"Abandoned by our own country..."

At 9:37 p.m., Tara Liloia posted "Abandoned by our own country..."

This morning on Meet the Press, host Tim Russert tried to play the part of the accusatory talking head, asking questions like, "Shouldn't the mayor of New Orleans and the governor of New Orleans bear some responsibility [for the outcome of Hurricane Katrina]?" Jefferson Parish President, Aaron Broussard countered Russert's question by recounting a horrific personal and emotional story which exemplifies the lack of quick aid to Hurricane Katrina survivors
Click for the rest.

Various links and stories of interest:

By Arianna Huffington: Are People Dying Over Here Because We're Fighting Them Over There?

In The Nation, by Katrina Vanden Heuvel
'Indifference Is a Weapon of Mass Destruction'

From the Columbus Free Press:
All Supreme Court appointments must be postponed by Harvey Wasserman

From the same author: Bush to New Orleans: Drop Dead

Diaries
Bush's Disastrous Response: A Timeline. by Rp
New Orleans paper tells Bush they're tired of lies and photo op by Sharon Jumper

We will not forget.
by: hyperbolic pants explosion

I made this because I needed to.

This is the unspeakable sadness of watching a city die. Of watching the gathered masses of our youngest, oldest, poorest, and most vulnerable, with their arms outstretched and pleading, wondering why yet another truck, boat, helicopter, and day has passed. Of the unbearable feeling of helplessness. Of the darkest feelings of shame for how far we've fallen short of our promise as a nation to lift up and care for all of our people.

I needed a way to vent, and now I'm sharing it with you. If you are moved by it, please continue to pass it on. Please host the files on your own servers if you're able (because this server will get hammered pretty hard otherwise). Just get it out there.

For anyone who didn't know this already, hyperbolic pants explosion is also known as cdmarine, and used to be a regular commenter on Blog for America.

Save the Estate Tax (w/flyer & Talking Points)
by: Malacandra

The President likes to talk about how 9/11 changed everything. So do congressional Republicans.

But it hasn't changed their thinking.

Republicans have continued to cut taxes for the wealthy, despite the new challenges we are facing as a nation since 9/11. As a result, we have record-breaking budget deficits. And the Republicans sound like a broken record... playing the same old tune: "More Tax Cuts".

The resulting massive debt will be passed on to our children... and their children.

Now they're trying to do it again. The Senate is about to vote on a permanent repeal of the estate tax, a tax that only applies to the wealthiest 2% of Americans. And nearly half of that tax is paid by the wealthiest 0.1%
(click for more)

Finally, the following is from the comments:

listener said:
UPDATE FROM JASON!
(Jason is a member of Americorps, St. Louis and a good friend of my son.)
~~~~~~
written Saturday ~

This is an update on Hurricane Katrina. As planned right now, we will leave tomorrow or Monday and I will be on a team of 7 heading to Baton Rouge, LA to aid in their Emergency Op Center.

Our team was working today with a company that is developing a badge system to track volunteers or those in need (perhaps to be used in a shelter, or at a disaster site). We have purchased this system and will be in part testing it during our time there.

When I receive more information I will do my best to let you know.

Sincerely,
Jason

To read more about what's happening within the Corporation for National and Community Service as regards Hurricane Katrina, go here.


To make a donation that will help Jason and the other members of Americorps, St. Louis, click here.