Outside

I'll be outside for the rest of the day...away from the computer.

I'm not much of a golfer, but I may be out on the course today...suffering because of work, of course.

Ticket Quotas

It has been suspected for quite a while that Metro Police, under the leadership of Big Brother Serpas, might have be pushing an illegal traffic ticket quota within the department. It looks like it might be true after all.

The Teamsters Local 327 represents about 200 Metro police officers. Now the group has told News 2 that some officers are being disciplined for not writing a certain number of tickets each month. Officials with Metro Police say traffic stops are a crucial tool in their crime-fighting tool box. But as far as ticket quotas, police officials say there are none.

The Teamsters office was empty on Thursday. But Wednesday night, Teamsters official Jesse Case says the room was full of around 50 metro police officers, all complaining about the same thing.

"We've had dozens, literally dozens, of officers approach us regarding what may be an illegal quota system," said Case. "There are dozens of officers written up, given disciplinary statements saying they're being disciplined, because they haven't written enough traffic tickets."

Traffic stops are a crucial tool in fighting crime? Then why is crime on the rise?

Here's an idea. Stop with the illegal quota system, and get the cops out of their cars so that they can interact with the community. Assign them to regular walk beats around the neighborhoods (especially where crime is higher). Engage the community.

If you want to enforce something, enforce politeness and make sure that the officers make an effort to get to know the people in their area...that is if you want crime to go down.

Remember, you are serving the public...it's not the other way around.

Marsha Blackburn for President

If anyone is going to be the first female President, it should be Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn. In response to the Tennessean's criticism of her calls for cuts in Federal pork barrel spending (to offset the cost of the Hurricane Katrina relief effort), Blackburn has penned her own editorial to the Tennessean, and she goes straight for the jugular.

I think that the following excerpt sums up my feelings exactly:

In a recent editorial, The Tennessean asked why it had taken the expense of a hurricane to make us worry about the deficit. I ask, why has it taken the expense of a hurricane to make them hear my call for reduced spending?

EXACTLY!

Go read the entire thing, and I'm serious when I say that Marsha Blackburn should start looking toward the Presidency.

More: Bill Hobbs has more.

Go Marsha Go

TN Representative Marsha Blackburn talks about cutting pork.

Let's be Blunt

It looks like Republicans have selected Rep. Roy Blunt of Missouri to "temporarily" fill the vacancy of House Majority Leader.

Truth be known (here's where I really am blunt...with no pun intended), DeLay's indictment may actually be good for the Republicans in the long run. That is *if* they do the right thing.

The Republican party has completely lost its way over the past several years and gone from a party of ideals to a party that has focused only on staying in power. That road can only lead to corruption.

Sure, there may be nothing to this indictment, sure the prosecutor may have questionable motives, but you know what? I don't care. The Republicans have to be shaken about a bit in order to make them realize that they need to get off their lazy bums and get back to their Conservative roots and make a difference in this country.

Let this be a wake-up call to Republicans in Congress. Remember...when all you do is try to stay in power, all that will happen is that you will ultimately loose it. Stop worrying about control and get back to the basics which is what got you where you are today...in the majority. Here's an idea...go back and look at the Contract with America and maybe do the things that didn't get accomplished the first-go-round (reasonable term limits might be a good one to start with). Maybe try working toward really cutting the budget and fostering smaller government (something that DeLay definitely couldn't get through his head).

This is a pivotal moment for Republicans. Don't try to attack the prosecutor...don't even try to defend DeLay. Let it work itself out in the Texas courts, and don't dare put him back in as the Majority Leader.

Just focus on the future, get back to the basics, and do the work of the people of the United States...those people that elected you. If the Republicans don't do this then they will end up right back in the minority...mark my word.

DeLay Indicted

Tom DeLay along with two others have been indicted by a Texas grand jury with conspiracy in a campaign finance scheme.

More: Story here.

Time for DeLay to step down from his leadership position. Actually, he's required to now since House Republicans came to their senses and reinstituted a rule that forces leaders to step down from their posts if they are indicted. They had earlier repealed that rule after three of DeLay's associates were indicted last November.

Drudge is reporting that Speaker Hastert will recommend that Rep. David Dreier of California step into the Majority Leader's duties.

DeLay will still keep his Congressional seat, but I think it would probably be a good idea for him to step down from that as well.

