[STARWISE]

I heard that various agencies had been begging the officials in NO for years to do something about the levee system.. there were plans for years. I know they'll spin it like crazy .. and Mother Mary will be at the top of the heap .. I wouldn't be surprised if Cindy bops in to give Nagin emotional support .. but a natural disaster in a city below sea level was a problem from day one.

The enormity of this catastrophe doesn't escape W for one minute .. he and Max Mayfield had to BOTH call Nagin to get him off his butt to declare mandatory evacuation, when his incompetence prevented him from taking charge of the impending disaster. Having said that, I'm sure politics will rear it's ugly head. Nothing can be done about that .. no matter what W does, he's gonna get slammed.

[Hattie]

You are right. I have heard for years how NO would one day float in the sea from a big cane. Mostly people joking about it. But I can't believe there really was no plan down there-- pumps that can only handly 2 inches of rain? On the coast? No back ups? And in CA they have to build everything quake proof.