Write your Congressmen and Senator.... now is the time....

We have to let our representatives know that what has happened in the Gulf is absolutely unacceptable. Here is what I wrote to Carl Levin and Dave Camp(r).

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Mr. Camp,

I will make this as short as possible, however I am very upset.

As a US Citizen and a constituent of yours I want some answers.

First, why has this disaster been handled so poorly? I expect you will be asking the right questions and demanding answers from the ones that are responsible for all this incompetence.

Doesn't the Homeland Security department have the responsibility to react to a national emergency in an efficient and timely manner? What did we create this department for? Why has the budget for dealing with such disasters been drastically cut? Why was the responsibility for shoring up the dikes around New Orleans cut? Why was the Army Corps of Engineers removed from this responsibility and the job given to a private company with a fraction of the budget necessary to do the job?

Why are all the National Guard troops in Iraq? They NEED to be HERE!!

Why is Fema not using the help from the city of Chicago when Mayor Daley offered, police officers, fire trucks, rescue teams and supplies? He offered them BEFORE the hurricane and they are STILL waiting for the word to send the help. We need answers now!

I expect you to do your duty as an elected representative to find the answers and do the right thing because it is the right thing to do... not because someone is a Republican or a Democrat! Heads should roll over the incompetence of the those running this effort. Start doing your job and demand answers so we can get this country back on the right track.

A little less worry about gay marriages and whether you can put a statue of the ten commandments on state or federal land and more worry about the real national security issues that we face. A little less with the "terrorist" propaganda and more time and money spent on real domestic issues like global warming and creating more jobs in Michigan.

You have chosen to support this President and now look what you all have created. This is a national disgrace and I will be voting in the next election. I hope with your actions I can say I voted for you.

From a VERY angry constituent

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Senator Levin,

I will make this short as possible..... but I am VERY angry........

The response to the disaster in the Gulf is totally unacceptable. As a citizen of the United States, I am appalled at the way this catastrophe has been managed. I expect a full investigation into the reasons our HOMELAND SECURITY and FEMA haven't used the money they have been allocated to be better prepared for such emergencies. If this isn't a Homeland Security issue forgive me.... this administration is kinda funny when it defines responsibilities. However, heads should roll for those responsible for this sham of a rescue effort.

How is it that Florida can have six hurricanes in one year with nary a complaint from those affected...and now this.....?

I know its a long article...but a Baltimore Newspaper from Sept of 2004 explains how, because of the election year the response was quick and effective during the onslaught of hurricanes last year...Tell me this isn't so.... Do red and blue states get different treatment from our government? If so... Michiganders should be worried.

The article was named... "A Disaster Waiting to Happen."

http://www.citypaper.com/news/story.asp?id=9166

.Many preparedness programs were cut or eliminated that would have helped alleviate suffering after a natural disaster. Funds have been cut in just about all areas of emergency relief except "Terrorism".
.
I need to know why this was allowed to happen and what are you going to do about it?

I need to know why the funding to shore up the dikes around New Orleans was cut drastically. And instead of the using the Army Corp of Engineers to do the job with around $70 million, a private firm was contracted to do it with about a half a million? A fraction of what was needed. Our priorities are all wrong. Its time to change direction.
I want people held accountable for the incompetent decisions that have been made leading up to this disaster.
Mr. Levin... I have the utmost respect for you and everything you have done for our state and our country. I have stood up at attention while you walked by me during parades that you were in to show my respect for all you have done for us.. I consider you one of the few politicians that I feel I can trust and count on.
Your duty to your constituents and to your country is to stop this madness.

Give the USA back to its citizens.

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...he's a member of the Senate Committee for Homeland Security, Oversight Subcommittee

Translated: A full investigation of this mess will likely be his baby

I love Carl. Got to meet him in high school and have had a sort of quasi-crush on him ever since (yes, I'm a bit of a nerd)

In any case, give him a call

Phone (202) 224-6221
Fax (202) 224-1388
8:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

He's a real winner. :sarcasm:

I worked actively with Mike Huckleberry to unseat Camp. I would never in a million years vote the the jerk. But... if David Brooks has seen the light on babybush.... there is hope that more will....

just about the same thing to Russ Feingold and Ron Kind. I have told them that the Department of Homeland Security is a joke, and where the hell is the accountability for that agency?
I also know that Dems have wisely held their fire (unless they are in the affected states) as they do not want to be seen as rushing out to use this as political fodder... but it will become political ammo soon. At least I am praying it will.

I agree... now is not the time for Democratic leaders to lynch those that were responsible. Already, I heard on NPR a California repug stating that Democrats are "politicizing" this tragedy. I just about drove off the road when I heard this. There is nothing political about holding those responsible for this mess accountable. Boy it pissed me off.

There are Democrats and Republicans on the Homeland Security Committees in both the House and Senate so both parties are responsible.

However, the Republicans are more responsible for being affiliated with this piece of shit administration.

Sorry for the swearing, I used to strive for eloquence, but now I'm too pissed.

You are correct both Dems and Repugs are responsible...but..

repugs control both houses and its this pResident that has diverted all the funds to his war effort.

However, I don't remember anybody stirring a big debate on DHS and FEMA leaving out evacuation procedures/requirements.

my guy, Russ Feingold voted NO on the Iraq war... and I know if he is anywhere near this committee, he will be a tenacious bulldog on finding out who is to blame.

Sorry, just needed to brag up Russ a bit.

wrote Sen Clinton asking if she could send Pres. Clinton to manage/oversee correcting this mess, and if not, then Pres. Gore would be fine.

Pres. Clinton would be a great man to head the effort. However... I was happy to see that James Lee Witt was asked by the Gov of LA to help with relief efforts.

Dear Senator Feingold:

In the past 5 years I have watched friends lose their jobs to downsizing, a close friends eyes fill with fear as she worries over the safety of her son in Iraq, and have seen the extreme right try to impose their view of morality on the entire nation. I have seen our civil liberties slowly eroding, the world turning against us, and words like tolerance and diversity morphed into symbols of weakness. I have heard phrases like "personal accountability" preached from corrupt politicians who never answer for their misdeeds and have watched cronyism and incompetence subvert the will of the people. But watching thousands upon thousands of the poor and disenfranchised suffer live on TV, without food, water or hope has done what all of the other egregious behavior has not; it has made me ashamed of my country.

I trust you, Senator Feingold to call for accountability and to ask the hard questions. I know you will do your job as a public servant and demand answers. I beg you to speak on behalf of the poor and the powerless as you have done so many times before.

Thank You For Your Integrity and Service,
xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Oshkosh WI 54901

I emailed mine and don't have a copy to share, but I said many of the same things. Russ is a good man.

One person at a time.... but we need thousands of us to do the same..... :toast:

(877) 762-8762

He's the one who took on ENRON for God's sake!!

God has blessed Michigan with two things...Carl Levin and John Conyers...