Arkansas Blog

>>City Manager Steve LeBlanc went so far as to ask the media not to photograph "certain things" in the aftermath, referring to the possibility of dead bodies<<

Well, well, Texans have this aversion to reality or what? Too much like NOLA? 67,000 left behind in one area, 23,000 in another.

This is Tom DeLay's stomping grounds. Therefore I wonder if god is punishing them because:
a) they got rid of Tom DeLay
b) They elected Tom DeLay in the first place
3) They allowed too many messicuns to reside in their sanctuary city.

Bottom line, they will get the best Federal response we've seen in 7 1/2 years.
The federal bucks will gush forth.
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Strangelove. Pal. Let me get this straight.

Your people have been in office for how many years now? And they still haven't fixed the problem of oil supply that you kept complaining about on the Ike supply thread?

And they're oil men? From Texas?

Wonder who benefits when supply is limited (or when they can tell us it's limited) and prices skyrocket.

Oil men from Texas? They haven't done their job these eight years, have they, pal?

Unless their job was to make themselves rich, along with other oil men from Texas.

Elwood, good information. Since I have an uncle and cousin in Houston, I've been trying to follow the storm news as closely as possible.

I have the impression that a lot of the coverage is being managed, and will continue to be managed.

This is a political hot potato for the Republicans. It brings back memories of Katrina, and will do so even more if there is loss of life. And this go-round, can't blame dumb Democrats who don't know how to manage storm prep and evacuations, can they?

They've done all they can to give the impression that they are working hard to help those evacuating--which raises questions in my mind about the non-existent federal response as Katrina approached. The fact that so many folks chose to remain in Galveston creates the conditions for an image problem they didn't want to have.

It wouldn't surprise me at all to find that there are attempts to manage news coverage.

I don't know...I don't think people should risk their lives to rescue people who had plenty of opportunity to leave but REFUSED all pleas/attempts to help them. Now, if there were people who had NO WAY of leaving (I don't 'think' that occurred here), that's a different kettle of fish.

And...there is NO reason for the vulnerability of Texas' oil/oil refineries other than blatant greed. The oil men, like Cheney/Monkeyboy, want a vulnerable supply so that they can screw us every time the wind blows.

I dunno Miss Z...why people build susceptible refineries in storm prone areas other than it's close to ports and tankers hence less pipeline expense. Seems foolish in the long run but we don't ever see the long term numbers.

My late uncle had a store-motel business just outside of Galveston for many years. He would never leave for a storm. He would bring his inboard shrimp boat up from the inlet-river harbor on a trailer and if the waters surrounded his home and store they rode them out on his boat. There's a lot of that can-do toughness remaining in the area.

.

If the refinery industry is heavily damaged by this storm, in the wake of Freddie Mac and Fannie May and now possible Lehman Brothers bailouts and by all accounts an overall dismal economy, should we not have a very serious national conversation about abandoning subsidization of petroleum now?

Oh, I forgot... We can't have a serious national conversation due to the Republican/Democrat hijacking of the election process.

First-hand account by some of the can-doers who stayed, but managed to get out:

http://blogs.chron.com/hurricanes/2008/09/galveston_family_finds_refuge.html.

The world must be a bleak place when viewed through the I-hate-Bush-and-all-Republicans glasses that some of you put on each and every morning. I don't think there is any subject Max could post that some of you, such as Zelda and eL, would not immediately turn it into another diatribe about the horrors of the the Bush presidency.

Jesus, don't you guys ever give it a rest?

re: "another diatribe about the horrors of the the Bush presidency"

Can't give you any empathy here scrapper. Tell me one historical instance of a lesser intellect making decisions that effect so many people. Naked, elitist swine.

It's not our fault that Monkeyboy's presidency is the disaster that just keeps on giving. Though it is a stretch to equate big oil's shenanigans with two big oilmen in the White House...ha.

Republicans should own up to their part in creating/enabling this disastrous presidency and quit whining about our whining.

Not looking for empathy Rod, nor am I a Naked, elitist swine. The subject of this blog is the hurricane, not reason 1,000,001 of why I hate Bush.

Sadly, roderick, we can't seem to have much serious discussion about anything beyond pigs. Top of my list would be a serious discussion about healthcare...and somehow deflating all talking heads/their shows (conservative and liberal). But maybe your's needs to come first 'cause clearly the two parties we have now aren't going to do anything but help each other screw the rest of us.

Well, since ya want specificity...part of the discussion about this hurricane and Texas is the vulnerability of our oil supply, our dependence on it and how people across the country are running to gas stations to be gouged.

scrapper...are you the new forum sheriff...gonna write tickets for coloring outside the lines?

You really think the City Manager of little ole Galveston has a Republican propagandist agenda at a time like this? JEEZ. You folks are sick in the head. The press avoided showing all kinds of distressing images after 9-11, in fact. And did the same after Katrina. I imagine that's what LeBlanc was asking for; proper respect for human life and/or tragedy in the face of unidentified bodies.

I think everybody needs to take a moment of silence for the healing of this blog.

