La. Governor Takes Responsibility For Hurricane Response

[sabra]

http://www.thecarolinachannel.com/news/4975718/detail.html

La. Governor Takes Responsibility For Hurricane Response
Blanco: 'The Buck Stops Here'


BATON ROUGE, La. -- Louisiana's governor said she is taking "full responsibility" for the failures and missteps in the immediate response to Hurricane Katrina.

And, Kathleen Blanco said, as governor, "the buck stops here."

She told lawmakers in a special meeting of the state Legislature that there were failures at every level of government: state, federal and local. And she said leaders must take a careful look at what went wrong and "make sure it never happens again."

...

Blanco called Bush "a friend and partner" in the recovery effort. And she described plans for a rebuilding effort that would span all levels of government but would be funded with federal money.

[AtomicKitten]

1. WTF!!!

Pahleeze. After Rove orchestrated her evisceration, she now kowtows to his evilness. Jeez, I need another margarita.

[DemsUnited]

27. Saw the whole speech. Right after she said LA has a friend in Bush,

she said she was going to stick him with 100% of the reconstruction bill "just like the government did with NY after 9/11".

Rumor is Buchco was going to try to make LA responsible for some of the tab. Blanco's just trying to cut him off at the pass.

[rocktivity]

2. A "friend and partner"

wouldn't expect you trade your power for help.

:headbang:
rocknation

[lateo]

3. With friends like that...

you might as well just shoot yourself.

[juajen]

4. This was a very good speech

and, of course, she is being overly-generous to *.

[Patchuli]

5. I wonder

how Senator Landrieu feels about that one! SUCKING UPPPPPPPP' I hear the sucky sounds....and they's ugly. eeewwwwwwwuu

[moobu2]

6. She went through total hell

She’s just making the best out of a very bad situation for her state.
Good luck governor Blanco

[fooj]

7. Here's my response.

:puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke:

:wtf:

[2Design]

8. how does he do this - does he give them all drugs - threaten

it would seem like there were threats they would come to light - but damn so many just roll over - all the dems in congress - what aren't they telling us - this is so WTF -

* apology rang empty and his wording was such that it never really admitted fault but said if the feds had done anything wrong - this is ridiculous -

there doesn't need to be a study into what went wrong
when you put scanners, and security above common sense and rescue and you allow an agency that is suppose to save - block everyone who wants to help from entering the area before they are checked out - simple - no big dollars needed to investigate - these people are all crazy -

[Hong Kong Cavalier]

10. Easy. The clue's in the last line of the OP

"And she described plans for a rebuilding effort that would span all levels of government but would be funded with federal money."

Most likely, Bush said something like "You better fall on your goddamn sword, Blanco, or you get shit for federal aid, and you'll be left with an empty city. We'll bog any recovery effort you try to mount so much you'll wish you were dead."

I think Bush threatened to withold any more federal aid. Everything's politics to Bush and his fucking tribe.

[Demeter]

31. Like He's Going To Give Her Anything But Shit, Anyway?

She better have the deal in writing, that's all I can say.

[zanne]

45. I think you got it!

That certainly has a ring of truth to it. After all, Bush is not only our president, he's our CEO. GAG

[FlemingsGhost]

9. That's a good Democrat. Now ... beg like a dog. (n/t)

Flem.

[...of J.Temperance]

11. I think Blanco finally signed the letter...she's signed La. over to Bush

I remember during the 8th day of this disaster. There was an article posted here that said that the Bush bastard wanted Blanco to sign a letter handing over ALL control of the WHOLE state of Louisiana to HIM and also Blanco had to take FULL responsibility for the disaster and say that NOTHING was the Bush bastards fault.

There were a lot of denials that she'd done this, and because I like her I didn't think she'd do it...but in light of her comments tonight and the fact that the Bush bastard has gone to Louisiana TWICE in one week, I'm now thinking that Blanco has signed that document and the Bush bastard now owns the whole state.

