Michael “Heckuva job” Brown was not qualified to direct the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and it showed. But Brown was unfairly singled out for blame for FEMA’s inept response to Hurricane Katrina.
Brown spoke Wednesday at the Dole Institute at the University of Kansas. He said he tried to get the Bush administration to do a catastrophic disaster plan that included the possibility of a hurricane hitting New Orleans. But, he said, “the administration was so focused on terrorism and other stuff they turned a deaf ear.” He described Michael Chertoff, secretary of homeland security, as “clueless” — which had a pot-calling-the-kettle-black quality about it. He also admitted to lying to the public about how FEMA was responding to the hurricane, but blamed that on “White House talking points” and a fear that “people get fired for telling the truth.”
Of course, Brown got fired anyway.
Posted by Phillip Brownlee
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75 Comments
I believe that quote was “heckuvajob there Brownie”.
I’m waiting for someone in the administration to tell the truth about anything.
That’s why everyone keeps getting fired, because they take the fall.
The fallout from Katrina – in New Orleans, specifically – is proof that people will pass the buck like mad if a finger is pointed in their direction.
Never mind that the very people elected to oversee New Orleans and Louisiana totally failed…it’s much easier to blame the White House.
Total victim mentality.
Wasn’t it interesting that Wichita turned out, in force, to help the survivors, setting up cots, buying food and clothing, etc., all in an attempt to make a nice relief site….and the refugees would have none of it?
I watched the video of the plane that landed in Utah. One girl was so happy she had found new friends, a job…but the rest were whining that they didn’t want to be in cold Utah with Mormons.
They thought they DESERVED specific locations, instead of being grateful for the proffered help.
I loved the way Edwards showed up down Orlean’s way to start his campaign. Bet he wishes now he would have waited for his wife’s illness to return….
lol…once a bottom feeder – always a bottom feeder.
That last comment was just disgusting. Even coming from you. Which is hard to top sometimes.
You apologize for that comment now. I’m waiting.
OHHHHHH GS. Don’t you run away.
Apologize or I’ll say something equally as mean about someone in your party.
No – I really dislike Edwards. After he targeted Cheney’s daughter like he did. Twice. Once wasn’t enough for him. That man is nasty, nasty, nasty.
I wasn’t running away – but now I have to.
Today will be a fiercely busy day. I can’t believe we got so much snow.
I have a meeting later that is going to be stressful – and paperwork out the yahoo.
Try to behave.
Okay – if you’re going to say something nasty about someone from MY Party – make it a fundie.
lol
Fine. Maybe Cheney is hoping Mary dies during birth so he can snatch that baby from his daughter’s lover’s hands…then claim to the religious right that it was God’s hand in it since she was a sinner and all.
That should put him back in proper standing with the fundie crowd.
I am way to sensuous most of the time, the ONLY thing I like about Cheney is he did stand by his daughter.During the whole attempt to bring a federal law about Gay marriage, he did bow out of the debate. He made the right decision in that case.
There is enough blame to go around for everyone in New Orleans. The mayor, governor, and feds all share in lack of disaster planning. Of course, the people who looted and contributed to lawlessness are not innocent either.
And, let’s not forget the people who were bussed to Houston, and complained about the food and the bus trip. Or the people who defrauded FEMA and used the emergency cash cards for champagne and luxuries.
Nope..no one person or group to blame for the entire debacle. Hurricanes happen, and people/places that live in hurricane prone areas without preparation are flat out stupid.
and people/places that live in hurricane prone areas without preparation are flat out stupid.
Posted by: raptor | April 06, 2007 at 07:37 AM
Or flat out poor, or flat out disabled, or flat out too old, or many other circumstances that would leave them flat out unable to deal with an emergency of that magnitude.
No I’m sorry, but you can’t pander to the group who wishes that your family can never marry or hold the same rights as everyone else and get a bye.
To compare John Edwards discussing something that everyone already knew at a debate when the man is in total hypocricy of the issue…to using a man’s dying wife as a way to slam him…
totally not the same thing.
Interesting personal policy there Political Mom.
