There is always a bright side to every disaster...

I really don't know where you got that pic from, but seriously, in light of the tragedy that has taken place over the last week, that photo is NOT funny and shown in bad taste.

I had seen that photo elsewere and was momentarily shocked and horrified. I won't say a thing about the apropriateness of the post, but must note that is is a (not very well executed) paste up from two completely unrelated photographs.

I posted the Bush fishing trip pic in a previous post - my intention was to portray the incompetent and callous manner that federal officials have handled this crisis. This administration is so disconnected from poverty and struggle that they make Marie Antoinette look compassionate.

Sometimes a picture is worth a 1000 words.

Frankly, I am livid with the way that our government has handled this crisis at ALL levels before, during and after.

Oh - And for those that care, I finally heard from my friend missing in New Orleans, he is in the hospital in BR, dehydrated and suffering heat exhaustion but alive. He's 78 years old. He's a tough old crudmudgeon though.

While I honestly grieve for the people of the Gulf coast communities, life is an every day tragedy for people around the world. Just because it is not plastered on every American TV channel, it does not mean people in Africa, Asia and Latin America are not tragically dying by the tens of thousands every single day.

Are their lives worthless because they did not make the evening news, because they are not Americans, or because talking about their suffering is not the current 'cool' thing to do? How come they are never mentioned around here? You see, we can all play the "holier than thou" game...

Lastly, my apologies, but the picture that offended you so much is obvious political satire showing the reality of this world. While the anonymous people of the world suffer, those with $$$ could truly care less. I honestly would like to know how many people have gone out of their way (other than contributing a couple of dollars, to show others how charitable they are) to help the people of New Orleans. Just imagine what a difference it would make being out there volunteering a few hours a week instead of wasting countless hours playing second life.

This remember, is only my worthless personal opinion, it will not change the world by a millimeter, so nothing to worry about. And I agree that I have bad taste, I am heartless and am evil; c'est la vie.

Things I have been reading are indicating that the STATE Government is probably more responsible for the delays than the Federals. The Feds were trying to get stuff rolling before Katrina even hit, but State officials refused to sign certain documents because they didnt want to lose control in certain areas. The same State officials responsible for diverting federal funds earmarked for levee improvements to floating casinos? I wonder?

Sextus, that's a bunch of bull, come on. None of that matters, it's still bad taste! No amount of debate is going to change that.

So if someone posts another fake picture with the leader of the World Health Organization sailing out on a cruise ship with a backdrop of destruction and corpses created by the next major tsunami, because they feel the WHO deserved it for not trying hard enough, that's okay too? Or is that not okay, because you don't have a political agenda against the WHO?

And Rose, if that was your intention, you certainly didn't get that message across. All it does is make it look like someone's taking cheap shots against an administration they don't like. They may deserve some blame, but by no means were they the only ones involved.

Of course, they'll probably bear the brunt of the blame, because anyone that doesn't like the current administration is going to push and push and push it onto them, as usual.

I sure that she didn't want to federalize the National Guard because during natural and man-made disasters, the National Guard is used as a resource to increase law enforcement efforts to prevent or stop looting and rioting, to control traffic, and to provide for general public safety.

Once federalized, the National Guard, like the Active Army, becomes bound by the Posse Comitatus Act and loses the ability to reinforce local law enforcement agencies. At that time, the governor has lost a valuable resource.

The real problem really lies with the fact that 6,000 National Guard personnel in Louisiana and Mississippi who would have been available to help deal with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina are in Iraq and were unavailable for dispatch. That really put the state at a disadvantage.

I'm not justifying everything the state did - I think mistakes (and serious ones) were made at all levels. I'm just addressing the Nationl Guard issue. Also, I do believe that the primary responsibility for this fiasco lies with the feds in this case.

Yeah your right - I was really, really pissed when I first posted it (that's pissed in an American terms [angry], not UK [drunk]). Though it could have been both, I can't remember now and I was pretty worried about my old, hard headed and missing friend at the time.

Admit it, it wouldn't be so offensive if it was actually a good photoshop.