His increased visits are him saying: "It's MINE MINE MINE. I own it and I'm going to hand it over to my cronies."

His increased visits to me seem like a dog marking it's territory.

God this sucks :cry:

[msongs]

12. anybody talkin to bush needs to record the whole thing nt

[...of J.Temperance]

13. The other thing that gave me the creeps was when Governor Blanco

Made the Blackwater thugs deputies, she gave them badges and made them deputies in the Louisiana State police or something.

And I didn't know WHY she did this...I guess I do now, because about a week ago she must have finally given in to the Bush bastards strongarm tactics.

It would be IMPOSSIBLE to record ANYTHING with the Bush bastard, I'd guarantee that he has the SS frisk EVERYBODY and ANYBODY.

You know, Governor Blanco could have JUST said that she too accepted her share of responsibility, that wouldn't have set alarm bells off with me. But she said she accepted FULL responsibility.

And I remember the letter the Bush bastard told her to sign, in the letter he specifically asked her to sign that she took FULL responsibility...and praise him and let him off the hook.

Her fawning comments about him being a friend and partner...ie. Blanco just gave the Bush bastard a blow-job...which equals praising him and letting him off the hook.

I do agree with a post further up this thread, about the Bush bastard threatening them with not giving them ANY federal money...and I feel SORRY for Governor Blanco, because she stuck to her guns and gave it what for for as long as she could...but the Bush bastard crushed her by blackmailing her in the manner of "You do what I fucking tell you to do, you sign this fucking piece of paper handing Louisiana over to me...OR you'll not get ONE penny of Federal money."

And tragically, she gave in. I bet that IF she could of got a recording of the Bush bastard threatening and bullying her in the above manner, within HOURS Blanco would made that recording public.

But what's going to happen now is that the mediawhores will FORGET the Bush bastard's "responsibility" talk of yesterday, and he'll turn up today and they'll fawn over him and say how GREAT he is and what a FAB leader he is and then ALL of the media talk will be blaming Blanco and if ANYONE pulls them up about it the mediawhores will say:

"Oh but Governor Blanco herself said that she takes FULL responsibility for it."

[Nothing Without Hope]

24. Got a link for Blanco deputizing Blackwater thugs? Last I heard, the thugs

themselves were giving mixed and inconsistent stories. Has that been clarified?

[...of J.Temperance]

32. I'll look for a link and I'll do my best to post it later today

There was an article around here a few days ago, I'll check the other forums and then when I find it, I'll post it in this thread mon amie.

[Nothing Without Hope]

37. thanks!

:toast:

[genieroze]

14. Oh please.

:banghead:

[okieinpain]

15. hahahahahahahahahahahahaha funny, funny, funny, sh** n/t.

[GRLMGC]

16. Full?

There's enough blame to go around. I don't see why she's taking "full responsibility" when there were failures all across the board. Eh.

[Horse with no Name]

17. Sounds to me like they had a pow wow

And all decided rather than to eviscerate each other...each would take responsibility.

Nobody of course says how much responsibility...but yet you are left with the impression that they are all to blame.

I really can't fault Gov. Blanco. She is a blue Gov in a red state.
She has constituents that expect her to get along with the President.
I don't like it, but that's politics.

Sounds like she also got a chunk of change to make it all better.

This will all go away. There won't be any more said about it.
There'll be no "tell-all" press conferences where Blanco tells all about the dirty little backroom meetings---dirty politics is the way they play in Louisiana. Always has been corrupt.

It just ended up being a big ole circle jerk--and we were the pivot men.

[ladylibertee]

18. What is this? Are we playing Follow the Leader or something?

[Nothing Without Hope]

19. So the blackmail worked after all - wonder what they are threatening her

with, or is this statement a necessary price for key aid to her state?

