On Sunday’s "Good Morning America," weekend host Bill Weir highlighted the fourth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina and insisted that the storm "really tainted the Bush legacy." The GMA anchor talked to liberal author Jason Berry and asked if there was an intentional effort to not rebuild poor neighborhoods in New Orleans. "Is that a deliberate political move," he asked.
Attempting to draw a contrast between former President Bush and Barack Obama, Weir speculated, "But talk about the change in the presidential administration. You know, the response to Katrina really tainted the Bush legacy. But have you noticed any change in tone, any optimism under President Obama?" (Weir is the journalist who hyperbolically insisted during the President’s inauguration that "even the seagulls must have been awed" by the event.)
Berry eagerly concurred, "Oh, absolutely. Yes. I think many people are aware that President Obama made a campaign stop here, visited the city even before he ran for President and has, you know, given sort of soothing indications that we will get more help."
The ABC anchor then gave the author an opportunity to lobby for yet more federal funds for the city. Berry exclaimed, "Oh, I think we need a massive infusion of support to rebuild the streets, the piping system, the infrastructure. And on top of that, there are many people, you know, who expected to come back and have had funds, you know, log jammed in the Road Home program. "
A transcript of the August 30 segment, which aired at 8:14am EDT, follows:
BILL WEIR: Well, Kate, four years ago today, Hurricane Katrina had weakened, the levees had failed and the governor of Louisiana ordered a complete evacuation of the city of New Orleans. Many of those people never came back. And today, the Crescent City is still trying to pick up the pieces. For some insight on things- where things stand today now, we're joined by author, historian and New Orleans resident, Jason Berry. Jason, thanks for joining us. Good to see you.
JASON BERRY: Thank you. Good to be with you.
WEIR: Forgive us for waiting to the anniversary to ask this question, but how is it going down there? How are things?
BERRY: Well, it's surreal. You know, in some respects, it's, the rhythms of daily life are somewhat as they were, you know, four years ago before the storm. But when a third of the people have not come back, you feel the absences.
WEIR: Yeah. And I understand certain sectors seem to be doing okay, but certain neighborhoods, really the most impoverished neighborhoods historically, seem - like there's no chance that they'll ever come back. Is that a deliberate political move?
BERRY: Oh, I think so. Yes. In fact, Charles Jenkins, the recently retired bishop of the Episcopal Church in New Orleans, has said that he thought that there was a concerted effort on the part of the political powers-that-be to keep poor people from coming back. So it's been a rather disgraceful performance politically. The elected officials have been bickering. We have not gotten the federal support that we needed or expected and Baton Rouge and New Orleans have not really produced the kind of recovery plan that everyone thought would be the case.
WEIR: I know Mayor Nagin is seeing some of the worst approval ratings in history, about 25 percent. He's termed out in May, so you're gonna get a new mayor next year. But talk about the change in the presidential administration. You know, the response to Katrina really tainted the Bush legacy. But have you noticed any change in tone, any optimism under President Obama?
BERRY: Oh, absolutely. Yes. I think many people are aware that President Obama made a campaign stop here, visited the city even before he ran for President and has, you know, given sort of soothing indications that we will get more help. You know, it's interesting, though, Bill, the music community has really been resurgent. Culturally, writers have returned, artists have returned. There's a, really, a kind of cultural renaissance going on here, even though politically, it's still sort of a third water, third world back water, you might say.
WEIR: Yeah. Well, it really speaks to the soul of that city. It's, it's that-
JASON BERRY: Indeed.
WEIR: -that culture, that art that makes it so unique. So, finally, let me just ask you, what do you need? What is at the top of the priority list for the people of New Orleans?
BERRY: Oh, I think we need a massive infusion of support to rebuild the streets, the piping system, the infrastructure. And on top of that, there are many people, you know, who expected to come back and have had funds, you know, log jammed in the Road Home program. But, again, all of that having been said, I think what we need more than anything is a program for at-risk youth. You know, when Louis Armstrong was 12 years old, he was arrested for shooting off a gun. He went to a place called The Colored Waif's Home. There he got his first horn. He credited that place for the rest of his life. We don't any- we don't have anything like The Colored Waif's Home today, and yet, there are musicians, as I've written about in the book, who have been going into schools trying to assist with a program that would see some sort of reform like that. But we need the political support to see that happen.
WEIR: Yeah. The book you mentioned, Up From the Cradle of Jazz. Jason Berry, we appreciate your insight. Good luck to you going forward.
—Scott Whitlock is a news analyst for the Media Research Center.
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Comments Policy
Even the sea gulls must
September 1, 2009 - 11:17 ET by Chris NormanEven the sea gulls must have been awed by Weir's idiotic babbling.
