The ASSociated Press and WNBC have Republicans Urge Bush To Ask Giuliani To Guide Relief Effort.

Rep. John Sweeney, R-N.Y., urged President Bush to appoint former New York City mayor Rudolph Giuliani or two former military officials to run the ground response in the Gulf Coast, saying local authorities are not up to the task.

Sweeney suggested Giuliani or retired generals Colin Powell and Tommy Franks could take charge of the much-criticized hurricane relief efforts.

“We owe it to the American people to have America’s best leaders with experience on the ground running this,” said Sweeney. “It’s been painfully obvious over the last four or five days that the circumstances and challenges coming at us are new, are nothing that had ever been anticipated.”

Sweeney said Giuliani proved his ability to lead in a crisis during the Sept. 11 attacks, adding the president should also consider Franks or Powell, men with long military resumes.

One prominent Republican, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, criticized the Bush administration for being sluggish, and urged the president to name Giuliani as the White House point person for relief efforts.

“We need to get the job done now, and I don’t think anybody is better prepared to do that psychologically and otherwise than Rudy Giuliani,” Gingrich said.

Giuliani has been traveling in Australia this week and only recently returned to the United States. His spokeswoman, Sunny Mindel, declined to comment Friday on calls for his involvement in the Hurricane Katrina response.

Gingrich said the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina “puts into question all of the Homeland Security and Northern Command planning for the last four years, because if we can’t respond faster than this to an event we saw coming across the Gulf for days, then why do we think we’re prepared to respond to a nuclear or biological attack?”

Flap agrees with Newt.

Bush should appoint Rudy and let him run the show.

The sooner ………The BETTER!

Technorati Tags: Hurricane Katrina, flood aid, Rudy Giuliani

New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin, left, Councilman Oliver Thomas and Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco speak during a news conference about Hurricane Katrina, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2005. Residents of low-lying coastal communities were told Saturday to pack up and head for higher ground before Hurricane Katrina strengthens and takes a “possible direct hit” on southeast Louisiana.

The ASSociated Press has New Orleans Mayor Fumes Over Slow Reponse.

A day beforePresident Bush headed to the hurricane-ravaged South, Mayor Ray Nagin lashed out at federal officials, telling a local radio station “they don’t have a clue what’s going on down here.”

Federal officials expressed sympathy but quickly defended themselves, saying they, too, were overwhelmed by the catastrophe that hit the Gulf Coast region on Monday.

Nagin’s interview Thursday night on WWL radio came as President Bush planned to visit Gulf Coast communities battered by Hurricane Katrina, a visit aimed at alleviating criticism that he engineered a too-little, too-late response.

“They flew down here one time two days after the doggone event was over with TV cameras, AP reporters, all kind of goddamn — excuse my French everybody in America, but I am pissed,” Nagin said.

Nagin said he told Bush in a recent conversation that “we had an incredible crisis here and that his flying over in Air Force One does not do it justice … I have been all around this city and that I am very frustrated because we are not able to marshal resources and we are outmanned in just about every respect.”

In an interview Friday on NBC’s “Today,”
Federal Emergency Management Agency director Michael Brown stood behind the massive federal relief effort that’s under way.

“I understand the mayor’s frustration. … We have been having a continuous flow of commodities into the Superdome, there were five trucks arriving last night to feed well over 50,000 people.

“We’re also diverting supplies to the convention center which I learned about yesterday and that area. … This is an absolutely catastrophic disaster,” he said.

Gov. Kathleen Blanco, who like Nagin is a Democrat, was less confrontational than the mayor.

“When the system goes down, this is pretty much what you get,” she said on CBS’ “The Early Show.” “We don’t get into the blame game. We just work with what we got.”

But, the BLAME GAME it is……..

Michelle Malkin has a list:

Brian Maloney at The Radio Equalizer, my indefatigable blog investigative partner, spotlights the hurricane-induced insanity of Air America Radio hosts Rachel Maddow and Randi Rhodes, who really have bigger things to worry about. (Audio of Rhodes here.) Jim Hoft comments.

