Nagin praising B* - Backing away from Governor - OMG -The fix is in!!

[Laura PourMeADrink]

When asked on MTP about blame for Bush, Nagin replied that when he spoke to Bush, Bush responded and made things happen. He did blame Government agency response and Bush's advisors for not informing Bush of the severity of events - but never blamed Bush himself. Nagin backed away when asked if there was blame on the Governor's part. Leaving his fellow Democrat high and dry (no pun intended).

My take - Nagin needs Bush. He knows the hand that will feed him going forward. Bush knows Nagin will be reelected in the future. He is considered a folk hero in NOLA. Bush et al, see the vulnerability of Blanco. As things look like now, Blanco will probably not get reelected. What better prize for repugs? A Republican governor in LA. After all, governors control the SELECTION process

[boston bean]

1. yep I noticed the same thing. nt

[GreenPartyVoter]

2. Dang. That is too bad.... I like Nagin and I wonder if the junta have

threatened him to the point that he has no choice.

------------------------------------------------------
Ditch Bu$h and save the Gulf: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=106&topic_id=22507&mesg_id=22507

Then save the nation!
http://www.geocities.com/greenpartyvoter/electionreform.htm

[boston bean]

I have read here on DU that he changed party affiliations to run for mayor

[GreenPartyVoter]

9. I have heard that too and that he donated to **, but I think in the

wake of this mess he has to be doing some major soul searching, I believe his earlier rants over what he is saying these days. He's been "got to", imo.

------------------------------------------------------
Ditch Bu$h and save the Gulf: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=106&topic_id=22507&mesg_id=22507

Then save the nation!
http://www.geocities.com/greenpartyvoter/electionreform.htm

[FreedomAngel82]

63. Of course he was

You don't just go from blasting Bush to praising him that quick. Please. He was threatned/blackmailed or something.

[okieinpain]

111. or maybe he realized the gov is just too slow to respond.

[Reciprocity]

76. GreenPartyVoter/ "he has to be doing some major soul searching"

Yes he did soul searching and found his, where it's always been, in the republican party.

[TankLV]

81. That is correct - he was a repuke once.

Once a repuke, always a repuke.

Nothing is ever what it seems.

[okieinpain]

112. that's not what du was saying a couple of days ago.

[okieinpain]

110. or maybe the gov is just dumb

[blitzen]

3. Nagin endorsed Repug Jindal over Blanco for Gov. n/t

[Algorem]

4. $$$?

[billbuckhead]

6. Nagin is a corporate Republican with a (D) behing his name

Did he give money to Bush/Cheney?

[Algorem]

45. He should be f'd like he's never been f'd before.

[jackster]

5. and Nagin was a repub

but switched to dem in order to win the mayoral election

[liberaliraqvet26]

7. Nagin was a repuke...

and has never liked Blanco, he endorsed the repubnant Jindal in the Gov race. Nagin supported * in 2000 and only grudgengly supported Kerry in '04.

I dont trust him.

[maryallen]

75. And he had to buy a new house in Dallas ....

Damn, somebody's got to pay for the new digs.
Might as well be Bush boy and his buds ...

[KamaAina]

100. I thought it was odd that he bought rather than rented

I mean, I can see where he'd want a place for his family to live safely, send the kids to schools that are open, and all -- but he's the mayor of New Orleans, for crying out loud! Doesn't he expect people to be back in there by, say, the first of the year, latest? Or does he know something -- did King Dumbass** tell him something? -- that he's not telling us? :scared:

[oasis]

107. Methinks Nagin has a lot of disposable income.

:shrug:

[okieinpain]

113. well it's too late for blanco now. she has put herself in a bad spot.

[liberaliraqvet26]

8. He takes after Bloomberg...

switching parties to win

[DoYouEverWonder]

10. So let's all swift boat Nagin again

Of course they aren't going to say anything bad about the President. It has to do with 'respect' for the office not the man.

Landreau wouldn't got there either. If they did it would be suicide.

[boston bean]

12. I want to agree with you, but he was very critical of blanco. He didn't

have to be, but he was.