The media uses the propaganda method of repeating the lie enough so that it becomes, for many, the accepted fact. Then they build on it from there. That's why it's so important that Republicans always shoot down the phony premises behind many of their questions. The problem is, most of them don't and go on and try to defend themselves against what's a lie in the first place.
The "Mainstream" Media: By liberals. For liberals.
That's absolutely right,
September 1, 2009 - 11:50 ET by motherbeltThat's absolutely right, Chris.
Weir should have said that WE (the media) tainted the Bush legacy by contantly beating him up on Katrina.
And don't you just love this:
WEIR: ....But have you noticed any change in tone, any optimism under President Obama?
BERRY: Oh, absolutely. Yes. I think many people are aware that
President Obama made a campaign stop here, visited the city even before
he ran for President and has, you know, given sort of soothing
indications that we will get more help.
Oh, right....what has he done? Not a damn thing. But he has given "indications" that you'll get more help. And he hasn't even given real indications...just "sort of" indications!
As I said elsewhere, one thing this President can do in spades is "talk the talk."
He is always on the verge of some great thing: he was reported to be "poised to" fix the economy; last week he was "on the brink of" brokering an Israeli-Arab conference. The actual work.....not so much.
oh, sure
September 1, 2009 - 11:20 ET by candancePeople in Kentucky know about all Obama's HopeandChange. And aside from that, he's now had more than six months to rebuild New Orleans. ABC didn't even notice the contradiction of Berry begging for more federal money in the same breath he claimed Obama was making things better.
Thanks for not mentioning how the DNC has been such a failure that the voters went with Bobby Jindal, someone to the right of Bush.
PS - Just saw on the news that stimulus money is being spent to buy city buses in the northeast. You're welcome for the leadership.
Give me a break
September 1, 2009 - 11:27 ET by DurdenAll the officials in New Orleans were Democrats. Nagin sunk that town, not Bush. All the racism in that came from Kanye West saying Bush was responsible for killing black people when the reality is more whites died than black.
Who's fault was it? How about the morons who had a FULL WEEK'S notice to get out of the area but didn't? It's not like you don't see a hurricane coming. They actually complained no one sent the school buses for them. Hello? You had a full week, you could have taken the heel-toe-express in that amount of time.
So sick of these whiny S.O.B.'s I had family in New Orleans and they lost EVERYTHING. They never blamed anyone.
I wonder
September 1, 2009 - 11:38 ET by candancehow all of those white people in Mississippi anad Alabama felt when they discovered they were really black. I mean, the MSM constantly tells us blacks were targeted, so what other explanation is there?
Just so you folks know
September 1, 2009 - 11:39 ET by general companyNobody is more disgusted by these continued reports the the folks who live here.
BTW Durden, some of my folks lost everything as well, but your "full week" nonsense is just that, nonesense. Folks who had the resources left, those that did not, didnt!
My kin, Firefighters, Police, and Nurses, could not leave anyway.
My Gov. thinks I am dangerous, so be careful
"Television is a freak show" Bernie Goldberg
Bull
September 1, 2009 - 11:55 ET by DurdenIt takes a full week for one to come to land and they knew waaaay ahead of time it was coming. Don't give me this "surprise" crap. The only surprise was the levees breaking and anyone who's ever been there could have warned you that was coming.
Didn't see it coming? Open your freaking eyes genius. It's a big storm the size of a state traveling at 100mph. I can see how you might have trouble knowing its coming.
no, durden
September 1, 2009 - 12:00 ET by candanceKatrina crossed over Florida first and then spilled into the gulf. It could have hit anywhere from Houston to Biloxi. They had to wait to see if it would specifically land on NOLA. Don't tell me a storm was going 100mph and then say it took a week to land.
I trust a resident from NOLA more than someone else.
Re No Durden
September 1, 2009 - 12:15 ET by slickwillie2001Exactly, and 99% of the damage was due to later flooding, not the hurricane winds. The flooding happened because the hurricane hit just East of NO, and the winds pushed the lake West and over the levees. If the hurricane strikes twenty miles East or West of where it did, the disaster might have been averted.
I remember the news reports at the time the eye passed the mainland, and the gist was that New Orleans had dodged a bullet. That was before the levees were topped and breached.
Nagin himself made the
September 1, 2009 - 12:24 ET by G. MayNagin himself made the claim at a nationally televised news conference shortly after the storm roared past. Some nonsense about the city being back to normal within a month.
A real leader, that one.
Uhg
September 1, 2009 - 12:18 ET by DurdenYou're not worth arguing with. Ignore the levees all you like. Lets blame Bush too. F*#k people like you, so sick of this stupidity
Very Nice Durden
September 1, 2009 - 12:30 ET by general companySimple question, where would you evacuate too, while a storm is in the middle of the Gulf? How many folks could afford to put themselve and family up in Hotels for that long. I had to purchase 3 Hotel rooms for my family for over a week just for Gustave, that was leaving the day before.
