I figure it's God's punishment to Red States for voting for Bush.
Posted by MJ at September 21, 2005 07:55 AMI tend to think that God's lesson to Bush was "Blessed are the poor..."
Posted by ann at September 21, 2005 07:59 AMI think it has more to do with the warm ocean current reacting with the cooler air brought about by the changing of the seasons.
But that's just being the godless person I am...
Posted by DukeRevolution at September 21, 2005 08:04 AMIt's more than just a regional effect, though. I was watching monkey-vision (CNBC) this morning, and they're talking about Rita taking out enough energy production (oil and natural gas), that it could lead to rationing in the US.
Can you imagine a natural gas rationing program this winter?
Posted by muckdog at September 21, 2005 08:21 AMI just figure that God has bad aim and just missed (texas) the first time (with Katrina).
Posted by Ron at September 21, 2005 08:31 AMMother Nature hates us for our freedoms.
Posted by Sagacity at September 21, 2005 08:52 AMWe need to hit these 'caines (sniff,sniff) my nose is itchy (sniff) before they hit us.
Posted by gwbush at September 21, 2005 08:55 AMyou know some of those people in Houston are not doing so well...I could see this working out very well for them...
Posted by John B. at September 21, 2005 08:55 AMAl Gore tried to warn us this would happen. Global warming is the cause for these hurricanes. It's no longer debatable.
I still can't believe that he lost in 2000 (of course the election was stolen by the Bush- Rove machine). I hope he runs again in 2008. We need a man of integrity in the WH again.
Posted by David at September 21, 2005 09:18 AMyeah...I know Houston is an easy target. But that is in fact my hood down there...warm memories of sticky pine bud, and some killer walls at the flagship.
I suppose the baby jebus is pissed off at all the meglo-churches, and their Bush-crazed minions. Too bad the occasional free-thinker and native surfing types gotta pay.
You think New Orleans was a toxic brew? Wait till you see what happens when a 20' storm surge nails Texas City, Port of Houston, Deer Park, and last but cerianly not least, Pasadena.
But that just begins our lovely journey up the river Styx. They are already evacuating whats left of the oil exploration and recovery fleet. Now all that stuff that was salvagable but damaged gets to get pounded by some nice rough seas. I have been out there during tropical storms, and even away from them it is rough. The Gulf is a big bath tub like that.
How much of that damaged infrustructure will give way?
Will the majors still want to invest in the Gulf region? The Gulf is where much new technology is developed. But if we have to rebuild it every year, wouldnt it make more sense to R&D somewhere more climacticly stable?
Will we have to concede the Gulf Coast? Maybe all coastal regions?
Things that make you go HMMM???
Unthinkable? Not any more.
Posted by SnarkyShark at September 21, 2005 09:22 AMWell it's obvious, the big dude upstairs just paused to reload and take aim at the godless heathens who escaped from NO to Houston.
Posted by citizen Able at September 21, 2005 09:26 AMWell...Since Houston is one of the most polluted cities in the country, is the home of Enron, is the home of lots of oil companies...
Seems to me, Mother Nature's pretty ticked off by the actions of this Administration and more than likely doesn't root for the Astros.
Posted by jillian at September 21, 2005 09:50 AMWhether or not the increased intensity of hurricaines of late has been caused by natural cycles in the planet or as one of many effects of global warming (I personally lean towards the latter as a result of scientific evidence and the fact that the ice sheets are starting to...shift around), it is undebatable that they are, indeed, becoming more common and more powerful. These are dangerous times we live in, and it will only get worse before it gets better.
Muck, I live in northern Michigan. Rationing would probably literally kill people up here, especially since they're expecting extra snow because Lake Superior has been warmer this year, but it won't stop the deaths if we don't ration either; only limit it to the people who can't afford it. Like us poor college students. I'm starting to get a little nervous about that. Time to sell more plasma to buy some more blankets, I think.
Posted by DukeRevolution at September 21, 2005 09:57 AMCan you imagine a natural gas rationing program this winter?
Yup, and is yet another reason I went biodiesel years ago (note: biodiesel can also be used in home oil heating systems).
Al Gore tried to warn us this would happen. Global warming is the cause for these hurricanes. It's no longer debatable.
Yes. Not exactly. Warming is most likely responsible for the water temperatures which intensify the hurricanes, though it is not completely clear that it is responsible for the number of storms or how GW affects pathing of the storms.
