• Menu
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Before Header

  • About Us
  • Lexicon
  • Contact Us
  • Our Store
  • ↑
  • ↓
  • ←
  • →

Balloon Juice

Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Prediction: the gop will rethink its strategy of boycotting future committees.

I might just take the rest of the day off and do even more nothing than usual.

Lick the third rail, it tastes like chocolate!

Speaking of republicans, is there a way for a political party to declare intellectual bankruptcy?

Whoever he was, that guy was nuts.

A thin legal pretext to veneer over their personal religious and political desires.

Democracy cannot function without a free press.

fuckem (in honor of the late great efgoldman)

We are builders in a constant struggle with destroyers. keep building.

So many bastards, so little time.

You know it’s bad when the Project 2025 people have to create training videos on “How To Be Normal”.

I swear, each month of 2025 will have its own history degree.

When we show up, we win.

This really is a full service blog.

Consistently wrong since 2002

There is no right way to do the wrong thing.

Never entrust democracy to any process that requires republicans to act in good faith.

Republicans are radicals, not conservatives.

Our job is not to persuade republicans but to defeat them.

A sufficient plurality of insane, greedy people can tank any democratic system ever devised, apparently.

I would try pessimism, but it probably wouldn’t work.

Accused of treason; bitches about the ratings. I am in awe.

Republicans are the party of chaos and catastrophe.

Proof that we need a blogger ethics panel.

Mobile Menu

  • Seattle Meet-up Post
  • 2025 Activism
  • Targeted Political Fundraising
  • Donate with Venmo, Zelle & PayPal
  • Site Feedback
  • War in Ukraine
  • Submit Photos to On the Road
  • Politics
  • On The Road
  • Open Threads
  • Topics
  • COVID-19
  • Authors
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Lexicon
  • Our Store
  • Politics
  • Open Threads
  • 2025 Activism
  • Garden Chats
  • On The Road
  • Targeted Fundraising!
You are here: Home / Open Threads / Not Leaving

Not Leaving

by John Cole|  August 28, 20056:34 pm| 59 Comments

This post is in: Open Threads

FacebookTweetEmail

I just heard on the news that some people are refusing to evacuate New Orleans. This can’t be true, can it?

I understand some people can’t be evacuated. But refusing to leave?

BTW- In the aftermath of the hurricane, when Bush goes to Louisiana, who do you think will be the first to say ‘Bush will take time from his vacation to see these victims, but he won’t take time from his vacation to meet Cindy Sheehan, a victim of his policies?’

Your choices:

1.) Someone at the DU.
2.) Someone at dKos.
3.) A front pager at dKos.
4.) Some random blogger.
5.) Someone at the Camp Crawford circus.
6.) Cynthia McKinney.

After further thought, my guess is someone at the HuffPo.

*** Update ***

The natives are restless and cussing out Fox News.

*** Update ***

Who will be the first to blame this on the nation’s moral slide?

FacebookTweetEmail
Previous Post: « Congrats Are In Order
Next Post: Rome »

Reader Interactions

59Comments

  1. 1.

    mac Buckets

    August 28, 2005 at 7:04 pm

    Since that would be a pretty insane thing to say, I’d usually go with the most insane nutter. Since McKinney is just one person, though, I’ll go with 4) Some Random Blogger, and I’ll parlay that with a prop bet on Amanda at Pandagon.

  2. 2.

    jobiuspublius

    August 28, 2005 at 7:07 pm

    John, you sneaky guy you. I was about to complain that it’s time for some fresh meat, but, man you came through!
    ========================================

    ‘Bush will take time from his vacation to see these victims, but he won’t take time from his vacation to meet Cindy Sheehan, a victim of his policies?’

    ========================================

    They’re all going to be so jealous that you beat them to it.

  3. 3.

    demimondian

    August 28, 2005 at 7:09 pm

    Wow! That’s some good snark!

    My bet it on some right wing site, say LGF, making up a story that you’ve seen a headline stored away at dKos to release when Bush shows up, showing that Kos and Armando were planning to exploit the tragedy for political purposes even before the storm hit.

