercy on you all.
September 2nd, 2005 at 5:05 am
I pray to god that all the people that are in help get help from god and hope that everyone will pray for their safty and family. This disaster was probably god reminding us that he’s here. AMEN!
September 2nd, 2005 at 5:09 am
DAMN! WHERE WAS NOAH WHEN THIS HAPPENED?!?!?!?!?!?!?!
WHO EVER THought oF building a city in a dome. Dumbass french. they can kiss my butt. And why do black people have to rape all the time. Why? they cant get sex from whores all around them!?!?!?!??!?!?!?
its so dumb,
oh and
HURRICANE KATRINA YOU CAN KISS MY ASS. CUASE HURRICANE CINDY WA S HELLA HOTTER THEN YOU! jp
September 2nd, 2005 at 5:13 am
What a bunch of politically correct pussies! People who live BELOW sea level next to the fricken sea, a huge river, and a big lake, need to understand the risks. If you’re hungry, you move out of the desert! If you don’t want to drown, get above sea level! Also, of all the hours of news coverage I’ve seen, the only white person I saw looting was for food and water. Every black person I saw was taking Nikes, XBoxes, gas grills, leather coats, and all other non-survival items. Furthermore, for those of you that think gas prices are not a big deal, you’re either rich, live at home with mommy and daddy, or you’re just plain stupid. Try raising a family of four on $45,000 in Chicagoland. Especially when you have to drive 65 miles round trip to the rich subburbs (that you can’t afford to live in) everyday. I feel bad about the loss of life, but much, MUCH worse over the amount of ignorance that florished in that region.
September 2nd, 2005 at 6:23 am
HEY, GEORGE…
HOW ABOUT TAKING A POLYGRAPH?
A TvNewsLIES FANTASY - TVNL Contributing Editor
Abandon the search for Truth; settle for a good fantasy: Anon.
Note: An employer can request an employee to submit to a polygraph test if “the test is being administered in connection with an ongoing investigation.” Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA). 1988. Applicable to George W. Bush, Public Servant, USA.
THE FANTASY
Hey, this is my fantasy, so don’t nitpick. It’s my scenario, so I’ve secured a completely fool-proof lie detector run by the world’s best polygraph expert. I’ve arranged for the test to be broadcast live by every radio and television network in the entire country. And, fantasy of fantasies, George W. Bush has agreed to answer my questions, unaided by external feeds and unaccompanied by Karl Rove or Dick Cheney, while hooked up to the machine. Heck, if I’m going to hallucinate, let’s make it good.
I bet that millions of Americans share this daydream. Just imagine having George W. Bush, President of these United States, alone in a room for just one hour. And imagine being able to question him freely about his disastrous presidency. And then, for one fantastic moment, imagine putting him in the position of having to tell the truth! For sure, in my fantasy, and with my special polygraph, he’d have to tell the truth.
Remember this is my fantasy and it’s my polygraph. So, with every lie, there would be a loud, piercing sound emitted from the machine With every lie, the nation would hear the words YOU JUST LIED, GEORGE blasted into their homes and printed in large block letters across their TV screens. That should be a rather forceful incentive for George Bush to avoid the lies he tells so well. It’s my fantasy, so he’ll have to opt for telling the truth or having his lies exposed to everyone, everywhere. Now, that’s a really first-class fantasy if I say so myself.
THE GROUND RULES
As I said, it’s my fantasy, so I set the rules:
One full hour, no support staff, no notes, no phone calls, and no appeals for outside help. George Bush will answer every question with a YES or NO response only. In place of either response, he may choose not to answer the question at all. Of course, since this is a fair fantasy, he also may evoke the Fifth Amendment at any time during the test.
There will be only twenty questions, out of a possible thousand. That’s so you’ll keep reading this to the end. There is a moral to my fable. Trust me.
George Bush will be given a copy of the questions to be asked prior to testing. Polygraph tests are not designed to surprise, startle, or cause distress. However, on second thought, that does not really apply in this case. Until now, one has ever dared to pose any question that would demand a truthful answer from the President. As a result, every single query is bound to be a surprise that will startle and surely cause the man some distress. Fantasies are sometimes uncomfortable.
During the polygraph test, each question will be asked orally in clear and standard English George Bush may ask for clarification of any words or phrases he finds confusing or with which he is unfamiliar. If he still does not understand the question, it will be rephrased in simpler form. No one will ever be able to say that this fantasy was elitist or unfair.
