N.O. Mayor Nagin: Gov't has left us to die

[bassman79]

Mayor Nagin gave an incredible interview Thur on WWL
radio in which he vented his frustration that he's
gotten no help from the gov't still on day 4, and his
citizens are about to start dying in the hundreds.

http://rapidshare.de/files/4632564/nagin.mp3.html

[truthisfreedom]

1. unfuckinggoddamned believeable. the mayor of NO swearing, cursing bush,

letting his heart out over the madness going on in his city, where NOTHING has happened... where bushco has let NOTHING happen, and has (according to the mayor) spun and lied their way through the last 5 days, taking NO SIGNIFICANT ACTION WHATSOEVER.

[fooj]

16. We need a few more good men like the good mayor of New Orleans!!

Peace.

[DrDebug]

31. Transcript Part 1:

The best interview ever given. It's probably the end of the mayor, but he spoke his mind...

Rush transcript of the first half(please excuse any and all errors)
...
I mean to dictate and to manage military resources down here and I'll fix it for you. You call him right now and you call the governor and you tell them to deligate the power that they have to the mayor of New Orleans and we'll get this damn thing fixed.

It's politics man and they are playing games and they are spinning it. They are out there spinning for the cameras.

> But can't they just... If nothing else look at 25% of their energy coming from this state is not flowing through the pipelines. We are on the verge of anarchy. Can't they understand that if nothing else they are going to be hurt politically?

I don't know what they are doing. I mean the airconditioning must be good, because I haven't had any in 5 days. And maybe there's some smoke coming out of the airconditioning unit that is clogging some folks' vision.

> Have you talked to the president.

I've talked directly to the pResident. I've talked to the head of Homeland Security.

> What they say?

I've talked to everybody under the sun. I've been out there. I've flown these helicopters. Been in the crowds. Talking to people. Crying. Don't know where their relatives are. I've done it all, man!

And I'll tell you, man: I'll keep hearing that it is coming This is coming. That is coming. And my answer to that today is: BS! Where is the beef? There is no beef in this city. There is no beef anywhere in south-east Louisiana and these goddamned ships which are coming: I don't see them!

> What did you say to the pResident of the United States and what did he say to you?

I basically told him that we had an incredible crisis here and that him flying over it on AirForce One does not do it justice and that I have been all around this city and I am very frustrated because we are not able to master resources and we are outmaned in about every respect.

Do you know the reason why the looters got out of control? Because we had most of our resources saving people, 1000s of people that where stuck in attics, man. The old ladies. When you pull of the ventilator vents and look down there and standing there in water upto their fricking neck.

They don't have a clue what is going on down there. They flew down here. One time. Two days after the doggawn event was over with TV cameras, AP reports, all kinds of goddamn - excuse my French everybody in America, but I am pissed.

> Did you say to the pResident of the United States. I need the military in here?

I said I need everything. Now, We'll tell you this: I'll give the pResident some credit on this. He send one John Wayne dude down here that can get some stuff done and his name is General Armery(sp?) and he came of the doggawn chopper and he started cussing and people started moving and he is getting some stuff done. They are going to give that guy - don't give it to me - full authority to get the job done and we can safe some people.

> What do you need right now to get control of this situation?

I need reinforcements. I need troops, man. I need 500 buses, man and we are talking - one of the briefings we were talking about public school bus drivers and come down here and bus people.

I'm like you gotta be kidding me. This is a national disaster. Get every doggawn Greyhound busline in the country and get their asses moving to New Orleans. That's them thinking small, man and this a major, major, MAJOR deal. And I can't emphasise it enough, man. This is crazy

I've got 15-20,000 people over there at the Convention Center. It is bursting at the seems. The poor people in Tammany(?) Parish. They are airevacing people over here in New Orleans. We don't have anything and we are sharing with our brothers in Tammany Parish. It is awful down here.

> Do you believe that the pResident is seeing this and holding news conferences on this, but can't do anything until Kathlyn Blanco requested to do it and do you know whether or not she has made that request.

I have no idea what they are doing, but I will tell you this: You know God is looking down on all this and if they are not doing everything in their power to safe people they are going to pay the price. Because everyday that people delay, people are dying! And they are dying by the hunderds down there. I'm willing to bet ya.

We are getting reports and calls that are breaking my heart from people saying: I've been in my attic. I can't take it anymore. The water is upto my neck. I don't think I can hold out and that is happening as we speak.

And you know what really upsets me, G... (?)
We told everybody of the importance of the 17th Canal Street issue. We said please, please take care of this and we don't care what you do figure it out.

> Who did you say that to?

