Give Them More Cars

Communist Party leader Marie-George Buffet said the decree could enflame rioters. "It could be taken anew as a sort of challenge to carry out more violence," she said.
Aah, those communist and other socialist philosophers have always been brilliant in offering solutions to crisis. Take the French riots that have lasted almost 2 weeks for example. A bunch of hoodlums and criminals have taken to the streets causing violence and unrest. They blame the immigrant status of these rioters as a causal reason for their actions. I think that’s xenophobic. And that’s ironic for an American to accuse that great defender of European demagoguery of being xenophobic. Like any immigrant community (or native community) there are always a contingent that is criminal and easily gains attention by national media. Quickly spun by political junkets for their own gain to create hysteria among the electorate. There are 5 million Muslims in France. I seriously doubt that the actions of these idiots are reflective of the vast majority of this block.

Read the articles on the violence in France and it will increasingly draw attention to the immigrant, poor and unemployed status of these teenage rioters. Although this is probably true, any glimpse of justification quickly gives way to agents of rage who are simply opportunists and petty testosterone charged criminals. In the words of one French leader, “scum”. I am no fan of the French government, but when the whole country is quickly descending into a mosh pit I don’t care what the pretext is. Stereotyping immigrants or religious status as a precursor to this violence is bigotry in its rawest form. You would expect more from those high-brow Europeans. NOT!!

But I digress. In a foolish bid to capitalize on the unbalance, the intellectual socialist and communist minority have stepped up to the political debate to offer solutions. What do they offer? More jail time? Hell NO, that would be punishing poor folk for exercising free speech. Curfews? Absolutely not, that might upset the agitators. I concluded based on their reasoning, that the best solution to quell the agitator’s angst is to give them more cars to burn. I mean they already burned more than 1,000 cars. They obviously have a thing for torching cars. So give them more cars

To the liberal left, this makes sense. It is completely in line with their policy of appeasement when confronted with violence (until they get in power, of course). The French continue to struggle with the modern era image of cowardice and appeasement. It wasn’t until the 12th night of violence that curfews and reserve police were called in! These are the people that criticized the US response to Katrina. Not only can’t they get their shit together, they can’t even begin to decide what needs to be done. Could you imagine high-level security talks?

French official 1: What do we do about the riots? Do we impose curfews and martial law?
Official 2: Non, that’s what the American’s would do. Anything the Americans would do is simply barbaric. There has to be another way.
Official 3: Oooh, Oooh. I think I have it. What if we talk to them?! Do they have an ambassador? We could get the Security Council to back our initiative and fuck the US again.
Official 2: These are own citizens. They don’t have an ambassador; we are supposed to be their representatives.
Staff Official 1: Well sir, there are actually no ethnic minorities represented in the National Assembly.
Official 1, 2, and 3: Really?????????
Staff 1: That is correct Mssrs.
Official 2: Then that’s it. We promote one of their kind to some sort of ceremonial post.
Official 3: Oui, that will surely do it.
Official 1: But who?
Official 3: What about one of those Imams guys.
Official 2: Absolutely not. They are all too religious. We are a secular society. Religion has not place in society, and especially not in this Republic.
Official 3: Ok , forget the ceremonial post idea. Besides, if he ever quit we would need to pay unemployment benefits forever to some religious nut and that would be considered government sponsorship of religion.
Official 1, 2: Very true.
Official 1: So what do we do?
Official 3: They have burned hundreds of cars right?
Official 1: Oui.
Official 3: Then give them more cars. That way they are happy, we are happy and everyone goes on with their lives.
Official 1, 2: Great Idea. Let’s do it.

French reasoning and governing at its very best!

Cuban Singing Legend Dies

Ibrahim Ferrer (February 20, 1927 - August 5, 2006)

The legendary Ibrahim Ferrer died on Aug 5, 2005 at the age of 78 in Habana, Cuba. His unique and sultry voice is distinctly cuban. He will be sorely missed.

Was Hurricane Katrina Racists?

In support of the very Reverend Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, I believe Hurricane Katrina was rascist. This hurricane had every opportunity to hit white areas in Florida, but at the last minute it took a turn toward mostly latin Miami-Dade county. Once in the Gulf, it could have fizzled or turned around and chosen a more white area along the coast. But this minority hating storm chose to hit the Deep South.

Sounds pretty stupid huh?

Where's the Giuliani

The ultimate measure of government is whether they serve their people. History has shown that when government fails its people, the people revolt. What has happened New Orleans is simply a failure of government to respond. Democrats, Republicans, police, and the military have failed thousands of Americans in the great city. The infrastructure was absent.

9-11 while highlighting the weakness of government's principle goal, security, also demonstrated the strength of government...Leadership. Giuliani lifted his city on his shoulder and served its people. The response to 9-11 was not political positioning, it was the best of human character. There was a Giuliani that stood up and took control.