Deny the rights of others who you politically hate and praise the rights of those who you politically agree with.
cheny was good to stick up for his daughter and say that she should be left alone. i heard edwards try to bait cheny. he stooped so low for politics. and he hurt gay people too. everyone says he cant to the president job with a sick wife. he cant be trusted at all.
pastor said the reason so many people died in new orleens is because they were living in sin and had to be stopped. i didnt agee because i think babys are not guilty of sin at a young age. but when they tryed to shoot the rescuers those were deserving of death maybe fate?
OMG, where did you all find THIS guy? Pastor says? Well hell, JON STEWART says…..
And Aaron, unless you are gay, which I fervently hope is not true, how do you know if Edwards hurt gay folks? I sure havent heard any REAL queers say that. But perhaps your pastor has some real life experiences we dont know about? hehehehehe
And wasnt it KERRY the Cheney’s were bitchin’ about? I think when Mary Cheney has already outed herself, when she took a high paying job as the “gay relations” spokesperson for COORS for cryin’ out loud, I think she kinda gave up any privacy.
I call Aaron as an abortion obssessed gay basher. After all, he is the one who CONSTANTLY was reading over at the other blog and then reported back here about what was posted.
And I find it interesting that all of the forced birth and queer hating crowd only complained about MY posts over there.
Got a crush on me little boy? Maybe you and GS need to talk…
Go ask yer pastor about THAT!!!!
so many people died in new orleens is because they were living in sin
were deserving of death maybe fate?
And you wonder why thinking people call folks like Aaron the Kansas Taliban?
Hey Aaron, why did you use a false name to post all abortion all the time stuff at the other blog? I mean, ’cause Jesus dont like lyin’ ya know…
I must have missed something – where/when did Edwards engage Cheney about his daughter? I would like to learn more about it…any links?
Oh, but it is OK for Mary Cheney to write a damn BOOK about her gay old life, but it isnt ok for OTHERS to discuss it?
Woof. There is some real biblical logic for ya…
As always with the Cheney’s it’s all about the money. I guess she thought Kerry was gonna hurt her book sales? Heheheheheh. Looks like she was correct. Her book TANKED!!!!
i have a girlfirend already so no i dont like you but alot of girls like me so we can be just friends. i just write here and only read the other blog so no i dont write there.
Oh and Aaron and others? Nice try at diverting the subject here. How did a thread about the failures of the bush administration turn into a gay bashing thread about abortion.
Very clever cons, but it isnt going to work.
So.. could all you good god fearin’ folks possibly talk about brownie and the culture of LYING that is so beloved by the preznit and bushco?
’cause jesus doesnt like lying ya know… I guess unless one of YOU all do it…
Aaron, thanks for proving my point. Want me to post your post from there over here? It is you.
So… why the lie and using a false name there? Do you want me to repost your post?
Exactly what rights am I denying?
Aaron must be fundie from the ‘other’ blog. Nobody can intentionally spell that poorly.
So, fundy…you only disagree because babies died? But the rest, well, they all deserved it?
You don’t think there were poor bible thumpers there too that died? We all know there were, because it’s the illiterate, ignorant poor that are such good followers- and they’re more likely to believe GOD WILL SAVE THEM….glug, glug.
Hmmmmm…. sure sounds a lot like the poster formerly known as scott…. but I am ever so sure he will deny it.
No caps, bad use of language, etc. Oh, yeah. It’s “scott” alright. Or another incarnation for him.
And little boy, it is a joke about having a crush, I mean since you know I am gay and all. Tell me, why do you only report back here about MY posts?
So hows about that culture of lying? How about firing folks who dont lie? Wanna address those fundy?
Let me think: who appointed Brown? Oh, ya, bush did. Great job there clown in chief. You got it going on. Do your multi-tasking skills need to be renewed, or are they non-existent?
Damn right there are others to blame for the New Orleans fiasco: the whole damn bush administration. Incompetent doesn’t come close to defining this admin. Worst administration ever.
i didnt know you were gay but i dont care either i have gay friends who only tell very few friends about it but my name isnt scott and my left hand is hurt so no capitals from one typing hand.
