Home > Gwinnett > Rick Badie / My Opinion > Archives > 2008 > July > 15 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USMidwest floods are no Katrina
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
He grew up in a small Iowa town.
It’s a place where practically everybody knew everybody. No road rage here. Motorists would wave, Jamie Horner recalled, as they drove by. People looked out for each other. Cared.
“All in all, Oskaloosa was a place with a good feeling,” said Horner, 36, of Norcross.
Before Oskaloosa, home had been Clinton, Iowa, a town on the west banks of the Mississippi River. Horner remembers the river flooding, but nothing along the scale of last month, when water swelled over the banks of more than 20 levees that stretched between Dubuqe, Iowa, and St. Louis.
The Horners moved to Oskaloosa when Jamie was 12. They’d barely settled into their new home when a neighbor — who later became a high school friend — knocked on the door. He told them a bad storm was in the area, to be careful and to monitor the weather reports.
“It was like that,” Horner told me. “Everybody looked out for each other. We played night games at night. It was safe to let your kids run rampant. Something goes wrong, we’re going to help our neighbors.”
Those sentiments flooded Horner’s mind when Mother Nature ravaged the Midwest. Corn crops were washed away. Houses and businesses in towns like Cedar Rapids were severely damaged or rendered uninhabitable. Lives were lost. Eighty-three of the 99 Iowa counties have received state disaster declarations.
Some pundits have pegged the flooding the “Katrina of the Midwest.” It’s a headline-grabbing title, but its hard to compare the two. Many try. Why, just the other day, I received an e-mail titled, “Just Wondering.” It’s a collage of photos of the ravaged Midwest, with captions that compare it to Katrina and pose questions:
Why aren’t the celebrities and the media focused on the region like they were on New Orleans? Where are all the media asking where the FEMA trucks are? Where are all the looters stealing high-end tennis shoes and big-screen television sets?
The e-mail links two tragedies together then cleverly cherry-picks what they consider egregious events from New Orleans to compare and contrast, to make one community’s reaction (the Midwest) appear more noble than the other’s (New Orleans). OK. It is. But not for the reasons the author of the photo essay intends.
Consider: Infrastructure in New Orleans experienced a one-two punch - first by the hurricane, then by levee breaks. All it did was flood in the Midwest. Bureaucratic fumbles didn’t plague Iowa and elsewhere as they did relief efforts in the Crescent City. FEMA was already in place to aid Midwest victims. And no Midwesterner spent three days on top of a roof in 90-degree heat.
Yes, some blacks and whites (wrongly) looted in New Orleans, a city that’s majority black and very poor. No excuse for it. But consider also that one person’s looting got reported as another’s survival instincts. I distinctly remember a photo of two people leaving a New Orleans store with items. The caption of the black man with a grocery cart said he was looting. The caption of the white female said she was finding food.
Bottom line is, it’s shameful to take two natural disasters and selectively view them through a prism meant to divide, that pits inner city against farm community. Like it’s a competition.
The flood-stricken Midwest deserves kudos for weathering the storm. But this was no Katrina II. Not even close in scope.
That doesn’t mean you can’t be like Horner - proud of the Midwest’s self-reliance, strength.
“It would be hard to move back because of this stage in my life,” he told me. “But it’s the greatest place in the world to raise a family.
“Absolutely.”
Rick Badie’s column appears on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Contact him at 770-263-3875 or e-mail: rbadie@ajc.com.
Permalink | Comments (68) | Post your comment | Categories: Rick Badie
Comments
By Stan
July 15, 2008 11:08 AM | Link to this
Rick, I generally support you and your articles, not this time. Though I still won’t read whatever crap LT has to say about it.
You seem to have missed the point. It is not the size of the disaster but how the residents react to it. Nobody in the midwest was sitting on a rooftop for 3 days in 90* heat because they saw what was coming and prepared for the worst ahead of time. They didn’t wait for someone to come rescue them. They did it themselves.
By what?
July 15, 2008 11:17 AM | Link to this
You should be ashamed of yourself for writing this racist article
By Bruce Wilcox
July 15, 2008 12:12 PM | Link to this
Stan ,”they saw what was coming and prepared for the worst ahead of time.”, while that was true in the Mid-West, how much time does a hurricane give? Some towns didn’t get flooded for a week or so giving the residents enough time to plan. No one knew the hurricane was going to hit New Orleans until a few days before and that was still a guess. Do you emtpy every city up and down the coast just incase? Look at our own disaster a few years ago when Savannah was suppose to be evatuated.
