New Orleans Mayor Calm After Talk With Bush

[Rose Siding]

NEW ORLEANS -- The cursing had stopped. The tears were gone. Mayor Ray Nagin returned from his meeting with President Bush a picture of calm.

He leaned back against a railing in a hotel lobby that for the first time in nearly five days was devoid of stranded, sweating, and generally miserable tourists.

"I feel much better. I feel like we've gotten everyone's attention and hopefully they'll continue to do what they're doing," Nagin said Friday night in the damaged downtown Hyatt hotel, where his temporary lodgings and command post have been set up since Hurricane Katrina made life in the Big Easy insufferable.

"I'm cautiously optimistic. I want to see it happen (Saturday). I want to see it happen next week. Then, when I see consistency of delivery, I'll feel like there's a light at the end of the tunnel."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/03/AR2005090300019.html

[Matariki]

1. they drugged him?

or threatened him? or bribed him? or replaced him with a biological robot?

[timber84]

2. No i think they told him what he wanted to here all be it too late

[struggle4progress]

33. Yeah. They told him what he wanted to hear and he's exhausted.

[ispeculate]

3. WTF how can he feel ok if they are not allowing the Red Cross in??

[Erika]

4. The man is dead tired

Wait until he sees the names of the thousands dead because there was no workable FEMA plan. W is responsible for that.

[DesEtoiles]

5. and Bush still retarded

[Pepper32]

6. The movie "Invasion of The Body Snatchers" came to mind.

I think we lost the NOLA Mayor today...looks like he was Roved.

[FVZA_Colonel]

12. I just finished watching that with my parents.

And I agree completely with the imagery

[madaboutharry]

7. "Cautiously Optimistic"

Let us see what happens tommorrow. Then he will get pissed off all over again on Sunday.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

8. No, they told him to shut the fuck up and he

could be the Ambassador to the Duchy of Grand Fenwick or the Undersecretary for Homeland Insecurity

[DrZeeLit]

42. (wow! I don't know anybody else who gets the Grand Fenwick nod...

....I just love intelligent trivia).

I loved that book (yeah, I'm that old). I laughed out loud during 9th grade silent reading.

THANKS.

(oh and soooo apropo)

[wli]

9. carrot = bribe, stick = threat of Wellstoning n/t

[daleo]

10. They must have used the mind control ray

After a talk with Bush, the last adjective I could imagine would be "calm".

[rodeodance]

11. no fair-Magin gets to talk with Bush and Cindy does not.

[Neshanic]

13. Same conversation as they had with McCain, they know...

things about him. Or they would make them up.

No surprises here.

[Erika]

15. I hope you're wrong

but am afraid it's the truth. It's the Rove edict.

[progressivebydesign]

14. Has he forgotten about the thousands stranded and starving..

..the ones NOT on tv or in the Dome? The ones trapped in schools, apartments, and even hospitals?

[WildClarySage]

16. I dont' think they have blackmailed him.

He's too close to the scene, and knows the score. He strikes me as the type to tell them where to shove it, if they tried that one. I think they kissed up, praised him and told him what he wants to hear. I do think they are manipulating him, but that he will give them benefit of the doubt for the moment and if things aren't happening sooner he will be right back in their faces.

[Name removed]

17. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Erika]

19. Your language is not typical of DU

Is it?

[coeur_de_lion]

26. I agree.

This man has seen too much to sit back quietly while the feds do nothing. He isn't backing down. He was angry, he spoke out, he got promises of relief and probably a major apology. So now he'll calm down and wait to see if they do what they promised. And if they don't he'll be on TV again cussin' and swearin'.

And while the relief effort continues I'm sure he will continue to speak out about what WASN'T done from the beginning.

[ticapnews]

18. I think he's just exhausted...

and he did say, "I'm cautiously optimistic...I want to see it happen today, I want to see it happen next week."

Great Leader bought a day with his promises. Now he has to deliver.

[leftofthedial]

20. I think a couple of Marines held him by the heels out of the chopper door

during the tour until he agreed to what they wanted

or, hell, maybe it *is* mind control

[dkhbrit]

21. Apologies

Sorry for the bad language. I'm just really very upset about this.

I have edited my post.

[Prodemsouth]

22. For all those who have been jumping up praising Nagin.

If they would have recalled or looked up his past history- they would have found some eye openers. First he and the Governor do not get along and he endorsed her Republican opponent. I think his interview was more critical of Governor than Bush. Endorsed Bush in 2000. Don't know about 2004.