Aaron, you are not even a GOOD liar. IF you were lurking at the other blog, (and how could you NOT have been if you reposted our stuff over here) you cant POSSIBLY deny that you knew I was gay. YOU POSTED on a thread HERE that talked about it. Oh, and BTW, you did post here as Aaron, and FUNDY over at the WV.
Wanna talk again about how the Ten Commandments say Thou Shalt Not Lie?
Or are those rules just for everyone else and not you? Here is a clue, when caught red handed in a lie? The only way to forgiveness is to acknowledge it.
I see you are still following the bushco formula of lie first, then deny until you die.
Guess that is why bushco cant get any forgiveness either.
So.. how about back to the subject of how the preznit, and his band of merry law breakers, LIE constantly and blame the victims for THEIR incompetence?
You sure are intent on changing the subject….
Oh, and BTW, your real name might not be scott, but you damn sure posted as him.
The Republican Ethnic Cleansing of New Orleans is proceeding apace. Gotta take those opportunities when they present themselves.
Hello againI have abstained from posting the last few days and have merely been an on looker. But this conversation I must weigh in on.It is always nice to see the “regime” and their supporters deflect the issue at hand. I have heard everything on Katrina from, it was the locals fault to it was the residents fault. All bullsh*t!The presidents mother, as she toured the Astrodome in Houston said..”This is nicer than what these people are use to”. This tells you the mentality of the “regime”. George Bush does not care about black people!I don’t care if the “refugees” complained about the food on the bus. They had been waiting for 5 days! Its not like they choose not to get in their Range Rover and leave. These were the poor and sick. And this gov’t turned their backs on them and claimed that they didn’t know how bad it was. It was on every f*****g channel. The right makes me sick!
I think you took Mrs. Bush statement the wrong way. She most likely meant that “this is nicer than the horrible conditions after Katrina.”
Of course Mike, you will take it to mean the worst possible way because you like to look on the dark side of things.
Please tell me more of how the Bush regime screwed the Black people that lived in a city built below sea level that was susceptible to hurricane damage.
Please explain this to me.
You knkow what, I don’t give a sh#T about “black” people either. I care about people, I don’t really give a damn about their skin color. I do care if the coplained about the food on the bus, that just shows a gimme mentality. I do care that the dam mayor told them not to evacuate sooner, I do care that the governor told the feds they weren’t needed, i do care that the feds did not complete their tasks as well as they should have. Although, having been part of at least one major incident, it is hard to plan for all the contingencies and make shit work on the fly. I will tell you that the “black/white” thing is media b/s. I talked to the head of the EMS there. There was no black/white thing, there was people trying to help people. Most of the refugees were people that felt helpless about their situation. Many were opportunits who saw no reason to help thelmselves and insisted someone else do it for them.
Wow, if THAT isnt JM, I dont know who else it could be?
hehehehehhe. Yeah, I’m sure while he was in Mississippi, he did talk to some FEMA folks.
And if a religious vegetarian complained about being given a burger? Well, damn. What a gimme mentality!!! Heheeheheh.
And GS is whining because someone was dropped thousand of miles from home and kin, in a totally cold climate from warm and humid Nawlins, how DARE they complain!!!
Good God, you people really DO give republicans a bad name.
If you are addressing me, I don’t know who the hell JM is. ANd no, I didn’t talk to some FEMA folks in MIssippi, but in Topeka when he arrived for EMS conference. And how many that complained were religious vegetarians that were given a hamburger, or is that just sample that may or may not be true to show that it’s okay for people to whine?
Of course. It’s never a black / white thing.
As for the blame, there’s plenty to go around. Indeed. But let’s not forget: it was the Federal government that had jurisdiction, through the Army Corps of Engineers, over the levees protecting New Orleans. When the 17th Street Canal Leveee failed because it hadn’t been constructed or maintained properly, liability devolved to the Fed. Period. I don’t know why conservatives have such a hard time understanding that. Decades of predictions and promises were ignored, and the levee failed.
As for Republican’s apologetics regarding Barbara Bush’s comments, here’s what she actually said:
In a segment at the top of the show on the surge ofevacuees to the Texas city, Barbara Bush said: “Almosteveryone I’ve talked to says we’re going to move toHouston.”
