Call to Impeach Blanco goes out...

[Gruenemann]

Looks like Roveco has enlisted some local slimeoids....email making the rounds...

Subject: If this is true, Blanco needs to be exposed, this should not
be answered

On Friday night, August 26, 2005 before the Hurricane hit,

Max Mayfield of the National Hurricane Center took the

unprecedented action of calling Mayor Nagin of New Orleans

and Louisiana Governor Blanco personally to plead with them

to begin MANDATORY evacuation of New Orleans and they

said they'd take it under consideration. This was after the

NOAA buoy 240 miles south had recorded 68' waves before

it was destroyed.



President Bush spent Friday afternoon and evening in

meetings with his advisors and administrators drafting

all of the paperwork required for a state to request

federal assistance (and not be in violation of the

Posse Comitatus Act or having to enact the Insurgency

Act).



Just before midnight Friday evening the President

called Governor Blanco and pleaded with her to sign

the request papers so the federal government and the

military could legally begin mobilization and call up.

He was told that they didn't think it necessary for

the federal government to be involved yet.



After the President's final call to the governor she

held meetings with her staff to discuss the political

ramifications of bringing federal forces. It was

decided that if they allowed federal assistance it

would make it look as if they had failed so it was

agreed upon that the feds would not be invited in.



Saturday, August 27, before the Hurricane hit, the

President again called Blanco and Nagin requesting

they please sign the papers requesting federal

assistance, that they declare the state an emergency

area, and begin mandatory evacuation.



After a personal plea from the President, Mayor Nagin

agreed to order an evacuation, but it would not be a full

mandatory evacuation, and the governor still refused

to sign the papers requesting and authorizing federal

action. In frustration the President declared the area

a national disaster area before the state of Louisiana

did so he could legally begin some advanced

preparations.



Rumor has it that the President's legal advisers were

looking into the ramifications of using the insurgency

act to bypass the Constitutional requirement that a

state request federal aid before the federal

government can move into state with troops - but that

had not been done since 1906 and the Constitutionality

of it was called into question to use before the

disaster.



Throw in that over half the federal aid of the past

decade to New Orleans for levee construction,

maintenance, and repair was diverted to fund a marina

and support the gambling ships. Toss in the investigation

that will look into why the emergency preparedness plan

submitted to the federal government for funding and

published on the city's website was never implemented

and in fact may have been bogus for the purpose of

gaining additional federal funding. As we now learn

that the organizations identified in the plan were

never contacted or coordinating into any planning,

though the document implies that they were.



The suffering people of New Orleans need to be

asking some hard questions as do we all, but they

better start with why Governor Blanco refused to even

sign the multi-state mutual aid pack activation documents

until Wednesday, August 31, which further delayed the legal

deployment of National Guard from adjoining states.

Or maybe ask why Mayor Nagin keeps harping that the

President should have commandeered 500 Greyhound

busses to help him when according to his own emergency

plan and documents he claimed to have over 500 busses

at his disposal to use between the local school busses

and the city transportation busses - but he never raised

a finger to prepare them or activate them.



This is a sad time for all of us to see that a major

city has all but been destroyed and thousands of

people have died with hundreds of thousands more

suffering, but it's certainly not a time for people to

be pointing fingers and trying to find a bigger dog to

blame for local corruption and incompetence. Pray to

God for the survivors that they can start their lives

anew as fast as possible and we learn from all the

mistakes to avoid them in the future.

--

[SammyWinstonJack]

1. kick

[Frances]

2. Impeach Bush for these lies

[Ediacara]

3. This is essentially a lie

Blanco in fact did declare Louisiana a disaster area on Friday or Saturday before the storm hit. Disaster declarations aparently end the need for paperwork signing etc, which is the lame excuse the Bush administration is using to explain the 5 day delay and the reason Blanco is to blame.

And realistically, if Bush was really that concerned, he could have bypassed paperwork too and called in the military and declared martial law.

Nothing was done on the federal end for five days because the feds arre incompetent, not because of paperwork. Bush was screwing around with cake and guitars, Condi was shoe shopping, Rummy was watching baseball, and Cheney was fishing.

[DeepModem Mom]

4. Karl and his minions worked hard on this, and planted it somewhere. nt

[Seabiscuit]

35. This is what they were doing for 4 days while thousands died.

Malignant pustules.

[kerry-is-my-prez]

5. I hope she's seen this to be able to dispute it.

n/t

[longship]

6. This begs the all important question.

If the White House knew the seriousness of Katrina to the point that they were requesting LA and NOLA executives to take action, why then did they wait five days before they acted? If they *KNEW* these things and did not prepare, it is *their* neglect, too. In fact, knowing that the locals would not be able to handle the situation it is all the more damning that Chimp, Cheney, and the whole lot of them remained on vacation, making political speeches, shopping, etc. even days after the situation descended into chaos.

[Mr_Spock]

24. Very good point...

.

