Mary Landrieu: I'll Punch Bush, 'Literally'

NewsMax.com ^ | Sept. 4, 2005 | Carl Limbacher

[Carl/NewsMax]

Sen. Mary Landrieu threatened the president of the United States with physical violence on Sunday, saying that if he or any other government official criticizes New Orleans police for failing to keep civil order in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina - "I might likely have to punch him - literally."

"If one person criticizes [our sheriffs], or says one more thing, including the president of the United States, he will hear from me - one more word about it after this show airs and I - I might likely have to punch him - literally," Landrieu railed on "ABC's "This Week."

It is illegal to threaten the president with physical violence.

The Louisiana Democrat blasted Bush for neglecting the New Orleans levees, and demanded that he stop using the disaster for "photo-ops."

"The president came here yesterday for a photo-op," Landrieu charged, while surveying the disaster scene via helicopter with "This Week" host George Stephanopoulos in tow. "He got his photo-op but we are never going to get this fixed if he does not send us help now."

Landrieu also blamed Bush for cutting funding for levee improvement, before bursting into tears on camera.

In recent days, Louisiana officials have been criticized for bungling evacuation and rescue efforts. One of those officials, Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu, is Sen. Landrieu's brother.

[Cricket24]

You know...on second thought I think I would like the chance to punch her!

[Colonial Warrior]

Yikes...as compared to Kerry, Kennedy, Durbin, and Methuselah? She'd just get an award! [puke]

[getmeouttaPalmBeachCounty_FL]

[cwiz24]

Thank you cajungirl...by using demeaning epithets to describe anyone just lowers us to the level of Democratic Underground. Which, if you can hold your nose long enough, is curently littered with name-calling, cursing, and generally unhelpful "insights".

[Loyal Buckeye]

I think she is still p.o.'d because he didn't shake her hand at the press conference last week.

[Alkhin]

I just love your username, by the way! Ive been chuckling for some time now.

[TASMANIANRED]

Mary has jumped the shark.

[didi]

Where's Anderson Cooper when you need him?

[cardinal4]

Could it be there are things these officials don't want the Feds discovering if they start crawling around their backyard?

Hmmm. Good point..

[concretebob]

and don't have too much to think..you'll be arrested for being thunk in pubilc.

[cwiz24]

One more point..The Dems are gonna overplay their hand, screw this up, bigtime..remember the "Wellstone Memorial" fiasco?...This will be worse for them..

Unfortunately, ken5050, I don't remember that ever reaching the level of fiasco. It was generally ignored in the media, IIRC. And once again, we get the MSM reporting what they want to hear, not what actually is happening.

[sissyjane]

>>-"The president came here yesterday for a photo-op," Landrieu charged, while surveying the disaster scene via helicopter with "This Week" host George Stephanopoulos in tow.

And she was whirly-birding around with Stephanopoulos...why? Certainly not for a PHOTO OP!! Hee-hee, you just gotta love the hypocrisy!<<

Yep, and He's coming back on Monday for another "photo Op"--bet the Secret Service will have a little chat aboard air Force One with the poor excuse for a senior senator!!

[Ol' Sparky]

She ought to be blasting the incompetent governor of her state for not being prepared for hurricane.

[KJC1]

I don't think I want to see President Bush blaming the LA officials, however much they deserve it.

Someone else needs to bring the issues to the forefront. VP Cheney might be the right man for that job: laying out the facts and chronology of the situation that paint the true picture.

[ShowMeMom]

Even BEFORE the hurricane this woman was on every channel screeching about N.O. not having gotten enough federal $$ to protect themselves. Now we have Nagin, Blanco and her all saying the same thing. What they are REALLY saying if they could hear themselves is this: We KNEW in advance of this disaster that our citizens were unprotected. Instead of planning an evacuation plan, training our police, securing boats and buses and routes, we did what we always do: sit around and wait for a hand out and then blame whoever doesn't get there fast enough with the help.

[Types_with_Fist]

Thanks...:-)

[Alia]

Thank you for reporting, Carl. :)

To my knowledge, President Bush hasn't said a word about the NO police. What facts we do know? He said the response to Katrina was "unacceptable". What else do we know? Haley Barbour-Mississippi went immediate with Martial Law... while NO officials in charge did NOT. No, no.. NO officials went "blurry". Nor did NO officials use all resources available to the good people of NO, to get them out of NO pre-Katrina.

So, I guess this means... she's going to have to punch out the NO Mayor.

[scouse]

The president needs to address this TODAY -- DIRECTLY. He needs to come out and lay the blame where it is due,

4. Federal Law Enforcement Assistance a. In a disaster or emergency, each State has primary responsibility for law enforce-ment, using State and local resources, including the National Guard (to the extent that the National Guard remains under State authority and has not been called into Federal service or ordered to active duty). Accordingly, the FRP makes no provision for direct Federal support of law enforcement functions in a disaster or emergency. b. If a State government should experience a law enforcement emergency (including one in connection with a disaster or emergency) in which it could not provide an adequate response to protect the lives and property of citizens, the State (on behalf of itself or a local unit of government) might submit an application in writing from the Governor to the Attorney General of the United States to request emergency Federal law enforcement assistance under the Justice Assistance Act of 1984 (42 U.S.C. 10501-10513) as prescribed in 28 CFR 65. The Attorney General will approve or disapprove the application no later than 10 days after receipt. If the application is approved, Federal law enforcement assistance may be provided including equipment, training, intelligence, and personnel.

[jordan8]

I don't know if anyone's brought this up, but her father was Moon Landrieu, mayor of New Orleans in the 1970s (the last white mayor of NO, btw). He was mayor when the Superdome was being built. Maybe he should have spent the money on the levies.

[concretebob]

Excuse me, young Lady, but have you been thinking?
You look like you may have had a little too much to think tonite.
Why no Officer, I haven't been thinking. I may have had a little think earlier in the evening, but I'm not thunk.