New Video, Blanco Saying Levees Safe (Blanco assures Bush, all is well)

Forbes.com ^ | March 2, 2006 | LARA JAKES JORDAN and MARGARET EBRAHIM

[blogblogginaway]

In the hectic, confused hours after Hurricane Katrina lashed the Gulf Coast, Louisiana's governor hesitantly but mistakenly assured the Bush administration that New Orleans' protective levees were intact, according to new video obtained by The Associated Press showing briefings that day with federal officials.

"We keep getting reports in some places that maybe water is coming over the levees," Gov. Kathleen Blanco said shortly after noon on Aug. 29, according to the video. "We heard a report unconfirmed, I think, we have not breached the levee. I think we have not breached the levee at this time."

[driftless]

"doesn't matter"

According to Big Media at first Bush was too busy to pay attention to Katrina because he was on vacation riding his horse. He didn't know anything. Now it seems HE KNEW EVERYTHING (about Katrina)!!! AND HE DID NOTHING (because he wanted to kill minorities, of course)!!! I can't wait to see what Big Media's next lie will be. "Bush knew, and delegated authority BECAUSE HE WANTED TO KILL MINORITIES!!"

[Rte66]

Yes, I believe they've given an extension of the extension. If I understand that correctly, all females (and any males who qualify) can get free hair extensions for life. With solid gold hair clips. And matching grill teeth.

[Cinnamon]

the gift that keeps on giving.. in my eyes President Bush is absolved of this Katrina mess. This was obviously a Ray "Bus" Nagin and Blanca *expletive* up! a democrat run state, and a city rank in corruption.. with a democrat mayor nonetheless.. the more that is exposed about this the more people realize this was a lib fiasco

[GianniV]

This article reminds of the MSM reporter a few days after Katrina. He was interviewing some displaced black people and said, "Do you blame Bush?" And this woman, who looked poor, said "No, I think he's a good man who has done all he could do."

The reporter kept trying to get the woman to blame him, but she wouldn't. It was hilarious - it was obvious the reporter was angry at the interview.

[caryatid]

As God is my witness, people on TV said "Mar-dee Graw."

... people on TV, huh? Well, what do they know?! LOL

[Levante]

"If Gore was in the White House, would anyone be complaining about Katrina?"

No. You would never know that N.O. was flooded, everyone would be buring their dead, and the liberals wouldn't give a sh#t.

[caryatid]

While you may be technically and theoretically correct ... for anyone who has ever lived in New Orleans, the levees are those mounds of dirt [like hills] that line the banks of the Mississippi River. The containment for the drainage canals has always been referred to as floodwalls ... so, if you wanted to communicate with people on the ground, you would have to tell them floodwalls for them to know what you were talking about. If you would say levee ... well, they would be in great fear of drowning in Mississippi River water ... not in drainage canal/Lake Pontchartrain water.

Or, at least that is how it always was during the decades I lived there.

[Credo]

Here's a way to deal with the Governess. Recall Blanco Petitions.

[Rte66]

Let me "aks" you this. Does anybody build their Papa Noel bonfires along the canals, such as the 17th Street one that had the "levee breach"?

[Rte66]

Oh, I remember that. It was Nightline, Ted Koppel and Dean Reynolds, after the speech Pres Bush gave a few weeks later.

The evacuees were sitting outside the Astrodome in lawn chairs and Reynolds tried and tried to get them to say something nasty about Bush. He baited and baited and they never would bite.

[caryatid]

Let me "aks" you this. Does anybody build their Papa Noel bonfires along the canals, such as the 17th Street one that had the "levee breach"?

Keep in mind that I got out nearly 20 years ago.

That said, to the best of my knowledge, information and belief ... unless customs have been usurped ... the Papa Noel bonfire tradition was never a New Orleans thing, at all ... it has always been a phenomenon that occurs upriver from New Orleans ... along what is traditionally called the German Coast [Cote des Allemands] ... between New Orleans and Baton Rouge.

Other FReepers may feel free to correct me and/or bring me up to date on this if people in New Orleans have adopted this custom in recent years.

[Rte66]

Yeah, I realize they weren't in NOLA proper, but I wasn't sure. I've been there for Christmas several times, but spent most of that time in the "Quota" or in "Met'ry"--never saw any.