And really think what happened in New Orleans, it wasn’t a direct hit, the city was handling it, the diaster came when the government built levee’s gave way a few days later and government build, design and installed pumps gave out.
FEMA was run by a large Bush campaign donor whose only organization skills were putting together horse shows. Just the other day they found $80 million dollars worth of emergencey supplies sitting in a warehouse they were suppose to be headed to New Orleans.
The comparison of a city the size of New Orleans to that of several states is laughable, the time span makes it even worse. The response of FEMA, not having a horse show operator as it’s head, was quick and organized in the Mid-West. New Orleans had very limited access for days, Mid-West you just drive away from the river by the numerous roads open.
I don’t know how you would react if you had water up to your roof line, maybe you keep a boat up there? New Orleans like many other Gulf cities handled hurricanes before, they didn’t plan on the failure of government built levee’s.
If every disaster was the same, it would make it one heck of a lot easier to plan.
Glad I got my two cents in before the ususal gang og racist fools hit the column.
By Peter Percival
July 15, 2008 12:33 PM | Link to this
…it’s shameful to take two natural disasters and selectively view them through a prism…
How about when it’s not done selectively? When a valid comparison is made?
I’ve seen and heard the comparison, most based on fact, and there are some valid contrasts. Nobody argued it was the same degree of damage.
Badie, please refrain from cherry-picking yourself!
By Bruce Wilcox
July 15, 2008 12:54 PM | Link to this
“I’ve seen and heard the comparison, most based on fact, and there are some valid contrasts”, $80 million dollars worth of New Orleans emergency supplies found in a warehouse last week?
If it rains heavy for several days or weeks should you pay attention if you live by a river? If a hurricane enters the Gulf, should everyone along the coast pack up and move a few hunhred miles inland just incase? Is that even close to being the same? How many sandbags can you fill with two days notice, as cvompared to a week?
There is no sane comparison between the two, now that is a fact.
By Crystal
July 15, 2008 1:56 PM | Link to this
Oh that’s right, who would expect a city that is below SEA LEVEL that borders a RIVER that is about to be hit by a HURRICANE to flood.
By Bruce Wilcox
July 15, 2008 1:59 PM | Link to this
So Mark that would make you a what?
By Joshua
July 15, 2008 2:04 PM | Link to this
Another thing you’re not looking at is that all the people in small town Iowa had cars. New Orleans is a large city where many relied on public transportation. People could not get out before the hurricane because they had no ride. After the hurricane they could not get out because all the roads were impassable…not so in Iowa. There are hardly staight on valid comparisons.
By doctorj
July 15, 2008 2:06 PM | Link to this
Lock those sturdy Midwesterners in a room for 5 days in 95 degree heat without food and water and THEN you can start comparing. I am ashamed to this day of what I thought was my country. I guess not, because I am a New Orleanian.
By Crystal
July 15, 2008 2:18 PM | Link to this
“In 1993 - the last time such severe flooding plagued the Midwest - the region’s system of levees was quickly reevaluated by the Army Corps of Engineers and determined inadequate. The cost to repair and, in some cases, replace the failing system was tremendous, however, and under direct orders of the Reagan administration, improvements were ordered only if an “economic justification” could be established. For countless small town along the Mississippi River basin, the investment was simply deemed not “worth the value of the property it’s protecting in the long run,” according to Rick Lubben, mayor of La Porte City, Iowa. La Porte City flooded in 1993 and again this year.”
Sounds familiar…..
By Bruce Wilcox
July 15, 2008 2:18 PM | Link to this
Gee, wonder why all those cities way up the river from New Orleans have levee’s? Wonder how anyone could build a city below sea level in the first place? Did they only build when the tide was out? Wonder if the erosion of the protective delta due to man and overbuilding had any effect?
I’ll take my leave and discuss the issue with my faithful dog, at least she looks like she understands common sense.
By Mark
July 15, 2008 2:29 PM | Link to this
Bruce Wilcox
If your dog had any common sense, he’d break oit of your yard, and make a run for it.
By Crystal
July 15, 2008 2:44 PM | Link to this
Rick’s quote:
“Consider: Infrastructure in New Orleans experienced a one-two punch - first by the hurricane, then by levee breaks. All it did was flood in the Midwest”
83 of the 99 counties in Iowa alone were flooded. Iowa’s infrastructure must be in one of those other 16 counties that those from the flooded 83 counties drove to and went shopping for essentials etc.
