OT: How could the state of Louisiana let this happen?

[Jared]

The Red Cross story was posted on the "left wing" sites last Saturday.

http://talkleft.com/new_archives/012104.html

According to most sources, it's the Lousiana Department of Homeland Security that isn't letting the Red Cross in. I'm not really sure who's in charge of this dept., whether it's the Governor, federal DHS, or sort of a mixture of both.

[XXXIV]

If this doesnt open eyes. Nothing will.
Its quite simple.
Government on all levels sux really bad...The less they control the better off we all are.

[Arkin710]

As someone who considers himself partly from New Orleans (I lived there for many years, my wife and her entirely family are from there, spend much of my time there and I have/had a home there), I can tell you that the consensus from local New Orleanians -- both republicans and democrats -- is that all levels of government failed here. Blame can be leveled at the Bush administration, but also past Democratic administrations as well. The local and state government also bares a lot of blame -- not for failing to build up the levees -- but for failing to have an adequate evacuation plan and failing to get federal him in ASAP. The evacuation plan was supposedly improved, and while the contraflow of highways appears to have worked, nothing was done to get the majority of poor people out of the city. As for the NOPD, which has labored for years under corruption and a residency requirement that has prevented it from improving on some level, the department has never been a stellar organization. Still, they too labored under awful conditions. I don't think that as many cops abandoned their posts as was reported initially.

As has been discussed, the effects of this storm was no surprise. People there have always lived under the spectre of the "big one," and it just happened to hit this time.

I spent the Labor Day weekend in Baton Rouge, have travelled into Jeff parish (Metarie), and am leaving tomorrow to go into New Orleans, to try and rescue some valuables and irreplacables out of our house. Initial reports from people who have gone into our neighborhood this past week is that the water is at least 10 feet deep. I also plan on checking out my father in law's house, which was a quarter mile or so from the levee breach in Lakeview and my mother in law's house, which I think has about three feet of water. I am preparing myself for the worst, as I heard from a friend that travelling by boat is really mind boggling and frightening, particularly where the water is shallow. Even in Lakeview, there are a lot of bodies.

[Brando70]

As someone who considers himself partly from New Orleans (I lived there for many years, my wife and her entirely family are from there, spend much of my time there and I have/had a home there), I can tell you that the consensus from local New Orleanians -- both republicans and democrats -- is that all levels of government failed here. Blame can be leveled at the Bush administration, but also past Democratic administrations as well. The local and state government also bares a lot of blame -- not for failing to build up the levees -- but for failing to have an adequate evacuation plan and failing to get federal him in ASAP. The evacuation plan was supposedly improved, and while the contraflow of highways appears to have worked, nothing was done to get the majority of poor people out of the city. As for the NOPD, which has labored for years under corruption and a residency requirement that has prevented it from improving on some level, the department has never been a stellar organization. Still, they too labored under awful conditions. I don't think that as many cops abandoned their posts as was reported initially.

As has been discussed, the effects of this storm was no surprise. People there have always lived under the spectre of the "big one," and it just happened to hit this time.

I spent the Labor Day weekend in Baton Rouge, have travelled into Jeff parish (Metarie), and am leaving tomorrow to go into New Orleans, to try and rescue some valuables and irreplacables out of our house. Initial reports from people who have gone into our neighborhood this past week is that the water is at least 10 feet deep. I also plan on checking out my father in law's house, which was a quarter mile or so from the levee breach in Lakeview and my mother in law's house, which I think has about three feet of water. I am preparing myself for the worst, as I heard from a friend that travelling by boat is really mind boggling and frightening, particularly where the water is shallow. Even in Lakeview, there are a lot of bodies.

Arkin, good luck on your trip and please do be careful.

[RobVarak]

Notice I didn't say the story wasn't true. I disagreed with linking to a partisan blogger interviewing a partisan reporter as somehow being a fact. You provided the kind of link I was looking for.

And notice that I didn't engage in a personal attack on you, opting instead to take personal satisfaction in the fact that you continue to live in Cornville?

[Brando70]

Notice I didn't say the story wasn't true. I disagreed with linking to a partisan blogger interviewing a partisan reporter as somehow being a fact. You provided the kind of link I was looking for.

And notice that I didn't engage in a personal attack on you, opting instead to take personal satisfaction in the fact that you continue to live in Cornville?

LOL. I did notice that, and I agree I was a bit off my meds in responding to Divot and yourself. I am a wee bit angry this week. I work best when channeling my rage into sarcasm.

