[HAL9000]

In fact, Blanco did not learn Bush was coming to Louisiana for the second time in three days until informed by an Advocate reporter late Sunday night.

The White House announced the return visit on Saturday afternoon, and I posted that information here. Blanco is utterly incompetent.

[Brilliant]

Blanco screws up, blames it on Bush.

She should have just resigned before the hurricane hit, and done everyone a big favor.

[Rosemont]

" New Orleans's Mayor Ray Nagin is up for re-election in February 2006, Gov. Kathleen Blanco and Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu in November 2007, and Sen. Mary Landrieu in November 2008. All four are Democrats. When they point the finger at the federal government for whatever went wrong in the Katrina response, remember that they are fighting for their political lives. "

http://www.opinionjournal.com/best/?id=110007217

WSJ nails it.

[Brilliant]

she's not budging on the issue of federalizing local law enforcement and the state's National Guard, which the president had attempted to do Friday.

This just proves that it's not Bush's fault. She's in control.

[steenkeenbadges]

She's a bumbling fool who cost lives. However, no one could be more incompetent than that idiot Mayor of New Orleans. Intelligence is clearly not a requirement for election in their fair city. (Fairly gone city?)

[upchuck]

later

[BoBToMatoE]

In the back of my mind I have got to wonder if Blanco was in on some sort of - yes- conspiracy among the dems to embarrass Bush.

If the state really wanted to reach those people - they were there, on the spot. The feds didnt do a sparkling job on tues and wednesday - but once things got in gear and Horone was put in charge (a real man, not chertof or brownie. heh) - things got done.

[rocksblues]

I don't know when this poor excuse for a Governor is up for reelection but I am posting odds that she won't even be renominated by the Dims!

9 to 1.

[fatnotlazy]

Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour got a hug. Gov. Kathleen Blanco was lucky to get a hello.

***

Oh, boo-hoo-hoo.

If I were the President, I would have thrown a rock at her. Fortunately, the President has a lot more class than she does.

[Steven W.]

she was planning to leave the state for some time until she was called on it because Bush was coming there.

[COUNTrecount]

Kathleen and the First Gent in Happier Times

[kinghorse]

Had her daughters fill in.

Therein lies the problem. Are they running a state or a racket? I vote racket. Still noone has answered the question why can't the parishes trust the state enough to have it handle their sales tax receipts? Does Ms. Blanco have an answer for this? It might go a long way toward explaining their state-wide (non)response to the crisis. This is one not together state. No wonder almost to a person the people in Texas are pleased to stay in Texas and not return to NO. Oh joy. I'm thinking Texas is due some serious recompense for their ability to avert a larger crisis. Dissolve Louisiana. Give everything south and east of Pochatrain to Mississippi and Texas can have the rest.

[tennmountainman]

"In fact, Blanco did not learn Bush was coming to Louisiana for the second time in three days until informed by an Advocate reporter late Sunday night. "
___________________________________________________________

Apparently, Blanco did not also know a CAT 5 Hurricane was about to hit LA.

[TheRedSoxWinThePennant]

Did you notice next to Baker, Landreu and Blanco's names something was missing?

Yet Jindal had a funny (R) after his name. HUH! Thats weird. I wonder what party those three belong to? Well I guess I will never know.

[<1/1,000,000th%]

"If one person criticizes them (local and state government) or says one more thing -- including the president of the United States -- he will hear from me," Landrieu said on the ABC's "This Week" on Sunday. "One more word about it after this show airs and I might likely have to punch him. Literally."

More censorship from the left.

[Shermy]

"Blanco said, when asked about the issue of federalizing state troops, that the issue involves the hurricane recovery organizational structure, not how rescuers are deployed."

She doesn't want disaster relief federalized because she would have less or no say in redevelopment moolah to come.

[Williams]

There is a story I read it yesterday, the state officils actually said they refused early on to turn the relief effort over to the feds because they "suspected a political motive" was behind the request. This was right after the hurricane, and they were making their decisions based on politics. I'm looking for the story, it was a "credible" news source. Also said they feared if they turned control over to the feds, they feared the feds would then blame everything on them. (By the way that makes little sense). This is a huge scandal by the governor.

Rather than let teh feds control the national guard effort, Blanco brought in this former Clinton official to control the La (non) effort. Sounds to me like Blanco was getting her political signals from you know who.

[FMBass]

“The Bush administration on Friday asked Blanco to give the president control of local law enforcement and the Louisiana National Guard that now answer to the governor. Blanco refused.”



Clear enough?

One could also read into the article where (if) FEMA might have gotten tangled up. James Lee Witt (former FEMA head under President Clinton) was named to “RUN RELIEF EFFORTS”

[GOP_1900AD]

Beotsch ....

[msnimje]

Blanco was not invited to be with the President, she should have gotten the message. But then again, we all know she ain't that bright.

[David1]

I need a clarification. Can a president ever use federal troops in a state without the consent of the governor? Historically, I would say yes. I look at historical events like the civil war and Eisenhower use of Federal troops in Little Rock.