Stories of survival surrounded by a landscape of tragedy
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A before and after view of Briarwood Elementary and Plaza Towers Elementary from aerial views
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Diana Palmore and her two children survived in Plaza Towers Elementary School
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Denisha Woodcock looks for children’s toys around her home, damaged by Monday’s tornado.
Oklahoma City Thunder visit tornado victims in hospitals
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Hal Smith on behalf of @kdtrey5 delivers the Kevin Durant Family Foundation $1 million gift. Thanks KD. #oklahoma twitter.com/redcrossokc/st…
— Red Cross Oklahoma (@redcrossokc) May 21, 2013
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Another storm, another prayer for God’s mercy:
A row of backpacks on hooks in a roofless grade school corridor.
This is just one of many images that will stay with us because they represent the horror without actually being the horror. The fate of the students, the fate of their teachers. The fears of parents helpless to help when their children needed them the most.
May 20, 2013.
So accustomed are Oklahomans to severe weather warnings that Sunday’s tornado outbreak took a while to get our attention. Then came Monday. Then came comparisons to May 3, 1999. Then came images of storm path charts showing where the two tornadoes crossed, a common point separated by 14 years and a thousand indelible memories.
Then came the image of the backpacks at a Moore school reduced to rubble in a flash.
It will be ages before anyone questions the need for frequent program interruptions and those annoying weather maps on the bottom of television screens. Our colleagues in broadcast journalism deserve high praise taking the threat seriously from the moment a funnel cloud began its descent near Moore.
Meteorologists had advised of the possibility a major storm was brewing, but they couldn’t say for sure. The tornado bisque they described boiled over. We viewed in horror a grim repeat of that May 1999 “storm of the century,” a pristine cone turning nasty and black as it wrapped itself in dark rain and ground our bones to make its bread.
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This is all more reason to stay prepared, to stay tuned to weather alerts but also to stay attuned to a Greater Power that rules our lives and calls forth nature. Through death and destruction, in chaos and calamity, but also in recovery and redemption, God is in control.
Have mercy — once again — on Oklahoma, O Lord! Let your peace prevail. May your grace shower the city and wrap it in light. Help us share the suffering and make our hands yours to rebuild shattered communities and lives.
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The sight of the damage can be difficult for adults to comprehend, let alone children: How to help
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FEMA administrator Fugate and Gov. Fallin
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Those who are looking for family members can visit Red Cross www.safeandwell.org
Several nonprofits are collecting donations for tornado victims. How to help local organizations
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#Countdown 11days till #HurricaneSeason R UTech Ready? ready.gov/get-tech-ready
— Craig Fugate (@CraigatFEMA) May 21, 2013
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Read about federal response to the severe storms and #tornadoes in #Oklahoma on our blog from @femadhs.gov/blog/2013/05/2…
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) May 21, 2013
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RT this to show your support for the people of #Oklahoma—then find out how you can help: at.wh.gov/lfKa8, twitter.com/whitehouse/sta…
— The White House (@whitehouse) May 21, 2013
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President Obama to visit #Oklahoma Sunday in wake of this week’s tornadoes
— NBC News (@NBCNews) May 22, 2013
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The Obama Diary 
Hello
Congrats Mellesia!
Forward!
Yeah baby am 1st. Whats up LP 🙂
Congrats on first Mellesia! anybody having an issue viewing the first video?
Thanks Lp and no proble here viewing the video
If the press wants special protections, they need to come to the table too
http://immasmartypants.blogspot.com/2013/05/if-press-wants-special-protections-they.html
We the public are the ones that need protection from these imbecile that call themselves jounalist.
First thing ya learn in journalism school is that journalists should not “be the story.” (Of course, I believe it’s been proven Jonathan Karl never attended one.) They are supposed to cover the news, but these beltway losers have all made themselves the story. That’s not what the press is for, imbeciles!
Is it conspiracy theory or just common sense to see nefarious patterns with the people that Bush installed into the far reaches of government before he left? Lois Lerner, another Bush appointee, who managed to keep the IRS story RW talking points alive.
