Help me find the words (And facts)

[capri0mni]

Had a thought this morning: Along with (or instead of) donating to your favorite charity of choice for Katrina relief, Write to the your Representative and Senators, and ask them to formally reprimand President Bush for his lack of leadership in this crisis. If you can't afford a stamp, call -- their offices have toll-free numbers.

That's what I am planning to do. But I want to make it as concise, accurate and pointed as possible, and if I fire off something right this minute, I'm afraid it will just be a jumble of rage, invection and rumor, and I'd come across as a raving lunatic.

So I'll be working on a draft, today, and researching via Google, looking for the answers to the following questions:

• Exactly how much money was diverted from levee repair to pay for the war in Iraq (I've read that he proposed cutting it down to 20%, but what was the final number, really)?



• Exactly how many Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama National Guard soldiers are in Iraq, right now, and how big a precentage of the total forces is that?



• Did anyone on his staff even bother to tell him that the Governer of Louisiana ordered a mandatory evacuation of New Orleans by Saturday (and I want to double check the day that evacuation was ordered -- I think it was Thursday)? And if so, has he given any answer as to why he stayed on his ranch so long (I've forgotten already -- did he finally move his butt back to Washington on Tuesday)?



• And, finally, WTF is FEMA doing, anyway? Has their budget and/or training been cut back, too, in favor of the war in Iraq (I bet it has, but I want to be sure, before I make that accusation)?

When I get a draft together, I will post it here to be beta'd. Once we get something hammered out, please feel free to copy it and pass it on. The more complaints our representatives in DC get, the more likely they are to pay attention. It's one thing to bitch to each other about how bad Bush is, but it's more effective to bitch to people who have the power to vote against him directly.

:::Sigh::: And in 9 days, I bet the White House will start dragging out the death tolls from that terrorist attack 4 years ago. I also fear that the death toll in the Gulf Coast cities will far exceed that, once all the bodies are counted.

Comments

[samantha2074.livejournal.com]

Here's a link to some highly partisan information on FEMA that's been circulating around. Hopefully it will give you a place to start.

[capriuni.livejournal.com]

Thanks. I've got to start somewhere...

I hope through that link, I'll find some non-or-less-patisan info, though. Because although this is a time for politics, I fear we have to speak as if it's not, in order to be listened to... especially by the Congressman from my district -- he doesn't represent *me* by a long shot (big Bush supporter), but he's the one speaking for me, anyway.

[lizziebelle.livejournal.com]

That's a really good idea. And it's something to do for the folks who don't have the money to contribute.

Each time he screw up, I keep hoping that *this* will be the thing that brings him down. People need to see that they've been hoodwinked.

[capriuni.livejournal.com]

it's something to do for the folks who don't have the money to contribute

Or who are too angry at the Powers That Be to want to contribute -- there are a couple of people on my f'list who feel that way, and I'm certain they are not alone.

[stellie.livejournal.com]

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/article310195.ece

http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=20050903211238423