Posted on 09/05/2005 10:26:53 AM PDT by nj26
As one who has seen these hurricanes up close as a Gulf Coast resident, news reporter and member of Congress — where I got a behind the scenes look at how to run relief operations — I have been trying to connect the dots for those of you who have not been so intimately involved in hurricane recovery efforts.
With so many trying to figure out why so few acted professionally in the first days of this epic crisis, I offer an insider's view of who is to blame for this national disgrace.
We begin with Harry Truman who famously declared that the buck always stops at the president's desk. For those who now define the term conservative as unwavering support for George W. Bush, even this suggestion is maddening.
But the bottom line is that despite the fact the president was strapped with two governors who bungled this crisis badly, in the end it is the president who sends in the National Guard and FEMA relief.
The president's suggestion that the size of this storm caught all by surprise just doesn't get it. His administration was 48 hours late sending in the National Guard and poor Americans got raped and killed because of those mistakes....
Secondly, the first responders in any hurricane are local and state officials. When Florida was struck by four hurricanes last year, Governor Jeb Bush was nothing short of spectacular. Louisiana Governor Blanco was breathtakingly clueless as were other Louisiana officials. The deaths of many lay on their doorsteps.
FEMA’s Michael Brown also shoulders the burden for the suffering in New Orleans. His claim that no one knew of the suffering on the ground until Thursday defies logic. America knew the crescent city was drifting toward chaos on well before Tuesday....
(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...
Only 500 police were on duty according to this report.
See this FR thread.....
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1476938/posts
Excerpt:
The National Guard was slow to move troops into New Orleans because it did not anticipate the collapse of the city's police force after Hurricane Katrina, the guard's commander said.
Lieutenant General Steven Blum said the New Orleans police force was left with only a third of its pre-storm 1,500-person strength.
Some police had families caught up in the disaster, others were unable to make it back to their precincts because of the flooding, and yet others left their posts after deciding the situation had grown too dangerous
by "breathy" do you mean she talks toooo much and too fast??
;-)
Funny thing, in about 1994 Kentucky had some severe ice storms predicted. The governor acivated the Guard a couple days in advance so that they'd already be in uniform and in the armories when the storm hit so that they could respond asap.
Didn't LA have sufficient info to do the same?
Or were they just lacking in motivation?
People seem to misunderstand those statements - what was said is that OFFICIALLY there had been no communiques from the locals to such effect. I heard them complain that they could see the problems on TV but yet nothing was forthcoming from the NO Mayor, etc., who was spending his time bemoaning Bush on the radio & saying Bush was sending the CIA to kill him.
Why is it that everything goes smooth in Alabama & MS but NO breaks down? Obviously (1) secondary flood disaster (2) simple logistics and (3) outright multi-generational incompetence by the local officials from Moon to Mary (Landrieu).
Blanco has been in a daze every time I've seen a presser.
She appears to be either on Valium or in shock.
The governor in her esteemed incompetence refused to sign the necessary paperwork to get things done. I saw her complaining that having failed to do so shouldn't have affected anything which was absurd given the jurisdictional + constitutional laws at bay. It's her job and she had to do and she couldn't do it or wouldn't do it because of her perceived liberal, political implications.
She's trying to play CYA but since she's become all ass it has caused her great stress trying to do the impossible.
Are you following your own strange rule against criticizing politicians when it comes to the bungling of the mayor and governor?
Joe@msnbc.com
See that blue dart that just blazed past your window? That was my email winging its way to that good ole boy tedious preaching windbag, Joe (chameleon) Scarborough.
All right now, everyone FREEP him. Just takes a second. That's what we're here for.
Leni
You want answers, Joe? Here it is!
There is a time for all things. This is not the time to be a bystanding rock thrower only distracting the relief efforts.
The mayor and governor can not lead, will not follow, nor get out of the way. Their foilbles are easily documented and not mere speculation. Their incompetence is self evident.
There is a difference but I doubt you can see it since you're too busy handing rocks to those tossing rocks at the problem solvers.
NO cops starting pay is 300 bucks a week. I think that if I were a cop there and probably had my own home flooded out and was trying to take care of my own family, I would not show up even if I could get there. With no communication, no gas, and no clear directive or leadership, I think I would quit, too.
You seem to assume I am a bystander and am not participating directly in the relief work. You also said I was criticizing ordinary relief workers. False on both counts.
Before standing up on soapboxes and giving speeches about bystanders throwing rocks, you might want to stop assuming and start showing some humility. BTW, the obvious failures of our "leaders" has only strengthened my desire to pitch in. I know that big brother is inept and that the buck stops with me. How about you?
Pompous ass.
I'm just trying to get my communist co-workers here at MSNBC to "like me" and stop laughing at me behind my back, Mr. President.
Joe "too chicken to run for office again" Scarborough..
I am beginning to think Joe was turned down for a job by President Bush or something. This has been going on for quite along time. He always talks about how Bush is not a great speaker and and how he is lacking in various qualities.
This is an abrupt change from his views two years ago -- so what happened? Did his ego get hurt perhaps?
Joe, we really don't have time to deal with you at the present time. Take two aspirin and we will call you in a couple months; don't call us.
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