Jack Kelly: No shame: The federal response to Katrina was not as portrayed

[The Ressurrected One]

Okay, for the serious posters in here, I'll re-post the two questions I'd like the president's detractors to address:

1) Precisely what did FEMA do wrong in their response to Hurrican Katrina?

2) When have Republicans, Conservatives, or anyone else, ever attacked a Democratic administration for their response to a disaster?

[The Ressurrected One]

Did Clinton get a lot of for not showing up in Oklahoma City for 4 days after the bombing?

Maybe...but, I'm talking about the response to the disaster. If all Bush were getting was some grief about when he decided to visit the disaster site, I doubt we'd even be having this discussion.

And, if this had been a terrorist attack (as was the Murrah building bombing), I doubt the federal government would have acted as they did -- seeing as there would have been no question about invoking the Insurrection Act.

The fact is, FEMA and the whole of the Bush administration are being blamed for whatever failures are real or perceived in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. And, quite frankly, I've yet to see a supported charge of incompetence on the part of any federal response to this disaster.

Yes, Mike Brown fluffed his resume and he probably deserves to be canned for that but, no one has shown me one shred of proof that FEMA fumbled their responsibilities in their response to Hurrican Katrina.

[The Ressurrected One]

Okay, for the serious posters in here, I'll re-post the two questions I'd like the president's detractors to address:

1) Precisely what did FEMA do wrong in their response to Hurrican Katrina?

2) When have Republicans, Conservatives, or anyone else, ever attacked a Democratic administration for their response to a disaster?

Tick frickin' tock...

[Clandestino]

Okay, for the serious posters in here, I'll re-post the two questions I'd like the president's detractors to address:

1) Precisely what did FEMA do wrong in their response to Hurrican Katrina?

2) When have Republicans, Conservatives, or anyone else, ever attacked a Democratic administration for their response to a disaster?

1) FEMA did not go into the area and just call martial law without regard to the state's right. the states aren't supposed to have any rights.

[The Ressurrected One]

1) FEMA did not go into the area and just call martial law without regard to the state's right. the states aren't supposed to have any rights.

No, seriously. I've been accused of not engaging in a serious debate of the issue and, these are the two principal points over which there seems to be contention.

I'd like an opportunity to address other than empty rhetoric. There have been no specific allegations of malfeasance made against FEMA and, to my recollection, I cannot think of a time when a Democratic administration was so resoundingly, relentlessly harangued, by the opposition and the media, in the middle of a major American crisis. I really think this defines a new low in political discourse.

[hussker]

No, seriously. I've been accused of not engaging in a serious debate of the issue and, these are the two principal points over which there seems to be contention.

I'd like an opportunity to address other than empty rhetoric. There have been no specific allegations of malfeasance made against FEMA and, to my recollection, I cannot think of a time when a Democratic administration was so resoundingly, relentlessly harangued, by the opposition and the media, in the middle of a major American crisis. I really think this defines a new low in political discourse.

It is because the voices that speak now in majority did not bother to go push a lever in 2000 or 2004. Don't worry, they will not in 2008 either. Especially in Louisiana where they have no more buses to move people to the polls. TACKY BAD BUT TRUE, I KNOW.

[hussker]

Ahhh, all those buses...

[Bandit2981]

Okay, for the serious posters in here, I'll re-post the two questions I'd like the president's detractors to address:

1) Precisely what did FEMA do wrong in their response to Hurrican Katrina?

2) When have Republicans, Conservatives, or anyone else, ever attacked a Democratic administration for their response to a disaster?

I think both local and federal governments should shoulder the responsibility(I hate the word "blame" concerning a disaster like this), so i'll attempt to answer your questions.

1) FEMA was mismanaged from the moment someone like Brown was appointed to head the organization, NO crisis or emergency credentials at all. Many of their decisions were suspect as well, such as turning away firefighters, the Red Cross from delivering food, and Wal Mart trucks from delivering supplies. As for the Bush factor, it's not entirely his fault, but placing people to head and run FEMA based on loyalty and past friendships, instead of qualified individuals, got the snowball rolling down the hill.

2) It's not about party per se, it's about being told over and over how prepared we are in the event another attack or catastrophe were to take place, and that not being the case. The republican's biggest talking point during the elections was how they were best equipped to handle and deal with an event like this were it ever to happen again. There's nothing wrong with wanting accountability(not blame) for a federal issue.

