|
Post by Atrahasis on Sept 3, 2005 15:00:15 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by CaptainPierce on Sept 3, 2005 18:27:37 GMT -5
What else can you expect with A) so much of the National Guard overseas, more so than probably any other point in history and perhaps even more importantly B) FEMA assimilated into Homeland Security and gutted. Homeland Security has focused far too much--and too myopically--on terrorism (and still hasn't managed to make us much "safer" in that regard), and hasn't really spent any time worrying about anything else...
|
|
|
Post by Johanobesus on Sept 4, 2005 18:06:03 GMT -5
Homeland Security has focused far too much--and too myopically--on terrorism (and still hasn't managed to make us much "safer" in that regard) And how would the response be better if it had been a nuclear bomb? I think this really shows that there is no focus on terrorism. We are obviously no better prepared for dealing with catastrophes than we were four years ago. "Terrorism" is just an excuse for the administration to justify whatever it wants. Clearly, actually protecting us is not a priority.
|
|
|
Post by Atrahasis on Sept 7, 2005 1:03:57 GMT -5
You know, overseas news agencies are already projecting a casualty figure of 10,000 or so dead. They do have a tendency to jump the gun a bit when it comes to numbers, but if it pans out....
....Wowsers! Did someone drop the ball or what?
|
|
|
Post by Lord Schtupp on Sept 7, 2005 2:06:49 GMT -5
Homeland Security has focused far too much--and too myopically--on terrorism (and still hasn't managed to make us much "safer" in that regard) And how would the response be better if it had been a nuclear bomb? I think this really shows that there is no focus on terrorism. We are obviously no better prepared for dealing with catastrophes than we were four years ago. "Terrorism" is just an excuse for the administration to justify whatever it wants. Clearly, actually protecting us is not a priority. Well said!
|
|
|
Post by Atrahasis on Sept 7, 2005 6:27:45 GMT -5
Tighter border rules and lots of introspection agencies probably did the trick when it comes to preventing more home terror attacks..........You can pretty much leave Iraq out of that equation!
|
|
|
Post by CaptainPierce on Sept 7, 2005 18:19:13 GMT -5
Every time somebody says how Dubya's anti-terror policies are working, I'm reminded of the Simpsons episode with the "Bear Patrol." As the Patrol's Stealth bomber flies by overhead, Homer tells Lisa that the patrol must be working, because there aren't any more bears. Lisa replies, "That's specious reasoning." And Homer says, as I'm sure Dubya would in his place, "Thank you, honey." How long was bin Laden planning 9/11? I can't remember exactly, but I know it was several years. He hasn't had time to plan another attack yet, he's only been safe now since we invaded Iraq.
|
|
|
Post by S33K100 on Sept 9, 2005 0:26:39 GMT -5
I believe the word you were looking for is spurious en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spurious_relationshipBut the point stands all of the current US administrations policies have only served to make terrorism a much bigger threat than it ever was before 11/9 (damn your reversed dating conventions). This disaster could have been avoided had it not been for a continuous policy of focus on terror, that FEMA organisation of yours, repeatedly had it's budjet slashed and it's responsibilities moved to Homeland Security, also I read an article which I will try and dig up tommorow which state that the budjet for maintenance of the levees in the New Orleans area had been cut by a huge amount, I can't recall the exact figure but it was at least in the 8 figures. The ridiculous incompetence of the Republican agenda has finally come back to bite them in the arse and the innocent people of New Orleans and Missisipi are the ones who pay the price. Centuries ago some of my ancestors had our leader's head off, even though the puritans were bloody boring and had lame hair compared to the Cavaliers, they had balls enough to take on an unjust and incompetent ruler and a decadant aristocracy. If I were an American I'd be calling for Dubya's empeachment. P.S. on a much lighter note I present this YTMND as a response to the somewhat ill-advised comments made by Kanye West during the Red Cross telephon: bushniggas.ytmnd.com/ - don't be put off by the 'n-word' there, it's not a racist site.
|
|
|
Post by Atrahasis on Sept 9, 2005 7:07:21 GMT -5
Like I said...the man had only average grades in college and got by just because his daddy was a big shot.
And people saw during the debates last year that he was just not very bright over all.
It really gets me that although the people may have voted him in, he's just not equipped mentally to handle the job. Imo there should be some kind of minimum IQ test that a presidential candidate should take.
|
|
|
Post by S33K100 on Sept 9, 2005 11:00:21 GMT -5
I doubt an IQ test would be very appropriate, I've seen some really dumb people get high IQ scores, when I say dumb I rather mean socially and psychologically inept.
Far more appropriate would be a test about his general knowledge of political history, economics, social evolution all the sort of stuff the President of the US should really be expected to know about.
Not to mention they should be subject to rigorous mental and psychological testing to make sure they're not gonna go mad and press the red button, or invade backward countries that have no nukes.
|
|
|
Post by CaptainPierce on Sept 9, 2005 18:30:08 GMT -5
What really would help, IMO, is making Presidents give these cushy government jobs to people who are actually qualified to do them. Say what you will about "Slick Willy" Clinton, and God knows I've said a lot ;D, but he was at least smart enough to put a trained disaster management professional in charge of FEMA after seeing the flak that George HW Bush took after Hurricane Andrew. Our current head of FEMA's last gig was running an Arabian horse association, where the only disasters he had to worry about probably involved horse poop. Now, granted, as a member of the Bush administration he's usually hip deep in that, but I hardly think it qualifies him to lead any sort of disaster relief operation. I see today that they called him back to Washington and put somebody else in charge of the day-to-day operations on the front lines, but that's not enough...
|
|
|
Post by Atrahasis on Sept 9, 2005 19:48:46 GMT -5
Slick Willy was and is extremely smart....both a high IQ and well read and educated but most importantly able to empathize with people and know their motivations.
Imo, the mistake he made with the Lewinsky thing was that if he was going to do it he should have chosen a hotter chick to do it with. Hilary forgave him in the end, but you know....forgiveness is more easily obtained from a spouse (and others) in these situations if the mistress was a real hottie. That way the wife will be more understanding, and also she recognizes that she was usurped by a hottie. She would actually feel worse if the mistress were not as hot as she was.
But I guess judging how hot Lewinsky is is a matter of personal taste....And it doesn't really take a lot to be hotter than Hilary.
OK, my narcisistic ramblings aside though, for Bush the most important aspect of a candidate for a position is A) How loyal he is, or B) if he isn't so loyal he at least needs to be subservient and willing to take shit from above exactly as it is laid out.
But you see, the only way that kind of a structure can succeed is if the very top has enough brains and chutzpah for all....whcih I doubt is the case here.
|
|
|
Post by Raventree on Sept 11, 2005 14:06:06 GMT -5
Wow..well folks..please see my misplaced response in another forum...
|
|
|
Post by Lord Schtupp on Sept 14, 2005 17:38:52 GMT -5
That was great when Cheney went to shake a survivors hand and the guy told Cheney to "go fuck yourself".
|
|