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.
FEMAs 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 ...
Actually, I did see them on Fox News
I will never support this pipsqueak for any elected office.
A NG Commander says the disintegration of the NO Police hindered the rescues.
Go here: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20050903/pl_afp/usweatherresponse_050903203446
Earlier I saw part of the Police news conference. A reporter asked the Deputy Police Chief what would be done about the officiers who left. His response was 'we'll address that later.'
Did you know that of the 1500 NO officers....1000 were 'no shows' as Katrina hit?
The lack of police at the Superdome must have contributed to the chaos that followed.....but the media went immediately into 'blame Bush' mode as soon as it became evident that people were desparate at the Dome & the Convention Center.
As usual they placed blame on Bush before even knowing the facts!
;-)
Joe, you have got to stop sniffing glue.
Its all ratings, his ratings suck because he is a spineless loser who believes in nothing, like alot of politicians.
Joe's a worthless media whore who sold out to the rat party just to keep his job at pmsnbc. I can't stand to look at his ugly face anymore.
http://www.usatoday.com/weather/stormcenter/2005-08-28-katrina-gulf_x.htm
Stuck in the middle is this statement:
Terry Ebbert, New Orleans director of homeland security, said more than 4,000 National Guardsmen were mobilizing in Memphis and will help police New Orleans streets.
This was written Sunday night, last Sunday, by AP for USA Today. What happened to those 4,000? I suspect it was just a paper plan, no substance.
Joe can shove it, too. Too much hangin' 'round with the PMSNBC crowd.
Does this poor soul dress himself?
Hey, Scarface. Maybe if you did a little bit of research, you'd change your tune. Read it an wheep.
An excellent, lengthy post that debunks the major lies told by the left about the levees, troop levels needed to respond to the crisis, and the response of the federal government.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1477440/posts?page=652#652
Ditto.
Scarborough: Kissing (licking) the hand (butt) that feeds you...
MSNBC is full of crap.
Well, he has to play to MSNBC's tiny, leftist viewing audience. Ever notice that the talking heads that play the conservative on MSNBC are always Bush haters. So you have a Bush-hater debating a Bush hater.
Couldn't agree more!!
Waiting to have Scarborough explain himself first. It's always the CYA types that cast stones at someone else while taking no responsiblity for themselves!!
The President as Great White Father. Interesting model. Primitive but interesting.
I was thinking the same thing. What a difference the camera makes.
Am I wrong here or didn't the levees break on Tuesday and that's when the real problems started?
The fault finders may not like the "answers" when the dust settles. There are miles of video that speak for themselves.
The hate mongers and fault finders cannot spin what Americans have seen with their own eyes.
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