You're right! It's only because of hindsight that we can see that Bush would have been morally right to do this. BUT a Republican usurping a Democratic governor and mayor? He would have been characterized as he is about Iraq..a cowboy, blah blah blah.
I think as a former governor, Bush was loathe to set the precedent of taking over the state...and I think he was right. The incompetence of the staate and local governments is coming out now, but Bush would have STILL taken the blame of response AND have a charge of "dictatorship" to boot had he done it.
Excellent point!