Now I'm sure that there are thousands of hard working, dedicated people at DHS- I know a few who spend every hurricane gathering numbers to assess potential damage estimates, and what it will take to put things right.

And that's the problem with this disaster.

I'm not going to get all conspiracy theory here- there are enough hard facts to support the same level of negligence to this disaster as there were warnings of 9/11.  This scenario of a natural situation causing this much destruction (as opposed to a terrorist attack) has been bandied about for years.  The problems have been studied, the solutions proposed but the key to getting it done is that it just wasn't on the agenda.  The Bush agenda, that is, or "mandate" as he likes to portray it, is to deal with the real potential for problems as "possibilities", while advancing the conservative pipe dreams that were bought and paid for by his campaign funding as "realities".  In short, the things that make a nation prosperous, safe, and well protected that only government can do have taken a back seat to wielding the power of our nation to advance corporate interests.

Mr. Bush's newest excuse for the war in Iraq is to keep the oil fields safe from terrorists.  My, my, my, Mr. President.  I'm sure that Sheik Yerbouti sleeps securely, knowing that while our refining and port facilities for Gulf of Mexico oil seem to have disappeared, his pipelines to India and China will keep on pumping. I'm glad that you are telling the nation not to buy gasoline that they don't need.  If this is the disaster of proportion that estimates say, then why don't you exercise some real authority and issue Presidential Emergency orders to freeze the wholesale price of gasoline for the next 60 days?  Why let any more of the citizens of this country be subjected to the profiteering of your pals in the oil biz?  Oh, sorry, I forgot- we live in the "free-market" part of your conservative pipe dream.  My mistake. Never mind.

Well, it's time for the citizens to make a stand against this political system that says "to the victor go the spoils".

Republican or Democrat- all politicians need to be put on notice- fix this shit or you are all out in 2006.  Period.  If Dems don't stand up and say enough is enough- they're Out.  If Republicans dont backtrack on Social Security, tax cuts, and Roe- they're out.  Incumbents- Out.  Anybody else- In 

We can do no worse with a whole new body of unbeholden neophytes than we have been done by the ones holding power now.  And if they don't get it done right, they're out too.  We need to let them know that they work for us- not the other way around.