Everybody! Governor, Homeland Security, FEMA, you name it - we've said it and - you know - they've allowed that pumping station next to pumping station 6 to go under water. People to stay there and endanger their lives. And what happened was that when that pumping station went down, the water started flowing again into the city and it started to get to levels that probably killed more people.

In addition to that, we had water flowing through the pipes of this city. That's a powerstation over there. So there is no water flowing anymore on the East bank of New Orleans Parish. The critical water supply was destroyed, because of lack of action.

> Why couldn't they drop the 3000 pound sand bags or the containers that they were talking about earlier? Was it an enginering feat that just couldn't be done?

They said it was some pullies that they had to manufactor, but you know in a state of emergency you are crazy and you figure out ways to get stuff done. Then they told me that they went overnight and that they build 17 concrete structures and that they had the pullies on them and that we are going to drop them.

I flew over that thing yesterday and it is in the same shape that it was after the storm hit. There is nothing happening! And they are feeding the public a line of bull and it's spinning and people are dying down there

[Qibing Zero]

35. One correction:

I think he said 'They ought to give that guy - if they don't want to give it to me - give him full authority to get the job done and we can save some people.'

[Why Syzygy]

46. OMG

Mr. FUBAR has been exposed.

I feel so sorry for this. Goddess bless his soul.

[mtnester]

51. It will not end his reign as Mayer in a city that is filled with Dems

This speech will make him a hero now. Try and stop people from flocking to him when they have the opportunity to see the speech (no TV and power for many in NOLA)

[Octafish]

61. Thanks for the transcripts, DrDebug.

His words - saved for history by you - will be part of the indictment of the treasonous BFEE.

[DrDebug]

63. LOL

I can't wait for the day to see the BFEE indicted ;)

His words were not political but he spoke his mind. It was wonderful to hear a politican speak from the heart for once.

[DrDebug]

37. Transcript part 2 of 3

> If some of the public called and they are right. There is a law that the pResident, the federal government can't do anything without local or state request would you request Martial Law?

I've already called for martial law in the city of New Orleans. We did that a few days ago.

> Did the governor do that too?

I don't know. I don't think so. But we called for martial law when we realised that the looting was getting out of control and we directed all police officers to direct them to controlling the streets. They were dirty, dead tired from saving people, but they worked all night because we thought that this thing was going to blow wide open last night, so we redirected all of our resources and held it under check. I'm not sure whether we can do that another night with the current resources and I am telling you right now:

They are showing all these reports of people looting and doing all the weird stuff - and there are doing that - but people are desperate and they are trying to find food and water. The majority of them. And you've got some knuckleheads out there and they are taking advantage of this lawless, this situation where - you know - we can't really control it and they are doing some awful, awful things, but that's a small minority of the people.

Most of the people are looking to try and survive. And one of these things. Nobody talked about these things. Drugs flowing in and out of New Orleans and the surrounding metropolitan area so freely it was scary to me and that's why we had the escalation in Murrays. People don't want to talk about this, but I want to talk about this.

You had drug addicts that are now walking around this city looking for a fix and that's the reason why they were breaking in hospitals and drugstores. They are looking for something to take the edge off their Jones if you will and right now they don't have anything to take the edge off and they've probably found guns, so what you see is drugstarving, crazy addicts - drugaddicts that are reacking havoc and we don't have the manpower to deal with it. We can only target certain sections of the city and form a perimeter around them and hope to God that we are not overrun.

> Well you and I must be in the minority, because apparantly there is a section of our citizenry out there that thinks that because of a law that the Federal Government can't come unless requested by the proper people. That everything which is going on to this point has been done as good as it can possibly be.

Really??

> I know you don't really feel that way?

Well did the Tsunami victims request. Go through a formal process to send a request?
Did the Iraqi people request that we go in there? Did they ask us to go in there?

What is more important? This is - I tell you man - I'm probably going to get in a whole bunch of problem. I probably get in so much trouble it ain't even funny. They don't even want to deal with me after this interview is over.

> You and I will be in the funny place together.

But... we authorized 8(0) billion dollars to go to Iraq. After 9/11 we gave the pResident unprecedented powers to take of New York and other places. You mean to tell me where most of y'all is coming through. A place that is so unique. When you mention New Orleans all over the world, everybody's eyes light up. You mean to tell me that a place where you probably have 1000s of people that have died and 1000s more that are dying everyday - that we can't figure out a way to authorize the resources that we need?

C'mon man. I'm not one of the those drug addicts - I am thinking very clearly and I don't know whose problem it is. I don't know whether it is the governor's problem. I don't know whether it is the president's problem. But somebody needs to get their ass on the plane and sit down - the two of them - and figure this out right now!