  4. 4.

    Zifnab

    August 28, 2005 at 7:20 pm

    If you want to get technical, I think you were the first to say it.

  5. 5.

    Boronx

    August 28, 2005 at 7:25 pm

    Who will be the first winger to use the imminent destruction of New Orleans in a plea for “staying the course” in our illegal and destrous occupation of Iraq?

    My guess is George W. Bush, and further, I’ll bet he’s already done it.

  6. 6.

    Boronx

    August 28, 2005 at 7:26 pm

    …disasterous…

  7. 7.

    normalguy

    August 28, 2005 at 7:29 pm

    I blame Bush for this, hopefully it will go straight to Crawford…

    And how dare NOAA, and Katarina, besmirch Ms. Sheehan’s good name…

  8. 8.

    Joe Albanese

    August 28, 2005 at 7:40 pm

    I wonder if there is any story out there that John can’t use to take another swipe at the Cindy Sheehan movement.

    Actually it would have been a better opportunity to attack the good Rev. Robertson. Didn’t he once say that a hurricane hit Orlando because of Disney’s policies towards gays? and we ALL know how sinful and evil New Orleans is during Mardi Gras. Hey, maybe he has a point?

  9. 9.

    rilkefan

    August 28, 2005 at 7:42 pm

    The right wing is going to plenty worked up about the resulting call for more attention being paid to global warming.

    Anyway, you’ve got it backwards.

  10. 10.

    rilkefan

    August 28, 2005 at 7:43 pm

    “going to get plenty”

    Also there will be people saying, “We’re staying in Iraq in the face of the insurgent hurricane”, so brace yourselves.

  11. 11.

    M. Scott Eiland

    August 28, 2005 at 8:05 pm

    I was listening to a live report from the scene that said there were two idiots out on surfboards–I hope that no rescue personnel are put at risk should the schmucks find themselves about to win Darwin Awards. I’d have zero problem with them being left to their fate and the attention of the authorities being focused on the people sensible enough *not* trying to get themselves killed.

  12. 12.

    Seal Pool

    August 28, 2005 at 8:08 pm

    What a boring question.

  13. 13.

    Geek, Esq.

    August 28, 2005 at 8:09 pm

    I think a French newspaper will reveal that Bush actually met with Sheehan in 1999, but that no proof now exists to verify it.

  14. 14.

    BumperStickerist

    August 28, 2005 at 8:24 pm

    Why wait to look at the Hurricane/Impending Destruction of New Orleans as Political Event?

    From a Kos FrontPage/Promoted Diarist today – easy to find, no rooting around in the subcomments to find a disparaging thing, et

    … a disaster likely approaching New Orleans and adjacent parts of the Gulf Coast, do so NOW. Things are looking to be catastrophic since (as I understand it) the jet stream is too weak to divert or to weaken Katrina. Southeastern Kossacks, now is the time to volunteer your spare beds, sofas and floors. I’m … . [UPDATE] Folks have pointed out you should disguise your email address to shelter from webbots, as in lizbryant at yahoo dot com.

    –> first comment by DarkWylde, the person organizing the effort:

    kick ass idea and not only very generous of you, it makes sense politically to preserve as many dems as we can. And I don’t mean that lightheartedly, this could be that serious. Anyway, I linked you at the top of mine.

    preserve as many dems as we can.

    and

    I don’t mean that lightheartedly.

    Cite

    Nice, DarkWylde,

    ….. very nice.

  15. 15.

    Ancient Purple

    August 28, 2005 at 8:46 pm

    I’m still trying to figure out why Fearless Leader had to interrupt a prior vacation in Crawford to fly back to Washington, DC to sign the Shiavo bill, but couldn’t be bothered to race back to DC to make his disaster declarations regarding Katrina that is going to his NOLA head on.

    Instead, he did that from the comfort of his Crawford ranch.

    Well, at least his bizarre sense of priorities is still intact.