These storms dont let you know where they are heading, We evacuated for Ivan a few years back also, didnt even come close. All we did was take up rooms that someone from the effected area could had used.
My Gov. thinks I am dangerous, so be careful
"Television is a freak show" Bernie Goldberg
is NB okay with this?
September 1, 2009 - 12:49 ET by candanceSome of us don't appreciate it.
There were plenty of
September 1, 2009 - 12:25 ET by G. MayThere were plenty of residents of NOLA that were out looting stores for more than basic necessities for survival. You trust those residents too? If you think NOLA residency arms someone with a greater grasp of reality and the facts, you're dreaming.
Fact is, there was plenty of time to evacuate. Was it a week? I had some friends who lived down there evacuate at about that point, so yes, there was a week for those who were cautious enough. Having been a former resident (was stationed there) and being familiar with evacuation plans, I can say that the civic leadership failed those "without the means". That leadership failed its less fortunate residents.
There was more than enough time.
Evacuation orders
September 1, 2009 - 12:54 ET by jon_torlinI thought the evacuation orders were supposed to come from the governor of Louisiana and then of course the Mayor of N.O. and I seem to remember that it was publicly announced at one point by then President Bush urging then Governor Blanco to give the order to leave while there was still time. It's not up to the president of the United States to give the order. It's up to the Governor of the state that's about to be impacted to give the order. That's the way it's always been.
I also seem to remember they had evacuation plans that included the means to evacuate those that did not have vehicles as well as a time table on when to do the same evacuation, something like three days which would have been enough time, and buses were to have been used. But because of the delays on the part of the mayor and the governor, the people were forced to hide in the stadium, not knowing if the stadium would even hold up to category 4(let alone 5) winds.
Thanks to a brief cold area(was it a frontal system, can't remember) that impacted the hurricane as it was almost hitting landfall, the intensity was reduced, so it was just plain dumb luck that the damage wasn't worse than it could have been, it made landfall as a category 3, not category 5.
Those leaders should be on bended knee for such a blessing, even in the face of not making the decision when they should have, but instead, they made the choices that they did and continue to blame others for their mistakes.
The wrong people are being blamed, even to this day.
-Jon
Very good Jon
September 1, 2009 - 12:54 ET by general companyThey did issue a volentary evacuation a few days ahead, and if my memory serves a manditory about 24hr before landfall. My brother landed on one of the last Planes allowed into New Orleans, I had to request help from my SiL on the Laplace Fire Dept to assist in picking him up. I also recall Nagen telling citizen that the Super Dome would not be used as a shelter. They were very reluctent because just a year or two before they used it for a Tropical Storm and it was badly vandalized and looted. Either way the city could had done far more for the residence to help them evacuate, in-fact they proved it by evacuating them after the storm? BTW, Nagen was holding out for Charter buses, he felt the school buses were not good enough? The irony here is, I was told he sent the City busses to the North Shore practically empty, to protect them from the storm.
So to be clear, Nagen and Blanco,
Failed to issue a "State of Emergency" until after the storm
Then insisted that the Fed direct all charter Busses to N.O. to help with evacuation?
I remember thinking just how utterly clueless these folks were.
My Gov. thinks I am dangerous, so be careful
"Television is a freak show" Bernie Goldberg
Hhmm,
September 1, 2009 - 12:37 ET by general companyThere was more than enough time.
Who said there wasn't? Not me, but leaving a week ahead is ridiculous. As a former resident you should know this. Not a storm that comes in the gulf, that doesn't have in its scope New Orleans, are you suggesting we should leave for every single one?
As far as the looting, I could name half a dozon cities that didnt even wait for a natural disaster, al they needed was a Jury verdict or to win a Basketball game.
My Gov. thinks I am dangerous, so be careful
"Television is a freak show" Bernie Goldberg
As a former resident I
September 1, 2009 - 12:49 ET by G. MayAs a former resident I should know that leaving a week ahead of time is ridiculous? As a former resident I know that if I don't feel like living on I-55, or worse - I-10 west or the Ponchartrain Causeway (if I left too late) for two days I might want to get an early start. This was the reasoning a few of my friends used and I can't say I blame 'em.
I wouldn't dream of evacuating the city once a storm hits the Gulf. But don't pretend like Katrina was just wandering around the gulf at large; there was enough of a chance early on once it hit the gulf that it was headed for NOLA.
Didnt take 2 days
September 1, 2009 - 12:59 ET by general companyTook 7 hr to get to Jackson Miss, from the Airport. We left around 2 pm the day before landfall. We went up I55 all the lanes were heading north. Wasnt fun, but not to bad either I thought.