Then she added: “What I’m hearing which is sort ofscary is they all want to stay in Texas. Everyone isso overwhelmed by the hospitality.
“And so many of the people in the arena here, youknow, were underprivileged anyway, so this–this (shechuckles slightly) is working very well for them.”
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=100105471
The next time CF2K calls JM / Eier / Republican a racist, spectators would be well-advised to remember how he just tried to spin Barbara Bush’s cruel and patronizing dismissal of Katrina survivors as “underprivileged” anyway.
Racist.
LittlejohnSounds like you are applying for the soon to be vacated White House Spokesperson position. You got the pass the buck and spin doctor thing down pat. And its good to know that you don’t care about black people either. If you were within reaching distance I would slap the taste out of your mouth. The “gimme” mentality you describe applies to those on public assistance that do not want to work. You cannot place the blame on the residents of that community. Just face it, all forms of government failed. And continue to fail those left in the Gulf region.And no Republikkkan I did not take Mrs. Bush’s statement out of context. You and I both know exactly what she meant. Please stop trying to spin their sh** into something digestible.
Thank you CF2k
Mike,
Threatening violence for someone who says something you don;t like. Did you read the rest of my post. My point is I really don;t give a shit if you are black,or white, or green, or yellow or red. Okay, maybe I do care if you are green. I didn;t place all the blame on the residents of that communty. I agree, all forms of government failed, including the mayor that that they reelected. I also think that responding to an emergency of that magnitude on the fly, with little intergovernmental cooperation, is almost impossible. Try it sometime.
CF2K-
Thank you for providing that post. That indeed, was very crass to say. ALmost criminal. Almost, but not quite.
By the way, Mike, I volunteered to go go new Orleans to help. I also helped raise money for the victims.
Mike,
Yeah, I’ve always found Barbara Bush a pretty repellent figure. In a way, I’m glad she made the remark: at least she’s willing to say what she really thinks, however racist, elitist, and reprehensible.
CF2KSeems to me that she was the only one telling the truth during that crisis. The most telling thing was that we provided humanitarian relief to the tsunami victims within 72 hrs, half way around the world. But it took 5 days to get relief into New Orleans. The Hyprocrisy of our Democracy.
And to this day, the feds have not done anything to help rebuild. To get families back into the community. To try to repair the infastructure. I guess if this happened in some bedroom suburb in Florida they would be all over it.
I have a couple of questions.1) How long did it take for local and state govenment officials to request federal help?
2) Millions in aid has gone to New Orleans, I wonder specifically what help the federal government should provide that they are not?
Three) And should the rest of the country do without their needs being met, so new Orleans can be fixed? For the record, I say needs to be prioritized, and Maybe New Orleans is at the top. And why should a city be rebuilt that is in real danger of being lost again? I remember many houses along the Mississippi River that the Feds said no, we will not rebuild until you move the homesite out of the floodplain. I live in tornado alley, it is damn sure the feds will not rebuild my house if it gets blown away by a tornado. I think they are legitimate questions, and the citizens of the United States, as well as New Orleans, need a good discussion about such things and not a finger pointing excercise.
There was more than enough blame to go around in New Orleans. Nagin was voted back into office and Blanco saw the writing on the wall and won’t be running again.
The problems with NO didn’t start with Katrina. In 1978 we were there for a Babe Ruth Baseball regional tourney. The tournament directors gave us a little welcome speech and said to feel free to go anywhere in the city but the projects. Even cable, telephone, electrical wirers, etc.. wouldn’t go in there. Two telephone service men were killed in ‘the projects’ a few months back and the policemen were even afraid to go in.
Imagine my surprise when at the height of the Katrina evacuation these same projects were one of the last places evacuated. I will make no racial references here and won’t entertain the notion that I am biased. Those are just the facts.
One of the major facts that is always ignored is that Nagin formed a panel to look at the effect of a class 5 hurricaine on NO. No evacuation plans came out of that committee eventhough it confirmed that this would breech the existing levees and flood the soup bowl known as NO.
