OT Democrat Used National Guard to visit his Home! How low can Dems go???

Amid Katrina Chaos, Congressman Used National Guard to Visit Home
Two Heavy Trucks, Helicopter Were Involved in Lawmaker's Trip at
Height of Crisis
Congressman

Rep. William Jefferson visited his New Orleans home after Hurricane
Katrina with the assistance of National Guard troops. (ABCNEWS.com)
By JAKE TAPPER

Sept. 13, 3005 — Amid the chaos and confusion that engulfed New
Orleans after Hurricane Katrina struck, a local congressman used
National Guard troops to check on his property and rescue his personal
belongings — even while New Orleans residents were trying to get
rescued from rooftops, ABC News has learned.

On Friday, Sept. 2 — five days after Katrina hit the Gulf Coast — Rep.
William Jefferson, D-La., who represents New Orleans and is a senior
member of the powerful Ways and Means Committee, was allowed through
the military blockades set up around the city to reach the Superdome,
where thousands of evacuees had been taken.

*

Military sources tells ABC News that Jefferson, an eight-term
Democratic congressman, asked the National Guard that night to take
him on a tour of the flooded portions of his congressional district. A
5-ton military truck and a half dozen military police were dispatched.

Lt. Col. Pete Schneider of the Louisiana National Guard tells ABC News
that during the tour, Jefferson asked that the truck take him to his
home on Marengo Street, in the affluent uptown neighborhood in his
congressional district. According to Schneider, this was not part of
Jefferson's initial request.

Jefferson defended the expedition, saying he set out to see how
residents were coping at the Superdome and in his neighborhood. He
also insisted that he did not ask the National Guard to transport him.

"I did not seek the use of military assets to help me get around my
city," Jefferson told ABC News. "There was shooting going on. There
was sniping going on. They thought I should be escorted by some
military guards, both to the convention center the Superdome and
uptown."

The water reached to the third step of Jefferson's house, a military
source familiar with the incident told ABC News, and the vehicle
pulled up onto Jefferson's front lawn so he wouldn't have to walk in
the water. Jefferson went into the house alone, the source says, while
the soldiers waited on the porch for about an hour.

Finally, according to the source, Jefferson emerged with a laptop
computer, three suitcases, and a box about the size of a small
refrigerator, which the enlisted men loaded up into the truck.

Two weeks later, the vehicle's tire tracks were still visible on the
lawn.



"I don't think there is any explanation for an elected official using
resources for their own personal use, when those resources should be
doing search and rescue or they should be helping with law enforcement
in the city," said Jerry Hauer, a homeland security expert and ABC
News consultant.

Jefferson said the trip was entirely appropriate. It took only a few
minutes to retrieve his belongings, he said, and the truck stayed at
his house for an hour in part to assist neighbors.

"This wasn't about me going to my house. It was about me going to my
district," he said.

Two Heavy Trucks and Helicopter Involved

The Louisiana National Guard tells ABC News the truck became stuck as
it waited for Jefferson to retrieve his belongings.

The soldiers signaled to helicopters in the air for aid. Military
sources say a Coast Guard helicopter pilot saw the signal and flew to
Jefferson's home. The chopper was already carrying four rescued New
Orleans residents at the time.

A rescue diver descended from the helicopter, but the congressman
decided against going up in the helicopter, sources say. The pilot
sent the diver down again, but Jefferson again declined to go up the
helicopter.

After spending approximately 45 minutes with Jefferson, the helicopter
went on to rescue three additional New Orleans residents before it ran
low on fuel and was forced to end its mission.

"Forty-five minutes can be an eternity to somebody that is drowning,
to somebody that is sitting in a roof, and it needs to be used its
primary purpose during an emergency," said Hauer.

Coast Guard Commander Brendan McPherson told ABC News, "We did have an
aircraft that responded to a signal of distress where the congressman
was located. The congressman did decline rescue at the time so the
helicopter picked up three other people.

"I can't comment on why the congressman decided not to go in the
aircraft," McPherson said. "Did it take a little more time to send the
rescue swimmer back a second time? Yes … You'd have to ask the
congressman if it was a waste of time or not."

The Louisiana National Guard then sent a second 5-ton truck to rescue
the first truck, and Jefferson and his personal items were returned to
the Superdome.

Schneider said he could not comment on whether the excursion was
appropriate. "We're in no position to comment on an order given to a
soldier. You're not going to get a statement from the Louisiana
National Guard saying whether it was right or wrong. That was the
mission we were assigned."

Jefferson insisted the expedition did not distract from rescue
efforts.