[northerdar]

60. IF we can ever find the Missing 8 billion in Iraq.....

It could be used for rebuilding and restoring La, Ms, & Al . Anyone see Dick Cheney or hear from him about Katrina? He seems to be hiding. Maybe he HAS the 8 billion. :)

[DrDebug]

41. Transcript 3 of 3

> What can we do here.

Keep talking about it.

> We'll do that. What else can we do?

Organize people to write letters to their congressmen (email), to the president, to the governor. Flood their doggawn offices with requests to do something. This is ridiculous. I don't want to see anybody to anymore goddamn press conferences. Put a moratorium on press conferences. Don't do another press conference until the resources are in this city and then come down to the city and spend with us when there are military trucks and troops that we can't even count. Don't tell me 40,000 people are coming in. THEY ARE NOT HERE! It's too doggawn late! Get off your asses and let's do something and let's fix the biggest doggawn crisis in the history of this country

> I'll say it right now: You are the only politician that has called and called for arms like this and whatever it takes the governor, president, whatever law president it takes, whatever it takes, I'll bet that the people listening to you are on your side

Well, I hope so Garland. I am at the point now where it don't matter. People are dying. They don't have homes. They don't have jobs. The city of New Orleans will never be the same ... in this time ...

> That's mayor Nagine in an interview ...

[Roland99]

50. Ubelievable...simply unbelievable.

Nero fiddled, indeed.

[Prodemsouth]

44. He supported Bush, atleast I know he did in 2000. Also

supported Blanco's Republican opponent in 03.

[Why Syzygy]

45. no disrespect (quite the opposite) for the suffering people

but I LOVE IT! No Giuliani here BUBBA!

[Tesha]

52. You. know, it's funny: We didn't hear that on NPR.

> The mayor of NO swearing, cursing bush, ...

You. know, it's funny: We didn't hear that on NPR. We heard:
"(he) used foul language to describe the situation".

Note: "the situation", not Bush.

Neocon Propaganda Radio, on the job!

Tesha

[newswolf56]

2. Would love to hear this interview but the link seems useless:

all advertising, no apparent way to connect to WWL stream.

[jman0]

3. worked for me

I had to click "FREE" then wait a few seconds and then click "Download nagin.mp3"

[NYC]

5. Following your instructions, I have selected Real Player.

Will that work?

I was unable to find this interview at WWLTV or WDSU.

[blue northern]

23. select 'save to disk'

and then open the downloaded file in your media player, most support mp3
search for 'nagin.mp3' on your computer if your unsure where your downloads are stored

[NYC]

38. Thanks.

I downloaded the slow, painful way, but I'll try saving it next time.

[bananas]

6. works for me too

It's not a "stream", it's a "download".
To download it free, you have to click two buttons,
then wait 30 seconds and click another button.
After it downloads, you can play it.

[NYC]

10. How long did it take to download?

I suspect I'm going to die of old age by the time it is downloaded. How long did it play?

Is there any way to listen to this at WDSU? I'd really love to hear it.

[DrDebug]

13. 2 minutes. It give 200Kb+/s downloads if you have a quick connection n/t

[NYC]

18. I'm on dialup. Over 10 minutes and only 1/3 downloaded.

Alas.

[bananas]

19. Hang in there! It's worth it!

[NYC]

20. Okay, thanks.

I heard Ray Nagin when he first complained about the helicopter that was supposed to sandbag being diverted without his knowledge, and how this would increase the flooding drastically. That was an interview well worth hearing, and it eventually made it to cnn.com.

With any luck, this interview will also get printed.

I can't believe what is going on in New Orleans.

54% downloaded now. Waiting, waiting, waiting. :hi:

[bananas]

17. It's a 12MB file

13 minutes 11 seconds
128kbps stereo mp3
If you're on dial-up it might take a while.

[Why Syzygy]

47. IE6

is telling me an hour and a half on dial up.

[NYC]

65. It's a good thing I didn't see your answer before I downloaded.

:) It took less than an hour. It was well worth the wait, and after that, I was posting the link to it everywhere.

After that, Nagin wound up on CNN, so I guess most of the world got to see and hear him. That's good.

[gemlake]

4. Sending a link to friends

This is the story that is not being told. Thank you!

[Qibing Zero]

7. I knew from the start he'd be the one to come out on all of this.

This is leadership, what you see from the officials on TV is not.

[I_Make_Mistakes]

9. They are streaming radio now

I think they are going to replay the speech soon. Right now they are taking calls from people that are stranded! wwl.com

[newswolf56]

8. Thanks, all; I followed your instructions and it worked. This is...

an astonishing interview, should be on a "Greatest" thread just so a maximum number of people can hear it. I'm sending the link to friends, too.

[RummyTheDummy]

11. That was amazing

Finally a politician with the COURAGE to be honest.