My Gov. thinks I am dangerous, so be careful
"Television is a freak show" Bernie Goldberg
good thinking, may
September 1, 2009 - 12:56 ET by candanceCitizens of NOLA were psychic enough to know they needed to head west instead of east, and they could convince their employer to let them leave several days early just in case.
If you think NOLA residency arms someone with a greater grasp of reality and the facts, you're dreaming.
Having been a former resident (was stationed there) and being familiar with evacuation plans,
Which version of your lecture am I supposed to take seriously?
Many folks
September 1, 2009 - 13:12 ET by general companyLike myself, have obligations to their employers to make sure the "hatches are batten down" so to speak. You have to take care of your homes and other property, make provisions for your animals, and livestock. You dont just willy nilly jump in the car and leave, its a lot of work for me and mine. Hotels are not a given either, the ones too close to effected areas are to taking guest, and the rest for hundreds of miles are booked. When you Evacuate, 500 miles drive is not unrealistic.
My Gov. thinks I am dangerous, so be careful
"Television is a freak show" Bernie Goldberg
Considering I-55 heads
September 1, 2009 - 14:51 ET by G. MayConsidering I-55 heads north and is generally the preferred evacuation route, it's not really a matter of east/west now is it? One must only get on I-10 west for a few miles once outside of the metro area before picking up I-55 north. So much for the first part of your first sentence.
Next, many employers are more than willing to work with employees in that regard. The fact is that many didn't evacuate simply because they didn't want to, or due to the City's incompetence.
Which version of the "lecture" are you supposed to take seriously? Well, if you feel pointing out relevant facts is "lecturing" then that's your problem. If you don't want to take relevant facts seriously, again, your problem. Need I point out that you should pay a little more attention to that pesky little "and" in the second sentence of mine you quote? It really helps establish context. Don't skip it when you re-read it this time.
yawn
September 1, 2009 - 14:57 ET by candanceArguing semantics does not become a conservative.
Your "and" reference does little to change my point. You can't brag about having intimate knowledge of traffic patterns in NOLA and then trash others with the same intimate knowledge just because they disagree with you.
It's burning you up that someone sees the world differently than you. That's what this really is.
Yawn is right
September 1, 2009 - 20:31 ET by general companySince there are 3 directions to leave, I10 West to I49 or Texas or I10 East to Fla, or I59 to Ala and Ga, or North on I55 to Jackson/Memphis (my recomendation) we are actualy quite lucky. I have even learnd the "backroads" to Atlanta, Memphis, and Shreavport.
My Gov. thinks I am dangerous, so be careful
"Television is a freak show" Bernie Goldberg
I agree, though I will say
September 1, 2009 - 22:39 ET by G. MayI agree, though I will say that arguing semantics is unbecoming of anyone wanting to engage in rational discourse. If you feel this way, stop doing it. I didn't say "traffic patterns", I said evacuation plans. I didn't "trash" others for having the same intimate knowledge I possess, I pointed out the absurdity of simply taking the word of a local resident just because they're a local resident.
The "and" is rather crucial in providing context and you're trying to nitpick something that's irrelevant to the discussion at hand.
Care to discuss it without projecting your semantical issues?
Unless you've evacuated
September 1, 2009 - 16:32 ET by nwahsIf you haven't evacuated, you don't have a clue. Its NEVER the same.For hurricane Ivan it took some people 24 hours to get from New Orleans to Baton Rouge. For Katrina, I made it to Lake Charles in about 5 hours - not much slower than normal. Last year, (for Gustave) it took me 24 hours to drive from New Orleans to Chattanooga. Now that sounds slow ( God awful slow) but not as bad as it really was. I left at noon and by midnight that night, I hadn't made it to Meridian MS. What contraflow does is gets you away from the coast and parks you on the interstate in a momentousness traffic jam.
Now here's the kicker. For each of those hurricanes, when I returned home, my house was in better shape than I was. My house has weathered hurricanes for over 50 years - Thats Betsy, Camile, Andrew, Georges, Ivan, Katrina, and Gustave.
I ain't leaving next time. Contraflow will kill you.
"O..L..I..G..A..R..H.. one letter is missing."- Glenn Beck
thank you for sharing
September 1, 2009 - 19:48 ET by candanceA lot of people here have hurricane experience they don't go around broadcasting. My family survived Hugo, Bertha, Fran, Floyd, and Dennis. People need to remember that their experience is not the only one.
There are three contraflow exits out of the city
September 1, 2009 - 16:38 ET by nwahsThere are three contraflow exits out of the city and the only preferred route(s) depends on the path of the hurricane. I10 west, I55 north and I59 Northeast. To go east you have to get on 59 and hope they haven't closed the east exits as they did last year. A lot of people had reservations in Pensacola, and couldn't get off 59 because the Mississippi state police closed off all the east exits.
