Louisiana governor wants nonpartisan Katrina probe

[sabra]

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N21520135.htm

Louisiana governor wants nonpartisan Katrina probe

BATON ROUGE, La., Sept 21 (Reuters) - The governor of Louisiana urged U.S. President George W. Bush on Wednesday to order an independent, nonpartisan probe of the government's fumbling response to Hurricane Katrina.

The devastation from the hurricane that hit the Gulf Coast on Aug. 29 has implications for how the United States reacts to other natural disasters or terrorism attacks, Gov. Kathleen Blanco wrote in a letter to Bush.

"For these reasons, it is imperative that the investigation into the response to Katrina be comprehensive, probing and nonpartisan," Blanco, a Democrat, wrote in the letter to the Republican president.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has been sharply criticized for its slow and confused response to the hurricane that flooded much of New Orleans and forced hundreds of thousands of people to evacuate.

[Pirate Smile]

1. But the partisan witch hunt has already begun:

Former FEMA director Brown to testify at House hearing
Pelosi refuses to appoint Democratic members to select committee

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The former director of FEMA will testify next week as part of a House committee's probe into the government's response to Hurricane Katrina.

Michael Brown will appear before the committee Tuesday and will testify, in part, about the coordination between the federal, state, and local governments in the response, said Rep. Tom Davis, R-Virginia, the chair of the House select committee heading the investigation.

Davis said Brown agreed to testify voluntarily and a subpoena was not issued for his appearance.

-snip-
Davis said the committee would move forward without Democrats if Pelosi doesn't appoint anyone, but it will invite Gulf Coast Democratic lawmakers to question Brown next week if no Democrats are formally named by then.

Davis rejected Pelosi's concerns about partisanship, promising, "This will be fair, this will be by the book."

http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/09/21/katrina.hearings/index.html

[yourout]

2. "This will be fair, this will be by the book."

This will be by the Republican Play book.

Dig hole.
Bury evidence.
Blame everyone else.
Give out Freedom Medals to those responsible.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

5. You've capitulated if you've given up like that.

Defeatists never win.

[rateyes]

3. And, if Bush and the Repigs refuse..

then Blanco should put together a state panel on her own and publicize it far and wide, and subpoena every federal yahoo, including * to testify. And, if they don't cooperate, SUE them for wrongful death.

[jody]

4. A thorough investigation will find failures at local, state, and federal

levels both before, during, and after Katrina hit land.

Still, Bush must bear the greatest burden because he had the most resources at his disposal and failed to act promptly.

[Frances]

6. Well said

nt