I just got off the phone with my state and federal Representatives. My state rep called me himself.
The RUMORS – and per our elected representatives, they are just rumors, unconfirmed by NEMA, MEMA or anyone else – are that two planeloads of people from New Orleans are expected to land at 1:30 today and after midnight at Camp Edwards.
Note that these are people DIRECTLY FROM NEW ORLEANS, not from the relo centers in Texas.
In other words, these are the “holdouts” who have refused to leave the city until they were forced out, in some cases, at gunpoint.
And More…
Our state rep, whom I adore, must keep the same 5 to 9 hours I do: he’s already responded to an email I sent this morning, and he’s got it right: the ongoing mismanagement of the Katrina victims is, “a mess”.
To further erode whatever limited confidence one has in government at this point, he also admitted to having “the same questions” that I do.
And this is over FOUR DAYS after the announcement was made that 2,500 people would be relocated to this area.
On Hold
Well, it appears that the Romney for President/Thumb Your Nose at BRAC plan to relocate 2,500 people to Camp Edwards on the Upper Cape has been postponed.
Seems that the folks who were to be shoved 1,800 miles from home, jobs and families were smart enough to figure out that a semi-permanent exile just in time for a Cape Cod fall and winter might not be in their best interests.
Summer’s Gone
It’s the day after Labor Day, 55 degrees and the Mashpee kids are going back to school.
My neighbor across the street had a blow-out party this past weekend, the same day as the annual Falmouth “Pops Goes the Summer” concert and fireworks.
Expensive, but What a Great Product
I wash the windows in my house every 3 years or so, whether they need them or not.
Win Some, Lose Some
Well, I was WAY off in my prediction that Bush would nominate Scalia for Chief Justice.
But two out of three ain’t bad: thanks to Peter for this little tidbit about the only company in the world that can repair a roof or remove debris.
The third prediction (so far) that came true: Bush did get a bounce in popularity for his fake “handling” of the Katrina aftermath.
So, I’ve Started a School….
When I was a kid, maybe 17, I wanted to start a school. When I was an even littler kid, I wanted to be a teacher.
I got to teach for one semester at the University of California/Berkeley, a night class in Employee Benefits. Some students loved the class, some hated it, and I guess that’s about par for the course.
Otis and Katrina
It was announced yesterday that 2,500 evacuees from the Houston Astrodome and the San Antonio Alamodrome will be relocated to Otis Air Force Base.
Some of these people may chose to stay in Massachusetts when the 30-60 day “Operation Helping Hand” ends. (Note: later reports are that the “guests” will be staying until March.)
The S-Factor
As I posted a day or two ago, I’m waiting for a couple of things to happen, post-Katrina:
– An announcement naming one or more Halliburton subsidiaries as sole source contractors for rebuilding New Orleans (like Iraq, the argument will be made that no other company on earth can do the job) and
– An uptick in Bush’s popularity rating because people think his hugs, kisses and patronizing comments to photogenic Hurricane victims looked “Presidential” or “sincere” or “Godly” (please forgive me, God).
Furthermore, I predict that Congress will, in fact, vote to keep the repeal of the Estate Tax permanent; that the heads of Homeland Security and FEMA will receive some kind of White House award or recognition, like the Medal of Freedom; and that Antonin Scalia will be named Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
Good For You, Kanye West
And shame, SHAME on the toadies at NBC – including that self-righteous apologist prig, Matt Lauer – for cutting off Kanye’s emotional, anti-Bush speech during last night’s “Concert for Hurricane Relief”.