“According to the Times, crop losses in Iowa alone are expected to cost the state at least $3 billion in lost revenues alone. In Cedar Rapids, the state’s second largest city, the flooding left more than 1,200 city blocks underwater, leaving behind more than $1 billion in additional damage.”
Yep, it’s just a flood.
By doctorj
July 15, 2008 4:07 PM | Link to this
Katrina- 151 billion damage. Iowa- 2.7 billion damage.
By KIM
July 15, 2008 4:32 PM | Link to this
Good article. Each individual feels loss when such tragedies occur. It is pointless to compare one region’s loss to another.
By JSC
July 15, 2008 6:18 PM | Link to this
Oh, PUH-LEEZE.
More excuse making for the people in N.O. who refused to take care of themselves and did nothing but whine and collect government money and trailers after it was over (and demand more, more, more).
Yeah, we all really know what the difference is between the Midwest flooding and the N.O. tearjerk festival.
Don’t like what I said? TOUGH. Truth outs.
By doctorj
July 15, 2008 8:39 PM | Link to this
JSC, I am a white Republican business owner. I voted for Bush twice. I have taken NOTHING from this country. I have been an eye witness to heroism in the face of impossible suffering from the people of New Orleans. Why do you think New Orleans exists today? It certainly has NOTHING to do with the government. The government has only been a source of more pain. It is THE PEOPLE of New Orleanians that rebuilt the city, with the help of GOOD Americans that refused to let their fellow citizens ROT. 1.1 MILLION volunteers have helped us to date. It is people like you and a lying inept incompetent government that has stolen my country from me. When did the USA become a selfish,, arrogant ignorant, heartless country? What happened to “one country under God”. Hypocrites! My real question is “Who are the real Americans?” Are they the angels that come and help Americans in need or are they the vermin that populate postings such as seen in response to this opinion piece. I wish I knew because if it is the angels maybe I could stop mourning the loss of my country.
By Bruce Wilcox
July 15, 2008 9:22 PM | Link to this
And how much are we spenting to build Iraq?
By Bruce Wilcox
July 15, 2008 9:43 PM | Link to this
And how much are we spending rebuilding Iraq and how many of the Guard that are taken from a state who needs them being wasted in Iraq?
Debate that, when we can take better care of those we invade, how can we omplain what happens at home? ‘My Friends’ as McBush would say, “Sure we have a incompetent administration, but just because we have major bridges falling ibto rivers, massive flooding due to the incompetence and a complete disaster as far as federal response to the Katrina disaster, we need that money for Iraq to ensure we don’t have bridges falling into…”
Mark she said she would, but she is afraid to run into you, she wouldn’t know if to to bite you in the butt or take a leak on your leg, a good Liberal dawg!
By Army Corps
July 15, 2008 10:21 PM | Link to this
Make levees not war!
By LT5000
July 15, 2008 11:45 PM | Link to this
Two things I can predict in my sleep.
Another ignorant Badie article and Brucie blaming everything on Bush.
Of course Badie couldn’t be bothered to mention the culpability of Ray “Chocolate City” Nagin or Kathleen “The Clueless” Blanco.
Bush on the days leading up to Katrina offered help to Blanco and she steadfastly refused it.
By the way, I can’t say I remember any pictures of white people looting in New Orleans. I could be wrong though.
Another insipid Badie article that requires anti nausea medicine just to read.
LT5000
By Bruce Wilcox
July 16, 2008 12:53 AM | Link to this
“Bush on the days leading up to Katrina offered help to Blanco and she steadfastly refused it.” could you offer up a link please.
Calling me Brucie, god how childish, destroys your credibility son, get a clue.
BTW…LT who was president during the Katrina disaster and who appointed the horse show director to run FEMA?
By LT5000
July 16, 2008 8:46 AM | Link to this
For Brucie,
http://www.newsweek.com/id/35940
*That general perception was not helped when she (Gov. Blanco) was overheard by a CNN producer while still miked, admitting that she hadn’t known it was the governor’s responsibility to call out the National Guard. *
She then engaged in a two-day argument with President Bush over whether the guard troops should be federalized, thus keeping those troops ready to go literally waiting on runways around the nation.
Enough for ya Brucie?
LT5000
By LT5000
July 16, 2008 8:54 AM | Link to this
Some more info for Brucie,
*First Response to a disaster is the job of local government’s emergency services with help from nearby municipalities, the state and volunteer agencies. *
In a catastrophic disaster, and if the governor requests, federal resources can be mobilized through theU.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for search and rescue, electrical power, food, water, shelter and other basic human needs.
