Iced Over
By Rabble Rouser Reverend Amy on February 3, 2009 at 9:05 AM in Barack Obama, Current Affairs, GLBT, Kentucky, Sexism, Soldiers/Veterans
I thought about writing on one of several different topics this morning, like the incredibly sexist new commercials aired during the Super Bowl last night. There was a Doritos one in which this young man bit into a Dorito, and it ripped all of the clothes off of a woman on the street. Nice. Or for a new website that allows one to do whatever one wants, so this group of guys are having Danica Patrick taking numerous showers throughout the day. Ah, yes – the ads these days look like the ads from decades past, objectifying women as sexual objects. Great.
Then, I thought about writing on Michael Steele, the new RNC chair, and former Lt. Gov. of MD who had his credit record exposed by Schumer staffer a few years back. Turns out Mr. Steele wants the RNC to move forward, and to be open to all people. Interesting idea there, Mr. Steele.
Or maybe how Obama now wants an “assessment” on the whole “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” thing before, you know, anything changes.
Why doesn’t he just ask one of the 24 countries that DO allow gay people to serve openly in their military how they manage to accomplish this? I mean, heckfire, it’s not rocket science or anything. Clearly, other countries are managing just fine. But, no, we taxpayers will pay for some study that will take ages to complete to tell us what we already know. Meanwhile, our military will continue to throw out service members who are fluent in Arabic because – gasp – they happen to be LGBT. Because that makes so much sense. As much as doing another freakin’ study on it. Okey dokey.
But then I got this email from one of my oldest and dearest friends, who lives down near the Kentucky border:
It’s good to be back at work, in the light, in the warm, in the grid.I still have no electricity at my house. We have a generator which we use to run the frig, an electric heater, one light, and we alternate the remaining plug between various items. We have mainly used a Coleman stove and the grill for cooking. It is getting old. They say most houses in my electric co-op will be back on in 2-4 days. We’re lucky to have (cold) water, some don’t. The disastrous event occurred on Tuesday. (Local) businesses were finally open again over the weekend. Last week we had to drive 45 miles north just to buy gas for our generator. Things like camping stoves, little cans of propane, etc. were sold out throughout the area. There is not a treetop left in (the) county. We lost the top out of the beautiful pine beside of our house (and all the rest of our trees too). It’s our little Katrina and things will never be the same.
My friend and her husband have been without power for days now. They are some of the hundreds of thousands of people who have been affected by this incredible ice-storm that swept through the Mid-West last week. The Kentucky governor, Steve Beshear, called out the ENTIRE Army National Guard to deal with the fallout from this storm.
And this is just a glimpse of with what the people in the Mid-West are dealing:
Their own Katrina indeed. One of my fellow writers at No Quarter will be dealing with some of the major political issues regarding this incredible storm, but for today, I wanted to highlight the personal side of the political situation. People are without water, and heat. People have been trapped in their homes. People have to drive miles and miles to get fuel. People continue to be without power a week after the storm. Tragically, people have lost their lives in this horrific storm.
Let us bear these thousands and thousands of people up in our hearts, in our thoughts, and in our prayers. And maybe, just maybe, treat each other with a little more kindness. Please.
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And I wonder why this story isn’t the biggest story for America’s news media.
Oh, I forgot. Only the “important” people make the news.
Some great pictures.
The media likes to portray disasters but there is no way this is “like Katrina”.
I wonder why the extreme right are pushing just the Kentucky story when the States affected by this storm are also the States of Missouri, Oklahoma, Illinois, Arkansas, Ohio, Tennessee and Indiana? I could guess.
I also note that the storms got bad on Thursday and the National Guard and FEMA were in place by Friday. Extra resources were drafted over the weekend to allow a full door to door search across the State.
The Democratic Governor and the Office of the President worked well. Good Democratic Government working together to save lives.
UK, that comment was made by someone who is actually living through this storm, not by someone in the media. And no one is just pushing that this is a Kentucky only issue – I said the Mid-West, but my friend lives near KY, hence that reference. And ironic that you then conclude your comments talking abt KY. Okey dokey.
And FEMA has gotten mixed reviews. Some places claim they have not shown up at all, so don’t be so quick to sing their praises. Many people in the areas affected by the ice storm are not.
Okey dokey – I accept FEMA is an organisation ripe for reform. However within hours of the storms becoming serious the early response team was in place and the National Guard had been called out by the Governor.
It is important to get some facts straight as there are some on the far right who are pushing a disgusting meme that is simply false and designed to stir hatred.
These are the people who are blaming immigrants for the recession and during times of crisis it is very important to keep their views in check.
