Mayor slams Blanco for Stalling

[zendari]

Text

Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Babineaux Blanco has been critical of the Bush administration's response to the disastrous aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, but, according to the mayor of New Orleans, her indecision when President Bush offered help delayed rescue efforts and cost lives.

Mr. Bush met privately first with Mrs. Blanco, then called Mr. Nagin in for a meeting.
"He called me in that office," Mr. Nagin said. "And he said, 'Mr. Mayor, I offered two options to the governor.' I was ready to move. The governor said she needed 24 hours to make a decision."
That decision was a request by Mr. Bush to allow the federal government to take over the evacuation of New Orleans, which had been marked by chaos for days. The Democratic governor, who has clashed behind the scenes with the Bush administration since the storm hit, refused.

Mr. Bush, at the request of Mrs. Blanco, declared the entire state of Louisiana a disaster area 48 hours before the hurricane made landfall. He also asked Mrs. Blanco to order a mandatory evacuation of New Orleans on Aug. 27 -- two days before the hurricane hit -- but she did not make the order until Aug. 28.


How many lives were lost by the governor's inability to lead? If you can't handle your job and you want the feds to take over you should at least listen to what they say and offer your national guard.

 

[Medicine Bear]

He just keeps on pointing the fingers at everyone but himself. If he wants to see who is responsible for the piss poor planning and execution of an emergency plan he needs to look no further than the closest mirror lickity quick.

 

[Pabster]

And how many lives were lost by the Mayors' incompetence?

Both of them will be out of work.

 

[conjur]

Nice try at the spin. The 24 hour delay was after the relief effort had been in shambles for days. This "24 hours" happened later in the week and that's when the Gov. brought in James Lee Witt.

What I'm more interested in is why didn't the President act on his own? He had the option under the National Response Plan
(page 44)

Guiding principles for proactive Federal response
include the following:
¦ The primary mission is to save lives; protect critical
infrastructure, property, and the environment;
contain the event; and preserve national security.
¦ Standard procedures regarding requests for assistance
may be expedited or, under extreme circumstances,
suspended in the immediate aftermath of an event of
catastrophic magnitude.
¦ Identified Federal response resources will deploy and
begin necessary operations as required to commence
life-safety activities.
¦ Notification and full coordination with States will occur,
but the coordination process must not delay or impede
the rapid deployment and use of critical resources.
States are urged to notify and coordinate with local
governments regarding a proactive Federal response.
¦ State and local governments are encouraged to
conduct collaborative planning with the Federal
Government as a part of ?steady-state? preparedness
for catastrophic incidents.

 

[yllus]

I empathize with Nagin, it sounds like he had neither the men (only 1500 police? No chance!) nor the cash to deal with this crisis. That doesn't excuse a whole number of things like not having the Superdome stocked better than it was, but there are long-term factors at play here that move the blame away from anyone currently on the political scene.

Originally posted by: conjur
What I'm more interested in is why didn't the President act on his own? He had the option under the National Response Plan

Man, you've got to be joking. You expected (and no doubt blame) the President to take the huge step of assuming control unilaterally? Even you can't believe something that ridiculous.

 

[conjur]

Originally posted by: yllus
I empathize with Nagin, it sounds like he had neither the men (only 1500 police? No chance!) nor the cash to deal with this crisis. That doesn't excuse a whole number of things like not having the Superdome stocked better than it was, but there are long-term factors at play here that move the blame away from anyone currently on the political scene.

Originally posted by: conjur
What I'm more interested in is why didn't the President act on his own? He had the option under the National Response Plan

Man, you've got to be joking. You expected (and no doubt blame) the President to take the huge step of assuming control unilaterally? Even you can't believe something that ridiculous.

If he wasn't busy eating cake w/McCain and playing guitar in San Diego, he might have been able to do something sooner, no?

Why must you defend him constantly?

This is going to go down just like Abu Ghraib...blame those way down on the totem pole.

 

[zendari]

Originally posted by: conjur
If he wasn't busy eating cake w/McCain and playing guitar in San Diego, he might have been able to do something sooner, no?

