"He said he did not think that race was a factor in the slow response, but that many of those unable to leave New Orleans in time were trapped by poverty which disproportionately affects blacks."
He's right there. However, FEMA helped fund a plan to get those people out. The local government failed to implement it. They just left the school busses sitting idle.
Who is responsible? The local government those people elected. The same government that keeps telling those people that it's the republicans that are at fault for all their problems, and that the democrats are the ones that are looking out for them.
When are the poor going to learn that the Democrats are not their friends?
I'd also like to see Powell point out what the major failings were on the part of the federal government. It looks to me like they did their jobs well, and if they hadn't been there constatnly pressuring the governor to take action and moving into action as they were given authority, many more would have died.
Powell should know better. He should definately understand how our government works and what are the limitations on the federal government in such cases.
There are reports that Bush signed papers saying the Federal government would oversee the evacuation. This was supposedly signed on 08/27. I don't know if it is true but this is what many are referring to when they say the Federal government made mistakes. Also, there is the issue of taking away funding to help repair the levee. I'm not advocating the feds made mistakes but I have had discussions that included these issues as reasons. My biggest blame is on the local government and especially the governor.