[dogman]

14. Then why does he help swift boat the governor?

Where is the respect there?

[DoYouEverWonder]

17. He has a right to be upset

He was in the fire. We don't.

[dogman]

22. Upset with the gov. but not Bush?

BS politics already.

[DoYouEverWonder]

29. Everything I've seen and read indictates

that he isn't very happy with any of them.

[dogman]

35. But that is not how he expressed himself today.

He said Bush gave him what he asked for. Look at his history and listen to his statements, it seems quite clear to me.

[DoYouEverWonder]

41. You don't think that Bush

doesn't have Nagin by the balls at the moment.

Nagin knows this and after cursing at Bush on the air, he knows that Bush can give and take the assistance that his people so desperately needs right now.

This sucks, but it's reality.

[dogman]

49. Don't you think Blanco is in the same boat?

When he criticized everyone in his emotional from the heart speech, he said "I'll probably get in trouble for this". In trouble with whom? Of course they have him by the balls, they had him by the balls when the corporate interests put him in power. He knows where his bread is buttered and he is engaged int the number one political priority, self-preservation.

[magnolia]

59. You need to read the transcript....

...Nagin did not say that Bush gave him what he asked for. He made it very clear that he DIDN'T get what he asked for!

He said "Bush acted and made things happen". How you take that is based on the definition of "things". Earlier in the interview he said that the initial response was a lot of photo ops and media. Nagin made a very vague statement that anyone can take however they want...which is probably wise.

[leftchick]

90. That is the way I saw it as well

I did think he was a little too hard on Blanco. But then he knows more of what went on than I do.

[fooj]

91. Wonder...I saw him and heard him this morning...

He completely threw the Gov. under the bus. Completely. And Shrub? The man who took seven days to come to his aid? The man who was too busy pushing his social security scam to give a rat's ass about NO? Well..."he gets things done." You and I BOTH know better than that.

Peace.

[oasis]

80. Nagin should have applied the same "no comment" type of response to

Russert's question about leadership. What the nation got was:Bush "no comment" Blanco "bad".

[dogman]

11. He also contradicted himself.

He criticized efforts to return victims to Louisiana, yet said New Orleans would be rebuilt by citizens of the city. He stated evacuees were better off in Texas, where he is presently located, and that the state just wanted it's citizens back for votes. He stated that corporations had offered to sponsor Mardi Gras. He has a corporate background and IMO he will be a proud enabler of the fascist agenda.

[magnolia]

27. It sounded to me like he was.....

...talking about short term care. If they are at the astrodome in Houston, you know they can't stay there forever. If they are put in a make shift trailer park then they can easily be forgotten. If the fed. govt. wants to take over the re-building of NO, they can claim that the citizens have re-located, have new homes and are just fine.

[dogman]

33. They can't participate from out of state.

The evacuees are being told to settle in and find jobs when they get to these temp shelters.

[Mel]

30. did you see this?

I think your correct about Nagin.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05251/567892.stm
Old-line families plot the future
Thursday, September 08, 2005
By Christopher Cooper, The Wall Street Journal

<snip>In recent years, the city's most powerful business circles have expanded to include some newcomers and non-whites, such as Mayor Ray Nagin, the former Cox Communications executive elected in 2002.

A few blocks from Mr. O'Dwyer, in an exclusive gated community known as Audubon Place, is the home of James Reiss, descendent of an old-line Uptown family. He fled Hurricane Katrina just before the storm and returned soon afterward by private helicopter. Mr. Reiss became wealthy as a supplier of electronic systems to shipbuilders, and he serves in Mayor Nagin's administration as chairman of the city's Regional Transit Authority. When New Orleans descended into a spiral of looting and anarchy, Mr. Reiss helicoptered in an Israeli security company to guard his Audubon Place house and those of his neighbors.

