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The GOP probably will move their convention, why ruin a good party.
I will really hope this works out OK, we will send lots of good wishes to all.
I'd bet my last nickel that we're going to see some variation of this scenario. I hope the Obama camp is ready with a plan of their own. Unfortunately they don't have the authority and the resources of the Federal government at their disposal.
They can volunteer and spend some of the campaign funds bringing relief to the region. $100,000 of Democratic campaign funds will be more effective in providing real relief than $300 billion awarded by the Bush regime in unbid contracts to KBR, Bectel, Blackwater and his damn thieving faith based workers. Maybe one house will be painted by that $300 billion in Federal relief in the hands of the Republicans. Was it KBR or Bectel that used their Katrina money to build a new skyscraper regional headquarters for themselves in downtown New Orleans? And Bush went how many times to New Orleans for photo-op appearances and the bastard even took back the drinking water they handed out to the crowds during the photo-ops. He also took back the generators and construction equipment that was brought for the photo-ops. Look for something similar this time as he can't bear to actually give anything to the common working people, the real Americans. As we saw with his mother, Barbara Bush, they believe the common people don't deserve any help as they are too lazy and stupid to help themselves. By the way last week, another 82 were added to the total of people killed by Katrina.
As you can see, any amount of help that Democrats in New Orleans will be vastly more that billions from the Bush administration as the money awarded by Bush will be all embezzled by his crooked cronies.
Let's send dissipating vibes!!
Obama and the Dems will have their heart and soul there, as well as the Independents, and others, and we will be there helping. We may not get the attention from the corporate media, but people there will know.
And right now, this should not be a show, at all. It could show Americans coming together for Americans.
Its not about the red states nor the blue states, its about the United States.
This is yet another thing that had Obama tried, he'd be scorned and shunned and told he was a fool,
I agree with your noble sentiments. I am merely suggesting that the nation should take note that the Republicans didn't give a rat's ass about the people of New Orleans in the aftermath of Katrina, and we ought not to let them get away with taking political advantage of the coming storm.
So noted, and you are right!
McCain was scheduled to deliver his acceptance speech Thursday but now may do so from the devastation zone if the storm hits the U.S. coast with the ferocity feared by forecasters.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0808/13013...
Aside from the obvious political stuff, a move like this gets Obamas considerable donor pool mobilized and directed at disaster relief (think donations) at a time when they are already fired up after the convention. Seems to me the earlier people start donating to Red Cross, etc the faster aid can start flowing.
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/8/31/026...
May I remind you that Bush had his SS take back the water they handed out during the photo op. My guess is that he also ordered the Halliburton/KBR contractors to scrape off the paint on the house they painted in Jackson square.
http://www.wunderground.com/blog/JeffMasters/sh...
Scroll down to the "How big will Gustav get?" section.
Best,
Tim
Gustav is a large hurricane, but talk of a "huge" Cat 5 hurricane making landfall is bullshit. There is virtually no chance that that will happen.
This is not to say that Gustav is not a dangerous storm; it definitely is. But exaggerating dangers to scare people is something we've already had plenty of since 2001, and I personally am sick of it.
What will end up being the final effect of Gustav? Who knows and I hope for everyone's sake, that you are correct here, but in the meantime I have read far too many conflicting information to be as blase or clam about the results.
I am sure you agree that we should be concerned about this storm and hope for the very best of results, no?
Your characterization of my attitude as "blase and clam" is ridiculous. I am neither; I'm just trying to remain clear-sighted and evaluate the threats for what they are, rather than panicking and declaring them to be worse than they are just to scare people. I don't believe in lying for effect, even when the desired effect is beneficial. The ends do not justify the means.
Nagin spouting off about Gustav being as large as the Gulf of Mexico (900 miles across) is just ridiculous. But he showed us during Katrina that he can't be trusted. All I'm really saying is that it would help to stick to the information being issued by the NHC rather than trying to panic people (people don't think clearly when they're panicked, so that's actually not a beneficial effect).
You just said the following:
"I'm just trying to remain clear-sighted and evaluate the threats for
what they are, rather than panicking and declaring them to be worse than they
are just to scare people. I don't believe in lying for effect, even when the
desired effect is beneficial. The ends do not justify the means."
=========================================
How dare you insinuate that I prefer to lie about such a horrid topic of a category 5 hurricane when all I am doing is trying to maintain a balance in what I have read in many cases and your seemingly singular tact that the storm "isn't so bad". If you took offense to my terminology, I am sorry, but your take on this is much less serious than anything I have read thus far. You assert that both I and others are PANICKING about this storm and that is simply an amazingly arrogant claim! You don't like my term of BLASE? Fine, than how about you asserting that anyone who might offer another opinion is simply lying! If you fail to agree with the majority opinion to the severity of the reported storm warnings, fine; but to make that idiotic claim that anyone is panicking or lying when a potentially devastating storm is about to hit an already ravaged area is beyond anything I have seen in a while..
First off, I am hardly misrepresenting anyone or anything and take offense at your accusation.
Secondly, all I have said is that your take on this is represented by ONE source when many others have cited different stats. Do they differ with yours? It would seem so. Who is correct? I guess we will have to "wait and see".