"They actually picked up a lot of people while we were there," he
said. "The young soldier said, 'It's a good thing we came up here
because a lot of people would not have been rescued had we not been in
the neighborhood.'"

Jefferson's Homes Searched in Unrelated Investigation

In an unrelated matter, authorities have recently searched Jefferson's
property as part of a federal investigation into the finances of a
high-tech firm. Last month FBI officials raided Jefferson's house as
well as his home in Washington, D.C., his car and his accountant's
house.

Jefferson has not commented on that matter, except to say he is
cooperating with the investigation. But he has emerged as a major
voice in the post-Katrina political debate.

"The levee system that had protected New Orleans for hundreds of years
had failed," he said on the House floor on Sept. 7. "Our city was
inundated, 80 percent of it, with deadly water. Thousands of lives
were lost, many drowned, trapped in their homes. Others were lost
trying to escape the fury."

Last week, Jefferson set up a special trust fund for contributions to
his legal defense in light of the FBI investigation. A senior federal
law enforcement source tells ABC News that investigators are
interested in learning if Jefferson moved any materials relevant to
the investigation. Jefferson says he did not.

ABC News' Sarah H. Rosenberg, Chris Isham and Ted Gerstein contributed
to this report.

--

Scott in Florida

On Tue, 13 Sep 2005 22:59:00 -0400, Scott in Florida
<JustAsk@Florida.com> wrote:
[color=blue]
>Amid Katrina Chaos, Congressman Used National Guard to Visit Home
>Two Heavy Trucks, Helicopter Were Involved in Lawmaker's Trip at
>Height of Crisis
>Congressman
>
>Rep. William Jefferson visited his New Orleans home after Hurricane
>Katrina with the assistance of National Guard troops. (ABCNEWS.com)
>By JAKE TAPPER
>
>Sept. 13, 3005 — Amid the chaos and confusion that engulfed New
>Orleans after Hurricane Katrina struck, a local congressman used
>National Guard troops to check on his property and rescue his personal
>belongings — even while New Orleans residents were trying to get
>rescued from rooftops, ABC News has learned.
>
>On Friday, Sept. 2 — five days after Katrina hit the Gulf Coast — Rep.
>William Jefferson, D-La., who represents New Orleans and is a senior
>member of the powerful Ways and Means Committee, was allowed through
>the military blockades set up around the city to reach the Superdome,
>where thousands of evacuees had been taken.
>
> *
>
>Military sources tells ABC News that Jefferson, an eight-term
>Democratic congressman, asked the National Guard that night to take
>him on a tour of the flooded portions of his congressional district. A
>5-ton military truck and a half dozen military police were dispatched.[/color]


Bush uses air force one to go on a longer vacation than any other
president in history.
--
gburnore@databasix dot com
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he should be grateful that Teddy Boy wasn't driving.


