Friday, September 16, 2005
The President's Response to Katrina
President Bush sounded presidential last night as he spoke from New Orleans about the needs of people and the government response to devastation caused by Hurricaine Katrina. He described what government will do to relieve people suffering from the effects of the worst hurricaine in U.S. history, how government will rebuild the area in concert with the community and state, and what government will do to be prepared for future calamities if they happen. The message I am sure for most people was timely and comforting.
I sat and trembled. Like the terrorist attacks on 9/11 government will use this natural catastrophe to intervene more and gain greater control over American lives. In one breath the President described the greatest government dole in American history; he encouraged everyone in the area of devastation to register so they can get in on part of the action.
"The Department of Homeland Security is registering evacuees who are now in shelters, churches, or private homes – whether in the Gulf region or far away. I have signed an order providing immediate assistance to people from the disaster area. As of today, more than 500 thousand evacuee families have gotten emergency help to pay for food, clothing, and other essentials. Evacuees who have not yet registered should contact FEMA or the Red Cross. We need to know who you are, because many of you will also be eligible for broader assistance in the future."
In the next breath he told how the government would rebuild business with government incentives. Here he gives lip service to free enterprise while he describes even greater government intervention.
"Tonight I propose the creation of a Gulf Opportunity Zone, encompassing the region of the disaster in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. Within this zone, we should provide immediate incentives for job-creating investment … tax relief for small businesses … incentives to companies that create jobs ... and loans and loan guarantees for small businesses, including minority-owned enterprises, to get them up and running again. It is entrepreneurship that creates jobs and opportunity … it is entrepreneurship that helps break the cycle of poverty … and we will take the side of entrepreneurs as they lead the economic revival of the Gulf region."
The crowning moment, however, that was most frightening to me was his description of the government role in handling future national emergencies.
"The government of this nation will do its part as well. Our cities must have clear and up-to-date plans for responding to natural disasters, disease outbreaks, or terrorist attack … for evacuating large numbers of people in an emergency … and for providing the food, water, and security they would need. In a time of terror threats and weapons of mass destruction, the danger to our citizens reaches much wider than a fault line or a flood plain. I consider detailed emergency planning to be a national security priority. Therefore, I have ordered the Department of Homeland Security to undertake an immediate review, in cooperation with local counterparts, of emergency plans in every major city in America. "
For someone, whose goal is greater executive power, like 9/11, Hurricaine Katrina is a godsend. The president will extend the power of Homeland Security and the military into more facets of our lives.
"... the system, at every level of government, was not well coordinated, and was overwhelmed in the first few days. It is now clear that a challenge on this scale requires greater federal authority and a broader role for the armed forces – the institution of our government most capable of massive logistical operations on a moment’s notice. "
The cost of these initiatives will be staggering. How will government pay? Like it did in Iraq. These initiatives will be financed with greater government debt. Much of this debt is owed to foreign governments (including Red China). And administered by the IMF? Instead of encouraging individual self-reliance, the president is selling our "national soul" to external controls.
To see President Bush's complete speech go to http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/09/15/politics/main851262.shtml.
I sat and trembled. Like the terrorist attacks on 9/11 government will use this natural catastrophe to intervene more and gain greater control over American lives. In one breath the President described the greatest government dole in American history; he encouraged everyone in the area of devastation to register so they can get in on part of the action.
"The Department of Homeland Security is registering evacuees who are now in shelters, churches, or private homes – whether in the Gulf region or far away. I have signed an order providing immediate assistance to people from the disaster area. As of today, more than 500 thousand evacuee families have gotten emergency help to pay for food, clothing, and other essentials. Evacuees who have not yet registered should contact FEMA or the Red Cross. We need to know who you are, because many of you will also be eligible for broader assistance in the future."
In the next breath he told how the government would rebuild business with government incentives. Here he gives lip service to free enterprise while he describes even greater government intervention.
"Tonight I propose the creation of a Gulf Opportunity Zone, encompassing the region of the disaster in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. Within this zone, we should provide immediate incentives for job-creating investment … tax relief for small businesses … incentives to companies that create jobs ... and loans and loan guarantees for small businesses, including minority-owned enterprises, to get them up and running again. It is entrepreneurship that creates jobs and opportunity … it is entrepreneurship that helps break the cycle of poverty … and we will take the side of entrepreneurs as they lead the economic revival of the Gulf region."
