Posted on 08/31/2005 4:24:31 AM PDT by 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.
Well if it had been Hayley Barbour that was the gov of LA instead of Miss. I wonder what that questions would have looked like.???????????
Cyborg - think about the images that are being played over and over on the television. Then think about the hard working, decent young kid - who happens to be black - who applies for a job 500 miles away and perhaps months from now. Don't you think there are people out there who will be affected by those images? I do. Friends I discussed this with last night do also.
Thanks for the clarification.
Here, here. Adult supervision needed before and after the fact.
Eight years of Clinton speak served you well.
Excuse me ... pardon me, but you are excusing the looting. Your attitude, combined with that of the elected officials, is prescisely why I will never leave my home and possessions in a similar scenario.
Not disagreeing with anything you said, and admire the systematic way you made your argument. I was just offering the observation that Blanco seemed to handle herself is a reasonably dignified manner this morning.
Israel had a woman Prime Minister.
America has Dr. Rice
England had Thatcher.
What ARE you thinking.
What if you're marooned and your location is separated from any generosity?
Ditto, medicine and needed clothing.
To allow the citzens to loot at will is destructive on many levels.
This was a total lack of emergency preparedness by the powers that be in Louisiana.
you know I always enjoy and appreciate your TODAY reports.
Is the kid is decent and hardworking then why would someone 500 miles away consider them to be a looter? I just don't get that mentality that's all.
The Gov admitted as much this morning.
"You get the idea. The Dems have just as many "soft" men as they have women. Idiocy is not gender-specific."
Yep..but what percent of men elected them vs Women's vote??
I guess my point is we in the conservative side have lost alot of the female voters and it is not just due to our policy but to brain washing of women..do you disagree??
Hire a cruse ship. It can hold housands. Cruis ships worked as floating hotels durring the last super bowl. It would keep the roads clear for the supplies comming in.
Uh-huh.......and the jewelry, dozens of pairs of jeans per person, electronics, etc.....all damned useful, too, eh?
Let's you and me have a talk about Santa Claus; this is gonna hurt, I warn you.
I do not think that we were watching the same interview. She was awful and looked like death warmed over. Not that I would'nt if I was in her shoes.
Jackson is busy with Chavez in Venezuela right now.
Meanwhile N.O. residents can sneak across the border to Mexico for an upgrade in lifestyle.
Well stated!
While these handwringers pray, others will be working. I would imagine the more intelligent will actually be able to pray as they work to help these unfortunates.
Wonder what deal he made that Chavez would offer us aid.
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