Ray Nagin for President!!

[Irn-Bru]

Curveball, this isn't smack; you know the rules.


I've edited your post a bit. Keep it clean, everyone. . .bring personal attacks into the Smack forum.

[skins81]

What the (edit)Governor asked for is merely a formality dealing mainly with financial assistance under current law.

Constitutional law throughtout the last two centuries severly limits any President's power when dealing with an emergency situation

Anyone who works in disaster relief knows you want local control. The military is NOT designed to coordinate relief in residential settings. They can do it, but it is far from ideal. Best case scenario is local forces receive support and coordinate the efforts locally. Suppport was late in coming.

Mayor Nagin blaming the chaos on (edit) Governor Blanco while praising FEMA and Bush

You need a link to make a statement like this. All I've heard him do is praise Bush for his efforts NOW, not state that the support came when it was needed. It did not. If it did, we wouldn't even be hearing from Nagin.

[crazyhorse1]

Nagin repeatedly ran all the buses at his disposal to evacuate the people of New Orleans until they were stopped by the storm. That's why the buses ended up under water--not because they weren't being used to a maximum extent.

[crazyhorse1]

Don't let the the liar get you guys.


What the absentee Governor asked for is merely a formality dealing mainly with financial assistance under current law.


Constitutional law throughtout the last two centuries severly limits any President's power when dealing with an emergency situation in any particular state (I'm hoping crazyhorse tries to get into a Constitutional law debate with me but that won't happen, because he realizes that he'll lose that).

This is utter B.S. The letter from the Governor means exactly what it says. Read it for yourself.


He'll try to argue that Bush was on "vacation", not realizing that just because he's not in D.C. (like every other Federally-elected official) means that his vacation is like you and I's. Anyone who doesn't understand that the President, be it Republican or Democrat, never truly goes on "vacation", but merely shifts residences for a short period of time, shouldn't even be in this discussion.

After I destroy that argument, he'll try to shift focus to Rice's shopping spree in NYC, again not realizing that the intelligent people here understand that the SoS isn't involved with domestic stife.

I could go back and forth, refuting his juvenile positions, always able to counter with the ultimate rebuttal, (Democratic Mayor Nagin blaming the chaos on Democratic Governor Blanco while praising FEMA and Bush), but then you'd all miss my secret Bleu Cheese Dip recipe which will probably be in my respone to the next post.



BTW, someone needs to thank me for saving probably 5 pages of pointless threads with that Cliff Notes version of how it will be.

This post is utter B.S. The letter is perfectly obvious in its intent and meaning. Read it for yourself.

[tcwest10]

I'd say it is time for finger pointing. Finding out who made mistakes that worsen a crisis only prepares one better for the next crisis.

Usually I agree with you, but this is an exception. Now is not the time to worry about all of that. Now is the time to help...none of this other stuff is going to move any water or help a child.
Like with the 9/11 commission, the truth will out.
Not now. Let's get Nawlins dry first, and tend to the affected.

[thaiphoon]

New Orelans'S "tell it like it is" Mayor, Ray Nagin, should run for President. Did anyone catch his interview on the Radio the other night? What a powerful, honest, thought provoking, from the heart, and passionate individual this guy is. When I think of Politicians, I think of scandals, corruption, bribery, and a general lack of real compassion.

Ray Nagin is everything that a Politician should be, and sadly, something that very few are. His passion, honesty, and genuine concern for the well being of the people of his city are what makes great people great. If this Country had a Mayor like Nagin for every City, we'd be in a hell of a lot better condition than we're in now.

I don't know what his Political aspirations are, but if he ever runs for Office where I can vote, he's got my vote.

RAY NAGIN FOR PRESIDENT!!

Seriously ... I didn't read the entire thread but I hope you're joking... what exactly did Nagin (one "G") do that has your heart atwitter ?? Was it the complete and utter failure to enact the Comprehensive Evacuation Plan that New Orleans had in just such emergencies? Was it the failure to deploy the hundreds of buses, that are now underwater, to evacuate the infirm and those who could not get out due to lack of transportation? Was it the way he fled to Baton Rouge and did basically nothign to exhort the police to establish law and order in the city so rescue efforts could proceed further? Or was it the fact that the only thing he was good at was passing the buck ?? Which one of those "successes" was it that has you giving your vote to him??

Additionally let me link this article from the Pittsburgh Post-gazette ...the federal response was actually faster than usual. It was the local and state governments who screwed the pooch here
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05254/568876.stm

[thaiphoon]

BTW - crazyhorse - Bush did declare an emergency (on Saturday) in plenty of time. Blanco dithered for another day (Sunday) before doing anything to help out the situation. I don't believe your "letter" for once second. Any political operative can type up a convincing letter. Please provide a link from a reputable source.

Additionally, there is a tape circulating in the news media (my wife is a journalist) of Blanco admitting to an aide that she should have deployed the state guard earlier (this tape will come out sooner or later). Couple that with the fact that the Red Cross has reported that her office denied them from sending food and supplies to the Superdome and Blanco is squarely in the crosshairs if this "blame gaming" continues.



But it will... and the Left will not like where it ends up to be sure (with a Democrat Mayor and Democrat Governor taking alot more heat than anyone else)

Here's the URL for Blanco blocking the Red Cross http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=46224

[welch]

Read the Newsweek story, at:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9287434/site/newsweek/

"How Bush Blew It:

Bureaucratic timidity. Bad phone lines. And a failure of imagination. Why the government was so slow to respond to catastrophe."


Compare it to the story from the NY Times, which I posted at:

http://www.the-hogs.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=15029

[thaiphoon]

Neither story absolves the state and local authorites from the brunt of the blame. You don't hear much from Mississippi do you? Its b/c the state and local officials there weren't inept and worked with FEMA better than their Louisiana counterparts even though the hurricane went through Mississippi. Law and Order was maintained by the local and state officials. Haley Barbour didn't hesitate like Blanco did to order the state guard to move.

Simply put everyone is expecting the entire weight of the federasl government to be there one day after the storm. It ain't gonna happen no matter who is President. FEMA is an aid organization that works through and with state and local governments. It is up to them to direct and coordinate the efforts. Additionally, Bush had to call up active duty military when it was clear that Blanco didn't have a clue. To this day Blanco refuses to allow Bush to control the guard from her state. To this day she refuses to order the forced evacuation of the city.

It amazes me the hit pieces that Newsweek and the NYTimes (neither is ever very friendly to a Republican president and definitely not friendly to Bush) cook up when the ultimate failure was at the state and local level.

[Art_Monk]

I am still not sure who to blame for the slow reaction time, although, a few hours ago I think the president took the blame. Blanco is at fault, but she is also an easy target. What I do know is the the slow response time has absolutely NOTHING to with the race of class of people affected.

[Scooter]

Yep, a Do Nothing, Blame Everyone else, Wait until it hits - kinda guy is just what the doctor ordered. Maybe he could just sell us to Mexico.

This may be the dumbest thread I've ever posted on. Let me check with FEMA... yep it sure is.

[Texas Hog]

Welcome back, Scooter!

[JPFair]

This may be the dumbest thread I've ever posted on. Let me check with FEMA... yep it sure is.

Scooter, could you clarify your "let me check with FEMA" comment? It's either a bad attempt at humor, or an indication that you don't know very much about FEMA and it's mission. My guess is that it's the latter.