He says he has been in contact with about 40 other New Orleans business leaders since the storm. Tomorrow, he says, he and some of those leaders plan to be in Dallas, meeting with Mr. Nagin to begin mapping out a future for the city.</snip>

[flyarm]

88. sureeeeeeeee now instead of being mayor to a very poor city

he can be mayor of a newly built corporate, most likely casino city...

unlike Atlantic city where the poor surround the casinos..it will become a mega center of plush new casinos and hotels..and he will be king of the heap!

what disgusting sellouts people become..don't they??

run some cold cash under their noses..and they will sell out anyone...
tell me on the salary of a mayor for a very poor city..where did this mayor get the money to buy a new home in dallas???

in a flashbeat he bought a new house in dallas...??

where did he get the money??\

his salary can't be that high!!

follow the money folks..follow the money!!
did he have a house in NO??

did he have insurance for flood and wind separately like the insurance companies are now saying the residents in missisippi must have???
does he have a mortgage on the house in NO??

because he would have to pay off that mortgage with insurance money!!
even if the house is destroyed..he would have to pay off the mortgage!!

so where would he get the downpayment money for a new house in dallas ..during the disaster that is still occuring???

please ask the simple questions!!

fly

[Stinky Bushes]

13. Saw this and was angry, saddened, disappointed

in the possibility that Nagin has succumbed to the Bush web of lies...although in his defense, he still criticized FEMA, but to a lesser degree.

[magnolia]

37. You are reading too much into a few words!

His problems with the governor could be very real. His major complaint with the governor was that she and the pres. couldn't agree on who was in charge.

As for saying..."he (Bush) acted and made things happen". Well...that's true. But we have eyes and the whole world saw that he "acted" way too slow and what he "made happen" was too little too late for a lot of people. Nagin's previous remarks made it clear that the fed. govt. were way too slow. His remark was vague...it gave a little, but not too much.

I definitely did not see that remark as "praising Bush". Keep in mind too that for Nagin this isn't over. He's got another big battle and that is to make sure that the right people (New Orleanians) are going to rebuild the city. He's wise to choose his battles and not come out swinging over "who did what". He said "history will tell"....so he is already looking to the future.

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

60. I know, I thought he was handled himself well.

He didn't backtrack and apologize or diminish his rant. He said that gwb didn't understand the seriousness of the situation and that maybe some low level aide was advising him incorrectly about the NOLA crisis.

What I took away from that was a clear message of a disconnected and ineffective president, who only acts when advised by aides to do so.

Additionally, he said that what he personally requested specific help from gwb, he got what he requested. I'm sure that's true. However, that happened only when he got a face to face meeting, not before.

He also made it clear that he won't support the use of "tent cities" or any other kind of encampment setting for the citizens of NOLA who were displaced.

And, he effectively defended his own actions during the evacuation.

And, he slammed FEMA. MKJ

[fooj]

93. "some low-level aid"???? Doesn't he watch TV?

We already know he doesn't read. You don't have to be a rocket scientist to know NO was/is in deep trouble.

Peace.

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

106. That's it. His statement made that clear. gwb does not gather info on

his own. He waits for his staff to filter and spin it for him. MKJ

[fooj]

94. "Tent cities"? Well, Goody for him.. He's too late for that!

Check out Colorado, Utah and Oklahoma...just for starters.

Peace.

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

105. Well, I'm here in CO and there aren't any tent cities here...

The evacuees are being housed on Lowry AFB, in what used to be military housing.

No tent cities here that I can see. Am I missing something? MKJ

[fooj]

92. The governor didn't "lean" on the President. It was the other way around.

I don't get it...the President pulls his universally known "bully tactics" and the Governor is the shithead? I don't follow that line of reasoning.

Peace.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

15. Brief Nagin Bio - No Swiftboating -- Just the facts

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Nagin

Biography
Before his election, Nagin was a member of the Republican Party and had little political experience; he was a vice president and general manager at Cox Communications, a cable communications company and subsidiary of Cox Enterprises. Nagin did give contributions periodically to candidates, namely President George W. Bush and former Republican U.S. Representative Billy Tauzin in 1999 and 2000, as well as to Democratic U.S. Senators John Breaux and J. Bennett Johnston earlier in the decade.

