Comments on: Katrina: Political Issues Slowed Federal Intervention

By: NCbob

NCbob — Sun, 11 Sep 2005 01:00:50 +0000

I think this is a golden opportunity for us to get out of Iraq right now. Since we clearly need the manpower and the money we are spending on Iraq for reconstruction of the Gulf Coast, why not just say, darn, we really wanted to "stay the course" but, shucks, we had this little hurricane thing and we just can't stretch and do both at the same time. So, we kinda gotta boogey on home and take care of our own first. We'll be back later if we need to. TTFN.

Two problems solved at once. Especially the how the heck to get out of Iraq problem which was clearly the biggest one.

If only our leaders had the courage to seize this opportunity!

By: JohnG

JohnG — Fri, 09 Sep 2005 20:29:53 +0000

What do you think the 'perception' to Bush's response would be 50 years from now, if a president wants to usurp the powers of a governor of the opposing party for not doing what that president wants?

By: spencer

spencer — Fri, 09 Sep 2005 17:25:44 +0000

so the President and his staff were more concerned with appearance then doing their job?

This is putting the whole thing in a plus/minus situation as if their were only the two extreme alternatives. There were many possible ways to work it out and as demonstrated by events. This statement in and of it self demonstrates that the president dithered for days before sending in the troops.

This is strictly a case of spin to shift blame.

By: Steve Verdon

Steve Verdon — Fri, 09 Sep 2005 15:11:09 +0000

This isn't an election year but partisan political concerns are, sadly, always there. Certainly, congressional Democrats have not been shy about trying to score political points. Still, a president has to be above that during times of national emergency. To the extent he was worried about "perceptions" in the partisan sense, shame on him.

You forgot to say shame on the Democrats for not having the common decency to not try and exploit such a situation. But then again expecting common decency in politics is obviously expecting too much.

By: Lurking Observer

Lurking Observer — Fri, 09 Sep 2005 14:00:45 +0000

I keep wondering how many of the folks who believe that Bush should have just pushed the local authorities aside and imposed federal rule over an entire state (or even just the city and environs of New Orleans) are also supporters of DC statehood?

In particular, given the disastrous "leadership" under Marion "the b***h set me up!" Barry, does that mean that FedGov has been justified in not granting DC the full rights and responsibilities of state-hood?

Or are the taxpayers and voters of Louisiana somehow different?

By: Jonathan

Jonathan — Fri, 09 Sep 2005 13:31:24 +0000

I agree, Nagin and Blanco are far too emotionally attached to the disaster to have been effective. But, whats done is done.

By: THE GALVIN OPINION

THE GALVIN OPINION — Fri, 09 Sep 2005 13:28:46 +0000

FORGOTTEN: BILL CLINTON & 1,000 HEAT WAVE DEATHS

Over 1,000 people died in a natural disaster. Most of them were poor and black. Local officials were overwhelmed. The federal government didn't help or came in too late. It was Chicago. It was 1995. The president was Bill Clinton.

By: the musings of Brandon Jaynes » Political Issues Slowed Katrina Response

the musings of Brandon Jaynes » Political Issues Slowed Katrina Response — Fri, 09 Sep 2005 13:15:45 +0000

[...] Outside the Beltway has a blog entry on the politics of the Katrina response. One reason federal troops did not arrive in New Orleans faster in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina was fear of the way seizing control of the situation from an incompetent, hysterical, female Democrat governor might have been perceived. [...]

By: ICallMasICM

ICallMasICM — Fri, 09 Sep 2005 12:50:39 +0000

This is one of the few times I agree with Mr. Sullivan. Bush should have taken control of the situation after the first 5 minutes of talking to Nagin or Blanco. They were unfit and unable to take control and Bush should have.