RRA, Thank you so much for writing this article, I have tried to get some of this out over the weekend, here, on NQ. I am a neighbor to Kentucky, and some my family members are stationed at FT. Campbell where staging of some deliveries has and is taking place. This morning there was a press release of getting an order signed to declare the areas hit, particular for this Governor-Kentucky, which is different than signing an order for FEMA assistance; a disaster declaration brings immediate ability for recourse both by the population and the region/government of that state, I believe I posted it as a last entry on Pat’s story “Here’s the Beef”-you will find some long threads there related to this article, and a good pin back to another Kentucky resident with his personal look at what he and his family are going through. . Thanks again, for writing/posting this article. Many of our area churches have left to help, particularly in the very rural areas, where people still cannot get out. Sending prayers and volunteers out from Tennessee to Kentucky.
Thank you again Katmoon – as you provided the evidence to squash the far right rumours as well.
There aren’t any rumors, seriously UK on the thread yesterday you were fairly vicious in your remarks about sheets, you seem only to care if this is being interpreted correctly regarding the president, and have not made a single decent remark going out to the citizens of Kentucky. Don’t thank me, you might want to start thanking God, you are somewhere warm and safe.
I pass all sympathies to all of those affected – not just those in Kentucky. I am glad there was a degree of competence to send the agencies in at the earliest that they were needed, even if the agencies need reform.
Anyway – scroll slightly up from here
http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/2009/02/01/heres-the-beef/comment-page-1/#comment-1132385
and then read down;
You can see the very good work that you did slapping down those that were trying to spread scandal where none existed.
It might be best to ignore this particular troll — who adds nothing — but rather distracts and confuses the discussion.
I scroll past this one.
He’s the non-paid, more insufferable, lower-IQ version of detractor, who used to also squat on this website.
UKie is really stiff too. Like Lawrence Welk but without all that talent.
LMAO.
Yeah, I can just see UKelele trying to carry a tune in a wheelbarrow and being too weak to push.
Message to UK,
I know most of the bloggers here and none of them are wearing sheets.
All of them have legitimate concerns about Obama and like me are pessimistic about his abilities to solve these horrendous problems.
It pains me when I see you deride them so!
The woman Obama pick for the Performance Office Position withdrew her name because of Tax Issues. Teh woman got the boot but the Tax evasion men Obama rally around them.
Link – as it is really hard to understand who or what you are on about.
Performance Office?
Nancy Killefer with drew her name from nomination because she owes less than $1000 in unemployment tax for household help.
Un-friggin’- believable double standard!
I think that shows more about her honesty and why she would have been a good pick. $900 is an error of judgement. $120k is a lot to forget about. Tom D should stand down. That would not disgrace Obama. Bush lost many of his first picks.
Personally the best for heath would be Howard Dean. I know many on here do not like him, even among the real Ex Dems but the reasons why they, and more importantly, the Repugs do not like him are why he would be ideal to deliver health. If you can stand up and defend an agreed position against the Clinton machine, you can face down the Insurance Companies.
Oh please….he subverted millions of people’s votes.
That isn’t the mark of an honorable man or someone who would fight for the masses.
I am just waiting to see where his ‘Two Degrees from Obama’ post will be. You know the same offer they gave Gov Blago but he couldn’t wait.
To be blunt, none of your howling racism will change the reality of yet another selection against democracy which Bush 43 and now Obama/Dean/Brazile/Pelosi represent.
Frankly, having stood up against real racism….in real life. The kind that comes with actual death threats. While those thugs and the people they harrass point out murder victims as an example to shut up and go along.
The imaginary dragons you seem to think you are slaying here….is downright shameful and cowardly. Fight the real fight…in the real world. An internet Don Quixote of racism is lame on so many levels!
oooh, the “Clinton Machine.”
I guess if Dean could stand up to a middle class woman who married a poor man from Arkansas because both of them were in love and totally committed to working on behalf of this country; well then, I bet Dean the Warrior could do anything…..
like subvert Democracy, deny the will of the democratic voters, and usher in an improperly vetted candidate. Impressive!
Maybe part of the stimulus package could provide funds to bury the utility lines. It helps and would provide a lot of jobs.
djmm
Great idea – it’s amazing how many above-ground utility lines there are in that one photo. Haven’t seen that many above-ground lines in decades.
We have frequent outages in our area, but thankfully short-term.
Once, though, we were blacked out for a week. The stress mounts quickly in that type of situation.
I really feel for all these people.
Hang in folks, stay safe, a better day is coming!
I’ve experienced severe ice storms in the past, as well as major hurricanes, and all the accompanying miseries and costs, both personal and financial. It is not easy, to dramatically understate what happens.
It is often extremely traumatic, and years after the fact, my own memories of these experiences are crystal clear and painful.
When I retell the stories about them, in the course of every day conversations, I can feel my heartbeat rise, and hear my voice get more emotional, and feel my blood pressure increase, just talking about it. The trauma stays with you, for years afterward, and still manifests itself physically and psychically.