Don't look at a road map and think you understand it.
"O..L..I..G..A..R..H.. one letter is missing."- Glenn Beck
Yep,
September 1, 2009 - 20:35 ET by general companyThat is why I learned the backroads. Miss never seems to be playing the same game we are?
My Gov. thinks I am dangerous, so be careful
"Television is a freak show" Bernie Goldberg
Think the media will
September 1, 2009 - 11:36 ET by kgThink the media will remember the ice storm in KY this winter?
"DumbAssity of Dope"
As former NOLA resident, I
September 1, 2009 - 11:41 ET by G. MayAs former NOLA resident, I clearly recall locals joking about how the city was screwed if a major hurricane rolled through. That was loooong before Bush. Turns out a major hurricane did roll through and if the levees had held, we wouldn't be having this discussion today.
So who was responsible for the infrastructure of the city? That's right - the Democrats who had been in charge for 40 years. Who was responsible for evacuating residents? The Democrats in charge. Who was in charge of disaster preparedness? Democrats. Who was responsible for disaster response at the state level? The Democrats in charge in Baton Rouge.
If the Democrats in charge of NOLA and Louisiana had their act even remotely together, then FEMA probably wouldn't have encountered the clusterfvck it ran into.
G. May...you're out of line!
September 1, 2009 - 11:53 ET by motherbeltHow DARE you interrupt their narrative with facts, when they are trying to rewrite history!!!
(Caught you with that subject line, didn't I? LOL)
The only reason the stupid MSM blamed Bush for Katrina...
September 1, 2009 - 11:50 ET by R D Helm...was to cover up for the gross incompetence of "School Bus" Nagin and that idiot governor.
Funny, Mississipi was hit just as hard, and no one heard a peep of complaints about FEMA from them.
-Dave
Even when the government tries to kiss you, it is just a prelude to a good screwing. -Neal Boortz
That is correct Dave
September 1, 2009 - 12:12 ET by RukusWe all got up the next day and went right to work, that's why we came so far so quick. Nagin screwed over NOLA big time. The residents standing around with their hands out didn't help a lot either.
Gary
A liberal's generosity is limited only by your income.
Rukus..and the Gov
September 1, 2009 - 13:12 ET by Gary HallAnd don't forget the Gov. It was the State of LA (under Blanco), that was late to the party; didn't get around to requesting military assistance from the President of the US, as required by law; ordered the Red Cross (historically the first line of aid) not to enter the City of New Orleans for the week following Katrina - Picture crowds of folks standing in the heat without food and water - Picture Gov. Blanco blocking the aid.
One news spot captured what the press should have been focused on: Blanco's Performance - Lisa Myers of NBC. It was a lite, but fair shot at the Gov's inability to act. Every Bush hater should be tied to a chair and forced to watch it.
(;~> gary
Well to be fair Dave,
September 1, 2009 - 12:24 ET by general companyThe circumstances were a bit different, in Miss everything was simply blown away, in N.O. they were literally under water in many place for months. Also in Miss, their Governor issued a "State of Emergency" a day ahead of time, allowing the Fed to get to work immediately after the storm, while here in La, they did not bother to issue one for about 3 days, concentrating on bashing Fema and Bush instead.
My Gov. thinks I am dangerous, so be careful
"Television is a freak show" Bernie Goldberg
Having watched FEMA. I
September 1, 2009 - 12:41 ET by danboHaving watched FEMA. I respect them. They did a lot more than most people. Their biggest problem were they're a bureacracy. They can't do anything without someone in washingtoon making a decision based on policy.
The democrats fix. More rules and policy.
After Katrina. You needed people able to make decisions on the spot.
But at least they did make decisions. More than I can say for the New Orleans mayors office, and Baton Rouge.
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 agree Danbo
September 1, 2009 - 15:38 ET by general companyI met folks from all across the country, Custom agents, Rescue, Utility personal, and tons of Military. These folks didnt have it any better then the rest of us. They worked very hard, in some very hot weather, with the Love bugs in full force. Later they were followed by Habitat for Humanity and a host of others. I have a great feeling of pride when thinking about Americans and their sense of community, and helping each other out.
Most of us down here are very upset how the msm made us all look like we were all helpless unable to do for ourselves. They highlighted the looting and the irresponsible folks. They did it to make Bush look bad, but what they did is create hostility towards the folks in N.O. and surrounding area's. When in-fact we are all eternally grateful for the support and effort of the rest of the country.
My Gov. thinks I am dangerous, so be careful
"Television is a freak show" Bernie Goldberg
Bush also started the fires
September 1, 2009 - 11:51 ET by mattmBush also started the fires that are going on in LA right now...what a meanie.