Life is hard, it’s even harder if you are stupid.
https://www.fema.com/hazard/dproc.shtm
LT5000
By Kathy
July 16, 2008 9:42 AM | Link to this
Why are we comparing 2 horrendous disasters anyway? In both, lives were lost, homes and memories washed away. Can’t we just try to do what we can to help those in need, and put the squabbling aside?
By What're you, an idiot
July 16, 2008 9:55 AM | Link to this
LT - wonderful link to the Newsweek article. I don’t think anyone should dispute that Gov Blanco was inept and that her ineptitude was proven many times by how she handled the Katrina crisis before and after it hit. Her departure was addition by subtraction.
However
If we are blaming Nagin and Blanco for the Katrina mess because they didn’t have the plans, processes, management, or infrastructure in place to react to the disaster, Bush and “Heckuva Job” Brownie need to be right there as well.
By shenle
July 16, 2008 9:55 AM | Link to this
I grew up in Iowa and lived in Nawlin’s a few years ago…NO is a great city with a lot of culture, but if you ask me to choose a place to live permanently I’d pick IA hands down! You can’t beat the people and the security there. In fact, I’m even thinking of relocating back.
By LT5000
July 16, 2008 10:34 AM | Link to this
Idiot,
Here is a nice article detailing what exactly it is the FEMA (created by Brucie’s hero Jimmy Carter) does.
http://www.heritage.org/Research/HomelandSecurity/bg1901.cfm
Similarly, FEMA is usually not required to provide immediate emergency response assistance. In “normal” disasters, whether terrorist attacks like 9/11 or a natural disaster such as a flood or an earthquake, a tiered response is employed.
Local leaders turn to state resources when local resources are exhausted,
States then turn to FEMA when their means are exceeded, and
Both local and state leaders play a critical role in effectively communicating their requirements to FEMA officials and managing the response.
There’s the facts for you.
Of course Brucie never let those stand in his way. He likes to blame everything from natural disasters to his venereal diseases on Bush.
Anyone remember how Atlanta’s crime rate skyrocketed thanks to all those lovely people New Orleans displaced?
Anyone remember those submerged school buses Ray Nagin didn’t utilize for an evacuation?
Badie is a blathering moron. His article has nothing to do with Gwinnett. He’s just pimping another Obama infomercial instead of covering important news in Gwinnett county.
Like Drug fueled illegals kidnapping each other.
LT5000
By Gary
July 16, 2008 11:08 AM | Link to this
If I remember correctly there was warning of the hurricane approaching New Orleans. I also know that the people on the midwest had a little more warning. But nobody has mentioned the flooding a little north of there where it started. i don’t think they got much warning (kinda like New Orleans). Katrina was a tagedy for more than just New Orleans, lest we forget the rest of the Gulf Coast who didn’t get FEMA assistance either. But I guess it is easy to forget when the only thing mentioned is New Orleans because of the race issue. Time to get over it and go to work to make it better for everyone!!!
By Jais
July 16, 2008 11:58 AM | Link to this
Oh, I see, Rick- so when it happens to blacks it’s a disaster, but when it happens to whites it’s nothing special?
I have family there, you third rate, racist hack. It’s every bit as bad as katrina.
You sir, have now become my FIRST AND ONLY target against this website. Until the AJC fires or removes you, I am going to shut this blog down EVERY DAY. Get ready for cyber attacks, they are coming.
I would really love to kick your teeth in. You desperately deserve it, mudhuck.
By Bruce Wilcox
July 16, 2008 12:17 PM | Link to this
LT with all these neat, but meaningless links you’re providing, let me try the question again, “Bush on the days leading up to Katrina offered help to Blanco and she steadfastly refused it”?
In all your links nothing like that was said or offered, it is nice watching you prove that you’re just a lying lemming.
By What're you, an idiot
July 16, 2008 12:21 PM | Link to this
LT, are you trying to say that Brownie did in fact do a heckuva job?
Jais - here’s a DOS tip for you… format c:
By Jais
July 16, 2008 12:26 PM | Link to this
Wow, that was so damn clever dude. What’s format c: do? Oh I forgot- they used that in DOS (Directory of systems) before windows 98. The DOS I refer to is denial of service, and pretty soon everyone here is going to know what it is. Or maybe they won’t.
