As we post here, 390 blogs from 8 countries have joined the Blog for Relief Day. We have chosen the Salvation Army. You can donate directly to their Hurricane Fund here.
Also, many folks can donate through their workplace. Many companies will match some or all of the employees donation.
Greg Reynolds at Instapundit is listing many facts about the relief efforts. Of particular note is Chuck Simmins' tracking of corporate donations, and FEMA's list of recommended charities.
--Colonel Steve
In Should Conservatives Dump the GOP? La Shawn Barber answers the question with a resounding "YES!" I am not quite ready to go that far, although I see her point. The GOP seems to have abandoned many of the things that were distinctive about it when I officially joined the party in the 90s. The next Presidential election, however, will be most telling.
If Rudy Giuliani wins the primaries, I am confident that I will not be voting Republican for the first time in a Presidential election since 1984. Nor will I support John McCain or any of the other RINOs making noises about running.
I admire Mr. Giuliani for what he did following 9/11. He also did some good things to clean up crime in NYC prior to that. But he cheated on his wife (a la Bill Clinton) and he supports killing babies.
The economy will go up and down, it always does. Its swings can be influenced by the President and by Congress, but it will still go up and down. Once you cede ground in the morals arena, however, it is nearly impossible to regain it. And a democracy cannot survive without strong moral underpinnings.
I believe that many social conservatives like myself will not vote for a socially liberal Republican -- even if it guarantees a Hillary win. I am not a pragmatist, I am an idealist. And I believe our nation is strongest when it is idealistic, as well.
--Red
Hugh Hewitt has suggested that we as bloggers pick a day and raise funds for the Katrina Relief Effort. The day is Thursday, September 1st. We here have picked the Salvation Army. Donations can be made here. You can also see the news here of Wal-mart's donation towards the effort.
Thoughts are also being floated around about what groups that can help in rebuilding efforts. See on Hugh's site the thoughts so far of Architects Without Borders and Architecture for Humanity. Any ideas on these, or any other groups that are capable of this??
Thank you for your donations to the relief effort.
--Colonel Steve
--Red
I haven't followed this story close enough to have an opinion, but it looks like Governor Fletcher has pardoned everyone but himself that are involved with the administration's hiring practices. Courier-Journal came out with their story this evening.
The Bluegrass Report Blog has been following this story. They refer to a quote made after former Governor Patton pardoned aides in 2003, that "Things like that are not going to happen in a Fletcher-Pence administration".
At face value, it doesn't look pretty.
--Colonel Steve
We've all been updated today minute by minute of the effects of Katrina. Our prayer's are with Louisianna, Mississippi, and other affected regions.
Michelle Malkin has a great listing of relief agencies already kicking into gear. The Red Cross is one of these, and to donate towards the effort, you can donate here. Or the Samaritan's Purse, through donations here.
I must also mention the Herculean efforts of bloggers like Josh Britton, and Brendan Loy at the Irish Trojan. Thank you.
--Colonel Steve
Katrina makes shore today, as a high Cat 4 or low Cat 5 size (hearing conflicting stories on wind speed). No doubts by any standard, she's a big one.
Right now, while the storm is occurring, prayer is the biggest need. It works, too.
Continue to follow Josh Britton and Wizbang's Paul. Also, support the folks who will be helping out after Katrina: Red Cross, World Vision, SBC's Disaster Relief, or any other groups who are capable.
Also, as the remnants of Katrina moves through the Eastern US, we'll be seeing her effects. The latest forecast for Kentucky:
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LOUISVILLE HAS ISSUED A
* FLOOD WATCH FOR INDIANA...NORTH CENTRAL KENTUCKY...SOUTH CENTRAL KENTUCKY...SOUTH CENTRAL INDIANA...EAST CENTRAL KENTUCKY AND NORTHWEST KENTUCKY
* FROM NOON EDT /11 AM CDT/ TODAY TO WEDNESDAY MORNING
* NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP TODAY AND TONIGHT ACROSS THE AREA. WIDESPREAD RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF ONE TO TWO INCHES ARE LIKELY...WITH LOCALLY HEAVIER AMOUNTS POSSIBLE THROUGH TONIGHT. REMNANTS OF HURRICANE KATRINA ARE THEN EXPECTED TO MOVE INTO SOUTHERN KENTUCKY LATE TONIGHT...AND WILL OVERSPREAD THE REGION THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING. AN ADDITIONAL TWO TO FOUR INCHES OF RAINFALL WILL BE POSSIBLE AREAWIDE MAINLY ON TUESDAY...WITH LOCALLY HEAVIER AMOUNTS. THIS WILL AGGRAVATE THE ALREADY SATURATED GROUNDS.
--Colonel Steve
Looks like Katrina's eye will make landfall overnight, right at New Orleans (probably the 3am - 6am Eastern time frame). If the current forecast track holds, the eye will be right over New Orleans, with may a little of it's eastern half over the city.
This is the part that's a little worrisome. Both halves are not created equal, and it's the eastern half that typically spawns tornados and dumps the most rain.
Also some worrisome thought's at Jeff Master's weather underground blog. (HT: Instapundit).
I, like Hugh Hewitt, will be following Josh Britton's blog. Please keep everyone affected in your prayers. Also, whether by money, muscle, or time, consider how we all can help in the storm's aftermath.
--Colonel Steve
I had seen recently this Washington Post article on the Tuskegee Airmen. A very fitting tribute to a generation that is quickly leaving us. Thank you, Courier-Journal, for getting it right, here.
Last summer of last year, I had the privledge of visiting the World War II memorial in DC. It had been a goal of mine to get there ASAP after it's opening, due to my high respect for one man honored through the memorial.
My father-in-law was a veteran of World War II. His infantry division fought in the Pacific Theater, mostly in the Phillipines. My wife had made sure he was included in the names listed at the memorial. Our only wish had been that he could had seen it himself, passing away in late 2000 while it was still in the development and construction stage.
I am still in awe of this generation, for as Tom Brokaw titled his book, I still believe this group to be the Greatest Generation.
--Colonel Steve
Via Instapundit, Blackfive, Michael Silence, and the Clarksville Tennessee Leaf Chronicle comes the story of a group who makes it a habit of protesting military funerals.
This group goes under the name of the Westboro Baptist Church, and are located in Topeka, KS. They are led by a fella named Fred Phelps. Don't let the name "Baptist" fool you. The are not associated with any of the common Baptist organizations like Southern Baptist or American Baptist.
As labeled by even Wikipedia, they are a cult lead group. Their former ranting centered around protesting homosexuality, but as of 2005 they are protesting funerals of military folks in Operation Iraqi Freedom They believe that the deaths in Iraq are God's punishment for America's sins against God. They are now spewing their hate filled speech at these picketed funerals.
Blackfive has posted the Navy's advisory cautioning personnel how to answer a WBC protest at a military funeral.
The Westboro group has a local Kentucky branch in Harrodsburg run by a guy with the name of Bart McQueary. I have not heard of any pickets organized locally by Bart, but is definitely something for us to watch out for.
--Colonel Steve
Update: As to what happened in Smyrna, TN, see here for today's article.
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