Posted on 12/16/2005 8:38:16 AM PST by LA Woman3
Federal officials announced Thursday a $1.5 billion plan to rebuild the levee damage, fix flaws being found in the design of the system, and to make the entire New Orleans levee system stronger than ever before.
Governor Kathleen Blanco's testimony before Congress on Wednesday might have played a part in securing that promise from President Bush. Political analysts say those three hours in the hot seat just might be a turning point in the governor's career.
In testimony, Blanco told Congress, "Let me say we evacuated. We had mandatory evacuations. We got 1.2 million people out. We ended up saving another 100,000 people, and we lost 1,100. That's the whole story, we got people out."
And Governor Blanco stuck to that story throughout the intense grilling session before a congressional committee. It was an unflinching show that took many by surprise.
Political analyst Jim Nickell says, "I was impressed with the governor, I think a lot of us expected her to go up there, face a lot of tough questions. She did, she handled it well, she stood her ground." Nickell says after months of turmoil in her state and in her career, that tenacity got Blanco through a sink-or-swim situation.
Analyst Jim Engster agrees. "I think she did a good job in that she conveyed that she is in control, maybe not as in control as a lot of people wanted her to be on August 29, but she hasn't abdicated her throne!"
"I think it dispelled two rumors in Washington," says Nickell. "One was that not enough was done to evacuate New Orleans. And she made it very clear that we got a lot of people out of there as fast as we could... She got across the message that if the levees don't break, we don't have this travesty."
That dual-message deflected the blame off Louisiana for the people left behind, and put it on the federal government for the levees trapping them.
"There are always people who believe that they're tougher than storms," testified Blanco. "And you know what? They were right. If the levee hadn't failed, they wouldn't have been in any trouble, and all those people in the Dome would have walked home."
Nickell says it must have worked. Just one day after that statement came the big announcement from the federal government -- they're stepping up to the plate.
According to Federal Rebuilding Coordinator Donald Powell, "The levee system will be better and stronger than it ever has been in the history of New Orleans."
Reporter:
*ping*
Does this mean she is now a candidate for reelection, or is she still going to have to defer to LA's most popular Democrat in history -- John Breaux?
What a waste of tax payers money.N O
I love the media!
Lord knows they couldn't take a bus.
Now that Gregory Hines is gone I guess these people feel they need to see a good tap dancer.
I wouldnt give this POS a dime!
Wow you mean all Bush had to say was we got people out of there OK and the press would have moved on all would be forgiven? Gee why didn't he try that?
He's flat out nuts and LA will receive less money due to Me Maw's act.
And they have this in black and white in her emails, yet the republicans will let her go as a hero while they are branded as racist murderers.
Instead, they should be grilling McCurry and demanding to know if the dems involved should face criminal charges.
Does Blanco own that station? I thought it was Nagin who got results.
As my wife said last night, reverse the parties and Blanco would have had to resign by now. There would be vigils outside her residence by the survivirs of those lost, and they would all say she has blood on her hands. Republicans will NEVER get this.
Did she quit her "Blame Bush" mentality? I noticed she cooled her tongue quite a bit when she was caught in a private conversating with her aide saying that she should have called for help sooner.
It was Blanco's machine in action. The poll on Moon Griffon's site (1,100 votes) said 99% of the people think she hurt La. in the hearing.
Political analyst Jim Nickell says ...
Analyst Jim Engster agrees...
There's a reason why Analyst is spelled, A-N-A-L
BS!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.