[Cody Dawg]

So, when the tsunami hit Thailand the movie stars came out in droves to pledge their support and offer money to victims.

Hurricane Katrina is our homeland tsunami with hundreds of thousands of people homeless. Link.

Where are those movie stars now? Why is it that the leftie movie stars will support through donations and fund-raising victims in Thailand but not their own countrymen? I'll tell you why: Because they're so liberal and left-leaning that they'd rather let their own countrymen suffer then blame it all on Bush rather than try to help.

I'm really struck by the silence of the supposedly "compassionate" liberal left. It's pretty sad.

I don't know if this goes here or in political lounge. It's about movie stars primarily, but maybe it'll get moved.

[BoomStick]

Because the highest percentage of the homeless and dead are black, that's why.

[Cody Dawg]

Because the highest percentage of the homeless and dead are black, that's why.

Thanks, BoomStick. That's probably the post of the year.

[typoon]

Cody I agree. If they do come to support I wonder how long it'll take before they do.

[Kevin]

They are all waiting to see what George looney is gonna do.

[Cody Dawg]

typoon: Great name

All kidding aside, you're right. All is quiet from Hollyweird. I remember Sandra Bullock announcing one day after the tsunami that she was donating a million dollars for the tsunami victims. All is quiet from Ms. Bullock and her cronies this time around.

[wallinbl]

It's still very early. They still can't get the water out of NO at this point. Relief efforts will begin soon. Celebrities are like everyone else in that they will wait for the lead of the Red Cross and other organizations that do this stuff professionally.

I do suspect that celebrity support will be less for this than the tsunami. Supporting other areas, especially monetarily depressed areas makes you look more worldly than restoring a 24 hour party city. But, there will be plenty of support and relief. Regular Americans will help their own more than they will help others. For some reason, we value Americans more highly than others.

[Kevin]

They are afraid to be labeled America lovers.

[Cody Dawg]

Bush is doing as much as he can. Have you seen the news? Lake Pontchartrain (sp?) is emptying faster and faster.

Read the article. This has NOTHING to do with George Bush. It's a natural disaster, the same as a tsunami, and people are suffering and dying. It's terrible.

NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana (CNN) -- New Orleans faced two crises Wednesday that Louisiana's governor called nightmares: stopping rising floodwaters in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and evacuating survivors of the deadly storm.

"We've got an engineering nightmare trying to fill the breach of the levee where the waters are pouring into the city," said Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco on Wednesday. "I think they've been working on it all night, and they'll continue to work on it all day today."

The rising flood waters overwhelmed pumping stations that would normally keep the city dry. About 80 percent of the city was flooded with water up to 20 feet deep after the two levees collapsed.

Blanco also said planners were working on evacuating between 12,000 and 15,000 people who sought refuge at the city's Superdome sports arena.

Inside the sports arena, toilets were overflowing and there was no electricity or air conditioning to provide relief from 90-degree heat.

"Well, it's a logistical nightmare," Blanco said. "We have identified other shelters in other parts of the state. Communities are ready to receive these people to help them out."

"They've been running buses in through the night. We're going to get them out, either by boat, lift them out by helicopter, or if we can walk them to the buses, we'll do it. Whatever is necessary, whatever measure is necessary is what we'll do.:"

New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin said Wednesday that his complaints Tuesday about "way too many fricking ... cooks in the kitchen," were prompted by frustration. (Full story)

"I was expecting the levee to be plugged [Tuesday] with three-thousand pound sandbags. It didn't happen."

Nagin said command center officials would come together Wednesday to "start to work in synergy."

Engineers have been working to plug a 200-yard breach near the 17th Street Canal, allowing Lake Pontchartrain to spill into the central business district. (Map)

An earlier breach occurred along the Industrial Canal in the city's Lower 9th Ward.

