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Teary Gov. Kathleen Blanco 'Overwhelmed'
newsmax.com ^ | Thursday, Sept. 1, 2005 10:52 a.m. EDT

Posted on 09/01/2005 9:31:38 AM PDT by InvisibleChurch

Thursday, Sept. 1, 2005 10:52 a.m. EDT Teary Gov. Kathleen Blanco 'Overwhelmed'

The performance of Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco in the first days after the Katrina disaster has some wondering whether she's up to the daunting task of guiding her state as its largest city struggles to recover.

Blanco "has come across as a nice person," noted the New York Post's Deborah Orin, but she seems "overwhelmed instead of inspiring."

Gov. Blanco did little to reassure observers during a press conference on Tuesday, when she seemed on the verge of bursting into tears. "The magnitude of the situation is untenable," she told reporters. "It's just heartbreaking."

The next day Blanco told ABC's "Good Morning America": "This whole situation is totally overwhelming."

Louisiana Democrats are putting the best face possible on Blanco's performance.

"She's obviously affected tremendously by the emotional impact of the devastation," former Sen. John Breaux told the Washington Post. "I think she's doing everything humanly possible to bring it together."

Asked whether Blanco sounded discouraged by the havoc wrought by Katrina, Breaux told the paper: "No, I think she was on top of it. But considering the circumstances, with a whole city underwater, it's hard to be calm, cool and collected."

Some compared the beleaguered governor to her Mississippi counterpart, Haley Barbour - who has so far offered a more reassuring presence.

Noted Orin: Gov. Barbour vowed early on to deal "aggressively and ruthlessly" with looters in his state.

Gov. Blanco, on the other hand, intitially suggested that stopping rampant looting in New Orleans wasn't a priority, telling reporters Tuesday: "We don’t like looters one bit, but first and foremost is search and rescue.”

As conditions continued to deteriorate, however, Blanco changed her tune, announcing late Wednesday: "We will restore law and order. What angers me the most is that disasters like this often bring out the worst in people. I will not tolerate this kind of behavior."


TOPICS: News/Current Events; US: Louisiana
KEYWORDS: blanco; katrina; neworleans
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To: Darnright

Another person who's "convictions" sway with the wind direction and polls. Just what we need in an emergency.

Back to basics:

Lead, follow, of get the Hell out of the way .....
Works for me.


141 posted on 09/01/2005 11:47:01 AM PDT by ridesthemiles (ridesthemiles)
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To: Cecily

And so would I!!!!!!


142 posted on 09/01/2005 12:40:35 PM PDT by nfldgirl ("I love a good rant every now-n-then!")
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To: ridesthemiles
she and the mayor of N.O. are doing all they can to "hold back their anger" at the federal government (e.g., Bush).

....but we elected you our governor. not the state's drama queen.

143 posted on 09/01/2005 12:43:51 PM PDT by Donald Rumsfeld Fan ("Memos on Bush Are Fake but Accurate". NYTimes)
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To: 2banana
This is a perfect opportunity for the governor of Massachusetts to do again what others haven't been able to do (the latest winter Olympics) and set himself up for a run for President. He doesn't want to run for reelection and he needs the visibility. I think GWB should appoint him as the disaster recovery Czar and take over for the inept Democrat politicians. He would have authority for at least the next 60 days as the President said the bill for recovery is on the feds.

What do you think?
144 posted on 09/01/2005 12:46:36 PM PDT by Final Authority
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To: GianniV
"What???? Why the heck is Harry Shearer from Spinal Tap talking about hurricanes?"

He said he had a house and friends in N.O., the msnbc anchorette plugged his Huffington blog and then lead him to his attack on the feds and his appparent role of speaking for the mayor and governor who were "holding back" their anger.

145 posted on 09/01/2005 1:06:44 PM PDT by monkapotamus
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To: ridesthemiles
"Since many of us don't have cable/direct TV, Can you enlighten us as to what "their anger at the Federal government" is all about?"

