I am so Angry

[Dara]

Let's see, Dara. BECAUSE SHE WAS THE ONE THE CITIZENS OF LOUISIANA VOTED INTO OFFICE???? Because although he technically had the power to wrest control away from her, to do so would politically destroy her? And possibly himself!?

So, in your opinion, Bush's decision was politically motivated?

And it is reasonable, to you, that he let people suffer and die rather than politically destroy her and possibly himself?

I have told you from the beginning that I, a citizen of Louisiana, right smack dab in the center of the state, believe that it is politics. You don't have to believe me, you can give her a pass and put the blame at Bush's door, but it is HER. She turned this into a political battle, and she is doing some fancy cover your azz footwork right now. She knows who is going to come out of this smelling like a pile of crap.

It should be everyone who deserves to. Including Bush.

And if her motives were political, Bush gets a pass for letting people die rather than risk political fallout?

 

[TexMex]

The federal government's role is to offer aid upon request.

WSJ today


Instead of evacuating the people, the mayor ordered the refugees to the Superdome and Convention Center without adequate security and no provisions for food, water and sanitary conditions. As a result people died, and there was even rape committed, in these facilities. Mayor Nagin failed in his responsibility to provide public safety and to manage the orderly evacuation of the citizens of New Orleans. Now he wants to blame Gov. Blanco and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. In an emergency the first requirement is for the city's emergency center to be linked to the state emergency operations center. This was not done.

The federal government does not have the authority to intervene in a state emergency without the request of a governor. President Bush declared an emergency prior to Katrina hitting New Orleans, so the only action needed for federal assistance was for Gov. Blanco to request the specific type of assistance she needed. She failed to send a timely request for specific aid.

In addition, unlike the governors of New York, Oklahoma and California in past disasters, Gov. Blanco failed to take charge of the situation and ensure that the state emergency operation facility was in constant contact with Mayor Nagin and FEMA. It is likely that thousands of people died because of the failure of Gov. Blanco to implement the state plan, which mentions the possible need to evacuate up to one million people. The plan clearly gives the governor the authority for declaring an emergency, sending in state resources to the disaster area and requesting necessary federal assistance.

State legislators and governors nationwide need to update their contingency plans and the operation procedures for state emergency centers. Hurricane Katrina had been forecast for days, but that will not always be the case with a disaster (think of terrorist attacks). It must be made clear that the governor and locally elected officials are in charge of the "first response."

 

[kgeaux]

So, in your opinion, Bush's decision was politically motivated?

And it is reasonable, to you, that he let people suffer and die rather than politically destroy her and possibly himself?


It should be everyone who deserves to. Including Bush.

And if her motives were political, Bush gets a pass for letting people die rather than risk political fallout?

She is first in line, she gets the brunt of the blame. She is the one who turned this into a partisan political battle. She gets the first dish of blame, IMO. I never said total blame. You seem to always want to wait when it comes to assigning blame to anyone but Bush. I'm telling just telling you I consider him to be less culpable. And my neighbors do too. But maybe that's just us Louisianians.

 

[TexMex]

Let's see, Dara. BECAUSE SHE WAS THE ONE THE CITIZENS OF LOUISIANA VOTED INTO OFFICE???? Because although he technically had the power to wrest control away from her, to do so would politically destroy her? And possibly himself!?

I have told you from the beginning that I, a citizen of Louisiana, right smack dab in the center of the state, believe that it is politics. You don't have to believe me, you can give her a pass and put the blame at Bush's door, but it is HER. She turned this into a political battle, and she is doing some fancy cover your azz footwork right now. She knows who is going to come out of this smelling like a pile of crap.

Well said.

So you must know where Bunkie is!

 

[JBean]

Let's see, Dara. BECAUSE SHE WAS THE ONE THE CITIZENS OF LOUISIANA VOTED INTO OFFICE???? Because although he technically had the power to wrest control away from her, to do so would politically destroy her? And possibly himself!?

I have told you from the beginning that I, a citizen of Louisiana, right smack dab in the center of the state, believe that it is politics. You don't have to believe me, you can give her a pass and put the blame at Bush's door, but it is HER. She turned this into a political battle, and she is doing some fancy cover your azz footwork right now. She knows who is going to come out of this smelling like a pile of crap.

Great post.

 

[kgeaux]

Well said.

So you must know where Bunkie is!

It's north of me! I guess I am really in the middle of the bottom of the state!

 

[TexMex]

It's north of me! I guess I am really in the middle of the bottom of the state!

Tons of family in the Bunkie/Evergreen area

Just met there in April and cooked up 800lbs of crawfish.

ETA--they feel exactly the way you do

 

[DEPUTYDAWG]

Great post.

Hi JB,

Where's your sister? I'm ready to get more educated on this....

 

[Dara]

She is first in line, she gets the brunt of the blame. She is the one who turned this into a partisan political battle. She gets the first dish of blame, IMO. I never said total blame.

Ok, so do you blame Bush for leaving her in charge and not doing more sooner?

You seem to always want to wait when it comes to assigning blame to anyone but Bush. I'm telling just telling you I consider him to be less culpable. And my neighbors do too. But maybe that's just us Louisianians.

See, here's what you don't get. I waited because I didn't know who did what all those days when people were dying, and I still don't. What I do know is that days after the hurricane when people were dying without aid, it was the president's job to go in and do something. It's just that simple. So, yes, I blamed Bush right off, because I knew he had the power to act and didn't.

Now, since you're telling me I "always want to wait," I guess you're tracking who is blaming who and when. I assume I'll be seeing you post to those who absolutely refuse to consider Bush did anything wrong? I mean, only if you want to be fear. Though tybee's already asked us not to make such posts. But if you're singling me out, you might ask yourself why, since others are blaming only Nagin and Blanco, or just Blanco, and defending Bush. I don't see that you have any problem with that.