Actually, all of this is good enough reason to me for him to step down...but that's just me.

More II: DeLay says he will step down temporarily as House Majority Leader. Well...actually, he has to (see above).

Guilt by Blogroll Association

In relation to the last post, Paul Chenoweth takes on "guilt by blogroll association." Go read it.

Ok...this is getting out of hand

Ok, this is getting out of hand. I just had someone find my site by searching for "campfield AND KKK" via Google.

I think SayUncle made some good observations on this subject earlier today along with destroying this idea that Campfield was linking to racist websites.

By attempting to paint someone as a racist that isn't racist only serves to destroy that person's reputation, and that isn't cool.

He had some good points about the legislature's Black Caucus. A group that wants equality and desegregation apparently acts in a segregative manner themselves. Then, all of a sudden liberals start jumping all over Campfield and call him a racist and use misquoted text from a blog Campfield linked in order to make that false connection.

The Black Caucus should have done the better thing and offered him membership. That would go a long way in building a bridge toward a better community as well as furthering their agenda.

Instead, they pulled a Ted Kennedy and ran off of the bridge.

(For a background on Campfield and his dealing with the legislature's Black Caucus, go here).

Trip to Louisiana

As you know, I went to Louisiana this past weekend (starting Thursday night). Last Wednesday night we gathered at Hickory Hollow Baptist Church (the sponsor church) and packed all of the items into individual bags.

Most of the bags were intended for children to youth. We had lots of hygiene products as well and even stuffed animals. We packed it all up into boxes and placed it in a trailer behind an RV. Thursday night we headed off toward Hammond, Louisiana.

The damage in Hammond wasn't that bad, but there were several downed trees and a few missing roofs. After getting only a few hours of sleep, we met with the pastor of First Baptist in Hammond, Jim Lancaster.

Near his church we delivered the items to a mother's home which helps with young and expecting mothers in need. We left the items there to be distributed at a later time.

In the rush to get in and out (there was some bad weather moving through from Hurricane Rita which caused us to have to rush), I actually didn't get that many pictures. We also delivered items to a few displaced families that were staying at another shelter, and I have no pictures from that, unfortunately.

I did get a few pictures along Interstate 59 as we went over through Slidell and up through Hattiesburg. The damage was significant in these areas. Imagine miles and miles of trees bent over with half of them snapped in half like toothpicks. It was simply mind-boggling.

If you want to see all of the pictures, start here, and just keep clicking next.

It didn't seem like we did a lot, but as Jim said, every little bit helps and all of it is needed. Thanks to those who donated items. We really do appreciate it.

Bredesen: No Income Tax for Second Term

During a speech today Tennesse Governor Phil Bredesen stated that he will not seek the implementation of a state income tax if elected for a second term.

More later.

More: Story here.

Governor Bredesen says he'll not seek a state income tax if re-elected to a second term next year.

He said in a speech Monday to a civic club in Nashville that he doesn't think such a tax is warranted.

This is the first time that Bredesen has said that he will not support an income tax for his second term. Up until now he would not make such a claim.

Pork Busters

I'm sure you've heard about the Porkbusters web site over at Truth Laid Bear. It's essentially a listing of Federal government spending that people deem to be, quite simply, pork.

I'm a Conservative (everyone knows that), but the current administration, along with the Republican controlled Congress, doesn't seem to be doing anything about the spending problem which has gotten significantly worse over the last six years.

Just to show you the oblivious, arrogant nature of those in Washington, House Majority Leader Tom Delay declared just last week an "ongoing victory" for the Republicans in the war on budget fat. Some asked about cutting spending for Hurricane Katrina relief, to which his reply was, "My answer to those that want to offset the spending is sure, bring me the offsets, I'll be glad to do it. But nobody has been able to come up with any yet."

No offsets, eh? Basically, what DeLay did was to throw down the gauntlet to true Conservatives everywhere. He said, "show me the pork," and we've replied, "here it is."

However, some people tend to have a bit of a nonchalant attitude toward Federal dollars. Take for example the Nashville-to-Lebanon commuter rail project. Many opposed the project initially because of the potential cost to local coffers (and the questionable need for a commuter rail). However, when Federal funding started kicking in, it apparently became a-ok. Of course, some don't seem to realize that Federal money is taxpayer money too, and contrary to popular belief, it doesn't grow on trees.

