California fire evacuees disgusted by braggarts

By Brenda Norrell,


YUMA, Ariz. -- San Diego residents fleeing the fires are disgusted with the television coverage of the fires, especially with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's constant bragging and exploiting the tragedies for political gain.

While families wait to hear that their loved ones at home are safe, and whether their homes are burning along with their neighbors, the television news is packed with political braggarts.

The evacuees want to know where fires are burning, and when people can return to their homes. Instead, the news broadcasts are focused on politicians praising themselves as to what a great job they have done, ignoring the large loss of homes and the largest evacuation in the nation's history.

In reality, during the crucial moments Sunday afternoon in San Diego Country, very few state officials were working and there was little response to the first fires. The first fires, accompanied by hurricane force winds, should have been an immediate signal of pending disaster. CNN reported that the winds peaked at 101 mph.

Evacuees, who sought shelter along the California/Arizona border, had a message for Schwarzenegger: "Stop bragging and shut up!"

The evacuees also said it is unfair to compare the California fire disaster to the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The conditions are not the same and neither FEMA nor the politicians should be bragging and making comparisons, they said.

One evacuee said, "San Diego has beautiful weather and everyone has a car. Even the teenagers have their own vehicles. It is unfair to compare the victims of Katrina to the victims in San Diego. San Diego residents have the advantage of being able to get in their cars, travel to the shelters, then go about as they please in the days.

"They don't have sewage at their feet," the evacuee said remembering the floods after Hurricane Katrina. Evacuees pointed out that some San Diego shelters are even providing yoga, massage and health food for evacuees.

"Where else would that happen except in southern California."

Evacuees said there's a great deal of wonderful humanitarian aid and charitable giving going on, like at Viejas. News reports should focus on those, and exactly what is burning now and when people can return to their homes, rather than glorifying politicians, including President Bush.

Instead of praising Bush, evacuees said it is important to remember that the Bush administration censored reports on global warming. In San Diego County, the leaves and grasses were extremely dry from drought, creating prime conditions for fast spreading fires.

In a related story, Blackwater is planning to build a controversial training camp near the border at Potrero, southwest of Campo in San Diego County. Potrero was where one of the first fires started Sunday morning, known as the Harris fire, and where the first person died in the fires. The Harris fire continued to burn Wednesday night. The Harris fire was only 10 percent contained Wednesday night. A plane on loan from Canada, which could drop large loads of fire retardant, was held up at US Customs. More at: http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com/