NationStates Jolt Archive

Sean Penn's rescue bid sinks
From correspondents in New Orleans
05sep05

EFFORTS by Hollywood actor Sean Penn to aid New Orleans victims stranded by Hurricane Katrina foundered badly overnight, when the boat he was piloting to launch a rescue attempt sprang a leak.

Penn had planned to rescue children waylaid by Katrina's flood waters, but apparently forgot to plug a hole in the bottom of the vessel, which began taking water within seconds of its launch.


The actor, known for his political activism, was seen wearing what appeared to be a white flak jacket and frantically bailing water out of the sinking vessel with a red plastic cup.

When the boat's motor failed to start, those aboard were forced to use paddles to propel themselves down the flooded New Orleans street.

Asked what he had hoped to achieve in the waterlogged city, the actor replied: "Whatever I can do to help."

With the boat loaded with members of Penn's entourage, including a personal photographer, one bystander taunted the actor: "How are you going to get any people in that thing?"
:D :D :D

Yeah, it would have been really funny had he fallen in 6 foot water with that flak jacket on.

When I saw that picture of him bailing out with a paper cup, I nearly laughed myself into a hernia.

I think this is one New Orleans Tragedy that the National Guard could be forgiven for doing nothing about.

It's no longer a tragedy, it has been on Oprah. Post Oprah events are classed as comedies, tragic comedies, media circuses, or chances to explain whay my party/ political persuasion is superior to yours.

http://www.morethings.com/log/sean_penn_bailing.jpg

Heh heh heh.

But it does make me wonder why there weren't more private boats out there trying to rescue people. I mean not all of them would come with photographer and leaky hulls. Some would actually help, no?

Asked what he had hoped to achieve in the waterlogged city, the actor replied: "Whatever I can do to help."

You know, instead of taking the money it took to rent that boat, fly him and his entourage to NO and send that boat out, he could have bought several boats and manned them compitent volunteers.

And flak jacket instead of a life jacket. As if he had the balls to go into the areas where there was shooting.

http://www.morethings.com/log/sean_penn_bailing.jpg

Heh heh heh.

But it does make me wonder why there weren't more private boats out there trying to rescue people. I mean not all of them would come with photographer and leaky hulls. Some would actually help, no?

there were people in private boats trying to help. The owners just didn't have the right press agents.

Why the hell would he even be wearing a flak jacket? They're designed to protect against shrapnel and other high velocity debris, not small arm rounds. He might as well be wearing nothing.

Actually he's wearing a level 1 ballistic vest, which does help against small arms fire....


...if you're being fired at by someone using a .22 :D

http://www.californiaconservative.org/?p=796

AND

http://ace.mu.nu/archives/116083.php

Mwahahaha.

Its pretty thin, looks more like some kind of dumbassed tank top to me. Well at least he can act, poor guy.

Its pretty thin, looks more like some kind of dumbassed tank top to me. Well at least he can act, poor guy.
he can act? since when?

he can act? since when?

Well, you have to actually watch something besides Disney cartoons to see the really good work Penn has done recently.

Funny that people sitting comfortably in their homes writing on the internet can actually criticize someone who is doing something concrete (there are other, less Penn-bashing accounts of Penn's actions in NO.)

I applaude Sean Penn for his Effort, but really, why the camera crew unless it was a publicity stunt.

Put several kids on that boat and chances are they would've capsized anyway. did you see how high the waterline came up to the edge where the film crew were?

Don't think his true intentions were to rescue anyone.

WONDER WHAT THE KIDS THOUGHT AFTER THEY HEARD HE MESSED UP?

hmmmmmmm.......


http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/5229/upyours1mk.jpg

What a dick. I was going to respond to this legitimately and detail what an asshole I think Sean Penn is, but I think Team America sums it up better than I ever could:

"Last year I went to Iraq. Before Team America showed up, it was a happy place. They had flowery meadows and rainbow skies, and rivers made of chocolate where the children danced and laughed and played with gumdrop smiles."

Prick.

What a dick. I was going to respond to this legitimately and detail what an asshole I think Sean Penn is, but I think Team America sums it up better than I ever could:

"Last year I went to Iraq. Before Team America showed up, it was a happy place. They had flowery meadows and rainbow skies, and rivers made of chocolate where the children danced and laughed and played with gumdrop smiles."

Prick.

Have you fished any survivors out of NO?

Have you fished any survivors out of NO?