Some just don't even see a need for cutting a lot of the Federal pork spending. Doug from Dropstones had the following to say:

...as I was looking over the projects people listed and commented on, I found myself thinking that a number of the projects actually sounded like pretty good ideas. I mean, a lot of the things people were listing were for things like public transportation and bike and pedestrian walkways - which to me, are good things, and improve quality of life for many people.

It may be cliché, but the road to hell really is paved with good intentions. Sure...many of these projects are noble or even "good," but good isn't going to get you anywhere when you're operating on a deficit the likes that is almost unprecedented in the history of mankind.

I'm not saying that all of the projects listed need to be cut. Some of that spending may save money elsewhere. However, this is a grass-roots effort to put a spotlight on where Federal money is being spent and wasted. Simply put...the Federal government is out of control when it comes to spending YOUR tax dollars. Hurricane Katrina or not, something needs to be done about it.

More: I was interviewed earlier today by News 2 regarding the Porkbusters web site. Story here.

(*Note: I'll be posting about my trip to Louisiana tomorrow)

"Killer" Dolphins

This story seems to be making a few waves (no pun intended)...

It may be the oddest tale to emerge from the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Armed dolphins, trained by the US military to shoot terrorists and pinpoint spies underwater, may be missing in the Gulf of Mexico.

Experts who have studied the US navy's cetacean training exercises claim the 36 mammals could be carrying 'toxic dart' guns. Divers and surfers risk attack, they claim, from a species considered to be among the planet's smartest. The US navy admits it has been training dolphins for military purposes, but has refused to confirm that any are missing.

Somehow, though, I don't think that these "killer" dolphins would have been kept in their holding/training areas armed. None of the facts in the story show that the dolphins would have still been "armed," but overall it looks more like an attempt to make a splash with some good, old-fashioned sensational journalism.

On the other hand, if they are armed...well...look out.

For some reason the quote from Bill Murray in Steve Zissou's The Life Aquatic comes to mind: "Son of a b***, I’m sick of those dolphins."

Panhandlers - A Quick Primer

The (formerly) Homeless Guy has a very good post on panhandlers. He says to not give panhandlers money. However, he offers some excellent ways that you can help homeless people out without having to give them money which may otherwise be spent on alcohol or drugs.

It's definitely some great advice to follow...especially if you're involved with a church and are looking at ways to help out in the community.

Head over and read it (it starts on the fourth paragraph).

(via NiT)

Sharon Cobb

Keep Sharon Cobb in your prayers as she undergoes surgery today.

Big Spenders

Yep...

Heading Out

I'm heading out in a few minutes to go down to Hammond, Louisiana (details here). Hopefully Rita won't cause us too much trouble. I'll be back on Sunday or Monday with pictures and updates.

More Pictures

I uploaded some more pictures to Flickr yesterday. Several I took of a car for a friend (one of which went on his wall) along with a few more from St. Louis.

Check them all out. The new ones go back a couple of pages so keep on clicking if you so desire.

Kleinheider - 1 Scene - 0

Ouch.

Simon Wiesenthal (and slow blogging admitted)

I meant to mention the passing of Simon Wiesenthal yesterday, but I've been so busy over the past week or so that I haven't had a chance to sit down and write much about anything. Yes, this is me admitting I've been slow for the past couple of weeks. I have a job and work for a living, and believe it or not, I also have a social life (yes, I know...it's a shocker).

Anyway...I digress. If you do get a chance, go over to Sharon Cobb's blog to see her post on Simon Wiesenthal. It's definitely a good read.

Council Shelves Ethics Bill

By a voice vote last night, Nashville's Metro Council has decided to shelve an ethics bill after much discussion as well as having at least one questionable amendment added that could have essentially watered it down. That amendment would have allowed the council itself to appoint members of the board meant to enforce the ethics rules. This amendment was sponsored by Councilman Randy Foster (and approved by a majority of council members, of course).

In the end, though, it doesn't matter. Ethics reform in the Metro Council may be dead for the time being (although several claim it's not dead yet). I say let the free meals continue! You wouldn't want the Council to starve, I suppose.

Purcell Names Non-US Citizen to Commission

Just a few days ago Metro Council members were questioning the fact that there are so many leadership positions in Metro filled by people who aren't living in the Metro area.

