Unlike three years ago, the good folks of New Orleans are busily preparing for a hurricane days before it is scheduled to arrive.
This includes massive evacuations transpiring even though the storm is not supposed to hit until Monday.
Assuming these preparations are successful, and Gustav powers the same punch as Katrina without causing the same devastation to life and property, will the White House get media's praise?
Consider what the New York Times reported Saturday (emphasis added):
Hurricane Gustav surged to Category Three with winds of 120 miles per hour Saturday morning as it moved over the Caribbean and aimed toward the Gulf of Mexico, prompting thousands of residents of New Orleans to voluntarily leave the area without waiting for evacuation orders.
Officials here, exercising deliberate caution after the disaster of three years ago, could declare a mandatory evacuation of the city by early Sunday morning. Hotels were closing, and the sound of boards being hammered over windows could be heard. Meanwhile state police on Saturday morning reported moderately heavy traffic on a principal highway north, I-55, and a city-organized evacuation plan for the poor, elderly and sick — Hurricane Katrina’s principal victims — was in full swing. An estimated 30,000 could need assistance with evacuation.
Louisiana parishes along the Gulf Coast were also evacuating residents and ordering curfews to take effect tonight.
Now, let's be clear: every sane American (except those on the left hoping for the worst -- like Michael Moore!!!) hopes this storm either weakens or makes a big left turn sparing New Orleans this turmoil.
However, it is very clear that this city is doing a far better job of preparing for this hurricane than it did three years ago. If levees rebuilt and shored up with federal funds hold this time, and New Orleans is spared a similar castrophe as what occurred in 2005, will media give any credit to the White House?
After all, three years ago, the entire devastation was blamed squarely on the Bush adminstration. We here at NewsBusters published story after story concerning the absolutely abysmal coverage of this natural disaster.
In fact, many have made the case that the atrocious coverage of this event was what effectively destroyed the Bush presidency making him a lame duck only nine months into his second term.
Will press members in the coming days as Gustav approaches point out how much better the advanced preparations and evacuations are going now as compared to three years ago? Will they make clear that these are counter to decisions made at the local level in 2005, and that such preparation then might have signficantly diminished the loss of life and property?
And, if they choose to credit Mayor Ray Nagin for what he's doing today to protect his city and residents, will they point out that if he had done the same three years ago New Orleans might have fared much better when Katrina hit?
Or, will Nagin get all the credit if Gustav doesn't destroy New Orleans, with Bush still remaining responsible for Katrina doing so in 2005?
As an interesting sidebar, the good folks at "Morning Joe" had a discussion either Thursday or Friday about Jeb and George W. Bush. The long and the short of it was how much better and smarter a politician Jeb was as compared to his brother, and that if things had gone differently in the '90s, Jeb would have run for president in 2000.
Also addressed was that if the Bush name was better today, Jeb would have run for president this year easily beating McCain and likely a shoo-in to trounce Obama.
As it pertains to this issue, the panel discussed just how much better Florida under Jeb fared during the many strong hurricanes that pummeled the state in 2004. By contrast, New Orleans did very poorly in 2005 under -- wait for it! -- George W. Bush.
Sadly, no one on the panel chose to address the obvious: George W. Bush wasn't governor of Louisiana in 2005, and that Florida does so well during hurricanes because of the efforts by state and local officials.
It seems a metaphysical certitude this will mysteriously become apparent to all if New Orleans fares better this time.
—Noel Sheppard is the Associate Editor of NewsBusters. Follow him at Facebook and Twitter.
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Comments Policy
Noel easy answer
August 30, 2008 - 11:50 ET by well99He wont get credit.If it doenst hit maybe the Levee board can build another 750 million dollar hotel.Nagel most likely would get credit.Unlike Mikey I hope it doesnt hit.No matter who gets credit.
Of course they will blame Bush.
August 30, 2008 - 11:52 ET by JWFIt is not bias any more. It is all out war.
I have been through a lot of Typhoons (Like a hurricane but windier and teh winds blow backwards). Here is some advice before the hurricane arrives.
Use those empty milk gallon jugs to store up drinking water.
Stock on on can foods that you can tolerate eating cold.
Fill the bathtub with water for flushing and cleaning.
Follow my advice and even if President Bush fails to run the local government when they fail, you will do just fine until power and water is restored.
Excellent post JWF!
August 30, 2008 - 12:06 ET by JWFDid you know hurricanes are one of the forces of nature that you can prepare for?
Earthquakes, tornadoes, volcanoes, landslides, grizzly bears, meteors, nuclear meltdowns - no. Hurricanes - 3 to 5 days to prepare.
Only an idiot would be thirsty or hungry for at least a week after a hurricane.
We are prepairing, but I
August 30, 2008 - 12:45 ET by general companyWe are prepairing, but I will miss my A/C the most. We will see what we can do to keep the idiots to a minimum
"Television is a freak show" Bernie Goldberg
Very Good Sir!
August 30, 2008 - 12:55 ET by JWFOne more life saved. That makes it 1 now!