Posted by Simp at September 21, 2005 10:01 AMI suppose the baby jebus is pissed off at all the meglo-churches, and their Bush-crazed minions
Known locally as 'Six Flags Over Jesus'...
Posted by Davis X. Machina at September 21, 2005 10:18 AMDuke, I suppose pellet stoves would be flyin' off the shelves. Hmm, what companies makes those???
Posted by muckdog at September 21, 2005 11:18 AMI wonder if this one will snake its way back up to Chicago after hitting Houston. We just don't seem to get in on the action up here. We don't even get big snow storms. Just windy and cold in the winter. A real heat wave in 1995 was it. Maybe we'll get Tropical Depression Rita. Hmmm, that'll be fun.
Posted by Elrod at September 21, 2005 11:56 AMDon't lump all christian preachers into what a few nuts have said. I might as well attach progressives on this site to the craziest thing I've found that PETA has said or some other fringe group. It's childish thing to do...
The vast majority of christian churches (including mine) have done a lot to help the people displaced by Katrina.
Posted by Tex at September 21, 2005 12:13 PMGod hates fake ranches.
Posted by mparker at September 21, 2005 01:04 PMSorry Tex....but I look at that monster they built on I-45 south by Ellington field, and all I can think of is what a freakin monument to themselves.
I can only wonder at how many kids could still be alive for the price of that thing.
And that is one of many.
Matthew 6:5-6: "And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men....when thou prayest, enter into thy closet and when thou has shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret...."
I wonder how vainglorious monuments square with that?
People are freaking out down here in Houston. Went to the store this AM, HEB, a big one, and they were out of soup, tuna, crackers, etc.
I spoke with the manager(I'm a loyal regular) while waiting in line for 1 of the 48 cases of bottled water they were getting in this morning. He said that last night, they had announced a line for a hundred cases of water over the loudspeaker and people had been running over each other to get there.
Gas stations in the center of the city were out or near out of gas when I went looking at 8:30 this morning, and about one out of every two ATM machines are out of cash.
Most troublingly, my friend who runs the gas station(Chevron) said that a decision had been made and that no more trucks would be coming into the area starting today.
Looks like the storm may be 75 miles down the coast which is better news for us(not for the fine people of Palacios), but we'll still probably get 70-100mph winds and rain. Five out of twelve on my block have already decided to get out. I'm pretty far inland so I won't flood(except for rain,) and if anything, I'll just go to my parent's house which is better built and a little higher.
The biggest issue for me is if we lose power for a week like we did in Alicia in 1983. Definitely survivable, but difficult in the heat.
Mike
http://bornatthecrestoftheempire.blogspot.com/
Posted by mikevotes at September 21, 2005 01:31 PMOh, and I used to sell products into the energy industry in Houston. If you're curious about the impact on refining.....
Watch the storm surge numbers in Laporte/ Pasadena, there are two huge refineries and one smaller one that are right near the water. These are on the East side of Houston, and should be 100+ miles east of the projected landfall, so unless it swings north, they will be able to resume operations pretty quickly.
And the offshore rigs are usually closer to shore that most of Rita's path, so the only real impact will be when it turns up, and I don't think there are any Major platforms directly in line on it's current projected path. That doesn't mean they'll escape undamaged, but I don't think it'll be a huge disruption.
Mike
http://bornatthecrestoftheempire.blogspot.com/
Posted by mikevotes at September 21, 2005 01:38 PMSorry snarkyshark, but I don't see the connection there to the topic at hand.
The debate you're talking about is one that goes on within the overall christian church, particular donomiations, and growing churches themselves. Again, don't label all christians as being members of a church you don't like that you drive by.
I'm not sure what church you're referring to, but as for my opinion, I don't see anything wrong with building large, expensive sanctuaries for churches with growing membership. If the word of God is being preached and more people can be attracted to hear the message and more lives can be changed, then more power to them. All glory should go to God and not to the preacher, etc. Just because you see a large building, I wouldn't assume it is for self glorification.
Also, the temple in Jerusalem wasn't exactly a modest shack for it's day. Any of them ;-)
God??!?! You mean the Flying Spaghetti Monster?
Be more clear next time, matey! Arrrrrrrrrrrrrr.
Posted by JillK. at September 21, 2005 02:41 PMI can see it now, the eventual Bushco hearings on where to fix the blame for Katrina (and subsequent?) failures of leadership:
"What did God know, and when did he know it?" thundered annointed prosecutor Karl Rove, in purple vestments with the POTUS seal engraved in gold, in his opening remarks to the Investigatory Commission.
