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Gov. Kathleen Blanco: No State of Emergency
NewsMax.com ^ | Sunday, Sept. 4, 2005 12:47 p.m. EDT

Posted on 09/04/2005 10:18:30 AM PDT by one more state

Sunday, Sept. 4, 2005 12:47 p.m. EDT Gov. Kathleen Blanco: No State of Emergency

Though her state has been devastated by Hurricane Katrina and thousands are believed dead in New Orleans, Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco has yet to declare a state of emergency and refuses to cede authority over rescue efforts to the federal government.

"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," the Washington Post reported in Sunday editions.

Story Continues Below

Gov. Blanco's office rejected the request, the paper said - concerned that such a move would be comparable to a federal declaration of martial law. The Louisiana Democrat has also failed to declare a state of emergency - in marked contrast to Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour and Alabama Gov. Bob Riley, who both issued emergency declarations before Hurricane Katrina struck.

State and federal officials also told the Post that Gov. Blanco did not reach out to a multi-state mutual aid compact for assistance until Wednesday - more than 24 hours after breaches in New Orleans levee system had flooded the city and killed thousands.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; US: Louisiana
KEYWORDS: blanco; katrina
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To: Siobhan

.....She is tsarina. Don't you know, darlink.....

Catherine was "The Great" a true leader and ruler. The Governor is more like Catherine's weak Husband.


281 posted on 09/04/2005 2:52:38 PM PDT by bert (K.E. ; N.P . The wild winds of fortune will carry us onward)
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To: XEHRpa
there are many miles of populated marshland between NOLA and the Gulf. Lot's of real estate for additional tragedy to unfold.

I was unaware of this. OMG.

282 posted on 09/04/2005 2:57:18 PM PDT by nicmarlo
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To: DeepSouthRedneck
But a second presidential visit means that the White House is concerned about the public's perception of the President. Or he wouldn't be going there. Get a clue!

Complete and utter hogwash. If the President did not come in for a second visit, he would be lambasted for "considering the matter dealt with."

283 posted on 09/04/2005 3:00:00 PM PDT by grellis (Alles mit Gott und nichts ohn' ihn)
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To: Corin Stormhands
Here is the link to the Louisiana Emergency Shelter Plan. Note that on page 8 is the recommended evacuation plan with a description of how and when school buses are to be used. She invoked this document in her 8/26/05 request for the state of emergency.

Don't know if this document has been put into the FR threads, so I thought I get it in here.

284 posted on 09/04/2005 3:00:03 PM PDT by RightField
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To: Grampa Dave

It's truly a sorry ass irorny that those who are largely responsible for much of this incompetency, will largely benefit from it at our collective expense.

(I am still trying to get current --- having lost my power for 5 days). It's the strangest reality -- being in the hurricane at its outer bands, but having it knock out power, and subsequently, not know what all went on for 5 days.


285 posted on 09/04/2005 3:03:42 PM PDT by onyx (North is a direction. South is a way of life.)
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To: Howlin

You posted your first find on this guy last night. It drove me into a full headache, and I went to bed.


286 posted on 09/04/2005 3:04:46 PM PDT by Grampa Dave (Jamie Gorelick is responsible for more dead Americans(9-11) than those killed in Iraq.)
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To: Grampa Dave

the Army Corps of Engineers is saying that those six guys killed were THEIRS! Contractors!


287 posted on 09/04/2005 3:06:23 PM PDT by Howlin (Have you check in on this thread: FYI: Hurricane Katrina Freeper SIGN IN Thread)
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To: DJ MacWoW

Yes, I've seen the press releases also. With dates. Something doesn't jive. This article is pretty damning towards city/state, but notice the edit at top dated 9/4.

There's something weird going on, I think, but sure don't know what.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/03/AR2005090301680.html


288 posted on 09/04/2005 3:07:16 PM PDT by JLO
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To: JasonC; All
Does anyone know who this person is:

SECTION 2: The state of Louisiana's emergency response and recovery program is activated under the command of the director of the state office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness to prepare for and provide emergency support services and/or to minimize the effects of the storm's damage.

Jason, so is there a Louisiana "State of Emergency" but no Louisiana "Martial Law?"

It seems like Blanco is restricting the situation to Louisiana and not putting in the proper procedures (deliberately or not) to permit the federal government to legally act. Isn't the federal government restricted by law from acting on a state level unless the governor makes the request. It seems like the president was trying to force her to make the proper request but she still refuses to do so? What am I missing? Is Napoleonic Law part of the problem?
289 posted on 09/04/2005 3:07:37 PM PDT by hummingbird (21st Century Newsreporting - "Don't get me started!")
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To: AFreeBird
One wonders what it would take for Gov. Blanco to consider it an emergency.

If she ran out of dry hankies to cry into on live TV?

290 posted on 09/04/2005 3:09:09 PM PDT by Gritty ("Maybe the 9/11 Commission can rename themselves the Katrina Kommission - Mark Steyn)
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To: Cboldt
Nonetheless, lots is happening without direction from the state's command and control apparatus.