 

[marrigotti]

She is first in line, she gets the brunt of the blame. She is the one who turned this into a partisan political battle. She gets the first dish of blame, IMO. I never said total blame. You seem to always want to wait when it comes to assigning blame to anyone but Bush. I'm telling just telling you I consider him to be less culpable. And my neighbors do too. But maybe that's just us Louisianians.

There are plenty of us who agree with you about this. :clap:

 

[JBean]

Hi JB,

Where's your sister? I'm ready to get more educated on this....

She is overwhelmed with her own emergency resources being used up and she is trying to give some conferences.
She is also trying to get set to go to Rehnquists funeral.
She knows we would like to hear from her and that she can really help educate some of us on how this works.She is trying to get here.

ETA: i sent her your personal request DD!

 

[Ntegrity]

But if you're singling me out, you might ask yourself why, since others are blaming only Nagin and Blanco, or just Blanco, and defending Bush. I don't see that you have any problem with that.

Maybe because you seem more than a little obsessed with blaming Bush and nobody else?? The chain of command begins with the locals. No, I'm sure the feds didn't do everything right, but maybe it's because they were being told by Gov. Blanco to back off because everything was under control. Thank goodness Mayor Nagin finally started screaming and cursing for HELP. Then we all realized how desperate the situation was.

 

[Dara]

There are plenty of us who agree with you about this. :clap:

So, how do you feel about the decision by Bush to leave Blanco in charge for an additional 24 hours when she had already suppsedly bungled the entire effort and had turned it political. We're hearing reports on this thread that she was incomptent the whole time. Bush had to know that when he gave her 24 more hours when we were already days into this.

It's been suggested that Bush let her win the political battle, and possibly did so to save his own political career and hers. If he did, isn't that troubling? Or do you think he had another reason for not taking over from someone who is now being deemed incomptent and to blame for many, many things?

 

[marrigotti]

So, how do you feel about the decision by Bush to leave Blanco in charge for an additional 24 hours when she had already suppsedly bungled the entire effort and had turned it political. We're hearing reports on this thread that she was incomptent the whole time. Bush had to know that when he gave her 24 more hours when we were already days into this.

It's been suggested that Bush let her win the political battle, and possibly did so to save his own political career and hers. If he did, isn't that troubling? Or do you think he had another reason for not taking over from someone who is now being deemed incomptent and to blame for many, many things?

Please give me some authority for your proposition that Bush had the right under law to override the mayor. If you cannot provide that, then I think you must concede that the proper chain of command was followed.

 

[Dara]

Maybe because you seem more than a little obsessed with blaming Bush and nobody else??

Well, I could say that other posters seem obsessed with not blaming him and blaming others and avoiding some key questions. But I respect tybee's request, in a way you clearly don't.

The chain of command begins with the locals. No, I'm sure the feds didn't do everything right, but maybe it's because they were being told by Gov. Blanco to back off because everything was under control. Thank goodness Mayor Nagin finally started screaming and cursing for HELP. Then we all realized how desperate the situation was.

I knew it Wednesday.

So, you've just said everything is Blanco's fault. Is that an accurate reading?

 

[marrigotti]

You might also want to reread TexMex's post above, Dara.

 

[Dara]

Please give me some authority for your proposition that Bush had the right under law to override the mayor. If you cannot provide that, then I think you must concede that the proper chain of command was followed.

I won't concede anything because you aren't aware of the post that had the confirmation. If I can't prove it, I have to concede? I should concede to something I know is untrue. LOL. I'll stick with the truth and trust you to look for the proof if you are actually concerned with the truth and not just defending Bush.

The proof is in another thread and was linked to. This weekend. If you don't want to believe, don't. It gives you an out, if you want to keep believing Bush just couldn't do one little thing without the governor letting him. If not, you might just consider Bush made a grave error that cost lives.

But even his supporters are saying he gave Blanco the choice. He deferred to her, according to Mayor Nagin.

 

[Dara]

You might also want to reread TexMex's post above, Dara.

Which one? I keep asking about the 24 grace period and Tex keeps not exactly answering that.

So, there are a lot of posts.

 

[marrigotti]

I won't concede anything because you aren't aware of the post that had the confirmation. If I can't prove it, I have to concede? I should concede to something I know is untrue. LOL. I'll stick with the truth and trust you to look for the proof if you are actually concerned with the truth and not just defending Bush.

The proof is in another thread and was linked to. This weekend. If you don't want to believe, don't. It gives you an out, if you want to keep believing Bush just couldn't do one little thing without the governor letting him. If not, you might just consider Bush made a grave error that cost lives.

But even his supporters are saying he gave Blanco the choice. He deferred to her, according to Mayor Nagin.

I haven't the slightest interest in "defending" Bush. I feel that the federal government did make errors; however, so did the state and local government. As best I can understand, you choose to hold Bush accountable for their errors as well as the federal government's errors. You are not obliged to produce support for your position. You would, however, be more persuasive if you did so.

 

[Ntegrity]

Well, I could say that other posters seem obsessed with not blaming him and blaming others and avoiding some key questions. But I respect tybee's request, in a way you clearly don't.

I'm not sure what request of tybee's you're talking about. I guess I missed it.

I knew it Wednesday.

Then maybe we should blame YOU

So, you've just said everything is Blanco's fault. Is that an accurate reading?

ummm, where did I say that? I've said several times there's plenty of blame to go around, but I think it needs to start with local government first since they have PRIMARY responsibility for local citizens.