"Scott in Florida" <JustAsk@Florida.com> wrote in message
news:l94fi1lcu9nce68robjlqbglc4jj92vr8p@4ax.com...[color=blue]
> Amid Katrina Chaos, Congressman Used National Guard to Visit Home
> Two Heavy Trucks, Helicopter Were Involved in Lawmaker's Trip at
> Height of Crisis
> Congressman
>
> Rep. William Jefferson visited his New Orleans home after Hurricane
> Katrina with the assistance of National Guard troops. (ABCNEWS.com)
> By JAKE TAPPER
>
> Sept. 13, 3005 - Amid the chaos and confusion that engulfed New
> Orleans after Hurricane Katrina struck, a local congressman used
> National Guard troops to check on his property and rescue his personal
> belongings - even while New Orleans residents were trying to get
> rescued from rooftops, ABC News has learned.
>
> On Friday, Sept. 2 - five days after Katrina hit the Gulf Coast - Rep.
> William Jefferson, D-La., who represents New Orleans and is a senior
> member of the powerful Ways and Means Committee, was allowed through
> the military blockades set up around the city to reach the Superdome,
> where thousands of evacuees had been taken.
>
> *
>
> Military sources tells ABC News that Jefferson, an eight-term
> Democratic congressman, asked the National Guard that night to take
> him on a tour of the flooded portions of his congressional district. A
> 5-ton military truck and a half dozen military police were dispatched.
>
> Lt. Col. Pete Schneider of the Louisiana National Guard tells ABC News
> that during the tour, Jefferson asked that the truck take him to his
> home on Marengo Street, in the affluent uptown neighborhood in his
> congressional district. According to Schneider, this was not part of
> Jefferson's initial request.
>
> Jefferson defended the expedition, saying he set out to see how
> residents were coping at the Superdome and in his neighborhood. He
> also insisted that he did not ask the National Guard to transport him.
>
> "I did not seek the use of military assets to help me get around my
> city," Jefferson told ABC News. "There was shooting going on. There
> was sniping going on. They thought I should be escorted by some
> military guards, both to the convention center the Superdome and
> uptown."
>
> The water reached to the third step of Jefferson's house, a military
> source familiar with the incident told ABC News, and the vehicle
> pulled up onto Jefferson's front lawn so he wouldn't have to walk in
> the water. Jefferson went into the house alone, the source says, while
> the soldiers waited on the porch for about an hour.
>
> Finally, according to the source, Jefferson emerged with a laptop
> computer, three suitcases, and a box about the size of a small
> refrigerator, which the enlisted men loaded up into the truck.
>
> Two weeks later, the vehicle's tire tracks were still visible on the
> lawn.
>
>
>
> "I don't think there is any explanation for an elected official using
> resources for their own personal use, when those resources should be
> doing search and rescue or they should be helping with law enforcement
> in the city," said Jerry Hauer, a homeland security expert and ABC
> News consultant.
>
> Jefferson said the trip was entirely appropriate. It took only a few
> minutes to retrieve his belongings, he said, and the truck stayed at
> his house for an hour in part to assist neighbors.
>
> "This wasn't about me going to my house. It was about me going to my
> district," he said.
>
> Two Heavy Trucks and Helicopter Involved
>
> The Louisiana National Guard tells ABC News the truck became stuck as
> it waited for Jefferson to retrieve his belongings.
>
> The soldiers signaled to helicopters in the air for aid. Military
> sources say a Coast Guard helicopter pilot saw the signal and flew to
> Jefferson's home. The chopper was already carrying four rescued New
> Orleans residents at the time.
>
> A rescue diver descended from the helicopter, but the congressman
> decided against going up in the helicopter, sources say. The pilot
> sent the diver down again, but Jefferson again declined to go up the
> helicopter.
>
> After spending approximately 45 minutes with Jefferson, the helicopter
> went on to rescue three additional New Orleans residents before it ran
> low on fuel and was forced to end its mission.
>
> "Forty-five minutes can be an eternity to somebody that is drowning,
> to somebody that is sitting in a roof, and it needs to be used its
> primary purpose during an emergency," said Hauer.
>
> Coast Guard Commander Brendan McPherson told ABC News, "We did have an
> aircraft that responded to a signal of distress where the congressman
> was located. The congressman did decline rescue at the time so the
> helicopter picked up three other people.
>
> "I can't comment on why the congressman decided not to go in the
> aircraft," McPherson said. "Did it take a little more time to send the
> rescue swimmer back a second time? Yes . You'd have to ask the
> congressman if it was a waste of time or not."
>
> The Louisiana National Guard then sent a second 5-ton truck to rescue
> the first truck, and Jefferson and his personal items were returned to
> the Superdome.
>
> Schneider said he could not comment on whether the excursion was
> appropriate. "We're in no position to comment on an order given to a
> soldier. You're not going to get a statement from the Louisiana
> National Guard saying whether it was right or wrong. That was the
> mission we were assigned."
>
> Jefferson insisted the expedition did not distract from rescue
> efforts.
>
> "They actually picked up a lot of people while we were there," he
> said. "The young soldier said, 'It's a good thing we came up here
> because a lot of people would not have been rescued had we not been in
> the neighborhood.'"
>
> Jefferson's Homes Searched in Unrelated Investigation
>
> In an unrelated matter, authorities have recently searched Jefferson's
> property as part of a federal investigation into the finances of a
> high-tech firm. Last month FBI officials raided Jefferson's house as
> well as his home in Washington, D.C., his car and his accountant's
> house.
>
> Jefferson has not commented on that matter, except to say he is
> cooperating with the investigation. But he has emerged as a major
> voice in the post-Katrina political debate.
>
> "The levee system that had protected New Orleans for hundreds of years
> had failed," he said on the House floor on Sept. 7. "Our city was
> inundated, 80 percent of it, with deadly water. Thousands of lives
> were lost, many drowned, trapped in their homes. Others were lost
> trying to escape the fury."
>
> Last week, Jefferson set up a special trust fund for contributions to
> his legal defense in light of the FBI investigation. A senior federal
> law enforcement source tells ABC News that investigators are
> interested in learning if Jefferson moved any materials relevant to
> the investigation. Jefferson says he did not.
>
> ABC News' Sarah H. Rosenberg, Chris Isham and Ted Gerstein contributed
> to this report.
>
> --
>
> Scott in Florida[/color]

On Tue, 13 Sep 2005 23:13:16 -0400, Gary L. Burnore
<gburnore@databasix.com> wrote:
[color=blue]
>Bush uses air force one to go on a longer vacation than any other
>president in history.[/color]

ROFLMAO

You really are a kook....