Does that mean Blanco is technically not the governor at this time?
291 posted on 09/04/2005 3:09:24 PM PDT by hummingbird (21st Century Newsreporting - "Don't get me started!")
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To: Peach

"When I think how those people you mentioned are going to benefit from the donations that people are making, it makes me literally sick to my stomach."

When we had the big earthquake out here in California, the rat thugs in Northern California shook that tax tree for about a decade. It took forever to get roads reopen and bridges made safe again.

In S California, Pete Wilson broke the backs of the thugs and let honest construction people do the road/bridge repairs with a bonus if they beat a deadline. They did the repair work within the budget and under time.

It was so bad in N California, one of our younger relatives who was a construction Project Manager involved in dealing with the thugs resigned, took a pay cut and moved to Oregon to get away from it.


292 posted on 09/04/2005 3:09:48 PM PDT by Grampa Dave (Jamie Gorelick is responsible for more dead Americans(9-11) than those killed in Iraq.)
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To: mewzilla

After sleeping on this, I came up with some suggestions.

GW should appoint Rudy to be in charge of overseeing the funding.

Rudy could bring in a lot of retired law enforcement guys who own nothing to anybody to make sure that the La people and we tax payers don't get $crewed.

Then, when Rudy dropped the dime on a couple of rat thugs trying work the system, that would send a loud message for the La and Arkansas thugs to back off.


293 posted on 09/04/2005 3:13:05 PM PDT by Grampa Dave (Jamie Gorelick is responsible for more dead Americans(9-11) than those killed in Iraq.)
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To: Howlin

"the Army Corps of Engineers is saying that those six guys killed were THEIRS! Contractors!"

God, we hope not.

Do you have a link to this?


294 posted on 09/04/2005 3:15:04 PM PDT by Grampa Dave (Jamie Gorelick is responsible for more dead Americans(9-11) than those killed in Iraq.)
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To: one more state

I'll say it again.....there is a reason she does not want the feds in control. Every action she takes points to it. And it has nothing to do with the soveriegnty of LA.


295 posted on 09/04/2005 3:15:49 PM PDT by Protect the Bill of Rights (Sooner or later Ted is going to swing the camera over to Orlando's head!)
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To: Grampa Dave

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1477350/posts


296 posted on 09/04/2005 3:17:08 PM PDT by Howlin (Have you check in on this thread: FYI: Hurricane Katrina Freeper SIGN IN Thread)
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To: Howlin

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1477350/posts

8 VICTIMS SHOT BY NOPD ON BRIDGE WERE CONTRACTORS WITH THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS
CNN, AP BREAKING ^


Posted on 09/04/2005 3:16:13 PM PDT by Chucky is a girlie man


New Orleans PD shot contractors - not thugs - on bridge


297 posted on 09/04/2005 3:18:38 PM PDT by Grampa Dave (Jamie Gorelick is responsible for more dead Americans(9-11) than those killed in Iraq.)
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To: lefty-lie-spy
Requires that the medical professional register with the Department of Health and Hospitals be in good standing with their home state and practice in good faith within the reasonable scope of their skill, training or ability.

Am I wrong or is she demanding/requiring a higher standard of assistance from out-of-state medical personnel than the standard of governance she was unable to supply to her own constituents?

If so, she, and her flacks, do not do "chutzpah" well...
298 posted on 09/04/2005 3:20:19 PM PDT by hummingbird (21st Century Newsreporting - "Don't get me started!")
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To: Grampa Dave
Ricco Act. Rudy knows best.

Hmmm...what to do with the culprits. Speedy trial and .....Chain Gang.

Somebody's gotta clean up this mess,

Keep in touch, Dave.

299 posted on 09/04/2005 3:24:30 PM PDT by BIGLOOK (I once opposed keelhauling but recently have come to my senses.)
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To: hummingbird
I think the article got something importantly wrong, and is misleading many here, myself included. The president did declare a federal disaster in LA - I linked the FEMA page with the actual document, above. So there is a federal emergency in LA, and I was wrong before to say otherwise. FEMA is therefore empowered to act and is acting.

The remaining dispute appears to be over control of the National Guard in the relief effort. The state is in charge of them. FEMA wants additional authority over them, in order to central command. I don't have a dog in that fight, and I don't think that is necessary to providing relief.

The feds are restricted in their use of military assets domestically by a whole forest of laws. The NG is not, when it is acting under state authority. Feds can directly command troops used domestically to deal with conditions of insurrection or rebellion. Passing NG control to them requires state approval, however. This may be what they are still squabbling over.

The homeland security and emergency preparedness office is a civil defense agency that controls the LA National Guard. "Since 1990, LHLS & EP has been under the leadership of two Directors, Major General Ansel M. Stroud and Major General Bennett C. Landreneau". So these are NG military, essentially a LA state "defense department". Its main offices are in Baton Rogue. Their website is here -

LA Homeland Security

I hope this helps, and sorry I contributed to the confusion.

300 posted on 09/04/2005 3:25:44 PM PDT by JasonC
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