“Lois Lerner, “who let slip at an American Bar Association meeting on Friday that, between 2010 and 2012, conservative nonprofit groups were improperly scrutinized by the IRS”, is the person who drew attention to this “scandal”. She is also the IRS Director of Exempt Organizations.”
http://www.politicususa.com/lois-lerner-pleads-fifth-republicans-hysterical.html
Her Big mouth started this media feeding frenzy ?
YES!!! I had heard something similar earlier today and found this link just now.
So you have that Kim-guy leaking about North Korea to only a Fox reporter. You have this Lois Lerner igniting this controversy. We know the Justice Dept. is awash with Bush appointees. And frankly, it is common practice to get rid of the past administration’s lawyers, but PBO didn’t want to ignite a ‘controversy’. And now we have a Justice Department with freakin’ moles.
It was a big story (to us liberals anyway) that Rove had stacked the entire administration with civil service Bush people and they would be difficult to get rid of. But I don’t think it is conspiracy theory to see that these people are undermining PBO’s administration. I hear many left-leaning media trying to make yet another case that the Republicans shouldn’t be mad because it was some Bush appointee at the heart of some wrongdoing. That hasn’t worked. We’re lucky the public still likes PBO; but the internals of the polls show that they’re buying the Republican lies on these scandals, they just aren’t attaching the histrionic blame to the President.
What? Republicans are going to call it a ‘scandal’ if PBO purges Bush appointees? Are we better off letting these appointees wreak havoc with the administration and PBO’s agenda? They’re going to scream anyway. I’d rather have them scream about that than wait for the next nefarious Bush appointee-created scandal to emerge.
Sounds like the GOP operatives are creating the “scandals” that the GOP can then “investigate” for political advantage. People better wake up to what’s happening to their democracy.
That’s what I’m thinking, theo67.
Tthat’s exactly how it appears, Theo! This may be a set-up.
She opened her big mouth to “apologize” – and it was a question SHE planted for someone to ask, as I read somewhere, so not sure about the “let slip” – she wanted this to happen – and then she suddenly realizes the storm she has created – well she sure got her 5 minutes – in her attempt to drag down the blah man in the white house.
This too shall pass the President will remain doing what he does – and no-one but no-one will think about Lois Lerner
I’ll go with common sense.
But if Harry Reid went to the nuclear option now, it would have poisoned the well for Immigration reform, especially in the House. The House actually has some momentum…
Whereby, this is Exactly what I was worried about, so he is waiting until immigration reform is done, to tend to blocked Nominations. 🙂
It’s the boxer in Harry.
I’d like to see Harry land a knock out punch for once, and stop taking the standing 8 count. I have very little sympathy for Harry, after falling for Lucy-with-the-football TWICE.
Well – remember, Harry Reid’s the one who questioned Romney’s tax returns. And I saw some story floating silently last week about someone who confirmed Harry’s accusations – but, of course, that story died a quiet death with this media.
If we’d had the goods, we would have seen the goods. But you’re probably right – I heard nothing about someone confirming that info – not from the lie-chasing MSM, so it’s entirely possible that while they were busy spreading RWNJ lies, they were avoiding actual facts.
Bizarre things are happening in the world. Jose Canseco is tweeting and gloating about being accused of rape, tweeting out the accuser’s name, address, picture, and inciting violence against her. Apparently, law enforcement were notified by a huge number of people and rushed to his place in Vegas. How sociopathic does one have to be to gloat about rape?
Then a soldier in London was just decapitated and the men who did it had bloody hands and were gloating about it on camera while the decapitated body lay a few yards away. They decapitated him in front of a crowd and now I believe they’re in custody.
Wednesday, you are drunk.
I try to forget that Canseco is Cuban. He’s an odious embarrassment to us.
The two murderers were actually shot dead by law enforcement.
Read this TL @Boyadee. He witnessed the decapitation that took place in London. Unbelievable.
Correction: Just read another account that said the murderers are hospitalized.
Right, they were shot but not killed.
The pictures are horrific.
Being a suspicious type, I wonder how genuine this guy is?
Hey all! Taking a break and popping back in between raindrops. I saw the Chief Picture Straightner in Charge. on the last thread. Might I add, that skewed anything drives me nuts! My family says I’m OCD. I go around straightening magazines, can goods, linen, pillows, and you name it. My name should be Symmetrical.