FEMA and the Prez should have responded quicker and Brown trying to lay this at Bush’s feet is laughable. FEMA is not a first responder. That is always a local and state function.
My son spent 3 of his vacation weeks working down there helping to rebuild where it was possible. Even when he got there weeks after the tradgedy the city had not responded to many elderly who were still living in severely damaged houses.
If you have a chance see the film ‘Hurricaine on the Bayou’. This was filmed by the Weather Channel and explained how industry set up this whole debacle. The wet lands which have always been the ‘first line of defense’ have been almost completely destroyed by the invasion of man. Channels through the wet lands, dug to allow barges to come inland to the city, have allowed salty sea water to kill off vegetation and is continuing today.
Blame, who do we blame? With global warming taking up most of the environmental media time, this is something that unless and until it is remedied makes it very foolish indeed to rebuild NO.
By the way Mike,I think whether or not the Florida Suburbs would get better response is one that deserves an answer also. Perhaps the federal response to Hurricane Andrew couldprovide some imput. I don;t realy know, but I do think the question should be asked.
The governor of the state in which the disaster occurred must declare a state of emergency and formally request from the President of the United States that FEMA and the Federal Government respond to the disaster. The only exception is when an emergency or disaster occurs on federal property or to a federal asset, for example the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma in 1995, or the Space Shuttle Columbia in 2003.”
Hurricane Andrew – 1992
“Within five days the federal government and neighboring states had dispatched 20,000 National Guard and active duty troops to South Dade County to set up temporary housing.”
Hurricane Katrina – 2005″August 2005 saw one of the worst natural disasters in United States history. FEMA received intense criticism for its response to the disaster. FEMA had pre-positioned response personnel in the Gulf Coast region, however many were only able to report of dire situation along the Gulf Coast, especially from New Orleans. FEMA was responsible for the evacuation of the thousands of people who remained in New Orleans during the storm, as well as initial recovery work and appropriations. Within three days, a large contingent of National Guard and active duty troops were deployed to the region.”
This is from WIKI if you want to look at it. Within 5 days they were in Florida, within 3 day they were in Louisiana. It was such a disaster that it seemed much longer because we could see people suffering. The locals should have evacuated the people as soon as it was reported that a cat 5 would hit. Adequate food and water should have been stockpiled. Many things went wrong but as you can see the response was as quick as could have been deployed. Brown certainly shared the blame and I can’t believe he is hitting the talk show circuit trying to absolve himself.
“If you were within reaching distance I would slap the taste out of your mouth.”
Bring it Mike, I’d like the opportunity to see you in jail for assault.
The tolerant Left…
yeah right.
What’s with these lefties?
Always wanting to settle things with their fists.
How rude.
Republican does not speak for me. I do not say “bring it” I choose to ignore such stupid remarks from both Mike and from Republican
My dear Republikkan friend. I would not oblige you in such things. Would I really slap someone that has different views than myself? Probably not. Funny how that when things go bad that BushBots want to point to the fine print…..The only exception is when an emergency or disaster occurs on federal property or to a federal asset, for example the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma in 1995, or the Space Shuttle Columbia in 2003.”Posted by: ksgrm | April 06, 2007 at 02:31 PM
Don’t blame us….not our fault….not my job…..all three word statements. Like this one…..kiss my a**. You pompous, self rightous, arrogant, elitist.
If your grandmother had been in NO when this happened and she was left behind you would be ready to sue everyone from the bottom-up. Instead, you choose to point out the fine print. Say it was the locals fault. When the obvious thing was for the feds to position the resources in Houston and go in immediately after the storm passed. Instead Condie bought a pair of shoes, Dick was busy swimming in his pool of money, and Georgie was on the ranch clearing brush.
T”he only exception is when an emergency or disaster occurs on federal property or to a federal asset, for example the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma in 1995, or the Space Shuttle Columbia in 2003.”Posted by: ksgrm”
That fine print is called the law. It is the only thing that keeps the Feds from meddling into every little thing that they shouldn’t.
Perhaps you would like to remove the posse comitatus act too?
