The corrupt and stupid political machine in New Orleans elected Mayor Nagin, who ignored the evacuation plan from 2000 which called for buses to get the people out who had no private means of transportation. Nagin beat feet to Baton Rouge, and let both the buses and the people sit where they were.
The corrupt and stupid political machine in New Orleans also provided the margin of victory for Governor Blanco, who had the responsibility to call out the National Guard. She rejected President Bush's suggestion that she call out the Board BEFORE Hurricane Katrina hit.
Then, of course, there are the local police in New Orleans. Some attempted to protect and serve, in impossible conditions. But many abandoned their posts, and some actually engaged in looting, themselves.
If anyone needs to be punched in the face, it is Mary Landrieu, not George Bush. (Not that I am actually proposing physical violence, mind you. I do admit, however, that the one time I ran for office I had award-winning posters, one of which said, "Fight Crime. Punch a Politician Today." LOL.)
I agree with Hinderacker that the Bush Administration should fight back against this tide of lib-Dem dishonesty. But it should NOT be with mere soundbites. Instead, it should be with a heavily-factual time line of who did (or did not) do what and when.
Congressman Billybob
Latest column: "Tide of Lies Swamps NY Times: Employees Riot and Steal Office Supplies"
A hard time line is the ticket. I called a friend in the NO suburbs Thursday, concerned about her welfare and just to listen to her account of the situation. Sort of got my bearings there.
That day, Nagin was making outrageous accusations against the feds, railing over the lack of response which at the time was moving towards the city limits. The account I got was of near total breakdown of local emergency response (credit was given to some brave cops behind the lines who acted responsibly) and ineptness on the state level dealing with the situation. Thursday evening, Blanco fully committed the LaNG. Friday morning federal and neighboring state's NG arrived on scene providing aid and means for evacuation.
I've heard enough from Nagin and Blanco and Landreau. I've no more time for them. They wasted a hundred hours while their constituents suffered.
Make this known...Mississippi and Alabama were also hit hard by Katrina. Those folks deserve our attention too.