Three shootings, looting and a number of attempted carjackings were reported in New Orleans on Tuesday. (See video of the looting -- 1:25)

National Guard troops moved into the downtown business district, and state police squads backed by SWAT teams were sent in to scatter looters and restore order, authorities said late Tuesday. (Full story)

Bush to tap oil reserve

Also Wednesday, in a move aimed at easing concerns about the disaster's effect on the nation's fuel supplies, Department of Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman said the White House will tap the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

Bodman said in an interview on CNN that officials have not determined the amount of crude oil that will be drawn from stockpiles, but that it would be a loan to refiners.

An official announcement was expected Wednesday afternoon, he said.

The impact of Katrina on U.S. oil production and refinery capabilities may be worse than initial reports estimated and could lead to a national gas crisis in the short-term, analysts warned Tuesday. (Full story)

The death toll from Monday's storm is estimated at 70 -- mostly in Mississippi. Officials stressed that the number is uncertain and likely to be much higher. (See aerial video of the aftermath -- 3:02)

Katrina has inflicted more damage to Mississippi beach towns than did Hurricane Camille, and its death toll is likely to be higher, the state's governor said Tuesday. (Full story)

Camille killed 143 people when it struck the state's coastal counties in 1969 and a total of 256 after it swept inland. (See a video explaining what makes hurricanes so powerful -- 2:50)

"There are structures after structures that survived Camille with minor damage that are not there any more," Gov. Haley Barbour said in Jackson.

Katrina destroyed "every one" of the casinos that brought $500,000 per day in revenues to state coffers, Barbour said after a helicopter tour of the affected areas. (See scenes of tragedy and devastation -- 1:30)

"There were 10- and 20-block areas where there was nothing -- not one home standing," he said.

Streets and homes were flooded as far as six miles inland from the beach, and looting was reported in Biloxi and in Gulfport, officials said.

Bush is helping: He's releasing oil reserves. Right now Mother Nature is still in control, not George Bush.

[typoon]

Originally Posted by Cody Dawg

typoon: Great name

All kidding aside, you're right. All is quiet from Hollyweird. I remember Sandra Bullock announcing one day after the tsunami that she was donating a million dollars for the tsunami victims. All is quiet from Ms. Bullock and her cronies this time around.

Very true. Maybe it's because we're not a third world country and we don't need money so they aren't offering it. I'm sure people from NY and other parts of the country will be donating more goods and money than those in hollywood. I wonder if we are going to have any concerts to raise money for the survivors of the Hurricane Katrina fund or some such thing. Probably not.

[legacyb4]

Probably because America already has disaster recovery plans in place and a (hoped for) financial backing to implement those plans while other less fortunate countries do not.

[Cody Dawg]

I find it interesting that only Venezuela immediately pledged support (oil and food) and the rest of the world is silent.

Including the movie stars.

[typoon]

Originally Posted by Cody Dawg

I find it interesting that only Venezuela immediately pledged support (oil and food) and the rest of the world is silent.

Including the movie stars.

The rest of the world hates us remember? That would also include many if not most of the movie stars.

Just because we have funds or what not setup doesn't mean that people don't pledge support. It's just the right thing to do. Actually you don't hear many celebrites pledging support from anywhere yet.

[Cody Dawg]

That's right. Where is Sean Penn now? Why isn't he announcing his plans to go down to Louisiana or Mississippi or Alabama and assess the situation?

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by Cody Dawg

That's right. Where is Sean Penn now? Why isn't he announcing his plans to go down to Louisiana or Mississippi or Alabama and assess the situation?

Because they'd probably slap the taste out of his mouth.

[Doofy]

Originally Posted by Kevin

They are afraid to be labeled America lovers.

Bingo!

[Cody Dawg]

Yeah, I guess you're all correct.

Why doesn't Cindy Sheehan pledge her support for the victims of the hurricane?

[Warung]

This is just completely sickening.

Sorry, but people are going through sh1tty times down there, and all you can do is use their fate as an excuse to vent your frustrations about "liberal" Hollywood people?

This is not a time to accuse either the US or that baffon of a president for not signing the Kyoto Protocol, nor is it the moment to chastise Europeans/Hollywood for lack of financial assistance. This is a time to either offer your condolences, lend a helping hand or simply STFU, IMHO.