But what happened in New Orleans is quite simply a failure of government. Its an embarrassment. Where is New Orleans' Giuliani? It's definitely not its Mayor, Ray Nagin. Over the weekend, prior to the storm, he was begging people to get out. Thankfully, most left. Unfortunately, not everyone heeded Nagin's plea to leave. After the devastation, Nagin's weakness of leadership breached like the levee's of his great city. All Nagin's been able to do is blame everyone. He only gave the order to evacuate on Sunday morning, 24hrs before the storm hit. Shit, the president declares a state of emergency in Louisiana. And the Mayor waits until the next day to tell people to get out? And he only did so after the head of the NOAA Hurricane Center personally called him and urged him to order an evacuation. Granted, he is tired and frustrated but at as Mayor of the city what did he think would happen? National Guard, food, water and logistics would just suddenly appear?! His police force fled, his designated shelters lacked security and provisions for the catastrophe he forecasted. He is blaming everyone, as if he was an observer. Damnit Mayor, YOU should have gotten off your ass last Friday. The Mayor failed his people.

It was his office that directed people to the Superdome and failed to provide security, including basic searches for drugs and weapons for those entering the Superdome. The same thing happened at the Convention center. People were told to go to the shelters for safety. The government would take care of you. But guess what? The guy that was screaming for everyone to get out of town did not have a plan for the dealing with the aftermath of the monster storm he predicted? That's a failure of leadership.

Nagin complained about lack of transportation, but his city has hundreds of school and transit buses, why did create a staging area for these resources? Again, a failure of leadership.

Understanding that tens of thousands of people did not leave, and know that his city is one of the poorest and crime laden areas in the country, why was security not a priority? I am not even talking about the looting, I am talking about basic security at the Superdome and Convention Center. At the Superdome, there were only 88 officers for tens of thousands of people. Again, a failure of leadership. People were assaulted because of his lack of leadership.

If Nagin can mitigate his failure of leadership because of lack of resources, the Governor's lack of actions are inexcusable. Governor Blanco, knowing full well by Friday that a Cat 5 hurricane was heading her way had not plan. President Bush declared LA a state of emergency by Saturday. Blanco failed to mobilize the 6,000 national guard troops she had at her disposal. She warned residents along the coast that a pending disaster was on its away and yet she did not prepare a plan to cope with the disaster she forecasted? Gov. Blanco's leadership has not only been absent, she has been absent. At least Nagin is venting about the shithole he is in. Gov. Blanco is MIA.

The Governor is responsible for marshaling the resources of her state, she didn't. Knowing full well the fury of the storm, little preparations were made to handle the disaster. The governor was given the resources of the Federal government when President Bush declared the state of emergency releasing funds. Evacuations should have been made easier for the poor, logistics and resources should have been made available to largest metropolitan city in the storm's path. Where was the disaster planning? Her State new the danger to New Orleans more than anyone else. The buck stops at the Governor's feet. She failed her state, her people, her country. Her failure of leadership is abysmal.

My worst criticism is for FEMA and in particular for Michael Brown. FEMA is the organization "tasked with responding to, planning for, recovering from and mitigating against disasters". That is from its website. It failed each one of those of responsibilities. In 1992, the response to Hurricane Andrew was also slow.

On August 27, three days after the hurricane, Kate Hale, the head of Dade County's Emergency Management Office, called a press conference. "Enough is enough!" she shouted. "Quit playing like a bunch of kids!" She began to cry. "Where in the hell is the cavalry?" she demanded. "For God's sakes, where are they? We're going to have more casualties because we're going to have more people dehydrated. People without water. People without food. Babies without formula....I am not the disaster czar down here. President Bush was down here. I'd like him to follow up on the commitments he made."

FEMA had already experienced a failure of its mission. These experiences should have better prepared it to handle this disaster. Since Andrew, in South Florida, planning and preparedness kicks-in the moment a hurricane is believed to be headed our way. FEMA had this history. FEMA should of learned from its mistakes, unfortunately didn't learn shit. FEMA failed miserably. The Hurricane Center predicted how bad this storm was going to be. Where was FEMA's preparation and resources?!

And while, the elected officials of New Orleans and Louisiana failures will be judged by their constituency, the head of FEMA is not elected. He is appointed. Pres. Bush must fire Mike Brown immediately. He should not be giving him support on national TV. Its an insult to the tens of thousands stranded hungry and dying in New Orleans. He has no background or experience in emergency planning, preparation, or response. His last job was for an Arabian horse association. Horses!! If FEMA was responsible for farm animals I would have more confidence in Mike Brown's leadership. This is guy who couldn't get elected and only got his job because of who he knew. And now many have died because of his ignorance. The guy need to be fired immediately!

