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."
That is why Rudy was so effective. He is a leader. We need guys like that during emergencies.
Wrong movie. That pic is from T-1, where Arnold is the baaaad cyborg.
>>Blanco IS a "real woman." That's part of the problem.
(Puts on flame retardent suit)<<
I'm not going to flame you but correct you.
A REAL woman would be a kitten to be cuddled when life was good and a Mother Cat protecting her children when it wasn't.
This woman is a twit.
Un-elect her!
Blanco es Nero. Twiddling while NO slips into anarchy.
Bttt! Well said.
The media is now desparately trying to make it about Iraq, ie diversion of funds and troops. Barf.
Hi Rose - Rudy Giuliani planned and held regular, frequent emergency drills in NYC. He has said many times that they were absolutely essential to NY survival that day and the weeks that followed.
The man had a plan. I don't see that one, or at least an effective one, was in place for NO., however, there will be plenty of time for criticism and could should woulda talk much later. Right now, these people desparately need everyone's help. Also, I am wondering why the railroads (Amtrak) haven't been federalized for the time being? Surely, people can be moved to an operational departure point to other shelters further out. Texas will soon be overwhelmed.
Correct. I think Blanco would make a good Kindergarten teacher's aide.
I can understand how overwhelming this is, but she really needs to either "put on her big girl panties" and get it done, or resign.
It doesn't bother me that he is in Baton Rouge. What bothers me is that he clearly isn't up for the job, was caught flat footed,and has been a terrible leader in this situation. If he can be on the ball and do what's right from Baton Rouge, fine. He hasn't done that.
I feel that is part of the problem. They do not have a grasp on delegation. When the smoke and mirrors get blown away and busted, they stand bare before us in their incompetence.
Seriously. Just quit, now, and let someone else do the job for the sake of the people in NO.
>>I think Blanco would make a good Kindergarten teacher's aide.<<
LOLOLOL!
Oh have you got that right!
I agree, but it isn't partisan. I'd take Ed Koch or Oscar Goodman in a crisis before I'd take Mike Bloomberg, for example.
Hey, I've got an idea!
Send in Zell Miller!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Give 'em ZELL!!!!!
I agree to a certain extent, but there's a part of me that feels that the ship's captain ought not to be abandoning (or even be perceived as abandoning) his sinking ship while there are still thousands of passengers in it whose lives are at risk.
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