Don't forget, drinking your own urine, works only for "lost in the desert" and "stranded in a lifeboat". not neccessary here.
Also that bathtub full of water can cool you down, sorta like a minipool. Won't hurt the flushing effect at all.
I will keep that in mind,
August 30, 2008 - 13:37 ET by general companyI will keep that in mind, BTW here in South LA all you need to do is dig a hole about 18" deep and you will most likely hit water. So thankfully the desert tactics wont be nessassary
"Television is a freak show" Bernie Goldberg
I joke but I saw your profile.
August 30, 2008 - 14:09 ET by JWFGood luck sir.
Also. Your other sites looks suspiciously like my favorites. Except for the woodworking stuff. Is there a trojan spy thingy on my computer?
Thanks
August 30, 2008 - 15:20 ET by general companyThanks, no spy just like minds
"Television is a freak show" Bernie Goldberg
Good luck to you GC. I live
August 31, 2008 - 22:17 ET by RukusGood luck to you GC. I live in south MS we are getting some rain and wind, but not too bad, yet. Prayers to you and your family. Stay safe.
"Nuke 'em 'til they... oh hell, just shoot 'em!"
Dont' forget candles and
August 30, 2008 - 17:42 ET by motherbeltDont' forget candles and some plastic forks and spoons, paper plates...and a hand can opener!
When we lived in Florida, I had a "hurricane closet" with all the supplies we would need so that I didn't have to go looking for everything.
I don't even know what Bush could get credit for if things go well. But with a Republican Governor, you can bet they will find some Democrtic bureaucrat to give the credit to.
Excellent post mother! We
August 31, 2008 - 22:24 ET by RukusExcellent post mother! We have an area under the main wall that we keep water and non-perishables for just such a reason. It is a 'closet' so to speak. Plenty of candles and plastic forks, etc. The grill has a full tank also. I may have to look for the can-opener though. Cash is good also as the credit/debit machines don't work well without A/C. Buckling down...
"Nuke 'em 'til they... oh hell, just shoot 'em!"
no, he won't get credit for doing his job
August 30, 2008 - 11:53 ET by nicholas nicklebyEasy answer, Noel--he won't get credit because it's his job: a man who does his job right doesn't get extra credit for it.
(especially when the job that's done doesn't make up for the job that was failed so miserably--you don't get a pat on your back for doing the dishes after letting the house burn down.)
With thinking like that,
August 30, 2008 - 12:32 ET by Noel SheppardWith thinking like that, your SN should be Smike.
i salute your book-learning
August 30, 2008 - 12:46 ET by nicholas nicklebyan excellent literary riposte, Noel, to a political comment.
If you'd like to try again, please do--I believe in second chances! (I just believe that the opportunity of the first chance--like Bush with Katrina--shouldn't be so egregiously wasted.)
(And just to be clear, when I say that Bush didn't do his job in regards to Katrina, I don't mean he caused the storm; but I do mean that he measurably made things worse by his appointment of Michael Brown to FEMA and his inaction leading up to and after the storm.)
NN
August 30, 2008 - 12:48 ET by Noel SheppardNN,
Did you read the entire article, or just the headline? Be honest. ns
honestly...
August 30, 2008 - 13:20 ET by nicholas nicklebyi'll be honest: I skimmed.
But now, after reading the whole thing, I'm still not convinced that people should get credit for not-screwing up--which is the question you started with. As many conservative have pointed out (pointing to the issue of Obama's supposed unpreparedness), the presidency is not something that should be approached on a trial-and-error basis. That New Orleans may be the most prepared city in America for hurricanes in the future does not change the fact that, first time around, Bush was on vacation in Crawford.
NN
August 30, 2008 - 13:34 ET by Noel SheppardNN,
Thank you for being honest. There's something I think you're still missing: the headline is sarcastic. Of course he's not going to get credit if things go well. However, he didn't deserve any of the blame three years ago.
So, he was in Crawford. Could he have done more in DC?
Hurricanes are local and state issues. He asked Nagin to evacuate days before Katrina landed. Nagin refused. Should Bush have sent in troops to force evacuation?
There's a reason why Florida in 2004 weathered multiple much larger storms without the loss of life and damage. It's because local and state officials there react accordingly. Nagin and Blanco didn't, and Bush got all the blame.
I've written scores of articles on this subject: this is the worst-reported event in American history. If folks actually knew the truth, Blanco and Nagin would be in jail for their negligence. Sorry to disappoint you. ns
I was getting ready to post.
August 30, 2008 - 13:42 ET by JWFYou beat me to it sir. 20 years in the Navy, I went through dozens of hurricanes.
Katrina was an absolute failure of local government. The old and infirm should have been evacuated. The able bodied had 5 days to stock up on food and water. No one should have drowned in waist deep water.
The very nature of a disaster makes it as hard for help to get in as it does for victims to get out.
And for heavens sake, if it is bad enough to bug out, take your pets with you.
Thank you whoever is in charge.
August 30, 2008 - 14:15 ET by JWFI just turned on the tv. I am looking at stacks and stacks of kennels supplied by the government.. And they are covering it on Fox.
