Posted on 12/29/2005 6:22:47 AM PST by DJ Taylor
BATON ROUGE, La., Dec. 22 - She is struggling to rebuild a shattered state. But along the way, Gov. Kathleen Babineaux Blanco of Louisiana is also working to repair a wounded reputation - her own.
She has been mocked as weepy and indecisive by radio talk show hosts who deride her as "momma governor." She has feuded with the White House, which did not invite her to a recent announcement on levee protection. She has been criticized on Capitol Hill by Republicans as having made a "dysfunctional" response to Hurricane Katrina.
And through it all, Ms. Blanco, a 63-year-old Democrat, has found herself dogged by invidious comparisons to a certain mayor of New York whose stand-tall image after Sept. 11, 2001, seems to have become the one that all elected officials are expected to duplicate during a crisis.
"People can't stop comparing her to Rudy Giuliani," said State Representative Troy M. Hebert, a Democrat from Jeanerette. "When 9/11 came, he looked like he was doing something. I'm not sure he was. But he looked like it."
But Ms. Blanco is fighting back. She points to several important victories in a special legislative session last month - including the state takeover of New Orleans's failing schools - as evidence of decisive action. And she is planning a media blitz, using weekly newspaper columns and regular radio appearances to outline her reconstruction plans.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
IMHO, This quote sums up the entire article.
I did not know she was not invited to the levee announcement. Excellent.
Wow poor thing really screws everything up, now wants to act like she did everything ok?
Oh well...
What about Jeb? Did they mention him in this article? I don't know because refuse to sign up for NYT webpage.
Is there something to be said about taking charge and not waiting for the feds to take care of your people?
"Maybe" they should compare her to Haley Barbour, governor of Mississippi. Same hurricane, same magnitude of disaster for the state--completely different response.
But this is just another "puff piece" by the NYT to cover up the disastrous performance in office of yet another Democrat. Really--the NYT needs to change its name to the "New York Democrat".
No, it didn't. The piece was just a typical liberal-left defense of one of their own: Anyone who criticizes a minority Democrat is a racist, and anyone who criticizes a female Democrat must be a sexist.
I love the part about taking over the New Orleans schools as a sign she is doing something important.
The schools were junk before Katrina and Blanco did nothing then.
Now she wants to make a media event out of doing something she should have recognised and done long ago.
She is part of a long time methodology in Louisiana.
How come no one talks about the fact that her Lt Gov is her brother? Wouldn't he succeed her if she was knocked out of office?
Also, is it bad of me if I didn't donate to the Katrina fund?
I don't know. I see my money going to a fifth of liquor for a poor, displaced, homeless New Orleans man that has never had his own home to start with. (gummit projects, absolutely free and food stamps. No reason why he should work) Seems as though I have been donating to these people ever since I've been working.
I do try to help people that CAN"T help themselves. These people, well most of these people have never tried.
she has no plans, and no money. she's worthless, as is nagin. the NYT is, for some reason, deciding that they can rewrite history and with one article make this dumb woman seem like a legitimate governor. possibly the most corrupt official, in the most corrupt party, in the most corrupt state (unless she's beaten into second place by nagin). and yet the Times wants to prop her up.
I believe the Lt. Gov is Sen. Landrieu's brother; the one who wanted to punch Pres. Bush in the stomach.
Yes, he would succeed her if she was removed from office. Her intention is not to fix anything. Her intention is to put the idea out there she is concerned about the 'children' and every one will fall in love with her again...voting her back into office for another term and short term memory will be erased.
It works. Voters get amnesia, and keep re-electing the same bimbos back in...
Could you imagine New York if David Dinkins had been mayor during 9/11 instead of Giuliani?
I do try to help people that CAN"T help themselves. These people, well most of these people have never tried.
The people affected by Katrina are called "victims." Those affected by Rita and Wilma are known as "survivors."
As an evacuee from Rita, away from home for a month, I was constantly asked for donations for "Katrina victims."
I can honestly say that it became infuriating--especially because our town had been housing and feeding Katrina victims until the day we had to leave our own homes.
Just yesterday the stump grinder got to my yard--stumps from five huge pine trees uprooted finally removed. Only one hit the house so we were fortunate.
Beware of women with three names.
Gotta ask, but what does Me Maw mean?
She should be doing time.
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