  16. 16.

    Axien

    August 28, 2005 at 8:54 pm

    Zifnab beat me to it.

  17. 17.

    Fledermaus

    August 28, 2005 at 8:54 pm

    John, it’s clear that people are staying because if they evacuated that would just show a lack of resolve and allow the hurricane to win. Furthermore it would also serve to embolden all the other hurricanes.

  18. 18.

    Alexandra

    August 28, 2005 at 9:02 pm

    Is this the best you can do in expressing your concern for what’s happening in New Orleans?

    What I’m wondering is: What happened to the public planning for this kind of disaster? Why are so many people stranded in this high-risk place–why was there not more planning for buses, etc.? This evening I read that people who are going to be bunking in the Superdome have to bring their own food and water for five days. How is that an efficient way of doing things? Whatever happened to FEMA, or at least the Red Cross. Here are people leaving their homes with whatever they can carry–probably their few precious possessions–and they have to worry about bringing bottled water and Ritz crackers for five days? And how are they supposed to prepare five days worth of food? Are they supposed to carry their hibachis and five days worth of coal? This isn’t an earthquake–it didn’t happen in one minute. The government has had several days to plan for this kind of catastrophe. And it sounds as if they’ve done a piss poor job of it.

  19. 19.

    gswift

    August 28, 2005 at 9:06 pm

    I just heard on the news that some people are refusing to evacuate New Orleans. This can’t be true, can it?

    There’s invariably some nutcases that refuse to leave. In 1980 there was that old guy Harry Truman that refused to leave his cabin at the base of Mt. St. Helens.

  20. 20.

    gswift

    August 28, 2005 at 9:10 pm

    The wikipedia entry on Truman says he was a native of West Virginia.
    Awesome.

  21. 21.

    demimondian

    August 28, 2005 at 9:15 pm

    I just heard on the news that some people are refusing to evacuate New Orleans. This can’t be true, can it?

    Yes, it can. Google for “Richeliu Apartments” and “Hurricane Camille”.

    The interesting thing about that story is that the popular version is not true. It is true that there were people in the building and that some of them died, but the people who stayed behind weren’t fools — they had been helping to prepare the town, the building was a civil defense shelter, and they should have been safe.

  22. 22.

    jobiuspublius

    August 28, 2005 at 9:18 pm

    ” Axien Says:

    Zifnab beat me to it.”
    ====================================================

    OK, I need to correct this theft now. I was first. I beat everyone to it. That includes you two.

  23. 23.

    Geoduck

    August 28, 2005 at 9:20 pm

    Sadly, I gather that some people simply have no place to go.

  24. 24.

    Vladi G

    August 28, 2005 at 9:21 pm

    Some obscure person on the left that no one has ever heard of and that no one will remember in two years will say it. Then the right wing blogosphere will turn this person into a minor celebrity as they claim again and again and again that this person speaks for the entire left wing of the political spectrum. This is known as the “Churchill effect”. See: bumpists post above as a token example of this.

    Then when some right wing religious nutjob with a viewing audience of a couple million people says the hurricane is God’s wrath on the gays and the abortionists, everyone on the right will talk about how that person has no influence over anyone.

  25. 25.

    jobiuspublius

    August 28, 2005 at 9:22 pm

    But, Alexandra, Dear Leaders first commandment is: Goverment shall do no no wrong. Don’t worry, it’s the way of Dear Leader. It’ll all work out. Let’s hold hands and pray. Ok, everyone? Kumbayaaaaaa……

  26. 26.

    Bob

    August 28, 2005 at 9:25 pm

    What someone’s going to say is, “Where’s the damned National Guard?”

  27. 27.

    rafael

    August 28, 2005 at 9:37 pm

    About people refusing to leave, this stupid shit always happen. In Puerto Rico you usually had more deaths because of this than anything else. People would refuse to leave, then call for help in the middle of the hurricane, putting the civil defense volunteers and police in danger.

