[Siobhan]

In a Washington briefing, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said one reason federal assets were not used more quickly was "because our constitutional system really places the primary authority in each state with the governor."

I never thought it would come to this that I would want the federal government to have the means to overrule a governor... but I think they need a mechanism where the federal government can consult neighboring governors to get a consensus of the region and overrule an individual governor in a natural disaster or the like. Or they just need a provision that lets them bag a crazy witch and federalize the whole corrupt stinkin' thing.

[expatguy]

I strongly disagree - that is a VERY dangerous path to take.

At the end of the day do you think that Mayor Nagin was hired because of his leadership abilities or because of the color of his skin.

Therein lies the problem.

Multiculturism, diversity and political correctness kill.

[cgk]

Or they just need a provision that lets them bag a crazy witch and federalize the whole corrupt stinkin' thing

Now THAT I like the sound of.

[uberPatriot]

I never thought it would come to this that I would want the federal government to have the means to overrule a governor... but I think they need a mechanism where the federal government can consult neighboring governors to get a consensus of the region and overrule an individual governor in a natural disaster or the like.

Actually, the mechanism was already put in place by the President: The National Response Plan.

The plan includes the following:

Standard procedures regarding requests for assistance may be expedited or, under extreme circumstances, suspended in the immediate aftermath of an event of catastrophic magnitude.