This nutball refuses to support Katrina victims because of his anti-conservative hang-ups. (Hat tip: Erick at Red State.)

This group is totally bonkers.

Arthur Chrenkoff compiles a list of left-wingers using the disaster to stoke Bush hatred and eco-zealotry.

Patrick Ruffini documents a “hurricane of hatred.” Alenda Lux has a reality check.

Kevin Halpern has more on the Bush-bashers and adds:

One more thing on anti-war mom Sheehan. She is leaving Texas and taking her protest on the road with a bus caravan to Washington. I hope she runs out of the gas she is wasting.

Politburo Diktat documents Left vs. Right bloggers on Katrina. So does Rick Moran.

And via Radioblogger Duane Patterson, Hugh Hewitt’s producer, here’s the anti-Bush meltdown of CNN buffoon Jack Cafferty. More from Brent Baker at Newsbusters.

Cafferty is fuming because Bush did not drop sandwiches into the waterlogged, chaos-racked Superdome. I kid you not.

The Anchoress takes stock of the political and physical landscape 100 hours after stormfall. Read the whole thing.

It does little good to play this game.

However, the Left and the MSM seem almost delighted in the crisis.

Time to get back to business, help these folks and rebuild.

Technorati Tags: Hurricane Katrina, flood aid

The ASSociated Press has Congress Sending $10.5B in Relief Aid.

Congress rushed to provide a $10.5 billion down payment in relief aid for Gulf Coast victims of Hurricane Katrina on Thursday as President Bush ordered new action to minimize disruptions in the nation’s energy supplies.

Bush, who intends to visit the devastated area on Friday, expressed sympathy with the victims. “I know this is an agonizing time. … I ask their continued patience as recovery operations unfold,” he said.

Congressional officials said $10 billion in relief aid would go to FEMA, the government’s first-line defender in case of natural disasters. The remainder is ticketed for the
Pentagon, which has dispatched ships and other assistance to aid in the relief effort.

In a letter to Capitol Hill that accompanied the request, Bush said the situation “requires immediate action by the Congress to ensure that the federal response to this disaster uninterrupted.” And he put lawmakers on notice that the $10 billion was only a first installment, with another request expected after a fuller assessment of the storm’s impact.

With the Republican-controlled Congress officially on vacation, top leaders said they would pass the relief measure without waiting for lawmakers to return to the Capitol. Instead, they announced the money would be cleared — by Friday — without the formality of a vote, as is often the case on non-controversial measures.

So, please help the private charities that will also aid the many victims of this disaster. Please go to Catholic Charities and be generous.

In the meantime……

In addition to his ABC interview, he announced he was asking his two immediate predecessors to head an appeal for public donations to help hurricane victims. The two men, his father, George H.W. Bush, and Bill Clinton, performed a similar role in the wake of the tsunami that struck nations along the Indian Ocean last year.

Flap asks you to be generous and GIVE.

You will be glad you did.

Technorati Tags: Hurricane Katrina, flood aid

A woman cries as she waits with other flood victims at the Convention Center in New Orleans, Thursday, Sept. 1, 2005. Officials called for a mandatory evacuation of the city, but many residents remained in the city and had to be rescued from flooded homes and hotels and remain in the city awaiting a way out.

The ASSociated Press has New Orleans Mayor Issues ‘Desperate SOS’.

Fights and fires broke out, corpses lay out in the open, and rescue helicopters and law enforcement officers were shot at as flooded-out New Orleans descended into anarchy Thursday. “This is a desperate SOS,” the mayor said.

Anger mounted across the ruined city, with thousands of storm victims increasingly hungry, desperate and tired of waiting for buses to take them out.

