New Orleans -- Here We Go Again!

As hurricane Gustav is bearing down on the Gulf Coast, Texas, Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi, a mandatory evacuation of New Orleans and Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, has been ordered.

People are scared and are fleeing inland. Rightly so, Gustav has been called the storm of the century.

But, but, but...

There's a problem that pretty much no one has focused on.

It's the end of the month. Many people don't get paid until the first and it being a holiday, won't get their checks until Tuesday, the day AFTER Gustav is supposed to hit land. In addition, the people on public assistance won't start getting their automatic deposits until the first. And I'm not sure how Louisiana has worked their public assistance program, but if they were in Cali, those deposits are staggered over three days, the first, second and third of the month.

Yes, there was a mile long line of people for buses that will take them out of town. But many people are afraid to leave. They don't have any money right now, no money for gas, no money for food, no money for a hotel and after the Super Dome fiasco, some are afraid to go to a shelter. If they have pets, what will they do with their animals? Are the animals allowed on the buses? (I don't know, but I doubt it.)

And bluntly, as the workers in the link (below) say, if they leave, they'll lose their jobs.

I know, you're saying, "No way, they can't get fired for evacuating!"

Oh yes they can!

Don't underestimate the hard-heartedness of the tourist industry. As long as there's one tourist in town that might spend a nickel, there will be places open for business. And those bosses, all too many of them, will expect their staff to be at work getting that last nickel.

Yes, that's horrible. But that's the reality of being a low-income worker.

I just hope and pray that the people who are staying behind are aware of what areas stayed dry during Katrina and can make their way to those places if the levees fail again. That they've stockpiled supplies and have an emergency plan, just in case.

I pray that the white communities around New Orleans, the ones that turned back fleeing residents at gunpoint, have been SHAMED into helping their Brothers and Sisters of every ethnicity, color, race, if Gustav turns out to be as bad as Katrina.

I pray that our politicians stop politicking and get their behinds in gear to help the residents of affected areas, wherever that may be, providing food, water, shelter within hours, not days and weeks, of Gustav hitting the Gulf Coast.

I pray that anyone who has a vehicle big enough to tow a trailer, even a Katrina trailer (that they aren't supposed to move), has that trailer hitched up and moving it and the family to safety. Better to ask forgiveness later than to let that family lose everything. Again.

I pray that somebody up in the Louisiana Welfare department wakes up this morning, realizes what's going on and gets some overtime going on, releasing the EBT benefits early, so that the participants who are still in New Orleans and Jefferson Parish can buy food and gas and evacuate before Gustav hits the coast. Again, despite the rules and regulations being broken by releasing funds early, better to ask forgiveness later.

And I pray that all these precautions become unnecessary and that somehow Gustav loses some of its strength before it hits land.

In the meantime, New Orleans, here we go again!!

Hang on and people, keep praying for our Brothers and Sisters!!

Link:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/weather/08/30/new.orleans/index.html
http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/weather/08/31/gustav/index.html?iref=mpstoryview
http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/weather/08/30/gustav.prepare/index.html?iref=mpstoryview

Hmmm, Interesting Choice For Vice President

McCain's choice of a VP is pretty interesting.

In fact, I think it's brilliant!

As the talking heads were announcing that Sarah Palin was the choice, and started describing her, I felt my heart leap.

Dang, if I were a Republican, I'd vote for her!

Lucky me, I'm not, I'll stick with Obama.

But listen. McCain's choice is a smart one for many, many reasons. Yes, her experience is limited, but her life choices outweigh a lot of that.

What am I talking about?

McCain is going for the marginal (and not so marginal) votes.

Palin is a Christian, hunter, mooseburger eater, NRA member, anti-abortion advocate, anti-gay marriage that still followed her state's court rulings regarding discrimination against gays.

She has a Down Syndrome child that she CHOSE to have, despite the results of the prenatal testing. IE, no lip service here, she walks the walk.

Oh, and she's a white woman, still married to her first husband, with five kids and one is in the military, preparing to be deployed to Iraq.

She's a Moderate Republican's wet dream of an up and coming politician. She leans far enough to the Right to make most Republicans happy, without swinging so far that she's unpalatable to the undecided voters.

And she's quite attractive too. Which rarely hurts a candidate.

Don't underestimate the desirability of this woman to the Republicans and the wobblers. Don't underestimate her desirability to the Christian Right.

If she'd been paired with a better Presidential candidate, she'd be perfect, I might have even considered voting Republican.

McCain made a brilliant choice with his Vice Presidential candidate. She's going to pull in a LOT of votes that might(maybe) have went Democratic -- a lot of traditional, middle-American white votes.

But I don't think I could stand four more years of the Bush brotherhood of Republicans in charge.

I just can't do it.

Link:
http://www.ontheissues.org/Sarah_Palin.htm

Is It Racist?