And now, the significant part of this vision unfolds. Picture the scene as the questions are about to begin: George Bush is seated at a table, strapped comfortably to the polygraph. He smiles a bit nervously at the camera, knowing he is center stage in all of America. Someone says lights, camera, and action, as seems appropriate at this fantastic moment. Here we go…
TWENTY QUESTIONS
An somber voice addresses the President: Mr. Bush, please answer YES or NO to each of the question you will hear. You may choose to say “I don’t know,” and you may refuse to answer any question. Please bear in mind that the entire nation will know if your answer is not truthful. You better believe it.
Did you or anyone in your administration have ANY warnings about a possible attack on American soil before 9/11?
On September 11th, did you actually SEE television images of the first plane hitting Tower One of the World Trade Center as you claimed?
In the days following September 11th, did you know anything about the dozens of members of the bin Laden family who were flown out of the country without being questioned by the FBI?
Did you order an independent investigation into the 9/11 attacks as soon you returned to Washington?
Did you resist such an investigation and only agree to one after nearly 18 months had passed?
Did you use 9/11 as an excuse to invade and occupy Iraq?
Did you ever have clear evidence that Saddam Hussein had WMD’s or ties to Al Qaeda?
Did you discuss the need to ‘fix’ intelligence information to make a case for war against Iraq as revealed in the Downing Street Minutes?
Did you knowingly make a case for war to the Congress of the United States based on lies and distortions about Saddam Hussein’s plans to attack the US or his neighbors?
Did you intentionally play on the fears of the American public after 9/11 by claiming that the invasion of Iraq was the first battle in the War on Terror?
Were the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq planned in the late 1990’s by members of the Project for a New American Century, many of whom now hold high positions in your administration?
Were you ever, or are you now aware of the low esteem in which most people in the world hold you, and as a result of your policies, hold the United States?
Was a main goal of the invasion of Iraq the control of the oil reserves and pipelines in the region?
Were you or any members of your administration involved in the staged toppling of Saddam in Baghdad or the fabricated rescue of Jessica Lynch?
Were you wearing a concealed communication device under your jacket during any or all of the debated with John Kerry during the 2004 election campaign?
Did you or anyone in your administration have anything AT ALL to do with revealing the identity of CIA undercover agent Valerie Plame?
Did you or anyone in your administration approve of or allow the torture and abuse techniques used at Abu Ghraib, Guantanamo Bay, or any other prison in Iraq or Afghanistan?
Did you or anyone in your administration approve of or allow the use of napalm, depleted uranium or any other weapons in Iraq or Afghanistan that are considered illegal under International Law?
Does the US government secretly send prisoners for interrogation to countries that traditionally use torture?
Are you planning a pre-emptive or preventive attack Iran or any other country that is not an imminent threat to the US?
Time is up. I posed the questions, but have no clue how George Bush would have answered. There were dozens more questions in my head, but the point has been made with these queries alone. George Bush is free to leave and face the nation.
Wouldn’t it be something if this had not been an illusion? What could George Bush possibly have said in response to these questions? Would he have tried to lie, having had so much practice over the years? Would he have risked being exposed as the liar he is? Would he have refused to answer at all? It’s anyone’s guess.
You know, even in fantasy, I’d put my money on his silence.
THE BRIEF REALITY
There is always the morning after, isn’t there? Fantasies end, bubbles burst, and reality sets in. The fact is that as a nation we have almost become inured to the lies we have been told. The fact is that we will never be able to expose the deceptions of this administration that continue to control the destinies of so many people in so many places. That is the reality we will live with for a long time.
But there is an even more depressing thought that comes to mind after this game of make- believe. I have the terrible feeling that – even if this had not been a fantasy, even if it had been real, half the nation would still believe the lies. I have the terrible feeling that nothing, certainly not flashing lights and screaming polygraphs would convince the hard core believers that that have been deceived. I have the terrible feeling that even if George Bush looked at these unthinking followers in the eye and admitted to his lies openly, they would not accept his confession. They live in a fantasy of their own making, and nothing can awaken them.
Truth, they tell us, is often stranger than fiction- and so it is. Still, maybe there is one person out there whose faith in the Bush-PNAC-Religious Right can be shaken. If you have blind followers in your midst, show them the questions and ask them what responses they think their President would have given. Ask them if they know the truth behind these questions. Direct them to the sources on the Internet that challenge the lies and document the truth. Maybe, just maybe, one mind will turn – and then another….and another….
Someone once awoke from a dream and wondered if he was a man dreaming he was a butterfly, or a butterfly dreaming he was a man. Similarly, at this point, the line between fantasy and reality is rapidly blurring in this nation, and nothing seems to make much sense. There is not much time left to make the distinction between what is true and what is not. If we don’t clear the cobwebs away very soon, there will be no truth left anywhere at all..
We are living with the BIG LIE and the BIG ILLUSION in this country. So very few people in positions of power are willing to call it what it is. The silence of the Congress is appalling. The complicity of the media is frightening, and the apathy of the general public is disheartening.
