Former Louisiana Senator Shoulders Katrina Blame

[DoYouEverWonder]

September 10, 2005

NEW ORLEANS -- Although he said it's not time to point fingers, former Louisiana Sen. John Breaux said he deserves some criticism for the problems in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

Breaux, a Democrat, said he and other current and former members of Louisiana's congressional delegation failed to get more money for evacuation efforts and the strengthening of levees.

But for now, he said, attention should be focused on relief efforts.

"Blaming each other does not save a life, does not feed a single family," Breaux said.

Meanwhile, a current Louisiana senator who's been critical of the federal response said the administration only fixed half the problem when it replaced Federal Emergency Management Agency chief Michael Brown as the head of the on-site federal effort.

http://www.wdsu.com/hurricanes/4887230/detail.html

[melnjones]

1. Props to him

for being brave enough to admit error. Wish more people could do it.

[krkaufman]

4. Yep. Wherever the chips fall, it's good to see at least one person...

... taking some responsibility.

[DawnneOBTS]

2. A Democrat taking the blame. Great...not. n/t

[MADem]

8. He is a fucking DINO

He was the FIRST Dem to be invited to the WH after chimpy stole the election. He jumped in bed with monkeyboy like a stupid hooker who didn't even bother to set the price first. Breaux was a disappointment to the Democrats on the Hill; he was more interested in flowing to the power than standing up for what was right.

He's working in the energy business now, ya??? For his actions, he shall be rewarded...the putz.

[DoYouEverWonder]

10. So he's just helping the Repugs put the blame on the Dems?

What a great guy. I bet ya, W will build him a new fancy house, like the one he promised Trent Lott.

[MADem]

13. Whore, thy name is Breaux

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/01/20050107-4.html
Chimpy appoints Breax to tax panel

http://www.uaw.org/solidarity/rnews/r5/01/r5q2_1.html
Sen. John Breaux Sings Bush's Tune
'Go, Go, Johnny B. Good'

And here is a disgusting blast from the past, from 2001
http://www.prospect.org/web/page.ww?section=root&name=ViewPrint&articleId=5682
"I love a 50-50 tie," Senator John Breaux of Louisiana told me recently. "This is the kind of thing you dream about being involved in. It's a mandate for getting things done." And, boy, does he want to get things done. Breaux has a reputation in the Senate as a consummate deal maker, a people person, a backslapper. He's a Democrat who more often than not agrees with Republicans on signature issues like Social Security and Medicare, so his penchant for compromising and deal making has many Democrats worried. According to the prevailing wisdom, Breaux looks perfectly poised to serve as George W. Bush's go-to man in the Senate. But there's something funny about Breaux's deals: They never quite seem to get made. And with President Bush and Senate Democrats on a collision course, Breaux's quest for deals may get harder still.

And let us not forget this little tidbit, again from that stolen election: http://quest.cjonline.com/stories/121400/gen_cabinet.shtml
Sen. John Breaux, D-La., under consideration for energy secretary, will visit the incoming president Friday in Austin, Texas, as part of his promise to reach across party lines after the fiercely contested campaign against Vice President Al Gore, advisers said.

He's a fucking DINO on the take. Worthless, shameless, greedy little pig. Totally without redemption.

[longship]

3. That's what called taking responsibility.

Good for you, Sen Breaux.

On edit: Please don't think that this will let Chimpy off the hook. Breaux is setting an stellar example of how to act and what to say.

[Voltaire99]

17. Breaux is right wing scum, covering for other right wing scum.

From Bush White House parlays to favors for the oil industry, Breaux's career exemplified the kind of spineless, pro-corporate Democrat whose usefulness to the enemy brought this party low.

He still at it today, deflecting blame from the White House.

[MissMarple]

5. No matter how hard they worked, they wouldn't have gotten the money.

IMHO

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

7. BINGO!!! He tried and failed to get the funds.

And he's being too classy to say that he never would have gotten them. MKJ

[pretzel4gore]

6. bushevik pig liar

anyone on earth who's sentient can FEEL the gopig emotion that NOLA was, because of its black/'big easy' profile not a city whose suffering would trigger instantaneous frantic rescue efforts AND IT DIDN"T! breaux is a fukking liar, a tapeworm in human dress ...he undoubtedly wears scented thong under the big boy outfit, being a fake demo/conman ...he giggles at the thought of 50 thousand dead (if they were white, he'd be part of the swarm that would've rescued every last one) while hohumming to the tune of 'dixie'

[Kagemusha]

9. Think about why he didn't get the money. Easy answer.

Because the Bush administration said more money wasn't necessary and Tom DeLay, Bill Frist, etc. made a huge show of believing the people who work for the President. So the Republican Congress approved the Republican budget with less money for Louisiana evacuation efforts and levee strengthening and disaster management in the event of a hurricane strike.

[DoYouEverWonder]

11. Once again the LIHOP

All the models showed NO was due for a major hurricane. Ivan had just missed them last year.

They knew this was coming and they failed to lead on purpose.

[NNN0LHI]

12. THIS FUCKER ISN'T A DEMOCRAT!

He is a Republican with a D after his name. He was the first one down to Chimpys ranch sucking his ass after Bush stole the 2000 election.

Don

[MADem]

14. Yep, see my remarks, above nt

[PATRICK]

15. You had to be a Chavez

or a Huey Long to fight for the right to survive there. Instead, the "Third Way" which is but a new name on practical compromise tried sincerely and I am sure desperately to work in the system to get what was rationally absolutely necessary.

When will Dems realize that failing to stop anarchic fascism guaranteed to enslave and kill demands something more than the soft approach and the meek retreat? By the way, I am not specifically blaming the DLC for this since it is a very common approach by career pols and ordinary leaders to bow to the power and the winds. Though the DLC enshrines this as absolute and heroic wisdom, it is only a glaring weakness that has been around forever even among many revered Dem leaders who lived in happier times.

Had FDR not run out of time and life energy I think he finally had got the danger that had really threatened the nation from within, but his own party stole back into the night. The results of ALL these goodhearted blunders and weaknesses continue to to bear deadly fruit for constituents who neither demonstrate, fight or vote as the less affluent and "free" peoples of third world countries.

Reporters forced to choke on the corpses of American children, pols paralyzed by the bullying of the elitist minority right, look in the mirror. Then change, step up or step aside.

[Maccagirl]

16. Beautifully written

I am near tears because this is so true, and I don't see any change anytime soon-if ever.

[oasis]

18. What next? Zell Miller saying he spilled coffee on Bush's disaster plan?

Not buying it.