“We are out here like pure animals. We don’t have help,” the Rev. Issac Clark, 68, said outside the New Orleans Convention Center, where corpses lay in the open and he and other evacuees complained that they were dropped off and given nothing — no food, no water, no medicine.

The plea from Mayor Ray Nagin came even as National Guardsmen poured in to help restore order and put a stop to the looting, carjackings and gunfire that have gripped New Orleans in the days since Hurricane Katrina plunged much of the city under water.

About 15,000 to 20,000 people who had taken shelter at the convention center to await buses were growing angry and restless in what appeared to be a potentially explosive situation. In hopes of defusing it, the mayor gave them permission to march across a bridge to the city’s unflooded west bank for whatever relief they can find.

In a statement to CNN, he said: “This is a desperate SOS. Right now we are out of resources at the convention center and don’t anticipate enough buses. We need buses. Currently the convention center is unsanitary and unsafe and we’re running out of supplies.”

In Washington, Homeland Security SecretaryMichael Chertoff said the government is sending in 1,400 National Guardsmen a day to help stop looting and other lawlessness in New Orleans. Already, 2,800 National Guardsmen are in the city, he said.

Flap asks you to please open up and give generously to the numerous charities that are supporting the effort to help our fellow citizens.

Please visit Flap’s charity and make your online contribution today.

Thank you!

Technorati Tags: Hurricane Katrina, flood aid

Today is the Day!

N.Z. Bear has Hurricane Katrina: Blog for Relief Day Thursday, September 1.

A day of blogging focused on raising awareness of and funds for relief efforts to aid those affected by Hurricane Katrina. See here for more information, and here for the TTLB Katrina topic page.

Jump to Charities

Participating Blogs
Over 700 blogs from 11 countries so far
Add your blog

Please give and give again.

Flap’s Charity is Catholic Charities and is here. Please help them out. The need is great.

And you know you will be glad you did!

Michelle Malkin has BLOGGING FOR KATRINA RELIEF.

Today’s the day! Inspired by Hugh Hewitt, marshaled by Glenn Reynolds, and organized by N.Z. Bear, nearly 700 bloggers from 11 countries have united today to raise money for Hurricane Katrina victims. There’s a plethora of charities to choose from–pick many!

I’ve donated to and am recommending Mercy Corps, which is teaming with Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD) to meet the immediate and longer-term needs of people displaced from their homes in coastal Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi. Mercy Corps consistently ranks as one of America’s most effective and efficient charitable organizations. Last year, more than 92 percent of its resources went directly to programs serving people in need.

I’m also donating to Hugh and N.Z’s respective charities–Canal Street Presbyterian Church, Soldiers’ Angels, and The American Red Cross. And Strengthen The Good, an early innovator in blog charity drives, is launching a matching relief fund in honor of today’s event.

Today is about Getting Things Done. I’ll keep this post bumped to the top, and open up comments for those of you who don’t have blogs, but want to recommend other charitable efforts/relief campaigns.

Thank you to Hugh, Glenn, , N.Z., and all the participating blogs. Thanks in advance to all of you who are contributing today. And God bless all of the Katrina victims and their families who are enduring unspeakable hardships.

Charity sees the need not the cause. Please give–and give again.

***

Chuck Simmins continues to track private charitable donations by Americans Helping Americans.

Sooooo, PLEASE get over to Catholic Charities and donate what you can.

If you like you can go to Michelle’s or Hugh’s charities listed above.

Please give……….

Flap will keep this post bumped up to the top throughout the day.

Technorati Tags: Hurricane Katrina, flood aid

N.Z. Bear has Hurricane Katrina: Blog for Relief Day Thursday, September 1.

A day of blogging focused on raising awareness of and funds for relief efforts to aid those affected by Hurricane Katrina. See here for more information, and here for the TTLB Katrina topic page.

Jump to Charities

Participating Blogs
634 blogs from 8 countries so far
Add your blog

Flap will resume blogging on the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina after a night’s rest.

