Air America caller from N.O. blasts N.O. mayor and Governor (Caller was Julia Reed)

al franken show ^ | Sep 2 05 | Julia Reed

[churchillbuff]

Rachel Maddow as sub host for Al Franken, was interviewing Julia Reed, a well-known writer who lives in New Orleans. Reed said she was "ashamed" to have the mayor and governor she has. Both of them blew it big time. The mayor, she claimed, was on radio Monday night downplaying the situation, and saying that people breaking into pharmacies was not a big deal. She said New Orleans is unsafe most of the time -- cops can't stop the gangs -- so officials should have known a hurricane would create big-time lawlessness

She said homes on St. Charles Ave are now occupied by people who didn't own them. "Desperate people" replied Maddow -- No, "lawbreakers," said Reed.

A later caller complained that Reed sounded like a Rush Limbaugh

[Real Cynic No More]

Part of being a good leader is NOT stepping into a lower level situation that is not a problem (yet) and throwing your weight around. The mistakes were made at a low level not a high one.

As bad as the appearance for Bush is at the present, I agree with your statements. I understand that Bush had to pressure the mayor on Saturday to mandate an evacuation, and that local officials had a 72-hour evacuation plan. So, who was fiddlin' while the floods were approaching? What about the lot full of un-used, flooded school buses?

I am not associated with FEMA, but I presume that one thing that is necessary is to confirm what the status is before actual mobilizing. FEMA employees are from all over, and I'm sure some of them are from the damaged area. The results of the storm are so uncertain, that the logistics required for the mobilization can't be finalized until after the incident occurs. Then the staff, equipment, and materials must figure out not only how to get there, but where they need to go. After all, Shep Smith was partying in New Orleans and exclaiming how New Orleans had dodged a bullet. Then the levee failed, and all h*ll broke loose. It wouldn't surprise me if FEMA had one response in the works and had to mofify their plan after the levee failed, because that resulted in a much different response that was needed.

It's been a harrowing experience the last few days. Being in the information age where we "civilians" get our information instantly puts a lot of pressure on officials not only to focus on their jobs, but they get distracted with all the negativity while they're doing it.

[Incorrigible]

I thought Julia Reed was a Robot Wars announcer.

[PLMerite]

"Every mayor that has been in office should have had a MAJOR EVACUATION PLAN IN ACTION IN CASE THIS VERY THING HAPPENED."

Some things cannot be done, planning or not. Sometimes the best/only thing the gov't can do is warn people that they need to leave or they're going to be on their own for a few days until help can get there.

[Clemenza]

Being that I've lived in Hurrican Alley (South Florida) and was down there during Andrew, the fact is that it is the responsability of the LOCAL AND STATE AUTHORITIES to handle the situation. The Feds have some responsability via FEMA, but other than that, have never historically got involved.

[Sergio]

Definition of a Conservative, a liberal who's just been mugged.

[lapsus calami]

 

 

The angle I've seen getting the volume turned up on now is the "Bush didn't care, abandoned those people because they were black and poor!" line. No, the LA officials abandoned them to their fate long before the President had anything to do with the situation. Earlier I saw "Chrissy" Mathews on MSNBC on a tear about "why didn't the President DO something" and "why didn't his advisors get him on the job? Are his people afraid of him?!" - an example of what can now be found on every channel. The way I see it, the Moonbatters may shout people down in the short run, but in the long run the truth will be undeniable. 

 

 

 

[lapsus calami]

 

 

That's the point I've been making in talking with people - all any sensible person has to do is just look how things have been usually handled with other hurricane incidents. It's a state and local thing first and foremost, with the role of the Feds in being that of assistance. What people have been demanding of the President would have been outside the chain of command and responsibility - and even patently illegal. It's obvious that the real culprits are smoke-screening and ducking for cover while finger pointing at the President. I hope those reprobates get what's coming to them.

 

 

[retrokitten]

The way I see it, the Moonbatters may shout people down in the short run, but in the long run the truth will be undeniable.

Absolutely. The mayor and gov are going to find those fingers pointing right back at themselves.

[frannie]

Too many of us can't possibly see and hear all the T.V. programs. When we do we should try to correct anything false we hear.

IO did this but many if not most of you didn't read it.

I saw the sheriff speak about what had happened to the prisoners they had removed from the jails in N.O. He told us exactly where they had been taken and it wasn't to the Super Dome. He may have been wrong but that is what he said at the time.

[frannie]

Thank you. As far as the Nation Guard is concerned the only way the President can send them into a state is to Nationalize it. Why would Bush do that? There are 2 states suing him now for the base closing in their state. One is Conn.
The mayor of NO could have demanded that the Gov. call out the National Guard or she, [the governor] on her own, could have been a leader and sent them down there, no later than Tuesday evening.
They should have been put on high alert when the weather men said they expected it to be a cat.5 when it hit. At that time they really thought it would hit NO.
As a matter of fact the guard should have been on alert from the time the storm hit the Gulf and began to strengthen. It takes time for any military outfit to be ready to roll out after they are put on alert. Remember these military people are regular citizens. They are not in their barracks waiting to be called.

[dogcaller]

Hope this is a wet blanket on the movement to restore felon voting rights.

[jaydubya]

They can't handle the truth. It's like throwing Holy Water on a demon.

[Excellence]

Actually, I read about this in my local paper. They simply were not willing to risk their lives to snipers.

[msnimje]

Actually, I read about this in my local paper. They simply were not willing to risk their lives to snipers

So much for Serve and Protect

[Sergio]

Hope this is a wet blanket on the movement to restore felon voting rights.

Hi dogcaller

That's one issue I still don't have a handle on. So many acts are now considered felonies that it's made me re-look at the situation and I still don't have an answer for myself.

Someone who is felon for blowing up an abortion clinic, absolutely take away their right to vote. Some who is a felon because they were handing out literature on alternatives to abortion at an abortion clinic, I'm kinda inclined to let them vote.

In general, I agree with you, but there should be some exceptions, or better yet, only hand out felonies for the truly despicable.

Best Regards

Sergio

[WOSG]

"She said homes on St. Charles Ave are now occupied by people who didn't own them. "Desperate people" replied Maddow -- No, "lawbreakers," said Reed.

A later caller complained that Reed sounded like a Rush Limbaugh"

Reminds of that old definition of a neo-conservative ... A LIBERAL WHO'S BEEN MUGGED.

lax attitudes towards law and order can GET PEOPLE KILLED.

[Uncle Vlad]

Thanks for listening to that for me--I don't think I've ever made it all the way through a segment of Airhead America or whatever they're calling it. Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't this the network that's stealing money from children so they can stay on the air?

[Wallaby]

Off topic, but did you find out yesterday what has happened to Brit Hume's Special Report?

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't this the network that's stealing money from children so they can stay on the air?

They're the ones. From what I hear they'll soon have to start stealing from women and minorities also, to make up for the revenue they are not generating from legitimate sources.

[LucyJo]

A later caller complained that Reed sounded like a Rush Limbaugh.
=====

TRUTH sounds the same whether it is coming from Rush Limbaugh, or Julia Reed or anybody else. You've just got to be strong enough to hear it, as Rush says.