Why aren't Blanco & Nagin under arrest (at least on manslaughter charges)?

Ramblings' Journal ^ | 9.9.05 | Michael King

[mhking]

New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin ignored information he received from officials with the National Hurricane Center as early as Friday, 8/26, regarding the ferocity of Hurricane Katrina. Nagin had the capability to commandeer municipal buses and school buses to evacuate those who could not afford to leave the city. Yet the buses he did use, took people to "shelters of last resort," including the New Orleans Convention Center and the Louisiana Superdome, both of which became virtual representations of hell on earth in the ensuing days.

Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco was also warned well in advance of Katrina's landfall about the power of the storm. She was asked by the Bush Administration if she needed aid -- in advance of the storm's arrival, an unprecedented move in this nation's history. Blanco demurred, saying that the help would not be necessary.

Max Mayfield, director of the National Hurricane Center, actually telephoned Blanco and Nagin -- at home in Nagin's case -- Saturday night, imploring them to evacuate New Orleans, and once again, emphasizing the power of this storm.

Still the two did not go on the air until Sunday morning, advising people to evacuate -- yet neither one made provisions outside the city for those who could not afford to leave. Both Blanco and Nagin, when questioned on the air that Sunday morning, said that those who could not afford to leave should go to the Superdome or several other "shelters of last resort."

As Katrina cut a swath across Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama on that Monday morning, water began to breach the seawall and levee system protecting New Orleans from the waters of Lake Pontchartrain to the north. The waters undermined the 17th Street Canal's seawall, sending water cascading into the city. The water ultimately began to overwhelm the massive pumps used to pump out water, prompting a warning from Nagin that the city would flood to a depth of up to 12 feet or more.

Yet, nothing was done to evacuate those in the Superdome and the New Orleans Convention Center.

Hundreds of buses were in the city, yet were not used to evacuate those people.

Additionally, the city's own disaster plan calls for the use of school and city buses to evacute those who could not afford to leave the city on their own -- yet it was apparently ignored.

Governor Blanco denied access to the city by the Red Cross and the Salvation Army, both of whom were prepared to bring relief supplies, including food and water, to the people ensconced in the Superdome and 'Convention Center.

Even more damning, the Crescent City Connection, a high-span bridge carrying US 90 across the Mississippi River, remained unobstructed. The bridge goes from downtown New Orleans to the West Bank area of the city, and westward into the Airline Highway, and from there westward away from New Orleans. US 90 remained as an access route for the press and ultimately for rescue vehicles that finally arrived in New Orleans.

There are other issues: President Bush, on arrival in Louisiana, met with Nagin and Blanco. Blanco asked for a 24-hour period to consider Bush's offer of additional aid and resources.

When asked about the buses, Nagin's staffers have refused comment.

Nagin and Blanco have both pointed the finger at each other regarding blame for the disaster.

All of this points toward one overriding question: Why aren't Kathleen Blanco and Ray Nagin under arrest? They deserve to be charged with multiple counts of manslaughter at the very least -- through their ineptness, malfeasance and incompetence, the pair of them are directly responsible for the deaths of literally hundreds, if not thousands of men, women and children in Orleans Parish and the city of New Orleans.

As opposed to permitting them to continue to posture and play partisan games with each other and with the press (fueling fanatic assertions of blame against the Bush administration in the process), they both should be arrested and detained pending an arraignment hearing and trial.

[SE Mom]

Excellent piece Mike!

I'm sitting here watching the press conf with NOLA city officials. Lots of them. One is noticably absent- the mayor.

[McGruff]

Good question. One thing I'm learning about Louisiana is that it's a cesspool of corruption.

Someone said that's why they didn't why the federal gov't coming in snooping around.

[lilylangtree]

Relatives of Hitlery & Bubba?

[matrixlaura]

I'd like to know when the parent's of the kids that were in harms way will be charged with child endangerment.

I'm sure this has been covered somewhere but every time I see them on TV complaining about how they had no food for their kids, I get so angry!

[Graymatter]

I agree they should both be prosecuted. However, the President seems content to take all the blame without disputing anything. I'm too steamed to say more at this moment.

[Grampa Dave]

Better yet, hopefully the trial lawyers who sue if we drink coffee that is too hot will go after Da Mayor, the Governor, the lying MSM and the Rat Congress and sue them in criminal court.

[hombre_sincero]

If these criminals are covered by that "cover-your-ass" law that exempts politicians from most laws - I suggest to the Louisiana cajuns to apply the old methods of law - there is plenty of boiling tar and chicken feathers hanging around with a couple of rails to carry them off.

Maybe that is why the guard and police are illegally confiscating EVERYBODY's weapons??

[twigs]

She's not the brightest person, is she?

[wmileo]

"The MSM will laud them as heroes"

Just like Chief Moose in the sniper shootings.

[RexBeach]

"No-Good" and "Blotto". These two couldn't find their butts with both hands. Too bad there's no cure for stupid.

Viva America!

[Gimme]

"these two need to be prosecuted for criminal negligence."


I agree with you. Why didn't they follow their OWN Evacuation Plan already in place? Blanco surely saw the suffering at the Dome and still would not send anyone in, that's criminal.

[RexBeach]

Mazel Tov!

[FR_addict]

Thank you for posting. I agree with the article. These two need to be put up on charges.

This was out and out negligence to the citizens of new Orleans, resulting in thousands of deaths.

We need an investigation now.

[cgbg]

Hillary was personally responsible for dozens of felonies in both the Arkansas and Clinton White House years. Prosecutors that were interested couldn't lay a glove on her--and if we come up snakeyes she could become the next President of the United States.

Nagin and Blanco have the same protectors and the same apologists. Exposure of them risks exposing a vicious corrupt Louisiana crime organization, just like exposure of Hillary risked exposing the same in Arkansas.

It has already become clear that the RNC is unwilling to take on the two (pick expletive of your choice here) just like they have been and continue to be unwilling to take on Hillary. Many of us believe their meekness is because they can be blackmailed by data collected by Hillary and her associates.

[nopardons]

BRAVO !

[dinasour]

through their ineptness, malfeasance and incompetence

Nagin, maybe.

But I am not inclined to let Blanco off the hook so easy.

She has shown herself to be a control freak who has made some absolutely inhuman political calculations for the sake of her own aggrandizement and power.

She doesn't deserve to be in jail, she deserves to finish the reset of her putrid life in a big pit dug somewhere in the LA swamps.

[KenmcG414]

"F'gedaboudit" the politicians always get a free ride. And you know what? They'd probably be re-elected by their constituents,

[RetiredArmy]

He won't be mayor of much. Mostly rubble, piles of trash, a demolished superdome, and a few gangs.