Posted on 09/03/2005 7:52:14 PM PDT by jmc1969
Bush administration officials blame state and local authorities for what leaders at all levels have called a failure of the country's emergency management.
Behind the scenes, a power struggle emerged, as federal officials tried to wrest authority from Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Babineaux Blanco (D). Shortly before midnight Friday, the Bush administration sent her a proposed legal memorandum asking her to request a federal takeover of the evacuation of New Orleans, a source within the state's emergency operations center said Saturday.
The administration had sought control over National Guard units, normally under control of the governor. Louisiana officials rejected the request, noting that such a move would be comparable to a federal declaration of martial law. State authorities suspected a political motive behind the request.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Good point.
"The administration had sought control over National Guard units, normally under control of the governor."
Doesn't the President have the authority, under the Constitution, to declare Martial Law and Nationalize the State National Gaurd without permission of local authories?
And President Bush wasn't going to besmirch her reputation by telling the world what an incompetent boob she was but she would let the media spread the lie about him that he didn't care or respond quickly enough. Sickening! Just like John Ashcroft handed the election to Jean Carnahan and said he hoped it brought her comfort referring to the death of her husband and she repaid him by voting against him for attorney general!
The Rats will never go through with hearings. They may be dumb, but they're not stupid. Besides with the MSM in their pocket, they don't need hearings, they would have nothing to gain, and everything to lose.
I know I have said it plenty and I am sure we will have more opportunities in the future. Makes one start wondering just how low is low. (Sounds like a Clinton question. :-))
I don't know.
We may have some real backtracking fraud attempts going on here to save her butt.
Yes it does doesn't it. Truly sad.
Ding ding ding ding! We have a winner! No more callers, please!
I thought the exact same thing when I read the WaPo article. The Hate Bush movement has come to its fruition: the needless death of American citizens because partisan politics takes priority over doing "The Right Thing."
You did real good on your post. They sure as heck tried to bury this story in a story. What you posted is definately a stand alone story and it shows the lengths the MSM will go to bury an item favorable to Bush.
As you know, LA governent forever has been criminally incompetent. For many years there was an incomplete stretch if I-20 east of Shreveport. Why? because the local politico was holding the project up because he had property right along the rightof way.
Just watching FoxNews and the great work done by our great military. God bless them! Its sad to think the president wanted to get them in right away but that airhead governer wouldn't allow it! This makes it all the more stupid and petty what Cindie Sheehan is saying about our troops. These guys and gals aren't kids. They are strong capable men and women. They got 'er done!
This article shows that Bush was in control and that Blanco would not seed authority to the Feds out of fear - and people died. Do they know this article exonerates Bush?
THAT IS HOW I READ IT. IT SEEMS LIKE THE SMOKING GUN, SO TO SPEAK. GOV BLANCO REFUSED TO ALLOW THE FEDS TO COORDINATE AND EXECUTE AN EVACUATION MISSION BEFORE THE LEVEE BROKE ALL DUE TO A POWER AND TURF STRUGGLE. I THINK THIS IS HUGE. I THINK BUSH WAS ALLUDING TO THIS "PROBLEM" WHEN HE DISCUSSED "DIFFICULTIES" WITH THE STATE AND LOCAL AUTHORITIES, BUT HE WAS TOO POLITE (SO FAR) TO NAME NAMES.
Note to our readers: The following is excepted from a Washington Post article with a headline, Many Evacuated, But Thousands Still Missing. We are reposting the section of the article dealing with the sub head on this story, "White House Shifts Blame to State Local Officials" because to us, this seems to be significant news in and of itself. For some reason, the Washington Post has buried the story at the end of a seemingly otherwise unrelated story. We did not think it necessary for you to wade through endless column inches to find it. - Ed.
Wow, why are you yelling. Turn off the all caps please.
New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin declared a state of emergency on Sunday (August 28th) and ordered a mandatory evacuation of the city as Hurricane Katrina churned toward the city with maximum sustained winds of nearly 175 mph.
Could the WP source be referring to NO's declaration of a state of emergency? That would still put the story on an earlier timeline, but it would make more sense given the Friday state declaration.
I'm not really sure what the WP was referring to.
But in the article it says:
Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco said that it was President Bush that had called and urged the state to order the evacuation.
It seems Bush really does not share the blame for the delays, unlike I've thought and written on FR before. Mea culpa.
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