To My Fellow Democrats,
The Republicans in Washington are already spinning up a storm about this tragedy, the following is a list of FACTS to counter their
blatant LIES. I cite every source I used in compiling this list. If a web link runs over one line, please make sure to cut and paste the entire link.
Timeline of the Tragedy:
http://www.nytimes.com/packages/html/national/2005_HURRICANEKATRINA_G
RAPHIC/index_02.html1)
LIE #1: The situation was the responsibility of the local and state authorities until the Feds were asked to intervene, and the state and local authorities did not ask until after the disaster struck
1) LIE #1: The situation was the responsibility of the local and state authorities until the Feds were asked to intervene, and the state and local authorities did not ask until after the disaster struck
A) Both Gov. Blanco & Mayor Nagin declared States of Emergency
i) Gov. Blanoc's Declaration: August 26th
http://gov.louisiana.gov/Press_Release_detail.asp?id=973
ii) Gov. Blanco's letter asking Pres. Bush for assistance
(from August 28th)
http://gov.louisiana.gov/Disaster%20Relief%20Request.pdf
iii) Mayor Nagin's Declaration: August 27th
http://www.cityofno.com/portal.aspx?portal=1&tabid=43
B) Bush declares State of Emergency for Louisiana on August 27th
i)
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,167240,00.html
- "The president's emergency declaration authorizes the FEMA to coordinate all disaster relief efforts and to provide appropriate assistance in a number of Louisiana parishes, or counties."- from story linked to above
- A presidential order would by definition override any declarations by state and local officials- this is a basic tenet of our governmental system
C) FEMA- Emergency Aid Authorized For Hurricane Katrina Emergency Response In Louisiana
i)
http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=18447
1) Release Date: August 27, 2005: "Michael D. Brown, Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Emergency Preparedness and Response, today announced that Federal resources are being allocated to support emergency protective response efforts response efforts in the parishes located in the path of Hurricane Katrina. Brown said President Bush authorized the aid under an emergency disaster declaration issued following a review of FEMA's analysis of the state's request for federal assistance."
LIE #2: The Administration says that they were not warned before hand of this possibility
A) Some of the Administration's rhetoric:
i) Homeland Security Secretary Chertoff: "It was a devastating hurricane followed by a devastating flood... That perfect storm combination of catastrophes exceeded the foresight of the planners and maybe anybody's foresight."
1) http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/9/4/22121/18773
B) Compare that with the following Daily Kos Articles:
i) Daily Kos Article- DAMNING Congressional Record: Cries for Help Ignored By The Federal Government
1) http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/9/4/233718/2082
a) Lists 6 instances
ii) Daily Kos Article- Louisiana Senator Vitter predicted Katrina Disaster
1) http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/9/4/22121/18773
a) Vitter is the Republican Jr. Senator from LA
LIE #3: The Administration says it is focused entirely on the situation on the Gulf Coast
A) The Daily Star Online- Bush bypasses Senate to Install Official
http://customwire.ap.org/dynamic/stories/B/BUSH_RECESS_APPOINTMENT?
SITE=NYONE&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2005-09-01-21-38-25
B) Republican Priorities- Repealing the Estate Tax (aka The Paris Hilton Tax)
i) http://thinkprogress.org/2005/09/02/katrina-estate-tax/
1) Senate Majority Leader Frist has pushed for a vote to permanently repeal the Estate Tax to take place sometime this week, probably on Tuesday
ii) Grover Norquist (Americans for Tax Reform) is an ultra-conservative leader of the anti-tax movement, this is a memo that shows his true concerns about the victims of the tragedy
1) http://www.atr.org/content/pdf/2005/sep/090205ot-ggn_deathtax_memo.pdf
MISC. INFO:
A) Clinton Head of FEMA hired by Gov. Blanco-
http://www.wwltv.com/local/stories/WWLBLOG.ac3fcea.html
i) BATON ROUGE: The former head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency joined the Louisiana government Saturday to help direct the recovery from Hurricane Katrina. James Lee Witt, who ran FEMA from 1993 to 2001, said he will stay as long as he as needed. "He will sit at the table for me, and he will be my voice at the table," Gov. Kathleen Blanco said. Louisiana officials are getting stretched too thin and need help, she said. "I like to hire the smartest people in the country," she added. Witt has more than 25 years of disaster management experience. He was appointed to head FEMA in 1993, after President Clinton took office.
B) The Army Times- Troops begin combat operations in New Orleans
i) http://www.armytimes.com/story.php?f=1-292925-1077495.php
- The article describes the "Combat Operations" against the "Insurgency" in New Orleans
- "Numerous soldiers also told Army Times that they have been shot at by armed civilians in New Orleans. Spokesmen for the Joint Task Force Headquarters at the Superdome were unaware of any servicemen being wounded in the streets"
C) NY Daily News- Team Bush Spins the Crisis
i)
http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/343339p-293108c.html
1) The Navy announced yesterday that Vice President Cheney's former company, Halliburton, which has handled much of the repair work as well as support services for the U.S. military in Iraq, was hired to restore power and rebuild three naval facilities in Mississippi that were wrecked by Katrina.
D) Daily Kos- Katrina by the Numbers (posted on Sep. 3rd)
i)
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/9/3/63040/95586
1) # of days we eyed Katrina before she reached the US Gulf
Coast on 8/28: 7
2) # of days since hurricane Katrina slammed into the US
Gulf Coast: 5
3) # of days before US federal government response: 4
E) CNN Does It's Job by Debunking Right Wing Spin- The Big
Disconnect on New Orleans
i)
http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/09/02/katrina.response/index.html