The crowning moment, however, that was most frightening to me was his description of the government role in handling future national emergencies.
"The government of this nation will do its part as well. Our cities must have clear and up-to-date plans for responding to natural disasters, disease outbreaks, or terrorist attack … for evacuating large numbers of people in an emergency … and for providing the food, water, and security they would need. In a time of terror threats and weapons of mass destruction, the danger to our citizens reaches much wider than a fault line or a flood plain. I consider detailed emergency planning to be a national security priority. Therefore, I have ordered the Department of Homeland Security to undertake an immediate review, in cooperation with local counterparts, of emergency plans in every major city in America. "
For someone, whose goal is greater executive power, like 9/11, Hurricaine Katrina is a godsend. The president will extend the power of Homeland Security and the military into more facets of our lives.
"... the system, at every level of government, was not well coordinated, and was overwhelmed in the first few days. It is now clear that a challenge on this scale requires greater federal authority and a broader role for the armed forces – the institution of our government most capable of massive logistical operations on a moment’s notice. "
The cost of these initiatives will be staggering. How will government pay? Like it did in Iraq. These initiatives will be financed with greater government debt. Much of this debt is owed to foreign governments (including Red China). And administered by the IMF? Instead of encouraging individual self-reliance, the president is selling our "national soul" to external controls.
To see President Bush's complete speech go to http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/09/15/politics/main851262.shtml.
Saturday, September 10, 2005
Is no one concerned about constitutional rights?
CNN is giving 24 hour coverage to the devastation and other effects from Hurricane Katrina. (Is there no other news? )
One of the stories is about the forced eviction of residents of New Orleans. Also, police are gathering up fire arms.
CNN and other news sources report authorities' efforts to "clear the city of holdouts," and also the confiscation of guns from homeowners. Police are concerned about confrontations with "jittery residents who have armed themselves against looters." The mayor of New Orleans has ordered an evacuation of residents, but apparently about 10,000 people are "stubbornly staying put in the city." Police and the National Guard have been told to remove residents by force if they won't voluntarily leave.
Some people didn't want to leave because they couldn't take their pets. (Can you imagine a city of predator pets, uncared for and trying to find food among the dead and decaying remains of other animals?) Other people obviously needed to be removed because they were delirious, according to an Associated Press report.
"It's getting to the point where they're delirious," Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Jason Rule said. "A couple of them don't know who they were. They think the water will go down in a few days." (Did he conclude they were delirious because they thought the water would go down in a couple of days?) He and his crew pulled 18 people from their homes on Thursday.
The pressure on residents to leave has been intense (almost cohersion). Shelia Dalferes had 15 minutes to pack before she and her husband were taken from their home. "They were all insisting that I had to leave my home .... The implication was there with their plastic handcuffs on their belt. Who wants to go out like that?"
Reports indicate that most of New Orleans is above water. Although in areas residents do not have running water and electricity, some seem to be coping well -- "camping out" as some have described it. Still the city insists on its policy of forced evacuation. There is concern that the health conditions and potential for disease will even get worse.
Balance this against the constitutional right to own property and protect it from intruders and it looks like authority wins out. Terrorism has been used as a reason to take away the constitutional rights of a fast and fair trial. Now it seems that government will use natural catastrophe as a reason for depriving people of their rights to home ownership and bear arms.
http://newsmax.com/archives/articles/2005/9/9/111449.shtml
One of the stories is about the forced eviction of residents of New Orleans. Also, police are gathering up fire arms.
CNN and other news sources report authorities' efforts to "clear the city of holdouts," and also the confiscation of guns from homeowners. Police are concerned about confrontations with "jittery residents who have armed themselves against looters." The mayor of New Orleans has ordered an evacuation of residents, but apparently about 10,000 people are "stubbornly staying put in the city." Police and the National Guard have been told to remove residents by force if they won't voluntarily leave.
Some people didn't want to leave because they couldn't take their pets. (Can you imagine a city of predator pets, uncared for and trying to find food among the dead and decaying remains of other animals?) Other people obviously needed to be removed because they were delirious, according to an Associated Press report.
"It's getting to the point where they're delirious," Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Jason Rule said. "A couple of them don't know who they were. They think the water will go down in a few days." (Did he conclude they were delirious because they thought the water would go down in a couple of days?) He and his crew pulled 18 people from their homes on Thursday.
