September 10 2005

Well gang, the biggest news item of the week is still Katrina and her aftermath.
It’s the first time as a nation that we have ever gone through anything like this, and it looks like we have a lot of lessons to learn.
When a nation goes to war, everybody knows that the officers fresh out of the military academy start out as First Lieutenants or the equivalent. They need the guidance of a few seasoned sergeants in order to learn the "feel" of combat on the ground, as opposed to the classroom.
To put inexperienced officers into their first real combat experience and to expose them to a nuclear holocaust, would more than likely challenge their ability to get a really firm grasp on the situation. Sergeants or no sergeants.
The same could be said for a bunch of political hacks and MBA’s plopped down in the path of a storm like Katrina in tandem with a long-neglected levee system.
What we’re going through should come as no surprise. An antiquated state political system, working theoretically, hand in hand with a newly structured National Emergency community, just didn’t have the cohesiveness or experience necessary to handle the job.
As for the levee system, the people that they were designed to protect should have demanded something a little more adequate.
Maybe the industrial complex, so full of engineers, should have demanded better also.
At any rate, as one of our leaders said, not too long ago, "You go to war with the army you’ve got." And the response of the man on the street has shown that there will never be enough medals to hand out to all of the grunts that deserve them.
And that brings us to the Montrose Beer and Gun Club. Our benefit committee has decided to go ahead with our usual cook-off and musical extravaganza this year, to benefit that same kid that wishes that things were better.
The kick-off party, as usual, will be held at Rudyard’s British Pub on Sunday, September 11th starting at 6:00PM. There will be two bands this year. "Igneous Rock", and by special arrangements with "Gumbo" records, a band called "Deauxmain". Like always there will be a two dollar cover charge that will go to the club’s prosthesis fund. Which, as you know, is used to help out those members of the club that have lost portions of their bodies while drinking beer and shooting guns.
In closing, President Bush, has looked at the situation and in his confidence building "take charge" kind of way, has offered his contribution to governments roll in dealing with this disaster: A national day of prayer.
We better pray. There’s over two more years of this guy to deal with.