Some clips from New Orleans

[markw]

This is a clear cut case where an ounce of prevention could have prevented a ton of cure, but let's get the facts straight.

If you give your child money for new school clothes and he buys comic books, what would you do?

"By 1998, Louisiana's state government had a $2 billion construction budget, but less than one tenth of one percent of that -- $1.98 million -- was dedicated to levee improvements in the New Orleans area."

http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewNation.as...20050907a.html

But, to say the feds weren't getting to the heart of the matter would be a misstatement.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationwo...ck=1&cset=true

As for the evacuation plans, well... "FEMA provides free training, education, assistance and respond in case of an emergency, but the local and state officials run their own emergency management program."

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05249/566101.stm

And, as for the evacuation itself: http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/nation/3344347

Considering that nagin didn't call for a mandatory evacuation until 10:00 pm on Sunday, September 29th, I'd say that the federal government did a pretty good job of procuring 500 buses in two days, That's pretty short notice.

http://www.cnn.com/2005/WEATHER/08/3...a.refugees.ap/

Now, for the life of me, I cannot understand why Governer Blanco couldn't draft school busses from other school districts earlier ...or arrange for auditoriums, civic centers and the like within the state to be open for the "evacuees" ahead of time. After all, that IS her job. ..and Nagins too.

Instead, they did a Vinnie Babarino ("I'm so Confused!") and dropped it all into the Fed's lap.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/...bilities_x.htm

Now, this cracks me up.

"There was a delay while Blanco and the White House grappled over whether to turn over law enforcement authority to the federal government, and whether all Guard troops should be put under federal control — both of which the governor resisted"

Ya can't have it both ways, honey. You two clowns blew it. Now get out of the way and let the pros do their job.

Sure, it's easy, fun and en vogus to dump on Bush, FEMA and co., but in all reality, the locals shold have done their part to evacuate their own.