I can get a seven-night cruise to the Carrribean, leaving from Houston, for $499, through Expedia. It took me all of five seconds (yes, I really timed myself) to find this package. I suppose if I bothered to scroll down the page, or if I looked for discounts, I could have gotten a cheaper package.
FEMA, in a desperate search for housing during the Rita-disaster-relief disaster, will pay $1,275 per week for cabins aboard three luxury liners. Defending a $236 million agreement with Carnival Cruise Lines, government officials claim that is the market price for cabin space.
What the hell is that? If I can find a cabin for $499 on a ship that moves and will provide entertainment, can't the government find a better deal?
Worse still, the cruise ships are half empty.
Truly, there is a lot of blame to go around regarding the fiasco of disaster relief, but am I supposed to accept this crap? Where the hell is Bush? If I were the president, I'd write to Carnival, thanking them for helping out in a time of national crisis, but rejecting the contract. My letter would go as follows:
Dear Carnival Cruise Lines,
Thank you for the use of your three ships. As President, however, I cannot accept the contract, which my subordinates hastily signed. I think you will agree, that with everyone chipping in for disaster relief, including small children who are donating their lunch money for the cause, that paying $236 million is inappropriate.
Sincerely,
President Bush
That's what he ought to do. And further, in future disasters, exercise the right of eminent domain! If we can evict a homeowner from his house to make way for a shopping mall, we can damn well take over a cruise ship or a hotel to house refugees.
I'm telling you, if this contract stands, I'm off Bush and any politician that stands for it.
P.S. I propose a boycott of Carnival cruises. Make it happen folks.
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Article comments
1 - Dr. Kurt
Yes, and the next thing we'll have to pay for is the massive stomach flu outbreak on the cruise ships...
2 - Silas Kain
I'm with you, Mark, we should be getting the word out. Carnival has taken advantage of the situation. Perhaps it's good business to some, but it's morally wrong in my eyes. There comes a time when decency must outweigh the dividends paid to stockholders. Remember, under this President, those stockholders probably won't pay any taxes for their windfall profits.
3 - Rich Powers
Mistake number one: thinking that the president or any of the Republicans currently holding office understand the concept of fiscal responsibility.
This Carnival deal is B.S. and it shouldn't stand.
4 - Dave Nalle
Cruise ships are just floating hotels. They could put these people up in Motel 6 and other inexpensive motels in Dallas and Houston for $300 a week. They could rent them apartments in Texas for even less than that. Putting them on the cruise ships makes less than no sense at all. For that matter, I bet they could take mothballed naval ships which are still perfectly seaworthy, sail them down to NO and use the crew quarters for them.
Dave
5 - Sandra
As a Past employee of CCL I have no choice but, to defend this B.S. that all of you are trying to make sense of. You think you know but, you have no idea...first of all Carnival must refund for all the cruises booked from August to January which let me tell you the 3 ships were probably close to full bookings. Then there is the food and supplies that are being brought in by the company not the government for 6 months. Also the relocation fee for Crew members that will not be of use to the ships that will be sitting in port for 6 months. Such as entertainers, Child counselors, and dock workers. To help cover salary that the crew will lose due to taking on evacuees and loss of gratuities for most of those who don't have salary jobs. Most whom are from poor countries and rely on that pay for supporting families back home. They have to pay for sewage and garbage disposal which will have to be shipped out on barges to some other Dumping ground. They have to pay salary to the health care workers on board as well as medicines needed for those who are ill. If you think the government or FEMA made a mistake that's your opinion but, remember Carnival stepped in to help not to exploit or profit from this. This company raised millions of dollars for charities and when a crew member passed away or their country had devastation they stepped in financially to help them and the families. No one criticized them when they gave money to the 9-11 fund. It's so easy for others to judge things when they haven't experienced being there to see first hand what the real intentions are. Carnival is a close family no matter your race or customs. keep watching the news and listen to what the reporters think because obviously no one on this messege board can think for themselves. Or question things on there own. How sad is it that from a tragedy all that ever comes out is finger pointing and blame. Why keep focusing on the negative when we should look to the positive.
6 - Eric Berlin
I think there are any number of reasons for long-time Republicans to get angry at the current administration nowadays.
But then again, I'm not one of them!
7 - Georgio
I'm a Democrat and I am mad as hell..and I agree with all the excellent posts here and since this may be a first where Democrats and Republicans can finally agree on something then maybe together we can say HELL NO WE AIN'T GOING TO TAKE IT ANYMORE
8 - Nancy
I started out as a publican. Now I hate them all, dem or pub. The neocons & BushCo have trashed my party of fiscal & governmental responsibility & made it a cesspool of sleaze, corruption, special interests, & mockery of the law & the people. I don't care what Clinton did with that whore; he could have banged every slut in DC as far as I cared; I'd rather Bush did the same, rather than screwed the people - the taxpayers who aren't his billionaire & corporate buddies. Whatever he is, Bush is no republican, never was. He's a failure, is what he is, and a living scandal. He should kill himself for shame if not horror at all the american blood he has on his hands.
9 - Georgio
Sandra..we are thinking positive ..that's why we are saying it is a waste of taxpayers money..