Days before filing for the New Orleans Mayoral race in February 2002, Nagin switched his party registration to the Democratic Party. Shortly before the primary election, an endorsement praising Nagin as a reformer by Gambit Magazine gave him crucial momentum that would carry through for the primary election and runoff. In the first round of the crowded mayoral election in February 2002, Nagin received first place with 29% of the vote, against such opponents as Police Chief Richard Pennington, State Senator Paulette Irons, City Councilman Troy Carter and others. In the runoff with Pennington in May 2002, Nagin won with 59% of the vote. His campaign was largely self-financed.

Shortly after taking office, Nagin launched an anti-corruption campaign within city government, which included crackdowns on the city's Taxicab Bureau and Utilities Department. Nagin also made a controversial endorsement of current Republican U.S. Representative Bobby Jindal in the 2003 Louisiana Gubernatorial Runoff over current Democratic Governor Kathleen Blanco, and only reluctantly endorsed U.S. Senator John Kerry in the 2004 Presidential race.

Nagin received a B.S. degree in accounting from Tuskegee University in 1978 and an M.B.A. degree from Tulane University in 1994. He and his wife, Seletha Smith Nagin, have three children: Jeremy, Jarin, and Tianna.

[DoYouEverWonder]

19. I thought only the freepers bashed people

for switching parties? He's a Dem now, right? I thought we welcomed people in, not push them back out.

[boston bean]

23. If he acted like one, it might be a different story. We talk all the time

about repub lites on DU.

He was critical of Blanco. He didn't have to be. He gave the president praise and sank blanco. I don't get it. but after his mtg. with bush he has changed considerably from the early days fo this catastrophe.

Maybe Blanco did do some things wrong, but is she the sole cause of this ineptness. He makes it look that way.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

34. NYT has a full and detailed account of what transpired. It is really

hard to still think it was one person or parties fault after reading it. It struck me as everyone screwed up to some extent. But - those were understandable mistakes during and immediately following the event. In my mind there is absolutely NO EXCUSE for B**, who was standing less than a mile from the convention center, not to have gotten relief to those people immediately !!

[boston bean]

38. I agree whole heartedly. Why did Nagin change after meeting

with bush. That is the question.

[TankLV]

83. Ahh - another "everybody does it" apologist.

Thanks, democrats needed that.

[Connie_Corleone]

26. Ha! Unfortunately, that bashing happens sometimes here.

[Reciprocity]

85. Are you calling us freepers? n/t

[nonconformist]

16. Blanco really needs to get out in front of this

She's virtually missing right now. I haven't seen any major interviews or anything of the like. I guess MSNBC even had a clip of her saying she didn't want to play the "blame game".

She really needs to come out and tell her side of the story - honestly and humanly. Admit that she could have done things better. Point out what she DID do correctly. Explain what the whole "threat" business with the NG and Bush was about. Be emphatic about what was the fed's responsibility and where her hands were tied. Mention the issues on the ground in Mississippi as well. Explain that she WAS overwhelmed, which is why she declared a disaster in the first place, putting the coordination in the hands of the feds.

I don't understand why she isn't getting out in front of this and telling her side. Right now, her virtual silence is giving them ammo to put as much of this on her as possible. She needs to admit fault where it exists and be LOUD and CLEAR about what was *not* her fault.

[leftupnorth]

47. Absolutely

But if she does get "swift boated" and it comes out later, when everything is investigated(hopefully), that she bears little responsiblilty, then she can play the victim.

"Those mean boys in Washington are pickin on little old Blanco and Landrieu." Kinda sexist, I know....

Would it be useful at all to keep silent and keep working on the rebuilding rather than playing "the Blame Game"?

[bklyncowgirl]

61. I agree.

She needs to tell her side of the story and do it as soon as possible. Leaving the sort of vacuum she has by not talking about it means that others are going to be able to pin the blame on her.

Nagin's clearly upset with both the state and federal government response. He has not ties to the Governor accept for the dubious one of party and by all accounts he's not a partisan guy and is not going to come to her aid at his expense.

Can you blame they guy?

[Seabiscuit]

115. She needs to speak up SOON before Rove's spin becomes "fact" in

the minds of the sheeple.

She knows what really happened. She also knows that the feds have been leaking lies about her and what she did or didn't do.