The rain is down to a fine mist now, off I go.
What I loved about the picture straightening in the press office was that he’d rather straighten pictures than listen to the chatter from the likes of Ed Henry – just visible to the side of the frame. He’s got his priorities right!
I’m glad the President is coming here Sunday. I am sure (hope) the Governor will have the decency this time to greet him and walk with him. She will only benefit, whether she realizes it or not, by being in his presence and having her picture taken with him.
She needs to realize that this storm result is way too big for our state’s resources to handle! She has cut funding and money since she’s been in office, and our preparedness is not what it should be. Maybe this horrible event will have some influence in convincing her and our ridiculous legislators that cutting taxes and services is not the goal of government. We are in the top three for disaster money needed, along with California and Texas. Some blinders need to come off state officials.
Is this the President’s first visit to Oklahoma? Since he lost every precinct in the state, he obviously has never campaigned there.
Maddow had an excellent segment last night on storm shelters in Oklahoma. If I find it, I’ll post a link downthread.
Posted these on prior threads, but think they’re relevant now.
1) Did you catch your magnificent sunset last night?
2) Clinton visited OKC five days after May 3, 1999. It will be six days for President Obama.
President Obama came here in March 2012 and visited Cushing, a depot on the oil pipeline. At that time our Governor left the state for a vacation in Puerto Rico with her family! People were most upset with her. It was very rude of her. I have a feeling she’ll be here this Sunday, she wouldn’t dare leave.
Oklahoma as a state is a creature of the Federal Government. Without them, the state would have blown away in the 30s. We have Vance Air Force Base, Fort Sill, Altus Air Force Base, Tinker Air Force Base, McAlester Ammunition factory…..these people love to talk about their “independence” and we are very dependent on the feds. Tinker is the largest employer in the state.
Yes, I did see the sunset last evening. We have absolutely spectacular sunsets in good weather. One of the four best things about the state. The other three are
1. OU College of Medicine
2. OU College of Dentistry……for which I am personally very thankful, as they’ve done wonderful work for me.
3. OSU College of Veterinary Science…..for which we are also personally thankful for their care for our dogs when they were in very bad shape.
These three institutions were started before this new crop of far right politicians came into office. At one time we had progressive, forward looking leaders. Wish we would again.
Reality won’t alter the perception of these “true Conservatives”.
Following the Guardian’s live blog on the Woolwich murder.
Of course, George Galloway, Moammar Khaddafi apologist, is in Syria supporting Assad, and says this is blowback for the West’s support of the rebels. Asswipe.
I laugh in disbelief. If one as a grown man can’t comprehend that owning a gun is voluntary and a choice and that a man cannot get pregnant and give birth and women shouldn’t have the government dictating what they can and cannot do with their bodies, then one has no business calling himself a journalist.
A lof of men in this country really need to be enrolled in a Biology/Sex-Ed class.
This is one of the most asinine comments ever.
I used to follow Weigel because he *is* funny, but he tweets too much and got tired of having to wade through drivel.
He reminds me of a male co-worker with four brothers (no sisters). Even his pets were male.
He’s really the sweetest guy on earth (former altar boy, very principled) but he comes across as a complete jerk to someone who hasn’t gotten to know him.
Hope Weige’s female colleagues and/or friends explain to him the difference between women and non-gunowners.
This is a tweet against women in the same way as the tweet against Tiger Woods was against his race. it is just wrong & very sexist. There is a difference between humor and hate – some white MEN need to learn that fact.
STOP THE LEAKS
By WILLIAM P. BARR, JAMIE S. GORELICK and KENNETH L. WAINSTEIN
————————————
The leak of such sensitive source information not only denies us an invaluable insight into our adversaries’ plans and operations. It is also devastating to our overall ability to thwart terrorist threats, because it discourages our allies from working and sharing intelligence with us and deters would-be sources from providing intelligence about our adversaries. Unless we can demonstrate the willingness and ability to stop this kind of leak, those critical intelligence resources may be lost to us.
—————————–
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/21/opinion/stop-the-leaks.html?_r=0
Someone will probably have a link and reference for this, but I remember reading in 2009 that before he left office, GWB “embedded” some of his appointees, or loyal repubs into hidden places in various executive branches, knowing they would cause havoc later. These were people who didn’t need Senate approval.
