The Bennett & Dodd Press Club Address:

First - I'm not a great note taker so I taped it from C-Span. The following is from my notes. We were in the first row of tables, so we could see and hear well.

I am continually impressed that a committee made up of "adversaries" works so well. Dodd and Bennett have an amazing rapport and work beautifully together. I believe that this has made a difference to the whole world. Their hearings and investigations have caused much work to be done on the Y2K problem that would not otherwise have been done.

Bennett:

Optimistic reports everywhere, but most self reported. Cannot get second opinion of readiness.

"tight, almost dangerous deadlines" refers to those who plan to be ready in October or the end of the year

very worried about San Francisco and Baltimore

awareness paid off, but fingers still need to be crossed

there are going to be a series of failures. Even the best systems have glitches "How long will they last and how debilitating will they be?" depends on level of remediation that was done (paraphrasing here)

What will the next story be? The future story? (talking to the press)

Bennett is worried about" 1. hackers 2. industrial espionage 3. terrorists who will attempt to use Y2K as coverup for attack 4. nation-state attack (Chinese have stated publicly that they are considering shutting down U.S. computers)

Vulnerabilities lie in security, privacy and reliability.

Dodd:

Can't look at Y2K in a vertical way. It's a lateral problem.

In good shape here at home.

Deeply concerned about health care.

Greatest fear is panic. Told of War of the Worlds story. (Martian invasion fiction story on radio. People tuning in late thought it was real and panicked.)

Survivalist community suggests hoarding. Hoarding will cause problems. Shouldn't hoard food or prescription drugs. That's the greatest threat. Normal, precautionary steps good, as for hurricane or winter storm.

Health care: he went on and on to say that the health care industry is not doing well, not testing devices, etc. And at the same time, said that patients should not stockpile drugs.

Talked about nuclear worries in Russia - worried about safety hazards, 16 Chernobyl type facilities in Russia. U.S. working to help them and communicate with them to prevent problems there and to prevent firing weapons due to wrong or missing information. (my notes are fuzzy here) Setting up a communications post in Colorado (I think)

Bennett:

"We had April 9 problems but you didn't hear about them."

Worried about people taking their money out of banks.

2-3 days prep enough. Should stockpile information. Small to medium businesses worrisome.

 Dodd:  answered question about Russia's response to invitation to work together (yes) and wants to include China.

Bennett: question from audience: about New York having been reported to have major problems. Not the federal gov'ts responsibility to fix New York

Bennett: response to question about the possibility of martial law and Clinton wanting to stay in office. Audience laughed and Bennett said that was the correct response. Said that martial law included calling up the National Guard and at least in Utah, the man who in charge of Guard doesn't like Clinton and would not participate in anything intended to keep in office past his term (liberal paraphrasing here)

-------------------------------

I will watch for the coming Senate final report. If you read the last one, the detail did not support the conclusions. (Happy - sort of- summary, scary detail.) I expect the next one to be the same. It is essential to read every word.

From the notes of Sally Strackbein (attended the event)

-- Sally Strackbein (sally@y2kkitchen.com), September 08, 1999

Answers

Thanks Sally,

One note indicated... "very worried about San Francisco..."

Was there any elaboration on that?

Diane

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), September 08, 1999.

Thanks Sally for your efforts.

There are truly some amazing remarks here for those trained to read between the lines.

Still saying 2-3 days preps enough tells me they are still scared to death of bank runs. I don't see them changing their tune in October or November or December. It's the banks stupid.

Bennett said he's worried about SF and Balt and then says NY is not the govs responsibility. They'll find out if NY utilites break.

Bennett also expressed his major concern is of terrorists. Here is where Flint and all the pollys eyes glaze over. Terrorists/communists will make y2k a worst case scenario. Please prepare for it.

-- BB (peace2u@bellatlantic.net), September 08, 1999.

Thanks Sally!

-- (southeastern@my-deja.com), September 08, 1999.

Sally-- I was there too, in the balcony with the rest of the press rats. How was the food? I ate sushi at the food court. :)

Scott Johnson
Editor, y2ktoday

-- Scott Johnson (scojo@yahoo.com), September 08, 1999.

Sally,

Nice Work. Thanks for taking the time. Does anyone know when C-Span will rerun? I'd like to be rolling on it.

-- semper paratus (always@ready.here), September 08, 1999.

