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What part of "FEMA is not a first responder" don't you understand? How may times to people have to say it before it starts to sink in?

I understand that quite well thank you.

The local government had sole resposibility for the convention center for the first 4 days as per pre-established division of responsiblity.

I understand the division of responsibillities quite well also. There is no doubt that that the mayor and governor bear the lion's share of the blame. They were incompetent to a criminal degree. They dropped the ball.

If you want to change the role of FEMA in the future and turn in into a first responder then debate that, but I am sick of the FEMA bashers setting up a fake standard by pretending it is a first responder and then being shocked, shocked it did not act as a first responder.

This is where we part company. First, I am not bashing FEMA, I am blaming the entire federal government for not stepping in sooner at a critical juncture of the relief effort in NO. Just as you are frustrated by "FEMA bashers," I am upset by those who completely exonorate the feds using legalisms and bureaucratic mumbo jumbo.

The feds and NGOs had the resources available to lance the boils at the Convention Center and Superdome days before. They were assembled at the doorstep of the city waiting to go in while the MSM were reporting and televising the scenes at the overpass and the Superdome. The reports of violence, disorder, and suffering fed the fire of "Blame Bush" with the Black Caucus leading the way to introduce race into the equation.

The question is should the federal government stand by and allow American citizens to suffer and die because incompetent state and local governments prevent first responders from doing their job. The Red Cross and Salvation Army were prevented by the LA Office of Homeland Security from bringing their personnel and supplies to these locations prior to the hurricane and afterwards. First responders were being shot at hampering their ability to minister to the needs of the victims. Looters were running rampant.

I am a retired federal government bureaucrat with over 36 years of service. I know the corporate culture. I understand the need for rules and regulations. I understand the concept of federalism and states' rights and responsibilities. I understand that state and local governments are primarily responsible for disaster relief and the federal government provides the requested resources to assist them. That said, there are times when extraordinary circumstances require extraordinary actions.

The American public doesn't care about the division of responsibilties. They want results. Politicians understand that, bureaucrats don't.