new orleans: we are not ok

Image courtesy Suspect Device: The Blog

we came, we saw, we cried, we left

My mother used to refer to really awful things as "a crying shame." What has happened in New Orleans since Katrina hit two years ago is the epitome of a crying shame. The ever brilliant Robert Greenwald provides this clip urging us to support Senator Dodd's Gulf Coast Recovery Bill which is in congress right now.



If Katrina affected you as it did me, the worst thing was watching the suffering of the people of New Orleans in complete helplessness while the most government of the most powerful nation on earth did nothing. Go to When the Saints Go Marching In to sign the petition supporting the bill. As Greenwald says, Psssst, do something!

Thanks to Dusty at Sirens for the kick in the pants.

CBS v. whitehouse

CBS reports on the Whitehouse picnic this way:

"You all enjoy yourself," said President Bush, who ambled out on the lawn with first lady Laura Bush to greet his guests, including many of his longtime political adversaries.

"Make sure you pick up all the trash after it's over," he joked just before Kermit Ruffins and the Barbecue Swingers struck up a rendition of "When the Saints Go Marching in."

The Whitehouse website reports this:

I want to thank our Chef, Paul Prudhomme, from New Orleans, Louisiana -- one of the great chefs in America. Thanks for coming, Paul. (Applause.) I thank Tony Snow and his bunch of, well, mediocre musicians -- (laughter) -- no, great musicians. Beats Workin, thanks for coming. (Applause.) Kermit, come up here. Kermit, we're proud to have you.

MR. RUFFINS: Well, thanks for having us.

THE PRESIDENT: Kermit Ruffins and the Barbeque Swingers, right out of New Orleans, Louisiana. (Applause.)

MR. RUFFINS: Thank you. Thanks for having us. We're glad to be here.

THE PRESIDENT: Proud you're here. Thanks for coming. You all enjoy yourself. Make sure you pick up all the trash after it's over. (Laughter.)

God bless you, and may God bless America. Thanks for coming. (Applause.)

In the Whitehouse version, George Bush looks like a racist asshole, for telling the African-American musicians to "pick up all the trash after it's over." CBS's version gives it a different spin, one which puts Bush in a better light. Good grief.

you black folks from new orleans

Be sure to pick up all this trash we're making. Good Lord, just when it seems he could not expose himself as a bigger buffoon than he already has, our racist in chief:

Congress joined the Bush Administration for a nice little barbecue on the South Lawn last night. The theme was Mardi Gras, so everybody could enjoy memories of New Orleans being destroyed by the Bush Administration and then pretty much left in that same condition years later.

Famous NOLA chef Paul Prudhomme catered the picnic and New Orleans jazz band Kermit Ruffins and the Barbeque Swingers played Dixieland.

And then Bush told the black musicians to clean up after the politicians. (From Wonkette)

THE PRESIDENT: Kermit Ruffins and the Barbeque Swingers, right out of New Orleans, Louisiana. (Applause.)

MR. RUFFINS: Thank you. Thanks for having us. We’re glad to be here.

THE PRESIDENT: Proud you’re here. Thanks for coming. You all enjoy yourself. Make sure you pick up all the trash after it’s over. (Laughter.) (From www.WhiteHouse.gov)

From Wonkette, George Bush Would Like the Negroes to Clean Up, by way of Standard Newswire and the White House official website.

i fell in love with vidal sassoon

Last night's Shear Genius was genius. But the best thing about it was seeing Vidal Sassoon who was entirely charming. Check out his website devoted to helping the people of New Orleans recover. Vidal = Angel. Who knew?