[Clandestino]

1992 Chiles ed up big time. He didn't know he had to formally request FEMA assistance. Took days for FEMA to get in. All governors should know by now that you must request FEMA assistance.

FL learned and they now have the best program in place for dealing with FEMA. Louisiana was ill prepared. You don't hear the other states ing about FEMA.

[hussker]

I think both local and federal governments should shoulder the responsibility(I hate the word "blame" concerning a disaster like this), so i'll attempt to answer your questions.

1) FEMA was mismanaged from the moment someone like Brown was appointed to head the organization, NO crisis or emergency credentials at all. Many of their decisions were suspect as well, such as turning away firefighters, the Red Cross from delivering food, and Wal Mart trucks from delivering supplies. As for the Bush factor, it's not entirely his fault, but placing people to head and run FEMA based on loyalty and past friendships, instead of qualified individuals, got the snowball rolling down the hill.

2) It's not about party per se, it's about being told over and over how prepared we are in the event another attack or catastrophe were to take place, and that not being the case. The republican's biggest talking point during the elections was how they were best equipped to handle and deal with an event like this were it ever to happen again. There's nothing wrong with wanting accountability(not blame) for a federal issue.

To revisit a point, it all began at the local level. A proactive Mayor three days before the Act of God and Four days before the flood is great for TV and such, but leadership failed due to lack of follow-up, essential at any level of leadership. There was ZERO follow up to ensure there were appropriate reactors to the proactivity. Oh, and that the resources were properly used...all those buses, hmmmm.

[Bandit2981]

To revisit a point, it all began at the local level

Actually, it all began in the ocean.

[hussker]

Actually, it all began in the ocean.

Please try to stick with the human element. I am confident we know where it all began super-naturally. Unless you are going to blame Bush and Barbour like Junior Kennedy did (the political activist, not the former mediocre baseball player).

[Bandit2981]

Please try to stick with the human element. I am confident we know where it all began super-naturally. Unless you are going to blame Bush and Barbour like Junior Kennedy did (the political activist, not the former mediocre baseball player).

Bush isn't doing the environment any favors, however I believe in climate change, but I think its a cyclical cycle the earth naturally goes through, and there's not much we can do about it but buckle up for the ride because it will get a lot worse. Read into the earth's magnetic pole reversal thats taking place, its very interesting and in the past when its happened there were also dramatic weather changes.

[hussker]

Bush isn't doing the environment any favors, however I believe in climate change, but I think its a cyclical cycle the earth naturally goes through, and there's not much we can do about it but buckle up for the ride because it will get a lot worse. Read into the earth's magnetic pole reversal thats taking place, its very interesting and in the past when its happened there were also dramatic weather changes.

Yeah, I guess the next point you will have is that Bush killed the Dinosaurs just about the same time Gore was trying to save them... I knew it would not be long before the environmentalist view reared its head to point at a person via an Act of God.

Thanks Mr. Kennedy, duly noted...NEXT

[The Ressurrected One]

I think both local and federal governments should shoulder the responsibility(I hate the word "blame" concerning a disaster like this), so i'll attempt to answer your questions.

1) FEMA was mismanaged from the moment someone like Brown was appointed to head the organization, NO crisis or emergency credentials at all.

Well, that would have to be proved out in a mismanaged response. I mean, after all, would not his apparent incompetence have to translate into actual incompetence for that to be an issue? Agency administrators come from all walks of life and backgrounds. But, let's look at your assertions...

Many of their decisions were suspect as well, such as turning away firefighters,

Turning away firefighters that were not integrated into the response team, unable to communicate with other responders, and very likely to become a resource drain when they became mired without resources, water, fuel, food, etc...

the Red Cross from delivering food,

The only example of this, of which I'm aware, was the result of Governor Blanco denying preposition supplies from being delivered by the Red Cross to the Superdome and Convention Center because -- as I understand it -- they were afraid people would more likely stay in the city instead of evacuating, which is what they wanted.

and Wal Mart trucks from delivering supplies.

I'm not aware of this...

As for the Bush factor, it's not entirely his fault, but placing people to head and run FEMA based on loyalty and past friendships, instead of qualified individuals, got the snowball rolling down the hill.

FEMA, indeed, the entire federal response en y, has performed as expected and, in many cases, way beyond expectations. Your anectdotal situations aside, the casualty count appears to be much, much lower than first "histrionic" predictions warned. Indeed, most of the lingering problems appear to stem from situations created by decisions made at local and state levels.