[SammyWinstonJack]

28. Probably why they are in CYA mode.

[ken_g]

41. Great point..

This B.S. is so goofy: it doesn't give them any cover AT ALL!

[jody]

42. Good point. n/t

[FreedomAngel82]

52. Exactly!

Why was George Bush playing a guitar, eating cake with John McCain and going golfing and fundraising and staying at a fancy hotel in California?

[SaveAmerica]

55. Exactly, they would have give the Bataan the go ahead as soon

as Katrina had gone through or sometime soonafter. Plus, It says W was calling Blanco 3 or 4 times in a couple days' time? Please. He was too busy asking Laura for quarters for the hobby horse to call anybody for anything important.

[FloridaPat]

7. This is crap. The govenor could call up the NG anytime - if there were

any. Why is that not being addressed. The Feds cannot come in the create law and order. But they can come in for rescue operations. What was the coast guard doing there on Tuesday?

And I'm getting real tired with the mandatory evacuation crap. Just because it's a mandatory evacuation doesn't mean you have to leave. Even now they're having trouble getting the ones out that don't want to go.

[never_get_over_it]

48. Does anyone remember

on Sunday before the storm and when they were announcing the mandatory evacuation Blanco and Nagin held a press conference and the subject of the NG came up and I know Blanco said something like she had or was calling them up but most were in Iraq or not available or something like that - does anyone remember this and what exactly she said?

I hope Landreau stops this BS

[notadmblnd]

8. The bush administration was trying to blackmail them?

withholding help until they signed control over to the feds. I know it's their cover story.. but I think the truth is hidden in here too.

[Avalux]

9. What a steaming pile of crap.

"Just before midnight Friday evening the President called Governor Blanco and pleaded with her to sign the request papers so the federal government and the military could legally begin mobilization and call up."

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[complain jane]

10. Bush's cavalier demeanor in TV appearances alone blast that

email to shreds.

Yeah, he sure seemed 'concerned', 'frustrated' and 'pleading' with Blanco... joking around and seeming completely unaware a tragedy was even taking place.

BULLSHIT. He showed how clueless he was about the whole thing right on national television.

If this is the best Bush(Rove) can come up with then he might as well throw in the towel and find a nice lemonade stand to run (into the ground, I might add).

[elehhhhna]

11. How did Nagin & Blanco keep the FED & FEMA out of THREE STATES???

I really want to know. If they're that powerful, they should run for Prez & VP.

[LincolnMcGrath]

40. That says it all right there

:yourock:

[McCamy Taylor]

12. Beelzebub, Lord of Lies is alive and well in the White House.

[alcibiades_mystery]

13. LOL: And the President was so frantic about this supposed inaction

That he decided to fly out to San Diego, give a couple of fund raising speeches, relax at a posh Rancho Cucamonga resort, nosh on some cake with John McCain, and strum a little guitar with Mark Wills. Oh, and then back to Crawford for some down time. That's how frantic and concerned Bush was about the mayor and the governor's inaction!

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

If the President was so concerned, how can they explain his actions on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday? How can they explain it?

[complain jane]

14. EXACTLY!! THANK you!

[Beaverhausen]

15. where did this come from?

and why don't you ask whoever it came from for proof?

[Mr_Spock]

25. I dunno - but it's been in circulation for a few days

My ex was using these arguments on me on Sunday - said they were from the newspaper and then said something about a long "email".

This is a carefully planned attack and we need to expose this attack and convict the criminals who are perpetuating these lies (Roveco).

[gollygee]

16. It took Rove a WEEK to come up with that?

Come on Karl. You're slipping.

And you're too late to spin this away.

[Brother Buzz]

27. No, Rove had this worked up a week ago...

He just had difficulty finding a sucker willing to run with it. Fishing has been lousy lately.

[McCamy Taylor]

17. BTW, Could I suggest a thread name change to avoid confusion?

Otherwise, some might suspect that this thread is intended to make some browsing the DU question the committment of Blanco and the public support of the people of Louisiana, perhaps even to ensure than no one donates to her state's charity?

[Mr_Spock]

26. I agree - it's a bit inflammatory

IT gets attention, but is kind of a marketing pitch...

[McCamy Taylor]

18. The title of this thread implies that some people actually blame Blanco.

[McCamy Taylor]

19. But the only place I have seen this sentiment expressed is this thread

[teach1st]

20. I like the "rumor has it" bit...

Rumor has it that the President's legal advisers were looking into the ramifications of using the insurgency act to bypass the Constitutional requirement that a state request federal aid before the federal government can move into state with troops

Rumor has it, Karl, that the federal aid was already requested. And since when has this administration been concerned about the Constitution?

From the FEMA web site:

Emergency Aid Authorized For Hurricane Katrina Emergency Response In Louisiana

http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=18447

Release Date: August 27, 2005

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Michael D. Brown...today announced that Federal resources are being allocated to support emergency protective response efforts response efforts in the parishes located in the path of Hurricane Katrina.