[enigmatic]

12. I'm going to put this on my overnight show

My God, I can't believe this; it's killing me.

[neuvocat]

14. Your overnight show?

Sorry I don't know about it.

[SheWhoMustBeObeyed]

15. That is incredible. Nominated.

Thanks for posting.

BTW, who is Nagin talking with?

[Mr_Jefferson_24]

21. Our nation needs ...

...to hear this interview.

[Drewskie]

22. Nagin

He's been the only clear minded person through this whole mess... Just listened through that interview.

[Pallas180]

24. I can't get it. Is there a transcript so DU'ers can send it to

all the media?

PLEASE. let's get this out. It's LIHOP genocide

[I_Make_Mistakes]

25. Damn they just replayed it on wwl.com

Was that the Mayor crying at the end? I lost it.

[spuddonna]

26. We've GOT to get this out!

This interview... I'm crying.... Ok, so Crooks and Liars? DailyKos? Who can we get to host this?

[ahem]

27. This is powerful. Thank you for posting.

I have so much respect for Mayor Nagin.

[Wizard777]

28. What can I say that Nagin hasn't already said? Several times.

This man is sitting in the middle of Hell. Relentlessly crying out for Angels to come save the people around him. He is a living Saint.

[Gasping4Truth]

29. I'm hosting it

Right-click here :

http://www.libera.be/files/nagin.mp3

and choose "Save target as ..." or "Save link as ..."

Please mirror this as quick as possible because my hosting plan isn't up to this task.

[Pallas180]

32. I can't get it. Do you have a transcript please? It's so

important.

Does anyone have a transcript of it.

[Gasping4Truth]

33. I don't have a transcript

What do you mean with "I can't get it"?
The link is broken?
Or the download it too slow?

[DrDebug]

34. See post #31 n/t

Part 2 coming soon. Gimme some time. It's hard work...

[BQueen]

39. thank you - crooks and liars a likely host

www.crooksandliars.com
on the left there is a link to send John a tip - click it and e-mail him.

[fighttheevilempire]

30. I don't blame him one bit.

I actually thought he was fairly calm in the situation, a lot more so than I would be. I hope he keeps it up too. We need him on every major network -get him on the BBC calling for international help (yes, thank you Canada). The american media suck. Get him on the world media. Then maybe we can get real help.

[Pallas180]

36. CNN about to play Mayor Nagin interview at 6: 19 AM

.

[yankeedem]

40. He's on now

Kick

[Pallas180]

42. He's telling it like it is because he's exhausted..but truth to power

We need to let him know all the support he has.

He doesn;t know that we have been calling all day before we heaard him!!!!

[Califooyah Operative]

43. cnn just played it, truly amazing. nt

[YDogg]

48. Very powerful ...

... I hope this is played all day. It needs to be heard.

[Why Syzygy]

49. Shouted from the ROOFTOPS !!!!!

Literally.

[DELUSIONAL]

53. sorry -- DU must be acting up

[Misunderestimator]

54. They were playing a tape of him just now on CNN...

begging for buses to come and get the people out. I can't believe there are still people there.

[apnu]

55. Does anybody have a mirror? the link is overwhelmed right now (nt)

[Gasping4Truth]

56. I'm hosting the file

here:
http://www.libera.be/files/nagin.mp3

Please mirror it if you can.

[apnu]

57. I finally got it too. hosting here:

http://apnu.runswithscissors.com/nagin.mp3

[Guitarman]

58. It brought me to tears when I heard this

And not tears of sadness. For the life of me I cannot understand the piss poor response by the government to this crisis. I am livid. Today is one day I do not need to be close to any supporters of Bush and his administration. They are liable to say the wrong thing and then find my foot up side their head. I am fucking pissed beyond words. I am fucking ashamed of the response of this country to this crisis.

[geomon666]

59. The man has finally had enough

4 days of getting run arounds and just being ignored while his citizens die and he's finally snapped.

[Straight Shooter]

62. Good for Nagin! I'm sick of pussyfooters when people are dying.

bush and his gang tiptoeing through the political tulips while people are stranded with water up to their g'damn neck!

I could feel Nagin's rage, I could feel that he was trying to maintain some restraint. But there is only so much abuse a person can take and bush has abused New Orleans up one side and down the other.

It's true, people's eyes light up when they hear "New Orleans." And you know what? That might be part of the problem. We simply could not believe that this magical city could be destroyed. And of course we could not believe our government for which we work through the middle of May to pay our taxes to, this government would abandon the citizens of that magical city.

This will haunt all of us the rest of our days.

[faithnotgreed]

64. kick

[Peter Frank]

66. KICK!!!

:kick: