Comments on: His Majesty to Visit One of the Lesser Colonies http://www.mahablog.com/2006/08/24/his-majesty-to-visit-one-of-the-lesser-colonies/ Exposing the ugly truths about the Bush Administration. Sat, 05 Jul 2008 20:39:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=1.5.1.3 by: The Mahablog » On Our Own http://www.mahablog.com/2006/08/24/his-majesty-to-visit-one-of-the-lesser-colonies/#comment-270345 Wed, 08 Aug 2007 16:30:14 +0000 http://www.mahablog.com/2006/08/24/his-majesty-to-visit-one-of-the-lesser-colonies/#comment-270345 [...] We’re approaching the second anniversary of Katrina. Soon there will be a flood of retrospective articles documenting how little has actually been done to put New Orleans and other Gulf Coast communities back on their feet. As I wrote nearly a year ago, Bush said he wanted “local folks” to make decisions about how to proceed with recovery. But along with the fact that most of the big contracts were made between the feds and their pet contractors — local talent need not apply — the Bush Administration overrode many of the decisions those “local folks” made. [...] […] We’re approaching the second anniversary of Katrina. Soon there will be a flood of retrospective articles documenting how little has actually been done to put New Orleans and other Gulf Coast communities back on their feet. As I wrote nearly a year ago, Bush said he wanted “local folks” to make decisions about how to proceed with recovery. But along with the fact that most of the big contracts were made between the feds and their pet contractors — local talent need not apply — the Bush Administration overrode many of the decisions those “local folks” made. […]

]]> by: The Mahablog » Government: Smart or Stupid? http://www.mahablog.com/2006/08/24/his-majesty-to-visit-one-of-the-lesser-colonies/#comment-41435 Wed, 01 Nov 2006 15:39:51 +0000 http://www.mahablog.com/2006/08/24/his-majesty-to-visit-one-of-the-lesser-colonies/#comment-41435 [...] For all of Bush’s talk about how he wants “local folks” to be in charge of hurricane recovery, the federal government has kept most of the project under its own inept control. As water still stood in the streets of New Orleans, the feds began to cut sweetheart deals with its pet contractors/contributors. Perfectly capable local companies were overlooked in favor of companies from as far away as Alaska that (ah-HEM) just happened to have close relationships to the Washington Republican Party establishment. And these contractors answer to their buddies in Washington, not to officials in New Orleans or Louisiana. And as a result, billions of taxpayer dollars have been wasted by fraud and abuse. (See, “His Majesty to Visit One of the Lesser Colonies“; “Life Lessons“; and “The Quintessential Bush.”) [...] […] For all of Bush’s talk about how he wants “local folks” to be in charge of hurricane recovery, the federal government has kept most of the project under its own inept control. As water still stood in the streets of New Orleans, the feds began to cut sweetheart deals with its pet contractors/contributors. Perfectly capable local companies were overlooked in favor of companies from as far away as Alaska that (ah-HEM) just happened to have close relationships to the Washington Republican Party establishment. And these contractors answer to their buddies in Washington, not to officials in New Orleans or Louisiana. And as a result, billions of taxpayer dollars have been wasted by fraud and abuse. (See, “His Majesty to Visit One of the Lesser Colonies“; “Life Lessons“; and “The Quintessential Bush.”) […]

]]> by: The Mahablog » The Quintessential Bush http://www.mahablog.com/2006/08/24/his-majesty-to-visit-one-of-the-lesser-colonies/#comment-32077 Tue, 29 Aug 2006 13:49:24 +0000 http://www.mahablog.com/2006/08/24/his-majesty-to-visit-one-of-the-lesser-colonies/#comment-32077 [...] That sounds grand, but President’s attitude about “partnership” seems to me to resemble King George III’s relationship with his North American colonies. As I wrote here, the feds wrote the big contracts for cleanup, often passing up perfectly good local companies in favor of businesses with the right political connections. Jordan Green at CounterPunch provides some examples: Other instances of fraud and overcharging appear to have taken place because the government awarded advance contracts to large, out-of-state companies that had little notion of how to do business in areas hit by the hurricane. [...] […] That sounds grand, but President’s attitude about “partnership” seems to me to resemble King George III’s relationship with his North American colonies. As I wrote here, the feds wrote the big contracts for cleanup, often passing up perfectly good local companies in favor of businesses with the right political connections. Jordan Green at CounterPunch provides some examples: Other instances of fraud and overcharging appear to have taken place because the government awarded advance contracts to large, out-of-state companies that had little notion of how to do business in areas hit by the hurricane. […]

]]> by: The Mahablog » Life Lessons http://www.mahablog.com/2006/08/24/his-majesty-to-visit-one-of-the-lesser-colonies/#comment-31567 Sat, 26 Aug 2006 18:09:41 +0000 http://www.mahablog.com/2006/08/24/his-majesty-to-visit-one-of-the-lesser-colonies/#comment-31567 [...] Accountability? That’s rich. As I wrote a couple of days ago, the Bushies refuse to be accountable for anything they do, but they are determined to be sure state and local governments don’t so misspend a penny. (For more on why the feds need a bit of watching, see Jordan Green, “Profiting from Disaster,” at CounterPunch.) [...] […] Accountability? That’s rich. As I wrote a couple of days ago, the Bushies refuse to be accountable for anything they do, but they are determined to be sure state and local governments don’t so misspend a penny. (For more on why the feds need a bit of watching, see Jordan Green, “Profiting from Disaster,” at CounterPunch.) […]

]]> by: A. Citizen http://www.mahablog.com/2006/08/24/his-majesty-to-visit-one-of-the-lesser-colonies/#comment-31272 Fri, 25 Aug 2006 15:43:37 +0000 http://www.mahablog.com/2006/08/24/his-majesty-to-visit-one-of-the-lesser-colonies/#comment-31272 It's $36.00/cy. I think this is expensive but don't have any references. The words that come to mind, but that Murkkkans don't want to let into through the thick layer of ignorance they protect themselves with, is 'ethnic cleansing'. I have a lot of sympathy with the residents of the lower 9th ward and other ghettos. But... Senator Lott and the hundreds of thousands of white racist assholes who saw their real property be destroyed? 'Politics has got consequences....' It’s $36.00/cy. I think this is expensive but don’t have any references.

The words that come to mind, but that Murkkkans don’t want to let into through the thick layer of ignorance they protect themselves with, is ‘ethnic cleansing’.

I have a lot of sympathy with the residents of the lower 9th ward and other ghettos.

But…

Senator Lott and the hundreds of thousands of white racist assholes who saw their real property be destroyed?

‘Politics has got consequences….’

]]> by: Swami http://www.mahablog.com/2006/08/24/his-majesty-to-visit-one-of-the-lesser-colonies/#comment-31169 Fri, 25 Aug 2006 01:11:28 +0000 http://www.mahablog.com/2006/08/24/his-majesty-to-visit-one-of-the-lesser-colonies/#comment-31169 I wonder if Bush will be wearing his presidential tool belt when he visits that region of the world. Bush is such a dunce, he's reading <i>The History of Salt</i>, and can't figure out why there's no mention of missiles I wonder if Bush will be wearing his presidential tool belt when he visits that region of the world. Bush is such a dunce, he’s reading The History of Salt, and can’t figure out why there’s no mention of missiles

]]> by: Donna http://www.mahablog.com/2006/08/24/his-majesty-to-visit-one-of-the-lesser-colonies/#comment-31159 Thu, 24 Aug 2006 23:43:45 +0000 http://www.mahablog.com/2006/08/24/his-majesty-to-visit-one-of-the-lesser-colonies/#comment-31159 It seems to me that the Bush plan has worked in as much as his whole schtick is 1] to get big money to his corporate/contractor buddies and 2] to frustrate the original poor folks enough that they'll be forced to stay out, which allows the coast to be repopulated with wealthier [Republican] folks. I have always thought that that 'error' in determining when the flooding began was a purposeful thing to save the big insurance companies from having to pay for lots of damage. It was just too slick of Chertoff et al to immediately report and then keep repeating the talking point, "The hurricane hit.....and the next day, the levees failed and caused the flooding." This intentional confusion reigned, and by the time the truth came out that the hurricane and flooding were concurrent, the die had been cast......all those whose damage would have been covered under 'hurricane damage' were out of luck without the separate 'flooding' coverage which was either much too expensive or was not available for the common folk in certain areas like the 9th ward. Intentional confusion is, IMHO, part and parcel of this White House.......think about the confusion planted about Saddam being connected to 9/11. It seems to me that the Bush plan has worked in as much as his whole schtick is 1] to get big money to his corporate/contractor buddies and 2] to frustrate the original poor folks enough that they’ll be forced to stay out, which allows the coast to be repopulated with wealthier [Republican] folks.

I have always thought that that ‘error’ in determining when the flooding began was a purposeful thing to save the big insurance companies from having to pay for lots of damage. It was just too slick of Chertoff et al to immediately report and then keep repeating the talking point, “The hurricane hit…..and the next day, the levees failed and caused the flooding.” This intentional confusion reigned, and by the time the truth came out that the hurricane and flooding were concurrent, the die had been cast……all those whose damage would have been covered under ‘hurricane damage’ were out of luck without the separate ‘flooding’ coverage which was either much too expensive or was not available for the common folk in certain areas like the 9th ward.

Intentional confusion is, IMHO, part and parcel of this White House…….think about the confusion planted about Saddam being connected to 9/11.

]]> by: mike http://www.mahablog.com/2006/08/24/his-majesty-to-visit-one-of-the-lesser-colonies/#comment-31148 Thu, 24 Aug 2006 22:30:01 +0000 http://www.mahablog.com/2006/08/24/his-majesty-to-visit-one-of-the-lesser-colonies/#comment-31148 When I read the sentence about sending lawyers down to prevent abuse, it reminded me very strongly of coverage during the actual disaster. Tens or hundreds of thousands of people were homeless, hundreds or thousands dead, and I remember watching CNN for two days with the top story being looting and property damage. Chilling reminder what the real priority is. When I read the sentence about sending lawyers down to prevent abuse, it reminded me very strongly of coverage during the actual disaster. Tens or hundreds of thousands of people were homeless, hundreds or thousands dead, and I remember watching CNN for two days with the top story being looting and property damage. Chilling reminder what the real priority is.

]]> by: moonbat http://www.mahablog.com/2006/08/24/his-majesty-to-visit-one-of-the-lesser-colonies/#comment-31145 Thu, 24 Aug 2006 22:18:03 +0000 http://www.mahablog.com/2006/08/24/his-majesty-to-visit-one-of-the-lesser-colonies/#comment-31145 I wonder how the media will react to King George's pageant. Will they let themselves be led around like little children, or will they dare to ask Some Hard Questions and begin sniffing behind the stage props? I remember watching some congressional hearing months ago, the highlight of which was an irate Katrina victim venting her bile at The Committee at top emotional volume. What came through in the brief sound bite was not the content of her words but her white hot anger. I 'spect Mr Rove will make sure she and her kind'll be doin' somethin' else the day King George descends on the Recovery Zone. I didn't see the HBO special on Katrina, and I wonder how much of an impression that made on the national consciousness, and of what kind, if any. I long for the days of my youth, when the mainstream media would broadcast in prime time, hour long or greater "white papers" about national tragedies such as Katrina. This was back in the days when we had a responsible media that tried to do their job of holding the powers that be accountable for large scale problems, as well as a responsible citizenry with the requisite attention span and involvement. How far we've fallen. I wonder how the media will react to King George’s pageant. Will they let themselves be led around like little children, or will they dare to ask Some Hard Questions and begin sniffing behind the stage props?

I remember watching some congressional hearing months ago, the highlight of which was an irate Katrina victim venting her bile at The Committee at top emotional volume. What came through in the brief sound bite was not the content of her words but her white hot anger. I ’spect Mr Rove will make sure she and her kind’ll be doin’ somethin’ else the day King George descends on the Recovery Zone.

I didn’t see the HBO special on Katrina, and I wonder how much of an impression that made on the national consciousness, and of what kind, if any.

I long for the days of my youth, when the mainstream media would broadcast in prime time, hour long or greater “white papers” about national tragedies such as Katrina. This was back in the days when we had a responsible media that tried to do their job of holding the powers that be accountable for large scale problems, as well as a responsible citizenry with the requisite attention span and involvement. How far we’ve fallen.

]]> by: maha http://www.mahablog.com/2006/08/24/his-majesty-to-visit-one-of-the-lesser-colonies/#comment-31139 Thu, 24 Aug 2006 21:25:03 +0000 http://www.mahablog.com/2006/08/24/his-majesty-to-visit-one-of-the-lesser-colonies/#comment-31139 <i>shouldn’t it be recycled to be used to raise the ground level higher?</i> That would require a plan. shouldn’t it be recycled to be used to raise the ground level higher?

That would require a plan.

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