In fact, a bipartisan committee showed it was NOT her fault, that she acted correctly:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1777186
Thread title: Nonpartisan congressional research report finds LA governor took necessary

And Chertoff clearly delayed relief:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1778603
thread title: du - Memo -Chertoff delayed federal response

Presumably this is going to be one of the underpinnings of Bush's planned use of the Katrina tragedy to grab more power:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1778930
Thread title: Bush says he may need more power in disasters

I've believed from the first that this was one of the several goals of the Bush gang - they have been working toward more and more suspension of Constitutional protections and this is their chance, they believe, to destroy more of them. They won't call it martial law - I'm betting on something Orwellian like "Operation Safe America." And if any violent protests occur around the country at the monstrous handling of the poor, who are still dying of neglect in the South, you can bet they will be hyped and fabricated into a huge scare campaign. Absolute power and a military police state under a dictator is what they want, and they will do anything to achieve it.

[...of J.Temperance]

20. I now think we perhaps should digest THIS article (link included in post)

http://www.2theadvocate.com/stories/091505/new_blancoblame001.shtml

I posted this in response to your above post, because judging by your post and judging by my earlier posts further up this thread, we seem to be coming from the same direction on this issue of Governor Blanco accepting blame.

However, in light of reading the Baton Rouge Advocate article that I've linked...I now think that Governor Blanco could be playing this smart and she could be playing the Bush bastard, you know, using him.

So, read the article, read between the lines, read the way the article is phrased and read Governor Blanco's OTHER comments from last night...the comments that the AP assholes are NOT reporting, and see what you think.

[Nothing Without Hope]

23. Yes, it looks like she was basically affirming that she is in charge,

not really taking the specific blame. Since W had tried to rip the state and civil powers away from her, it's really saying that she is the boss and thus formally where the buck stops.

I'm afraid most people outside Louisiana will take what she said literally.

The Baton Rouge article you link to shows that in Louisiana, there are a range of opinions that are unlikely to be affected by her statement of blame. For example:

(snip)

State lawmakers of both parties generally praised Blanco's handling of the disaster, criticized the federal response and struggled to offer concrete ideas on what, if any, changes in state law are needed.

(snip)

House and Senate members were less charitable of the response by the federal government.

"FEMA was greatly disappointing," said Sen. Jay Dardenne, R-Baton Rouge, of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Others pointed at Blanco.

(snip - a Republican is quoted praising Bush and blaming Blanco.)

[...of J.Temperance]

28. I agree with you and it's actually what Louisiana thinks is important

Considering New Orleans IS in Louisiana, so who cares what the rest of the country thinks.

I feel very reassured now, and I think it teaches us to get another opinion from another source. I mean I originally jumped to the WRONG conclusion myself.

The good thing for Governor Blanco is that the Louisiana State Legislature is in the hands of the Democratic Party and the leader of that body was chosen by Governor Blanco herself.

[Nothing Without Hope]

36. The Rethugs will try to spin her statement and we have to be ready to

rebut their lies.

So far, our Democratic leaders in national TV interviews have NOT been well-pepared to do this. The same tired GOP spin arguments and photos (like those school busses) are trotted out and they do not shoot them down as they could and should. This has to stop; it is inexcusable and has done damage that was avoidable.

George Lakoff has pointed this out:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2079322
Thread title: Lakoff - Dems need to start framing post-Katrina now!

[radfringe]

21. FULLY RESPONSIBILITY

bush*'s statement the other day about taking responsibility to the "extent" that FEMA screwed up - the key words being "to the extent" - this is his "exit plan"

Blanco on the other hand - is now taking FULL RESPONSIBILITY and saying the BUCK STOPS HERE

While I agree that Blanco is having her arm twisted - she's more of a leader than bush* by stating she's taking FULL RESPONSIBILITY -- there was no quibbling about "to the extent that the state failed"

Kicking Brown off the cliff was an easy "out" for bush* - yeah I know it's been reported Brown voluntarily submitted his resignation and was going to resign after the hurricane season - but the Katrina mess goes deeper than just Brown.

