[tophat9000]

When President Bush visited the area Friday after the hurricane, Mayor Nagin told him and Governor Blanco that they needed to get the authority thing straightened out about who was running the show. (Bush is legally bound not to enter a State with our armed forces if not requested by the Governor, and Governor Blanco was still in charge of her National Guard). According to Mayor of New Orleans,Nagin, Bush gave Blanco two options on the controlling authority issue and she said she needed 24 hours to think it over. Nagin switched to Bush's side then, as he felt delaying the decision would cost more lives.

An exceptional time line...On the question of did President Bush use the Insurrection Act? I would say that most likely it was one of the two options/ultimate Bush gave Blanco...in other words..Bush to Blanco..."sh-t or get off the pot"

[patriciaruth]

I am guessing that maybe President Bush told Gov. Blanco that she could
1. request nationalization of her National Guard and let him take over responsibility and the tab for the whole mess (including any blame) -- law enforcement, relief, rescue, picking up dead bodies, restoring the city, etc.
2. allow armed forces of U.S. to come in to assist in with rescue and relief and medical aid, but if she retained control of law enforcement, he wouldn't take blame or pick up the tab.