No, but I didn't head down there in a less-than-seaworthy boat loaded down with a camera crew and a small cult and, in effect, risk the lives of the few people such a boat would fit strictly to benefit my own image because I'm an actor that thinks he's politically qualified, either. :)

Like Interhard said, he'd have been better off sending five boats manned with two rescue professionals each. If he really wanted the publicity so badly he could have given a speech afterward about what a kick-ass thing it was that he did.

Funny that people sitting comfortably in their homes writing on the internet can actually criticize someone who is doing something concrete (there are other, less Penn-bashing accounts of Penn's actions in NO.)
You are right on the money with your comment.

http://www.californiaconservative.org/images/penn_boating.jpg

any guesses how many of those kids he would've rescued with all his Peeps on?

if it wern't for the Camera Crews I would've taken his 'rescue' attempt more seriously.

Funny that people sitting comfortably in their homes writing on the internet can actually criticize someone who is doing something concrete

I heartily approve this post.

*stamps a big stamp of approval on the screen*

I wish I could get out there and do something, but being as I am a high school student in Arizona, it really isn't an option. That said, I did make a financial contribution. Wish I could do more though.

And I applaud Mr. Penn for at least making the effort. Regardless of the results, it was something of a show of support for the people of New Orleans.

Regardless of the results, it was something of a show of support for the people of New Orleans.

You should have stopped at "show."

Anyway, I'm hitting the sack. Later all.

Starving Dehydrated NO Survivor: Help!

Sean Penn: Here, get in the boat!

Starving Dehydrated NO Survivor: Wait, is that a photographer with you? Didn't you use to be married to Madonna?

Sean Penn: Er, yeah...but get in!

Starving Dehydrated NO Survivor: F-you, I'm waiting for Toby Keith!

Sean Penn: Just get in, you must be delirious!

Starving Dehydrated NO Survivor: Nuh-uh. I ain't gonna be rescued by Spicoli

Sean Penn: Look, they're not letting the Red Cross in. You might be stranded indefinitely.

Starving Dehydrated NO Survivor: But your boat is all wet!

Sean Penn: You're sitting on a wet roof surrounded by dead bodies, get on!

Starving Dehydrated NO Survivor: Screw you, you liberal America-hater!

You should have stopped at "show."

Anyway, I'm hitting the sack. Later all.

Tell me....doesn't Bush travel everywhere with photographers? But of course he would never set up a clearly fraudulent photo-op *cough* flightsuit *cough* Mission Accomplished.

So, Penn does something and happens to have a photographer along and suddenly he's an attention whore (something all politicians and entertainers are anyway...duh.) Bush goes on vacation and has photographers along, but he's a strong resolute leader.

You and I have agreed in the past Aldranin, and I've even defended you, but in this case we couldn't disagree more.

http://www.californiaconservative.org/images/penn_boating.jpg

any guesses how many of those kids he would've rescued with all his Peeps on?

if it wern't for the Camera Crews I would've taken his 'rescue' attempt more seriously.

I'm hoping that was parody and/or sarcasm, since that photo is blatantly photoshopped.

Oh, and here's an article that shows Penn actually rescued some people.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/gossip/story/343547p-293308c.html

Johnnie Brown, 73, a retired custodian, called his sister on a cell phone after being plucked from his flooded house. "Guess who come and got me out of the house? Sean Penn the actor. Them boys were really nice," he said.
Penn later accompanied a few of them to a hospital.

Yeah, Penn's a real dickhole :rolleyes:

I'm hoping that was parody and/or sarcasm, since that photo is blatantly photoshopped.yeah it was. but it was better than the one with cindy sheenan on the boat. this was from the links posted earlier. btw.

Yeah, Penn's a real dickhole :rolleyes:
And he could have rescued more if he wasn't using the opportunity for his own little photo op.

And he could have rescued more if he wasn't using the opportunity for his own little photo op.
And how many have you rescued? Perhaps you could have rescued more if you weren't spending your time criticizing Mr. Penn?

Honestly, at least the man is doing SOMETHING!

And he could have rescued more if he wasn't using the opportunity for his own little photo op.

Really? Are you sure the cameraman didn't lend a hand? Should all the reporters in the area stop filming as well? How about all the photographers that flock around Bush?

Penn is doing more than 99.99% of Americans are, and yet you are happily criticising him from your laptop while you lick Dorito crumbs from your fingers.

yeah it was. but it was better than the one with cindy sheenan on the boat. this was from the links posted earlier. btw.
JuNii, on another thread, you made some very good suggestions for survival in situations such as New Orleans, but for you to make personal attacks against Sean Penn's rescue attempts because of your obvious dislike for the man makes absolutely no sense whatsoever.

