This critique of Nagin is way over the top. He's not that bad a guy. If you knew anything about his opponent you'd have voted for Nagin. The Landrieu family are the originators of the French Creole kleptocracy that got started in the 60's by Mitch Landrieu's dad. Every subsequent mayor got his start under old Daddy "Moon", except for Nagin.
Nagin has his faults, but he's clean as a whistle. There were no scandals in his first 3 yrs, he co-operates with the feds on cleanin up entrenched corruption, he modernized city hall technology, brought in the movie industry, and in general was doing a good job as a reform mayor, a first in N.O.
I don't blame Nagin for the apocolyptic week that followed Katrina. That blames goes to Gov. Blanco, but I can't get started on her right now.
And Nagin is no political lightweight anymore. He survived everything that the most powerful interests in the city, state and national DNC could throw at him, no small feat.
But the most important thing to come from this election is that the Blacks turned against their long-time Landrieu, Creole protectors and voted for an independent-minded, pro-business, individual responsibility guy for mayor. That is a huge change in the wind that I think spells trouble for the rest of the old machine.
Why is it so many "Conservatives" believe it is the Government's responsibility to Evacuate people prior to a hurricane?
Wasn't it discovered that his police department was filled with phony cops?