Quote Originally Posted by LaurenK



Here are a FEW facts:

1. FEMA has never been a "first responder" in times of disaster or emergency. First responders have always been local or state agencies such as fire, rescue and police departments. FEMA is a bunch of MANAGERS whose job is to hand out money and coordinate other agencies. Jimmy Carter created FEMA via a Presidential Executive Order. I could easily argue that its authority is TOTALLY unconstitutional because it by passes congressional oversight! Every president since and including Carter has used FEMA to dole out tax money for the purpose of buying votes! Simply put, FEMA is a federal vote buying cash cow!



3. A governor must formally request aid from federal agencies such as FEMA. To my knowledge, Louisiana's governor Blanco has never made a formal request other than to bitch, complain and cry on national TV! I understand Blanco refused initial help from numerous states, federal agencies and private interest. She wouldn't allow the Red Cross to enter New Orleans. She turned down a request from Amtrak to help evacuate people from New Orleans. She turned down initial offers of help from states such as Florida and Texas. When Bush initially offered help she said "I'll get back with you .." Did you know that Bush had to personally beg governor Blanco and mayor Nagin to give the evacuation order!

4. Mayor Nagin ignored his own evacuation plans! Once the evacuation order was given, their plan called for the use of every available means of transportation to evacuate citizens without personal transportation! That means school busses too! Other than announce the evacuation, he did nothing! Eventually the busses where made useless by the flood waters! I believe New Orleans had an evacuation drill less than a year ago so he can't claim he didn't know about the plan! Fortunately, a few people had the foresight to take matters in their own hands.
See http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory...story2/3334317


Great Job Lauren!

I've been saying this since the beginning myself.

How come all the Bush haters don't address these 3 points above? Start there and see if the finger pointing still goes up to Washington or it mostly stays in Baton Rouge??????