Why must you defend him constantly?

This is going to go down just like Abu Ghraib...blame those way down on the totem pole.

He might if Blanco had listened to what he said and given him control of the LANG, and ordered an evac on time.

 

[yllus]

Answer the question instead of using idiotic side remarks to dodge it. You expected the President to assume control of the city - though the entire state would be more accurate - and override the authority of the state governor who refused to cede that control? Incredible.

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

Originally posted by: conjur
Nice try at the spin. The 24 hour delay was after the relief effort had been in shambles for days. This "24 hours" happened later in the week and that's when the Gov. brought in James Lee Witt.

What I'm more interested in is why didn't the President act on his own? He had the option under the National Response Plan
(page 44)

Guiding principles for proactive Federal response
include the following:
¦ The primary mission is to save lives; protect critical
infrastructure, property, and the environment;
contain the event; and preserve national security.
¦ Standard procedures regarding requests for assistance
may be expedited or, under extreme circumstances,
suspended in the immediate aftermath of an event of
catastrophic magnitude.
¦ Identified Federal response resources will deploy and
begin necessary operations as required to commence
life-safety activities.
¦ Notification and full coordination with States will occur,
but the coordination process must not delay or impede
the rapid deployment and use of critical resources.
States are urged to notify and coordinate with local
governments regarding a proactive Federal response.
¦ State and local governments are encouraged to
conduct collaborative planning with the Federal
Government as a part of ?steady-state? preparedness
for catastrophic incidents.

Are you now claiming Blanco was incompetent and Bush should have wrested control from her?

 

[conjur]

Yeah, that's what I'm saying. :roll:


Such a fvcking troll.

 

[yllus]

Your refusal to answer a direct question is duly noted by all present.

 

[conjur]

What question? I saw no question. I saw a troll and dismissed it.

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

Originally posted by: conjur
Yeah, that's what I'm saying. :roll:


Such a fvcking troll.

That sure seems to be exactly what you're saying, conjur.

And if you're so damn concerned about trolls in here, why don't you begin with this troll of a thread:

reasons Bush is a monkey

 

[rahvin]

I'll say it, the governer was incompetent and the president should have nationalized the effort on tuesday. Instead he waited until fvcking friday to care. In fact I've been saying that all along. Why didn't he put lives above politics and nationalize the LA guard and take over the rescue efforts by declaring marshal law in the area?

 

[yllus]

Originally posted by: conjur
What question? I saw no question. I saw a troll and dismissed it.

You expected the President to assume control of the city - though the entire state would be more accurate - and override the authority of the state governor who refused to cede that control?

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

Originally posted by: yllus
Your refusal to answer a direct question is duly noted by all present.

He trolled himself into a corner and now is trying to wiggle out of it.

 

[zendari]

Originally posted by: rahvin
I'll say it, the governer was incompetent and the president should have nationalized the effort on tuesday. Instead he waited until fvcking friday to care. In fact I've been saying that all along. Why didn't he put lives above politics and nationalize the LA guard and take over the rescue efforts by declaring marshal law in the area?

Only congress can officially declare martial law.

But you think the President should have worked against the Governor of LA? Would that have been helpful to relief efforts?

 

[Pabster]

Originally posted by: conjur
What question? I saw no question. I saw a troll and dismissed it.

Quit staring in the mirror, you'll blind yourself.

 

[rahvin]

Originally posted by: zendari
But you think the President should have worked against the Governor of LA? Would that have been helpful to relief efforts?

Don't be stupid. They could have went in and strong armed takeover of the operation just like the FBI frequently does in criminal matters. He didn't put the screws on the governer and he should have put lives above politics. Are you suggesting that the poltics of the situation are more important than the lives?

 

[conjur]

Originally posted by: yllus

Originally posted by: conjur
What question? I saw no question. I saw a troll and dismissed it.

You expected the President to assume control of the city - though the entire state would be more accurate - and override the authority of the state governor who refused to cede that control?

If you read that, it says that the requirements of the Governor to request assistance can be suspended. That would have brought in Federal assistance/troops that could have saved lives by providing security and, thus, allowing aid to come into the city.

