New Orleans Mayor Faces Leadership Crisis

AP ^ | 9/20/5 | ADAM NOSSITER

[SmithL]

New Orleans -- Weeping and cursing in frustration at one point, jauntily announcing the city's comeback at another, Ray Nagin has pursued an erratic course as mayor of this woeful city over the past three weeks.

Last week, for example, he announced plans to quickly reopen much of New Orleans without even consulting federal officials. On Monday, he was forced to backtrack as another storm approached the Gulf Coast and President Bush and other top officials warned he was rushing residents back too quickly.

Earlier this month, as New Orleans was being swallowed by Hurricane Katrina's floodwaters, Nagin said the death toll could reach a startling 10,000. On Monday, the Louisiana total stood at 736, and from what search crews have seen so far, the number of dead will probably not come close to Nagin's projection.

This week, Nagin missed a meeting with the top federal official in New Orleans because of a late flight, and at one point accused that official, Coast Guard Vice Adm. Thad Allen, of trying to make himself the federal mayor of New Orleans.

Altogether, some observers from outside New Orleans say, Nagin's handling of the crisis has created the perception of a leadership void in this city at precisely the time it requires a steady hand.

"He hasn't demonstrated a clear vision for what should be happening next in New Orleans," said Melissa Harris Lacewell, a political science professor with the University of Chicago's Center for the Study of Race, Politics and Culture. She described him as a "kind of a passionate character in this whole story," but added, "He appears to have been pretty unprepared."

Others have said in Nagin's defense that he is dealing with an enormous and unprecedented crisis.

[SmithL]

He's no Rudy.

[MNJohnnie]

Drug test time.

[Morgan in Denver]

No, he's just a good Democrat.

[Vision Thing]

Ray Nagin has pursued an erratic course as mayor of this woeful city over the past three weeks.

Nagin should rename his city to "Lake Woebehere".

[bikepacker67]

King of the grasshoppers bytching at the ants.

[siunevada]

Weeping and cursing in frustration at one point, jauntily announcing the city's comeback at another

Drug test time.

Maybe he's off his meds. Sounds like he could use 20 mg of Lithium daily.

[lexington minuteman 1775]

Who could of guessed that this would happen? /sarcasm on.

[msnimje]

Louisiana's supply of Prozac was obviously wiped out by Katrina.

[MizSterious]

I think it's drug rehab time--and I've seen many others suggest the same. How on earth did he get elected? Oh, wait, I forgot. He's a Democrat.

[Lazamataz]

I'll cut him a little slack: Many of us would crack under this kind of pressure.

However, I won't cut him this slack: Upon recognizing it, most of us would resign so someone more effective could work.

[pointsal]

check the Wal-Mart videos..... that should be the first cut on staffing

[libs_kma]

He's in such a hurry to get people (his Dimwits) back because the more time that goes by, the greater chance they (his Dimwits) aren't coming back.

Then, no more "liberal utopia", and goodbye Mayor who?

[Enchante]

"he announced plans to quickly reopen much of New Orleans without even consulting federal officials"

Proving yet again that he is (1) lacking in sound judgment; (2) unreliable; (3) a piss-poor 'partner' for federal and state officials. Everything about his poor leadership from the start of this crisis, days before Katrina hit, shows how difficult it was/is for the federal government to work with and through a local official of such dubious abilities and merits. Lefties can blame Bush and FEMA all they want, but if there had been competent local and state leadership in LA this whole thing would have gone off far far better than it did....

[evangmlw]

I see conspiracy written all over this. Bush knew Katrina would do this and he had Nagin elected so when it happened, many poor folk and minorities would die. I'm surprised Sinister Louis Farakan hasn't brought this revelation forward yet.

[ncountylee]

"Evacuees at the Superdome and the convention center furiously denounced Nagin, holding him responsible for the miserable conditions there."

Re-election next year?

[hillary's_fat_a**]

scum elect scum .... 'nuff said!

[toomanygrasshoppers]

King of the grasshoppers bytching at the ants.



Did somebody mention grasshoppers???

[John Lenin]

"He appears to have been pretty unprepared."

Understatement of the year.

[Reactionary]

Liberals are hysterical dolts. The only thing they're qualified to "lead" is an ant farm.

[SmithL]

Nice tagline, similar to psycho-ceramic (crack-pot).