Katrina
Let's play the blame game. The left loves it. Guess who's coming to dinner - George.
The government didn't respond fast enough. The mayor of New Orleans is mad. Fact. On Saturday ( the storm struck Mon AM) the head of the National Weather Service called the mayor and urged him to call for mandatory evacuation of the city - he didn't. The President called and urged that he issue a mandatory evacuation order for the city - he did- eighteen hours later. He sent the people to the convention center and the superdome. The city had no provisions for food, water or medical assistance. Little for protection. Of course this was Bush's fault.
Two days before the storm hit President Bush declared a state of emergency for Louisiana. This gave the govenor the ability to call up the National Guard and to request federal assistance from FEMA and other Federal resources. She, by the way, commands the National Guard of the state unless called to Federal service.
The levee system has been know for decades to be unable to withstand a category four or above storm. Bush didn't veto any legislation providing the funds to do this. He hasn't vetoed a bill since he has been president - and has been critisised for that too. The Democratic senator from Louisiana says its all his fault.
It gets whackyer. Jesse Jackson says the response was slow because the many poor were black. Bull.
The truth is that this country isn't prepared for such an emergency. That is true at the local, state and federal level. New Orleans is 12 feet below sea level. It has dodged the bullet in several storms. There were several hundred buses at the mayor's disposal but no plan of evacuation. This is true at the state level also. As for the Department of Homeland Security - heaven help us if the terrorist element succeed in a major strike. The lack of organization and planning was apalling.
If we just have to blame someone there is plenty to go around. The question is what is to be done about this going forward.
The government didn't respond fast enough. The mayor of New Orleans is mad. Fact. On Saturday ( the storm struck Mon AM) the head of the National Weather Service called the mayor and urged him to call for mandatory evacuation of the city - he didn't. The President called and urged that he issue a mandatory evacuation order for the city - he did- eighteen hours later. He sent the people to the convention center and the superdome. The city had no provisions for food, water or medical assistance. Little for protection. Of course this was Bush's fault.
Two days before the storm hit President Bush declared a state of emergency for Louisiana. This gave the govenor the ability to call up the National Guard and to request federal assistance from FEMA and other Federal resources. She, by the way, commands the National Guard of the state unless called to Federal service.
The levee system has been know for decades to be unable to withstand a category four or above storm. Bush didn't veto any legislation providing the funds to do this. He hasn't vetoed a bill since he has been president - and has been critisised for that too. The Democratic senator from Louisiana says its all his fault.
It gets whackyer. Jesse Jackson says the response was slow because the many poor were black. Bull.
The truth is that this country isn't prepared for such an emergency. That is true at the local, state and federal level. New Orleans is 12 feet below sea level. It has dodged the bullet in several storms. There were several hundred buses at the mayor's disposal but no plan of evacuation. This is true at the state level also. As for the Department of Homeland Security - heaven help us if the terrorist element succeed in a major strike. The lack of organization and planning was apalling.
If we just have to blame someone there is plenty to go around. The question is what is to be done about this going forward.
posted by Oldhugh | 4:50 PM
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