And I'm sure he's blocking
September 1, 2009 - 11:54 ET by motherbeltAnd I'm sure he's blocking the roads so those people can't escape, too!
Because you know, a lot of Hispanics live in California!
I bet hes also
September 1, 2009 - 14:30 ET by ConservativeClarkI bet hes also at the north pole with a blow torch and gasoline starting fires to melt the polar ice caps too. /sarc
Karl Roves' weather machine
September 1, 2009 - 16:41 ET by BO STINKSis on the loose with no one at the controls! Run for your lives!!!
"...it must be known that we are at all times ready for war." G. Washington
N.O.
September 1, 2009 - 11:56 ET by okiehawk44I was sent to N.O. shortly after the hurricane and met with leaders on both sides of the river and realizing they were still in shock could still see that some neighborhoods were optimistic about rebuilding and moving forward and others were just waiting for someone else to come forward.
I went back in 2007 and many neighborhoods looked almost exactly as they did in 2005 and others were rebuilding in exactly the same location below the massive levees as pre-2005. Why?
There is now and was then money being spent to repair sidewalks when the houses behind all those sidewalks were abandoned and needed to be demolished.
N.O. then and probably now is nowhere near having a clear and decisive direction from its so-called leaders.
IMHO no rebuilding should be done in many of the areas hardest hit and no president could have prevented this devastation. N.O. officials didn't even try and all the money raised for all the years to maintain and improve the levee system disappeared into someone's pocket or purse. The current president, with or without, "Brownie" will not be able to hold back the waters should another and more aggressive hurricane come.
Nothing ever really changes in this state
September 1, 2009 - 14:31 ET by lsudolemiteA lot of money has disappeared into quite a few people's hands over the years. Orleans Parish has multiple levee boards charged with their maintenance. Does anyone really believe we need that many, or is it the usual political cronyism? NOLA didn't have the first semblance of an evacuation plan in 2005. Now the official policy is "you're on your own."
People don't learn from anything. And another Katrina will happen to the city eventually.
To all the people who have asked questions about evacuation, it's not that simple. For every hurricane that hits the Gulf Coast there are 2 or 3 close calls and false alarms during the course of a hurricane season. It simply isn't feasible to protect your property, pack up your family and belongings and travel hundreds of miles at the mere possibility that a hurricane could make landfall. Hurricane tracking models, like all weather models, are only accurate to about 2-3 days out, so a week's notice is hardly an accurate prediction.
Good Morning
September 1, 2009 - 12:01 ET by MidAmericaGood Morning America!! I'm Bill Weir and I'll be doing your morning drive on this beautifull sunny morning!! Sit back and relax while I dig waaay back in the vault of classic oldies and spin you this all-time varorite, I know it's one of mine, here's one of the greatest hits by the Main Stream Media, it's... Katrina Katrina!!
In 1985 I lived in that "black hole for hurricanes" known as ...
September 1, 2009 - 12:22 ET by Jayke... Biloxi Mississippi. I survived that hurricane by getting out of town with my wife and two children. The next day I drove back down by myself and helped people clear trees. It took about 2 weeks before the power came back on at my house. I don't feel sorry for the Katrina "victims". They are victims of their own stupidity.
one hurricane
September 1, 2009 - 12:42 ET by katainkentfortunately the entire time I lived on the VA/NC coast we had one hurricane. My husband was required to stay behind and get the sub out of port so it was me and my two yr old and my infant twins. I took our safe contents and a box of photographs and just drove inland. We could not afford a hotel so we slept in the car and waited for news that it was clear. Scariest time of my life but I am glad I did what I did.
___________________________________________
"Maybe you're better off not having the surgery, but taking the painkiller" Barack Obama (Dr. In Chief)
Black Hole is right
September 1, 2009 - 15:52 ET by general companySeems you guys get at least a piece of almost every storm in the Gulf.
It took about 2 weeks before the power came back on at my house. I
don't feel sorry for the Katrina "victims". They are
Would had been a little different if you had 14ft of water in your home, how long would it had taken you to get power then? I realy cant understand this "victims of their
own stupidity" comment. Tell me what they could had done about preventing the storm damage? Are they Stupid for living there, stupid because their homes were flooded, stupid because why?
I have hundreds of stories about folks who's only "fault" was that a storm passed over their home, cause much damage grief and turmoil, after living in Biloxi you should know this already?
