Tropical Storm Gustav is already wreaking havoc with the Republican convention plans next week, as it moves toward the Gulf Coast. And the storm’s gathering strength can only serve as a vivid reminder of the Bush administration’s much crticized, delayed response to the devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina, which slammed into New Orleans three years ago this Friday.
Love it. The Libs are lining up with their typical compassion, just hoping and praying for a devastating tragedy to occur so that they can literally dance on the figurative graves of the victims. All in the name of the "See? See? See?" hyperbole of blaming every ill that falls on U.S. on Bush. Since the Mayor of New Orleans nor the Governor of the state of Louisiana had called for evacuation, much of the human tragedy lies squarely at their feet. But we won't bother you with facts.
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, who was scheduled to speak at the Republican convention next Tuesday the day the storm may hit land has already declared a state of emergency. The predicted path of the storm at this point suggests it could make land fall in New Orleans, again.
POINT - Gov. Blanco also had declared a state of emergency days prior to landfall early in the afternoon on August 26. A Friday, less than
72 hours prior to landfall.
POINT - By 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, only 3 Parishes in New Orleans were under mandatory evacuation by their officials. Less than
48 hours to landfall.
POINT - By 5:00 p.m. Gov. Blanco sends a letter to President Bush, requesting a major disaster declaration for Louisiana. He responds with a declaration of a federal state of emergency. About
37 hours to landfall.
POINT - 10:00 a.m. Sunday, August 29, Mayor Nagin finally declared a mandatory evacuation of parish of Orleans. This is after a briefing he, Gov. Blanco, Gov. Barber (MS), and Bush had from Max Mayfield, Director, National Hurricane Center at least
12 hours earlier.
SIDE NOTE: Gov. Blanco said that Pres. Bush had called her just before Nagin's news conference, concerned about the storms impact and asking her "to please ensure that there would be a mandatory evacuation of New Orleans." Yep, sounds like an unconcerned, oblivious President to me....
POINT - With flooding already occurring in outlying areas, Katrina official makes landfall at 6:10 a.m., nearly bulls eye to the location NHC had projected on Friday night.
One bit of irony after the storm hit - Gov. Blanco on Monday afternoon (at or around 3:00 p.m.) ordered 68 school buses into New Orleans from surrounding parishes to begin evacuating any survivors that remained in the city. The irony is that there were school buses sitting unused, many ruined, that could have been used to evacuate people prior to the devastating landfill and resulting flooding.
And Mayor Nagin's response when he "found out" about the buses over 6 months later? “Someone at the White House should have given the order to use those school buses to evacuate the city before Katrina hit,” said the Mayor, who is the top local government official in New Orleans. “It makes me ill to think that the federal government failed to intervene to save these people. George Bush had plenty of time, and he did nothing.”
Duhhh... Mayor, did you NOT think of checking ALL your local resources for evacuation yourself? Wasn't that in your "plan" that you'd not formulated yet? A good example of the old saying: "Be careful who you point your finger at, for you've three more pointing at yourself."
Things could get real interesting. I'm sure if you're a Pub, the last thing you want the American public reminded of, during your convention, is Katrina.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/8/26/135217/293
I'm a Conservative who typically aligns with Republicans and/or Libertarians. The last thing I want is to see ANY hurricane devastate ANY location. It will happen, and if this is where Gustav heads, so be it. Whether or not during the convention, the only reason it bothers me is that it will reduce the wall-to-wall talking heads in the media will show us their typical objectiveness.
