[Paloma_55]

The Bush administration failed to set up a clear chain of command.

As I recall, the Bush administration offered to assist the state and the state refused. Given the refusal, what were they to do?? Set up a chain JUST IN CASE the state changed their mind?

Note, this is not news. FEMA already took the heat for it. It is repeating an old story with FEMA taken out and Bush administration inserted to undermine the SOU bump in the polls.

[Mr. Jeeves]

As I recall, the Bush administration offered to assist the state and the state refused. Given the refusal, what were they to do?? Set up a chain JUST IN CASE the state changed their mind?

This is a classic no-win situation, If Bush had stepped in, he would have been accused with equal or greater volume of meddling in state affairs, messing with the emergency procedures "already put in place by the state and local authorities" and essentially making the aftermath worse.

It's best that it played out the way it did - the charges ring hollow, and Blanco and Nagin have been exposed to the world as incompetent fools.

[OldFriend]

Just a day or so ago it was reported that the HHS offered to help with the evacuation of people in hospitals and were refused.

Does the report recommend that the federal government supercede state government and usurp local power.

Do we want to give any president the power to take over any state for any reason?

[dfwgator]

Someday it's going to come out that the DNC was instructing Governor Blank-o all along on what to do.