There is no reason not to take your pets now.
Republican governor in
August 30, 2008 - 14:18 ET by Free StinkerRepublican governor in Lousiana . . .
What a difference an "R" makes.
aw shucks
August 30, 2008 - 13:51 ET by nicholas nicklebyfirst, noel, i want to thank you for a civil debate. if it's not obvious yet, i'll say that i'm a bit of a contrarian, but i come to newsbusters not to contradict people, but to be contradicted--to see what other people believe in and what evidence they have backing up those beliefs. (and i mean it seriously when i say that i'm not/not trying to be a troll--if i play devil's advocate, it's because i want people to talk about things, not because i want the attention, or whatever motivates trolls.)
second, i got the sarcasm of the title, but i guess i was responding to something which you didn't say, but which i thought was implied--and you know, i should have just said it--which is that somehow the media should make reparations to Bush by praising his actions this time. that doesn't seem to be a conservative plank (but then again, there are so many different types of conservatism/liberalism, that's it not always clear what type a poster is here).
third, i'm not a Louisianan, i don't know what it was like on the ground; at the same time, i'm not in the government, so I don't know what it was like there. But I am curious about the proofs that we have access to. I haven't yet seen anything that proved that Bush did ask Nagin to evacuate. (As well, I have to point out the contradiction in your thinking: if hurricanes are local and state issues, then Bush had no place to call and plead for an evacuation.) As for whether Bush should have forced an evacuation--well, if we agree that violence (or the threat of it) sometimes is necessary to save lives, as you would (presumably) argue is the case with the War on Terror, then why not in the War on Weather?
fourth, please, put everyone involved in governmental malfeasance in jail--i'm getting sick of a lot of the knee-jerk anti-Bush/pro-Bush partisanship (even if, heck, i'm part of it).
Noel. I said enough
August 30, 2008 - 14:01 ET by danboNoel. I said enough is enough and moved out of New Orleans under Morial. Nagin in comparison to Morial was a breath of fresh air. I supported him. However when Katrina hit, I think he went into denial. Was unable to make decisions and unwilling to relinquish control. And New Orleans suffered.
The only reason he's still mayor. During the last mayorial election a number of good candidates split the vote. And in the runoff it was between Nagin and Landreau's brother. And a lot of people thought 4 years of Nagin were better than 8 years of another Landreau.
Limited Disclosure: I used to belong to the Sierra Club untill they went crazier. Worse of all, I was bribed by Exxon with free New Orleans Saints glasses with fill ups in the 70's.
dan
August 30, 2008 - 14:06 ET by Noel Shepparddan,
Well, Fox is right now showing Republican Bobby Jindal at the New Orleans bus terminal directing evacuations. Compare that to Blanco three years ago who was walled up in her office doing nothing but blaming things on the president! ns
Noel .. remember the Hyatt story
August 30, 2008 - 14:24 ET by Gary HallNoel .. remember the Hyatt story.. occured on the Fri nite following the storm. Fox's Shepard Smith was live on scene covering the story. There was a mob of folks (AP said 700 people) who'd been stuck at the Superdome all week waiting in ines to get on the buses which had finally arrived to take them out, and at the last moment, someone (Houston Chronicle credited Mayor Nagin) ordered that all of the folks (Nagin used the hotel as his base) who'd been holed up in the Hyatt Hotel, where they had food and water, be allowed to leave their hotel and board the buses -- in front of the desparate folks from the Superdome.
Then Maureen Dowd wrote her column, lied and blamed Pres. Bush and VP Cheney for the embarassing incident. (;~/ gary
Wow Gary
August 30, 2008 - 15:32 ET by general companyI did not know that, although I am not suprised
"Television is a freak show" Bernie Goldberg
GC.. yea, and do you remember..
August 30, 2008 - 16:25 ET by Gary HallGC.. yea, and do you remember.. that one good piece of news coverage, when Gov. Blanco got caught on camera confessing how badly she screwed up -- Lisa Myers of NBC.. ? see my comment a little bit down the thread. gary
I was probobly behind a chainsaw at the time
August 30, 2008 - 16:46 ET by general companyNo I missed that as well, geez. Great artical though, from NBC no less. Know wonder I have always wanted to slap her awake, what a nitwit. I think we are in much better shape this go round.
"Television is a freak show" Bernie Goldberg
Yup
August 30, 2008 - 15:35 ET by well99I remember that.
After Katrina. My boss'
August 30, 2008 - 14:50 ET by danboAfter Katrina. My boss' boss was able to pull herself out of the rubble before many of us were. (She lived more on the edge of the storm) Though she couldn't get to her office, and there wasn't power or phones there if she could; she was able to finally find a location that was safe, had electricity and phone to start getting her agencies back in operations.
She called the state to let them know where she was, and what she was doing.
She told me, the state asked why she had moved.
It appears it didn't dawn on anyone in Baton Rouge that there were problems anywhere other than Orleans.
Limited Disclosure: I used to belong to the Sierra Club untill they went crazier. Worse of all, I was bribed by Exxon with free New Orleans Saints glasses with fill ups in the 70's.