So, my thoughts and prayers are with those who are surviving under the dangerous and miserable aftermath, and have lost loved ones–about 33 people have died in 3 states due to the storm. It’s a real survival challenge, a real life or death survival challenge. And, it gives a small glimpse of how fragile our social and economic structures really are, under challenges and crises like natural disasters.
RRRA -Impressive pictures of what frozen water can do. Wow. Thanks for the pictures and highlighting the personal side of what’s going on in Kentucky and else where in the region dealing with the aftermath of this storm. Sending them warm thoughts and prayers for safety.
Hang in there Kentucky…you’ll get through it! A guy from Kentucky was on talk radio yesterday and said they were all helping each other out, they weren’t sitting around being cry babies.
Indiana had a similar ice storm about a month ago. Lots of trees down, people wo power. I didn’t lose power but my best friend did. We went out and found her a kerosene heater and small generator. Got both for about $225. I went back a few days later and got the same thing just so I have it. We’ve been getting alot of freezing rain this year. Prayers to all.
As for the sexist commericals, I would not remain in the presence of anyone watching that kind of garbage. They sure wouldn’t be watching it in my house. The tv channels I watch don’t show that kind of crap and I wouldn’t tune into any that did. Alot of people just brush it off and think it’s funny, especially guys.
I think you made the right decision to cover this story.
Any time you can cover a major story that the media isn’t covering, DO IT.
55 people have died from this storm already, 24 in Kentucky.
That says it all!!
As for the storm situation, I’m baffled as to why it’s not front and center in the news while Michelle Obama’s ‘talking to people’ (so what) story is.
RRRA –
I’m with you on the ads. The only two I enjoyed were the Bud horses – love them! – and the CareerBuilder.com – funny/annoyingly effective.
The Go Daddy ads were amazingly juvenile and offensive and the Doritos thing had to be played back by my husband for me and I still don’t get it (or like it).
I’d always rather know if someone is LGBT, so that I don’t try some wrongly directed match-making.
Staying on the topic of sexism- what has happened to Justsaynodeal.com
This is still the group founded by Will Bowyers and the umbrella of the PUMA groups? Is PUMA sexism ironic or have his anti sexist credentials gone the same way as the $$millions he was supposed to have raised for Hillary?
“Why doesn’t he just ask one of the 24 countries that DO allow gay people to serve openly in their military”
Because Obama is a narcissistic coward and doesn’t do anything until told how to do it and he has so many competing voices here that he can’t choose which puppeteer to lean towards.
Nice post RRRA.
You know, a good stimulus would be focused on actually giving good jobs to our citizens, solving problems like these, therefore avoiding hardship and huge waste, thus really stimulating the economy by spending money on our infrastructure, burying electric lines across the nation, etc.
Thanks for the story and the pictures. I stay away from MSM and stopped watching and listening to PBS/NPR months ago. Keep us informed.
Speaking of sexism- how is it that Nancy Killefer resigned her nomination over less than $1000 in back taxes- but Geitner at $34000 and Dashcle at $130,000 in back taxes get a free pass? I don’t know Nancy Killefer from a hole in the wall- but it’s clear that since her name isn’t Tim or Tom she is not all that “valuable” and her honest “mistakes” are unforgiveable. I wonder if her name was Dan instead of Nan the outcome would have been different. Of course, it could be that unforgiveable sin of working women employing household help. Tsk Tsk! – doesn’t she know she is suppose to care for her own house and children in Obamaland?
Excellent question – been wondering that myself!!!
My thoughts/prayers go out to the people that are in the storm areas in some places in the South/Midwest/NE. I heard on the weather channel that snow is on the way to some of the same locations today.
Thanks for this article, it reminds us that we are one nation and that we should put aside our party affiliations, forget about the blame game during these sad times and bow our heads and lift our hearts in unity for our fellow Americans.
Thank you RRRA for letting us know how the people suffering from this storm are faring. Please keep us informed about them. I hope that your friends are all right.
Thanks, Lizzy. As of today, they still don’t have any electricity…
I appreciate the discussion!
And Julie, yes, the Clydesdale ads were the best!!
The Obama campaign made sexism more acceptable.
RRRA, I saw your post the other day and didn’t get a chance to say thanks for posting this. I don’t understand why the MSM isn’t covering this (at least that I’ve seen) and I haven’t heard Obama mention it either. Those of us not affected would like to be kept informed of what’s going on in those areas, how the government is handling it, and if there is anything we can do to help.
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I noticed this too, and was quite sickened by those commercials. Even the Budweiser commercial (the male horse runs away, finds his ‘true love’ mare at the circus, etc.) I felt, was sexist, with the ‘fat lady’ being thrown down. I’ve also noticed some sexism in non-SB commercials.
Thanks for bringing this up!