No, I won't shut up.

[dvandom]

The backlash spin is well underway. Some of it is just people who are genuinely sick of the finger-pointing and want to just concentrate on fixing the problems, but I find that all too many of the "shut the fuck up about who's to blame for the Katrina failures" crowd are pro-administration. In other words, "The people I support are to blame, and I don't want you to remind me!"

Tough fucking noogies.

Sure, there's plenty of blame to go around on both sides of the aisle. But when it comes down to it, disaster response is a FEDERAL program, under EXECUTIVE control. When a series of blunders as colossal as this happens, and then the administration tries to act like it's not their fault or even their RESPONSIBILITY, that is an utter abrogation of the public trust. It is vile, it is callous, and it'll probably work out just fine for these amoral scumbags, who will find a way to turn the blame onto everyone but themselves and we'll see even more "Republicans" in power come the elections.

(I put "Republicans" in quotes, because it's pretty clear that the party has been hijacked by people who don't actually believe in or practice the party's philosophy. But that's a whole 'nother topic.)

Comments

[z4nd4r.livejournal.com]

Careful...the Kansas State GestapoBoard of Education will hunt you down for talking like that...

[dvandom.livejournal.com]

Bah. I'm a university employee, not high school. The Board of Education has no power over me. And, in any case, I am far from the most vocal critic of the administration even in my department, much less the university. :)

[z4nd4r.livejournal.com]

Oh no, I'm not worried about you getting canned. More like them coming into your house at night, hauling you off in a burlap sack and beating you with corn stalks.

[j-anderson123.livejournal.com]

Yep, the sides involved still see an opportunity for media attention. I'd say get rid of them all and let the people replace them... but that sorta started this whole governmental mess in the first place.

I actually read on one net board that someone believed the federal government should have no right to force states to do evacuations in situations like this. Well, gee, should we save a few thousand lives, or worry about protecting the idea of " states' rights" in these situations? I say if the state government is doing the wrong thing, let the federales step in and fix it.

Neither party can wholly be trusted anyway. One party picks a side, the other takes the opposite stance "publically", nothing changes.

And in lighter news, while most credit card companies and banks are willing to help the victims out in this situation, Chase is still demanding all credit card bills be paid on time. So, your house is gone, your bank and money are gone, but those kind souls at Chase are willing to forget this happened and move on.

[z4nd4r.livejournal.com]

How very thoughtful of them (Chase).

Sadly, I now have 2 Chase cards. They were Bank One, but now they are Chase.

[not-croaker.livejournal.com]

Three words for you, Dave.

Bull. Effing. Shit.

Directly quoting from the city disaster-response plan:

We [the office of the Mayor] coordinate all city departments and allied state and federal agencies which respond to citywide disasters and emergencies through the development and constant updating of an integrated multi-hazard plan. All requests for federal disaster assistance and federal funding subsequent to disaster declarations are also made through this office. Our authority is defined by the Louisiana Emergency Assistance and Disaster Act of 1993, Chapter 6 Section 709, Paragraph B, 'Each parish shall maintain a Disaster Agency which, except as otherwise provided under this act, has jurisdiction over and serves the entire parish.'

All requests for federal disaster assistance and federal funding subsequent to disaster declarations are also made through this office.

Requests that were not made. FEMA and other agencies begged the city and state for permission to get started. The reply was "we need 24 hours to make a decision".

[dvandom.livejournal.com]

From what I've read, what you quote is known as a deceptive excerpt. The state requested aid on the 27th. All that they wanted time on was the specific matter of handing control of national guard units over. That was it. And FEMA has the authority to do what it deems necessary anyway, state permission or not, in times of emergency.

Hence, I call bullshit on your calling bullshit.