Does anyone else remember this? I don’t think I’m hallucinating……….!!!
You remember right carolyn….
He handed out lifetime appointments , I remember too.
38 times and no luck. God sure has a funny sense of humor. 😆
December 2009
Rachel Maddow reports on the ‘PrayerCast’ attended by Senators Jim DeMint and Sam Brownback and Rep. Michele Bachmann where they prayed for the defeat of the health care bill. http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/senators-attend-prayercast-pray-health-care
http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/senators-attend-prayercast-pray-health-car
They really must be very proud of themselves.
She is sure a dedicated idiotic lunatic. She and her Marcus believe in praying the Gay away.
I so much want to ask her if she could get him to do that to some of the Rethugs in the Senate. 😀
Got a question: how long do I have to look at my nephew’s PBO-having b.s. on FB and his links to townhall.com before I ‘unfriend’ him?
No longer … do it now. I unfriended my nephew for using very foul language in his anger that our President won re-election and now every wh@^e would be on welfare. Yes, that is what this gun-toting, red necked, white very scared (because he is becoming a minority in this country) country hick (no offense to others who live in the country) put on FB on election night. It was goodbye nephew! And I have never regretted it.
He’s pro marriage equality because he has a gay cousin. But the anti-abortion stuff is horrific. Last week there was a thing about Prince Harry visiting Arlington and showing respect when PBO says F*** the troops. And then a townhall post about Hillary and Benghazi that was based on fantasy. It’s escalating. I would consider engaging him but I don’t think it’s worth it.
I have a rwnj friend. I’ve intentionally NOT unfriended him as each time he posts garbage, I post a comment w/link to the facts. Based on replies, there are some on his friend list that appreciate getting the facts.
I’m thinking of doing that. Not get into a fight with him, but link to actual facts.
Hahahahahahahaha…..someone likes spending time in prison.
Newt prefers to just file for bankrupty…
This is a man who depended on tax payers for most of his life.
And Dump sick wives for Newer Models? Hmm ❓
I’m not sure (that never stopped me before), but isn’t it ILLEGAL – or at the very least, frowned upon – to write sidebar things on yer tax form?
In any event, that jerk used to be Speaker of the House of Representatives. Fine advice, Newt. We’ll add this advice to the list of reasons you’re already going down in history … and I do mean a downward spiral.
Shhhhhh, Jacqueline, I think Chips is checking in. I’m afraid if she hears/sees “newt the gnat”‘s name, she might be tempted to dig up that obscene picture of the mankini. Shall we keep your posted comment just between the 2 of us?
For the sake of all our eyes, please do! 😯
Glad you agree. Uh-oh, how did you find out? Thought this could stay between the 2 of us? Do you think others might have seen the comment?
lololol
You’re speaking in a frequency that only Canadians can hear…
thank goodness; I was concerned
😉 We must all guard against the mankini! You were right to be concerned.
As we might say “O TOD, WE STAND ON GUARD FOR THEEEEEEE”
(thought I’d thrown in some good old Canadian nostalgia just for you, theo67)
Lovely!
glad we can enjoy!
😆 😆
🙂
Yes, please. Oh, no, not that. Gulp.
Did I hear the newtkini mentioned?? Back in a minute………
oh, Chips, there was no mention of anything of the sort!
Are you suuuuuuuuuuure Barb??
yes, boss….no mention of “it” here; maybe I saw it on the “jerks from hell” website
OT, because we need a distraction, can we please have some cheesy-puffs? I think someone mentioned Jay’s birthday?
It was Gingrich who started this escalation to madness. Never before had a Speaker acted the way Gingrich acted toward Clinton. He was the blueprint for the hell we’re in now.
History often finds that major changes happen because of individual acts or individual people. Gingrich opened up this can of worms as a template for how to de-legitimize a Democratic President and how to push the envelope of lies.
And I maintain that John McCain will eventually be blamed for opening the floodgates of idiots that now populate our legislatures throughout the country and D.C.: to consider Sarah Palin ‘qualified’ to be a heartbeat from the Presidency emboldened every idiot to completely disregard laws and the Constitution and be members of Congress.
It all lands on the shoulders of Gingrich and McCain.