A hurricane threatens the gulf and immediately all those greedy little bloodsucking oil men start dancing in the street. This reminds me of 9/11/01, all the Mud-slime in my neighborhood came outside and started celebrating by firing guns into the air, screaming out anti-American slogans and having a gay old time! The cops wouldn't even come to the area to try to stop them. I can just see ALL the oil men doing the same thing about this hurricane. Prices spiked way before any actual damages had been done. I think we should all go on strike until OPEC is broke. Oh, we cannot do that, to many of our politicians pockets are lined with oil money, and OPEC already has so much of our money we would starve to death before the go broke.

"scrapper...are you the new forum sheriff...gonna write tickets for coloring outside the lines?"

No, Zelda, but that is a funny line! I'll give you a Get Out of Jail Free card for your sense of humor.

Zelda -- I'm with you. I watched yesterday as crews had to go in and rescue families off of some island. I think they should have to reimburse the government for that. It isn't as if people weren't warned at least 5 days ago of Ike and the possible damage. What nit wit decides to ride out a hurricane on an island and why should I have to pay to rescue you and why should others risk their lives because you didn't heed the many, many warnings?

I don't know for sure, but I think after Katrina the people of the Gulf Coast regions would have learned something like a little respect for Mother Natures power. Then again we are talking about Texans. (I lived in Houston for five years, I can say that!) My opinion would be that those who chose to stay behind when they all knew how big Ike is should be left to their own misery. I really don't want my tax monies to pay for their stupidity. After Katrina my town was swamped with refugees. No big deal actually, except that out crime rate for violent crimes elevated so fast that the cops seemed scared to do anything about it. Call and report one of those crimes, the cops come, they find out the criminal is a refugee and its "Oh no, we can't arrest them, they are stressed out about having to flee the aftermath of Katrina, it's not their fault they are criminals. They were criminals before they got here. Katrina only seemed to give them a legal excuse to get away with it. If they are stupid enough to stand there and piss into the wind, then they deserve to get wet.

Zelda,

I disagree about dangerous rescue of those making poor choices.

We could essentially disband all fire and rescue departments since according to my brother the firefighter, working smoke detectors would alert 99.99% of occpants while there is plenty time to escape. Thus no need to enter burning buildings. And don't even think of lighting a candle around my brother.

Police forces could be scaled back since domestic violence would plummet if women chose not to hook up with abusers or left after the first indication of threat. Many more officers are injured at domestic distrubance calls than armed robberies.

Welfare could ended if we just didn't give anything to these idiots spending all there money on lottery tickets. Oops, nevermind, we don't have a lottery.

Zelda I do know how you feel about people putting others at risk with their poor decisions but from your past posts I believe you do not really intend to let others perish even if they are reaping what they sow.

JNYJ,

Where the hell do you live that is overrun with Muslims shooting guns and chanting anti-American slogans, AND is also overrun with criminal Katrina refugees?

That is what I thought. You are full of $hi+ and you have not experienced these things.

You are a lying sack o $hi+!!!!!!!

Citizen,
You were not where I was on that day when terrorists took so many lives. Where I live I would not give out in open forum and by your anger you are most likely NOT A CITIZEN! What's the matter, don't you like to here the truth about how the Muslims felt and acted on that day? And as for being overrun, it was not the wording used concerning the Muslim quantity, but like many other southern cities the refugees from New Orleans, of which the FBI has stated was one of the most violent places to live in the US, came in quantity and with that a vast increase in violent crime. I know every refugee suffered terribly from that disaster called Katrina and not all were or are criminals, but a lot more crime has happened since they came to my home town, of which I will not tell you, thus inviting your violent nature to come here. And by the small minded insults you used in your post to me I feel that is justified. You are probably one of the criminals yourself.

For a good view of the storm click on Cato

I think I will ask UALR to do a study about how much crime there was in Arkansas before Katrina, and how much crime there has been since. I truly wonder how much bigger the problem got after that storm? I say lets go back as long as it has been since Katrina to date. Anyone want to bet there was, or was not, a drastic increase since? No monies now, we don't want to get arrested for gambling.

Yippee...a get-out-of-jail free card--tempts the soul! Thanks, scrapper...I like levity even more than bitching about this horrid President and his oil goons.

No, citizen, I don't want people to suffer...anytime/anywhere. But I was referencing the statement that some rescue workers would be put at great risk. I don't want them to needlessly suffer, either. Even though their job description calls for risk and we don't want them weighing the merits of rescuing stupid people, I just thought that given the amount of warning/begging/pleading that occurred combined with Katrina et al made the decision to stay seemed particularly egregious. And I have absolutely no answer other than keep on trying to save even the stupid people...so they can put McSame in office ha.

Hurricane, Bush, Republicans are words which should forever be connected. Always!