And now Nagin's kissing Bush's ass and giving her the finger.

She needs to set the record straight and shut Nagin up about her.

[William769]

18. I guess his true colors are showing.

[magnolia]

46. Some of you sound like the flip-side of the...

...of the RW: "You're either with us or against us!!!" So if Nagin didn't say EXACTLY what you wanted to hear he's one of THEM. I thought that this is what made us different from republicans: that we don't just see black and white, but all the gray areas.

[William769]

50. I an not a flip flopper

I have said from the beginning Nagin has fucked up. Yes I blame him for alot of people not getting out in time. It started at the City level.

[magnolia]

71. I didn't say you were a flip-flopper.

I said you are taking the attitude of being "for us or against us": if Nagin isn't using democratic talking points, he must be a republican. That's the flip-side of how THEY think.

I see Nagin as a man who has struggled to survive and make it. In this situation, he was there and he did his best. He lost his own home. He was living it, he had his own family to take care of. He wasn't just the "disaster spokesman" like St. Rudy, who could go home at the end of the day to his comfy home and hot shower.

Politically...I don't think Nagin has read either the democratic or republican play book...which is probably a good thing.

[Pepperbelly]

64. Nagin supported Bush in both elections. nt

[Reciprocity]

77. And some of you sound like you want us to act like the republicans.

Only cheerleaders are allowed. Never criticize your party.

[TankLV]

84. Damn right! NEVER say a goddamn good thing about a REPUKE

NEVER!

If you're tempted, JUST KEEP YOU GODDAMNED MOUTH SHUT!

We have enough LIEbermans!

It's not about criticizing - DINO's and vichy dems - it's about giving ANY praise to repukes!

[Reciprocity]

86. I have no idea what you mean by...

It's not about criticizing - DINO's and vichy dems - it's about giving ANY praise to repukes!

[UTUSN]

20. His Bio - He Took the Dem Name from Expediency in a Blue Area

No link. It was posted here without a link:

**************QUOTE*********

Before his election, Nagin was a member of the Republican Party and had little political experience; he was a vice president and general manager at Cox Communications, a cable communications company and subsidiary of Cox Enterprises. Nagin did give contributions periodically to candidates, namely President George W. Bush and former Republican U.S. Representative Billy Tauzin in 1999 and 2000, as well as to Democratic U.S. Senators John Breaux and J. Bennett Johnston earlier in the decade.

Days before filing for the New Orleans Mayoral race in February 2002, Nagin switched his party registration to the Democratic Party. Shortly before the primary election, an endorsement praising Nagin as a reformer by Gambit Magazine gave him crucial momentum that would carry through for the primary election and runoff. In the first round of the crowded mayoral election in February 2002, Nagin received first place with 29% of the vote, against such opponents as Police Chief Richard Pennington, State Senator Paulette Irons, City Councilman Troy Carter and others. In the runoff with Pennington in May 2002, Nagin won with 59% of the vote. His campaign was largely self-financed.

Shortly after taking office, Nagin launched an anti-corruption campaign within city government, which included crackdowns on the city's Taxicab Bureau and Utilities Department. Nagin also made a controversial endorsement of current Republican U.S. Representative Bobby Jindal in the 2003 Louisiana Gubernatorial Runoff over current Democratic Governor Kathleen Blanco, and only reluctantly endorsed U.S. Senator John Kerry in the 2004 Presidential race.

Nagin received a B.S. degree in accounting from Tuskegee University in 1978 and an M.B.A. degree from Tulane University in 1994. He and his wife, Seletha Smith Nagin, have three children: Jeremy, Jarin, and Tianna.

*************UNQUOTE**********

[quiet.american]

21. If the people in Louisiana pull the lever for a Republican after this....

:eyes: :crazy: :shrug:

[Laura PourMeADrink]

24. I guess it depends on the aid they received. Remember how

they bought votes in Florida on I-4 corridor.

[dogman]

28. That's why they sent them away and don't want them back.

Corporations have their eye on the prize now.