    Then there’s also the usual dumbass who waits till the last minute to cross a bridge, even though the river is overflowing. Oh, and the ones that go out to watch, who have been outrageously overlooked by the Darwin Awards.

    But the funny stuff happens AFTER the hurricane, when radio programs open the lines for people asking for help. It’s a good way to report fallen electrical lines, broken water pipes, etc. But you always get some empty headed idiot who has serious issues with priorities. My favorites were:

    1. The moron who called to ask when would they restore CABLE service because he was bored and there was nothing to do. The dj ripped him a new one.
    2. This lady that called to report that she had NO ELECTRICITY in her house. After a hurricane, imagine that. She was complaining that all the meat she bought was going to spoil. (They make it really clear that you shouldnt buy perishable goods.) The radio guy mostly just laughed at this one.

  28. 28.

    Axien

    August 28, 2005 at 9:54 pm

    jobiuspublius Says: OK, I need to correct this theft now. I was first. I beat everyone to it. That includes you two.

    I stand corrected. Not only was I late, but I was wrong as well.

  29. 29.

    cac

    August 28, 2005 at 10:06 pm

    My 82 yo dad from Illinois is a Red Cross volunteer and goes to all the hurricanes.His group is already in Florida waiting until the storm passes and then will move in where they are needed. Their process is very organized. Thanks Dad.

  30. 30.

    RiverRat

    August 28, 2005 at 10:06 pm

    I would hope that wingbat/moonbat ideologues accept their shared humanity for at least the next 24 hours and shut the fuck up about war, politics, and anything but helping, in whatever way possible.

    Far right or far left you’re still human; or are you not?

  31. 31.

    W.B. Reeves

    August 28, 2005 at 10:21 pm

    Far right or far left you’re still human; or are you not?

    One can only hope.

  32. 32.

    B. Ross

    August 28, 2005 at 11:24 pm

    Wasn’t it Bubble Boy who cut funds for FEMA?

    You know, to fund that war he wanted to get back at his Daddy. Oops. Only Daddy turned out to be the smart one, not Bubble Boy. Oops.

    So now–we’ve turned from surplus into bankruptcy, peace into war, Osama Bin Forgotten, and there aren’t funds for: FEMA and Hurricane Katrina, protecting mass-transit systems, keeping air and water clean, and all the rest of that pro-actual-people crap, or, really much of any frickin’ thing.

    OH GOD I FEEL SO MUCH SAFER NOW.

    I feel sure the people of New Orleans who are about to be sacrificed feel uh, safer now, too–or, well, I’m sure they feel something.

  33. 33.

    jobiuspublius

    August 28, 2005 at 11:36 pm

    September tha Eelevunth changed everything. It’s an ownership society now. You own your own misery. Because we’re an empire now. We make reality for the reality based community to study and then we make another one before they can finish the last one. Tee hee hee hee.

  34. 34.

    jobiuspublius

    August 28, 2005 at 11:38 pm

    But, it’s all the terrorists fault. Look! One just scuried across my toes.

  35. 35.

    KC

    August 29, 2005 at 12:17 am

    Hopefully this isn’t a matter of political warfare. After all, I’m sure the people in New Orleans don’t have politics on their minds right now.

  36. 36.

    Bruce From Missouri

    August 29, 2005 at 12:18 am

    This is where I rudely say that it would be nice if the Louisiana National Guard was at full strength to help with the evacuation instead of getting blown up in Iraq.

    Go ahead and blow your gasket now, John.

    Bruce

  37. 37.

    Brandon

    August 29, 2005 at 1:22 am

    Hopefully this isn’t a matter of political warfare. After all, I’m sure the people in New Orleans don’t have politics on their minds right now.

    Even if some moonbats feel the need to exploit yet another tragedy for political gain.

    I hope you guys on the left are proud of yourselves.

  38. 38.

    Bruce Moomaw

    August 29, 2005 at 2:50 am

    You’re assuming that Bush will go to Louisiana, John. Since this would require interrupting his vacation, I wouldn’t count on it.

