Posted on 09/05/2005 6:18:25 PM PDT by West Coast Conservative
In a harried, fast-moving interview with CNN’s Soledad O’Brien this morning, New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin had many words of praise for President Bush, while pointing much blame at Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco:
Nagin>> I got promises too. I can't stand any more promises. I don't want to hear any more promises. I want to see stuff done. That's why I'm so happy the president came down here because I think they were feeding him a line of bull also. They were telling him things weren’t as bad as it was, he came down and saw it and he put a general on the field. His name is general Honore. When he hit the field, we started to see action. What the state was doing, I don't friggin' know but I tell you, I am pissed. It wasn't adequate. The president and the governor sat down. Air force one, I said, Mr. President, Madam governor, you two have to get in sync. If you don't get in sync, more people are going to die.O’Brien>> What date was this?
N>> I don't know.
O>> When did you say that?
N>> Whenever air force one was here.
O>> Okay.
N>> And this is after I called him on the telephone two days earlier. And I said, Mr. President, madam governor, you two need to get together on the same page because the lack of coordination people are dying in my city.
That's two days ago? Easement I don't know the exact date. They both shook their head, said yeah. I said great. I said everybody in this room is getting ready to leave. There was senators and his cabinet people, you name it, they were there. Generals. I said everybody right now, we're leaving. These two people need to sit in a room together and make a doggone decision right now.
O>> Was that done?
N>> The president looked at me. I think he was a little surprised. He said, no, you guys stay here. We're going to another section of the plane and we're going to make a decision. He called me in that office after that and he said, Mr. Mayor, I offered two options to the governor. I said -- I don't remember exactly what -- two options. I was ready to move today. The governor said she needed 24 hours to make a decision.
O>> You told me the president told you the governor said she needed 24 hours to make a decision?
N>> Yes.
O>> Regarding what? Bringing troops?
N>> Whatever they had discussed. As far as what the -- I was advocating a clear chain of command. So that we could get resources flowing in the right places.
O>> The governor said no?
N>> She said she needed 24 hours to make a decision. It would have been great if we could of left air force one, walked outside, and told the world that we had this all worked out. It didn't happen. And more people died.
CYA...he knows he and Blank-stare are inept, but will let the Gov. take the fall.
Is this real?
Nowhere have I seen him explain why he could use buses to bus people to the Superdome, but couldn't use those same buses to bus people out of New Orleans!
I'll say it again, no chain is stronger than it's weakest link. In this chain of command, Nagin was the weakest link! He needs to account for his failure and inaction as well.
Nagin's trippin.
and he knows from whose coffer's flow.
Yes, but she's white!
This has been plain from day one. The media is giving her a pass because she is the "right kind", but anyone who has been watching for themselves, (instead of have the event "explained") to them sees how bad Blanco handled this.
It is obvious he doesn't know the procedures of his position. But if someone comes out and admits it and asks for help, I respect that. It takes a big person to say I need help.
Blanco...well, I can't post my opinion here. I like belonging to FR ;)
This needs bookmarking.
Is this the woman who took her husband's place during the run for governor when he died during the campaign? Not sure if this is the correct state. But I remember hearing that there was not time to take his name off the ballot (he was running for re-election). Sounded really dirty, to me.
ping
One question mayor ? what DO you know ?
ping
In the days to come, this should get interesting. Get your popcorn ready.
Did you see this?
Interesting. I'd be more than happy to have Nagin on our side throwing Blanco overboard. I'd love to have that governorship back.
Shouldn't all threads about Nagin from this day forward contain the requisite bus photos?
The Dems in LA are interesting. There are so many black people in LA (even in comparsion to other Southern states) and they have so little to show for it in election wins for black Dems, that they aren't all that in love with white Dems who run the party and win the races. They wonder what has all their support gotten them and they wonder why the white Dems can't put a black person into office like they can a white Dem. There's very real tension there.
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