By What're you, an idiot
July 16, 2008 12:31 PM | Link to this
Bruce - what you are looking for I think can be found here:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0509110433sep11,0,7137597.story
Unfortunately the relevant paragraphs seem to disprove LT’s point.
**- Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco submitted letters to President Bush on Aug. 27 and Aug. 28, well before Katrina’s landfall, asking for federal help. But the head of the Homeland Security Department didn’t designate the storm an “incident of national significance,” a post-Sept. 11 reform that would trigger the full weight of the federal government, until at least 32 hours after the storm roared ashore on Aug. 29.
Based on the Hurricane Pam exercise, local authorities were prepared to deal with the aftermath of the storm for 48 to 60 hours, at which time FEMA was supposed to arrive, Maestri said. But instead of arriving on Aug. 31, as expected, the federal agency didn’t arrive in force until Sept. 2. By that time, New Orleans had collapsed into chaos.**
I don’t get it….was LT not telling the truth?
By Jais
July 16, 2008 12:35 PM | Link to this
No, you’re just stupid.
By Bruce Wilcox
July 16, 2008 12:36 PM | Link to this
“Bush on the days leading up to Katrina offered help to Blanco and she steadfastly refused it.” could you offer up a link please?
Playing dodge ball with a simple question just makes you look even more foolish LT, but it’s not really hard in your case. Read your statement again and please try to address what you said.
By What're you, an idiot
July 16, 2008 12:40 PM | Link to this
Jais you must be some kind of computer genius if you get paid more than the AJC webmaster. I’m scared. Please spare me from your e-Jihad.
By Jais
July 16, 2008 12:45 PM | Link to this
Yes, I do. Yes I am. No I will not.
shut your lip idiot. Or it will be shut for you.
By Bruce Wilcox
July 16, 2008 12:54 PM | Link to this
Great article, LT how do you get out of this one now?
By Jais
July 16, 2008 12:58 PM | Link to this
Oh yeah- here’s another good one. Any of you asswipes ever consider that maybe president Bush abandoned new orleans on purpose because blacks aren’t worth helping? PREPOSTEROUS, YOU SAY?
wrong.
Blacks like Rick Badie should go back to africa or die in a flood. We couldn’t have asked better for this country than katrina. That storm killed alot of blacks, and forced the country to see how dumb, lazy and dishonest they really are. Hell, the dumb negroes in New Orleans can barely clean the city up. The state is going nowhere fast. All it took was one flood to cause total chaos because blacks are prone to failure.
Racial equality is like a triangular square- it can’t exist. The Races are not equal and probably never will be. Saying they can is like saying pigs can fly. They can’t. In the case of Blacks during katrina, it’s just a shame we couldn’t have been a bit later and caused some real progress. The people left in the city during katrina were comprised of 100% stupids.
By LT5000
July 16, 2008 1:14 PM | Link to this
Controversy has continued to circle the issue of the National Guard. According to an article in Newsweek , President Bush and Governor Blanco met on Air Force One on Friday, September 2, 2005 while it sat on the tarmac at the New Orleans airport.
Echoing requests submitted by President Bush to Governor Blanco in a memo prior to the meeting, Mayor Nagin suggested federalizing the National Guard to improve the command structure.
According to both Sen. David Vitter, a Republican, and Mayor Ray Nagin, the Democratic Mayor of New Orleans, Bush turned to Governor Blanco and said, “Well, what do you think of that, Governor?” Blanco told Bush, “I’d rather talk to you about that privately.”
To which Nagin responded, “Well, why don’t you do that now?”
Immediately following that private meeting, according to a September 7, 2005 Washington Times article , Mayor Nagin said that “He (Bush) called [Nagin] in that office, and he said, ‘Mr. Mayor, I offered two options to the governor.’ I was ready to move. The governor said she needed 24 hours to make a decision.”
Governor Blanco subsequently rejected the proposal.
There you go folks. Bumbling Blanco refused to federalize the National Guard at Bush’s request. She preferred they sit on the tarmac. How much more evidence do you half wits need?
Would you idiots care to spout off some more or have you been proven wrong enough times yet?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kathleen_Blanco
LT5000
By What're you, an idiot
July 16, 2008 1:22 PM | Link to this
Jais”the race…ist”,
That’s got to feel so good for you. You came clean with a good old fashioned diatribe that has Byron De la Beckwith dancing the jig in his grave. I’m sure you’ve made your father and mother(who is also your sister) so very proud.