"That New Orleans may be
August 30, 2008 - 16:30 ET by ckc1227"That New Orleans may be the most prepared city in America for
hurricanes in the future does not change the fact that, first time
around, Bush was on vacation in Crawford."
It also doesn't change the fact that it's not Bush's responsibility to run the state of Louisiana. Despite the liberal myth, Bush did his job. Where was Blanco and Nagin, the people who were supposed to take care of New Orleans? That NO re-elected Nagin should tell you what the problem in NO is and was, then and now.
I live on the Mississippi
August 30, 2008 - 13:14 ET by danboI live on the Mississippi Coast. I saw Fema in action. They were here. I saw the convoys heading toward New Orleans. If Blanco and Nagin were stopping them in Gonzales. Don't blame Bush.
While the water in New Orleans was still rising Blanco decided to go through with redoing her office.
Limited Disclosure: I used to belong to the Sierra Club untill they went crazier. Worse of all, I was bribed by Exxon with free New Orleans Saints glasses with fill ups in the 70's.
Urban Myth re pre-Katrina Federal assistance
August 30, 2008 - 14:23 ET by CharliedocNicNic says "his inaction leading up to and after the storm." as if he was never told that President Bush declared Louisiana a Federal Disaster area on Saturday afternoon, over 36 hours BEFORE Katrina made landfall. This allowed the Governor of my state to request federal aid. (which she did not, until days after the storm).
In case your high school social studies recollections are rusty, the President cannot intervene in a state without the request of the Governor.
"but I do mean that he
August 30, 2008 - 16:21 ET by ckc1227"but I do mean that he measurably made things worse by his appointment
of Michael Brown to FEMA and his inaction leading up to and after the
storm.)"
Funny how none of this held back the other states affected during and before Katrina.
Inaction? That's funny, but typical. You are nothing more than a liberal fool who isn't really interested in the truth, especially if it gets in the way of your hatred of Bush. Oh wait, that's right, he was on vacation, as if a President is ever on vacation lol. Like they don't have freakin' phones and computers, etc in Crawford.
Inaction my ass. Any perceived inaction, besides the liberal spin, was due to the limits of physics. He oversaw the largest, fastest response in U.S. history, unlike Clinton's great response during Hurricane Floyd, where the often praised great Clinton FEMA arrived a week later as the state faced unprecedented flooding.
Hate is a strong word, but man, I really hate liberal fools....
Ill Informed Nicky
August 30, 2008 - 12:50 ET by DontFeedTheTrollsPerhaps little Nicky doesn't know that the Governor and Mayor Nagin turned down the offer, from George Bush, of help in evacuating the city beforehand. Turned him down with a 'don't tell me how to run my state/city, you dirty Republican'. Not a single life would have been lost had they listened to 'Chimpy McHitler'.
D
Keep the ILLEGALS out, join NumbersUSA to send free faxes to your reps.
DFTT
August 30, 2008 - 12:52 ET by Noel SheppardDFTT,
Precisely. And, the corruption of New Orleans was what caused levees to be breachable NOT George W. Bush. If local and state officials hadn't for decades siphoned federal funds allocated for levee repair, this hurricane wouldn't have been near the disaster it was. Period. ns
period?
August 30, 2008 - 13:38 ET by nicholas nicklebyAnd if large numbers of National Guardsmen had not been in Iraq, they would have been useful in keeping law and order in New Orleans from day one, instead of day two or day three. Period. And if FEMA hadn't promised buses and asked Nagin not to use the city buses (for fear of heat stroke), then those buses would have been used to evacuate people. Period. And if New Orleans was less corrupt, then the levees would have been in better shape. (We agree on that much!) Period.
I mean, there's a lot of stuff a president has to deal with--I'm not denying the difficulty of the job--but it's a lot of stuff that can be dealt with better by a president who is not on vacation.
(And DFTT, I've heard that Bush called Nagin and Blanco, but I've never seen any proof of it; in fact, Blanco denies that's the way it happened, saying that Bush called only Blanco and only "just before" the press announcement where they announced the evacuation, which they had already had planned to announce. I'm not inclined to believe one or the other in a he-said/she-said debate, but I do mean to point out that your case is not air-tight.)
NN
August 30, 2008 - 13:53 ET by Noel SheppardNN,
I'm really not interested in debating this nonsense again. I spent months in 2005 writing some of the most comprehensive articles concerning this subject, and I'm not going to get into another futile pissing match with someone who's so clearly wearing his biases on his sleeve.
There's a reason why Florida withstood significantly more and greater storms the year before, and it had NOTHING to do with George W. Bush. It also had NOTHING to do with Iraq. PERIOD!
You're spouting the same Democrat talking points people like me completely refuted years ago. If people didn't leave this area before the storm hit, that's THEIR FAULT NOT THE PRESIDENT'S. PERIOD!
