Governor's of the Gulf Coast Not Using Nat. Guard

I just found this link from a commenter at BobCesca.com. This is just stupidity in action.

From the article at CBS.com:

Gov. Bobby Jindal's message has been loud and clear, using language such as "We will only be winning this war when we're actually deploying every resource," "They (the federal government) can provide more resources" and "It's clear the resources needed to protect our coast are still not here."

But nearly two months after the governor requested - and the Department of Defense approved the use of 6,000 Louisiana National Guard troops - only a fraction - 1,053 - have actually been deployed by Jindal to fight the spill.

-snip-

As of today, the federal government has authorized a total of 17,500 National Guard troops across four Gulf states, all to be paid for by BP.

But CBS News has learned that in addition to Louisiana's 1,053 troops of 6,000, Alabama has deployed 432 troops of 3,000 available. Even fewer have been deployed in Florida - 97 troops out of 2,500 - and Mississippi - 58 troops out of 6,000.

What is going on? These GOPer Governors are all saying the Federal Government needs to do more, yet the resources the President has given them are not being used.

It's believed officials in Alabama, Florida and Mississippi and are reluctant to use more troops because their presence could hurt tourism. In hardest-hit Louisiana, however, Jindal is pointing fingers.

"Actually we asked the White House to approve the initial 6,000," Jindal said. "What they came back and said is the Coast Guard and BP had to authorize individual tasks."

But Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen, the national incident commander in charge of the government's response to the spill, said Jindal is just flat wrong.

"There is nothing standing in the governor's way from utilizing more National Guard troops," Allen said.

In fact, the Coast Guard says every request to use the National Guard has been approved, usually within a day. Now Jindal's office acknowledged to CBS News the governor has not specifically asked for more Guard troops to be deployed.

Whether it's simple confusion or the infusion of politics into the spill, the fact remains thousands of helping hands remain waiting to be used.

Why are they lying about the Guard when the Governor's are the ones responsible for utilizing them, after they have been approved by the Administration.

To me this is just another attempt to paint the President as not doing his job, at the expense of Gulf Coast residents... and politics. The GOPers want to point fingers at the President, yet here they are standing in the way of progress in cleaning up the oil.


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Just politics as usual? Or something else keeping them from allowing the Guard to help.

Dr. Jon LaPook Interviews Pres. Obama

Dr. Jon LaPook is the CBS medical correspondent. I normally don't watch the broadcast television interviews but I caught this on Huffington Post and read his write up. I was struck by his wording in that he felt it wasn't just an interview, but a conversation and that Pres. Obama was really listening to him and was curious.

I have read this from others and it is one of the things I have always admired about our president. He listens to all viewpoints and asks questions of people and learns from them. That's one of the marks of a good leader.

I hear people say that he is not forceful enough. But you know, force doesn't always have to be shown in public. Force doesn't always have to be shown as iron will, sometimes it is gentle pressure that moves things as much and more willingly than brute force.

I honestly believe our president uses gentle pressure and works behind the scenes much more than we know, much more than we see to get things done. We yell, we scream, he isn't doing enough, he isn't forceful enough, he needs to get angry, he needs to do this and that. But look at what he has done.

With the gentle pressure he is applying and has applied behind the scenes, we are now seeing the beginnings of Congressional Hearings for Torture, Hearings into the Bush Administrations Crimes, the AG is now talking about a Special Prosecutor, the Recovery Bill was passed, Lilly Ledbetter passed, SChip passed, there are signs we may have DADT & DOMA overturned soon (I know not soon enough for some, but hey at least it is getting done), we are looking at a serious Health Reform Bill in the very near future. And I know I have missed some very important stuff..

All this from someone that a lot of people have said was not experienced enough, was too young, didn't get angry enough, couldn't connect with the voters, isn't an American, isn't patriotic enough, doesn't wear a flag pin, the troops don't like him, throws a baseball like a girl, wears Mom jeans and the list could go on as to what has been thrown at him over the last few months. Just trash talk.

But, folks we have a leader. Yet, I see a lot of people saying he isn't a leader..because he doesn't come out and yell and scream like McCain. Well, I like him just the way he is and I will keep him thank you very much.

Now, just in case you didn't see the interview with Dr. LaPook, here it is so you can watch it. And if you want to read the afterthoughts the doctor had and wrote up in Huffington Post.. you can find them here.


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Walter Cronkite Has Passed

Walter Cronkite 1916 - 2009, 92 years old. He was a Missouri boy... One of the great ones. There will never be another one like him. He was once voted the "Most trusted man in America" and I can believe it.

He was the man who was seen in more homes at night than any other. Most people got their news from him. I remember hearing the words from him saying that Pres. Kennedy was dead. It wasn't true until I heard it from him.

Here is a tribute put together by CBS, I hope you enjoy it.




The White House has just released President Obama's statement on the death tonight of CBS newsman Walter Cronkite at age 92:

"For decades, Walter Cronkite was the most trusted voice in America. His rich baritone reached millions of living rooms every night, and in an industry of icons, Walter set the standard by which all others have been judged.
"He was there through wars and riots, marches and milestones, calmly telling us what we needed to know. And through it all, he never lost the integrity he gained growing up in the heartland.
"But Walter was always more than just an anchor. He was someone we could trust to guide us through the most important issues of the day; a voice of certainty in an uncertain world. He was family. He invited us to believe in him, and he never let us down. This country has lost an icon and a dear friend, and he will be truly missed."

Sunday Morning TeeVee Watching

Sunday Morning TeeVee watching...

ABC This Week features Our President...Barack Obama

CBS' "Face the Nation" - Former Illinois Attorney General (and Senate appointee) Roland Burris, Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio, and Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill.

NBC's "The Chris Matthews Show" - Panel: Clarence Page, Kathleen Parker, Norah O'Donnell, Reihan Salam. Topics: Will Obama's presidency redefine America? What does Obama inherit from his four predecessors?

CNN's "Late Edition" - Vice President Dick Cheney and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

CNN's "Fareed Zakaria GPS" - Fareed Zakaria talks about the Israel-Gaza conflict and the possible repercussions.

"Fox News Sunday" - President Bush and former President George H.W. Bush.

NBC's "Meet the Press" - Comedian and author Bill Cosby, author Alvin Poussaint, Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., and District of Columbia Mayor Adrian Fenty and former Mich. Rep. David Bonior.

Well, guess I will be watching ABC this morning. I dont' watch Meet the Press anymore since they put the Rove dancing partner in charge. Can't stand him and won't watch him. Will probably watch Fareed Zakaria on CNN, I doubt I will watch Fox because I sure don't want to watch Chris making love to the Bush family. And that is all it will be I am sure. Not sure about Late Edition....I might see what Darth Cheney has to say and if Wolf has found anything in the nether regions lately. I thought he was leaving and John King was taking over..or was that just a rumor they wanted to start. Maybe Pelosi will talk to Cheney about the torture crimes and why they didn't impeach him...lol

Update John King will start next week at 9 with his new show called State of the Union hmmm Take off of 1600 Pennsylvania...look out David Shuster..someone is coming after you..lol

I usually can't watch Face the Nation because they take it off here so the football games can be on. So will have to see if it is on or watch it later online.

What catches your eye and which do you think will be best??