[demgrrrll]

25. They were going after him hammer and tongs. They probably told him

they would let up if he went along with their game plan. Watch and see, his name will be dropped from the rw talking points and the spotlight will be on Blanco. I think it is too late, too many things have already come to light about Bush's response to this tragedy. Did anyone expect that their steamrolling slime machine would just sputter stop and pull over to the side of the road?

[leesa]

31. Far as I can tell, Blanco acted the most responsibly.

[callous taoboy]

32. Don't freak out re: Nagin!

He is but one man caught up in a crisis involving so many other parameters and people, many of whom will be facing way tougher questions in the long run. Freaking over Nagin is like noticing a crack in one board in the pier and shrieking, "My god the pier is falling into the ocean."

Remember: He helped evacuate 80% of the residents when the best case scenario was 60%.

[dogman]

36. And how many will he help return home?

Look at the facts.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

42. good point - to me, the most important. Every resident should

have the means and the right to come home. But who decides? Who owns the shacks and shanty's where the poor once lived? They will be leveled. How much devotion to retaining the heritage and fabric of the city will they have. Now, there once worthless land will be worth a fortune. How will they resist?

[fooj]

97. From his lips to our ears. Better off in Texas.

Nice guy.

Peace.

[never_get_over_it]

65. He may be one man

but the repunks and the MSM will use his statements to give the freak in chief a pass

The thing is it doesn't matter if Nagin screwed up 100% - If Blanco screwed up 100% - the responsibility of the relief effort was turned over to the Feds on the Friday and Saturday BEFORE the hurricane ever hit - and no real action started untl the Friday after it hit - one week after the request, four days after the storm and about the exact time of the feak in chief's first photo op. The commander of North Com was ready with 9 million MREs and other supplies that he had gotten together when the stom hit FL - they could have been in NOLA on Tuesday - but had to wait for the order from Bush - but he was busy that day eating cake with John McCain. THERE IS NO EXCUSE NONE WHAT SO EVER - Blame Blanco - Nagin - whomever - the truth is the buck stops with the commander in chief and he fucked up - and now his supporters will use Nagin's words to defend him. And how do they explain the problems in MS - was that Blanco's fault too.

http://www.dod.gov/transcripts/2005/tr20050901-3843.html

"Q General, Jamie McIntyre from CNN. To what extent is this additional assistance you've outlined today a response to a request from the state governors in Louisiana, Mississippi? And if so, can you tell us when specifically you got that request?"



"GEN. HONORÉ: Yes, sir. The process starts, sir, in this particular event, with a request Friday of last week, as the approximate date for defense coordinating offices to be established in Florida, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana. Those were established in those states over Friday and Saturday."

edited to put quotes around the Honore info - the following is from me.

I am deeply disappointed to hear this about Nagin I was hoping that after that passionate interview he gave he might be our link to the truth - but he is covering his own ass and taking Blanco down because he has probably got the memo from the WH - GOD is there not one official with an ounce of integrity

[goclark]

72. Is that You speaking or Honore

"I am deeply disappointed to hear this about Nagin I was hoping that after that passionate interview he gave he might be our link to the truth - but he is covering his own ass and taking Blanco down because he has probably got the memo from the WH - GOD is there not one official with an ounce of integrity" ??????

[never_get_over_it]

73. ? No

I'll go edit and put quotes arond the Honere stuff - look at the link - the I am deeply disappointed was a new paragraph - I was speaking for me - not Honore - sorry it wasn't clear to you

[tjdee]

39. Bush LIES. He promises, and LIES.

I'm sure a few years from now Nagin will get that Bush is full of hot air.

Unless he really is just a Republican in Dem's clothing who has always been a Bush fan, in which case he is already slightly mentally imbalanced.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

43. lol - it will be really interesting to hear, when things settle down,

what Nagin's vision for NOLA is. Let's hope his transition from the corporation telecom world to nitty-gritty people politics has changed him.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

40. Thanks for posting this. MTP has been pre-empted here in NY because

of the 9/11 memorial at ground zero.