And if Democrat local and state officials for decades hadn't absconded with funds destined for levee repair, New Orleans wouldn't have flooded. If Nagin and Blanco had been Republicans, and Bush a Democrat, THEY would have been blamed for EVERYTHING that happened there. Furthermore, EVERY MEDIA OUTLET would have done exhaustive investigations into the corruption in this area that was responsible for the shoddy condition of those levees.
Why do you think there wasn't a "60 Minutes" or "20/20" segment that focused on what happened to all the levee money in the past 30 years? Well, it's because the fingers would have been pointed almost exclusively at Democrats INCLUDING Mary Landrieu AND her father. Over and out. ns
ok
August 30, 2008 - 14:05 ET by well99"And if FEMA hadn't promised buses and asked Nagin not to use the city buses (for fear of heat stroke), then those buses would have been used to evacuate people. Period."
You have proof of this?
Bottom line, FEMA or any
August 30, 2008 - 14:21 ET by general companyBottom line, FEMA or any other Fed agency will/can not do anything until the State asked them to, via State of Emergency.
Blanco denied them, fearing Bush would be considered a hero. What else could it be? Miss, Texas, Alabama, and FL all put their state in a SoE before the storm hit. They were also not on the news, even though Miss and Alabama were also hard hit. Differance was their Gov had a R behind his name and would not beat that drum.
"Television is a freak show" Bernie Goldberg
I should add that our Gov
August 30, 2008 - 16:19 ET by general companyI should add that our Gov now also has an R behind his title, and there is a good reason for that as well.
"Television is a freak show" Bernie Goldberg
proof? since when do we need proof to argue here?
August 30, 2008 - 14:26 ET by nicholas nicklebyNo, well99, I don't have proof--it's a claim that was made by Blanco, reported in the Baton Rouge Advocate. Is it true? I think it has a chance to be true--I don't know if you've ever worked for a big organization, but I have, and it's amazing how something as simple as a fax falling behind a filing cabinet can screw things up. I'm not saying that Bush is to blame because the city didn't use its buses--I can easily imagine how someone at FEMA said something to someone in NOLA, who then said to someone else, etc., etc. It's easy to imagine how stuff like this happens, but I'm not saying that it's true.
Noel and I agree that, if we had to point at one key problem in running NOLA, it's the corruption. My point in listing those other problems (the buses, the guardsmen) was simply this: it's a messy world, where there's always more than one problem. (Which is why, if you're president, you should probably be quicker to respond to major issues than Bush has been. Seriously, you remember the videotape of him talking to children during 9/11, right?)
And Noel, do you have a link/archive of your previous writing on this material? I would be glad to, you know, skim it :)
And lastly, if you didn't want to rehash all this Hurrican Katrina nonsense, well, then why make a post about Hurricane Katrina?
Wow. so many things. so little time.
August 30, 2008 - 14:43 ET by JWF1. Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. You made an extraordianary claim about the buses. State your source.
2. Noel has stated he researched and wrote about this. Why should he have to argue with every single person that walks down the road that...
a. won't read.
b. won't listen.
3. Oh please please please do skim the material now that you have been arguing about it for hours. Yes, we will wait around while you finally do some research.
4. The post pertained to a new hurricane, the introduction of new material, RELEVANT to a previously settled issue.
5. Dude, Bush and the goat book? Seriously? Dude? Let me help here. FOCUS! That is a red herring fallacious argument. You are attempting to expand the scope of the argument. Penalty - 15 yards!
proof/source is exactly the issue!
August 30, 2008 - 15:19 ET by nicholas nicklebyI agree with what you said in the first point completely: the arguments that get made by media talking heads (Fox News and MSNBC included) and by no account bloggers (and even lesser account posters) don't work because so few people mention sources or evidence--all we get are claims. I've stated my source for that one claim--the Baton Rouge Advocate--and I've admitted that it's not very good evidence. Now, I'd like to see Noel's evidence.
as for the joke about how i'd skim the evidence, that was in reference to something that Noel said before--as the emoticon was meant to indicate, i wasn't being serious. if you want me to say it without humor, i'll say it without humor: I'd like to see Noel's evidence that proves the previous issue settled. As I've said before, I don't think that Noel and other people here have proven that Bush did all he could do--which is a central point to this post's second-half (that he was unfairly pilloried by the media).
As for the goat book, you could consider it widening the issue, but I think it establishes character: Bush is slow to action when action is necessary. If you admit that he finished up with the goat book before dealing with the 9/11 attack, then I think we've established something about his character during one crisis, which isn't to say that he's always like that during all crises. All it says is that the claim that Bush is Johnny-on-the-spot becomes a little less credible--and as you said, extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof.
(oh, one last note for all the NOLA haters out there: Katrina was a category 1 storm when it hit FL, a category 3 when it hit Buras-Triumph, LA. So, I don't think we should pat Jed B. on the back for missing out on the storm, in the same way that we shouldn't kick GWB for making a storm in the first place. Only certain things are within the president's power--but I'm not sure he did all that was within his power to do.)
peace
What about the other half a
August 30, 2008 - 16:25 ET by general companyWhat about the other half a dozon or so storms that FL had been hit with. Your arguements are nonesense. BTW when folks ask you for proof, that is a good sign they think you are talking out of your a$$. So far the only thing you have shown is that, is that you watch a lot of cnn and msnbc.