Thank you.

[dreilly1]

Personally, I couldn't care less what movie stars think. They and their opinions are 100% irrelevant to me. I don't understand why other people care what they think, either. Maybe if we all stop listening to them, they'll shut up and go back to reciting lines that someone else writes for them.

Also, not to take anything away from this disaster or the people suffering through it, but the Tsunami disaster was greater in scope and in the number of people affected who really have no other resources to draw from. That was a disaster of epic global proportions, which came without advance warning. This disaster was different, and requires a different response.

[badidea]

And where's Charlton Heston?
At least he could donate some guns for shooting the looters!

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by Warung

baffon of a president for not signing the Kyoto Protocol

It's like telling people not to poke their eyes out, while you poke your own out.

[Ω]

If you think movie stars are going to fix this situation then you are completely ****ed.

If I ever look for help from a movie star for help, please kill me because then I know that I have lost touch with reality.

FFS Codydawg movie stars? What a facetious world you live in.

[Cody Dawg]

"facetious world [I] live in?"

Do you know what the world "facetious" means, whatever-your-name-is?

facetious: Playfully jocular; humorous: facetious remarks.

Learn yourself some English - put it on the tab of the movie star you admire most.

[Troll]

Umm, Cody, I'm not sure it's necessary to point this out to you but ... Hurricane Katrina doesn't even come close to comparing to the Boxing Day tsunami.

The tsunami killed 400,000 people in 10 countries across the globe. Most of the countries hit are extremely poor and ill-equipped to respond to a disaster of that scale on their own. People got out to rock their governments into action to stop the disaster from killing more people through disease. Furthermore, the tsunami touched people from virtually every country on the planet. It also destroyed far more property. Property that belonged to people that were infinitely more poor than the people touched by Katrina and that had no insurance, faced very little compensation and had mostly lost vast numbers of friends and family.

The worst case scenario for the Gulf region is a few hundred people dead in a comparatively tiny area. The social and economic consequences for the area and the country at large and pure number of dead is not a scratch on the tsunami. Compare the US's position now and that of Indonesia the day after the tsunami. Incomparable. The risks of an outbreak of disease are infinitely smaller because 1) there aren't nearly as many dead bodies around, 2) the USA is the richest country on the planet and infinitely better equipped to respond than say Somalia 3) the scale of the destruction is vastly less 4) the people that have been touched have more resources to tap to get them out of their predicament, 5) government anticipated the disaster, acted to minimise the loss and responded almost immediately. The US has the capacity to respond appropriately on its own and it is already responding.

This is not to say that people don't have sympahty for the people that have suffered. A life is a life wherever it is. But it's completely ludicrous for you to expect the same response to Kristina that the tsunami got. Kristina is nothing compared to the tsunami and I for one would be very cynical if Kristina raised as much money or attention as the tsunami.

[wdlove]

Hi Cody,

Yes, it is very sad. The Elite Left have an internationalist agenda. They often speak of how they are ashamed to be an American. I say why not move, I know many that would pay their first class one way ticket to the country of their choice.

http://www.motherjones.com/commentar...1/blaming.html

[Ω]

Originally Posted by Cody Dawg

"facetious world [I] live in?"

Do you know what the world "facetious" means, whatever-your-name-is?



Learn yourself some English - put it on the tab of the movie star you admire most.

I know what the word means. Comical. And you fit it.

But what does Jennifer Anniston say?

[RAILhead]

Originally Posted by wdlove

Hi Cody,

Yes, it is very sad. The Elite Left have an internationalist agenda. They often speak of how they are ashamed to be an American. I say why not move, I know many that would pay their first class one way ticket to the country of their choice.

http://www.motherjones.com/commentar...1/blaming.html

I still haven't had anyone take me up on the offer I made back during the election. I'm willing to buy 10 one way tickets to Canada if anyone wants to move. I'll pay your way 100%.

But no one will leave horrible ol' America.