My 2-cents - The 'failure' is at all levels - beginning with the assumption that FEMA would be capable of responding - this assumption led to inadequate preparation. Those seeking shelter in the Superdome or staying in their homes were - at best - only prepared for a couple of days waiting for FEMA to arrive. They assumed help would arrive in a reasonable amount of time.

Local and State officials also assumed help would arrive in a timely manner. I'm guessing their "emergency plans" would have included some sort of timeline assumption about FEMA and other agencies to show-up. I'm also sure that other states have such assumptions about aid arriving from FEMA (et al) in their emergency plans.

Nonetheless - FEMA didn't show up, the ball was dropped. Even more damaging is what it has done to faith in the the government's ability to respond to an emergency situation.

I would hope the rest of the state and local governments are now reviewing their emergency plans and take into consideration that FEMA and Homeland Security won't show up in a reasonable amount of time and/or won't show up at all.

[applegrove]

22. If you read Brown's account, read the accounts from Blanco & put them

together it sounds like Blanco was being scapegoated from early on. Somehow that she didn't produce a "list" of things she wanted..they ridiculed her for not following the "rules". And because she wasn't capable or ready to itemize things..that they scapegoated her & played telephone tag with her. Nagin gets full points from Brown for giving them a detailed list.

It is really odd. And then the President made his first speeches and itemized a whole list of things FEMA was doing. Homeland security to went list crazy.

Just a feeling. Seems that if your style was not "list oriented" then no creativity or ingenuity existed to get beyond that.

[bvar22]

25. *

Republican GREED has now KILLED more Americans than Al Qaeda!

The Democratic Party is a BIG TENT, but there is NO ROOM for those who advance the agenda of THE RICH (Corporate Owners) at the EXPENSE of LABOR and the POOR.

[Fluffdaddy]

43. You got some Big Brass ones. I bet you get some dirty looks driving past

you. You are a better person then me.:thumbsup:

[AnnInLa]

26. EXACT QUOTE IS: "AS YOUR GOVERNOR, I ACCEPT....

full responsiblility. The buck stops here." What part of "As your governor" do you guys not understand? She was addressing the Louisiana legislature and the Louisiana people. She did not take responsibility for the federal gov'ts (bush) response!!! Get a grip.

[DemsUnited]

29. Exactly, she also said there were mistakes made at all levels.

[Griffy]

46. true BUT the soundbyte heard on CNN radio is "Blanco takes responsibilty!"

I almost choked.. we know the facts here... but this just gets head nodding from all the bushies and freeps... confirming the distortion the media puts out that everyone is equally to blame.

sigh....

.. and note that all repubs in the senate voted against an independent commision.. except 1, LA junior senator (R), who DIDNT VOTE.. coward! Bushco has alota influence!

[jayfish]

49. Tell It To Whoever Penned The Headline.

Geeze Louise.

Jay

[Demeter]

30. Any Idea What She Thinks She Is Doing?

I think Governor Blanco needs to get some sleep and nourishment.

[...of J.Temperance]

34. I trust our Governor and I think that she does know what she's doing and

She's probably surviving on catnaps and crawdads. She's holding up and she's doing her job.

I don't think Governor Blanco NEEDS to be in bed at 9.30pm EVERY night with her pilly and a crate of JD ;)

[applegrove]

33. I still cannot shake that funny feeling that the WH were playing a "game

they wanted to win" with Blanco. Who cares if there is no itemized list.

You work around whatever..it is an emergency.

[Ferretherder]

35. Ya' know, after reading all of these replies,...

...I'd like to believe those of you who are essentially saying, 'Hey, there is a rational reason to what Blanco's doing, and there will be a rational response from everyone involved'.

Sorry, but I'm afraid you are all wrong.