If you beat me up in the morning – all of you European and East Coast folks, go over to my charity, Catholic Charities and contribute a few bucks.

Flap knows you will be glad you did.

Technorati Tags: Hurricane Katrina, flood aid

New Orleans residents are rescued by helicopter from the floodwaters of Hurricane Katrina Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2005 in New Orleans.

A few days ago Hugh Hewitt and Glenn Reynolds suggested a day when bloggers could support Hurricane Katrina relief efforts.

Although the loss of life appears to have been low, the scale of the misery that will follow Katrina is almost unimaginable.

The miles and miles of submerged homes, sunken cars and damaged businesses are astonsihing to see. I am sure that among those businesses are scores if not hundreds that just opened, were just getting their momentum, just reaching the black and then this happens.

I hope the Hollywood/Nashville types get their act tgether on a relief effort that could be telecast, as with the 9/11 concert.

And perhaps the bloggers could agree to set a day for a unified blog beg, and I am open to suggestions on the recipient organization, though I hope it would be an organization that makes loans/grants to people to get houses and businesses repaired. The relief groups like Samaritan’s Purse will help with immediate shelter and food needs, but rebuilding will be a long and expensive process. Let me know if you have ideas on a recipient, or if you are a blogger willing to coordinate some fund-raising.

N.Z. Bear at TTLB stood up and has agreed to coordinate the event.

Hugh Hewitt suggests “perhaps the bloggers could agree to set a day for a unified blog beg” and Glenn suggests this Thursday, September 1.

I’m in. Here’s what I’ll do here at TTLB:

1) Set up a registration page where bloggers planning to join in can say so, including providing information (if they like) about where they are blogging from and the charity they suggest donations to.

2) Make the database as publicly accessible and available as I can, so that anybody else who wants to create an aggregation page or otherwise use the list can do so.

3) On the day of the event, I’ll create a dedicated community page for it, and run that as TTLB’s front page.

Other suggestions are welcome, and I’ll try to think of how else I can help during the day today. I should have the registration page up and running tonight…

Update: The registration page is now available…

Flap has registered and has chosen Catholic Charities as his Bleg partner.

Michelle Malkin has KATRINA: GETTING THINGS DONE

Read it all here.

Glenn Reynolds is compiling a list of bloggers and their charities here.

Technorati Tags: Hurricane Katrina, flood aid

A church with a steeple knocked over by Hurricane Katrina sits in the floodwaters surrounding New Orleans, Louisiana August 31, 2005. Authorities struggled on Wednesday to evacuate thousands of people from hurricane-battered New Orleans as food and water grew scarce and looters raided stores, while U.S. President George W. Bush said it would take years to recover from the devastation.

From the California Office of Emergency Services (via private e-mail to Flap):

Subject: Rescue Line for Victims

State OES has learned that trapped victims on the Gulf Coast are calling family, friends, loved-ones, or anyone they can get a call out to in California asking for someone to rescue them. These requests need to go immediately to the US Coast Guard’s Rescue Line at 800-323-7233 and immediate assistance will be sent.

Please distribute this information as widely as possible.

Flap would appreciate your distribution.

H/T Darleen’s Place

Technorati Tags: Hurricane Katrina, California Office of Emergency Services

Flap is just back from Nevada….

Tomorrow is Blog for Katrina Relief.

Thanks to Hugh Hewitt and Caltechgirl for reminding Flap of tomorrow’s event.

Evil Glenn and TTLB have joined forces to promote a blogswarm for donations to Katrina.

Not Exactly Rocket Science is participating tomorrow, and is pleased to recommend the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), a fine charity that we’ve been supporting all of our lives over here. UMCOR is unique in that it’s major distribution center is already in the area, so they’re able to mobilize quickly. Also, since UMCOR is a subsidiary of the United Methodist Church, 100% of your donation goes directly to the area you choose.

More soon on a list of Katrina relief charities……..

Technorati Tags: Hurricane Katrina, flood aid