"Television is a freak show" Bernie Goldberg
Nic
August 30, 2008 - 15:13 ET by well99I guess the US ARMY is fairly large or was until Clinton.Also DOD has a few folks.The bottom line is Blanco did screw up and tried to pass the blame.Nagin didnt do his job.As GC pointed out the Govornor has to declare SOE before Feds can come in.
presidential intervention
August 30, 2008 - 16:06 ET by nicholas nicklebyHi well99, I promise this is the last thing I'll say on this before I have to get some dinner, but we've had examples of presidents who, faced with issues, did not wait for governors to invite them in. (As for needing governors to invite the president in, doesn't the National Emergencies Act give the president the power to act without the governor's invitation?) The first example that springs to mind is Dwight Eisenhower using the 101st to support the Supreme Court's Brown v. Board of Ed. decision to desegregate Little Rock. The second example that springs to mind is the case of illegal wiretapping on US citizens by this administration. So, I'm not arguing that the Pres. needs to get involved in everyone's biz (for the record, I support the first example of executive power and don't support the second example), and I agree with you, local and state officials screwed up. But my overall point about is that this particular president seems to pick his interventions differently than I would want a president to. And here's hoping our next president, whoever it is, does a better job of respecting Americans' rights (which is something I hope we can all agree on).
other than that, I have nothing more to say about this topic, and would only be repeating myself ... so, let's go argue about Palin! See you later, gaters.
I'm no expert but...
August 30, 2008 - 17:07 ET by Uphillwould it not have been considered bad form for President Bush to push his way into the business of LA when local leaders were EXPECTED to be handling things properly? Can you imagine the can of worms that would have been opened if the federal government had taken over?
You thought I was finished but I was not.
August 30, 2008 - 15:24 ET by JWF6. The point of this site is exposing liberal bias. Noel is arguably the King of exposing liberal bias. There was once another king that comes to mind. The King of Rock N Roll. Would you ask him to put on a personal concert just for you? No, he would tell you to buy a ticket. So don't expect people to reargue things that are in the history books. It annoys them.
7. Noel has never responded to any of my posts. Why? Like 85% of the people here, I see the bias also and agree with him. WTH has responded to me. MMB has responded to me. The King? No. Take the few back and forth paragraphs you had with him and post them up on the wall and be proud and stop requesting people reargue whether or not the Spanish sunk the USS Maine or if the Revolutionary War might have been different if Ben Franklin had gills.
JWF
August 30, 2008 - 16:05 ET by Noel SheppardJWF,
You and I have "spoken" before, haven't we? I believe many times.
As for me being the King, that might be a stretch...but thanks for the compliment. :-) ns
Offstage
August 30, 2008 - 16:36 ET by JWFTalking off stage:
Honey, make room on the wall! Noel thanked me!
AND IF ???
August 30, 2008 - 14:12 ET by Miss Chevious... AND IF a frog had wings he wouldn't bump his a$$ every time he hopped ...
Do a little reaserch
August 30, 2008 - 15:04 ET by CobraMan"And if large numbers of National Guardsmen had not been in Iraq"
Do a little research, will ya? The Nation Guard serves at the discretion of the Governor unless called into active service by the President. There were, and still ARE, plenty of National Guardsmen available to every Governor which they may call into service for things like disaster mitigation. Bush didn't call EVERY guardsman into active service, he only federalized those units that would be of service in Iraq and this was a small percentage of the Guard units that were available to Governor Blanco prior to Katrina making landfall. Governor Blanco HAD the resources available to asset PRIOR to the storm making landfall, resources that she failed to utilize. She underestimated the veracity of the storm and the effect it would have on civilian populations and she failed to properly prepare for what eventually happened. That's HER misfortune and not President Bush's.
Obama: My job is above my pay grade
Of course not.
August 30, 2008 - 11:54 ET by superconAssuming these preparations are successful, and Gustav powers the same
punch as Katrina without causing the same devastation to life and
property, will the White House get media's praise?
The credit will go to Ray Nagin.
The media will only credit Bush if something goes bad.They are in the mindset that they will never comment on anything positive from the Bush administration.
Victory in Iraq.
Liberals suck.
McCain for Preznint.
Well the credit should go
August 30, 2008 - 12:49 ET by general companyWell the credit should go to Bobby Jindel, he has already called for a State of Emergancy, instead of waiting untill 3 days later like Blanco did.
I have already noticed some "National Gaurd" vehicals on the road.
"Television is a freak show" Bernie Goldberg
Good call, GC
August 30, 2008 - 13:08 ET by Gary HallLast time around: they (the city and state) waited too long to order the evacuation - ignored Bush's advice, did not have an emergency shelter (stocked with supplies and medical personal, etc) available -- (and this time "no shelter of last resort" - Idiots), the state of LA ordered the Red Cross not to enter NOLA, Gov. Blanco screwed up by not requesting the President to send in military assistance (he'd offered - rules require her to request it officially). (:~> gary
Allow me to answer your
August 30, 2008 - 11:58 ET by GregEAllow me to answer your post question....
"HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIIIIILLLLL no!"
Hurricanes are Bush's fault anyway
August 30, 2008 - 11:59 ET by TexndocGlobal Warming, don't-cha-know.
Levees
August 30, 2008 - 16:25 ET by AndanteSharpton and Jackson are guarding the levees to make sure Bush doesn't blow them up again.
"Why can't I just eat my waffle?" -- Obama
"Also addressed was that if
August 30, 2008 - 12:00 ET by soulpile"Also addressed was that if the Bush name was better today, Jeb would
have run for president this year easily beating McCain and likely a
shoo-in to trounce Obama."
Thank G-d, then! I'm sorry, but American politics is no place for a royal family.
The GOP will still somehow be blamed for any damage done by Gustav. There will be wailing in the streets over even the most minor problems that will inevitably occur. Anything to have a chance to say, "those bad republicans!"
If all goes well, no credit
August 30, 2008 - 12:57 ET by Eileen RightIf all goes well, no credit for Bush. Any and all negatives, no matter how small will be high-lighted and laid at his and Jindal's feet.
Any positives will be credited to Nagin, Blanco for her decisive action before she left office and of course Petunia in the senate.
New Orleans ~ the Nanny State
August 30, 2008 - 13:26 ET by BlondeThis is on my local 2:00 p.m. Hurricane Update:
Many residents said the evacuation was more orderly than Hurricane Katrina, which struck three years ago Friday. But not everyone was happy.
Elizabeth Tell, 67, had been waiting on the corner since 6:30 a.m. for a special needs bus to take her and her dog, Lee Roy, to the station. It was three hours before the first bus arrived, completely full of people in wheelchairs.
``They're not taking care of us down here!'' she shouted as the brown-and-white spotted hound mix panted inside his hip-high plastic kennel.
Charming, huh?
No matter what happens, it is Bush's fault.
David Gregory, do you know which damn network you lie for? ~ Uncle Jimbo, @Blackfive
Yep, I guess FEMA should
August 30, 2008 - 13:41 ET by Eileen RightYep, I guess FEMA should provide limo servce for Ms Tell
We dont need no limo's
August 30, 2008 - 14:12 ET by general companyAll we really need is for them to give us those credit cards before the storm hits this time. : ]
The storm isnt even in the gulf yet, they always point them at us. Bad Karma
"Television is a freak show" Bernie Goldberg
Just Being Themselves
August 30, 2008 - 14:45 ET by NoMoreClintonsSleazy dems caught on tape laughing about the hurricane:
Unbelievable.
http://www.redstate....
Kudos
August 30, 2008 - 15:28 ET by well99Good link
When will the all powerful
August 30, 2008 - 14:49 ET by Eileen RightWhen will the all powerful messiah O-baa-baa-ma raise his arms and stop this, does he not care?
So funny
August 30, 2008 - 16:11 ET by general companyHe doesnt care about us in LA, he know he has no chance of winning this state
"Television is a freak show" Bernie Goldberg
There was the fiasco
August 30, 2008 - 17:17 ET by danboThere was the fiasco earlier in the year over Dennis when it was aimed at NO.
Do you think part of the problem was pay back? Remember, Nagin wouldn't endorse Blanco in her bid for gov.
Limited Disclosure: I used to belong to the Sierra Club untill they went crazier. Worse of all, I was bribed by Exxon with free New Orleans Saints glasses with fill ups in the 70's.
The weekend after Katrina
August 30, 2008 - 15:48 ET by Trix RabbitThe weekend after Katrina hit the Gulf Coast, I went with a group of members of the Mormon faith to help in the clean up in Moble, Biloxi, and New Orleans. Many of these members left their jobs early so they could get there before nightfall and assist those in need.
They neither received nor asked for any compensation for their efforts.
Noticeably absent were the drive-bys, the MSNBC staff, the Michael Morons, and all the other Hollywoodenhead hypocrites. Heaven forbid they should break a sweat passing out jugs of water or clear a yard for the elderly and the needy.
Should Gustav hit New Orleans again, Bush will get the blame for this.
Liberal: a power worshipper without power. George Orwell
Bush get's blamed for Gustav...
August 30, 2008 - 20:30 ET by Clear thinkerTrix Rabbit... "Should Gustav hit New Orleans again, Bush will get the blame for this."
The Ecofascist crazies on the left are already blaming Bush > "I sent this poster the info about the history of Hurricanes since 1851. She replied to me later…”Are you a mamber of the Bush regime”? She probably thinks that buying carbon credits will STOP Hurricanes."
Lot's more @ 'Day 3 - Here Come The Hurrican Crazies'. Even NewsBusters get's a mention. Day 3 - Here Come The Hurricane Crazies.