I live in this state, and I'm bettin' we see a recall effort underway before the end of this MONTH! The rabid right-wingers here will point to this statement and say 'See, we TOLD YOU SO, now let's get rid of her ass!'......

...mark my words.

And, yes, I hope I don't know what the hell I'm talking about, either.

[...of J.Temperance]

38. Well let them try

Even without the votes of Orleans Parish, Blanco would still have won by 8,000 votes.

Most of the state are not rabid right-wingers and they can see that she did all she could with what she had and that she's got a plan for reconstruction. I also think Governor Blanco's people have a complete list of how FEMA tryed to hamstring them at EVERY opportunity.

'Um, if I'm wrong and you're right, well then, I'll owe you a bottle of Tequila.

[Ferretherder]

47. Make it a bottle of 'Yellow Label' Clicquot,...

...and yer' on!

...but, if I lose, I only owe you a bottle of 'decent' tequila.

Yewww. That sounds kinda' republican of me, doesn't it?

[...of J.Temperance]

55. Okay

It's a deal. I lose you get a bottle of yellow label Clicquot. You lose I get a bottle of decent Tequila OR a bottle of Green Chartreuse...I'm easy ya see ;)

Nah, you don't sound Republican :)

[demo dutch]

54. If she get all the dollars she needs, she'l lbe a hero in the end

that all people will care about!

[leesa]

39. Shame on her. What a stooooopid thing to do! She has been exonerated

already and then she takes the whack for Bush's crimes??

[Fluffdaddy]

42. A good leader takes Responsibility for "their part" of a failure

[QC]

40. She's putting the ball in Bush's court.

Now Bush is in the position of either funding the reconstruction or defending his decision not to fund it.

It's a smooth move, apparently too smooth for the usual dem-bashers here to get it. Some people play chess and others play checkers....

[Fluffdaddy]

41. Lets face it La. Governor Kathleen Blanco did a piss poor job

in the immediate response to the Hurricane. But after that it just got to big for one State to handle. That's when federal government should have stepped up to the plate...............But Did NOT, And that's when people started to die

[symbolman]

44. This reminds me of a story I once read in I think

Ripley's Believe it or not, about a Roman Fire Chief who would show up at the scene of a fire and while it was starting to blaze tell the owner to either sign over the property to him or he would let it all burn to the ground.

It just keeps coming to mind and make perfect sense in this New Roman Era..

Waiting for Bush to appoint a Horse as a Senator and then screw it right in the Rotuda for all to see with a crown of gold leaves wrapped around his head.

Low ratings in the Polls? Doesn't anyone remember his fabulous statement, "WHO CARES WHAT YOU THINK?"

He has all the marbles. Game over. Unless say a million or so people stormed the White House and REMOVED him, but that's just a fantasy some folks keep telling me..

Who'd want to harm our brain trust? Not me, that's for sure - but the families of the actual DEAD people in NO, and it AIN'T NO 700 PEOPLE, that's TOTAL BULLSHIT, more like tens of THOUSANDS Dead - those families all have pissed off relatives with nothing to lose - so I hope security is extra tight at the White House, there's nothing more dangerous than a man that has Nothing to lose..

[Tippy]

48. Wonder what she will get in return for this speech n/t

[demo dutch]

52. Lots of dollars for reconstruction that's the objective in the end!

[Roland99]

50. I think her political career is now....over.

[demo dutch]

53. No it isn't, if the reconstruction effort goes well, she'll be a hero

[demo dutch]

51. self delete

[NuttyFluffers]

56. i believe this was the article i was looking for

btw, it's already being used by regular folks as blame shifting wholesale to her instead of the feds. that's why i was looking for this interview since yesterday.

but i'm intrigued at the IMPROPER QUOTING by cnn headline writer. interesting. back to same bullshit at cnn. good. reminds me to never use them as a final source, just like national enquirer shouldn't be used as legitimate news by itself :7

collecting and saving articles, thanks guys! especially for the 2nd article from baton rouge.