Mayor Purcell, apparently trying to correct this, appointed Yuri Cunza, president of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, to the Metro Charter Revision Commission. Sure, Cunza may live in Nashville, but there is one minor problem...he's not a U.S. citizen.

Many are asking the question, if he can't vote (legally), then why is he on a commission to help rewrite the Metro Charter?

Only after an uproar (I have learned) the nomination was shelved. I'm sure it's only temporary...or at least until Purcell can find another position to name Cunza to.

Tax Collections

State tax collections top estimates...yet again. No surprise really.

Now watch them spend it all...yet again. No surprise really.

New Federal Courthouse

Plans were unveiled last week for a new downtown Federal Courthouse to be built on Church Street replacing the Federal Courthouse currently on Broadway. The cost for the new courthouse would be $107 million to Federal taxpayers, and that's probably not including the money spent on preliminary planning. The funds haven't been approved by Congress as of yet, but I'm sure that there will be no problem in getting it by Tom "no fat left to cut" DeLay.

Sure, the old courthouse isn't the most beautiful building around (ok, it's ugly), but how is it not serving the current needs of the Federal courts here in Nashville? Maybe the Federal government should keep that $107 million and put it toward other things.

Oh, and they should also keep their our money being spent for the sure-to-be doomed Nashville to Lebanon commuter rail...aka "The Pork Express."

Tongue-in-cheek Monday

Metro homicide rate rises, Serpas increases traffic enforcement.

Ford Ford Ford

Heh...from Bob Krumm:

...the only thing worse for Harold Ford, Jr. than a Ford in the state senate, is a Ford in the state senate who, perception has it, got their by stealing an election.

Memphis, 12 Votes, and a Ford...smells like fraud

Ophelia Ford, sister of former state Senator John Ford, won the special election in Memphis last night...by 12 votes...

The sister of John Ford won a special election Thursday to succeed the former state senator, who resigned in May after his indictment on federal bribery and extortion charges.

But Ophelia Ford's razor-thin margin of victory _ 12 votes _ prompted her opponent to immediately say he will challenge the count.

There should be two main hallmarks in Tennessee to determine if there has been any election fraud during an: 1) If the vote takes place in Memphis, and 2) If a Ford is in the race. Of course, winning by a mere 12 votes adds to the suspicion.

This should be interesting to watch.

(It should be noted that in Nashville, election fraud chances go up if the school board will benefit from a vote, but the likelihood of dead people voting isn't as high)

More: There are also charges that a voting machine cartridge was missing from one of the precincts. From TeapGOP:

Ward said, "Since no official winner has been determined and the suspicious loss of a voting machine cartridge in the very last precinct creates at best unreliable results with the margin of twelve, the State Senate should step in immediately and remove the cloud of doubt over this tainted election."

Ward was referring to a troubling development at one heavily Democrat precinct where Roland campaign staffers reported that precinct was one of the few where no poll watchers were present. At the conclusion of the electioning, polling location officers only turned in two of the three voting machine cartridges that tallied the votes with no verifiable paper trail.

Interesting indeed.

Back from St. Louis

I got back into town yesterday afternoon from St. Louis. I uploaded a few pictures to Flickr of St. Louis Grand Central Station (where I stayed) before my battery died in the camera. Head over and see a few of them (scroll on down).

The Vote is In

Turnout was low, but I think that the message was loud and clear...

70.1 percent - 36,090 against
29.9 percent - 15,389 for

Now...about those illegal activities undertaken by the Metro school administrators in attempting to push this tax. Action needs to be taken right away against those that used Metro resources to campaign for this vote. If action is not taken then they will only continue the same tactics next time around without even a second thought.

As I said yesterday, heads should roll.

By the way...a ton of thanks goes out to Nathan Moore for doing so much in fighting this thing.

Taxpayers Not Buying BS

It seems that the taxpayers of Davidson County are not leaning in favor of the sales tax increase:

The anti-tax-increase side looked poised to win in Metro Nashville's sales-tax referendum, having taken a 2-to-1 lead with 87% of all precincts reporting.

There were 13,403 votes in favor of the increase, or about 30% of the votes tallied, and 31,381 against it, which is roughly 70% of the balloting, election officials said around 8:40 p.m. today.