Hey Scott:

I think I would rather have eaten sushi with you. Actually, it wasn't bad at all. Crab cakes. They were good, but too rich. I only ate one.

Diane:

I don't think he elaborated on the reason for worrying about San Francisco and Baltimore. I would have written it down if he had. I'm a native San Franciscan and my mother and brother live in the Baltimore area. (Remeber - Baltimore was listed as a problem on Jim Lord's version of the Navy report)

-- Sally Strackbein (sally@y2kkitchen.com), September 08, 1999.

Thanks Sally,

Frankly, I'd be surprised if the whole Silicon Valley's lack of Y2K attention, wasn't something else to worry about as well.

*Sigh*

Uh Scott,

Any chance of a follow-up story... with more details on San Francisco and Baltimore?

Just a thought.

Diane

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), September 08, 1999.

Thanks Sally! I only have C-Span...I wonder if they'll run it?

lol Scott...which tasted fishier, the news conference or the sushi?

Diane, you might want to think about coming back down south : )

Mike

=====================================================================

-- Michael Taylor (mtdesign3@aol.com), September 08, 1999.

Michael... you have GOT to be kidding!

Even San Francisco at it's worst, is better than L.A. and the surrounding sprawl, at it's marginal best. Think "water" or lack of it... and gridlocked freeways... in the event of mandatory evacuations.

(Shudder! Not that the Bay Area would be a cakewalk. *Sigh*)

Diane

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), September 08, 1999.

Here you go Diane

I gather you live near San Francisco. It appears your city will not make it.

Senators alarmed by city Y2K report

By Patrick Thibodeau

WASHINGTON -- Members of the U.S. Senate Special Committee on the Year 2000 Technology Problem today viewed with alarm a report by the General Accounting Office (GAO) that said only two of the largest 21 U.S. cities are Y2K ready: Dallas and Boston.

The GAO said 10 cities won't complete their Y2K repair work until what is considered to be just about the last minute -- sometime between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31.

U.S. Sen. Christopher Dodd (D-Conn.), vice chairman of the committee, said any city that has set October to December as its Y2K completion date "is traveling in a fantasy world -- you're just not going to get it done."

Nine cities should be ready by Sept. 30, the GAO said.

Joel Willemssen, a director at the GAO, said he had "serious concerns" about the progress of the major cities and that many haven't allowed enough time for testing.

In assessing a city's Y2K readiness, the GAO looked at electricity and other utilities, emergency services, hospitals and city services, among other things.

But Brian O'Neil, a Philadelphia councilman and past president of the National League of Cities (NLC), painted a different picture. A recent survey by the NLC found that 92% of some 400 cities would have their systems repaired by Jan. 1. The remainder will have 88% to 99% of their systems repaired. "We're ready," he said.

Committee members, though, weren't convinced that the NLC survey was as accurate as the GAO study, because it didn't probe the responses.

"I don't think the American people are really aware of what might happen," said Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.). "I feel very uncomfortable."

Cities that expect to be fully Y2K ready between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31 are Los Angeles; Chicago; Phoenix; San Antonio, Texas; Detroit; San Francisco; Baltimore; Columbus, Ohio; El Paso, Texas; and Washington.

Cities that should be ready by Sept. 30 are New York, Houston, Philadelphia, San Diego, San Jose, Indianapolis, Memphis, Milwaukee, and Jacksonville, Fla.

-- Dog Gone (layinglow@rollover.now), September 08, 1999.

Thanks Dog Gone.

Caught between a rock: San Francisco... and a hard place: San Jose.

Groan! Oh well, our winter weather's better than back East. Small blessings.

Diane

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), September 08, 1999.

One of the questions was regarding the UNreadiness of NYC and DeeCee. Bennet acknowledged that information but by passed it saying it wasn't the *gubmints* responsibility, its was the mayor's. True, but how can he keep saying 3 days.. or as the Dodd mumbled, "a few canned goods is all you need." If its not fixed now, HOW ARE THEY GOING TO FIX IT IN 3 DAYS?? After watching them, I decided these two were no better than the rest of the pollys. ( We need to get two more ropes!! We are probably going to run out of good strong trees too, so keep your eyes open.) In fact they are WORSE than pollys as they DO KNOW THE REAL SITUATION and they have caved into the banks, rather than taking care of the people who give them a job. As chubby hubby commented soooooo appropriately, "those lying sons of b#@*%S!!"

