What party will you be voting for in the next election? Things I have noticed while watching media coverage of the recent hurricanes.
1.
Texas: Productive industrious state run by Republicans.
Louisiana: Government dependent welfare state run by Democrats.
2.
Texas: Residents take responsibility to protect and evacuate themselves
Louisiana: Residents wait for government to protect and evacuate them.
3.
Texas: Local and state officials take responsibility for protecting their citizens and property.
Louisiana: Local and state officials blame federal government for not protecting their citizens and property.
4.
Texas: Command and control remains in place to preserve order.
Louisiana: Command and control collapses allowing lawlessness.
5.
Texas: Law enforcement officers remain on duty to protect city.
Louisiana: Law enforcement officers desert their posts to protect themselves.
6.
Texas: Local police watch for looting.
Louisiana: Local police participate in looting.
7.
Texas: Law and order remains in control, 8 looters tried it, 8 looters arrested.
Louisiana: Anarchy and lawlessness breaks out, looters take over city, no arrests, criminals with guns have to be shot by federal troops.
8.
Texas: Considerable damage caused by hurricane.
Louisiana: Considerable damage caused by looters.
9.
Texas: Flood barriers hold preventing cities from flooding.
Louisiana: Flood barriers fail due to lack of maintenance allowing city to flood.
10.
Texas: Orderly evacuation away from threatened areas, few remain.
Louisiana: 25,000 fail to evacuate, are relocated to another flooded area.
11.
Texas: Citizens evacuate with personal 3 day supply of food and water.
Louisiana: Citizens fail to evacuate with 3 day supply of food and water, do without it for the next 4 days.
12.
Texas: FEMA brings in tons of food and water for evacuees. State officials provide accessible distribution points.
Louisiana: FEMA brings in tons of food and water for evacuees. State officials prevent citizens from reaching distribution points and vice versa.
13.
Louisiana: Media focuses on poor blacks in need of assistance, blames Bush.
Texas: Media can’t find poor blacks in need of assistance, looking for something else to blame on Bush.
14.
Texas: Coastal cities suffer some infrastructure damage, Mayors tell residents to stay away until ready for repopulation, no interference from federal officials.
Louisiana: New Orleans is destroyed, Mayor asks residents to return home as another hurricane approaches, has to be overruled by federal officials.
15.
Louisiana: Over 400 killed by storm, flooding and crime.
Texas: 24 killed in bus accident on highway during evacuation, no storm related deaths.
16.
Texas: Jailed prisoners are relocated to other detention facilities outside the storm area.
Louisiana: Jailed prisoners are set free to prey on city shops, residents, and homes.
17.
Texas: Local and state officials work with FEMA and Red Cross in recovery operations.
Louisiana: Local and state officials obstruct FEMA and Red Cross from aiding in recovery operations.
18.
Texas: Local and state officials demonstrate leadership in managing disaster areas.
Louisiana: Local and state officials fail to demonstrate leadership, require federal government to manage disaster areas.
19.
Texas: Fuel deliveries can't keep up with demand, some run out of gas on highway, need help from fuel tankers before storm arrives.
Louisiana: Motorists wait till storm hits and electrical power fails. Cars run out of gas at gas stations that can‘t pump gas. Gas in underground tanks mixes with flood waters.
20.
Texas: Mayors move citizens out of danger.
Louisiana: Mayor moves himself and family to Dallas.
21.
Texas: Mayors continue public service announcements and updates on television with Governor's backing and support.
Louisiana: Mayor cusses, governor cries, senator threaens president with violence on television, none of them have a clue what went wrong or who‘s responsible.
22.
Louisiana: Democratic Senator says FEMA was slow in responding to 911 calls from Louisiana citizens.
Texas: Republican Senator says "when you call 911, the phone doesn't ring in Washington, it rings here at the local responders".
What if state and local elected officials were forced to depend on themselves and their own resources instead of calling for help from the federal government? Texas cities would be back up and running in a few days. Louisiana cities would still be under water next month.
Tom Benson is a slime ball.
I wanted to sit here and rant about Tom Benson and why I think he is what is wrong with America today, but, to my surprise, someone said that already... Go Figure!!!
This is a great article on the subject I found at
http://www.louisianaweekly.com/weekly/news/articlegate.pl?20050523d Than you for getting it right Mr. Lewis.
A sin and a shame
By Edmund W. Lewis, Editor
May 23, 2005
One of my earliest memories of my pops is of him throwing down his favorite cap in disgust and stomping through the house week after week as his beloved New Orleans Saints tortured him and tens of thousands of other poor souls with mind-boggling come-from-ahead losses. Long before I understood the rudiments of football americano, I knew that the Saints weren't worth a damn.
Still, against all odds and logic, I came to develop a fondness for the poor, bumbling underdogs. God help me, I still can't tell you why to save my soul. Guess it's like my old grandmother use to say, "You can't explain, what you can't explain."
Over the past four decades, supporting the Saints has been a lot like rooting for Charlie Brown even though everyone knew Lucy would never let Chuck's foot get anywhere near the football she encouraged him repeatedly to kick before pulling it away.
Despite the legacy of bitter disappointment and heartache, there is not a group of fans in professional sports that has been so loyal and gotten so little in return.