I was thinking more of River Road, because the levees are more prominent to me along there. I had some client companies in Luling, Norco, Edgard, along there - and I know the bonfires were a big thing to them and to people I knew from Bat-own Rouge.

Was just hoping for something that might have made the distinction a little more graphic for MSM maroons, but I guess that won't work. Thanks.

[caryatid]

I was thinking more of River Road ...

Well, yes ... the River Road runs from New Orleans to Baton Rouge [and, ultimately, to Minnesota and on into Canada] ... along the levee ... along the River ... and is still a picturesque, albeit time consuming, drive to BR because it follows all the bends in the River but allows one to view the extant old plantation houses along the way. Circa 1940 +/- the Airline Highway [U.S. 61] was built which significantly reduced the time to travel between New Orleans and Baton Rouge. Of course, later on the Interstate [10?] was built which is even quicker.

[freema]

Speaking of that interview, you might be interested in this thread:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1588416/posts

[caryatid]

When I mentioned the Cote des Allemands [German Coast] along the Mississippi River between New Orleans and Baton Rouge ... I failed to mention that Acadians settled along there, as well. The Papa Noel bonfires are an Acadian [Cajun, if you must] custom.

[highlander_UW]

But it's Bush's fault for not assuming she was lying...after all, she is a democrat.

[Fred Nerks]

26 posted on 09/02/2005 11:09:14 AM PDT by seamole (Non occides.)

http://66.102.7.104/search?q=cache:4CGCqv6EbJAJ:www.new-orleans.la.us/cnoweb/cpc/transportation/Chapter3_3to3_6.pdf&hl=en

Much more detail here, cached from the New Orleans city website, a report from March 2004:

Means of Departure

Hurricane evacuation planning is made more difficult for the City, due to the large percentage of residents without access to a private automobile. Only 27% of Orleans Parish residents evacuated the city during Hurricane Georges, while 45% of Jefferson Parish residents evacuated. Orleans Parish residents were more likely to stay during a storm for lack of transportation, financial resources or a tendency to ignore evacuation warnings. Evacuation is also closely related to income. During Hurricane Georges only 16% of those with incomes below $25,000 left town, while 54% of those with incomes over $80,000 left. (Evacuation Behavior in Orleans and Jefferson Parishes During Hurricane Georges, University of New Orleans Survey Research Center, 1998.)

In addition to those unable to afford vehicles or transportation there are the disabled, hospitalized, elderly and incarcerated who would not be able to drive from the area. Development of alternative means for citizens to leave the area is crucial. RTA provides transportation for citizens to shelters and places where out of town transportation may be obtained, but has no provision to use its buses to evacuate citizens out of the city. While the RTA has expressed a willingness to assist in emergency evacuation, a regional cooperative agreement with other jurisdictions is needed. Visitors and some residents may choose commercial transportation, but at some point commercial bus, rail, and air transportation out of the city will not be available. Greater involvement of local churches, businesses and non-profit groups in providing transport and assisting people without their own transportation or with special needs is needed.

And this: Although the region supposedly can be evacuated in 72 hours, difficulty in predicting storm landfall can cause a delay in ordering such an evacuation. Hurricane advisory rules have recently been changed from a 3 day advance storm notice to 5 days. This added time should increase preparedness and promote a more timely and orderly evacuation. Such action promotes safety by educing roadway congestion and exposure to poor weather and roadway conditions.

And this:

The main responsibility and authority for operational aspects of evacuation in Orleans Parish lies with the Office of Emergency Preparedness (OEP) within the Chief Administrative Office of the City. The authority to make the final decisions related to an evacuation rests with the Mayor of New Orleans.

[Fred Nerks]

Katrina, a photographic timeline: Powerful proof federal response was NOT slow (warning, many pics)
Yahoo News Photos ^ | 9/6/05


Posted on 09/06/2005 8:45:18 PM PDT by Wolfstar

http://sanityisland.us/katrina/Katrina.html

[GianniV]

WOW - thank you - i love that clip - it's almost like that woman was coached by the White House. And she blames Nagin and Blanco to boot. That clip made my day!

That clip should be used all of the time to remind America have friggin' dumb and incompetent Nagin and Blanco are. You will never read of any criticism of those two idiots anywhere in the MSM.

[Atchafalaya]

Wind was a bit strong!!!