Posted on 09/05/2005 8:52:42 PM PDT by InvisibleChurch
Monday, Sept. 5, 2005 11:38 p.m. EDT Mayor Nagin: Gov. Blanco Delayed Rescue
After days of blaming the federal officials for not responding quickly enough to the Hurricane Katrina crisis, New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin praised President Bush on Monday - and charged that Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco had delayed federal rescue efforts by 24-hours.
"I'm so happy that the president came down here," Nagin said of Bush's Friday visit to Louisiana in an interview with CNN. "He came down and saw it, and he put a general on the field. His name is General Honore. And when he hit the field, we started to see action."
But Nagin had harsh words for his state's leaders, telling CNN: "What the state was doing, I don't frigging know. But I tell you, I am pissed. It wasn't adequate." The New Orleans Democrat said he urged Bush to meet privately with Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco during the visit. The meeting took place aboard Air Force One, he said.
After reviewing the crisis with Gov. Blanco, Bush summoned Nagin for a private chat - where, according to Nagin, Bush explained: "Mr. Mayor, I offered two options to the governor. I said . . . I was ready to move today. The governor said she needed 24 hours to make a decision."
Reacting to the governor's footdragging, Nagin lamented: "It would have been great if we could of left Air Force One, walked outside, and told the world that we had this all worked out."
"It didn't happen, and more people died."
August 24, 2005 03:53 PM
BRAC votes to spare Naval Support Activity
"Louisiana is still in the game," Gov. Kathleen Blanco said late today. "This is a significant victory for us. The BRAC commission voted unanimously for New Orleans Federal City concept."
Blanco said the commission saw Louisiana "as the only state with a plan to position itself as a leader in consolidating its military and federal offices ... ."
Local officials have promised millions in additional savings compared with the Defense Department’s original proposal to close the NSA.
“We have preserved thousands of jobs for the New Orleans area, but we have also saved the federal government money because our proposal is better than their original proposal,” said Sen. Mary Landrieu. “Federal taxpayers are going to benefit, the people of New Orleans and the region will benefit and it’s going to be a huge economic boost.”
Landrieu, Blanco, Mayor Ray Nagin, City Councilwoman Jacquelyn Clarkson and others held a morning press conference to applaud the panel’s decision. Officials have been lobbying to save the base for more than a year by asking the government to consolidate several agencies into one campus. The state has offered to finance the $166 million project. It could pay as much as $100 million of the construction cost and lease space to the government for a reduced rate.
Last month at a public hearing in New Orleans, Blanco told three members of the commission that the state could come up with the funding within two years if they decided to spare the base. The commission added an amendment giving Louisiana until Sept. 30, 2008 to come up with the money to build the project. If the state doesn’t come up with the funding, the base would then be closed.
“Let’s not underestimate the significance of the state’s contribution to this effort,” Landrieu said. “Yes, we at the federal level did our best to put this presentation before the commissioners in a way that they could grasp it and understand it, but the governor’s commitment to put the state’s money up and these legislators to make federal city a reality is what is going to basically seal this deal.”
The Federal City plan calls or the construction of a government complex on the Algiers campus of the NSA that would bring together: the national headquarters for the marine reserves, the offices of the Naval Reserve Force Commander, the 377th Army Theater Support Command currently stationed at the Lakefront, and the 8th Coast Guard District headquarters downtown. It could also house homeland defense operations should the city be chosen for a regional office. The campus would allow several agencies to share support expenses and other administrative costs to further save money.
The NSA houses headquarters for the Army and Marines reserves and employs more than 4,000 on campuses on both sides of the Mississippi River. It has an annual payroll around $142 million.
snip
"We have some hard work ahead of us to meet the commission's requirements," Blanco said. "But, with a great team already in place, I know we can execute a rapid and smooth development of Federal City."
SHOW: CNN LARRY KING LIVE 9:00 PM EST
August 28, 2005 Sunday
Special: Hurricane Katrina Rumbles Towards Louisiana Coast
Larry King, Rob Marciano, John Zarrella, David Mattingly, Gary Tuchman
Jeffery Halverson, Joe Becker, Kay Wilkins, Max Mayfield, Ray Nagin, Kathleen Blanco, Moby Solangi
Tonight, right now Hurricane Katrina looks like one of the biggest, baddest storms ever recorded in U.S. history. And this massive, category 5 monster is headed straight for New Orleans, 25 percent of which lies below sea level.
snip
We'll check on the phone now with Mayor Ray Nagin. He's the mayor of New Orleans. Where are you situated, Mayor?