Saints fans have endured "Big Ben" finishes by the hated Atlanta Falcons, merciless whuppings at the hands of the once-dominant San Francisco 49ers and Lord-knows-how-many coulda-shoulda-woulda games in the Superdome. We've endured watching former Saints coach Mike Ditka giving obscene hand gestures to fans and running back Ricky Williams turning his back on the team. We've watched with frustration as former Saints QB Bobby Hebert ran around the Superdome doing his airplane imitation and the team pin its hopes on the likes of Kenny "Snake" Stabler and a banged-up Earl Campbell.
This is the same group of fans that was pelted with snowballs by Chicago Bears fans in the playoffs and watched Big Bad Bum Phillips struggle to make a first down against some of the NFL's worst defenses.
As long as there was any time left on the clock, there was always a chance for opposing teams to find a way to beat the Saints. No lead has been large enough to allow Saints fans to actually enjoy a victory. Nothing but nail-biting and teeth-grinding to the very end.
Any self-respecting human being would have walked away from the New Orleans Saints and their rotten luck a long time ago.
Saints owner Tom Benson has chosen to reward that loyalty by issuing ultimatums to the state and threatening to move the team to another city. He's been upset for a while about not getting a new stadium and not making as many millions as a handful of his NFL peers. He's gotten richer, just not rich enough for his liking.
When it's all said and done and there's nothing left to say and do, it all comes down to ego and greed. Benson sees a golden opportunity to make more money. Point blank. Never mind that the city's schools are crumbling and the state's teachers are sorely deserving of a pay raise. Never mind that the team has done very little to inspire the kind of financial support its owner is demanding. Never mind that the Saints have won only a single playoff game in nearly four decades of play in the National Football League. Mr. Benson wants what he wants.
The people of this great state made it crystal clear recently that they are in no giving mood. A recent poll conducted by a Florida-based research firm concluded that nearly 75 percent of Louisiana residents are opposed to using tax dollars to keep the Saints in New Orleans.
Adding insult to injury, Benson has hinted about moving the team to San Antonio, Albuquerque or Los Angeles, going so far as to suggest that at least one suitor would be willing to shell out more than $1 billion to buy the ailing franchise. You would expect a multimillionaire to be a little more subtle.
Even die-hard fans had to chuckle at the ridiculous notion that anyone in their right mind would cough up that kind of moula to buy the Saints. They are, after all, the Saints.
In case Mr. Benson still doesn't get it, we're tired. Tired of boneheaded draft-day decisions and front-office mistakes that give away the team's best players for a handful of magic beans. Tired of the franchise signing geriatric players to save a few bucks. Tired of filing into the Superdome to watch the Saints make some of the league's worst teams look like superstars. Tired of having to wear bags over our heads out of shame for loving a team that, for the most part, has done very little over the years to earn that kind of devotion. Tired of robbin' Peter to pay Paul in order to afford rising ticket prices. Tired of watching Tom Benson boogie all the way to the bank, year after miserable year, while pretending that the team doesn't turn a major profit each year.
If Tom Benson feels he must go, let the Superdome's door knob hit him where the dog should've bit him.
Saints fans deserve better from both the team and its owner.
Gotta Love Fantasy Football Smack Talk
This is just a cute bit o smack talk in a fantasy football league we have at work. It is mostly inside jokes and will of course make no sence to anyone else but me and my league, but it is fun to karoke to the Charlie Daniels tune.
Holy Rollers vs The Raceland Sharks
The Sharks came to the Rollers
They were looking for a team to beat
Not much more than a fish out of water
And planning on how to cheat
Then they came across this fantasy team
Full of players thats scoring em lots
Then he quoted Pulp Fiction on the leagues web site
And started Gus Freotte
Of course you already know it
I'm a fantasy football team too
Although Im scared I will lose I swear
I'll make a bet with you
Now the Rollers are a pretty good team
But give the Sharks some props
I'll bet a 2-liter that's cold against the Rollers
Cuz its you I'm gonna drop
Response was WERE THE ROLLERS!!!
The Sharks suck dont you know
Well take that bet, youre gonna regret
We're gonna drown you little Nemo!!!
Rollers starting Roethlisberger playing really hard
The Sharks with San Diego's D probably wont go far
When the Rollers win they get a 2-Liter of Pepsi that is cold
But if they lose the Sharks want a Diet Coke
The Sharks on the first possession
Said I will start the day
They fumbled and they bumbled
Looking like they would pay
The owner jumped and shouted
And cried and was remiss
His day went to hell his team did suck
And it looked something like this
(Imagine a train wreck? nuff said)
On the next possession The Rollers said
Man your team sucks, son?
Wont you go chill my Pepsi and
Let me show you how its done?
Indy's defense making 'em run
Got big Ben throwing to Antwaan (Randell El)
Conwell and Witten on the tight ends
Carney with the field goals, I hope the Saints win.
(fiddle solo....... try the shark, it's tasty)
At the beginning of this game
The Sharks knew that they were beat
Kurt now lays that cold Pepsi
On the ground at Bigums feet
Raceland Sharks won't you come on back
If you ever wanna try it twice?
To beat your butts again and again
Would be just as nice
Indy's defense making em run
Got big Ben throwing to Antwaan (Randell El)
Conwell and Witten on the tight ends
Carney with the field goals, I hope the Saints win.
