A Can't-Do Government

NY Times ^ | September 2, 2005 | PAUL KRUGMAN

[nj26]

Before 9/11 the Federal Emergency Management Agency listed the three most likely catastrophic disasters facing America: a terrorist attack on New York, a major earthquake in San Francisco and a hurricane strike on New Orleans. "The New Orleans hurricane scenario," The Houston Chronicle wrote in December 2001, "may be the deadliest of all." It described a potential catastrophe very much like the one now happening.

So why were New Orleans and the nation so unprepared? After 9/11, hard questions were deferred in the name of national unity, then buried under a thick coat of whitewash. This time, we need accountability.

First question: Why have aid and security taken so long to arrive? Katrina hit five days ago - and it was already clear by last Friday that Katrina could do immense damage along the Gulf Coast. Yet the response you'd expect from an advanced country never happened. Thousands of Americans are dead or dying, not because they refused to evacuate, but because they were too poor or too sick to get out without help - and help wasn't provided. Many have yet to receive any help at all.

There will and should be many questions about the response of state and local governments; in particular, couldn't they have done more to help the poor and sick escape? But the evidence points, above all, to a stunning lack of both preparation and urgency in the federal government's response.

Even military resources in the right place weren't ordered into action. "On Wednesday," said an editorial in The Sun Herald in Biloxi, Miss., "reporters listening to horrific stories of death and survival at the Biloxi Junior High School shelter looked north across Irish Hill Road and saw Air Force personnel playing basketball and performing calisthenics. Playing basketball and performing calisthenics!"

[nj26]

and the NY Times stays on the warpath...

[Antoninus]

Must .. resist ... urge ... to ... loot ... NYTimes ... building.

[va4me]

Why is anyone shocked when government is inept?

[axes_of_weezles]

Barking F'ing Moonbats.

[1rudeboy]

Apparently, Krugman believes that those Air Force personnel would have better been suited for sitting on rooftops.

[zzen01]

Doesn't the Government of New Orleans and Louisiana bear responsiblity for taking care of it's citizens? AND aren't most of that state and city governemnt DEMOCRATS?!

[Uncle Joe Cannon]

Alternative Headline: "Cowboy Bush Strikes Again, Orders Military Into Disaster Zone Without Consulting Local Officials"

[ladyinred]

We are not allowed to be disgusted by any of this stuff. I was just told so on another thread. Thank you NY Times for blaming the President for this. I am so sure he must have cause the Hurricane. /sarcasm

[sweetjane]

The NYT needs to save the "expert" analysis until after the remaining citizens of New Orleans have been secured. The political posturing while people are living in "hell" is preposterous.

[not2worry]

NYT needs to go to http://www.cityofno.com and see the information given by the Mayor of New Orleans on Friday, August 27, 2005 at 5:00PM. A rather not to worry attitude.

Then you will find an undated Declaration of Evacution, which I assume came late in the weekend, since the "document" is not dated.

WHO IS INEPT?

[digger48]

How would this psycho feel if the Feds had taken over on Monday(which I thought they should)?

He would be claiming that Bush "invaded" Louisiana

[RoseofTexas]

I'm sorry folk but I can no longer hold back against these evil lying CLYMERS... May GOD destroy the NYSLIMES!! I'll repent later, but for now I'm sick to death of them!!

[nj26]

Yes. Bush's main mistake was assuming that the Democrat-controlled government of Louisiana and New Orleans was up to the task, when they clearly are totally incompetent.

[Seeing More Clearly Now]

Is there a disaster preparedness agency in New Orleans? If so, did they ever do disaster scenario drills alone, in concert with state and federal emergency response agencies?

[liberty_lvr]

This is so far beyond the pale, I can hardly stand it anymore.

Why, oh why can't we still tar and feather these charlatans??

[mystery-ak]

Katrina hit 5 days ago....I've lost a day somewhere....help me!

[NordP]

So well said. As a matter of fact, I'm going to post it again....

Doesn't the Government of New Orleans and Louisiana bear responsiblity for taking care of it's citizens? AND aren't most of that state and city governemnt DEMOCRATS?!

Thank you zzen01

[spyone]

Paul is right. Bill Clinton would have made sure that 100 ft. section of the levee would have held. It would have been his first priority. If it wasn't for that bad man Ken Starr.

[Peelod]

http://louisianahistory.ourfamily.com/lagovernors.html

Alexandre Mouton
Democratic
1843-1846

Isaac Johnson
" "
1846-1850

Joseph Wlaker
" "
1850-1853

Paul O. Hebert
" "
1853-1856

Robert C. Wickliffe
" "
1856-1860

Thomas O. Moore
" "
1860-1864

Federal Gov't Rule
Federal Gov't Rule
1862-1864

Henry W. Allen
Democratic
1864-1865

Michael Hahn
Republican
1864-1865

James M. Wells
" "
1865-1867

Benjamin Flanders
" "
1867-1868

Joshua Baker
" "
1868

Henry C. Warmoth
" "
1868-1872

P.B.S. Pinchback
" "
1872-1873

John McEnery
" "
1873

William P. Kellogg
" "
1873-1877

Francis T. Nicholls
Democratic
1877-1880

Louis A. Wiltz
" "
1880-1881

Samuel D. McEnery
" "
1881-1888

Francis T. Nicholls
" "
1888-1892

Murphy J. Foster
" "
1892-1900

William W. Heard
" "
1900-1904

Newton C. Blanchard
" "
1904-1908

Jared Y. Sanders
" "
1908-1912

Luther E. Hall
" "
1912-1916

Ruffin G. Pleasant
" "
1916-1920

John M. Parker
" "
1920-1924

Henry L. Fuqua
" "
1924-1926

Oramel H. Simpson
" "
1926-1928

Huey P. Long
" "
1928-1932

Alvin O. King
" "
1932

Oscar K. Allen
" "
1932-1936

James A. Noe
" "
1936

Richard W. Leche
" "
1936-1939

Earl K. Long
" "
1939-1940

Sam H. Jones
" "
1940-1944

Jimmie H. Davis
" "
1944-1948

Earl K. Long
" "
1948-1952

Robert F. Kennon
" "
1952-1956

Earl K. Long
" "
1956-1960

Jimmie H. Davis
" "
1960-1964

John J. McKeithen
" "
1964-1972

Edwin W. Edwards
" "
1972-1980

David C. Treen
Republican
1980-1984

Edwin W. Edwards
Democratic
1984-1988

Buddy Roemer
Republican/Democratic
1988-1992

Edwin W. Edwards
Democratic
1992-1996

Murpy J. "Mike" Foster, Jr
Republican
1996-

[zzen01]

But didn't the citizens of LA and New Orleans elect BOTH of these clowns