[JI7]

23. Nagin endorsed Kerry last year

are you sure he endorsed Bush in 2000 ?

i don't agree with him supporting Jindal for Gov. but i do know Jindal did make a big thing out of himself being a minority in order to get support from other minorities. so it was probably that.

[JoFerret]

24. He donated to Bush

According to this source he actually donated to Bush in 2000.
http://bookerrising.blogspot.com/2004_09_01_bookerrising_archive.html

Bookerista Profile: Mayor Ray Nagin
Elected in 2002, the moderate Democrat and former Cox Communications cable exec seeks to turn around New Orleans's reputation for old-boy politics, corruption and inefficiency, and bad fiscal policies. He is cleaning up the city's image, attracting new businesses, and improving workforce development.

The Democratic Leadership Council touts him as a "New Democrat" to watch. In a surprise move, last year he endorsed a conservative Republican over conservative Democratic Lt. Governor Kathleen Blanco for governor (Ms. Blanco won). Then again, he donated to Dubya's 2000 campaign so he breaks partisanship rules. Mayor Nagin earned an MBA at Tulane University.

[booksenkatz]

25. They took him to Room 101, eh? nt

[goforit]

27. Yah...ya got that right. Our "Stepford "reversal of personality.

Fascinating!!

Could this be the problem?

All our elected officials are transforming into
Stepford robots before our eyes?

Just like in the movie Stephord Wives, you got the Bush/Cheney
thugs controlling every verbal response.

[XNASA]

32. It's the worst thing in the world.

:cry:

[Endangered Specie]

39. Re-education?

[bklyncowgirl]

28. Remember t he timing

The National Guard had just rolled in with food and water. He'd got what he wanted. General Honore was kicking ass. Shit I just heard the guy chewing out some soldiers who'd pointed their rifles at civilians.

His cry of anguish had gotten results.

If relief efforts don't pick up or everyone goes home after the little emperor's photo op I expect him to scream again.

[DemsUnited]

34. Agree 100%.

The problem with the WaPo article is it makes it seem as if the visit with idiot son "calmed Nagin down". Nope. It was the sight of trucks FINALLY rolling into his city that calmed him down.

And that's what he needs to be right now, a strong, calm leader, giving the people of his city hope.

And you're absolutely right, if help isn't up to par, he'll let everyone know about it.

[NNN0LHI]

29. Rove made him an offer he couldn't refuse yesterday. Thats his job n/t

[Neshanic]

30. If they can make McCain hug Bush, Nagin is kids play.

A senator that was a Vietnam POW hugged Bush like he was Santa Claus himself for real.

Nagin was a piece of cake.

Anyone who thinks otherwise is delusional.

[LibDemAlways]

31. I'm afraid you're right.

Cussing on the radio in the morning and pacified after a meeting with the Bush Crime Family. He wasn't even allowed to speak at the NO press conference. Have to believe they either shared some embarrassing info about him their goons had dug up or they marched in some family remembers to remind him of how much he had to lose. I would put nothing past these criminals.

[lonestarnot]

35. Why? What did he do share his drugs with him?

[Straight Shooter]

36. If he were still stomping and yelling, he would look "out of control"

The man made his point about bush and things began to happen. Now he is "cautiously optimistic," which is a euphenism for "I don't trust you but let's see what you can do."

Maybe he thinks it would be better to project an appearance of calm. I bet that deep inside him, his guts are still churning and his heart still breaking.

[rocktivity]

37. I don't think what he said is so Rovian

"I feel like we've gotten everyone's attention...I'm cautiously optimistic...I want to see...consistency of delivery...(then)...I'll feel like there's a light at the end of the tunnel...I kind of went off a little bit...but it maybe worked out..."

I would hardly describe those statements as Bush-praising--in fact, it's sounds more like Nagin is patting himself on the back for finally "getting through" to the Bush empire. And may I point out that he has an empty convention center to show for it?

:headbang:
rocknation

[RandiFan1290]

38. Maybe * refreshed his memory

of the anthrax mailings?

[lonestarnot]

40. That would be my guess.

[Roy]

41. He simply did his job..

He raised enough hell to get the ball rolling and get help for his people to begin.

I think once this is over, you will be hearing from him again.

At least I certainly hope, I like his bluntness.