Sleeping now without the aid of Tylenol pm, my dreams are coming back to me.
Last night I dreamt that all of the people who died and/or were rescued from the Superdome and Convention Center were rounding up their cars and circling around me and where I live. They were all coming to me, and I wanted them to.
The rage and anger has not left me, not by a long shot, although now it has quieted to a low, long simmer, as in sauteeing the vegetables for a gumbo.
Low fire, sautee those onions to a fine transparency.
I am demanding, and will continue to demand accountability from our local and state, particularly our state, officials for not getting the help in to save lives.
There is plenty of focus on our national leaders and I thank everyone for that. My focus at this time is on state leaders who sat on their thumbs and watched our citizens die in New Orleans.
Let Them Eat Prayer
Has anyone seen Governor Kathleen Blanco lately? I haven’t, certainly not on the national news, except when there is a photo op with the visiting Bush and Cheney.
On Monday when the levees broke, I heard her lead a prayer on TV. As the desperation at the superdome and convention center grew, prayers went unanswered and people died. We don’t know how many yet, but I have heard numbers such as 40 bodies piled in the Superdome.
Now there are views of mutilated bodies in the convention center.
If three college students could make it to the convention center to rescue people, why couldn’t the state of Louisiana send food and water?
Where was Blanco when this unfolded? Where was Mitch Landrieu, Lt. Gov.? Where was Mary Landrieu, besides being seen dressed down by Anderson Cooper in the midst of the horror?
The population of Baton Rouge has doubled with this disaster, and I have seen for myself the homeless living at gas stations on the outskirts of the city.
There aren’t enough shelters in Baton Rouge.
Where is Blanco?
The Red Cross is giving out emergency vouchers to Texas evacuees, but none yet here in Baton Rouge.
Where is Blanco?
National leaders are being aggressively challenged by citizens and the media in wake of this debacle, but we have our hands full here in dealing with local and state politicians who long ago sold out the poor of this state.
You’ve all heard Baker’s comments on the low-income housing in New Orleans. We’ve got our work cut out for us in the form of needing to unseat entrenched well-off, old families in Louisiana and New Orleans who could give a rat’s ass for the poor here.
I demand that Blanco and Mary Landrieu explain their actions and inactions during the superdome and convention center disaster.
I demand that Blanco, Landrieu and Nagin explain their actions and inactions in insuring adequate evacuation plans for the citizens of our state.
People died, thousands, and they have some explaining to do.
Wish us luck. I’ll keep you informed.
Update [2005-9-9 12:16:32 by duranta]:The Baton Rouge Advocate is reporting Red Cross vouchers will finally be available after this weekend here in Baton Rouge.Update [2005-9-9 12:16:32 by duranta]:
Those who died and suffered at the superdome and convention center will not be forgotten. Those who drowned in New Orleans and St. Bernard Parish because they didn’t have the means to evacuate will not be forgotten.
National leaders will be held accountable, but state and local leaders also have to answer to this disaster, and must be held accountable. No one gets a free pass. Why should they?
I think a key difference between the Kool-Aid drinkers and the reality based community is that we’re willing to examine the performance of anyone who has a position of responsibility. The wingnut assholes who truly want to make a political game out of blaming will point fingers solely at the Mayor and the Governor, for the sole reason that they’re Democrats, and will ignore the grievious negligence (or worse) by Bush and his gang of cronies.
Everyone at every level has a great deal to answer for. The Rovians will do everything possible to put the scapegoat horns on the Mayor and the Governor, and we have to fight that. And as much as I devoutly wish for Michael Brown’s swift discharge, we can’t turn him into a goat (pet or otherwise) either. Everyone’s role must be examined, top to bottom.
I agree with you. Every action and inaction must be examined at all levels. It’s my understanding that Blanco requested federal assistance on Aug 26. I’m not letting her off the hook and I certainly was extremely disappointed by the words and actions of Mary Landrieu, although she did try to redeem herself, but I still hold the feds the most responsible for not moving in quickly enough – regardless of what the local and state officials did or did not do. The feds were the ones with the forces and the aid.
We won’t know the whole story and the progression of events until this is completely investigated. Even then, we’ll be left with doubts – damn politics.
In the meantime, my concern is for you and all of the other victims. May you find some peace and may your efforts to rebuild your lives move as smoothly and painleesly as possible. Thanks so much for everything you’ve written here at BT to keep us informed. It’s been invaluable. You’ve shown us what courage is all about.
Thank you. I feel a little better getting it off of my chest. No one gets a pass anymore, not after this; not after what we’ve all witnessed.
I don’t care your political party or affiliation. Decisions and the reasons for them must be questioned, and those responsible held accountable, regardless of party affiliation.
We’ve put up with republican lite for a long time now in our democratic party leaders, and the results are horrific. I’ve had enough.
It’s times like these that I wish I was able to put down in words what my heart feels.
Your anger and rage shows your compassion, empathy and humanity. Your outrage shouts out your decency and dignity.
Voices that roat with such emotion and passion will provide justice, support, and assurance that this won’t happen again. Keep shouting. Keep questioning and keep demanding.
Hopefully we can all then wake up from this nightmare and start working toward our dreams.
Please know that you are loved.
Thank you. I do feel loved here. booman tribune is a very loving community of activists, people who actually give a damn, and take the time to articulate it.
I voted for Blanco for governor. I was ecstatic to see an intelligent woman, a democrat elected. But you are only as effectual as you believe yourself to be. Watching our citizens die of dehydration before our eyes, waiting for help, waiting to be rescued…the powers that be must answer to this, and that includes Blanco.