And you, LT, you must be feeling good about your wingman Jais “the race…ist” right now
Come on LT, give us your testimony as well. Your axe to grind with Rick goes much deeper. Get it off your chest.
By Jais
July 16, 2008 1:24 PM | Link to this
My friggin idol. LT- hats off.
By Jais
July 16, 2008 1:29 PM | Link to this
Do you call yourself that as an insult or name yourself after the sentence you hear the most?
and my sister is YOUR MOTHER so I guess that’s anyones’ call.
By Katrina
July 16, 2008 1:35 PM | Link to this
Is he racist? Seems more like a realist.
By Bruce Wilcox
July 16, 2008 1:53 PM | Link to this
LT are you a drooler, this is your statement,”Bush on the days leading up to Katrina offered help to Blanco and she steadfastly refused it.” ? What part of “days leading up to” it don’t you understand, you made the statement, bush reacted after the fact, not before like he was asked.
You can dance and prance all you want, your statemnent has proven to be bs.
By Wikipedia tutorial time for LT
July 16, 2008 1:55 PM | Link to this
LT, as you are reading through something on Wikipedia if you happen to see [citation needed] included multiple times that means that the author of that Wikipedia post is just some Joe Schmoe who is posting what he/she interprets as the facts associated with the entry. It may actually be that random person’s skewed opinion.
As you read through something on wikipedia and you see numbers in brackets included multiple times, those numbers are associated with valid citations that are documented at the bottom of the wikipedia entry. It is a good idea to refer to those citations at the bottom to ensure they come from reputable new sources, as opposed to a fish-wrap like the Washington Times.
An article with valid citations that are links to reputable new sources = this is good item to copy and paste into a blog posting to try to back up your opinion.
An article with missing or invalid citations = this isn’t going to help your cause very much unless you are trying to preach to the choir (the old affirmation rather than information quandary).
Having said all of that, I believe Gov Blanco was ill-equipped to run the State of Louisiana. I also believe “Heckuva Job” Brownie was ill-equipped to run FEMA. And Jais the race…ist is ill equipped to run a personal computer.
By Jais
July 16, 2008 2:30 PM | Link to this
Funny because I pull down more than you off computing consulting and various computer-realted technologies.
And here’s some news- his words are supported by facts. Again you blatantly try and turn them around on lt when you have no legs to stand on in this statement or argument. You, sir, are a friggin moron.
By LT5000
July 16, 2008 9:41 PM | Link to this
Brucie, idiot and Wiki,
Sorry boys, Blanco was told to issue a mandatory evacuation, by Bush, before Katrina hit, but dragged her feet.
Also, FEMA is not a primary responder.
I have provided the related links, but you just ignore the facts because they don’t fit your meme that “Bush is evil”.
These are the facts. I’m not going to do your homework for you.
Do you still have mommy come by and wipe you after you go potty?
Try using the internet for something other that downloading pictures of underage boys.
LT5000
By Bruce Wilcox
July 16, 2008 10:20 PM | Link to this
“On August 27, 2005, Governor Blanco, issued a request for federal assistance and USD $9 million in aid to President George W. Bush, which stated, “…I have determined that this incident is of such severity and magnitude that effective response is beyond the capabilities of the State and affected local governments, and that supplementary Federal assistance is necessary to save lives, protect property, public health, and safety, or to lessen or avert the threat of a disaster. I am specifically requesting emergency protective measures, direct Federal Assistance, Individual and Household Program (IHP) assistance, Special Needs Program assistance, and debris removal.” Also in the requesting letter, the governor stated: “In response to the situation I have taken appropriate action under State law and directed the execution of the State Emergency Plan on August 26, 2005 in accordance with Section 501 (a) of the Stafford Act. A State of Emergency has been issued for the State in order to support the evacuations of the coastal areas in accordance with our State Evacuation Plan.”, from the same Wikipedia article you quote from, how can that be?
About the National Guard, the republican governor and former RNC chairman next door, refused to turn over the Guard to bush either, form the same Wikipedia article? A little selective editing little one?
Now unless you can show something from what bush said before 8/27/05 offering aid or telling her to get the people out you’re full of dung, but most here pretty well know that.
And again your statement, ,”Bush on the days leading up to Katrina offered help to Blanco and she steadfastly refused it.” ?
By Katie
July 17, 2008 5:58 AM | Link to this
Katrina is not Bush’s fault. If you build a city below sea level, it’s going to flood—some day. I think the whole thing was terrible but blaming politics doesn’t change a thing. There are still people homeless (I don’t know why) and jobless ( I don’t know why). Given almost 5 years, people should have been able to find new shelters and jobs. I don’t think race should even be brought up.