Brown said President Bush authorized the aid under an emergency disaster declaration issued following a review of FEMA's analysis of the state's request for federal assistance. FEMA will mobilize equipment and resources necessary to protect public health and safety by assisting law enforcement with evacuations, establishing shelters, supporting emergency medical needs, meeting immediate lifesaving and life-sustaining human needs and protecting property, in addition to other emergency protective measures.

....

FEMA prepares the nation for all hazards and manages federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates mitigation activities, trains first responders, works with state and local emergency managers, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration. FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003.

[Kerrytravelers]

21. Find the 4 page request by the LA gov to * listing exactly what she needed

DAYS IN ADVANCE!!!!!!!!

[brettdale]

22. kick

kick

[Beaverhausen]

23. please don't kick this piece of right wing BS

we don't really need to read it.

[Mr_Spock]

29. This email is being circulated to people as if this was something real

I think we should have a response ready for it - maybe this will be a good place to get our talking points together. I already had to argue against this email and I was somewhat caught off guard by the accusations about the school busses in NO...

[Beaverhausen]

32. and there is no proof given anywhere. I say ask for proof

and quit posting this shit here at DU. We know better.

[Mr_Spock]

39. I had a screaming match with my ex because she believed this crap

It is worth it to carefully pick this one apart I think...

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

30. I PMd you earlier. You have to have the info on Northern Command.

Please read this and watch the video also at this link. A reporter asked Scottie about Northern Command today during the press briefing and had Scottie spinning...

drm604 (716 posts) Sat Sep-03-05 11:14 AM
Original message
On BBC: Northern Command was in position, waiting for Presidential orders.


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=4605183

[Rainscents]

31. What the fucking rumor you trying to start here???

Go to Randi Rhodes and there is EMERGENCY letter sent to President Bush on AUG 26th, 2005, by Governor!!! Get a clue and please don't post this shit here!!!

[Beaverhausen]

34. thank you- I'm sick of this shit

[Spazito]

33. Ummmm, there is something very key missing here

PROOF. This is pathetic and won't work any better than all the other right wing spew that they have tried.

[Name removed]

36. Deleted message

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

[Beaverhausen]

38. Looks like a hit and run - at least on this thread

[Bridget Burke]

44. Too bad the Search feature is not working.

Results can be quite illuminating.

[Mr_Spock]

45. I was going to do the search when I realized it was not working

:(

They can be quite revealing at times :D

[donco6]

47. First thought I had, too.

Something smells fishy. Can't search.

[Name removed]

37. Deleted message

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

[HEyHEY]

43. I know it's hard to read, but fear not the truth will come out in hearings

This is too big, too obvious to fade away

[Dogmudgeon]

46. How to handle this letter

If you or anyone else gets it, and/or presents it to you, here's what you can do.

First, point out that there is a well-documented trail of activity that FEMA itself posted ON ITS OWN WEBSITE. Why are there no links to the supporting evidence? Because the evidence clearly supports a charge of dereliction of duty on the part of the Bush Administration.

Second, there is also a well-documented trail of activity issuing from the office of the Governor of Louisiana, including Gov. Blanco's requests for FEMA involvement and declaration of a State of Emergency. Why are there no links to THIS set of evidence?

Third, arguing that "protocol" is the reason why Bush & Co. delayed action for over 36 hours is untenable. FEMA is explicitly authorized to bypass established channels of protocol by a series of Public Laws enacted from 1970 through 1993 AND by the newer laws pertaining to the Department of Homeland Security. Right wing websites often cite these same laws in their paranoid fantasies of Hillary taking over the country and brainwashing Christian children to be Wiccans, Lesbians, and Socialists. In any case, the text of these laws are also at FEMA.

Again, these sources of information are all available on-line, through government websites, and distributed among several news services, including the right-wing ones. Hit "Reply All" and tell the sender to put up or shut up. Over 10,000 people may be dead, and the Bush toadies are already spinning and mud-slinging.

Demand responsible action -- NOW.

--p!

[ComerPerro]

49. Pathetic. Isn't it amazing that Neocon sycophants demand everything from

everyone but Bush, and then at the same time they are willing to remove all responsibility from Bush?

Hell, they don't even care that the lazy motherfucking asshole didn't even get off his fucking vacation until Wednesday.

What the fuck is wrong with these people. Are that just that pathetically devoted to Bush, or are they seriously that stupid?

[proud2BlibKansan]

53. When it comes to blame, they are ABBs

They blame Anybody But Bush.

Did you listen to rush today? What outrageous stuff did he have to say?

[FreedomAngel82]

50. AHH!!!

I hate these assholes!

[FreedomAngel82]

51. Can't we take these people to court??

[KamaAina]

54. Impeach *Blanco*??!!

I was thinking about someone else whose name begins with "B" -- and ends in **!!!