Press on...

--

Scott in Florida

Scott in Florida wrote:[color=blue]
> Amid Katrina Chaos, Congressman Used National Guard to Visit Home
> Two Heavy Trucks, Helicopter Were Involved in Lawmaker's Trip at
> Height of Crisis
> Congressman[/color]

blah blah blah -- you know about the millions paid out by FEMA to
Miami/Dade residents last year?

Jefferson's just another crooked La. politicians neglecting his duties
while making out like a bandit on the backs of his poor constituents...
[color=blue]
>From [url]http://www.urbancure.org/dev/pagedetails.asp?SubCatID=272[/url][/color]

=========================
Where was black congressman William Jefferson, who has represented New
Orleans for eight terms in the U.S. House of Representatives?

Floodwaters poured into New Orleans when the 17th Street Canal levee
burst. It had been known and publicized for years that New Orleans was
at risk because this levee was not capable of withstanding a Category 5
storm. Making the necessary investment to upgrade this levee required
federal funds, and therefore in Jefferson's area of responsibility.

In an interview on "Hannity and Colmes," Jefferson indicated he had
been involved in failed efforts over the years to get these funds.
However, given the risks to which his constituents were exposed, one
would think that the congressman would have been making a lot of noise
about this.

But Jefferson is a busy man. He's been the target of an FBI sting
operation investigating possible public corruption and the possible
illegal pocketing of hundreds of thousands of dollars in payoffs in an
international business deal. In a raid on his house, the FBI found a
large stash of cash in his freezer. Jefferson's lawyer told the press,
"The congressman has lots of contacts. He's involved in advancing a lot
of businesses on behalf of his constituents and states and in a number
of countries throughout the world."

It's too bad Jefferson couldn't have used his acumen for getting deals
done to get the 17th Street Canal levee upgraded.
=============

Gary L. Burnore, 9/13/2005,
<dg84g5$e9l$4@pookiehead.databasix.com>,11:13:16 PM, wrote:
[color=blue]
> Bush uses air force one to go on a longer vacation than any other
> president in history.[/color]

Why is it you people cannot stay on subject and constantly change the
topic. Then when that doesn't work you resort to berating people.

Please comment upon the Congressman whom this topic is about.

P.S. Who's pookiehead?

--
"They call it golf because all of the other four-letter words were
taken." -- Raymond Floyd

Learning Richard, 9/14/2005,
<1126702353.207120.168180@g43g2000cwa.googlegroups.com>,8:52:33 AM,
wrote:
[color=blue]
>
> Scott in Florida wrote:[color=green]
> > Amid Katrina Chaos, Congressman Used National Guard to Visit Home
> > Two Heavy Trucks, Helicopter Were Involved in Lawmaker's Trip at
> > Height of Crisis
> > Congressman[/color]
>
> blah blah blah -- you know about the millions paid out by FEMA to
> Miami/Dade residents last year?[/color]

Changing the subject again...

How about commenting about the Congressman? Better yet, how about the
other thing you won't mention?

--
"The least thing upset him on the links. He missed short putts because
of the uproar of butterflies in the adjoining meadows." -- P.G.
Wodehouse

Scott in Florida, 9/13/2005,
<l94fi1lcu9nce68robjlqbglc4jj92vr8p@4ax.com>,10:59:00 PM, wrote:
[color=blue]
> Congressman
>
> Rep. William Jefferson[/color]

Reckon he's related to William Jefferson Clinton?

--
"If I can hit a curveball, why can't I hit a ball that is standing
still on a course?" -- Larry Nelson

badgolferman wrote:[color=blue]
> Learning Richard, 9/14/2005,
> <1126702353.207120.168180@g43g2000cwa.googlegroups.com>,8:52:33 AM,
> wrote:
>[color=green]
> >
> > Scott in Florida wrote:[color=darkred]
> > > Amid Katrina Chaos, Congressman Used National Guard to Visit Home
> > > Two Heavy Trucks, Helicopter Were Involved in Lawmaker's Trip at
> > > Height of Crisis
> > > Congressman[/color]
> >
> > blah blah blah -- you know about the millions paid out by FEMA to
> > Miami/Dade residents last year?[/color]
>
> Changing the subject again...
>
> How about commenting about the Congressman? Better yet, how about the
> other thing you won't mention?[/color]


Why don't you learn how to read, moron? Damn. Go see all the other
threads on this ng. Then, check the subject of this particular thread.