  39. 39.

    bains

    August 29, 2005 at 2:56 am

    For goodness sake John, why look elsewhere when you’ve got a symphony of barking moonbats right here.

  40. 40.

    bains

    August 29, 2005 at 3:02 am

    … hoping for a high death toll so they can blame Bush.

  41. 41.

    Joe Albanese

    August 29, 2005 at 6:54 am

    bain:

    For goodness sake John, why look elsewhere when you’ve got a symphony of barking moonbats right here. … hoping for a high death toll so they can blame Bush.

    Is there anything that the right won’t use to attempt to portray the left as evil. John, from the looks of comments like bain’s it seems you had it all backwards.

  42. 42.

    jobiuspublius

    August 29, 2005 at 8:28 am

    bains, Brandon, what the hell do you know about the national guard?

  43. 43.

    bains

    August 29, 2005 at 9:00 am

    Merely prognosticating Joe.

    I dont think the left is particularly evil, just opportunistic, as is the right. And portions of the left will frame this story as somehow the rights fault.

    As a side note, if New Orleans isn’t devastated, I’m sure some idiot will try to blame FEMA, NOAA, the Mayor of NO, or whoever for undue hardship caused by the mandatory evacuation.

  44. 44.

    Defense Guy

    August 29, 2005 at 9:16 am

    Alexandria is mistaken regarding those in NO having to bring their own food and water to the Superdome, the rations they are eating and the water they are drinking is provided by the taxpayers. I am crossing my fingers and praying it won’t be as bad as some are predicting.

    [snark] Hurricanes have no politics, and as usual those without souls try to paint everything as political. Also, please remember that many Democrats grow up to be fine Republicans. Call it political evolution. [/snark]

  45. 45.

    ET

    August 29, 2005 at 9:17 am

    My mother and her husband live there and left for Houston. My brother chose the check he and his famioy (4 little girls under 7) into a hotel. I love my brother but this is just dumbass.

  46. 46.

    Joe Albanese

    August 29, 2005 at 9:37 am

    Defense Guy says:

    Also, please remember that many Democrats grow up to be fine Republicans. Call it political evolution.

    Some might call it early onset alzheimers.

  47. 47.

    Defense Guy

    August 29, 2005 at 9:43 am

    Some might call it early onset alzheimers.

    Ha. What were we talking about again?

  48. 48.

    ppGaz

    August 29, 2005 at 9:51 am

    A C-130 “Context Hunter” airplane is going to fly through this thread in an effort to determine whether the thread has any actual point.

    The aircraft is equipped with sensitive electronic devices which can detect and analyze even the most microscopic point, including points made entirely by accident.

  49. 49.

    Alexandra

    August 29, 2005 at 9:59 am

    Defense Guy–I hope you are correct. I heard my information on CNN. Can you please share your source or a link?

  50. 50.

    Defense Guy

    August 29, 2005 at 10:09 am

    Alexandra – I heard an interview with the man in charge of the national guard this morning. I will see if I can find a written source.

  51. 51.

    Profbacon

    August 29, 2005 at 10:10 am

    I am hoping and praying for the people caught up in this and hope that the city stands tomarrow.

    But I will make a bet with John. A member of God’s Own Circus will call New Orleans the modern day Sodom and Gamorrah and it’s distruction was warented because of the the Gay section on Bourbon Street and Tit flashes for a nickel-worth of beads… BEFORE a Leftie does what he described.

  52. 52.

    Defense Guy

    August 29, 2005 at 10:21 am

    Alexandra – I found the quote you were talking about, so it appears I spoke too soon. The mayor of NO asked people to going to the dome to bring enough food and water for 3-5 days. In the interview I heard this moring, the national guard is feeding and providing water, and so far anticipates no shortages.

  53. 53.

    Another Jeff

    August 29, 2005 at 10:24 am

    Alexandra and Defense Guy,

    I think you’re both actually right. i did hear the people were told to bring five days worth of food, but as early as late yesterday, the National Guard was also bringing food in.

  54. 54.