As i said, the government at all levels did a very poor job of responding. In defense of the local government, one official told me they had a plan, it was under thirty feet of water. I think the locals that could have should have left as soon as the danger was apparent. I recognized many had no means to do so. The mayor should have immediately asked for state aid, and the governor should have asked for federal aid. Instead, I now of one instance where the locals had planned to use school buses to evacuate people. Guess what? the state national guard commandeered them. Intergovernmental cooperation fell completely apart, and that includes the feds. One of the biggest thoughts that come to mind for me personally? Don;t rely on anyone else for help, if at all possible
Well if you are going to live in a city below sea level either plan for things to go wrong and fix it where you have the plans to do something about it.
One could use Holland as an example as a good plan.
Sure, it was very sad and tragic. Don’t go blaming everyone else on New Orleans and Louisiana’s failure to plan for disaster.
Self reliance. Great theory. Maybe they should have gotten into their boats when the water floated them out of their 6 car garages. Sad to inform you Littlejohn, that some people are reliant on others. Glad to see you are self suffient.
There are some instances that being proactive is for the best. I would find it hard to believe that had the fed been proactive that there would have been an uproar about the law you cite. Why would they suddenly abide by the law when in so many other self serving instances they have ignored it? This administration has shown such high regard for the law. Would you like me to list the numerous times they have ignored it?
Another opportunity squandered by our friends in Washington.
Mike,
I realize some people are not self reliant. I am indeed lucky to be so, not because of my 6 car garage, nor my six figure salary (Neither of which I have. I am in reasonably good health and not financially dependent on the government. I am thankful everyday for both. And had it been my grandmother, I wouldn’t have waited for the government to get her out. If possible, i would have tried to see to it she was gone before the storm got there, including driving down there myself to get her if I had to. Anyway, It is first of all up to the local and then the state governments to keep them safe. Again, the governor of Louisiana told them to stay out of it. Should the Feds have overruled her?I am sure that would have played well. Should they have moved resources closer? No doubt. No doubt that they did not peform as well as they should have. Unfortunate for everyone
In response to the bureaucratic defense….watch this video and tell me why it took 5 days to get supplies and rescue operations to those that needed them
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6vej0lE7kM
The administration knew well in advance that the storm was coming and the levees would be breached.
Mike,
i will watch the video when I get to another computer. This computer has no sound card. However, there is plenty of blame to go around
From http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9342186/In fact, NBC News has uncovered a pattern of what critics call questionable spending practices by the Levee Board — a board which, at one point, was accused by a state inspector general of “a long-standing and continuing disregard of the public interest.”
Beyond the fountain, there’s the $15 million spent on two overpasses that helped gamblers get to Bally’s riverboat casino. Critics tried and failed to put some of that money into flood protection.
There was also $45,000 for private investigators to dig up dirt on radio host and board critic Robert Namer.
“They hired a private eye for nine months to find something to make me look wacko, to make me look crazy or bad.” says Namer. “They couldn’t find anything.”
Namer sued and the board then spent another $45,000 to settle.
Critics charge, for years, the board has paid more attention to marinas, gambling and business than to maintaining the levees. As an example: of 11 construction projects now on the board’s Web site, only two are related to flood control.
“I assure you,” says Levee Board President Jim Huey, “that you will find that all of our money was appropriately expended.”
Huey says money for the levees comes from a different account than money for business activities and that part of the board’s job is providing recreational opportunities.
And despite the catastrophic flooding, Huey says, “As far as the overall flood protection system, it’s intact, it’s there today, it worked. In 239 miles of levees, 152 floodgates, and canals throughout this entire city, there was only two areas.”
But those two critical areas were major canals and their collapse contributed to hundreds of deaths and widespread destruction.
Lisa Myers is NBC’s senior investigative correspondent.
So when were those video excerpts taken that were shown at the end?
You notice the video editor didn’t identify who was speaking, when and where. How can anyone take that as credible.
I think I remember that guy speaking on TV as a rerun. He was Louisiana Tech or somewhere and he was speaking after Katrina hit.
If he is the same scientist I’m thinking of.
That was the video that splashed all over every news channel known to man. Very Bushie of you to question the crediblity. Next thing I expect you to say is….”was that from saturday night live?”