Posted by baked potato at September 21, 2005 03:34 PMPerhaps the almighty is trying to make Democratic mayors in red states look bad. If so, it's not gonna work this time.
Tex, if you don't know which church snarky is referring to, then maybe you haven't been down Galveston way in a while -- at least not via I45. And I hope you noticed that despite the fact that so many churches opened their doors to Katrina evacuees, Lakewood didn't let any into their new digs at the former Compaq Center/Summit.
Mike, I hope that you and yours get through the storm safely. My family is making it's way as I type this out of Stinkadena and on to Austin. I'm staying put, (on the near northside of DT) for now.
To the rest -- remember, there are good, descent people here -- some of whom, like me, are doing everything we can to push the yankee bush clan out of our good city and state. Maine -- take them PLEASE. The state may be red, but I live in a decent sized blue territory -- which I hope will expand when DeLay is finally out the door.
Friday night/Saturday morning -- think about us and do whatever it is you usually do, pray, meditate, make sacrifices, ect. when someone you know may be at risk.
I have faith that we will be ok.
Thanks,
dorita
Be safe Dorita.
Posted by Judith at September 21, 2005 08:21 PMI'm glad your directed your snark at "preachers," Steve. Otherwise, I would have had to throw a fit.
We're doing more than our share here in Texas. Even selfish old bastards like myself have been helping the refugees.
There is no God. There is only Nature. She has no design. But her children make them, anyway. That is their occupation. Let them have it.
Posted by Toby Petzold at September 21, 2005 09:43 PMI think there is a simple way in which the ChristoFascist Right can make their point. If the hurricanes punish the wicked, they should buy a boat (no one in his right mind would charter one to them), go in the middle of the hurricane and prove to us once and for all how chosen they really are. If they survive, they will attract a lot more converts. If they don't--good riddance.
The reason they won't do it is pretty much the same why they oppose gay marriage. They are not actually afraid of the doom and moral decay that gay marriage rights are going to bring. They are far more afraid of the greater possibility that there will be NO changes of the kind. As the Massachusetts legislature has proved already, once exposed to the concept and realizing that the end of the world is no nearer with gay marriage upon us, even the rabid Republicans turn the other cheek and refocus on more important issues. That's the reaction that ChristoFascists have been most afraid of.
The same with the boat in the hurricane idea--they are not afraid of the hurricane (although some of them may well be just chickenshit enough for that too). They are afraid that they would be demonstrated for the fools and charlatans that they are. They know it in their hearts and would do everything in their power to prevent being exposed.
Posted by buck turgidson at September 21, 2005 09:48 PMTh shlt nt tmpt th Lrd thy Gd.
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[Editor: ignore=off]Don't they have any damn proofreaders at NOAA or at Reuters?
Look at the projected storm track and the dates again.
They have Hurricane Rita hitting the Texas coast at "1200 GMT Friday," and then Rita turns around, heads southeast and is back out in the Gulf of Mexico at "1200 GMT Saturday."
It's a miracle, I tell ya!!!! This official NOAA map is proof of Intelligent Design. Unless, of course, a bunch of Republicans (led by Gov. Goodhair of Texas) are going to stand and face Rita from inside Texas...and blow...and blow...and blow real hard so their hot air drives Hurricane Rita back into the Gulf. And it would help if Master Blower George W. Bush lends his sulfurous breath to the effort. Hallelujah! Praise the Republican blow-hards!! Texas is saved!!!
Posted by The Oracle at September 22, 2005 12:06 AMMaybe it's payback time for the destruction of Iraq.
Posted by at September 22, 2005 04:48 AMAnyone ever notice that Bendito is never seen in public with Charleton "Moses' Cold Dead Fingers" Heston?
What next, Bennie? Stone Tablets?
Better use wood - you'll need them in Akron this winter. Gas will cost Bu$hels of talents.
Posted by pessimist at September 22, 2005 05:42 AMSilly liberals, don't you know that natural disasters represent the Lord's vengeance only when they strike in blue states or areas full of non-white poor people? The rest of the time they are just garden-variety natural disasters with no overlay of symbolic meaning. When will you finally understand?
Posted by stvwlf at September 23, 2005 03:17 AMHalf of us in Texas did not vote for the shrub, so don't hold him against us.
Posted by shrubchopper at September 25, 2005 04:40 AM