Maury

[Ω]

Originally Posted by Troll

Umm, Cody, I'm not sure it's necessary to point this out to you but ... Hurricane Katrina doesn't even come close to comparing to the Boxing Day tsunami.

The tsunami killed 400,000 people in 10 countries across the globe. Most of the countries hit are extremely poor and ill-equipped to respond to a disaster of that scale on their own. People got out to rock their governments into action to stop the disaster from killing more people through disease. Furthermore, the tsunami touched people from virtually every country on the planet. It also destroyed far more property. Property that belonged to people that were infinitely more poor than the people touched by Katrina and that had no insurance, faced very little compensation and had mostly lost vast numbers of friends and family.

The worst case scenario for the Gulf region is a few hundred people dead in a comparatively tiny area. The social and economic consequences for the area and the country at large and pure number of dead is not a scratch on the tsunami. Compare the US's position now and that of Indonesia the day after the tsunami. Incomparable. The risks of an outbreak of disease are infinitely smaller because 1) there aren't nearly as many dead bodies around, 2) the USA is the richest country on the planet and infinitely better equipped to respond than say Somalia 3) the scale of the destruction is vastly less 4) the people that have been touched have more resources to tap to get them out of their predicament, 5) government anticipated the disaster, acted to minimise the loss and responded almost immediately. The US has the capacity to respond appropriately on its own and it is already responding.

This is not to say that people don't have sympahty for the people that have suffered. A life is a life wherever it is. But it's completely ludicrous for you to expect the same response to Kristina that the tsunami got. Kristina is nothing compared to the tsunami and I for one would be very cynical if Kristina raised as much money or attention as the tsunami.

But what is Sean Penn doing?

He, and only he, can make a difference!

[rambo47]

Originally Posted by Kevin

They are all waiting to see what George looney is gonna do.

They sure didn't wait whe the tsunami hit.

[Millennium]

Because they take the government's social services for granted, and therefore see no need to start donation drives.

[BlueSky]

G' morning folks! ...what was I gonna say...hmm..oh yeah:

You're all morons!

'k, bye.

[Cody Dawg]

Millenium, that is SO true.

Hi Cody,

Yes, it is very sad. The Elite Left have an internationalist agenda. They often speak of how they are ashamed to be an American. I say why not move, I know many that would pay their first class one way ticket to the country of their choice.

WDLove, you and RAILhead have a good thing going and a point in common: Why don't the three of us, collectively, pay to help even ONE person who does not really want to be an American to move away. I can afford it, so anyone here who hates the United States and our president, let me know. I'll put up $10K for you to move away - and that isn't a joke.

I'd love it. And I'd get great publicity from it so maybe I could pay you even more to move away permanently.

[RAILhead]

I'm in. I'll match Cody's $10k -- but the person has to leave and can't come back!

Maury

[Cody Dawg]

rambo47
They sure didn't wait whe the tsunami hit.

True! The water hadn't even receded and they were organizing all kinds of support - it was less than 24 hours later.

Still, silence from the left is resounding when it's here in their own country. Sandra Bullock recently spent $7,000 on a purse and gave $1 million to Thailand...where is Ms. Jesse James nee Bullock now when we need her help?

[Cody Dawg]

Good. Now we have $20K in the pot. Please, ONE PERSON STEP FORWARD and we'll pay your way out.

Put your money where your mouth is.

[Ω]

If I lived in the US I would take up your offer. But then again I am a "foreign agent"

[saddino]

Where are the movie stars now?

Well, according to a Flordian called "Cody Dawg" they're all in Florida, and she sure seems to be so very proud of that!

Originally Posted by Cody Dawg

Is that why Spielberg just bought a compound right up here in Wellington? How about Tommy Lee Jones - who lives and plays polo in Wellington, Florida, right here in Palm Beach county? Tori Amos has a place half an hour from us. Miami is FULL of celebrities left and right -- want me to name names?