By LT5000
July 17, 2008 8:21 AM | Link to this
Here’s a link for Brucie and Idiot,
I realized the internet just might be too confusing for the elderly.
http://www.washtimes.com/news/2005/sep/07/20050907-121729-5097r/
Salient statement:
(Bush) He also asked Mrs. Blanco to order a mandatory evacuation of New Orleans on Aug. 27 — two days before the hurricane hit — but she did not make the order until Aug. 28.
You will notice those dates are before Katrina hit.
Bush was telling her what she needed to do and she, being a moron Democrat, couldn’t pull the trigger.
LT5000
By What're you, an idiot
July 17, 2008 8:44 AM | Link to this
LT - You misunderstand and your “facts” don’t refute my position.
Let me explain my position:
1.Katherine Blanco reacted poorly to Katrina 2. FEMA reacted poorly to Katrina. 3. Ray Nagin reacted poorly to Katrina. 4. Jais is a racist and not that bright. Not relevant but still my position.
Assigning portions or percentages of blame is subjective so I choose not to do it. They are all to blame for mismanagement.
What is NOT my position:
I suspect you’ve made your last post here. Typically your approach on this blog is to staunchly defend your position and to conclude your defense with a final post that in effect says “My position is defended by facts, if you don’t want to believe facts that’s your limitation”.
Your big problem may be that you seem too (intellectually) lazy to provide facts. Either that or at some point you realize you’ve lost the debate and refuse to bow out gracefully.
In your defense, you seem to have finally ceased with the childish “you are a big homo from Midtown” attacks that were featured in your very early Badie blog posts.
Keep up the good work.
By link about Bush offering/advising
July 17, 2008 8:45 AM | Link to this
www.enterstageright.com for info on Bush trying to get people OUT of NO two days before the storm, etc.
By What're you, an idiot
July 17, 2008 8:50 AM | Link to this
LT - You misunderstand and your “facts” don’t refute my position.
Let me explain my position:
1.Katherine Blanco reacted poorly to Katrina 2. FEMA reacted poorly to Katrina. 3. Ray Nagin reacted poorly to Katrina. 4. Jais is a racist and not that bright. Not relevant but still my position.
Assigning portions or percentages of blame is subjective so I choose not to do it. They are all to blame for mismanagement.
What is NOT my position:
I suspect you’ve made your last post here. Typically your approach on this blog is to staunchly defend your position and to conclude your defense with a final post that in effect says “My position is defended by facts, if you don’t want to believe facts that’s your limitation”.
Your big problem may be that you seem too (intellectually) lazy to provide facts. Either that or at some point you realize you’ve lost the debate and choose to not bow out gracefully.
In your defense, you seem to have finally ceased with the childish “you are a big homo from Midtown” attacks that were featured in your very early Badie blog posts.
Keep up the good work.
By LT5000
July 17, 2008 10:00 AM | Link to this
Give us a break Brucie.
Katrina was a debacle because Blanco ignored President Bush and didn’t order a mandatory evacuation until 20 hours before the hurricane hit.
She didn’t know what to do with the National Guard and even admitted it on tape. But still refused to cede control to the President.
FEMA is a last resort after state and local disaster response, not first responders.
Blanco and Nagin ignored their own diasater plans and then, like you, tried to blame Bush.
I laid out the facts to you and you offer nothing in return except proclamations that your ar correct. You only serve to embarass yourself, as you have done many many times on this blog.
I prove you wrong over and over and over again. Apparently, stupidity isn’t painful. A true anti-Bush fanatic who ignores the truth at every turn.
As Chruchill said ” A fanatic is one who won’t change his mind, but won’t change the subject”.
At least you have company with Idiot. What’s the old saying? “Stupidity loves company”.
LT5000
By Bruce Wilcox
July 17, 2008 10:07 AM | Link to this
“Mr. Bush, at the request of Mrs. Blanco, declared the entire state of Louisiana a disaster area 48 hours before the hurricane made landfall. He also asked Mrs. Blanco to order a mandatory evacuation of New Orleans on Aug. 27 — two days before the hurricane hit — but she did not make the order until Aug. 28.”
Have your mommie read the article to you again LT, this time real slow like, have mommie draw you a picture if see has to of this begining statement, “”Mr. Bush, at the request of Mrs. Blanco,”
http://www.washtimes.com/news/2005/sep/07/20050907-121729-5097r/
Again LT, same article, you you have used selective editing again, tsk, tsk, little one.