Americans shouldn't have to see other American's crying miserably about conditions in a US city on TV. Americans shouldn't see Americans dead or dying on the streets of an American city. Americans shouldn't see babies lethargic due to heat and lack of food on TV because its government failed to respond.

Government miserably failed its people this time. People need to be held accountable for their actions. Not for reasons of political payback, but to ensure that this kind of reckless abandon never happens again and so future lives may be saved.

Trade Cuba continues outpacing previous records

Trade with continues to be strong despite most Americans believing there is somesort of real trade embargo. At this pace, Cuba is set to become one of the top 10 export markets for the US in 2006. So much for the trade embargo Castro's is always complaining about.

Historical Chart of Increasing Trade with Cuba
2001 USD 4,3819,906 Ranked 144th out of 226
2002 USD 138,634,784 Ranked 50th out of 226
2003 USD 256,901,471 Ranked 35th out of 229
2004* USD 334,111,968 Ranked 23th out of 228

*Note: January 2004 through October 2004

The bulk of exports to Cuba depart from seaports along the northern Gulf Coast, primarily New Orleans. With the shutting down of the ports, the affects of Katrina will be felt in Cuba as well as the US.


Additional Links
U.S.- Cuba Trade and Economic Council

Hurricanes and Politics

Politics has no conscious. As the bodies have just begun decomposing along the northern Gulf Coast politicians have begun to use this tragedy to position themselves for the next election cycle. From Robert F. Kennedy's Jr blog entry to former Clinton advisor Sidney Blumenthal and the rabid ranting on Air America, you would think that the left actually believe the Republican party was God. Oh yeah, there are many of people of faith in the Republican party but they are a far cry from being anything close to Holy.

Yet, the left wants to use the devastation along the Gulf Coast as a political pulpit to bash their opponents. I don't want to get into the whole global warming thing here but to make a point...in 1992 when Andrew hit Homestead it was not GW's fault. It was not Clinton's fault. In 1969, Camille was not LBJ's fault. And it was definitely not FDR's fault when the 1935 Labor Day Hurricane struck the Florida Keys killing 426 with winds in excess of 200MPH. The 1935 storm was the strongest storm to hit the US during the 20th Century.

We have always had natural disasters and guess what...we always will. No matter what international treaty is signed or not, Earthquakes will still tremble, Tornados will continue to rip apart communities, Drought will still ravage with its slow haunting death, and Hurricanes will keep churning in our oceans and devastating coastal communities.

Regardless of your political persuasion, now is not the time to jockey for political position. Its a time to come together as a united people and help our neighbors. Make contributions to the American Red Cross or provide assistance in any way you can. But that last thing we need right now is a bunch spoiled rich politician making stupid, pointless statements for their personal gain.


Other Links
Katrina and Disgusting Exploitation

The Karl Rove thing

Gotta luv the news media. They are like children at Christmas. There attention squarely focused on the gift they just opened. Well...only long enough until the next gift is opened. Don't forget, we still have grandma's house to visit!

Stoked by the flames of the lame left, the media gathered around the Karl Rove story like vultures on fresh road kill. Desperately tyring to create mass outrage when there wasn't one. This the same media that a few days earlier thought the end was near, when a reporter was forced to go to jail and the other turned over their notes and unidentified sources. You would think it was the end of the Republic as news organization cowered in fear at what they believe was censorship reminiscent of a 3rd world dictatorship. Now for the irony, in short order, after they hold dear was breached they forget all that because of who Cooper had spoken to. None other that Bush's brain, Karl Rove. Because its Rove, the media will put aside its dismay at the erosion of the 1st of amendment they so vehemently fought to protect. They will ignore the fact the Miller is jail for not revealing her sources and all the while no one mentions Bob Novack.

You want to know why the public doesn't care about all of this? It's because most Americans can cut through the bullshit and see this for what it is, a side show. As a nation we have come to expect side shows from DC. Bob Novack is the only person that actually reveals the name of the CIA agent (the whole covert thing is still up in the air) and no one is pushing him to talk (except the prosecutor...we think). Cooper reveals limited (ie, his version) of events and the media thinks it has another Watergate. Then again, when there is a Republican in the White House the media ALWAYS thinks there is another watergate. Simply a bunch emotionally sensitive journalists hoping to go down in the annals of journalism, and history, as a hero and patriot (not to mention be played by Robert Redford). Much like kids looked up to Michael Jordan and Lance Armstrong, these guys want to be the next Woodward and Bernstein. The difference is, you actually have to have a Watergate scandal to have a Watergate Scandal.

Did Karl Rove did anything wrong? I don't know. The minutia of the law that was allegedly broken was written in 1994 (it was never an issue prior to 1994?) and sounds like it might not apply to Valeris Plame because of her domestic assignment. The fact that a special prosecutor has been on this case for 2 years doesn't lead me think that his findings will be earth shattering.