The pressure on residents to leave has been intense (almost cohersion). Shelia Dalferes had 15 minutes to pack before she and her husband were taken from their home. "They were all insisting that I had to leave my home .... The implication was there with their plastic handcuffs on their belt. Who wants to go out like that?"
Police are "not going to do that [phyisically remove people] until we absolutely have to. We really don't want to do that at all," Deputy Chief Warren Riley said. Riley also said, "No one will be able to be armed. We are going to take all the weapons."
Reports indicate that most of New Orleans is above water. Although in areas residents do not have running water and electricity, some seem to be coping well -- "camping out" as some have described it. Still the city insists on its policy of forced evacuation. There is concern that the health conditions and potential for disease will even get worse.
Balance this against the constitutional right to own property and protect it from intruders and it looks like authority wins out. Terrorism has been used as a reason to take away the constitutional rights of a fast and fair trial. Now it seems that government will use natural catastrophe as a reason for depriving people of their rights to home ownership and bear arms.
http://newsmax.com/archives/articles/2005/9/9/111449.shtml
Laura Bush calls criticism of husband disgusting
Laura Bush called comments criticizing her husband's handling of Katrina disgusting. Bush had been accused of not doing enough to assist the poor and black hurricane victims.
As reported by the Associated Press, Mrs Bush told a radio audience, "I think all of those remarks are disgusting, to be perfectly frank, because of course President Bush cares about everyone in our country."
"And I know that. I mean, I'm the person who lives with him," she said. "I know what he's like and I know what he thinks and I know how he cares about people."
http://newsmax.com/archives/articles/2005/9/9/112509.shtml
As reported by the Associated Press, Mrs Bush told a radio audience, "I think all of those remarks are disgusting, to be perfectly frank, because of course President Bush cares about everyone in our country."
"And I know that. I mean, I'm the person who lives with him," she said. "I know what he's like and I know what he thinks and I know how he cares about people."
http://newsmax.com/archives/articles/2005/9/9/112509.shtml
Tuesday, September 06, 2005
Not John Roberts
During the weekend President Bush nominated John Roberts to fill the position of Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, left vacant when Chief Justice Rehnquist died. I view John Roberts as unacceptable. He has shown he does not understand nor support the U.S. Constitution.
In July just before being nominated to fill the position of retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, Roberts was part of a Washington, D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals decision supporting the administration's claim that the President Bush can "designate any individual as an enemy combatant and detain that individual indefinitely." The decision also supported the establishment of special military tribunals to try enemy combatants. Special military tribunal decisons would not be subject to judicial review.
By establishing courts and trying defendants, the President usurps the power of Congress and the judiciary. The establishment of lower courts is a right of Congress. The trial of individuals is a right of the judiciary. Holding an individual "indefinately" without trial also contravenes the right to a fair and speedy trial guaranteed by the Bill of Rights.
Justice Rehnquist's death also allows the President to make a further nominee, possibly Attorney General Gonzalez, who helped develop the position that the president can name enemy combatants and establish military tribunals.
For more information see the following reference:
William Norman Grigg. 2005. The Roberts Nomination: Presidential Power Uber Alles. The New American (July 20). Retrieved September 6, 2005 from
http://www.thenewamerican.com/artman/publish/article_1871.shtml.
In July just before being nominated to fill the position of retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, Roberts was part of a Washington, D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals decision supporting the administration's claim that the President Bush can "designate any individual as an enemy combatant and detain that individual indefinitely." The decision also supported the establishment of special military tribunals to try enemy combatants. Special military tribunal decisons would not be subject to judicial review.
By establishing courts and trying defendants, the President usurps the power of Congress and the judiciary. The establishment of lower courts is a right of Congress. The trial of individuals is a right of the judiciary. Holding an individual "indefinately" without trial also contravenes the right to a fair and speedy trial guaranteed by the Bill of Rights.
Justice Rehnquist's death also allows the President to make a further nominee, possibly Attorney General Gonzalez, who helped develop the position that the president can name enemy combatants and establish military tribunals.
For more information see the following reference:
William Norman Grigg. 2005. The Roberts Nomination: Presidential Power Uber Alles. The New American (July 20). Retrieved September 6, 2005 from
http://www.thenewamerican.com/artman/publish/article_1871.shtml.
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