By Bruce Wilcox
July 17, 2008 10:13 AM | Link to this
All of my above comments are incorrect and biased.
I apologize for them and would like to shake your hand and say “Thank you” for helping me to see the light.
I’ll refrain from posting further comments that aren’t more reasonable.
By Bruce Wilcox
July 17, 2008 10:20 AM | Link to this
Ah, some jerk off has to play games and use my name, is bad enough to hide behind a screen, but whoever the dude maybe he must lsck sny cajones.
By LT5000
July 17, 2008 10:36 AM | Link to this
Wow Brucie can read. And yet proved nothing.
Bush tired to get Blanco to evacuate 48 hours before Katrina hit. She stalled until 20 hours before Katrina hit.
That’s 28 hours difference Bruce, since math probably isn’t your best subject.
In fact, she didn’t even submit a request for Federal troops. Something a governor must specifically do because of the Posse Comitatus.
Brucie and Idiot, see if you can follow.
Bush offered help, Blanco refused, before Katrina hit.
Bush offered help, Blanco refused, leaving help sitting on the tarmac after Katrina hit.
All because she was too arrogant to give control to the President.
Really, these were the most crucial hours, since she screwed up the evacuation.
You have been proven wrong again. Try using the public library for something other than “cruising” the restrooms.
LT5000
By Bruce Wilcox
July 17, 2008 10:52 AM | Link to this
Ha! I see the other guy is posting for me again!
It’s like a guy can’t make an honest apology for going over the top with his blog posting without someone messin’ it up.
Oh well, good thing I’ve got plenty of time to keep posting and not work productively.
By What're you, an idiot
July 17, 2008 11:05 AM | Link to this
LT
Blanco screwed up.
Agreed.
Electing a former high school teacher to be the chief executive of the State of Louisiana was a mistake.
Agreed.
The one federal agency with the mandate to help bail out Blanco was FEMA.
Agreed?
Heckuva Job Brownie screwed up.
Agreed?
Hiring a former organizer of horse shows to be the chief executive of the FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION was a mistake.
Agreed?
By oversimplify
July 17, 2008 12:52 PM | Link to this
FEMA screwed up Katrina but got it right in the midwest.
Give Bush some credit.
By What're you, an idiot
July 17, 2008 3:00 PM | Link to this
oversimplify,
Let me try it this way.
A few years ago I hired a sales rep. His experience wasn’t as relevant as most of the successful reps we had but I decided to go ahead with the hire anyway.
He struggled and failed. At the end of the year he was about 25% of quota and it was apparent that the next year wasn’t going to be a whole lot better so I cut him loose.
Hindsight being 20/20, I f’d up. I made a bad hire. The next year we made a better hire and results were better, but I still f’d up because I made a bad hire.
Bush made a bad hire by bringing in Heckuva Job Brownie to run FEMA.
If one of the most devastating natural disasters in the last century hadn’t happened, perhaps nobody would have noticed that Bush made a bad hire. In that case he’d only be our most ineffective president of all time for the other 875 reasons.
By LT5000
July 18, 2008 10:05 AM | Link to this
Idiot,
Once again read the FEMA website. They are not first responders.
The local and state governments handle the disasters. FEMA comes in afterword to direct aid.
Bush couldn’t help Blanco because she wouldn’t allow the National Guard troops in.
In fact, she wouldn’t even allow the Red Cross in.
Brownie sucked, but mostly because of FEMA severe understaffing and unrealistic expectations and misconceptions of what FEMA actually does.
LT5000
By fedupingwinnett
July 18, 2008 11:03 AM | Link to this
There’s no reason to compare the two disasters, they’re both horrible. The biggest problem is that some of the people in NO are still getting their housing and food paid for…one of their excuses is “it’s too hot to look for a job” what a crock.
By From Where I Stand
July 23, 2008 8:53 PM | Link to this
Sure whites don’t loot, that’s only because they confiscate.
By Jodi
July 28, 2008 8:26 PM | Link to this
I was flooded in Iowa and had 1.5 days notice. I have a finished basement (live in a split foyer) so I had to unload 5 rooms in that time (which include a bathroom, living room and 2 bedrooms along with the laundy room). I came home to 6 feet of water.
I have flood insurance but haven’t seen a dime yet and this is 7 weeks later. FEMA gave me nothing.
Not everyone in Iowa had a weeks notice.