I will take personal satisfaction in not telling you what my house cost here

[RobVarak]

As someone who considers himself partly from New Orleans (I lived there for many years, my wife and her entirely family are from there, spend much of my time there and I have/had a home there), I can tell you that the consensus from local New Orleanians -- both republicans and democrats -- is that all levels of government failed here. Blame can be leveled at the Bush administration, but also past Democratic administrations as well. The local and state government also bares a lot of blame -- not for failing to build up the levees -- but for failing to have an adequate evacuation plan and failing to get federal him in ASAP. The evacuation plan was supposedly improved, and while the contraflow of highways appears to have worked, nothing was done to get the majority of poor people out of the city. As for the NOPD, which has labored for years under corruption and a residency requirement that has prevented it from improving on some level, the department has never been a stellar organization. Still, they too labored under awful conditions. I don't think that as many cops abandoned their posts as was reported initially.

As has been discussed, the effects of this storm was no surprise. People there have always lived under the spectre of the "big one," and it just happened to hit this time.

I spent the Labor Day weekend in Baton Rouge, have travelled into Jeff parish (Metarie), and am leaving tomorrow to go into New Orleans, to try and rescue some valuables and irreplacables out of our house. Initial reports from people who have gone into our neighborhood this past week is that the water is at least 10 feet deep. I also plan on checking out my father in law's house, which was a quarter mile or so from the levee breach in Lakeview and my mother in law's house, which I think has about three feet of water. I am preparing myself for the worst, as I heard from a friend that travelling by boat is really mind boggling and frightening, particularly where the water is shallow. Even in Lakeview, there are a lot of bodies.

I think that 99% of us agree that there were failures and mistakes at every level, Arkin. Good luck on your trip and best wishes and prayers for you and your family. Take care.

[pk500]

Be safe, Arkin. Best of luck.

Take care,
PK

[Badger_Fan]

Great links you have there, DivotMaker. This from excerpt from the NYT at the American Thinker website really stood out:

Congress has a $14 billion proposal designed to reverse this process, to restore the wetlands that provide buffers against storms. This would also help keep the city of New Orleans from continually sinking further below sea level. But Congress has chosen other big projects as worthier of its attention. The Big Dig, a $15 billion project to bury two miles of a highway in central Boston was the favored public works project that President Clinton awarded Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy

Now look who is bawling about Bush levee cuts causing all this

FEMA under Clinton:

http://www.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2005 ... 4914.shtml

Considering that construction on the Big Dig started in 1987 (in Charlestown) and 1992 (in downtown Boston) I would say that Clinton's administration had nothing to do with this project. If I recall, the funding originally came down under Reagan with Tip O'Neil being the driving force out of Boston.

http://www.boston.com/beyond_bigdig/timeline/

[Badger_Fan]

After a little more research about the Big Dig here is what I know. It was funded by Congress in 1987. Reagan vetoed the bill but the veto was overturned.

[XXXIV]

Be safe, Arkin. Best of luck.

Take care,
PK

Yes..Best wishes..Be well..

[blueduke]

After a little more research about the Big Dig here is what I know. It was funded by Congress in 1987. Reagan vetoed the bill but the veto was overturned.

you're right about that, Badger Fan. I stand corrected. As more facts come to light about Katrina aftermath, I gotta say it's looking less and less like Bush's fault. The local government is really looking worse. New levee info comes to light:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/co ... 02462.html

In Katrina's wake, Louisiana politicians and other critics have complained about paltry funding for the Army Corps in general and Louisiana projects in particular. But over the five years of President Bush's administration, Louisiana has received far more money for Corps civil works projects than any other state, about $1.9 billion; California was a distant second with less than $1.4 billion, even though its population is more than seven times as large.

[Jackdog]

After a little more research about the Big Dig here is what I know. It was funded by Congress in 1987. Reagan vetoed the bill but the veto was overturned.

you're right about that, Badger Fan. I stand corrected. As more facts come to light about Katrina aftermath, I gotta say it's looking less and less like Bush's fault. The local government is really looking worse. New levee info comes to light:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/co ... 02462.html

In Katrina's wake, Louisiana politicians and other critics have complained about paltry funding for the Army Corps in general and Louisiana projects in particular. But over the five years of President Bush's administration, Louisiana has received far more money for Corps civil works projects than any other state, about $1.9 billion; California was a distant second with less than $1.4 billion, even though its population is more than seven times as large.

Damn!! That leads back to my original question. WTF did they do with that money? How could they let this happen?

I also heard today the the sea wall that collapsed wasn't even slated for any of the repairs.

[XXXIV]

[ I also heard today the the sea wall that collapsed wasn't even slated for any of the repairs.

This...Is My favorite part of this make believe outrage.

Political whores will be political whores at anyone elses expense.

shame

EDIT: I am outraged at the disgraceful government response...but ya know what....I am not MORE interested in MY own political agenda as many of you seem to be.. Stop masturbating.

[RobVarak]

Damn!! That leads back to my original question. WTF did they do with that money? How could they let this happen?

I also heard today the the sea wall that collapsed wasn't even slated for any of the repairs.

Jack, I'll try to find the links after the NFL game But I recall reading this a.m. that the money was sent to other Congressional districts for pork-type activity.