In a forum I hang out in, there are often whites posting this question:
Is it racist to vote for Obama because he is Black?

I find this pretty ironic, because for many long years, people have voted for candidates from their communities and no one ever thought about it being racist.

However, my response to this common question is:
If you vote for someone just because he's Black, it's not racist.
If you vote against someone just because he's Black, that's racist.

There is a huge difference that doesn't appear to be visible to a lot of people.

Voting for someone because he/she is a Christian, Jewish, Mormon, Black, Native American, Latino, Hispanic, Democratic, Republican, Green, Libertarian, your friend, your neighbor, your cousin, from your state - none of that is racist or wrong. (Perhaps a little unenlightened if they don't support the things you believe in, but that's another topic entirely.)

Why?
Obviously, there is a positive element in voting FOR someone in/of/from your community, whatever community it may be, political, racial, ethnic, spiritual, etc. Supporting someone of your community isn't wrong. (Yes, even if your community is German, Irish, Swedish, French, English, white.)

Voting AGAINST someone because of any of those factors is wrong.

It's not racist to vote for Obama because he's Black.

Again, in my not-at-all-humble opinion, a bit foolish if you're a die-hard Republican who's voting against all you believe in JUST because Obama is Black.

But it's not racist.

Also, in my opinion, if you want to have the right to bitch, moan, whine, and complain about our government over the next four years, you'd better get to the polls and VOTE!

People who don't vote shouldn't be complaining when politicians make decisions on their behalf. They had a chance to vote the buggers in or out. If they didn't vote, they're just stuck in the same old rut with everyone else.

IE, if you choose not to participate in the process, don't be surprised when the process doesn't represent you.

Joe Biden?

Joe Biden? Well, OK....

I know on KGO talk radio, the hosts were going off last night. According to several hosts, Obama and Clinton would've been the "Dream Team".

I completely disagree with that evaluation.

Clinton as Vice President might've gotten more Democratic votes, but Obama would've shot himself in the foot. There are just too many potential cross-over votes that he'd lose with a Clinton VP candidate. Too many Republicans absolutely HATE the Clintons.

Joe Biden?

Well, Biden is a safer choice than many of the other prospective candidates.

Let's see who McCain picks.

Then we'll have a better idea of which way the political wind is blowing...

So Edwards DID Cheat On His Wife!

So the rumors were right, Edwards did cheat on his wife.

You know, what I find more disturbing than his cheating on his terminally ill wife, is the fact that he lied about it.

Unfortunately, men do cheat.

Unfortunately, women are attracted to men who cheat.

There's not enough space in this blog to talk about the psychology of infidelity. There are many reasons and most are pretty complex, far beyond the sexual act.

And honestly, many men don't consider oral sex to be sex.

We already know that, Bill Clinton is a prime example. He really, really didn't think he'd had sex with Monica.

We women generally view this in a difference way. I'm sure Hilary considered it to be cheating. In fact, I'm sure Monica did too.

Edward's wife was furious? I don't blame her.

I also don't blame her for standing by her man. People, the woman is sick and she is going to die. She may be maintaining fairly well right now, but it's already been announced that her condition is terminal. I don't blame her for sticking with him, especially if he really is remorseful for what he's done.

I do have to say, I SURE am glad that Edwards isn't in the Presidential race.

But let me point out to you, Edwards cheated on his sick wife, but he is standing by her.

McCain, on the other hand, left his disabled wife for the rich blonde.

Yes, that was a long time ago.

But I question the morality of the people who are going to jump up and down pointing at Edwards, and ignoring the fact that McCain is no better.

If Edwards is wrong, then McCain was also wrong, and doubly wrong because he left his wife for the other woman. The only good thing is that McCain has provided medical coverage for his first wife, all these years. At least he was man enough to do that.

You know, though, it's commonly said that a cheater is a cheater is a cheater.

I hope that's wrong.

There are worse things than being a cheater.

Being a liar is one of them...

DWB - Driving While Brown

Yes, I know, I'm not brown.

But I'm not a fool.

I live in Broderick, where there's supposedly a huge gang called the Broderick Boys.

(Hmmm, and yet the DA can't even name most of the members, despite the continued harassment of our local police. Funny how that happens. NOT!)

Broderick was once the "Mexican" side of town. So naturally, many of my neighbors are Latino/Hispanic.

With this BS gang injunction in place, pushed upon the neighborhood by the local DA, many people are being legally harassed by the police department. For example: there's a permanent 10pm curfew on all the Broderick Boys.

What??? Adults aren't allowed to be out in public after 10pm at night? In their own neighborhood?

And who determines who is a Broderick Boy? The local police.

(Talk about having the fox guarding the hen house!)

And how do they determine if you are or aren't a Broderick Boy? Well, let's see, you live in Broderick and you're brown. Basic criteria to deciding that you're a gang member.