See pg. 10 Secretary of Defense

The Secretary of Defense
shall provide defense support of civil authorities for domestic
incidents as directed by the President or when consistent
with military readiness and appropriate under the circumstances
and the law.

See pg. 42, Immediate Response Authority

Imminently serious conditions resulting from any civil emergency may require immediate action to save lives,
prevent human suffering, or mitigate property damage.
When such conditions exist and time does not permit
approval from higher headquarters, local military
commanders and responsible officials from DOD
components and agencies are authorized by DOD directive
and pre-approval by the Secretary of Defense, subject to
any supplemental direction that may be provided by their
DOD component, to take necessary action to respond to
requests of civil authorities consistent with the Posse
Comitatus Act (18 U.S.C. § 1385). All such necessary
action is referred to as ?Immediate Response.?

That would have allowed troops to be moved into the city to provide an "Immediate Response" and probably would have saved the lives of hundreds, if not thousands.

The fact that the Bush admin. is trying to take control now is pointless. The damage is done and most of the people are out. It doesn't make sense at this point.

See the difference? This President COULD have acted and gotten assistance into the area immediately but failed to do so.

 

[conjur]

Originally posted by: zendari

Originally posted by: rahvin
I'll say it, the governer was incompetent and the president should have nationalized the effort on tuesday. Instead he waited until fvcking friday to care. In fact I've been saying that all along. Why didn't he put lives above politics and nationalize the LA guard and take over the rescue efforts by declaring marshal law in the area?

Only congress can officially declare martial law.

Say what??

Nagin declares Martial Law to crack down on looters
08:04 PM CDT on Wednesday, August 31, 2005
http://www.wwltv.com/local/stories/WWL083105lawless.1242410b.html

 

[Pabster]

Conjur, quit trolling. Pathetic.

That story was inaccurate, as the military confirmed that martial law WAS NEVER DECLARED.

Click here for the truth.

Here's an excerpt, in case you can't comprehend that much text.

Earlier Wednesday, a Louisiana Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness spokesman said that contrary to earlier local reports and some statements by officials [JURIST report], martial law - technically, emergency government by military authority - was not in effect anywhere in the state .

 

[K1052]

Originally posted by: rahvin
I'll say it, the governer was incompetent and the president should have nationalized the effort on tuesday. Instead he waited until fvcking friday to care. In fact I've been saying that all along. Why didn't he put lives above politics and nationalize the LA guard and take over the rescue efforts by declaring marshal law in the area?

For the president to have overridden the local/state governments and sent in federal active duty soldiers to enforce law and order (or force evacuations by use of military force) he would have violated the Posse Comitatus Act.

His critics would now be trying to string him up with violation of an actual law instead of claiming his slow response was because he just didn't care.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Originally posted by: zendari

Originally posted by: rahvin
I'll say it, the governer was incompetent and the president should have nationalized the effort on tuesday. Instead he waited until fvcking friday to care. In fact I've been saying that all along. Why didn't he put lives above politics and nationalize the LA guard and take over the rescue efforts by declaring marshal law in the area?

Only congress can officially declare martial law.

But you think the President should have worked against the Governor of LA? Would that have been helpful to relief efforts?

The President cannot declare war either, yet he can still make one. rahvin may have not used the correct words, but Conjur's post shows that the administration has the power to take control in an emergency situation. In light of the failure of Bianco to act it would not have been out of line to do so.

I will play devil's advocate though since it's not something to be done unless there is clear need to. During a crisis, there are conflicting reports as to what is happening, and making the correct call is not so easy a thing.

My beef is not who handled the situation so much that the whole thing was entirely avoidable, and that there was no clearly defined effective mechanism in place for dealing with catastrophy, although supposedly there was.

 

[rahvin]

Originally posted by: Pabster
Conjur, quit trolling. Pathetic.

That story was inaccurate, as the military confirmed that martial law WAS NEVER DECLARED.

Look I deliberately didn't respond to Zendari's lie about congressional approval being required for martial law to avoid the whole the discussion because it's not that relevant.