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Lets get the facts straight: A Sept. 4 article on the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina incorrectly said that Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Babineaux Blanco (D) had not declared a state of emergency. She declared an emergency on Aug. 26.

Get your own facts straight, pal. Who spent the weekend on the phone with her, compelling her into action? And let's see what the good Governor called for, where exactly did she advise the federal government that NOLA was incompetent and couldn't handle the evacuation, couldn't employ its own resources, had insufficient food, water and facilities where they sent their citizens and wouldn't be able to secure the shelters?

Get your own facts straight, pal. Who spent the weekend on the phone with her, compelling her into action?

August 26 was a Friday, before the weekend and any contact between Gov. Blanco and the President.

And let's see what the good Governor called for, where exactly did she advise the federal government that NOLA was incompetent and couldn't handle the evacuation, couldn't employ its own resources, had insufficient food, water and facilities where they sent their citizens and wouldn't be able to secure the shelters?

Where? Here. Is that what you're after? Looks like the LA state government set things in motion on the 26th, which culminated in that letter on the 28th.

I'm not on some trip to defend Gov. Blanco or anything, but from what I can tell, she seems to have done what she was supposed to do to get the Feds involved. If any part of the Federal government - be it FEMA, Homeland Security, or the Administration itself - dropped the ball, I want them held responsible. Can you see where that might be a good thing to do? I'm not for mindless finger-pointing, but it seems that's all we're getting at this point.

And then there's this bit from the Washington ComPost yesterday, regarding the President's attempts to get Blanco to declare an emergency:

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.

I know that would make me nervous if I were a governor.