MAY. RAY NAGIN, NEW ORLEANS: I'm definitely hunkered down in City Hall waiting for this storm, kind of decide what it's going to do.
KING: How prepared is the city?
NAGIN: Pretty well prepared. We've gone through out various stages of -- excuse me -- of our evacuation process. There's a million, two million, three people in the metropolitan area. We probably evacuated about a million people out of this city and the surrounding parishes.
KING: Are all the hotels, the Super Dome, are they safe from these kind of winds?
NAGIN: Well, you know, as safe as you would expect. But this is an unprecedented storm with incredible power -- 160 mile an hour winds, gusting up close to 200 miles an hour. So, the Super Dome is definitely pretty safe, and that's a shelter of last resort. We have about 20,000 to 25,000 people in there right now. And the hotels seem to be holding up OK right now at the moment.
KING: Your city hasn't taken a major, direct hit since Betsy in 1965. It also, the Port of New Orleans, handles much of the nation's oil transportation. Have all those ships moved out?
NAGIN: Most of the ships have moved out. And Larry, you bring up a great point, we probably handle about 25 percent of the nation's domestic oil production. And if that is halted for a significant amount of time, it could impact prices at the gas pumps.
KING: That's all we need.
What about the nightmare scenario that as some are forecasting, as "National Geographic" forecast last year, that this could, if it stays a 5, become a toxic lake of chemicals and oil from the refineries and waste from the septic systems. And you could have a horrendous tragedy?
NAGIN: Well, you know, I think we're going to have an incredible challenge regardless. This storm has a 20 foot storm surge, plus waves. The city of New Orleans is basically designed like a bowl. We're below sea level for the most part, so we most likely will have a significant amount of water and everything associated with that. So it's going to be a tremendous challenge.
KING: What happens in the cemeteries?
NAGIN: Well, the cemeteries, most of them -- most of the people are buried above ground, some are below ground. So, with all that water, I'm sure it's going to disrupt several of the cemeteries.
KING: All your police on duty?
NAGIN: Every police is on duty. We have the National Guard that has taken control of the Super Dome. I've gotten calls from the White House. There are people standing by ready to help. So, once the storm gets through, the clean up efforts will commence in haste.
KING: Did you get all the homeless in shelters?
NAGIN: We've got just about everybody in one major shelter, which is the Louisiana Super Dome, which is designed to probably sustain the kind of winds that we're going to have. There's probably 20,000 to 25,000 people in the Super Dome as we speak.
KING: That can hold 80,000, can't it?
NAGIN: Yes, it can. We've gotten a significant amount of people out of the city, so fortunately, we didn't have to have it at full capacity.
KING: That doesn't have emergency power, though, does it -- the Super Dome? It's going to lose it's air conditioning, isn't it?
NAGIN: It does have emergency power, but I think for the most part, after the storm hits, the entire city will probably be without power at some point.
KING: Thanks mayor. Our prayers are with you.
NAGIN: Thank you, Larry.
KING; Mayor Ray Nagin, the mayor of New Orleans.
snip
Joining us on the phone from the capital in Baton Rouge, is Governor Kathleen Babineau Blanco, the governor of Louisiana. Governor Blanco, have you spoken with the president?
GOV. KATHLEEN BABINEAU BLANCO, LOUISIANA: Yes, I have, Larry. He called earlier today and certainly issued his concern, voiced his concerns for the citizens of Louisiana. Was glad to hear that the mayor had already decided to do a mandatory evacuation, because he was recommending that -- evacuation of New Orleans, that is -- a mandatory evacuation. I believe that he understands the magnitude of what we're dealing with. And we appreciate his concern.
KING: What are you saying to the people of your state?
BLANCO: I'm asking that they stay patient. We still have a number of people on the highway systems. They're continuing to move out of harm's way into safer regions of the state. We still are moving a large number of people, and we're asking them to be patient and to be courteous and to be helpful to each other.
KING: Governor, what -- in and era like this, I don't know how you rate this -- but what's your biggest concern?
BLANCO: My biggest concern right now, Larry, is the unknown. We don't know what the storm will deliver to us. We can expect a fairly large amount of water. We don't know what kind of flooding we'll experience. Of course, we have the nightmare scenarios of 20 feet or better of water that may envelope the city. That would be the worst of all worlds, I believe.
We know, we're going to have property damage. We know we're going to have high wind damage. We're hoping that we don't lose a lot of lives.
KING: What will you do all night?
BLANCO: Well, we'll be monitoring this storm, as we've been doing for the last day and a half. We've been watching very carefully, it's progression and encouraging our citizens to be safe. And I'll continue to do that.
KING: How well are you prepared?
