LOUISIANA ARMY NATIONAL GUARD - what did Gov. Blanco do and not do?

globalsecurity.org ^ | 2005

[flowergirl]

I'm not sure....just saw a few coast gaurd choppers on TV Monday evening...i think it was still dry.I could look back on free republic but I remember waking up on Tuesday to word that the levee had broken.

[XHogPilot]

Not to beat a dead horse, but another article has come to light that sheds more light on lack of preparation by New Orleans, and a complete failure in local leadership. As you read this reflection on the utter failure of New Orleans and Louisiana political leadership, recall and compare the leadership provided by Rudy Guliani in the dark fearful days immediately following the 9/11 attacks.

Law Officers, Overwhelmed, Are Quitting the Force, NY Times, 4 Sep 2005 excerpt:

A Baton Rouge police officer said he had a friend on the New Orleans force who told him he threw his badge out a car window in disgust just after fleeing the city into neighboring Jefferson Parish as the hurricane approached. The Baton Rouge officer would not give his name, citing a department policy banning comments to the news media.

The officer said he had also heard of an incident in which two men in a New Orleans police cruiser were stopped in Baton Rouge on suspicion of driving a stolen squad car. The men were, in fact, New Orleans officers who had ditched their uniforms and were trying to reach a town in north Louisiana, the officer said.

"They were doing everything to get out of New Orleans," he said. "They didn't have the resources to do the job, or a plan, so they left."

[nascardaughter]

That is not true. The President is free to call out the National Guard during a national emergency at any time. The President may also put the Secretary of The Department of Homeland Security in charge of a national disaster at his discretion. The DHS' National Response Plan makes this clear, as do FEMA regulations, as does the history of the deployment of the National Guard, as does the legal status of a "state of emergency," which was declared by both Blanco and the federal government. As does common sense! It's the president's most basic job to act proactively during a national emergency, no matter what local officials are doing or not doing.

[nascardaughter]

The President is free to call out the National Guard during a national emergency at any time. The President may also put the Secretary of The Department of Homeland Security in charge of a national disaster at his discretion. The DHS' National Response Plan makes this clear, as do FEMA regulations, as does the history of the deployment of the National Guard, as does the legal status of a "state of emergency," which was declared by both Blanco and the federal government. As does common sense! If the President of the United States had to sit around waiting for local officials' permission to do anything during a national emergency, well, why even bother to have a president? It's the president's most basic job to act proactively during a national emergency, no matter what local officials are doing or not doing.

[doug from upland]

So the local authorities and governor, who best know their city and state, have made plans for disaster including evacuation and shelters, who have had drills for their plant, are going to just roll over as the president of 285 million people marches in, declares the effect of martial law, and takes over like the grandstanding cowboy they accuse him of being. No matter what Bush did, it would have been wrong.

I guess Bush made a big mistake. He knows how corrupt and incompetent the Democrats are and should have just automatically pulled the trigger.

[I got the rope]

BTTT

[McGavin999]

Can someone please explain the responsibility Gov. Blanco had relative to the Louisiana National Guard? Why is the President being blamed for a late response, when the governor should have ordered her National Guard units to rescue people, deliver food and water, and keep the peace.

Because Shep Smith stood on a bridge for days and blamed the feds which always translates into "it's Bush's fault".

[nascardaughter]

First, the federal government routinely takes over during national disasters, as it should, without anyone accusing the president of being a grandstanding cowboy.

Second, which is more important -- being accused of being a grandstanding cowboy, or saving Americans' lives? A leader should not quiver at the thought of being criticized for acting in a situation that is a matter of national security, nor should he make excuses about red tape -- he should act. And the fact that he happens to have an "R" next to his name doesn't change that.

[Brad’s Gramma]

A leader should not quiver at the thought of being criticized for acting in a situation that is a matter of national security,

And, in your opinion, did President Bush act appropriately? In both this and 9-11?

[nascardaughter]

On this occasion, no, he did not.

[nascardaughter]

What's your opinion?

[Brad’s Gramma]

He acted appropriately.

[AmericanInTokyo]

WELCOME TO FREE REPUBLIC!!!! (Yesterday??)