Let the Blame Games begin!

[Ripsnort]

Okay, I know they began the instant the levee's broke...however I found this piece interesting in the Washington Post, considered to be one of the more liberal publications in journalism circles.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/03/AR2005090301680_pf.html

...Behind the scenes, a power struggle emerged, as federal officials tried to wrest authority from Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Babineaux Blanco (D). Shortly before midnight Friday, the Bush administration sent her a proposed legal memorandum asking her to request a federal takeover of the evacuation of New Orleans, a source within the state's emergency operations center said Saturday.

The administration sought unified control over all local police and state National Guard units reporting to the governor. Louisiana officials rejected the request after talks throughout the night, concerned that such a move would be comparable to a federal declaration of martial law. Some officials in the state suspected a political motive behind the request. "Quite frankly, if they'd been able to pull off taking it away from the locals, they then could have blamed everything on the locals," said the source, who does not have the authority to speak publicly.

A senior administration official said that Bush has clear legal authority to federalize National Guard units to quell civil disturbances under the Insurrection Act and will continue to try to unify the chains of command that are split among the president, the Louisiana governor and the New Orleans mayor.

Louisiana did not reach out to a multi-state mutual aid compact for assistance until Wednesday, three state and federal officials said. As of Saturday, Blanco still had not declared a state of emergency, the senior Bush official said.

"The federal government stands ready to work with state and local officials to secure New Orleans and the state of Louisiana," White House spokesman Dan Bartlett said. "The president will not let any form of bureaucracy get in the way of protecting the citizens of Louisiana."

Blanco made two moves Saturday that protected her independence from the federal government: She created a philanthropic fund for the state's victims and hired James Lee Witt, Federal Emergency Management Agency director in the Clinton administration, to advise her on the relief effort.

Bush, who has been criticized, even by supporters, for the delayed response to the disaster, used his weekly radio address to put responsibility for the failure on lower levels of government. The magnitude of the crisis "has created tremendous problems that have strained state and local capabilities," he said. "The result is that many of our citizens simply are not getting the help they need, especially in New Orleans. And that is unacceptable."....

Lessons Learned: When the Gov't offers you help you in a disaster waiting to happen, DON'T let your politics cloud your vision, Miss Blanco.

[Sandman]

Originally posted by Ripsnort

Bush, ... used his weekly radio address to put responsibility for the failure on lower levels of government.  

Now, THAT is leadership.

[Ripsnort]

Originally posted by Sandman
Now, THAT is leadership.

Exactly!~ Tell the public the truth, rather than distort it like the left is attempting to!

[Sandman]

You want truth from the Bush admin?

[SOB]

So, wait, is this the part where Rip comes back and brings up a link to a Democrat lying about something, and then Sandy replies again about some republican or Bush, and then Rip or someone else brings up more Democrat lies, and then another person brings up Republican lies, and then...?

[Ripsnort]

Originally posted by Sandman
You want truth from the Bush admin?

You must feel abandoned...even your own liberal media is telling you what happened and you have to change the topic to avoid the truth. Sad, Sandy.

[Hangtime]

The place was declared a disaster area before the hit. Pre-positioning supplies in the region started before the storm hit.

The mayor was a sweetheart.. didn't take advantage of assets on hand (school busses, local city busses) to evacuate folks before the hit. The govenor was a liberal twit.. no martial law declaration at the start of looting. No moves to crack down on looters.

The NO police department was essentially abandoned to it's own devices for two days..

Yeah, I don't hold the feds responsible for the delays. Although the local and state government failed the crisis test of leadership and clairvoiance in NO, Southern Mississippi and Alabama both did an exemplary job at state and local levels in ramping up S&R and relief. The Volunteer efforts and support of just average joe citizens from the neighboring states and areas was exemplary.. boats and pickups filled with water and food were flowing in before any of the 'authorities' could get their gaiters on.

Who's 'responsible' for the debacale in New Orleans?

The greedy mindless mob of inner city denizens that immediately began to **** where they slept.

[DREDIOCK]

Originally posted by Sandman
You want truth from the Bush admin?

2- Threads should remain on topic, do not "hijack" topics.

[DREDIOCK]

Originally posted by SOB
So, wait, is this the part where Rip comes back and brings up a link to a Democrat lying about something, and then Sandy replies again about some republican or Bush, and then Rip or someone else brings up more Democrat lies, and then another person brings up Republican lies, and then...?

They both lie and twist the truth to suit their own needs. Neither side has a monopoly on this.

They ALL lie. Evey single president in the history of the country has probably lied. Its a matter of who got caught at it.

[Hangtime]

Ah yes.

"Have a Cigar".

[Gunslinger]

It's pathetic the blame game going on in politics while people are still trying to survive.  The left have been particularly bad being right quick to blame Bush, then Blame Iraq, then blame funding, and when all else failed......pull the race card.  Hang makes a good point Mississippi and Alabama weren't spared from this but you don't see mass caos in those states.  In NO, when the feds stepped in, you started to see results PERIOD!

[DREDIOCK]

From what I've heard on the news. The Federal govenrnment cannot go in and take over  or even helpwithout the states formally requesting it.
And it takes congress to declare martial law (that would mean BOTH parties)
The President does not have the authority to do so on his own.

Now if Lousiana Gov didnt request. and according to the article in this thread is true. and not only didnt he do it for 3 days he outright refused then thats on the Govenor. Not the President.
Even after he did, then a clear chain of command had to be established with someone in central charge going. "Ok this is what we are doing. This is where the supply points are going to be. You are going todo this and you do that. With all the egos that are certain to be abundant. Just doing that would be no cakewalk. And it all takes time.
Even if someone had absolute dictator powers it would take time to organise, get men and material in place etc

And while a disaster area was declared and massive devistation was expected. I think the extent devistation that actually happened was beyond anyones wildest dreams. Remember we're not just talking about NO here. 90,000 square miles was effected.

[Jackal1]

Originally posted by Hangtime
The place was declared a disaster area before the hit. Pre-positioning supplies in the region started before the storm hit.
 

Pre-positioning doesn`t really mean jack if they are not distributed at the proper time. Most of the supplies could have just as well been in Iraq for all the good it done when crunch time came.
 Some of the supplies, etc, were also "pre-positioned" in flood areas right in the predicted path of the hurricane.
  It was pretty much of a cluster..........well.....it was a messed up on all levels, local, state and federal.

[Maverick]

See Rule #5

[Jackal1]

See Rule #4