BLANCO: Well, Louisiana has experienced hurricanes over and over again. We've got a lot of emergency personnel that are well trained and well experienced in recovery efforts. But there's no way to actually be prepared for a hurricane of this magnitude going into that populated area. We've had other areas of the state hit, and they've been dramatically impaired. Now, we're talking about into Louisiana's most heavily populated area, and it gives us great concern.
KING: Governor, thank you. We'll stay close.
BLANCO: Thank you, Larry. And I appreciate your concern.
KING: Governor Blanco. The governor of Louisiana
http://tinyurl.com/dmc83
I wonder how much money Blanco and the rest of them were intending to skim off that deal.
In hind sight, that's a pretty damning interview.
I contend that, with over 120 schools in NO, they should have had at least TEN per schooll, hence they should have had over a thousand busus available! Gross CRIMINAL incompetence!
yup...I have to put up with CNNI...all bush bashing all the time...
but once in awhile they slip up...
I saw one (not a regular, so it may have been a CNN USA feed) interview Jan Englend from the UN who was saying the usual blah blah...and she kept asking him to be specific...and of course he never did...she EVEN said that a lot of Americans were disgusted that we help everyone and no one is bothering to help us...
But that d.... Brit is clueless...not only of the USA but made an A... of himself on world youth day, saying this pope will "probably follow the OPINION of his predecessor"...as if the pope has the power to change DOCTRINE...
I want to believe that their (state and local) actions are due to incompetence. I believe the mayor's is, that he was in over his head and looked to the governor who left it upon him.
The governor however, made her moves with political calculation. Her first moves appeared to be tempered with a DU-like speculation of the President's concern for the people of Louisiana. She seemed to react the way most extreme leftists do, oppose anything the President says or does, regardless of right or wrong. At the least she committed criminal negligence, at worst, dereliction of duty as governor.
The left has really lost their minds. I don't recall anyone here criticizing the mayor or governor before the hurricane hit. The criticism only came as we watched in disbelief at the indecision and bad decision making that led to thousands of people being put in a place that wasn't even sure to hold up in such a strong storm. The criticism had, and has, nothing to do with the political affiliation of the governor or mayor. It has everything to do with their decisions. The extreme left however has accused everything from President Bush causing hurricanes to disliking black people, obviously there being no basis in fact. That doesn't stop a willing media from making mention of those in most articles.
It's enough to drive you crazy. It keeps being said that he didn't react fast enough. He reacted before the storm ever hit. He issued the disaster area proclamation. He even had to tell them to evacuate. They act as if he was supposed to be in a boat to rescue people individually. They're just insane.
I, for one WELCOME a complete review of the whole mess. I have no doubt President Bush did everything in his power to make things happen.
He has a definite higher standing in DUmmie land now. All he had to do was blame Bush and they loved him.
I don't often venture into the DUmmie cesspool, but I did a few times while all this was going on and they all thought Nagin and Blanco were great. That says almost as much about DUmmies as it does about Nagin and Blanco.
But then, put it all into perspective. DUmmies love Sheehan, Kennedy, Boxer, Sharpton, Jackson...etc, etc, etc.
If its human scum, the DUmmies love them. Thats the only characteristic they have to have.
bump for later
I believe the morning the levee broke and New Orleans began to flood, she suggested a prayer day. Two days later she confessed on national television to not know what day it was.
"Could be she is just a puppet."
Elsewhere on the thread there was an allusion to her husband's influence ... perhaps she was electable but he wasn't, so she's the front ? really don't know that much, but friends in LA were not impressed going into the election and were depressed afterwards.
I've seen elementary school principals with more personal force.
"It's enough to drive you crazy. It keeps being said that he didn't react fast enough. He reacted before the storm ever hit. He issued the disaster area proclamation. He even had to tell them to evacuate. They act as if he was supposed to be in a boat to rescue people individually. They're just insane."
You're right, kenth -- they seem to be the Party of No (No deal, No thing done, NO NO NO! and the MSM seems to be their will accomplice. Boy, you'd think Bush is the King of America instead of the President over sovereign states, huh?
>I'll bet Nagin wishes he remained a Republican.<
Exactly, as he knows if he'd remained a Pubbie, the blame could then have been on someone other than himself. He would never have been elected Mayor in the first place.
"I've seen elementary school principals with more personal force"
not to mention school crossing guards ;)
Something tells me you are not going to see this quote in the MSM come tomorrow.
Well ,Oreilly tonight was blasting Bush for waiting for 24 hrs.....go figure. He blamed the mayor and the governor AND Bush because he waited for 24 hrs.
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