This article is actually a lesson in futility that is meant to remind us all that hardly anyone is attempting to hold George Bush’s feet to the fire. Hardly anyone is talking about the lies. Hardly anyone is asking the questions that must be asked. Sure, there are John Conyers and a few other brave souls. And, oh yes, there’s the wonderful and determined Cindy Sheehan – doing what should have been done by others far more powerful for the past four and a half years. The tragedy is not that George Bush refuses to meet with her. The greater tragedy is that there is not a throng of elected officials at her side.
There surely is no throng. Not even a handful of vacationing legislators are out there with Cindy Sheehan demanding answers from George Bush. Then again, the idea of open support and encouragement from those who claim to stand for truth would be an aberration in the present climate of politics as usual. It would be quite strange and out of the ordinary.
Moral: If it ever were to happen we might retrieve our country from the mud. But the idea that millions of Americans would unite to demand the truth is only a fantasy. Much like mine.
September 2nd, 2005 at 6:36 am
I would like to thank god for getting me home today before all the flights were cancel….I was visiting new orleands and I could not get out in time…..it is was so sad…all I could think about was my kids at home…..all those people, there was no water or food…kids or dead it’s a big mess out there….and it’s so sad to hear what people write about black people….the media is only showing black people. I’m sorry I can’t stop crying it hurts so bad. just remember god see’s and hears all. may god bless you all.
September 2nd, 2005 at 6:52 am
You all are not looking at the big picture… THE GOVERNMENT… they control who makes what in this country and who sells what.. so if thye get alot of money from the oil companies and the oil companies say don’t make a car made to run on water… guess what the old might y dollar wins not us… wow .. lets think about it lets put the screws to the rest of the world bye makeing a care that runs on water then no more gas problem… LOL … but then i guess we pay more for water.. LOL … ahh yes… I wish the end of the world would just come and then we wouldn’t have to worry about any of this CRAP… oh yeah want proof that water cars are not a fantasy… http://www.spiritofmaat.com/archive/watercar/h20car2.htm
September 2nd, 2005 at 10:04 am
Went to private school, raised by religious family. What good things has God done for us lately? Wheres the miracles. Oh sure maybe grandmas tumor suddenly disappeared, but he definitly seems to like to cause more death than life lately to prove a point. Why not strike down these terrorists basterds in there tracks with a bolt of lightening, no instead lets create a tidal wave that kills hundreds of thousands of innocent people , oh and for an oncore lets throw in a hurricane of biblical proportions and kill some more people. The bad outwieghs the good by far in this world. I am beginning to lose my faith and I think alot of others are too.
September 2nd, 2005 at 4:47 pm
some of he comments on here are truly disturbing
call yourselves americans - you should be ashamed
September 2nd, 2005 at 4:57 pm
ps
The UN, EU, and more than 20 countries, including Germany, Japan, UK, Venezuela and Honduras, have offered to help.
September 2nd, 2005 at 9:52 pm
Yes Vicky, Alot of people should be ashamed of themselves. Mock me if you wish, but we ARE in END TIMES and the BIBLE doesn’t describe them as pretty. They could have sent the guard and other reserves down with trucks to get those peopel out ahead of time. They chose not to. I guess that’s a form of population control for the powers that be. Let’s not forget who is really in charge here. God sees everything and the people that truly care and doing what they can will be rewarded. For those animals that have choosen to take advantage of the situation and show their true colors.
September 2nd, 2005 at 9:55 pm
I apologize, I bumped the mouse and sent message before I was finished. For the animals they will pay. For those of you losing your faith, I will pray for you as well as the victims. Lets not forget, there is evil in this world along with the good. Faith is about believing in the things you can’t see. Evil is everywhere. God Bless America
September 2nd, 2005 at 10:40 pm
i thought all the people that were left could not get out , then why are so many cars under water.once again people are waiting for someone else to take care of them (not including the sick or elderly)wake up and live please.
September 2nd, 2005 at 11:04 pm
I am a student at Tulane and I have been watching the news all week trying to get a glimpse of the Uptown area but all I see is the Quarter and the Superdome. If anyone has any information about the Tulane area, particularly the 800 block of Fern (at Maple), please post something to give me at least an idea of what’s going on. Thank you.
September 3rd, 2005 at 12:07 am
Let the dead bury their dead
and who is to be fed, be fed
I ain’t got no time to waste on you
I’m a livin man and I got work to do Luke 9:59-62
And he said unto another, Follow me.
But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.
Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.
And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.