Zelda, I read reports of convalescent centers on Galveston Island which were not evacuated.. possibly because FEMA denied them busses.(we know FEMA refused to evacuate homeless folks who could not provide proper ID in New Orleans, Gustav) I also read the local sheriff refused to evacuate the prisoners from his county jail... which also meant the deputies had to stay... risking everyone. Now insisting on keeping people locked in cages with threat of drowning... that's torture, with potential for charges of homicide. The Sheriff should be prosecuted,even if nothing happened this time. Anyone want to bet whether or not that fellow is a Republican?

McBush Republicans and a select few LieberPryor Dems on Homeland Security committees are the problem... they are the category 5 hurricane's in a suit.

Ever get the idea that technology isn't your friend? Best I can tell bad weather has been with us since God made the earth 5000 years ago. Horrible things happen, but it is rather rare considering there are 300 million of us and 365 days in a year. But now that everyone has channel 7 Super WeatherVision Doppler Storm Center 2008 equipment.....our weather is as frightening and scary and constant as Congress and the White House.

It's some more of that fear stuff that keeps you glued to the screen and ups the advertising revenue for the MSM. At this point it looks like the Galveston-Houston area had themselves a bad storm. Arkansas is fixin to get a bunch of water and wind too. There are so far no reports of wide spread death and destruction.....good! But was this storm really worth all the coverage its got the last couple of days? Last night one of the iconic rain suit covered, blowing sideways reporters said, in all his years of covering hurricanes, this is the worst he's ever seen.

Don't you all get tired of all the firsts and worsts we're told about each and every day? And aren't you also pretty tired of dumbasses seeing pictures of Jesus on a rotting grape or in the fur of a newborn kitten? As much as I love it....technology seems to make us dumber and more frightened.

Grandpa yelling COMING UP A CLOUD worked for my family for most of a century and we never lost a soul to a storm. I'm not against severe weather reports or Doppler or keeping a sharp eye out for dangerous weather....but hollering WOLF happens too often and those doing the hollering sure seem to enjoy their job.

PS Remember that McCain-Palin are more dangerous than any hurricane and that Mark W. Pryor can be put out of office by voting Kennedy on November 4th.

DBI,

I think one of your relatives is in this clip.

Click Name.

Grandpappy!!!!

scrapper,

for the record, i wasn't calling you a swine. I was calling Bush Inc. swine. all my republican friends get the respect of me saying "they've been severely duped." --going once, going twice, going thrice?

Once again, eureka, I was duped by the cable news gang 'cause they've been reporting for days that Fema et al learned their lessons and buses were lined up waiting to rescue people. 'They' even said emergency personnel were going door-to-door asking people to come with them. Not one word about your convalescent center; or any other problem's on the 'help' side of things.

Eureka (and everyone else who fills this blog with factual data)...thanks for keeping the ill-informed informed.

Well, I'm gonna step right into a big pile. I know that. But let me tell you this. You won't catch me building/living on a barrier island -- think Galveston or Dauphin Island, Georgia. You won't catch me building along the Gulf along Holly Beach or near New Iberia, Louisiana, or Biloxi, Mississippi. Not in the bottom of that bowl that is much of New Orleans. Anywhere along the Florida coast? Nuh uh. Not me. Same thing around here. Not about to build on the Arkansas River like some folks around here who just love their place most of the year, but regularly have to swamp it out and start over. Not gonna build along that picturesque little intermittent creek either, especially since seeing Coleman Creek inundate a lot of UALR acreage 30 years ago.
There will be loss of life from Ike, as has happened in previous hurricanes. That's a sad fact. But we need to get a handle on where it is relatively safe to build. If people choose to build and live in areas which are historically hurricane or flood prone anyway, and then decide to remain in danger despite warnings that the decision could be deadly -- well, I feel for their survivors, but who made the choice? And for those who survive but lose their homes and businesses, the resulting economic loss should be theirs.
We can't do anything about hurricanes and can't always avert floods. We can, however, make some common sense choices in terms of continuing to expose ourselves to known, if intermittent, dangers.

Crap. Dauphin Island, ALABAMA. I think.

Just started raining in the SPA.

I hear what you say Doigotta, but some folks have no choice. The Cajuns were driven out
of Canada to die in the Louisiana swamps but instead they learned to fish, hunt, trap, make
a roux, which led to GUMBO, and by God, with very little education, could rule the world....
I forgot to mention *make music, yeah.*
They could not survive, or make a living, anywhere else.

yeah, its Alabama

Those of you who heard John M. Barry speak last Tuesday know that New Orleans is vulnerable to hurricanes not because of nature but because of human decisions, many of them made far away from New Orleans and for the benefit of people not living anywhere near there. The damage that's been done to the mouth of the Mississippi can possibly be repaired for less than the cost of a year of George W. Bush's excellent adventure in Iraq.

Repairing what was done to New Orleans is the sort of big project the nation would, once upon a time, have taken pride in. When did the United States become the "can't do" nation?

scrapper,

"for the record, i wasn't calling you a swine. I was calling Bush Inc. swine. all my republican friends get the respect of me saying "they've been severely duped." --going once, going twice, going thrice?"

My mistake Roderick. I was in a pissy mood after my morning paper failed to arrived for the second time in as many days. Us old farts hate to see a break in our morning routine.