He (Harry Shearer) implied the feds were not doing enough, did not fill sand bags soon enough, and criticized the Army Corps of Engineers and said, (paraphrasing) "it's called contingency planning" (as if the Army corps didn't know what that was.) It was sickening but as we all know, hardly anyone watches that channel. It was also implied that he was speaking for the mayor and governor.

146 posted on 09/01/2005 1:12:35 PM PDT by monkapotamus
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To: Libertarian444

People are dying because of her incompetence. I think the Mayor, blanco-all of them should be forced to resign and prosecuted.


147 posted on 09/01/2005 2:07:56 PM PDT by nyconse (a)
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To: fortunecookie

It is not sweet to allow her citizens to die of dehydration and starvation in New Orleans.


148 posted on 09/01/2005 2:15:35 PM PDT by nyconse (a)
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To: benjaminjjones

What is Senator Blutarsky in all of this?


149 posted on 09/01/2005 2:44:44 PM PDT by InvisibleChurch (I support the firemen, but not their cause.)
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To: benjaminjjones
What should read Where
150 posted on 09/01/2005 2:46:14 PM PDT by InvisibleChurch (I support the firemen, but not their cause.)
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To: InvisibleChurch

Peter Principle poster child


151 posted on 09/01/2005 2:47:36 PM PDT by clamper1797 (Proud member of the Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club 1972-1973)
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To: InvisibleChurch
Never give a woman a mans job. And that goes for the military too. End of story.


152 posted on 09/01/2005 2:48:53 PM PDT by unixfox (AMERICA - 20 Million ILLEGALS Can't Be Wrong!)
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To: Husker8877

He he, I sent Kathleen Harris flowers after that election, and I'm a woman.

She was tough and won my admiration.


153 posted on 09/01/2005 2:53:47 PM PDT by girlangler (I'd rather be fishing)
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To: snarks_when_bored
New Orleans mayor Roy Nagin is in Baton Rouge, not New Orleans.

On 9/11 didn't Rudy head straight for the WTC?

A little personal leadership in the beginning might have saved a life or two and might have recast the mindset of thoses stranded.

154 posted on 09/01/2005 3:24:42 PM PDT by HIDEK6
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To: GianniV

"Did you see that idiotic little school girl, Mary Landrieu, next to Blanco at the press conference? She looked like that she was going to burst into tears and have a breakdown."

Has Landrieu always had that twitch to her face, where it looks like she is trying to smile or grin on one side of her face? She did look like a deer in the headlights at the press conference.


155 posted on 09/01/2005 3:47:13 PM PDT by SwinneySwitch (Demonrats-beyond your expectations!)
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To: unixfox

End of story, NOT.


156 posted on 09/01/2005 3:48:41 PM PDT by SwinneySwitch (Demonrats-beyond your expectations!)
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To: nyconse
It is not sweet to allow her citizens to die of dehydration and starvation in New Orleans.

Not sweet at all. She is far from sweet and nice and now she wants us to feel sorry for her, to 'feel her pain'. Meanwhile, her citizens are in a grave situation.

157 posted on 09/01/2005 6:14:58 PM PDT by fortunecookie
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To: Clemenza

My pardons....it's been awhile since I'd seen it....


158 posted on 09/01/2005 6:20:53 PM PDT by RedMonqey
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To: SwinneySwitch

Sure it is , you just don't want to admit the obvious.


159 posted on 09/01/2005 6:24:57 PM PDT by unixfox (AMERICA - 20 Million ILLEGALS Can't Be Wrong!)
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To: narby
I think Bush should federalize the state of Louisiana and appoint Rudi Giuliani as acting governor.

Good idea, but unconstitutional.

Rudi could just be asked to head up the effort and achieve the same results.

Probably would save several thousand lives

160 posted on 09/01/2005 6:33:25 PM PDT by Popman (In politics, ideas are more important than individuals.)
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