That total included early and paper ballots and 150 of Davidson County’s 172 precincts.

Light Blogging - Confirmation Hearings

As noted last night, I am out of town today and tomorrow, but I will try to post a few things here and there.

For those interested in John Roberts' confirmation hearings, SCOTUSBlog has a nice minute-by-minute live-blog going.

One of the more humorous things, and perhaps I read it completely wrong, but at first reading, it looks like a great jab at the senile senior senators questioning him...

3:15 - Kohl asks if there are examples of positions Roberts no longer believes in as he has grown older and matured. Roberts says term limits is one example.

Of course, he could have been saying he's against it now when before he was for it, but it struck me as funny as a friend had said earlier today that he thinks that it's sad that many of those Senators had been in office for so long.

Flyer Update

Tennessean story here on the flyers sent out to Metro schools yesterday promoting the sales tax increase (reported here yesterday).

A member of Nashville Tomorrow (the pro-tax group) claimed the following: "This was a mailing that we did design, and parents were the ones who were responsible for getting those out. So no Metro employees were involved in any distribution of that."

Too bad that the flyers were delivered to schools by someone wearing a Metro I.D. and were sitting in Metro school boxes ready to be distributed to students. Yeah...um...sounds like "no Metro employees were in involved" to me.

Metro Schools' Illegal Activities

Be sure to watch News Channel 5 tonight at 10 and see the front page of the Tennessean tomorrow for information related to the post below as well as even more info regarding Metro Schools' illegal activities surrounding the half-cent sales tax increase.

On another note, I will be traveling out of town tomorrow morning, but I will try to check in a few times...oh, and I will be voting before I leave.

Update: So far News Channel 5 has not done anything regarding the issues being raised surrounding Metro Schools' activities. I know for a fact that they received the information as well physically getting copies of the flyers posted below. They did run a very short blurb on the tax vote tomorrow, but it was well after the top stories. It looks like they may not even mention anything else.

If they don't run it tonight, you can see how mediums such as the internet can be a lot more timely and informative than ye olde main stream media outlets.

At least the Tennessean will be running it...a day later.

Schools/Pedro Pushing Half-Cent Sales Tax Increase

Aka...Vote for Pedro, Part Duh.

The tactics that are being used inside Metro Schools to push the half-cent sales tax increase vote tomorrow are becoming quite questionable.

I've received information on flyers that were delivered to several area schools by Metro employees promoting the tax as well as an email sent out to Metro school teachers regarding those flyers and the potential legal ramifications.

Creative Liberty (who was unable to post from school) was questioned by their principal if they would be voting on Tuesday, and when CL responded that he would not be supporting it, the principal said that Metro School Director Pedro Garcia would be "livid" if he found out about his lack of support. According to the principal, it was Pedro's "baby" and he had been pushing it quite strongly at all of the principal meetings.

Here you see the flyers that were delievered to the Metro schools today:

Now, below is an email that was sent out to Metro Schools regarding these flyers:

Importance: High

We have received several calls in the Public Information Office this morning regarding flyers that have been distributed to schools to be sent home with students. These flyers urge parents to vote for the sales tax increase in tomorrow’s election.

Schools may not distribute campaign/election materials. Please do not send this information home with your students.

Thanks for your help.

Olivia Brown
MNPS Public Information Office

Well...after spending lots of money on printing these professional looking flyers (paid for by NashvilleTomorrow.com, but with the delivery of these to schools by Metro Employees ON Metro time makes me question just how close the school system is with NashvilleTomorrow) as well as the time in delivering them to each school, they suddenly realize that it wouldn't be legal. Of course, that hasn't stopped principals from pushing the tax at meetings with parents and open houses, now has it?

It's obvious that the Oberführer of Education does not like dissent in his ranks and does not care about legalities when it comes to pushing his "baby" tax increase...all of this under the watchful eye of Mayor Purcell. Are they afraid that it can't pass on its merits alone without resorting to questionable methods?

More: Nathan Moore takes on the Tennessean's unsigned editorial today pushing the sales-tax increase while taking pot shots at those that don't support it.

More II: More info from CreativeLiberty via email:

Today in the school mail there were several flyers delivered with the intentions for them to be sent home with all the students. Nashville Tomorrow is the group that has been heading up this Tax Increase Campaign and has been working in tandem with The Board of Education / Pedro Garcia.

