Today Show Focuses on New Orleans Looting as Gov. Blanco Looks Elsewhere

Today Show

[governsleastgovernsbest]

The problems confronting a governor in the position of Louisiana's Kathleen Babineaux Blanco are overwhelming.

Since this space so frequently roasts Dems, fairness compels us to say that Blanco, a Democrat, comes across as about as reasonable and authentic as an elected official can be expected to be under the circumstances. Compare and contrast with Dem Sen. Mary Landrieux, who at every press conference seems to focus more on ostentatious emoting than on getting things done.

In any case, the Today show offered surprisingly extended video coverage of looting in New Orleans. Given that 100% of the looters shown were African-American, one might have thought that Today's PC instincts would have discouraged them from running the footage. But for whatever reason Today did, and when Matt Lauer interviewed Blanco, he asked her numerous pointed questions about the looting.

Blanco essentially deflected the questions, offering blandishments to the effect that "we certainly don't like looting," but also making clear that stopping it wasn't a priority.

Frankly, she might well be right: in a catastrophe like this, government must prioritize, and compared to stopping the levee breach and rescuing stranded people, stopping some guy from ripping off a pair of $150 Nikes could be trivial.

Speaking of the levees:

Louisiana and New Orleans are known as some of the most notoriously corrupt places in the USA. Over decades, the government should have had one overweening infrastructure priority: to ensure the levees worked.

They didn't, and now millions suffer and billions of dollars are lost. If the politicians had been honest and spending money on the right things, one must believe they could have created a levee system that would have worked the first time it was really called upon.

[Stashiu]

This looting is symptom of an 'I'm gonna get mine' ghetto culture. It has little to do with race. It is a multi-generational professional victim miasma cultured by the 'great society' programs that have fostered and rewarded sociopathic behavior. THAT is what Jesse Jackson (the great hustler) and Al Sharpton (race baiter) would be working on if they were really interested in helping those they claim to represent.

I work and live with black folks who are more middle class than I am. You don't hear ebonics, talk about 'the man', and 'I'm gonna get mine'. They work 2 and 3 jobs, are active in the church, and have the best kept houses in the neighborhood.

The sinking of New Orleans into a swamp, the behavior that got it there, and the behavior we see in the streets, are the results of that mentality. Like most major metro areas, more is spent on 'entitlements' than infrastructure. Infrastructure only lasts so long without maintenance. You pay folks not to work long enough, and a few generations later, they expect it.

There is a powerful lesson to be learned in this mess. Unfortunately, folks are paying for it with their lives.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

The next sentence in my original post reads as follows:

"Frankly, she might well be right: in a catastrophe like this, government must prioritize, and compared to stopping the levee breach and rescuing stranded people, stopping some guy from ripping off a pair of $150 Nikes could be trivial."

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Fox showing footage of levee breaches right now. Total flood going in.

[cyborg]

I really don't disagree with what you say. I DO have a problem with people making assinine 'credit to your race' statements that make it sound as if it's early 1900s.

[ConsentofGoverned]

"It is inconceiveable that she was re-elected as a United States Senator."

That's what I thought when Patty Murray was elected.

"I mean, one time is pretty incredible, but TWICE?"

That's what I thought when she was re-elected."

Its a woman thing ..majority of Dems are non men..
this is not a sexist post..it is a fact..Todays Democrat leftist Woman
has been brain washed to elect ANY woman to power they can ..not the most qualified person...that idea is OK when things are running well but proves to be a disaster when things go bad..some recent examples >> G Gorelick and 9/11
Abu Grab prison female general..Reno and Wako massacre, Elian Gonzales kidnapping to Cuba,now the LA Gov and dim bulb senator ... you get the idea

[silent_jonny]

The strong ones like Giuliani and Barbour smash right back, the weak ones like Blanco are left in pieces. As the knight said, "Choose wisely."

Well said.

[HennepinPrisoner]

She was on Larry King Live last night as well....as she spoke to larry, they did a "split screen" with her and the looting videos. Not once did she speak about the looting.

I guess she is afraid of alienating criminals in the next election?!?

[diverteach]

End times prophecy clearly indicates that the "birth pangs" prior to Christ' return will increase in frequency and intesity. This is undeniably happening with our hurricane seasons. Secondly, I believe that these disastor's are also snipet's of the great tribulation period yet to come.

[conservativecorner]

My solution as well!

[Coldwater Creek]

Speaking of criminals, has anyone heard what is going on with the prison riot and hostage taking??????

[OXENinFLA]

And I bet the camping section is untouched.

That'd be the first spot I'd hit.

Gas stoves, lanterns, bug spray, ammunition, small inflatable boats....ect.

Things you really do need in order to survive.

[cyborg]

I heard it was false and never happened.

[Tejas Punto]

But if he's from CNN, I'm assuming he gave her the gas - and everything in his pockets. He didn't say what transpired after that.

If CNN isn't careful, they are going to have to use that satellite dish to float home in - if somebody doesn't steal it first.

Last night Larry King was asking an LA official if it was too soon for President Bush to show up. Tonight he'll be asking why didn't the president show up today.

[Carolinamom]

No respect for Couric et al but just commenting on her barrage of criticism and attendant hypocrisy re the President's WORKING vacation.

[Coldwater Creek]

I hope so.

[daddyOwe]

I even saw a smashed ATM machine. Geeze!

[Coldwater Creek]

I noticed that the Gov would not give Larry a straight answer about the President visiting. Hayley Barbour had no problem asking him to wait a few days and saying so.

[undeniable logic]

What do you do with someone like that? He deserves to be put away for a while. Disgusting animals. It's amazing that with all thats going on, and all the people that need help, that this guy is only thinking about beer. (Hot beer at that, yuck!)

[daddyOwe]

After seeing the looting,I don't feel like contributing a nickel to that place.

[xsrdx]

You mandate evacuation ... the citizens leave their possessions ... and you allow looters to pillage and burn with impunity?

Exactly.

Everybody has to leave. Of course, if you'd like to stick it out and steal your neighbors blind, we don't mind.