This is all true. Well said! There’s a special place in hell reserved for these instigators. They’ve done a lot of damage, and they – along with the rest of the right wing opportunists – have blood on their hands.
Yes, Gingrich and McCain. But I’d still add Palin to that awful list, because what McCain gave us, she used to stir up the idiots even when McCain had disregarded her, after he lost to “that one.” Then I’d add Norquist, who sold off America’s children and put them in harm’s way due to his need for NRA cash in his fat cat pockets. And let’s not forget Rove, who gave us Bush’s brain on a platter – and is still serving up his trashy ideas, bought out by his own SuperPAC.
There are others, I’m sure. What they all have in common is their utter lack of any kind of moral compass.
Palin wouldn’t have been anything until McCain said to the entire world that this flaming idiot was worthy of being President. My point is that everything that followed was unleashed by that one action.
Totally understand. (Just was adding to her accountability.)
Republicans tell us they love the Constitution. As it turns out, they only love the 2nd and 10th Amendments and the Congressional impeachment power in Article II, Section 4. The rest of the Constitution they can do without.
But the AP b.s. is an outrage and this isn’t?!?!?!
Hmmm … there’s a Republican governor in Louisiana. Little Bobby Brady, I believe. Hmmm.
MSM? Anyone out there? Is this microphone working?
The Republicans are delusional….
Awww hail naw!
Senator Vitter Offers — and Senate Democrats Accept — Stunning Amendment With Racially Tinged Impacts
http://www.offthechartsblog.org/senator-vitter-offersand-senate-democrats-accept-stunning-amendment-with-racially-tinged-impacts/
That is awful…….
I see no mention of a vote at the link though….did they vote on it ?
I link to dKos very rarely but this story absolutely shocks me.
Get this: Grassley pulled out of his ass the notion that instead of filling the four vacancies (!) in the D. C. Court of Appeals (the court right under the Supreme Court), that they just eliminate the seats on the court.
That ain’t the half of it: Then McConnell puffed up his turtle brain and decided – get this — that it was a POWER GRAB for the administration to fill the seats!
McConnell:
“What did our Democrat colleagues do in response? They consulted with the White House and pledged to pack the D.C. Circuit with appointees, quote, ‘one way or the other’—meaning using the nuclear option.”
They continue to shock me. I can’t believe it, but they do.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/05/22/1210998/-Srinivasan-confirmation-vote-Thursday-could-hold-key-for-filibuster-reform-in-nbsp-July
Holy. Shit.
I am sorry I don’t buy it. They are trying to tie those murders to Termlin. How come this guy in FL who was not running away and was accessible and cooperating, all of a sudden was with a knife and is killed? Something smells here. And in FL, they shoot 1st and ask questions later.
The bangs looks nice.
Another leak? US kills 4 Americans In Yemen.
That’s the headlines all over news pages.
One after another, after another, after another…
Jovie, POTUS will deal with this as he does with everything else./ The Newstainers at work again!
this info came directly from the Justice Dept. in a letter to Congress. al-Awlaki was targeted and another American killed in that attack (and I use the term ‘American’ loosely. Regular law enforcement could take out someone if the threat was ‘imminent’. It happens on the streets of America all the time. But according to the whiny left, no one should ever be targeted.) The other two: one was killed in Yemen and the other in Pakistan and according to Holder, other than al-Awlaki the other three were not specifically targeted.
WASHINGTON — Attorney General Eric Holder says four American citizens have been killed in drone strikes since 2009.
The attorney general said that in conducting U.S. counterterrorism operations against al-Qaida and its associated forces, the government has targeted and killed one American citizen, Anwar al-Awlaki.
In a letter to Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, Holder says the U.S. is also aware of three other American citizens who have been killed in such counterterrorism operations over the same time period.
http://images.politico.com/global/2013/05/22/agdronesletter.html
Here goes Tweety and McCains campaign manager saying the Obama administration botched the messaging on these scandals, and it looks like they are guilty.
If course, their is no there there, just words, no proof, just words, no substance, just words and talking points.
Good old Tweety, getting both sides of the story, never interviewing Administration officials.
New post:
http://theobamadiary.com/2013/05/22/first-lady-visits-decatur-house/