Idiot!
That sure sounded like GW. Was it an imposter? Was that not Brownie? Or the head of the National Hurricane Ctr?
Bushie….very Bushie
So what was the man’s name that was in front of the weather map? The video didn’t say.
Mike you hate Bush so bad that you have taken leave of your senses. The prez is in charge of an entire country. Nagin had just one little city to worry about and he blew it big time. Where is your critizism of him?
No one expected what happened to happen. The lack of maintenance led to some of the breeches but a cat 4 or 5 was something that everyone expected to flood the city.
If Nagin and Blanco had started loading those 1,000s of school buses with people and moving them out so much could have been averted.
And just for the record when the national guard tried to go in to rescue and bring food and water the first group refused because to go in because they were being shot at.
Max Mayfield…..Republican
Yeah, just saw that in the comments about the video (re: Max Mayfield)
He said nothing about them being breeched, just topped.
You know why? Because environmental groups put a stop to levee improvements that were already budgeted because they didn’t want the wildlife on Lake Ponchetran to be be damaged.
For an excellent report on “What Really Happened with Katrian” see the magazine article here:
http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/earth/2315076.html
No one expected what happened to happen.Posted by: ksgrm | April 06, 2007 at 04:20 PM
Maybe you should watch the video….they did expect it.
Ksgrm–
What part of the President has the responsibility do you not get?
There were bodies floating face down for weeks.
This isn’t Haiti or India. Bush should have done SOMETHING besides flying over for a photo op.
What is the difference? Topped vs. breached? Disaster was inevitable. Period!
I think it makes a difference in that the bottom of the levees failed first and not the tops. It means that there was a structural failure because of the design. Not an engineer about such things just guessing.
Mike no one expected the extent of flooding and damage that occurred.
My son who worked down there for three weeks helped a NO police officer clean up his family home. It had been in their family for years. He said that they were never told to expect what happened. He described spending the first night in a grade school and having the flood surge go through that building. From his place on the stairs he grabbed as many people as he could and helped them to safety. He said he would never forget the face of one little girl that he couldn’t reach.
Now you can blame this on Bush til the cows come home but it won’t change the fact that Nagin had a chance for damage control before it hit. What was he doing?
And as for the rescuers not making it in how much responsibility do you place on the idiots with guns that were shooting at them?
One last comment….I am not an engineer. But I do have a brain, and I did see the prez and Brownie at a web conference with Max Mayfield with Mr. Mayfield warning of “grave” danger with the storm. Now explain why it took 5 days to get help there. And the report of people shooting at the National Guard was never verified. There were alot of untrue tales coming out of NO during this time. So that is not a valid excuse. 5 days=120hrs=7200minutes
Could you make it? Could your mother?
Yes we live in tornado alley. Tornadoes are spontaneous, hurricanes are not! This gov’t had plenty of time to do the right thing prior to and for 5 days after.
Mike if a person has a D after their name do your eyes just not see them?
I guess Mike because a lot of the roads were washed out and it was one lane traffic in and out of the city.
Did you read the report from popular mechanics on Katrina?
Liberals
The President CANT federalize the National Guard without the request of the Governor, in a natural emergency.
The President CANT send in Federal troops, without the request of the Governor.
We are a Republic, comprised, even now, of SOVEREIGN STATES.
If Bush had not waited for Blanco to sign the proper paperwork, you would be calling Bush a dictator and demanding his impeachment over this, as well!
Blanco was an incompetent boob.Nagin was also very negligent.
Brown?
Well what makes him competent to comment but incompetent to lead?
My take is, that he is either equiped for BOTH or unequiped for BOTH..
I will take you libs’ word for it and ignore what Brown has to say.
People were SHOOTING at the National Guard.
Think about that for a second.
Trained military guys against gangstas with pistols . . . what’s wrong with this picture?
CapnYour previous post would seem to indicate that you agree: much of the problem was local!You can’t help people who don’t want to be helped, people who will not evacuate.You also can’t provide relief if the criminal elements which have, for years, run certain parts of NO are allowed to run wild and shoot at you!If the guard had shot back, more often, would you have supported that action?