And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
this man and that man
they are the same man
you thouht of this just as well
that the rich man’s heaven i the poor mans hell
September 3rd, 2005 at 5:12 am
OMG, u people are…..ugh, some of these comments are just Retarded! If you all were going through wut the people down there are going through, would you want other people in the other states saying that kind of stuff about you???? God, you all are soo selfish. And that comment about “You call your selves americans” BULL S***., you are basically calling not only other people posers, but you to. We are all a country, what ever happened to UNITED we stand.
Ugh, its just pisses me off how selfish you all are. (not the people who arnt saying all tht s***)
September 3rd, 2005 at 5:42 am
Keep in mind, men (and women) are inherently evil. And, bad times bring out the worst in an already corrupt person. Hence the roving gangs or armed, BLACK, looters.
September 3rd, 2005 at 8:15 am
I want to address Dennis Hastert’s comment about New Orleans’ location and whether or not it should be rebuilt in the same place.
It’s a completely moot question, because it will. Since it’s at the mouth of our country’s widest, longest river, there will will always be people who work, live, and die there. And once every fifty years, or a hundred, they pay a devastating price for the service they perform for the rest of us. A price borne by them, and them alone.
Every time you gas up your car, every time you eat a banana, every time you buy something from the Carribean, you have the people of the Gulf Coast to thank. We do not bear the true cost of these goods. The risk of hurricanes is what economists would call an externality.
None of this is new. Mark Twain wrote about towns along the Missisissippi being destroyed on a regular basis.
Other countries have accepted their responsibility to the people who live and work on their coasts. Holland, for instance, launched a fifty year engineering project in 1953 (after a devastating flood) to reduce the likelihood of flooding to once in a thousand years. We should have done something similar years ago.
And now we are going to be faced with the largest internal refugee crisis since the Dust Bowl.
September 3rd, 2005 at 8:46 am
The ignorance, racism, lack of compassion and just general stupidity expressed by some on here does nothing but sicken me. I’m not sure who I feel more sorry for, the people stricken by this catastrophy in the Gulf or you.
Most of those who choose to open their mouth in criticism of the victims have NEVER been hungry and unable to get food, thirsty with no clean water available, have never been homeless, never felt abandoned, never actually feared for their health and life. I can only imagine how you would behave given a similiar situation befalling you.
You have no idea what it is to be POOR. Most have no idea what it is like to live from one week to the next. Most of the people in the South are poor. Maybe not by their/our standards, but by overall US averages. I make a decent salary by the socio-economic conditions here (and yes, it is in the South). But by Federal standards, my family is well below poverty level. Could I afford to get away from here in the event of the New Madrid fault creating a major earthquake - yes. But the only thing that would actually save my family is having family and friends all over the US to have someplace to go. Could others? Some yes, some no.
So what are you going to say if New Madrid goes the way it did in 1895? That we were stupid to live here on a fault line (Let’s see you tell everyone in Southern California to LEAVE), that we didn’t heed the warnings (St. Louis was warned there might be a major earthquake several years ago, and yet only a handful actually even thought about leaving - think they will pay any more attention when it actually does), that we don’t deserve to be saved because we are poor. Or perhaps you’ll say that all of us that “loot” to survive are inherently “evil” and the situation just made us worse.
Fact of the matter is that we are human and it is the desire of most of us to survive the worse that life throws at us. Yes, I will loot if I need to do so to ensure the survival of myself or my family. For that matter, I WILL kill you without regard if it is what I have to do to ensure my survival and the survival of my family. Anyone who says that they wouldn’t is lying their ass off!
Finally, if you can actually see the suffering of the people of the Gulf and sit and not do something constructive or helpful. Not feel an ounce of compassion that it seems so many posting here seem to lack. Then you have NO right to belong to the human race. You exemplify exactly what is wrong with the US now. Try rethinking the situation with your heart and stop coming up with bullshit excuses to justify your selfish, arrogant life.
September 3rd, 2005 at 5:57 pm
Message to Jennifer,
I have been reading your messages and it is really sad to know that there are still people like you in this century. The funny thing is that i am not suprised. This kind of statement can only come from a white american.
The one who will kill iraqis for their petrol, the one who will try to assassinate a democratically elected president ( CHavez) just because the guy is thinking about his “OWN FIRST “. You have blood on your hand jennifer. Why don’t you just enjoy the taste of it while it last.
Remember, you come from Europe.
September 3rd, 2005 at 9:34 pm
This was a Craigslist posting a few days before the hurricane, pleading for a ride:
…from New Orleans to Chicago Illinois. NEED A RIDE. The hurricane is coming and I don’t want to die. I am able to offer money for the ride.
How anyone can dare to suggest that people chose to stay behind is beyond me.
September 8th, 2005 at 2:52 am
I am deeply saddened by this event. I pray that those who are still trapped are rescued, and the ones who have been rescued receive the help they need to survive and soon start to get back on their feet.