To: stockman_scott who wrote (190884 ) 5/4/2010 12:01:41 AM From: Wharf Rat Respond to of 361856 Sheer hyperbole. You need to take a deep breath. "The destruction of millions of peoples' livelihoods", all of whom depend on oil to fuel those livelihoods. Didn't see any sail-powered shrimp boats. You think Mr. Greenjeans Executive walked to work after eating homegrown radishes, or did he maybe burn some oil today? One of my Drummers, from NO Alan -- Reminds us of the post-Katrina days, eh? Not really. The USS Bataan (USMC helo assault ship, 600 hospital beds, distill 100,000 liters of water/day, many tons of MREs) was the only US Navy ship in the GoM. She was following over 100 miles behind the eyewall of Katrina. The Navy's plan was to give first relief to Plaquemines & St. Bernard Parish (British Columbia Search & Rescue ended with the honors there) and anchor at either the US Navy base in the Upper 9th Ward or behind the Convention Center at the cruise ship terminal and evacuate the hospitals with staff onto the ship. Depending on time spent in Plaquemines & St. Bernand, dock late Monday or early Tuesday. Our Commander-in-Chief diverted the USS Bataan to the Mississippi Gulf Coast and assigned a sister ship (in Norfolk VA) to New Orleans which took 5 days to arrive. According to the captain of the USS Bataan, she was "under utilized" there (an under statement when actual aid delivered is measured). 14 buses were assigned Wednesday to evacuate Gretna (minor street flooding from rainwater only, no power). The collection point was under the Mississippi River bridge on the West bank. Under the bridge (with a dry open road from the center) was the Convention Center. Any New Orleanian that tried to walk to the buses was shot at. They had to wait "their turn" on Friday. and much more. So the story of Katrina was deliberate diversion of federal resources away from New Orleans (while spinning for media) and to Republican areas. Not the case now. Although we want to booms to protect fisheries and not the Casino Coast. First dibs for us, last dibs to protect casinos. Alan