[qanda]

44. Maybe I was watching a different interview

But I didn't get the impression that he was praising Bush. Perhaps we should get the transcript and even then his tone makes a difference in how it came across.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

52. Well he didn't say B* did a FANTASTIC job or anything like that

you are right. But he did say that B* responded when he asked him for help. Maybe it was just the stark contrast between this and his dissing of Blanco.

If you read the full account in NYT today, I was struck that neither Nagin nor Blanco had a full handle on the actions needed in the crisis (understandable) or the machinations of the government bureaucracy. They made the big mistake of counting on the federal government to come to their rescue.

[boston bean]

55. What strikes me

is that he uses that to point blame on the Feds, but couldn'timagine that the same thing was happening to Blanco.

Where is this guy coming from?

I want to believe the best from him, but after today on MTP i have serious questions.

[magnolia]

56. Personally....

...I thought Nagin was a man speaking from his heart and his own thoughts and conclusions based on facts and his experience. He didn't appear to have a hidden agenda, take sides or try to please anyone...he just spoke. We are so used to hearing "talking points" from both sides that we don't recognize someone just telling it like it is.

He didn't attempt to accuse, apologize or praise...he simply answered questions as they were presented to him. He did the exact opposite of what Scott McCellen does at a press conference, or what most politicians do...and that is to not answer questions but merely use an interview as an opportunity to get out as mainly talking points as possible.

[qanda]

68. Exactly

And he tried to avoid placing blame on the Governor, which was an obvious trap being set by Timmy. He said that there was a power struggle between Bush and Blanco and it annoyed him because while they were struggling for who had the power, people in his city were dying.

I am no Nagin apologist. I am probably one of the first to post a thread criticizing him, but I don't think this thread represents his interview on MTP accurately.

[callous taoboy]

89. My take, exactly. Calm down people.

We don't need to start self-destructing over this. Nagin has been put in a tough spot and bush will not get out of this one.

[Spazito]

48. I think from Nagin's point of view, the Governor was promising

him things would happen and then they didn't but what he is not seeing is that Blanco was making those promises based on what she was being told by bush and FEMA who out and out lied to her.

Also, regarding the federalizing issue, although it may have seemed very clear to him it was a simple solution and was limited to federalizing the NG, the reality of the Governor handing over her authority may well have been a much greater impact beyond the city of NO.

[boston bean]

51. Why aren't Blanco and Nagin on the same page then. I just don't get

this.

[Spazito]

54. I think it is because they are responding to questions that are specific

to their own actions and are viewing the situation from that aspect right now. In a way, it speaks volumes in that they are not 'coordinating their responses' from a political framing but, instead, answering honestly from their individual perspectives, unlike the bush admin and FEMA responses which are purely PR, PYA answers.

[dogman]

53. The Governor has a responsibility for the whole state.

He is limiting his perspective to NO, which is his job. There is no doubt that things broke down at every level, leadership comes from the top and that is supposed to be B$$$.

[FreedomAngel82]

57. He sold out

Instead of standing up for his people he sold out.

[FloridaPat]

58. Who's going to vote for him? Literally. Not too many people in town.

[Algorem]

62. Nagin just bought a house in Texas,wonder what kind of deal he got.

pos.

[salin]

66. Screw politics for a moment... Nagin needs resources to keep flowing

in to save folks.

Bush is known to be petulant and virulently vindictive. Would it be smart to keep insulting the man who could make getting resources to those in great need?

Clearly Nagin is playing this per "needing bush" - but perhaps the need isn't about politics in the future - but about addressing the crisis now? I am not going to be quite so quick to dive into a pile-up on the Mayor at this moment.

The things he has seen and experienced in the past weeks - I would imagine would be transformative - and leave him desperate to do whatever to try to get more resources to try to begin to turn trajectory of the tragedy (the point where it starts to be platueing rather than keep getting worse and worse.)

[boston bean]

67. He got a lot further a week and a half ago, when he spoke the truth.

[salin]

69. did he?

a week and a half ago there was more federal resources going to address the disaster? I hadn't read that.

My point that is that sometimes not biting the hand is not about self-promotion - sometimes it is about needing help for something bigger than one's own political career.