Who gives a shit about Jefferson? He's under fire, he will be
sacrificed. So what?

Rep. William Jefferson is already under investigation by the FBI. I
think you'll find this story to be no more than page A4 news. No one
cares. He's low rent and low level.

We could talk about Tom DeLay, whose close partners in TRMPAC have been
indicted on multiple felony charges (TRMPAC = Texans for a Republican
Majority PAC -- founded by DeLay)... or Bill Frist, the heart surgeon
who seems to believe you can catch AIDS from sweat... or the recently
deposed head of FEMA, who presided over the payment of millions of
dollars in fraudulent claims in Miami/Dade Country for a hurricane that
there was no more than a "severe storm"... some of the payments were
made for "ice and snow damage"... then he tried to bury the story...

Oh, but no, lets talk about some low level congressman who wanted to
grab a laptop and a couple of suitcases from his house when he was
(legitimately) using the National Guard to survey the damage in his
district. Did you know that congressmen routinely use National Guard
as protection when surveying storm damage in their districts?

You should see how many Suburbans come rolling up to Capitol Hill
whenever Tom DeLay wants to go grab a sandwich downtown.

heh.... funny man you are.

badgolferman wrote:[color=blue]
> Learning Richard, 9/14/2005,
> <1126702353.207120.168180@g43g2000cwa.googlegroups.com>,8:52:33 AM,
> wrote:
>[color=green]
> >
> > Scott in Florida wrote:[color=darkred]
> > > Amid Katrina Chaos, Congressman Used National Guard to Visit Home
> > > Two Heavy Trucks, Helicopter Were Involved in Lawmaker's Trip at
> > > Height of Crisis
> > > Congressman[/color]
> >
> > blah blah blah -- you know about the millions paid out by FEMA to
> > Miami/Dade residents last year?[/color]
>
> Changing the subject again...
>
> How about commenting about the Congressman? Better yet, how about the
> other thing you won't mention?[/color]


Why don't you learn how to read, moron? Damn. Go see all the other
threads on this ng. Then, check the subject of this particular thread.

Who gives a shit about Jefferson? He's under fire, he will be
sacrificed. So what?

Rep. William Jefferson is already under investigation by the FBI. I
think you'll find this story to be no more than page A4 news. No one
cares. He's low rent and low level.

We could talk about Tom DeLay, whose close partners in TRMPAC have been
indicted on multiple felony charges (TRMPAC = Texans for a Republican
Majority PAC -- founded by DeLay)... or Bill Frist, the heart surgeon
who seems to believe you can catch AIDS from sweat... or the recently
deposed head of FEMA, who presided over the payment of millions of
dollars in fraudulent claims in Miami/Dade Country for a hurricane that
there was no more than a "severe storm"... some of the payments were
made for "ice and snow damage"... then he tried to bury the story...

Oh, but no, lets talk about some low level congressman who wanted to
grab a laptop and a couple of suitcases from his house when he was
(legitimately) using the National Guard to survey the damage in his
district. Did you know that congressmen routinely use National Guard
as protection when surveying storm damage in their districts?

You should see how many Suburbans come rolling up to Capitol Hill
whenever Tom DeLay wants to go grab a sandwich downtown.

heh.... funny man you are.

On Tue, 13 Sep 2005 23:13:16 -0400, Gary L. Burnore wrote:
[color=blue]
> On Tue, 13 Sep 2005 22:59:00 -0400, Scott in Florida
> <JustAsk@Florida.com> wrote:[/color]
[color=blue]
>
> Bush uses air force one to go on a longer vacation than any other
> president in history.[/color]


Well, of COURSE he does! He's the President of the United States, and is
pretty much the ONLY way he can travel.

What's he supposed to do, charter a PuddleJumper, and then make sure
there's enough room for Secret Service, the 'Football', aides and
assitants, etc, etc, all on an aircraft piloted by God Knows Who?

Or perhaps have a private car on Amtrak, with all the amenities (incuding
Security, Operations, Communications, etc as provided on AF1)and attach it
to the Acela?

And I would make the SAME statement if Kerry were President.

So what does what you said have to do with the fact that a Congressman
utilized government troops to help him clear out his house when they
should have been aiding the needy that DIDN'T have the resources to hire a
moving company to lend him a hand. Add to that the fact the truck got
stuck and they had to call in ANOTHER truck to pull the first one out?

How much do you suppose the Taxpayers paid for his little Moving Fiasco?

ANSWER: Much, much more than we SHOULD have!