My Gov. thinks I am dangerous, so be careful
"Television is a freak show" Bernie Goldberg
Here is the DNC template
September 1, 2009 - 12:49 ET by buddycHere is the DNC template since health care created some problems for democrats:
1. have the media remind people of bush / cheney
2. have the media remind people of "torture" and Katrina
3. have the media praise liberals by praising Ted Kennedy
4. have your allies (like AARP those scumbags) spend millions on advertising trying to turn the tide
5. have the media attack personally teabaggers and healthcare protestors and link them to racism
6. crawl in a hole and avoid your constitutients
Obama will be pressed to match federal aid to NOLA
September 1, 2009 - 13:22 ET by Gary HallObama will be pressed to match federal aid to NOLA during the Bush years. In addition to the $billions spent for the immediate emergency and the levee repairs and replacement, the closing of MRGO (canal), the construction of the flood gates for the City's main canals, the federal government funded an historic program (administered (poorly) by the state of LA) to help citizens of NOLA and surrounding communities rebuild after the disaster.
The primary focus of that program, called the Road Home, was to help folks rebuild, or to assist in relocation. The program (now completed) handed out an average cash grant (not a loan - was a tax free gift) of some $61,000 to each of 124,620 folks - a stagering gift from the feds. A second phase (started prior to the Obama admin) of the program is to provide additional cash grants to assist folks in elevating their homes above flood levels. I believe that the average grants for this program is in the $20,000's - with tens of thousands of folks eligible.
Match that Obama!
Needless to say, our national MSM conspired amongst themselves to keep the American people - the voters - the taxpayers - the caring people of this country from finding out about the program. Why? It is the agenda of the national media that Bush be blamed for all bad and not be credited with anything good.
(;~/ gary
And in one of the buildings on the LSU campus
September 1, 2009 - 14:35 ET by lsudolemitethat I work in, the 2nd floor is home to none other than the "Hurricane Katrina Fraud Task Force."
Re evacuation
September 1, 2009 - 13:24 ET by slickwillie2001There's an odd contradiction in the failed evacuation process that the liberal media never reported. The claim is often made that folks had no way to evacuate because Nagin screwed up the buses plan etc. That may be true, but post-Katrina there were also many stories about how one of New Orleans's problems was clearing the streets of abandoned and flooded-out cars. Owners abandoned them and the city dickered for months about a process and a contractor being hired to clear them out.
I see both a failing of personal responsibility and a failure of city and state government to advise citizens on evacuation recommendations. Remember that before the storm there was much anguish by city government over what an evacuation order would do to the tourist industry in New Orleans.
ABC ... What a joke
September 1, 2009 - 13:42 ET by OhmingThat reminds me, November will be my 2 year anniversary for having watched no mainstream media. Not the news or thier politically correct shows, nothing. It has been great.
This Hurricane excuse garbage reminds me of the Austin Powers movie satiring a James Bond movie. Did you see the part when Austin Powers was on the steam roller moving at 1 mph and the villian 100 feet away was screaming and frozen with fear and couldn't manuever himself out of the path of the steam roller. Minutes later the villian was squished.
I am worn out on the excusses. I bet many of those that did not evacuate had recently bought booze, smokes, whatever else .... It is unfortunate that the children had to suffer though, they are the real victims here. Would the MSM please replay the PBS special from 5-6 years ago that showed NO at risk for a hurricane, and the interview with the "stoic" residents. I think it was titled "most at risk U.S. cities for natural disasters".
Let's face it - the story
September 1, 2009 - 14:13 ET by Chris NormanLet's face it - the story of Bush and Katrina was written long before she was even a tropical depression. The Democrats and their PR department (aka the mainstream media) had decided to hang Bush and by extension the Republicans over anything that went wrong with the response to any future natural disaster. If it wasn't New Orleans, it would've benn somehwere else. Happily, for them, New Orleans cooperated by blowing everything.
The "Mainstream" Media: By liberals. For liberals.
Good evening Chris
September 1, 2009 - 17:07 ET by cocodrieYou are absolutely right.
I have been here for every hurricane since 1939 and have never evacuated. The major problems this time were caused by DEMOCRAT leaders. Gonernor Blanko, Mayor Nagin, and Jefferson Paeish President Aaron Broussard. Broussard personally ordered the drainage pumps shut down and sent the pump operators above Franklinton Louisiana leaving us to certain flooding. It's interesting that Broussard's biggest supporters are the building contractors. Guess who made all the money because of the flooding. The drainage pumps can handle any rain or hurricane if they are kept running to pump the water into lake Pontchartrain.
The broken levees in New Orleans can be laid at the feet of the corrupt New Orleand Levee Board that had no interest in maintaining the levees. There was plenty of money for airplanes for the levee board, Blanko's and Nagin's trips all over the world but none for the levees.
President Bush begged Governor Blanko to accept federal troops and to call up the National Guard but she refused until the situation was desperate and out of control.
Jesus Loves You so much He died for you
Quick trivia
September 1, 2009 - 17:24 ET by nwahsWhat happened on this day in 1939?
