Posted on 05/26/2006 9:21:17 AM PDT by Congressman Billybob
I’ll be brief this time about Mayor Ray Nagin of New Orleans. Due to stupidity and incompetence, he did not carry out the evacuation plan for his city. As a result, more than a thousand of his constituents died, and tens of thousands suffered personal disaster, and had to be rescued by the Coast Guard and the National Guard.
There was an established evacuation plan for Southern Louisiana, dated 1 January, 2004. Local and national media were incompetent in not reporting this plan and its details. The salient point was that the mandatory evacuation had to be called early, to get the people out. It specifically called for “public buses” to carry to safety those who “did not have access to private transportation.”
It was part of the duties of the Governor of Louisiana and the Mayor of New Orleans to know this plan, and carry it out. Both failed miserably. Mayor Nagin evacuated to Baton Rouge, but he left public buses sitting in their parking lots, so both the buses and thousands of citizens were drowned where they were.
What was the result of Mayor Nagin’s deadly incompetence? Well, he was just reelected for a new term. Nagin is a mouthy fool who will fail in his new term as he did in the one just ending. But what does this say about the people and voters of New Orleans?
Consider your average third-world nation. They are mired in grinding poverty. Crime is commonplace. The governments tend to be kleptocracies. The only visible skills of the leaders of these countries are to make semi-literate justifications of their “policies” and to attack their opponents. The only difference between such leaders and Mayor Nagin is that it doesn’t seem that Nagin has been stealing money. Other than that, the match is perfect.
Why in the world did a majority of the voters in the City vote to reelect this incompetent buffoon? Well, it shows that in the view of the people of New Orleans, neither stupidity nor incompetence are disqualifying qualities in a potential civic “leader.”
Unfortunately, that leaves Nagin sitting astride the planning for the rebuilding of the City. Based on his prior, abysmal understanding, he will probably insist that the City be rebuilt as is, and where is, but with “better levees.” That only kicks the can down the road, and guarantees there will be another catastrophic flood there with more thousands killed. Another, inevitable Nagin legacy.
The City can be successfully rebuilt to withstand the worst of storms. See “The Hart-Miller Solution to the New Orleans Problem” I wrote more than a year ago. But understanding that engineering – the same thing that Galveston did privately after its horrendous death rate from a hurricane a century ago – is beyond Nagin’s capacity to understand, much less implement.
Perhaps returning this unintentional clown to the Mayor’s office was an aberration. That will be tested this fall, as Rep. William Jefferson seeks reelection as the Congressman representing primarily New Orleans. Apparently, federal prosecutors have him on tape accepting a $100,000 bribe, and found $90,000 of that in his home freezer, wrapped in tin foil. Jefferson claims he “did nothing wrong.” I’ve been around the barn a few times and never encountered the hiding of C-notes like that, except when the money was “hot” and the result of criminal activity.
Jefferson said the prosecutors were “trying to embarrass him.” No, they are trying to put him in jail, which they should do with all politicians who accept bribes. As an experienced lawyer, I conclude that Jefferson is shortly going to be convicted and sent to prison. That’s the same fate as Rep. Duke Cunningham of California. Perhaps Jefferson thinks he can play the race card and avoid conviction, despite evidence that is more solid on him than on Cunningham.
And old case comes to mind. Then-judge Alcee Hastings, now Congressman, beat the rap for taking a bribe for leniency to major drug dealers even though William Borders, the man who bribed him, was convicted. That’s Jefferson’s situation, now. The man who paid the bribe to him has pleaded guilty, yet he still claims he “did nothing wrong.”
So, what will it mean if the City reelects Rep. Jefferson? It’ll mean corruption is also not a disqualifier for public servants in the Big Easy. It’s not even necessary that candidates talk a good game. Jefferson, like Nagin, demonstrates himself to be a public fool, counting on his voters to share his foolishness and elect him nonetheless.
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (who grew up in the corruption of Baltimore City politics) is trying to make “the culture of corruption” an issue against the Republicans in the November. Self-evidently the issue falls apart if the Democrats cannot dump their own corrupt candidates, like Rep. Jefferson.
I expect the Democrats will eighty-six Rep. Jefferson before the election. But, if he remains on the ballot, will the bone-headed voters of New Orleans will reward him with another term in Congress? If so, that’ll confirm the voters of the City are incapable of self-government with even the pretense of intelligence, competence, and honesty.
As H. L. Mencken wrote, “The American people get the government they deserve, good and hard.”
About the Author: John Armor still might be a candidate for Congress in the 11th District of North Carolina. John_Armor@aya.yale.edu
Getting those buses rolling was Nagin's responsibility, not Blanco's, not Bush's. You are offering excuses for the inexcusable.
John / Billybob
There is no "IF" wrt Jefferson's re-election. He will be overwhelmingly re-elected. Why would the actions of "racist, white Republicans" prevent his "people" from standing up to such an outstanding Man of Color?
I guess you're right.
