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 ...
Black or white, makes no difference. The difference is, Democrats by-and-large get a free pass.
Indeed!
Your remark is sensible and mild but Rush got fired by ESPN for a similar remark.
I think they will play the victim card as long as the media is there reporting them as victims. imho
Having said that, logistics are a bitch. Hubby is active duty, he has deployed, there is always a time element of getting boots on the ground. At least 3 days.
Point well taken--Condi doesn't get a pass
They're more concerened with finding a dry mattress to stuff all that funding under.
Like the White House PR folks didn't blanket the airwaves with the announcements of Bush's trip. Right.
Thank you for adding that to the thread. My beloved and I were watching as he took issue with the reporter and we both gave a huge attaboy, it was about time and I for one am appreciative for replying like it is.
Blanco is a raving lunatic. How on earth did this idiot EVER get elected to dog catcher, let alone GOVERNOR??????
WTF? It's frustrating to see so many reporting that Bush "cut the funding" and it's Bush's fault NO was flooded.
I know it's hard for the dems to come to terms with being out of power, but I guess I am naive enough to believe that people still care about the truth.
As far as crooked contractors/inspectors. I am not suprised. Over the weekend several of the news shows were interviewing the former mayor of N.O. (name forgotten), who presided over perhaps the most corrupt police force (administration? not sure of this) of any major US city.
I though she had spent all her stupid, but someone is floating this woman loans.
07
"Condi doesn't get a pass"
So very true...but then, she is a known Black conservative..and we know how the media treats them. Whereas, this man is a military man...not overtly political, so it's harder.
Course...give them time because they'll be watching.
James Carville is surely advising Blanco.
Wasn't this the reason for some of the relief delay in the first place, govt in the way of doers?
Give it up!!!!!!!!!! I have hurricane fatigue (not in the usual sense) I am shutting down tv, computer, radio and paint the house today.
When you stop to consider that the mayor and the governor wasted two or three days doing nothing, the accomplishments of the Feds seem downright miraculous.
If the people of New Orleans had half an idea what happened and why, the mayor and the governor would never be safe in that city again.
To hell with waiting for her term to expire...
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