Now I HOPE to god that this storm blows over and that it ends up merely a rain storm, but how dare you attack me or anyone else by making the accusations you have that we are lying and misrepresenting the facts.
Nagin is hardly the sole source of information in this scenerio and for you to take this tact is simply LUDICROUS! If you have a beef with Nagin, fine than state that without taking it out on the rest of the bloody nation.NO ONE is trying to panic anyone! After the horrific circumstances of Katrina, I think everyone on board wants to make sure nothing like that every happens again!
I am responding to what Nagin said because, in case you haven't noticed, IT IS THE SUBJECT OF THIS BLOG POST.
Neither Jeff Masters at Weather Underground (whose opinion I'll take over yours any day) nor the NHC (whose opinion I'll pretty much take over anybody's any day -- I read Masters's blog to get additional detail) agrees with your nightmare scenario. I don't know what sources you're checking, but based on what you're saying I'm not inclined to place much trust in them.
My reference to "lying" applied to Nagin, not to you. I'm not surprised that you took it wrong, though, since you seem to be in the grip of some kind of hysteria.
I am not "blase" and I am not saying the storm "isn't so bad" (and you were clearly wrong to put those words in quotation marks, as they are NOT MINE). Again, I am simply trying to look at what credible sources say Gustav is going to do, rather than losing my head. Go ahead and lose yours if you like -- just don't drag me along for the fucking ride.
Nagin is clearly trying to panic New Orleanians, so saying "NO ONE is trying to panic anyone!" is itself ludicrous.
I think you need to "clam" down and get some perspective on this situation.
After reading up on your previous time here on Disqus that you are a bit of a troll. And not an ordinary one, but one of those who can't see past their own irrational hatred of Obama.
It would appear that your time here right now, is NOT about the consequences of the storm (as are my concerns) but your own need to stir up trouble on a blog with which you seem to disagree.
As for your other comment, I'm afraid I've shown you about as much respect as you've shown me. You have misrepresented my position and now you have chosen to characterize me as a troll. That just shows me how seriously you can be taken.
I began this thread with you commenting about your obviously different take on the storms effect and stated that I had HOPED you were right. But that didn't seem to be enough for you, instead, you poked and prodded and insinuated your way into trying to infer all sorts of odd and creepy things. Please, I am not interested in your tactless commentary...
Just for the record: I will be voting for Obama in November, although I am much less enthusiastic about him than I was before he caved on FISA. That was a big disappointment. But he still beats the hell out of McBush any day of the week, and his speech Thursday night was terrific.
Is that the EYE of the hurricane or is it the total AFFECTED area they are discussing? My hunch is that they are OFF a zero in their figures. Some references cite nautical miles as opposed to linear miles...so now I must admit I am confused. In any event, this is one big assed storm.
This:
http://tinyurl.com/6dzcmn
is a link to a map of the Gulf of Mexico on Google Maps. You can use the scale to eyeball it and see that the Gulf is about 900 miles east to west.
This:
http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/goes/flt/t1/vis-l.jpg
shows a visible image of Gustav. It is clear that Gustav is smaller than the Gulf, although it is also clear that Gustav is a large storm. Be aware that the clouds you are seeing to the north and east of Gustav are outflow, and are not part of the storm proper; Gustav is the denser round area near the center of the image. However, even if you don't want to believe me on that point, Gustav is smaller than the Gulf.
So if your phrase "that diameter" refers to Nagin's "900 miles and growing," you can see with your own two eyes that that diameter is not correct. :)
Here is some relevant text from the NHC's 1:00 p.m. public advisory on Gustav:
REPORTS FROM AN AIR FORCE RESERVE HURRICANE HUNTER AIRCRAFT INDICATE
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS HAVE TO DECREASED TO NEAR 115 MPH...185
KM/HR...WITH HIGHER GUSTS. GUSTAV IS A CATEGORY THREE HURRICANE ON
THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON SCALE. SOME RE-INTENSIFICATION IS FORECAST
DURING THE NEXT 12 TO 24 HOURS...AND GUSTAV COULD REGAIN CATEGORY
FOUR STRENGTH LATER TODAY OR TONIGHT. FLUCTUATIONS IN STRENGTH ARE
LIKELY THEREAFTER...BUT GUSTAV IS FORECAST TO REMAIN A MAJOR
HURRICANE UNTIL LANDFALL.
GUSTAV IS A LARGE TROPICAL CYCLONE. HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND
OUTWARD UP TO 50 MILES...85 KM...FROM THE CENTER...AND TROPICAL
STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 200 MILES...325 KM. NOAA
BUOY 42003 RECENTLY REPORTED 8-MINUTE AVERAGE WINDS OF 60 MPH...
97 KM/HR...WITH A GUST TO 78 MPH...126 KM/HR.
The full advisory is here:
http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCPAT2+...
Since tropical-storm-force winds extend 200 miles from the center, that means that the area of TS-force winds is about 400 miles in diameter (assuming the storm is roughly circular, as tropical storms usually are). That is a large storm by any measure, as the NHC advisory says. But it's not 900 miles.
I was trying to give you some information that would allow you to make up your own mind, and to do it in a polite manner despite your earlier attacks on me. Obviously that was wasted effort, and I won't make that mistake again.