White House Shifts Blame - WaPo

[rndmprsn]

well we all knew this was coming...the "usual" rove thing to do...yawn, its getting old and no one is listening anymore...fuck you bushboy and all your cronies....

notice the big (D) next to the governors name who is the next target for this admins propaganda machine....hmmmm

your clothes have appeared...what a bitch huh?


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/03/AR2005090301680.html?sub=AR

NEW ORLEANS, Sept. 3 -- Tens of thousands of people spent a fifth day awaiting evacuation from this ruined city, as Bush administration officials blamed state and local authorities for what leaders at all levels have called a failure of the country's emergency management.

The White House dispatched 7,200 more troops to the area, bringing the total in the stricken region to more than 40,000 National Guard and active-duty soldiers. Authorities reported progress in restoring order and electricity and repairing levees, as a hospital ship arrived and cruise ships were sent to provide temporary housing for victims. As Louisiana officials expressed confidence that they had begun to get a handle on the crisis, a dozen National Guard troops broke into applause late Saturday as Isaac Kelly, 81, the last person to be evacuated from the Superdome, boarded a school bus...

...Behind the scenes, a power struggle emerged, as federal officials tried to wrest authority from Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Babineaux Blanco (D). Shortly before midnight Friday, the Bush administration sent her a proposed legal memorandum asking her to request a federal takeover of the evacuation of New Orleans, a source within the state's emergency operations center said Saturday.

The administration had sought control over National Guard units, normally under control of the governor. Louisiana officials rejected the request, noting that such a move would be comparable to a federal declaration of martial law. State authorities suspected a political motive behind the request. "Quite frankly, if they'd been able to pull off taking it away from the locals, they then could have blamed everything on the locals," said the source, who is an adviser and does not have the authority to speak publicly.

Blanco made two moves Saturday that protected her independence from the federal government: She created a philanthropic fund for the state's victims and hired James Lee Witt, Federal Emergency Management Agency director in the Clinton administration, to advise her on the relief effort.

[steve2470]

1. kick nt

[The Backlash Cometh]

2. That Blanco had better have some political saavy because

they're gunning for her.

[Old and In the Way]

3. Good move on her part.

This administration screwed up. If there are problems now, it is totally the feds who weren't prepared as of last Sunday...in fact, why didn't Bush have FEMA ready by last Friday? The storm was building into a Cat.5 at that point and, where it hit, there was going to be a massive relief effort needed by the what state it impacted.

[Sparkly]

4. They don't want Witt involved. n/t

[txindy]

6. Exactly why it's a brilliant move. I wonder who originally thought of it.

Whoever it was, my hat's off to them.

[Roland99]

17. Wonder what they'll dig up on him next week?

Or try to pin on him.

[stickdog]

5. Once again the BUCK STOPS EVERYWHERE ELSE.

[young_at_heart]

7. Can't we have something else besides blame?

Blame, secrecy, control.......their mantra. It's worked so far, but maybe people are starting to come out of their trance.

[rndmprsn]

8. not working anymore for them

but they dont know what else to do so roves playbook gets action again...the rethug hit machine will be all over her tomorrow

[moondust]

9. Savvy.

"if they'd been able to pull off taking it away from the locals, they then could have blamed everything on the locals"

Exactly.

[rndmprsn]

10. very

[dsc]

11. Is anything every these people's fault

I swear they could be seen doing something by a bus load of nuns with 20/20 vision and still blame someone else.

[in_cog_ni_to]

12. The WORLD was watching. The WORLD knows who's to blame.

The WORLD knows that on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday the idiot was eating cake with McCain, giving a speech to rally support for his shitty ass Medicare program and stayed at a posh resort in San Diego, attended a fundraiser, went golfing and had a good old time strumming on a guitar before he went back to his luxury ranch. On he decided he better start playing prez...people were getting pissed. HE OWNS THIS FUCKING MESS and the WORLD knows it!:bounce:

They want to lay blame? LOOK IN THE DAMN MIRROR! :grr:

[markus]

13. This is the most evil lie yet

As pointed out by the East Jefferson Parish Emergency Services directory, the protocol was that locals had to be able to hold it together for 48 hours until federal relief could arrive.

This was post on the new blogs from the local NOLA media.

I can try to find the link again.

[markus]

16. Here's one contradictory cite, and there were others

Here is a brief reference from the WWLT-TV Katrina Blog. I believe there was a longer story posted on one of the local media sites or moved by the AP.

Meastri is the Jefferson Parish emergency services directory. The standing protocol was they had to hang for for 48 hours until the cavalry arrived.

The calvary never came.

7:03 A.M. - Maestri: We had a plan and we followed it (on storm coverage). Mayor Nagin and those in Jefferson believed that within 48 hours food, water and security would be here. It didn't happen.

From here: http://www.wwltv.com/local/stories/WWLBLOGFRIDAYNIGHT.54fff589.html

[VolcanoJen]

14. The New Enemy: Lousisiana.

So, now that rat bastard of a President wants Americans to gang up on Lousisiana. The new enemy of the people.

Ungodly to me. Simply ghastly.

[SammyWinstonJack]

15. Sure looks like it!

Divide, Divide and Divide. He has kept this Country divided since before his stole his way into PRESIDENT GORE'S WH!

[VolcanoJen]

18. Turning on a red state, though... good politics?

Election 2004 Results:

http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004//pages/results/states/LA/P/00/county.001.html#22087

Louisiana

Bush - 1,102,169 57%
Kerry - 820,299 42%

Now, I admit to not being terribly familiar with the parish/county system in Lousiana, but in what they call Orleans County, Kerry won 78% to 22%, which is interesting.

I'm amazed at the right's willingness to cannabilize their own when faced with criticism. I shouldn't be, but I'm still amazed.