10 - Georgio
Sandra..after thinking about it Carnival does not seem to be the guilty party in this but I stick to what I said it is a waste of money..Any stupid idiot could find rooms to rent if he dose not care what it costs..read Dave Nalles comments ..that makes sense
11 - Mark Adams
Sandra,
Put $200+ million dollars in my bank account, and I'll come up with cheaper housingl.
12 - John Bil
These hurricanes are bringing an even bigger storm of fraud. New Orleans after all is the most corrupt big city in America.
13 - Anthony Grande
I am a Democrat and I like Bush.
14 - Eric Berlin
AG, if that's true (and I believe you're just joshing on the former) that would make you and Ron Silver (circa Fall '04).
Quite a pair!
15 - Anthony Grande
Now if I would have said that it would have been edited.
16 - Eric Berlin
In no way do I see how.
17 - Anthony Grande
"In no way do I see how."
Just go over to the "Gay Marriage is OK in Massachusetts" site. There you will see anything close to even a reference of a personal attack in my comments and only my comments got edited.
18 - Lono
Ah, finally you Republicans are realizing all the shit you were fed and what a bunch of assclowns this administration is.
yes, Clinton lied about a blowjob.
That way way better than the catastrophe of leadership we are now faced with. Oh well, with DeLay out, we can focus on getting indictments on Frist & Duke Cunningham. Oh, then Rove.
Nice group y'all voted for there!
19 - Silas Kain
How sad is it that from a tragedy all that ever comes out is finger pointing and blame. Why keep focusing on the negative when we should look to the positive.
In this age of information technology, there is no excuse for any American of voting age not to take part in the process on some level. Our politicians haven't failed us, we have failed ourselves. That's a bitter pill to swallow.Valid points, Sandra, thanks for your perspective. It's unfortunate that we've succumbed to the negative side of things. We've only ourselves to blame, you know. We allowed the political system to run amok. We're a people who hate to take responsibility for anything and here's where we are. If we are ever going to turn this country around and place it on a steady course there are three things that I honestly believe we must do:
20 - Sandra
Don't get me wrong I'm not a supporter of Bush and never was. I am furious as are all of you. I sat at home and watched the people of our country sitting stranded on their rooftops and at the super dome. I agree with you about the Education, Campaign Reform, and Voter Awareness. And I feel the way Bush is running things that our children will pay for it later on down the road. I just wanted to defend the fact that Carnival shouldn't be the one holding the smoking gun. The government can pay them less money I agree there but, to want to boycott the company is ridiculous. And I know people are saying these people could be in hotels for cheaper rates but, why doesn't the government arrange that? Why haven't they said hey Carnival is getting too much money for this let's find a better route and cheaper one? Think about that one.
21 - Silas Kain
Sorry, Sandra, I was focusing on one of your statements specifically. Speaking about Carnival, I think that the points you've made are quite valid. Perhaps Carnival should bypass the government and just come straight to the American people via the media. We've become so cynical about anything that comes out of government these days. The provisions Carnival have made for these disaster victims, on the surface, are wonderful. But to stymie further cynicism of Carnival's motives, all they have to do is just tell it to us straight. I know that this is an unconventional approach for most politicians and major corporations. The American people aren't as stupid as they seem. Tell us the facts, tell it to us straight and we'll rally behind those who are doing right by us.
22 - Mark Adams
Just to clarify, I'm mad at Bush, the Republicans... and also the mayor of New Orleans, the governor, FEMA, the Democrats, etc. It's just that Bush is at the top. He can make things happen if he wills it. Anyone who stands for this stuff is an idiot.
23 - Silas Kain
That makes us all idiots at one time or another, Mark. Bush is the problem at this time because he's President. Blaming Bush may be justified on the surface but there's plenty of blame to go around. I wonder if we've all been idiots for allowing this political grandstanding to keep going on. Since Reagan left office politics has become much more vicious and we're letting it continue.
So let me ask you all the questions again --
- what's stopping Americans from getting out the vote in huge numbers?
- Why aren't we taking a more active role in our government by just being aware of who is in office at all levels?
- Politics may be evil to most but does that position automatically negate exercising our voices at the ballot box?
Gutta cavat lapidem, non vi sed saepe cadendo (A drop of water hollows a stone, not by force, but by continuously dripping) - Ovid24 - phil
Blame, blame, blah... is all a bunch of bs. The only real difference between Bush and Clinton is that Bill didnt have the level of catastophic problems to deal with as Bush has had... I guess had Clinton been in charge, he would have been getting a blow job in DC while New Orleans got their BJ...It is just starting to sound very childlike to say "i hate you, George Bush". In politics its always going to be the lesser of two evils...and its clear which one that is The repubs on the federal level have done less harm than the dems on the local level. Nancy, Silas, Et al, why dont you form a new party and spell out just exactly what you are going to do...talk is cheap
25 - Mark Adams
Phil,
Being mad at someone and hating that person are two different things. I don't hate Bush, but my support for him is waning. He's president; he's got the power--he should take charge of the situation. Regardless of how Clinton would have handled the situation, Bush can and should do better than he has.
And get off the Clinton sex scandel. It's quite pointless now. He's not even president.