Making Fun of AGW http://giovanniworld.wordpress.com/
45 Communist Goals for America http://www.nationmakers.com/com_goal
just my 2 cents but funny
August 30, 2008 - 16:02 ET by Blazerjust my 2 cents but funny how the MSM trained their sights on the dregs and the abyssmal of society who perpetually live off the system, and preyed off their fellow man, and not the strong outside of N.O. who supported each other and overcame the deluge by boosting each other up.
No surprise why most of the population of N.O. never returned, I mean hell, no matter where you decide to be a burden to society, you can draw a welfare check or lve in section 8 housing anywhere you go.
"You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy. We must be cautious. "
- Ben Kenobi on Liberals, and the MSM.
" The Cake is a lie."
This storyline is already
August 30, 2008 - 16:37 ET by ckc1227This storyline is already written: "Katrina 2 - Bush Lets New Orleans Drown Again"
Will the media credit
August 30, 2008 - 16:54 ET by bigtimerWill the media credit Bush....
ROFLMAO!
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
Water temps.
August 30, 2008 - 17:45 ET by danboWater temps anomalies. When they start blaming AGWing.
Limited Disclosure: I used to belong to the Sierra Club untill they went crazier. Worse of all, I was bribed by Exxon with free New Orleans Saints glasses with fill ups in the 70's.
I live in Metairie,
August 30, 2008 - 21:37 ET by cocodrieI live in Metairie, Louisiana, about one mile south of lake Pontchartrain. I stayed in my house during Katrina just like I am staying through Gustav. Right after Katrina passed through Gov. Blanko [good name for her since a natural vacuum exists in her head] refused to call up the National Guard, refused to let President Bush to send troops or to call up our Guard, and refused to cooperate eith FEMA. Then she had nerve enough to complain that President Bush did not act fast enough. Mayor Nagin high-tailed it to Baton Rouge almost 100 miles away. Our parish president Aaron Broussard sent the pump operators seventy miles north and refused to bring them back for almost a week. We have a very good system of drainage canals with high capacity pumps to pump rain water into Lake Pontchartrain. This system was useless without the pump operators. If a person could be put in jail for incompetence, these three would get a life sentence. Gov. Jindal has already put the National Guard on alert and has also put in place plans for emergency supplies, etc. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you for the help you sent us after Katrina. It was much appreciated and needed. In particular, thanks for the National Guard troops you sent. I met a lot of wonderful young people who came serving their country. I am proud to have met them. God bless you all.
Coco
August 30, 2008 - 21:46 ET by general companyWe are on the north shore, take care down there.
"Television is a freak show" Bernie Goldberg
Jesus has been my companion
August 30, 2008 - 21:53 ET by cocodrieJesus has been my companion for all of my 69 years, He'll see me through this too. I'm going to load my guns and cling to my bible as always. I don't seem to be bitter though.
coco... How dare you not
August 30, 2008 - 21:59 ET by bigtimercoco...
How dare you not be bitter!
Stay safe...
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
President Bush was unfairly
August 30, 2008 - 23:05 ET by Rush FanPresident Bush was unfairly hammered by the Drive-By media for the failures of Katrina. The first responders have always been at the local and state levels, not FEMA. When New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin and Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco, both Democrats, failed in their responsibilities, the liberal media was not about to blame them when they could place the blame on Republican George W. Bush, who they despised.
President Bush realized that it was useless to try to push back and place the blame where it belonged, on Nagin and Blanco. The Drive-By media would not stand for it.
Of course, the media downplayed the decisive leadership of Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour, a Republican, whose own state had been devastated by Hurricane Katrina. As the National Journal points out: “Then came Hurricane Katrina. Katrina struck the Gulf Coast on August 29, 2005, causing what Barbour referred to as “nuclear destruction.” The main force of the hurricane was directed at Hancock County, Mississippi, not New Orleans, and the towns of Waveland, Bay St. Louis and Pass Christian were totally wiped out”
If you watched the Drive-By media, including Fox’s Shephard Smith, Hurricane Katrina impacted only Louisiana.
The Hoover Institution in a Policy Review titled FEMA After Katrina analyses the Katrina disaster and FEMA’s role in the years before that led to its failure, along with state and local governments, to respond adequately:
“The Katrina disaster exposed the disconnect between preparation and response. Though the possibility of a catastrophic hurricane and flood was a staple of local lore and expert reports, New Orleans failed to plan for Katrina with the urgency and specificity that the response required.”
The larger question is should New Orleans and other cities way below sea level be rebuilt. In an article in Slate titled Don't Refloat -The case against rebuilding the sunken city of New Orleans.: "New Orleans naturally wants to be a lake," St. Louis University professor of earth and atmospheric sciences Timothy Kusky told Time this week. "A city should never have been built there in the first place," he said to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.”
How prophetic that four years before Hurricane Katrina an article in Scientific American titled Drowning New Orleans predicted that: “A major hurricane could swamp New Orleans under 20 feet of water, killing thousands. Human activities along the Mississippi River have dramatically increased the risk, and now only massive reengineering of southeastern Louisiana can save the city”
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“The Democrats live in a world of fakery, fraudulent phoniness. We live in a world of reality." ~ Rush Limbaugh