Many Evacuated, but Thousands Still Waiting

The Washington Post ^ | Sunday September 4,2005 | By Manuel Roig-Franzia and Spencer Hsu

[MNJohnnie]

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 sought unified control over all local police and state National Guard units reporting to the governor. Louisiana officials rejected the request after talks throughout the night, concerned that such a move would be comparable to a federal declaration of martial law. Some officials in the state suspected a political motive behind the request. "Quite frankly, if they'd been able to pull off taking it away from the locals, they then could have blamed everything on the locals," said the source, who does not have the authority to speak publicly.

A senior administration official said that Bush has clear legal authority to federalize National Guard units to quell civil disturbances under the Insurrection Act and will continue to try to unify the chains of command that are split among the president, the Louisiana governor and the New Orleans mayor.

Louisiana did not reach out to a multi-state mutual aid compact for assistance until Wednesday, three state and federal officials said. As of Saturday, Blanco still had not declared a state of emergency, the senior Bush official said.

"The federal government stands ready to work with state and local officials to secure New Orleans and the state of Louisiana," White House spokesman Dan Bartlett said. "The president will not let any form of bureaucracy get in the way of protecting the citizens of Louisiana."

[MNJohnnie]

Those are important pictures. Please keep spreading the word. Our big problem is they have all these images and we have the truth. We need those images like those Buses. I have saved them to my hard drive. This is not just an attack on Bush or the Republicans. This is a full scale assault on Conservative visions of limited Govt. If you can stomach them, read what the Leftists are saying. They really think they can spin this to bring back LBJ style Great Society-ism. That would make things like these picture MORE likely not less. Thank you for the info.

[singfreedom]

I know friends in Monroe and Shreveport, LA, will be happy. They've thought NO was a cesspool for a long time. They just don't want all the "scum" relocated to their communities!

[singfreedom]

You cannot tell me these people don't have battery powered BOOMBOXES! I've just heard and seen too many of them in the area.

[vaudine]

The MSM is not giving much attn., but the govs. of both states are on the ball. We have friends in Ocean Springs, next to Biloxi. This area was totlly devestated but doesn't have the standing water problem. It will take a long time, but they have a lot of help from AL, MS and other states. Biloxi, at least, has a good mayor, one who stayed there and is out about 16 hrs. every day prsonally getting involved. I don't know about the other areas.

vaudine

[grellis]

concerned that such a move would be comparable to a federal declaration of martial law.

Given the present circumstances, how could this remotely be a bad thing???

[Misschuck]

Who is controlling that woman? That's what scares me.

[pabianice]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1477038/posts

[Deep Fried]

To me this sheds a different light on Bush's comment a few days ago with his "dissatisfaction" of the results of the response. They knew she was not cooperating in letting the feds do all they could do in terms of management. Not only did she and the Mayor not do what was needed before and during the disaster, she is basically obstructing the current efforts she is crying for....But the chorus still chimes out "feds, feds, feds, save us" and the congregation responds, "Bush not doing enough, not doing enough,Bush hates Blacks,...."

I am from Louisiana. The only way a statewide election is won by a Democrat is the city of New Orleans proper (not Metairie, or Kenner or Gretna) voting solid Democrat. New Orleans voted 77% for Kerry! I wonder if that does not exceed San Francisco or Boston. Lemmings, all lemmings ...they followed their leaders over the cliff this time.

If the Rats loose their super-majority grip on New Orleans they may finally be reliably defeated in Louisiana's state wide races. Most people saw the looters as lawless thugs taking advantage of dire circumstances. Blanco and Landrienu see them as relatives of the voters who continually insure their election.

[t2buckeye]

I think part of the problem is this too.

I just read an article of Chertoff saying, "THe feds are in control of New Orleans"...

It's not until later you realize he means that the city is "under control.' It sounds like the feds are "owning" the responsiblity of the city, yet you read the article saying that the state has REJECTED the feds desire to federalize the troops.
I think this disaster has uncovered the Achilles' heel of Homeland Security as a federal agency...

[Zionist Conspirator]

I agree with everything you say.

Oh, and btw, the word "ancestors" in my previous post to you should have read "descendants" of course. It drives me crazy when people get those two words mixed up, yet here I up and did it myself!

[kabar]

Press attention maybe, but GWB will not let down two GOP governors in Mississippi and Alabama.