The local officials did everything wrong.

Flounder, you fucked up, you trusted us.

Ironically, Ace, something DID happen during the storm. The first death of a NG Marine engaged in rescue operations happened on the very day of landfall.

http://tinyurl.com/bvapp

Still think the main element that doomed any effective relief mission, before or after, was the very presence of 200,000+ completely dependent people.

Think about it; even BEFORE the storm; you going to start driving school buses in neighborhoods that were virtually lawless even in good times?

Staffing the buses is one thing. But what are you going to do about a security detail accompanying the buses as they go about their business? Who is going to take the weapons off the more unruly evacuees before they are allowed on the bus? You saw what happened at the Convention Center.

And a lot of people stayed behind specifically to take advantage of the chaos/looting opportunities.

This country better wake up.
It is in no one's interest to have large helpless/lawless enclaves in cities.

I can see a bunch more ways that this thing would have come out badly even if the locals did the right thing. Which they didn't.

Staffing the buses is one thing. But what are you going to do about a security detail accompanying the buses as they go about their business? Who is going to take the weapons off the more unruly evacuees before they are allowed on the bus?

Ummm... police? National Guardsmen, had they actually been called up before the storm?

Look, you can't force everyone to leave. But with buses going through neighborhoods, police on loudspeakers saying "You are ordered to board the bus and abandon the city," and etc., then truly the only people left behind would have been the ones who consciously chose to remain there.

And quite frankly, when you takes your chances, you takes your chances. No one's going to cry for an imbecile.

Our mass transit buses manage to run trips evacuating everybody east of A1A just about every single hurricane. Of course, we do it before the hurricane and all.

if you thought the 911 commish was a whitewash,

you ain't seen nuthin yet

No one's going to cry for an imbecile.

If only!

Goddammit, the buses WERE UNDER FUCKING WATER. I just might have to go Pelosi on you and pop a Dean up your ass!

Here's what Bush said: "Katrina exposed serious problems in our response capability at all levels of government. And to the extent that the federal government didn't fully do its job right, I take responsibility."

And here's what ABC said he said: "In Washington, Bush said 'I take responsibility' for the government's failures in dealing with the hurricane."

Who needs nuance or context. Let's just print the tiny little bit we think might do the most damage.

Here's the full paragraph: "President Bush also put a final word on what he had called the 'blame game' among politicians, saying: 'I take responsibility' for the government's failures in dealing with the hurricane. "

http://www.abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=1123792

[cut to Section 2A of Superdome, occupied by 20 evacuees huddled in conference]

AJ: "Damn. CAT 4 Hurricane on its way. A few hours out. We need to get out of the city! Like NOW!""

Bob: "We're all goona die!"

Tina: "Someone will save me. Someone always does" [casts pensive look around]

Tomas: "Waitaminute. On the way here, I saw a fleet of buses, all lined up in a lot. Maybe we're in the wrong place?"

AJ: "Dude! Good thinking! Lets go there instead"

[parsed segment of group fleeing Superdome for bus lot]

AJ: "Cool! Lots of buses. I call shotgun!"

Thomas: "Everyone load up. Tina? C'mon girl!"

Tina: "Someone will save me. Someone always does"

Bob: "We're all gonna die!"

[one minute interlude]

AJ: "Now what? Why aren't we moving?"

Thomas: [stunned expression] "OH MY GOD!"

AJ: "What? What is it man?!"

[cue dramatic music]

Thomas: "WE DON'T HAVE A BUS-DRIVER!"

Bob: "We're all gonna die!"

Tina: [fade to retreating window shot] "Someone will save me. Someone always does"

The screw-ups continued even after the storm -- remember that the state gubmint didn't let the Red Cross or Salvation Army deliver supplies to the city.

I'm very curious as to whether things like Landrieu's Fox interview or the story about the city buses are starting to catch up with the "Bush's Fault!" spin. By that I mean catching up outside of conservative blogosphere. Anyone heard of any recent polls?

kcom,

you left out the word "federal".

federal. government's. failures.

http://www.gov.state.la.us/Disaster%20Relief%20Request.pdf

It seems that blanco did ask for federal assistance.

Enjoy neo-cons.

willy, the link you posted is a request for *money* and debris removal assistance. What's your point?