Hurricane "do over" not working for Bush, IS working for La Gov. Blanco

[DemsUnited]

Not that she thinks of it as a "do over", she's clearly just trying to lead her state out of a horrible double whammy, as well as get as much money out of the Federal Gov't as she can before they throw it all away to Halliburton et al.

Gov Blanco spoke this morning at press conference and tossed a gauntlet at Bush by unveiling a plan to accelerate help for Katrina (and now Rita) victims. Her point is that between federal, state, international, and faithbased relief programs, most families are really confused about where to go and what they are entitled to. She wants a billion federal dollars to hire and train Louisianians to help other Louisianians cut through the BS and red tape.

Then she took off and has been all over the state today, out there personally in the hard hit areas. She just spoke to Anderson Cooper and she looks & sounds like a woman on top of a devastating situation.

Bravo, Gov. Blanco. I don't know of any other Governor who's had to deal with as many problems and as much devastation as Louisiana has seen in the last four weeks.

[Field Of Dreams]

1. I've been watching her today as well.

She's been fairly articulate summarizing LA's situation since Rita hit. Has not needed a lot of others to prop her up like Bush has today in Texas. What a lot to handle -- pretty early in her first term isn't she?

[DemsUnited]

2. Not quite two years into 1st term as Gov. Served 2 terms as Lt. Gov

before being elected Gov according to Wikipedia.

[Field Of Dreams]

4. Thanks!

eom

[TomInTib]

3. Anyone seen GoodHair?

DeLay is the only Texan (God, I hate to use that term with that creep) I have seen since this morning. A little bit of Houston mayor early but DeLay ever since.

[Field Of Dreams]

7. Must be knocking back a few with Bush.

Haven't seen any press conferences with him today -- unless there was something earlier this morning?

[mandyky]

5. I am sure James Lee Witt is a big help

That was by far her best move, when she hired him.

[DemsUnited]

8. No doubt Witt is worth his weight in gold & then some.

But Blanco is doing very well under fire. Not only is she dealing with hurricane devastation, but she's also fighting a political battle with the Bush Administration. They can't forgive her for winning round one when she refused federalization and instead hired Witt.

[Pirate Smile]

12. I saw when the press asked her if she had spoke to Bush today.

She answered that Allen was the Fed's representative (he was with her at the time) and she works with him.

It certainly didn't sound like Shrub gave a sh#$ about LA.

[Lisa]

6. developing a base of expertise in helping communities cope with disaster

... would actually have a lot of long-term value. I fear that, as time goes on, there will be an increasing need for these skills -- in the US, and around the world. (Natural and human-caused disasters will be growing in frequency and extent, due to global warming, conflict, and other areas that Bush and Co. are messing up!)

[FreedomAngel82]

9. Great!

I'm glad someone is on the job. God bless her! I hope she keeps her strength up and doesn't get too tied down.

[bluedonkey]

10. She's a good Governor

I like her very much,don't always agree with her,but I think she did well.Listened to a phone interview with her the other night and she said her mistake with 'Katrina' was that she believed the fed. gov. when they said help was on the way.She plays nice with * 'cause she has to if she wants to get the money she needs.
I think of 'steel magnolias' lately when I hear her speak.She's been in politics for a long time and I believe in her.

[Cha]

13. Thanks for that, bluedonkey!

It's really nice to get an inside Louisiannian's view.

[I Have A Dream]

14. How do you think other people from LA view her right now, bluedonkey?

We had an opinion piece in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette by a local conservative columnist who said that she saw something on television after B*'s speech in NO last week, and almost all of the evacuees from NO who were interviewed said that they blamed the mayor and the governor rather than the Federal Government. Do you feel that this is true? I just can't see how this could be so.

Thanks for your perspective.

[Helga Scow Stern]

11. Good news.

[Gloria]

15. Finally--stick it in Bush's face, stand up and be PROUD!!!

eom

[A-Possum]

16. I just wish she'd done more for the pets

She never really came through on that, as far as I can tell.

[applegrove]

17. She has a point.