[Rokke]

"FEMA has not been "incompetent"."

Yeah. Isn't it amazing that the Governors of Mississippi and Alabama both just said FEMA has been "outstanding" and has responded to every request. FEMA works fine when there is leadership. Nothing works fine when you've got a government like Lousiana voted for itself.

[Types_with_Fist]

Nothing works fine when you've got a government like Lousiana voted for itself.

That's certainly a very big part of this. I think Bush has had to take control of one damned thing after another before anything started to get done.

[olde north church]

Never has the statement, "You get the government you deserve.", been proven in gigantic, glowing letters.

[steveegg]

Not to mention that President Bush just praised the FEMA director - "You're doing a hellova job."

[NonValueAdded]

There are areas in LA where the FEMA efforts are working, hand-in-hand with local government. It would have worked too in NO had the flooding not occurred. The concentrations of people coupled with the breakdown in law and order have complicated this beyond any plan that could have existed. The ONLY plan that would work would be a complete evac BEFORE the storm. The focus will remain on NO and it will overshadow all the good work that IS happening elsewhere in AL, LA, MS.

[jayef]

Not a defense of the Governor, because I think she's pitiful, but the situation in NO cannot be compared to the situation in MS and AL.