[boston bean]

70. I think that when he gave that interview on the radio it brought down

the full forces and attention of the feds to deal with this catastrophe.

The question is why did it take so long, and today he gave the president a pass and criticized blanco.

[Reciprocity]

87. B.S!

There aren’t that many people anymore to save, most have dispersed including his wife and kids.

[BrklynLiberal]

74. Maybe Bush used his loofah on Nagin when he let the Mayor use the shower

on Air Force One.....:evilgrin:

[oasis]

104. It sounds like that's just what Chimpy did if you play close attention to

today's interview.

:spank:"okay, okay, I'll roll over on Blanco."

[BrklynLiberal]

114. That was my impression....

[Rainscents]

78. Nagin will lose next election!

He lost all his voters to other states because of Katrina... He think, by sucking up to Bush he is going to win all those white voters from other parts of Louisiana. Nay, never happen!

[Sir Jeffrey]

79. If you look up Ray Nagin on Opensecrets.org...

You'll see the following:

Contributor
NAGIN, C RAY
NEW ORLEANS,LA 70122

Occupation
COX COMMUNICATIONS

Date
3/30/1999

Amount
$1,000

Recipient
Bush, George W

He also gave to Billy Tauzin that cycle

Source:

http://www.opensecrets.org/indivs/search.asp?NumOfThou=0&txtName=nagin&txtState=LA&txtZip=&txtEmploy=&txtCand=&txt2000=Y&Order=N

If that link doesn't work, just go to the source and search prior election cycles.

We're being suckered.

[Redleg]

82. Nagin is a corporate stooge who donated money to Repubs but not

do Dems. That tells me all I need to know.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

95. I'm with you. OOps....did Clark (my man) ever give to AssClown?

[fooj]

96. I know one thing for sure. The Gov. and Mayor didn't read from

the same manual from the start. Period. That, in itself- was painfully obvious. I noticed that from day one.

As for Nagin saving 80% of the city evacuees...

The media saved his people. He did not. The media insisted that the injustice be publicized. He did not. The media begged for the people to be released. He did not. The media screamed and actually DID SOMETHING about it. He did not. The American people SAW who took care of who. The media showed us that. For a change. A welcome change. Why wasn't Nagin screaming down at the Convention Center and the Superdome? Does anyone realize how many thousands of people were left there to die?

How tragic that this has come down to a "better prize"...I thought this was about people. God help us all.

Peace.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

98. I still don't think I have an answer for that. Why in God's name

didn't SOMEONE go to the convention center on Wed? Thur? I wanted to load up a truck, drive down there, and crash through the barricades. Surely there was SOMEONE?

The whole convention center thing there still seems truly suspicious.

[fooj]

108. Many Americans were ready to drive down there and help

those poor people. They were like caged animals...but worse. No water. No food. No nothing.

Peace.

[lebkuchen]

99. NOLA has always been a city on the take

Lots of corruption, on all levels. Que sera sera.

[Roland99]

101. Do we really need this hyperbole?

Nagin just wants help for his city. If, in his mind, things started happening after he laid it bare for the Pres. then who is he to criticize him?

My guess is Nagin doesn't know so much about the Pres. eating cake and playing guitar. Nagin was too focused on saving his city.

[enid602]

102. Dallas

Well, at least we know now where Nagin got the money to buy his beautiful new house in Dallas!

[oasis]

103. I urge those who have not seen "Meet the Press" to catch the replay.

[okieinpain]

109. sorry to say it, but she blew it. she should have busted bush when

he fronted her about giving over authority to the feds. she's going to get burried. she will not have any way to get the truth out now because they are going to say she is just covering her ass.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

116. hopefully there are witnesses.

[Goyboy]

117. Silly Girl

I saw the same interview. He is probably realizing what a complete jackass he was making of himself. I mean it's kind of hard to do too much finger pointing when the photos of the aqua busses are everywhere. Also, I think that he already accomplished his goal in igniting his base. He is a shoo-in in for re-election and then he can continue with operation grift when all of those federal goodies start rolling in...Nicely played Mr. Mayor!

Goyboy
http://paradigmcollective.blogspot.com/