JuNii, on another thread, you made some very good suggestions for survival in situations such as New Orleans, but for you to make personal attacks against Sean Penn's rescue attempts because of your obvious dislike for the man makes absolutely no sense whatsoever.not digging him for his attempts, but for the camera man that was with him.
why take him along? there are alot of people saving lives without the photo op. besides, Sean Penn always rubbed me wrong. Don't know why really... Could be that while he hates the Paparazzi, to the point of physically attacking them, yet wants them around to use them to further his own agenda. Dunno really, why I just have a dislike to Mr. Penn.

so this will be my last post on this thread. Ciao.

I applaude Sean Penn for his Effort, but really, why the camera crew unless it was a publicity stunt.

Don't think his true intentions were to rescue anyone.

Probably not his primary goal. Instead, I think he was trying to show that people *should* be helping and that our government has failed at most levels now. I would have left the camera person on shore though and instead would have hired some able bodied fisherman from the US West Coast to help out ... but I actually respect the effort.

Really? Are you sure the cameraman didn't lend a hand? Should all the reporters in the area stop filming as well? How about all the photographers that flock around Bush?

Penn is doing more than 99.99% of Americans are, and yet you are happily criticising him from your laptop while you lick Dorito crumbs from your fingers.

Is there something wrong with licking dorito crumbs from one's fingers? It's one of the best ways to get them off.


Anyway, I agree. Sean Penn DID rescue some people. Anyone criticizing him who hasn't rescued anyone is in a position of inexcusable moral hypocracy.

I just think it's funny that his boat started to sink for no reason and that he was trying to overcome the situation with a plastic cup. :D

Is there something wrong with licking dorito crumbs from one's fingers? It's one of the best ways to get them off.


Anyway, I agree. Sean Penn DID rescue some people. Anyone criticizing him who hasn't rescued anyone is in a position of inexcusable moral hypocracy.

I just think it's funny that his boat started to sink for no reason and that he was trying to overcome the situation with a plastic cup. :D

Oh, I agree. Real heroes look silly sometimes. Even Mother Theresa crapped.

By the way, I have nothing against Doritoes or the licking of crumbs of same. I was merely looking for a contrasting activity.

/end proffesorial voice.

Tell me....doesn't Bush travel everywhere with photographers? But of course he would never set up a clearly fraudulent photo-op *cough* flightsuit *cough* Mission Accomplished.

Right, I have no problem with the traveling with photographers. The point is that if Sean Penn wanted to help, he shouldn't have brought one rickety boat with a bunch of people and equipment weighing it down, he should have sent a bunch of boats with professionals.

And, while I would have to point out that Bush's photo-op didn't risk anyone's lives, to imply that I would suddenly change my opinion on something like bogus photo-ops in politically-beneficial situations simply because Bush did it is insulting. You know damn well I don't agree with him on half of the shit he says.

So, Penn does something and happens to have a photographer along and suddenly he's an attention whore (something all politicians and entertainers are anyway...duh.) Bush goes on vacation and has photographers along, but he's a strong resolute leader.

"A" photographer? And no, all politicians and entertainers don't go out on politically-motivated photo-ops that risk the lives of the people assisting them with said photo-ops. If one does, he or she is an attention whore.

And please don't say you're one of the ones criticizing Bush's vacations, Gymoor. Every president goes on numerous vacations that pass almost wholly under-the-radar, and, until Moore made a big deal of Bush doing it, no one ever cared. Nor should they; Presidents have to do more on their vacations than many do on an average day at an average job.

And, while I would have to point out that Bush's photo-op didn't risk anyone's lives, to imply that I would suddenly change my opinion on something like bogus photo-ops in politically-beneficial situations simply because Bush did it is insulting. You know damn well I don't agree with him on half of the shit he says.

I'm going to probably state the obvious here, but did you know that it has been pointed out a few times here that while Bush had his pictures taken in NO, rescue ops were suspended? The same when Air Force One was flying overhead. What, did they think they were going to throw an emergency ration at him in the hopes of hitting him? Maybe they've got some heat seeking MREs that can be launched via opening the packet hmm?

In short, that photo op did risk lives and delayed rescue ops. More so, I dare say, than Sean Penn's blunder since he can't really do anything to affect rescue ops to that level.