Posted on 09/06/2005 3:38:52 AM PDT by Former Military Chick
BATON ROUGE - Even as teams of engineers worked to patch ruptured levees in New Orleans, a political breach opened between Gov. Kathleen Blanco and President Bush over who is in charge of the post-Hurricane Katrina recovery effort.
One flashpoint came over the weekend, when Blanco said she rebuffed an attempt by the White House to seize control of the mounting military presence in Louisiana, including thousands of state National Guard forces under her authority. Then Bush made an unusual return visit to the state Monday, just days after surveying the damage - a trip that members of Blanco's staff said caught them by surprise and caused a certain level of consternation.
"We had no idea the president was coming," said Blanco's communications director, Robert Mann, adding that the governor was forced to cancel a trip to visit evacuees in Houston so she could meet with Bush.
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In the game of political maneuvering for control between Blanco, a Democrat, and Bush, a Republican, the biggest chess pieces are the 13,268 National Guard troops from 29 states under the governor's command - with another 7,845 on the way - and the 7,000 active-duty troops who began arriving Monday under command of the regular Army and the president.
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Blanco said that when the plain-spoken, cigar-chomping Honore showed up in New Orleans late last week, she thought that her worries about a lack of federal troops and resource were over. Honore quickly became a media darling and the take-charge face of the federal government in New Orleans, barking out orders to surprised National Guards members who aren't even under his control.
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(Excerpt) Read more at nola.com ...
""We had no idea the president was coming," said Blanco's communications director, Robert Mann, adding that the governor was forced to cancel a trip to visit evacuees in Houston so she could meet with Bush."
POOR BABY, FORCED TO CHANGE HER PRECIOUS PLANS!
I can't believe this governor is throwing a hissy fit in the midst of an almost unimaginable disaster.
She needs to resign. Yesterday.
right.........................................................
Hey, Jeff, don't forget a transistor radio and flashlight in the 96 hour kit, matches too. In southern Calif., it behooves us to have heavy duty shoes nearby and even a hard hat. Thanks.
Democrats Preach out, while Republicans Reach out.
You bettcha! Thanks for the clarification!
Why is this idiot still in office? She is soooo useless. Nagin is doing her in slow but sure, unfortunately he's not taking any responsibility for his actions.
MA is taking in 2500 refugees at the Otis Air National Guard Base. They will be collecting unemployment bennies without having to prove they actually had a job. There are MA citizens without jobs that are not being offered the same bennies. The Gov wants anyone with a week off to volunteer their time to Otis ANG Base to cook, clean and mind the kids, EXCUSE ME, none of the 2500 know how to cook, clean or take care of kids??? This is absurd.
Ed Schultz is on the radio, he was the biggest liberal on the air last week.
He went to Gulfport, Miss. over the weekend, with the National Guard......
He cannot say enough good about how the Guard and Military is working, the hours, their service in this disaster.
He is interviewing all the ranks and doing a good show.
One officer told him that this was " a piece of cake, after
ten months in Iraq".
I never thought that I would suggest anyone listen to Ed Schultz, but if you want a good up to date report, he is
giving it. He will be replayed, as I find him all over the dial, when I don't want him.
He was in complete awe of the Pilots, who when the helicopter quit running, set it down and climbed on top to do the mechanic work and get it back in the air.
Another one came in and picked Ed up to continue his trip.
I of course agree with him, "God Bless our troops".
You are so right. Put the able bodied to work - that will do more for their morale than freebies.
Why ship in 1000 extra ppl to take care of 2,000? Just more mouths to feed and bodies to shelter.
The Govmint is just not good at math.
sp
Wildcat's comment was true, Rush's false not to mention idiotic.
Doubt it. LOSEiana is a relative welfare state, and entrenched DIMocRATic bunglers and thieves. Not even a Hurricane can unseat this INEPT BITCH!
Naw, you hit the nail on the head. Inept and corrupt and that's what doomed those poor souls. BUT, you'll NEVER see that in the MSM.
Hey Freepers advise 'Gov' Blanco on what to do next! Fax her at : (225) 342-7099
BLANCO: The first five days of the recovery were heroic. We had -- we were the people who took control.The National Guard took control of the city, brought order out of chaos, because we have law enforcement authority. The federal troops do not. I was very concerned about giving up law enforcement authority.
True. True. And most of the looting, murder rape and mayhem was preventable. And the mayhem prevent relief from enetering the city. And this, dear governor, is entirely YOUR fault.
We'll never know the loss cause by her incompetence and desire to hold onto control; and she'll not suffer any penalty, not even at the polls.
No. The national guard is under her control in this circumstance, so the more she has, the mopre work can get done.
She has the power and authority to call and direct them - ahead of landfall, after landfall - they are hers. Likewise National Guard lent by other states, they report to Blanco unless she agrees to have them federalized.
She was slow, but not becuase it would result in loss of control.
Waiaminut! I thought all the anti-Bush wackos said that FEMA and the National Guard were under federal control and that Blanco was out of the authority chain so this lack of response is all Bush's fault?
She dithered all over the place on her orders to troops under her command. "Search and Rescue." A day later, "No you dummies, I told you to do crowd control."
Nevermind that she grossly underestimated the number of units required to maintain a semblance of civil order.
The only thing she didn't want to do was turn control of National Guard to anybody else. She had it, she has it, and she is not going to give it up. All of the action of the National Guard is a reflection of her orders.
"Can you say "Incompetent?"
Nagin/Blanco
At the suggestion of writer Michelle Malkin last Friday, I have cobbled together a blogsite called Texas Clearinghouse for Katrina Aid to serve as a clearinghouse for refugee efforts in Texas.
Texas is getting more refugees than any other state -- that's fine, we'll take them all -- but we need help providing them with food, clothing, and shelter.
If you are a refugee, you can information that will help you find relief. If you want to donate or volunteer, you can find someone who needs you.
Right now the site mostly covers Houston and Dallas but I will add various churches, schools, and other charities in San Antonio and Ft. Worth tonight. My wife is down at Reunion Arena in Dallas as we speak handing out care packages and otherwise ministering to the refugees as a representative of her employer.
There are a lot of churches and other organizations in Texas that need help in dealing with the problem and I would be most appreciative if you would get the word out.
Many thanks,
Michael McCullough
Stingray blogsite
Hey Freepers advise 'Gov' Blanco on what to do next! Fax her at : (225) 342-7099
She needs to Lead, Follow or get the hell out of the way.
At this point her leadership has been a dismal failure.
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