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 dont 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."
"...I will not tolerate this kind of behavior."
I said that to all my kids, but unless they knew I would spank their hinnies, it fell on deaf ears.
Margaret Thatcher she is not.
Yeah, Condi would have kicked a$$
"I'd be happy if she'd just shut up, sit down, and let the folks who know what they're doing do what needs doing."
Sometimes even that is leadership.
Yeah. Hitlery would have the looters arrested and cut their testacles off personally - if she thought it would advance her chances to be President.
I agree that saving lives should come before protecting property, but I don't think the two are mutually exclusive.
She should have declared martial law before the storm hit, evacuated all of New Orleans and dealt seriously with problem elements.
Like they said, she is a nice lady, but not up to the crisis, although it does appear totally overwehming, even some distance away.
Amen to that!
I think Bush should federalize the state of Louisiana, and appoint Rudi Giuliani as acting governor.
You're absolutely right. And they're not getting it from her.
DAMN! I don't even have to read the whole article to say...WE DON'T HAVE TIME FOR TEARY EYE CRAP, BUT SOMEONE WHO WILL LEAD!!! Ugh, where are the Rudy's in this disaster?!!
Send Jeb Bush and Rudy Giuliani in. And get the LA Gov some smelling salts, a gallon of Breyer's ice cream, and some xanax.
"Stay with me, if you want to survive"
Best idea I've heard all day
(Puts on flame retardent suit)
Cry and whine, while anarchy reins.
Cry me a river. Oh wait, that won't help.
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