Hello?

Can we say "profiling"?

Yes, I've driven down the main street at night and you know, funny how darn near EVERY person pulled over was brown. Even over on the "white" side of town. In fact, ESPECIALLY over on the white side of town.

Bad driving isn't color specific. And in fact, while we're at it, the meth addicts that hang out over on the corner of Jefferson and West Capitol are nearly all white. Why don't I see them being hassled by the local yokels?

Further, I have neighbors whose relatives moved over to the white side, IE the new houses. People have actually stopped and asked their kids if they belong there. Cops have followed them home and hassled them about being in that neighborhood.

Huh?

A brown child can't live over on the expensive side of town?

Dude, listen to me, bigotry and racism are alive and well in America.

I see it darn near every day. Driving while brown, DWB, is a reality in my neighborhood.

Fortunately, my children aren't driving yet. And I plan to be gone from here before my little brown son is on the road. Because the day he comes home and tells me that he's been targeted by the local police is the day that they find out what kind of mom I really am.

Pitbull comes to mind very quickly.

Yes, DWB is not cool.

Too bad the local cops, the DA, and the Yolo County Judge don't comprehend exactly how they've trampled on the rights of American citizens.

Oh, yes, the people being harassed are citizens. American citizens, born and raised right here in Broderick.

Yes, in the eyes of local law enforcement, in West Sacramento being brown is a crime.

Doubt me? Bring a brown cop in civilian clothes over here, let him get stopped a few times. Make sure he's driving a red car with a big Oakland Raider sticker on it, those are also "gang" symbols. See how he's treated by the local po-pos.

After he's been stopped a few times, let him testify about profiling.

DWB, a day in the life of Broderick.

Put the cop on the stand in his Blue uniform and see just how the local yokels harassment plays to the court.

ACLU, are you taking the hint???

Arnold Is An Idiot

Yes, I'm saying that straight up, in your face.

Arnold is an idiot.

Oh, yeah, he THINKS he's pulling this great political ploy to get California's legislators to pass a budget. Uh, huh.

He's as stupid as they come.

The State Controller has already said that state employees will be paid like always. There's not going to be a cut to the Federal minimum wage. And even if he was going to allow this, wouldn't CALIFORNIA's minimum wage be more appropriate? I'm not sure it's even legal for Arnie to think that he can lower wages past the California minimum wage law.

In any case, the Controller has this well in hand.

You see, something that isn't being trumpeted on CNN, is that many state employees are in the midst of negotiating new contracts. Oh yes. So by lowering wages, that's considered an unfair labor practice. The union is all over it already. And on top of the union grievances already filed, IF the Controller allowed our illustrious Governor to shoot himself in the foot, the price would be triple damages.

Yes, Arnold would cost the state THREE times the amount of wages not paid.

Plus the overtime down in payroll, figuring out all this mess twice, once to cut, once to reimburse the employees for the lost wages.

Arnold is an idiot.

Don't believe the hype. He thinks he's smarter, faster, better than the rest of us. He's forgotten where he came from -- or, well, maybe not. Austrians are notorious for major control issues. Maybe he's just reflecting his own upbringing.

Who knows, who cares?

The point is that he is an utter idiot who's putting our state's finances in jeopardy, deliberately, with a huge staged political ploy. Dirty politics at its worst.

Arnold, you're an idiot.

Kiss your political career goodbye.

If you ever run for office again, I'm going to be all over this like a fly on poop. I'm quite sure I won't be the only one.

Yup, Arnold is an idiot and now the star struck California voters can see the monster they've created.

Next time, my friends, vote for the guy that may have your best interests at heart. (Maybe.)

Not the guy who huffs and puffs and then tries to blow your house down...

So McCain Thinks It's OK To Mock Obama?

If McCain thinks his nasty little campaign ads are funny, he's out of his pinhead mind!

Comparing Obama to Brittney Spears and Paris Hilton?

Excuse me?

Let's take this down the low road for just a minute.

What if some Obama supporters started making fun of McCain's disabilities? His withered arm? His bouts with skin cancer (melanoma)? His cheating on his first wife? Abandoning his DISABLED first wife to marry the rich blonde with political connections? Hmmm?

Oh, is that different?

REALLY?

I think not.

I think that the current ad campaign, mocking Obama, is beyond despicable.

I hope that the American voters see through this, and see the face of the man who thinks this kind of negativity and nasty humor is acceptable behavior for a President. I hope that they see that if we vote this man in, America will be represented by a man willing to take the lowest road to the top.

I don't want that.

McCain thinks it's OK to mock Obama?

I think we're seeing the inner character of the man. Ugly from the inside out.

Take off your sunglasses and blinders folks. The mean is shining through.

McCain is showing more and more of his true colors.

Bile is not a good color for a President...