Taz..who is just a rocking and a knitting as fast as she can go and really pissed off!!

-- Taz (Tassie@aol.com), September 08, 1999.

"Terrorists/communists will make y2k a worst case scenario"

Actually I'm more concerned with some of the Tinfoil nutbars/gun goofs/guv'ment hating militias than I am with some paper tiger communist. Its the pasty-faced hoping for TEOTWAWKI doofus who might be inclined to "help things along" when they see it's a BIR that will be the real worry...

-- Y2K Pro (y2kpro1@hotmail.com), September 08, 1999.

See also...

What question would you have asked Senators Bennett and Dodd at today's press conference?

http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id= 001N8e

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), September 08, 1999.

>>Survivalist community suggests hoarding. Hoarding will cause problems. Shouldn't hoard food or prescription drugs. That's the greatest threat. Normal, precautionary steps good, as for hurricane or winter storm.

He just said that there is a real danger of pharmaceuticals being unavailable. Or in his words, a 'threat.'

Since certain pharmaceuticals are essential to certain people, I will acknowledge his threat and be sure to stock up early and often.

Doesn't matter to me whether the danger is that the factories cannot produce or ship, or that, as he would have it, people hoard. Unavailable is unavailable, whatever the cause. I choose to take no chances, and I am grateful to him for making the threat clear.

-- Spanky (spamfree@spamme.not), September 08, 1999.

Y2K Pro Honey,

"Actually I'm more concerned with some of the Tinfoil nutbars/gun goofs/guv'ment hating militias than I am with some paper tiger communist."

If you have any extra money....buy a brain. What makes you think you know more about a terrorists/communists threat than Senator Bennett? Do you just spout the first thing that rolls off the top of your head? Do everyone a favor and don't keep showing your ignorance. Its getting terribly tiresome and boring.

Thats as nice as I know how to say it, sorry if it offends anyone.

Cary

-- Cary Mc from Tx (Caretha@compuserve.com), September 08, 1999.

Guess ol' Cary must fall into the nutbar category - neither Bennet or Dodd said anything about communists. That was left to one of your fellow Tinfoils. Pay attention or go back to your trailer park...

-- Y2K Pro (y2kpro1@hotmail.com), September 08, 1999.

Dear Y2K Pro Honey,

Is it obvious I live in a trailer park and wear "tinfoil" hats or are you again letting whatever rolls off the top of your head hit the keys to your computer before you engage your brain. I suggest you re- read the above posts.

Here, I'll help you out:

"Bennett also expressed his major concern is of terrorists. Here is where Flint and all the pollys eyes glaze over."

Btw, I kinda like you, you remind me of when I was young and dumb.(S)

Cary

-- Cary Mc from Tx (Caretha@compuserve.com), September 08, 1999.

Thanks Sally, This is so typical of the whole Y2K mess. A total disconnect.

"Deeply concerned about health care"

"Shouldn't hoard food or prescription drugs"

"Optimistic reports everywhere, but most self reported. Cannot get second opinion of readiness. "

"awareness paid off"

"there are going to be a series of failures. Even the best systems have glitches "How long will they last and how debilitating will they be?" depends on level of remediation that was done (paraphrasing here) "

-- CP (Spoonman@prodigy.net), September 08, 1999.

Dear Sally,

Your courage, fortitude, generosity, and compassion shine so brightly. Many folks here in the forum are unaware of your tireless efforts to educate people about Y2K risks, how you help people prepare for what hard times that may come, and when you call a jackass a jackass and a snake a snake without the cover of online anonymity and anonymous signatures, so let me be the first to say thank you, thank you, and thank you, again. And I admit that even a thank you is inadequate to describe my appreciation for all that you do. I treasure your friendship. Keep on keeping on!

With warmest regards, Stan Faryna

P.S. I highly recommend Sally's website: http://www.y2kkitchen.com

-- Stan Faryna (info@giglobal.com), September 08, 1999.

This is puzzling. I just watched a y2k show night before last on CBN where Bennett was interviewed and clearly stated that he was personally preparing for "more than two weeks." The statement was followed with analogies to an ice storm that effected power etc for about two weeks in some areas and only a day in others. Ask Drew Parkhill and confirm. He was on following the taped interview with a live interview with two experts.

-- marsh (armstrng@sisqtel.net), September 08, 1999.

