
… by Time Magazine:
Failures aren’t born. They’re made. Before Hurricane Katrina, it wasn’t the job of Louisiana Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco to plan for the evacuation of the elderly and poor from New Orleans. Afterward, she wasn’t in charge of the federal response. But it was her job to give her constituents heart by looking decisive, steadfast and capable. Even if she wasn’t.
When it mattered most, Blanco appeared “dazed and confused,” says Bernie Pinsonat, a bipartisan political consultant in Baton Rouge, La. When NBC’s Matt Lauer asked her whether it was hard to find words to reassure the public, she tried to muster optimism, then circled back to despair. “You know, our people out here are so fearful. They’re so worried … It’s a nightmare.”
The public might have forgiven her. But, Pinsonat says, “you’ve got to convince them you’re in control.” Instead, Blanco waited seven weeks to appoint a recovery commission.
Gov. Blanco’s massive errors in judgement are well documented here – check the related posts below for more.
Hat tip: Michelle Malkin
Related Toldjah So posts:
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Surprising to see!
This is truly despicable. Pass the buck, right?
Pass the buck from Blanco to who? Or Mayor Nagin to who?
It was Louisiana Department of Health Services who prevented American Red Cross (managed by FEMA at the time) multiple times from giving supplies to people in the convention center.
New to this information are ya Norah?
Hope you read all the links.
Once she requested federal assistance (which she did BEFORE Katrina hit land) it is the federal government’s responsibility. A formal request for federal assistance is basically an admission that you cannot handle the problem at the city or state level.
Too bad the feds couldn’t deal either, huh?
Norah, mistating the law is not a winning argument. Blanco is a dithering failure and you just can’t accept that Edited. –ST.
Norah wrote, “Once she requested federal assistance (which she did BEFORE Katrina hit land) it is the federal government’s responsibility
That is the common perspective that journalists didn’t help correct or investigate. Again the American Red Cross (managed by FEMA) tried to deliver supplies to people in the convention center multiple times on that Tuesday, Wed and Thursday and were denied by the Louisiana Department of Health Services.
Also, there was an issue with the Insurrection Act that needed to be overcome. Mayor Nagin (a democrat) spoke clearly that it was Governor Blanco who couldn’t decide for over a day on who would lead the efforts. Blanco and Bush were in Air Force One and Nagin reported (unfortunately the press didn’t report it except Fox News) that Blanco wanted more than 24 hours to decide and Nagin was REALLY pissed about that.
ST- and what a winning argument you came back with! “You’re wrong! Because!” Cite, please, how I am “mis-stating the law”.
Norah, I haven’t ‘come back’ with *any* argument to anyone in the comments section. What are you talking about?
Sista, I think she is talking about PCD’s post which you edited.