So I've been staying quiet here on the subject of Katrina because I know I have at least one friend who, for whatever reasons, is both a Republican and a Bush supporter and while I absolutely cannot understand her political choices, I do love and respect her, but honestly I cannot stay quiet any longer.

Because this isn't about partisan politicking. This is about being an American and standing up when someone, anyone, in the political arena behaves as if they were above question.

Yesterday in the car, everlastingwhy and I were listening to NPR and a local actor/artist was giving a very impassioned plea about how using the word 'refugee' to describe the hurricane survivors was bad and no good and loaded with negative connotations.

OK. I get that.

The problem?

FEMA is treating them as if they were refugees.

The so-called evacuee camps are being run more like prison camps and the American citizens within are being treated with less respect and consideration than our actual criminals are.

This situation has been a clusterfuck from the get-go and the administration has been desperately trying to shift blame onto anyone they can find - the local N.O. government, the media, hell, the IDP's themselves.

It's a fucking travesty and it cannot be allowed to happen.

If you don't have any idea what I'm talking about, go here thete1 and here buggery and heretzikeh. They have done an awesome job of searching out and collecting news stories.

Do not fall victim to more lies from the Bush Administration. Do not allow DHS and FEMA to continue to treat our friends, families, hell, our enemies like this.

Sign petitions.

Write letters to the editor.

Stay angry. Stay focused.

I just got a speeding ticket on the way home from work.

The irony? I saw a good half a dozen others pulled over before me and said to myself, "Ah, holiday weekend. Speed traps galore."

I suck.

Fuck.

So you know how I tore a contact lens the other week? Well, when I opened the new ones this morning, I discovered one had a big chunk missing out of the side of it. Being the idiot I am, though, I threw out the temporary ones last night so now I'm sitting here with a contact digging into my eye, waiting for the place to open so I can call them and make them arrange for me to pick up a new one at a branch closer to work.

Additionally, I'm sitting at someone elses desk right now and I want to die. I'm surrounded by some of the most ridiculous crap in the world. Concert tickets for Yanni. Inspirational clip art. Jesus embracing the U.S. of A. Teddybear angels. A kitten calendar. The obligatory post-911 flag waiving bullshit. The rather disturbing triumverate of Usurper Bush, the guy who played Spencer for Hire, and David James Elliot.

S-Moe: If Bush ever takes over fascist style, Jon Stewart is going to be one of the first arrested.

Ru: Forget that, he's going to be up against the wall.

S-Moe: I can see it now, prison camps built in North Dakota...