A Metro employee wearing a Metro I.D. distributed the flyers. Pedro Garcia or the Board of Education sent the flyers out. After receiving several calls they decided to trash the idea…too late. It’s possible that Nashville Tomorrow decided to go to every school in Metro and deliver flyers on their own. Although, I don’t think that is the case. I think Garcia and the Board tried one last time to ram this down the throats of the parents and teachers by using children to deliver them. Also, this isn’t the first time Garcia has tried to politic his agenda through the school system. The email is below. It appears that the Board is in C.Y.A. mode. If the Board is not at fault then Olivia Brown is the glimmer of common sense that Metro needs.

More III: Don't forget about the illegal email that Pedro Garcia sent to all the schools requesting volunteers for the SEUI phone bank making calls in support of the sales tax increase.

All of this, plus more, should be investigated by the Metro Election Commission immediately. In other words, heads should roll.

Supreme Court Nominee Hearings

For those of you who would like to see lots of political grandstanding and attempts to establish a litmus test for the Supreme Court nominee, you can see all of it right here.

As Ted Kennedy said, the Senate must determine whether Roberts "has demonstrated a commitment to the constitutional principles that have been so vital in advancing fairness, decency and equal opportunity in our society."

Too bad Kennedy doesn't really understand what "constitutional principles" are really about.

Nagin Now Blames Blanco

Ouch...

After reviewing the crisis with Gov. Blanco, Bush summoned Nagin for a private chat - where, according to Nagin, Bush explained: "Mr. Mayor, I offered two options to the governor. I said . . . I was ready to move today. The governor said she needed 24 hours to make a decision."

Reacting to the governor's footdragging, Nagin lamented: "It would have been great if we could have left Air Force One, walked outside, and told the world that we had this all worked out."

"It didn't happen, and more people died."

Here's another version of the story

Everywhere else there are crickets.

Going to Louisiana

The town that I will be heading to on September 23rd is Hammond, LA. I along with a couple of other people will be taking a trailer or two down with supplies to be distributed out of First Baptist Church in Hammond. Supplies will include hygiene products, insect repellent, non-perishable snack items, coloring books, children's Bibles, baby food, diapers, toys and stuffed animals. The items of the most need right now are diapers and baby food.

This is being sponsored by the Walk Ministries in Nashville and headed up by my friend Mark Lancaster whose brother, Jim Lancaster, is the pastor of First Baptist in Hammond.

According to Jim, the roof of their church was blown off, but they are currently working on temporarily fixing it so that they can take in refugees from New Orleans. Other churches in the area are filled up, and more and more people are coming in daily.

If you'd like to make a donation, you can make a check out to Walk Ministries and send it to:

Walk Ministries
PO Box 148635
Nashville, TN 37214

If you'd like to donate items (especially baby food or diapers or even canned goods), I will try to get information on where you can bring those items or I can pick them up...just email me at blake -at- nashvillefiles.com.

As they told us...Anything and everything will help.

More: Several people have offered clothing. We aren't taking clothing on this particular trip, but if you do want to donate clothing, there is a group that will be delivering clothing out of Franklin. Here are the details:

Clothing is desperately needed for the thousands who have lost everything. Go through your closets and sort out the clothes you are not wearing, bag them, and bring them to Golf House Tennessee, 400 Franklin Rd., Franklin, TN, today (9/6), tomorrow (9/7) or Thursday, September (9/8) between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm. Outback Steakhouse's trucks will then transport the clothing to New Orleans or Baton Rouge. The Tennessee Golf Foundation (a 501(c)3 corporation) will give you a receipt for your donation. Directions.

Awesome

Friggin' awesome.

More Pictures

More recent pictures from New Orleans taken Sunday. Pictures from the French Quarter, Super Dome, and Convention Center as well as all around downtown. Just keep scrolling and clicking.

I will actually be heading down to Louisiana just north of Lake Pontchartrain to deliver packages for children on September 23rd. More details on that later.

Update: Looks like my Land Rover guy in New Orleans made it ok.

Todaybor Day

Light blogging today...because todaybor day is Labor Day.

What?

What in the world is Bush thinking nominating John Roberts as the Chief Justice?

