Landrieu says federal government failed to protect American lives

[steve2470]

http://www.wwltv.com/sharedcontent/APStories/stories/D8CG7RTO0.html

09/08/2005

By DAVID PACE / Associated Press

Louisiana Sen. Mary Landrieu took to the Senate floor Thursday to accuse the federal government of failing in its "greatest responsibility" — protecting the lives of Americans after Hurricane Katrina left New Orleans flooded.

"Let me be the first to take the blame," Landrieu said, before chiding President Bush for saying soon after the storm that no one anticipated the levies that protect New Orleans from flood waters would have broken.

"Everybody anticipated a breach," she said.

Landrieu, who lost her family home in the storm, was surrounded by Senate Democrats as she spoke for 30 minutes in the hushed chamber about her experiences over the past two week. Only one Republican, Sen. Thad Cochran of Mississippi, was on the floor.

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sorry if this is a dupe. Interesting that only one Repuke was on the floor.