'Begging them to leave is NOT the same as HELPING them to leave'

[Stinky The Clown]

Randi .... on Haley Barbour's bleatings on CNN earlier today

[LSparkle]

1. As usual, she hits the nail right on the head

That's what a "compassionate conservative" would have done -- HELPED them leave.

[livetohike]

2. Exactly right

Start with all those poor people in the projects - they don't have cars. How in the world were they to leave NO? Most projects are federal Housing and Urban Dev. sites. They should have been there busing those folks to safety.

This is such a debacle. I can't even find the words to describe how I feel right now.

But one thing that really makes me sad is that apparently many people have never experienced or seen poverty first hand. To criticize those who didn't leave.....they couldn't leave.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

3. I heard her say that on her show

She also said, "Look it was the end of the month. people didn't have the money"

[texpatriot2004]

4. Just think, if the National Guard and the equipment had been

here instead of in Iraq what good might have been done here to help the people evacuate. I was wondering this today? I also wondered why the people who had no means to evacuate were not put on a bus and transported to safety somewhere else? Also, while I was letting my mind wander I wondered, what will happen to the already overextended federal budget (a big thank you to the "Conservatives" in power) when these poor states begin to ask for the money that they will need to clean-up and rebuild. ????????? Just curious.

[Joan of Arc]

5. Now just think for a minute

If the mandatory evacuation had been enforced, all those people wouldn't have been left behind. But the corrupt politics of New Orleans has led to this disaster. How could the evacuation been enforced, you ask? By the mayor and Governor Blankface sending out buses, trucks, every available vehicle, to troll the streets of NO and get the citizens out. Those who had the means to leave and didn't were just plain foolish. Those who couldn't leave, as well as hospital patients, should have been taken out of there as soon as they knew this was a bad storm.

This has nothing to do with the National Guard not being here. NO has had years to rectify the problems inherent in its levees. Unfortunately the well-known corrupt politics of LA has now brought the chickens home to roost. That's the real tragedy.

[mcscajun]

8. The levee problems aren't all New Orleans' or even Louisiana's fault.

The Federal Government (i.e. BushCo) bears a good deal of the blame for cutting funding to the very projects that would have improved the levees. So instead of getting to build them better and higher, they barely had the money for maintenance.

Louisiana is NOT a rich state.

[Joan of Arc]

9. I would wager that

money has gone to corrupt LA politicians for a long time.

[texpatriot2004]

11. Oh, I think the "corruption" is much higher than you suggest. n/t

[thecrow]

6. Like I keep saying... where were the free bus rides out of NOLA?

[Joan of Arc]

7. where were the free bus rides out of NOLA?

Ask the Mayor and the Governor.....

[applegrove]

10. They are not safe in the Dome anyway. If I had no money and all

my possessions were uninsured..I would be tempted to camp out with my family in the attick for two weeks.

[bribri16]

12. You are so right!