Is it about expediency? SCOTUSBlog has more.

More Relief Efforts

Glenn Dean has info on dropping off items at Brentwood Baptist Church.

Troops Moving In

From downtown New Orleans....

12:00 pm
Here Come the Troops

Just saw 2 CH-53E Super Stallion Helicopters pass by overhead, and now on cam you can see what looks like a whole batallion of troops roll toward the Convention Center.

12:19 pm
Finally!

This convoy coming down the street is loaded with supplies. I see MREs and water and I assume ice.

Ok, so the troops used to restore order went in first and now the supplies are coming for orderly distribution (I hope).

Hope is on the way for the people at the Convention Center. Finally.

More pictures here.

More:

Pictures from downtown also here, here, and here.

To Jesse Jackson

This is written to Jesse Jackson from somebody who is currently in the heart of New Orleans (aka...the s***) and has been there all along:

Respectfully, I submit that you should shut the hell up. Looting and lawlessness IS the problem. The National Guard choppers are BEING SHOT AT. The NOPD are BEING SHOT AT. You want to focus on the levee? So do they, but check this out: THEY CAN'T UNTIL THE MOB STOPS ATTACKING THE RESCUE OPERATION.

I know you're looking at this situation with concern for the racial implications of the deterioration of civilization out here, but this is bigger than whether people are going to be racists after this is over. This is about rescuing the masses i.e. life and death.

I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt and blame your stupid comments on your lack of knowledge of the situation. Don't prove me a fool for doing so.

Something TN can afford to do

Something Tennessee can probably afford to do:

Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue said he will sign an executive order Friday to suspend state motor fuel taxes through the end of September to "relieve some of the financial burden" on consumers in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

Shoot to Kill Order Given by Governor

"They have M-16s and they are locked and loaded."

Story here.

Hindsight is 20/20

Via Donald Sensing comes a good article over at Free Will.

Relief Efforts

Many you have already seen this, but Glenn Reynolds is keeping an updated list of charities that are helping out with the Hurricane Katrina relief effort.

Head over there now.

From bad to worse

People whined and moaned about how we should have understood the reasoning behind the looters that ransacked jewelry stores, Wal-Marts (and we all know Wal-Mart is evil), etc. We should apparently just let them be...let them do as they pleased. Sure...they're desperate for that big-screen tv or the big gold chains. Yeah...the roving bandits hijacking vehicles and attacking police officers are just acting out against their oppressors (let me be clear that I'm not talking about necessary food supplies here).

Yesterday I wondered if the people understood that there was a direct correlation between regaining civil order and saving lives. When I talked about gaining civil order, I was talking about using whatever means are necessary to stop the threats. In a time such as this, when society breaks down in an area, there's only one language that's understood...and it begins at the end of a barrel. I make no apologies for my words because you are seeing the harsh reality of life outside of reason and societal order.

Police are having to deal with the problem now taking much needed resources away from the rescue efforts. Helicopters are being shot at forcing rescue efforts to halt at the Superdome. Why? Because the problem wasn't dealt with as it should have been from the very beginning, and it has now escalated to the point that it is costing lives...just as I said.

Get over yourselves and face reality. It's not pretty. It never has been, and it never will be. You can make yourselves think that we are such an enlightened society that violence is never necessary. You think that we should try to understand criminal elements, but you do so at your own peril and at the cost of innocent lives. Then, when things go from bad to worse, you blame the ones that told you the truth. True to form...true to form.

More: SayUncle asked a good question yesterday...semi-related:

So, for all you anti-gunnies out there: what do you do when the system breaks down, there is neither law nor order, and your protection is up to you?

I don't know...maybe some love and understanding might help you out there.

More II: Ted Frank speaks his mind:

I fully acknowledge that shooting looters is an inappropriately disproportionate response if one views looting as mere larceny. But one doesn't shoot looters to protect property, one does so to protect order. Somebody is going to suffer unjustly when society breaks down. I don't understand why Muller thinks it preferable for the law-abiding citizens to be the cost-bearers. History has shown repeatedly that the way to stop an anarchic riot is an early display of substantial force.

Exactly.

(ht: Instapundit)

More III: Nathan Moore is keeping a list of what he calls the "Pro-Looter Lobby."

Also, here's another story for the "pro-looter lobby" to make excuses for.