Thanks to Sally for reporting this. Taking notes usefully isn't easy. And it might be a good idea to actually read the lines, which were sobering enough, without the requirement to (once again, ad infinitum) read the same old stuff between them. Problems with security, privacy, and reliability? These are perfectly reasonable concerns, and not very similar to problems with power, banking, and water. If the main concerns are hackers and terrorists, it would appear that a very different set of contingency plans and preparations is called for. Interesting indeed.

-- Flint (flintc@mindspring.com), September 08, 1999.

Thanks Sally.

Spanky - "He just said that there is a real danger of pharmaceuticals being unavailable. Or in his words, a 'threat.'"

I just got a prescription from my doc for a 100 day supply of a med, but when the pharmacy tried to fill it the insurance would only give a 34 day supply (and will only refill within 7 days of running out). So I am negotiating with the doc for a similar med that is generic (the other wasn't) so hopefully it will be cheaper, and I will have to pay out of pocket to get more than a month's supply. Oh.. the doc mentioned that he has noticed that some antibiotics have been in short supply recently.

Bottom line.. if you are on ANY med, attend to this SOON. Get however much of a stockpile you feel comfortable with (even if you have to pay out of pocket) and then MAINTAIN that level of reserve through the rollover. Also.. just in case, research alternatives to the medication... other meds, herbs, diet, exercise etc.

-- Linda (lwmb@psln.com), September 08, 1999.

Gee, San Diego, Los Angeles, San Jose and San Francisco. It looks like the west coast will do just fine for that 3 day BITR.

-- smfdoc (smfdoc@aol.com), September 08, 1999.

Cary.........LOL

At least Flint keeps his head about him. Y2KPro has been reduced to making mean attacks. Instead of dealing with Bennett's remarks ala Flint, he acts as if we made it all up. Nice cool Cary.

Y2kPro, You're too locked in buddy. We don't feel like attacking you back. Let's agree to disagree agreeably. We are working through this together. Secretly I pray you and Flint are right. But what do we do when a Senator, who is spinning y2k as it is, openly admits his fears of terrorists taking advantage of the rollover?

He knows something. He is telling us something. It caught Flint's attention as well as mine. What do you think Pro, is he lying? If you think so, tell us why.

-- BB (peace2u@bellatlantic.net), September 08, 1999.

Thanks for the valuable info, Sally and Dog. Bennett was not quite so tight-lipped about self-reporting several months ago at the food supply hearings, when he very strongly emphasized the unreliability of such numbers. In fact, he said that when the GAO had checked self-reports it invariably found them overly optimistic.

As for prescription meds, when I researched the subject back in late spring industry spokespeople, if they would speak to me at all, seemed to be much more worried about stockpiling upsetting the finely-tuned and complex JIT system than they were about people being deprived of life-sustaining meds.

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), September 08, 1999.

dog gone, Thanks for the article. Did my bleary eyes miss something? Did you say where the article came from? I am not familiar with Patrick Thibodeau.

Al

-- Al K. Lloyd (all@ready.now), September 09, 1999.

" Secretly I pray you and Flint are right. But what do we do when a Senator, who is spinning y2k as it is, openly admits his fears of terrorists taking advantage of the rollover? He knows something. He is telling us something. It caught Flint's attention as well as mine. What do you think Pro, is he lying? If you think so, tell us why. "

First of all, I am concerned about terrorrists as well, homemade terrorrists, like the ones I have outlined above. I am however NOT concerned about the old white-wing boogyman, the "communists".

p.s. Your prayers are wasted on me, the agnostic...

-- Y2K Pro (y2kpro1@hotmail.com), September 09, 1999.

Pro,

Look at yourself. You are so filled with anger and hatred of doomers you are not thinking rationally. Sen. Bennett is not a doomer...why are your fingers in your ears? You disagree with him on terrorists but you give me no reason. Looks like the discussion is over. Hope you're right. Have a good one Pro.

Bob

-- BB (peace2u@bellatlantic.net), September 09, 1999.

BB,

Like most Tinfoils, you're not very bright. Where did I say I disagreed with Bennet on terrorists? I did not. Back to the trailer park with ya...

-- Y2K Pro (y2kpro1@hotmail.com), September 09, 1999.

First of all, I am concerned about terrorrists as well, homemade terrorrists, like the ones I have outlined above

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Pro,

This statement infers you are not concerned about the terrorism Bennett fears. You are more afraid of me.

