Yesterday was a blur of activity, from an 8am-Noon class on to the first FreeHead gig in 9 years. I had no chance to stop off and blog.

Apparently the "Cavalry" that came in behind Dubya on Friday has been primarily used to cordon off the city. There are escorted convoys of buses picking up people at both the Superdome and the NOCC, but the process is still like molasses in January. PEOPLE ARE STILL DYING FOR WANT OF HELP IN NEW ORLEANS, and the new wrinkle, which emerged yesterday, is that FEMA/DHS has been PREVENTING HELP FROM GETTING THROUGH.

I'm not a religious woman, but this is sinful and wicked according to any moral code.

The Mainstream Media has been reorganized around a bright, shining lie that help and rescue is finally getting to people in NOLA. It isn't. It just isn't.

Here's a dispatch from NOLA, relayed by Maryscott O'Connor on DailyKOS and no doubt also on MyLeftWing.

There is further evidence of how bad it still is on NOLA.Com, a site run by the NO Times-Pickayune.

The Jim Smith (co-creator of Ren & Stimpy and The Ripping Friends) sketchbook signing and FreeHead gig was hastily rejiggered into a benefit for Hurricane relief. Jim donated all sales of his sketchbook, Richie brought a bunch of CDs -- we're getting close to the last few -- to sell with all proceeds going to relief. It wasn't a huge benefit but it was something, anyway. However, what disturbs me mightily is that not only is help not getting through, help seems to be ACTIVELY PREVENTED from getting through.

Aaron Broussard, the President of Jefferson Parish, Louisiana was on Meet The Press this morning with a ghastly tale to tell. Tim Russert wasn't too sympathetic, but Broussard's testimony was powerful and could not be denied. I believe his words need to be heard more, so I am posting the most powerful part of his testimony here.

I want to give you one last story and I’ll shut up and let you tell me whatever you want to tell me. The guy who runs this building I’m in, Emergency Management, he’s responsible for everything. His mother was trapped in St. Bernard nursing home and every day she called him and said, “Are you coming, son? Is somebody coming?” and he said, “Yeah, Mama, somebody’s coming to get you.” Somebody’s coming to get you on Tuesday. Somebody’s coming to get you on Wednesday. Somebody’s coming to get you on Thursday. Somebody’s coming to get you on Friday… and she drowned Friday night. She drowned Friday night! [Sobbing] Nobody’s coming to get us. Nobody’s coming to get us…

The video is on Crooks and Liars right now. Quicktime is currently available, Windows Media is on the way. Unfortunately there is no XviD AVI or MPEG for those of us running on Linux, alas.

I made the comment on DailyKOS that instead of calling this hurricane Hurricane Katrina, it should be rechristened Hurricane DUBYA. Someone picked up on this meme and is now selling stickers on CafePress with proceeds after CafePress' cut going to relief. Buy a few. Slap one on your car.

Someday, someone will have to pay for this stupidity, incompetence and downright genocidal treatment of the people of New Orleans. It's times like these when I wish I could believe in a higher power because dammit, that payment might wind up be postponed until some sort of Final Judgment. When and if there is one, may whomever is judging those responsible for this malfeasance give them the worst possible fate. Whether they are committing genocide intentionally or genocide by negligence, this is indeed genocide. And the blood of thousands and thousands who drowned in the South during Hurricane Dubya cries out for justice.

Update at 11:15am: NB: I didn't mention the death of Justice Rehnquist because I don't think that's news yet in light of the horrors in New Orleans and Mississippi. We all knew he was going to die soon anyway. So now we have two justices to replace. I fear this process of replacing both Rehnquist and O'Connor is going to be rammed through, and we will be left with a packed Supreme Court. If the Democratic Senators and Congresspeople grew spines, we could use the confirmation process as leverage to make sure the Gulf States get the money and help they need. But alas, spines and cojones are in short supply. The bad guys win. Again.