2) It's not about party per se, it's about being told over and over how prepared we are in the event another attack or catastrophe were to take place, and that not being the case. The republican's biggest talking point during the elections was how they were best equipped to handle and deal with an event like this were it ever to happen again. There's nothing wrong with wanting accountability(not blame) for a federal issue.

Again, the federal government responded as planned and WAS prepared. An enemy attack will be treated much differently by the federal government due to the distinction to be made between natural disasters and enemy attacks.

Natural disasters are a local and State issue first.

And this is about party. The Democrats have stooped to levels never seen in politics on this one.

[ChumpDumper]

Well, that would have to be proved out in a mismanaged response.

Or his being replaced....

[hussker]

Well, that would have to be proved out in a mismanaged response. I mean, after all, would not his apparent incompetence have to translate into actual incompetence for that to be an issue? Agency administrators come from all walks of life and backgrounds. But, let's look at your assertions...

Turning away firefighters that were not integrated into the response team, unable to communicate with other responders, and very likely to become a resource drain when they became mired without resources, water, fuel, food, etc...

The only example of this, of which I'm aware, was the result of Governor Blanco denying preposition supplies from being delivered by the Red Cross to the Superdome and Convention Center because -- as I understand it -- they were afraid people would more likely stay in the city instead of evacuating, which is what they wanted.

I'm not aware of this...

FEMA, indeed, the entire federal response en y, has performed as expected and, in many cases, way beyond expectations. Your anectdotal situations aside, the casualty count appears to be much, much lower than first "histrionic" predictions warned. Indeed, most of the lingering problems appear to stem from situations created by decisions made at local and state levels.

Again, the federal government responded as planned and WAS prepared. An enemy attack will be treated much differently by the federal government due to the distinction to be made between natural disasters and enemy attacks.

Natural disasters are a local and State issue first.

And this is about party. The Democrats have stooped to levels never seen in politics on this one.

DITTO...nice post

[Bandit2981]

Yeah, I guess the next point you will have is that Bush killed the Dinosaurs just about the same time Gore was trying to save them... I knew it would not be long before the environmentalist view reared its head to point at a person via an Act of God.

Thanks Mr. Kennedy, duly noted...NEXT

Not sure what Bush has to do with anything I said, but whatever i guess.

[Bandit2981]

Natural disasters are a local and State issue first

Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Bush declare a state of emergency for LA 2 days before Katrina hit, allowing FEMA to take whatever course of action it wanted?

[hussker]

Not sure what Bush has to do with anything I said, but whatever i guess.

Your statement could have been "WE" are not doing the environment any favors, but you, like so many, want to point at one person. There are about 6 billion we could point at as the one presently. In fact, lets just go back and blame those that sparked the industrial revolution.

Act of God, not act of human. That was my only point. I suppose I was being proactive to defend against another diatribe. My apologies for misunderstanding as it seems I did.

[The Ressurrected One]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Bush declare a state of emergency for LA 2 days before Katrina hit,

Yes.

...allowing FEMA to take whatever course of action it wanted?

No. The Governor of Louisiana still had administrative control over the response...including the use of any federal resources brought to bear or made available through the President's declaration.

[hussker]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Bush declare a state of emergency for LA 2 days before Katrina hit, allowing FEMA to take whatever course of action it wanted?

Nope...still falls under the realm of the Local and State leadership. In fact, there is an off camera (or at least she thought it was) of the Governor questioning whether she should have called in the Feds at that point. She had just finished another news conference denouncing the Feds for not coming in when she called, when in fact, she had not. And, surprisingly, that clip was on CNN this morning. That was more shocking than the entire issue!

[The Ressurrected One]

Or his being replaced....

No doubt, his detractors won. But, what was to be gained by staying and fighting? After all, he (not the Democrats) realized the attention paid to him was taking away from the efforts being made by his employees. Good call on his part, I'd say.

[ChumpDumper]

No doubt, his detractors won. But, what was to be gained by staying and fighting? After all, he (not the Democrats) realized the attention paid to him was taking away from the efforts being made by his employees. Good call on his part, I'd say.

He recalled himself three days ago?

[The Ressurrected One]

He recalled himself three days ago?

By resigning today. I concede, the opposition suceeded in getting him taken off the job...a job that was being executed superbly. Astounding. I hope the left and the media are happy.

I promise, and we'll have to wait a few decades, but history is not going to be kind to the Democratic Party and liberals, in general, for their behavior over the past two or three decades.

Really, what did FEMA do wrong in their response to Hurricane Katrina?