Let's move on....... If you are concerned about terrorism of a foreign nature as you suggested, as a result of y2k, then shouldn't you be saying that it might be a good idea to be making some preparations?

-- BB (.....@.....), September 09, 1999.

"This statement infers you are not concerned about the terrorism Bennett fears."

The statement infers nothing, it does however imply that I am concerned about terrorism. As I have said all along.

Preparing for terrorism? Aside from staying out of NY City on New Years eve, I'm not sure how one goes about that...

-- Y2K Pro (y2kpro1@hotmail.com), September 09, 1999.

Y2K Pro (Not), I try not to answer nasty posts from hostile people, particularly one who seems hell-bent on his version of damaging the credibility of people who are preparing wisely for the uncertain, but certain not to be good, future. However, I must take exception to the really mean-spirited way in which you depict those Americans who care about their nation enough to wish to preserve it. Your characterization of them is rather more a caricature. If you wish to do a Clinton, when he caricatured preparers, by your assertions that they all live in trailers, at least get a speech writer who can make your derision more classy and colorful! Better yet, I suggest that you visit some real patriot website and do your number there! They will not hesitate to add you to their list of "undesirables," and will not be nearly so polite as the ladies and gentlemen here. P.S. Have you ever met some of the nice people who live in trailer parks? Florida is filled with them, if you'd like to research these good folk!!!

It is fortunate that you write in a pseudonym, because you would be an embarrassment to your mother if you published your name!

-- Elaine Seavey (Gods1sheep@aol.com), September 09, 1999.

BTW, Senate transcript, now available (often different than an oral speech)...

TRANSCRIPT of National Press Club Event of September 8, 1999

http://www.senate.gov/~y2k/speeches/transcript090899.htm

See also...

A synopsis is over at the USIS/USIA Washington Files link...

08 September 1999

U.S. Senate's Y2K Leaders Confident in Readiness

(Needless Public Panic Greatest Threat) (670)
By Charlene Porter
USIA Staff Writer

http://www.usia.gov/cgi-bin/washfile/display.pl?p=/products/washfile/ latest&f=99090801.glt&t=/products/washfile/newsitem.shtml

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), September 09, 1999.

Diane,

Thanks for the link. Extremely informative, lots of information if you read between the lines.

Y2K Pro Honey,

Incase you are to lazy to go to the link Diane has provided on the Bennett/Dodd Press Conference, here's a part of what Senator Bennett had to say about those pesky "paper tiger Communists":

Finally of course there is the possibility of a nation-state attack where a nation-state decides, as the Chinese have now said publicly in a paper that was published just a week or so ago, they are considering shutting down United States' computers rather than attacking the United States' defense establishment. In this paper that is public the Chinese government said no one should take on the United States in a frontal fashion, because the American military is too strong. The American vulnerability is in their computer system. We understand how great that vulnerability is as a result of the studies we have made on Y2K.

P.S. Would you like to eat your words with salt & pepper, or is humble pie more to your liking? Maybe you still think you're more informed than 2 Senators on threats to the US? Please clue us all in as to where you get so much brain power....enquiring minds want to know.;)

Have a nice day!

-- Cary Mc from Tx (Caretha@compuserve.com), September 09, 1999.

Pro, Where do you live?

-- BB (peace2u@bellatlantic.net), September 09, 1999.

Interesting "pro" - I see you completely discredit as a threat those foreign governments who have (so far this century) killed some 120 million of their own citizens as a non-threat" - while fearing religious and freedon-loving people here who have been attacked and killed several times by our own government - who you admire and support whole heartedly !

So, explain againthis terrorism thing - when the government you love has starting killing our fellow citizens? And when absolutely NO evidence has shown up indicating that people who have prepared are planning any actions, but those Communist Chinese and North Koreans are long preparing their propaganda campaign to invade South Korea and Tawian?

Your true hatred and colors are showing....nothing is more to be feared than a confirmed liar and power monger than the Clintons' in charge when their supporters write:

"Actually I'm more concerned with some of the Tinfoil nutbars/gun goofs/guv'ment hating militias than I am with some paper tiger communist. Its the pasty-faced hoping for TEOTWAWKI doofus who might be inclined to "help things along" when they see it's a BIR that will be the real worry...

-- Y2K Pro (y2kpro1@hotmail.com)"

-- Robert A. Cook, PE (Marietta, GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), September 13, 1999.