Rod Stewart lives here in Palm Beach part of the year, Donald Trump has a place here, Matt Lauer, Rob Thomas (the singer), Shania Twain, and I could go on and on.

Not that celebrities really matter, mind you.

There is Venus and Serena who live two miles from us in a place called Ballenisles and then there is Tiger Woods who just bought a place here, tons of golfers are here, of course.

Ms. Dawg, you really do sound conflicted here. You hate "leftie" celebs, but if Sandra Bullock was eating at the table next to you, something tells me you'd go introduce your little doggie to her and then tell us all about it.

[Cody Dawg]

No, I wouldn't go meet Ms. Bullock.

But, she'd want to meet my DOG, I can guarantee you that!

Who can resist her mushy-wushy-wittle-face?

[RAILhead]

Heh, I can't stand dogs by and large (as you know, Cody), but those little buggers have always been one of my favorites. I also like whatever kind of dog was in Men In Black II (I never can remember exactly what kind it is).

[Cody Dawg]

That was a pug, Maury.

This is a French bulldog. They are like a cross between a Pug and a Boston Terrier and an English bulldog. She's just about the same size as a pug - I think slightly smaller. She's 16 pounds. She makes all kinds of weird sounds. She makes a Chewbacca (from Star Wars) sound, a purring sound when you're petting her - it feels and sounds just like purring from a cat, has a yodel, a small yip that means yes, and yes, she also barks like a normal dog. She's a rescue dog (one we rescued) and she just had another eye surgery yesterday, has one next week, then she's going to be looking for a new home. She's really awesome. I'd like to keep her, but then it would be hard to foster any other dogs at the house.

Anyway, I've derailed my own thread to moi.

I'm watching the news and seeing all the people walking out of New Orleans on the highway in a post-Apocolypic stupor is very eerie.

[andi*pandi]

what does hollywood have to do with anything. WD, I'm surprised at you for venting thusly.

redcross.com for a better use for your 20k.

[xi_hyperon]

Originally Posted by andi*pandi

redcross.com for a better use for your 20k.

Repeated for emphasis. Sometimes I just don't get you people, and in a way, I'm glad.

[CRASH HARDDRIVE]

The farther many movie stars stay away from real-life disasters the better.

Lest anyone get egg on their face, why not wait and see what movie stars or anyone else donate to help out with disaster relief, rather than jump in immediately with useless accusations? I’m no fan of the usual loud-mouthed suspects when they over-politicize things, but if they donated to the tsunami relief, good for them. That’s nothing but commendable, not damnable. And the jury is still out on what they may or may not donate to Katrina-relief.

[residentEvil]

OT: you do know sandra got married right? she is a MRS. now, not a MS. /OT

[Cody Dawg]

I'll take some egg on my face. I'm not a vegetarian ( to the other thread of the same topic in the Lounge) and I don't mind.

As I mentioned in the Political Lounge, Robert Kennedy has made it a point to blame the governor of Mississippi for this disaster. He and Democrats like him are apparently in glee over human tragedy because it gives them a chance to stick it to Republicans and/or conservatives. Sickos.

Edit: Thanks andi*pandi!

[BoomStick]

We all know that the elitest left HATE black people and love to watch them suffer.

They prove it time and time again.

[andi*pandi]

that's bobby jr, btw, not ted.

[CRASH HARDDRIVE]

That's Robert Kennedy. I missed his last movie!

But no one should miss Ted Kennedy's classic, "Driving Miss Kopechne."

[Randman]

It's sad that people have to be led to some action by a "celebrity". Who gives a flying fcuk where any celebs are or if they are going to do anything to help the folks hit by Katrina. I'm surely not going to start taking leads from any celebs who advocate any action other than seeing their movie.

If they give help, all the better. If they don't, it doesn't change what I've done or will do one bit.

People who aren't in the impacted areas should worry more about the people suffering rather than what any other country or movie star thinks and advocates.

[Cody Dawg]

That's Robert Kennedy. I missed his last movie!

But no one should miss Ted Kennedy's classic, "Driving Miss Kopechne."

LOL!