It just seems that Marion Barry, the Mayor of Detroit, and several of the racially employed shakedown artists have a way of excusing behavior that is detrimental to advancing in society, then labeling it as "white racism".
don't drink much, especially out on my porch. Nice neighborhood, we drink in the backyard where respectable folk get falling down drunk, I suppose. Haven't gotten drunk in about 10 or more years, but I do like Shiner Blonde and Shiner Bock.
I'm not African-American or White...so I don't have a dog in this fight. It just seems that minority populations in this country need a "leader" or "organization" in order to "succeed". I think that the further you stay away from the racial pimps the better off you'll be.
The folks like Jesse, Sharpton, NAACP, LULAC, Raza Unida etc.... are just parasites.
It takes about 3 generations for a "culture" to be folded into the American society...the first group are the laborers. They bust their humps in order to survive hoping the next generation has it easier.
the second generation joins the service, becomes civil servant(cop, fireman,) or tries to buy/start a small business. They hope to get their kids into college and the "professions".
Third generation is pushed into college with the idea that he'll reach back and pull as many of his siblings along as possible... teachers, profs, writers, doctors, judges, etc..etc..
Nothing is given, it's all earned. Only through sweat equity does this country "give" you anything of value. Otherwise you're addicted to the government nipple and will end up like the American Indians or the African-American population.
The template for success are the Jews, Chinese and Japanese..... I don't see them burning down their houses, getting any preferential treatment for admissions to universities or post graduate schools. Only hard work and stubbornness has "given" them success. Maybe I just missed all the rioting at the synagogue or at the sushi bars...??
of course that's only my opinion....and I could be wrong....thanks for telling me what to do. I was just wandering around the house today.
80% of the city was flooded. Approximately 200,000 homes. Not all were in the 'slums' , but many were very old structures. Lakeview was white-collar, prosperous, Gentilly working/middle class and mostly well kept.
What you said is the problem- the 'city' most of the world thinks of when they hear 'New Orleans', is the downtown/uptown tourist areas. The 'sliver by the river', and that was mostly untouched. BUT- the native, working New Orleanians New Orleans is devastated-permanently in my opinion. Mile after mile of homes are vacant.
The locals' New Orleans is gone- and as long as tourists can eat and drink here, they don't care.
The tourists New Orleans is partying on- and most locals don't care. Homes are in ruins, families scattered- and we've gotten the message very clearly.
As long as the tourists New Orleans is ok,what's the problem? The world can still come party- just ignore those thousands of molding, empty homes and businesses. The IMPORTANT part of New Orleans is undamaged.
How do you imagine that feels to hear?
You stated the history part of Katrina's disaster very well, but I sure hope Nagin learned a valuable lesson for the future of LA. Surround himself with people that knows what the hell they're doing.
If Jefferson happens to win reelection, it just proves that Louisiana is one sin sick place that needs a major cleaning.
Good article. There are many areas in America that are "third world". They are all Democratic strongholds.
B.B., it's all about race and always will be.
(Had to do a search, that's not the exact title. Actual title:The Hart-Miller Future of New Orleans
Special to FreeRepublic ^ | 24 September 2005 | John Armor (Congressman Billybob)).
It appears that many voters are too ignorant to realize that these candidates are corrupt and incompetent. Time to have a test for voters - if they are ignorant, we do not want them deciding important issues. Duh, our ancestors knew this simple truth.
Wasn't it discovered that his police department was filled with phony cops?
Good evening and the very best to you and yours.
Semper Fi
Tommie
Because he has a reputation for honesty!!!!! Yes, he screwed up royally during Katrina and continues to make some huge mistakes. However, he was the lesser of two evils. The Landreau family has it's claws firmly planted in Louisiana and they are rumored to have pillage the citizens for decades. Believe it or not Nagin is better than Landreau. The tax dollars may be wasted; but, they won't be stolen!
LOVE the graphic in your Post #16.
[[Local and national media were incompetent in not reporting this plan and its details]]
I don't think that the media was incompetent. I think it was more of a matter of political correctness. They did not want to be seen as attacking a "minority" mayor. They would have immediately been accused of being racist and we all know what guilt does to white liberals.
See: Coloring The News"......How Political Correctness Has Corrupted American Journalism
http://www.coloringthenews.com/
Let me assure you that Jefferson does not represent all of Louisiana, and that there are parts of this state that are very conservative and responsible. You simply can't paint the entire state because of New Orleans and the surrounding area.
"The only difference between such leaders and Mayor Nagin is that it doesn’t seem that Nagin has been stealing money."
You mean he hasn't been caught yet.
You are so right, I should have clarified Norleans and not all of Louisiana. Thanks for posting.
is beyond Nagin’s capacity to understand, much less implement.
There's a great deal that is beyond Nagin's capacity to understand.
I’ve been around the barn a few times and never encountered the hiding of C-notes like that, except when the money was “hot” and the result of criminal activity.
LOL
As to Jefferson, the good news is that he'll still be collecting millions for retirement that he hasn't contributed a dime to.
Moon Landrieu was a friend of Jimmie.
Landrieu served as Secretary of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) during President Jimmy Carter's administration.
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