    Alexandra

    August 29, 2005 at 11:57 am

    Thanks Defense Guy and Jeff–That is great news amid the sad news!

  55. 55.

    Alexandra

    August 29, 2005 at 11:58 am

    Dear Jeff and Defense Guy–Thanks a lot. That’s somewhat reassuring news amid the sad news of the day.

  56. 56.

    Boronx

    August 29, 2005 at 12:01 pm

    Let’s stop calling them “Right” and “Left”

    On oneside you have conservative strong-america types aligned with peaceful moonbats, and on the other side you have religious fanatics aligned with radical imperialists.

    The left-right spectrum doesn’t reslly cut it anymore.

  57. 57.

    Brian

    August 29, 2005 at 12:17 pm

    No, no, no. You have it all wrong. The real story here is Karl Rove. He seeded the clouds so that this hurricane will get Cindy Sheehan and Iraq off the front pages. It is that simple.

  58. 58.

    Tim F

    August 29, 2005 at 1:14 pm

    A member of God’s Own Circus will call New Orleans the modern day Sodom and Gamorrah and it’s distruction was warented because of the the Gay section on Bourbon Street and Tit flashes for a nickel-worth of beads… BEFORE a Leftie does what he described.

    Disagreed about that. LA has never been a focus of rightwing anger so they have no incentive to make ghoulish hay out of its misfortune. As opposed to, say, New York or Boston.

  59. 59.

    Steven

    August 29, 2005 at 2:25 pm

    And the winner is….someone at dKos

    http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2005/8/29/35217/3990

Comments are closed.

Primary Sidebar

On The Road - PaulB - Olympic Peninsula: Salt Creek Recreation Area & Kalaloch Beach
Image by PaulB (5/10/25)

Recent Comments

  • Betty Cracker on Dank Grey Dawn Open Thread : Shut Up, Comey (May 16, 2025 @ 7:35am)
  • lowtechcyclist on Dank Grey Dawn Open Thread : Shut Up, Comey (May 16, 2025 @ 7:34am)
  • J. on Dank Grey Dawn Open Thread : Shut Up, Comey (May 16, 2025 @ 7:33am)
  • J. on On The Road – frosty – 2024 National Park Road Trip – Canada (3/3) Icefields Parkway and Bow Lake Bike Ride (May 16, 2025 @ 7:31am)
  • Baud on Dank Grey Dawn Open Thread : Shut Up, Comey (May 16, 2025 @ 7:30am)

PA Supreme Court At Risk

Donate

Balloon Juice Posts

View by Topic
View by Author
View by Month & Year
View by Past Author

Featuring

Medium Cool
Artists in Our Midst
Authors in Our Midst
War in Ukraine
Donate to Razom for Ukraine

🎈Keep Balloon Juice Ad Free

Become a Balloon Juice Patreon
Donate with Venmo, Zelle or PayPal

Meetups

Upcoming Ohio Meetup May 17
5/11 Post about the May 17 Ohio Meetup

Calling All Jackals

Site Feedback
Nominate a Rotating Tag
Submit Photos to On the Road
Balloon Juice Anniversary (All Links)
Balloon Juice Anniversary (All Posts)
Fix Nyms with Apostrophes

Hands Off! – Denver, San Diego & Austin

Social Media

Balloon Juice
WaterGirl
TaMara
John Cole
DougJ (aka NYT Pitchbot)
Betty Cracker
Tom Levenson
David Anderson
Major Major Major Major
DougJ NYT Pitchbot
mistermix

Keeping Track

Legal Challenges (Lawfare)
Republicans Fleeing Town Halls (TPM)
21 Letters (to Borrow or Steal)
Search Donations from a Brand

PA Supreme Court At Risk

Donate

Site Footer

Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Comment Policy
  • Our Authors
  • Blogroll
  • Our Artists
  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2025 Dev Balloon Juice · All Rights Reserved · Powered by BizBudding Inc

Share this ArticleLike this article? Email it to a friend!

Email sent!