"O..L..I..G..A..R..H.. one letter is missing."- Glenn Beck
→ Who cares nwahs?
September 1, 2009 - 17:26 ET by Cool ArrowI'm not Polish.
We will Barry you! - Russian prophecy
Well ultimately
September 1, 2009 - 17:52 ET by nwahsUltimately - everyone cared.
"O..L..I..G..A..R..H.. one letter is missing."- Glenn Beck
→ I know, nwahs
September 1, 2009 - 20:36 ET by Cool ArrowI was being facetious.
We will Barry you! - Russian prophecy
Oh
September 1, 2009 - 21:15 ET by nwahsColor me slow on the uptake :)
"If you can't answer a man's argument, all is not lost; you can still call him vile names." -Elbert Hubbard
Good evening nwahs
September 1, 2009 - 17:33 ET by cocodrieIf you don't know, it proves you are a honey flavored life saver.
Jesus Loves You so much He died for you
Katrina was mishandled by
September 1, 2009 - 15:59 ET by RR GOPKatrina was mishandled by Nagin and the other locals from the word go...oh, yeah, Nagin's a black, racist, Democrat. Never mind.
One of the 34% who thinks George W. Bush was a great President. One of the 86% who wants to bring back the stock and pillory.
Some people made out well with Katrina
September 1, 2009 - 16:50 ET by nwahsThe city of New Orleans' infrastructure was in shambles before Katrina. A lot of road home money bought destroyed homes for prices they never would have brought on the market. Personally, I got to remodel my home exactly like I wanted it. With the insurance money and doing the work myself, my house is better than it was before the hurricane.
Katrina is the first political hurricane. Everyone ( from Brad Pitt to Spike Lee to Obama )that comes here, has their own agenda. They come here because there is a ready cast of 3rd generation welfare conditioned extras to use as a backdrop. I live on the other side of the river from that crap. They don't show this side of the river. We didn't flood, but we had 100% roof damage and probably 55-75% structural damage. We don't make good backdrops. We did most of the work ourselves, with sweat and insurance money. I really get tired of people standing with their hand out, 4 years after the storm.
"O..L..I..G..A..R..H.. one letter is missing."- Glenn Beck
Note to Tom Shales- this is
September 1, 2009 - 18:18 ET by JAJTNote to Tom Shales- this is why liberals are failing in radio, tv and newspaper because of false spin like this Weir guy. N.O is in shambles because they keep electing the same people who did nothing for N.O.
the people who did not leave N.O, most of them were poor and dependent on the government. JAJT
→ Spike Lee
September 1, 2009 - 20:35 ET by Cool ArrowJust a little convenient that President Obama was secluded on vacation when these California wildfires started, don't you think?
And why hasn't that arrogant President visited California yet?
Is it because he hates white people?
We will Barry you! - Russian prophecy
NOLA
September 1, 2009 - 22:04 ET by cajun2Well well Nwahs, from NO. I have read your posts for some time now and had to wonder how you can quote bits of history but only the bits that reinforce your idiology. I am "honte". (cajun for ashamed) Folks complaining about the levee boards, Bush, Blanco, Nagin, are all correct. It took years and massive failure on the part of many people to bring about Katrina. I learned many things from Audrey to Gustov. One, mother nature is a bitch. Two, the best and worst of people show up in a life threatning event. Third, there is always a self righteous snob around that could have done everything better. Bon soir.
I have no idea what you're talking about
September 2, 2009 - 12:35 ET by nwahsIt sure would help if you post what you think my idiology is.
You're correct there were failures on all levels, but what is consistently ignored is the failure on the local level. Max Mayfield had to personally call Nagin so he would get off his ass and issue a mandatory evacuation. Jefferson parish was way ahead of New Orleans, because Friday, Jefferson Parish's EM, Walter Maestri was in his war room creating a plan. Nagin was at Saint's football game! So on Saturday, when Jefferson Parish was issuing mandatory evacuations, Nagin was hemming and hawing and wondering if he could legaly call a mandatory evacuation, all the while, ignoring the need to move resources to higher ground.
Finally, Mayfield called Nagin and managed to scare the crap out of him and get him off his incompetent ass. That was Saturday night, about 36 hours before landfall. Thats the real story.
Yea, Brown was an absolute fool. But had Nagin and Blanco not been totally incompetent, we could have survived Michael Paris Hilton Brown. People died mostly from incompetence, not the storm.
And lets not forget the looters out in force not 20 minutes after the storm. They were too busy grabbing big screen TV's to wonder "where the hell is all this water comming from?"
The internet is scrubbed of those images.
"If you can't answer a man's argument, all is not lost; you can still call him vile names." -Elbert Hubbard