Defending Gov Blanco and the Mayor of NO: A Katrina Timeline

[Nikki Stone 1]

The Democratic governor and mayor are being prepared as scapegoats, and I am just livid. Junior's failures will be heaped on them in this faux Congressional hearings.

To help and defend them, I suggest the creation of a Katrina timeline on DU. We can start with the pre-Katrina requests for troops, document Gov. Blanco's request for troops after the storm, document when the levees broke (MONDAY NIGHT), and the arrival of the forms (forms!) from Washington to request the National Guard (THURSDAY!).

We need posts with each event and a link to the article or DU thread (in the case of TV/radio reports) that documents it.

Once the timeline is properly made WITH documentation, we can email it to EVERY MEMBER OF CONGRESS--especially those on this committee.

We can also email it to newspapers, media outlets, and to the Governor and Mayor themselves as they prepare to defend themselves in front of the Neocon onslaught.

It's a big project, but we could actually affect the outcome of this thing and make sure that our elected reps. can't--in good conscience--ignore the truth.

Nikki

[Nikki Stone 1]

1. kick

:kick:

[mzmolly]

2. I think the Mayor is a republican? But none the less I am sure your right

Notify the media about anything we find that absolves them.

[Don Claybrook]

52. He's a Democrat n/t

[Bucky]

3. qikt

:dem:

[Nikki Stone 1]

4. I really want to build this thread, but I'll need help

.....

[shockingelk]

5. + other govs offering NG

... before the storm made landfall. No NG presence until Thurs.

[Nikki Stone 1]

9. YES! Are there DU threads with information and links on them about this?

??

[shockingelk]

12. in here:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-5252845,00.html

[Maine-ah]

6. It would be great if DU could give this it's own discussion forum

as well, that way it would all be in one place, a lot easier to acess.

[mom cat]

31. Ask the admins then go for it .You will have my vote...Pick a name,

etc. I know that Eloriel is developing a repository of info.I will post that info soon as an edit or a reply. Edited to add the link:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4588088

Good luck!

[longship]

7. Recommended. Please read....

Don't forget to cite the 2001 FEMA study that named this precise scenerio as one of the three most egregious disasters that might strike the United States. So much for Department of Hometown Security's claim that nobody could have envisioned that the levees would break. This and the annual cutting of funding to fix the levee system by the Repugs need to be on the timeline--every single one of them.

This tragedy was years in the making. I really love the graphic showing the Grover Norquist quote superimposed over the pic of the flooded NOLA streets. That speaks volumes on its own. That graphic should be the coverpiece for the timeline.

[Nikki Stone 1]

8. CAn you get me the link to this study?

Thanks! And if there is info on what the Clinton administration was doing for LA beforehand, that would help

[BeFree]

11. Nikki, great idea

Eloriel had a thread up earlier with MIHOP/LIHOP in the title. I read through it and there were a ton of links telling the story. Wait. You don't have search functions do you? Here's the link:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=4588088
There are only 183 repiies. :grin:

You go girl!

[Nikki Stone 1]

15. Looks like I'm gonna need some help on this!

...Thanks!

Maybe we can get Skinner to make this a DU activist thing. And I should pay the man some dues so I can get the search function. :)

[longship]

13. Here's a link to a citation and other info

www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2005_09/007023.php

I'm sure that FEMA has the damaging document on their site.

Here's a link to those conclusions:

www.publichealth.hurricane.lsu.edu/convert%20to%20tables/Preliminary%20Public%20Health%20Issuestf.htm

[Nikki Stone 1]

17. GREAT STUFF HERE

!!

[snippy]

10. The timeline should include what Bush did prior to Katrina making landfall

Before Katrina hit, Bush declared parts of the gulf coast a federal disaster area to streamline claims for financial assistance from the government after the hurricane passed. I have been unable to find any information on the White House, DHS, or FEMA web sites concerning any other actions taken in advance of Katrina except for a press release stating that:

"FEMA will mobilize equipment and resources necessary to protect public health and safety by assisting law enforcement with evacuations, establishing shelters, supporting emergency medical needs, meeting immediate lifesaving and life-sustaining human needs and protecting property, in addition to other emergency protective measures."

http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=18447

Shortly before Katrina made landfall, Bush also attended a fund raiser, played a guitar, and shortened one of his several annual vacations by a few hours.

That is a far cry from what Bush did in 2004. Read this post http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2059093&mesg_id=2059702

[Nikki Stone 1]

14. This explains so much!

These need to be sent to journalists

[bpilgrim]

16. Recommended

i brought this up yesterday, too... they are already try'n to change the TIME-LINE :argh:

i got a media archive going right with VIDEO, AUDIO & IMAGES Archive with posting timestamps right here...
http://news.globalfreepress.com/gallery/index.php?cat=19
(please feel free to contribute)

and a copy of the emergency request for fed help put out by the LA GOV right here...
http://news.globalfreepress.com/katrina/Disaster_Relief_Request

we MUST not let them fuck with the TIME-LINE.

peace

[Nikki Stone 1]

19. Thanks. Do you have a link to the Governor's letter?

?

[bpilgrim]

20. archived here -------------- ----------------- > LINK

http://news.globalfreepress.com/katrina/Disaster_Relief_Request



peace

[NorthernSpy]

18. why didn't Blanco and Nagin evacuate the city BEFORE the storm?

Sorry, but party is going to have to take a back seat to justice. Blanco and Nagin (especially Blanco) are guilty as sin, and they should answer for it. ALL the guilty should be held accountable. They KNEW that poorest, oldest, and sickest were stuck in this death trap. And they just left them behind to DROWN.

[Nikki Stone 1]

21. I know that there is a lot of blame to go around

But they should not have to be smeared with Junior's sins

[NorthernSpy]

22. they don't have to be smeared with Junior's sins...

... they've got plenty of their own.

God knows how many thousands of people are bobbing dead in the water tonight. No friggin way is a (D) after a politican's name going to earn anyone a pass from me.

[BeFree]

23. You are wrong, NorthernSpy

There was no way the local people could have evacuated all the people. For one, it would have required demanding so many others to stay and work while they themselves were trying to evacuate.

Besides, there were so many who just wouldn't leave no matter what was said or done.

You should quit blaming the victims and place the blame on those who were in a position to do something and didn't. People like b**h could have done so much just with a word. FEMA could have helped evacaute, it didn't, hell they've done little even now. The levees could have been repaired as they broke, they weren't.

I hope you are just frustrated and not trying to heap blame on the victims like the Mayor and the Governor. But if you are just trying to make them look bad....

[NorthernSpy]

26. I'm not blaming the victims, I'm blaming the guilty...

Blanco is no victim. She looks a little too alive and well and un-dispossessed to be a "victim".

Why didn't they even TRY to evacuate the city? Merely running around screaming, "we order you to leave the city!" is NOT an evacuation.

Blanco and Nagin are elected officials. It was their DUTY to make sure that they were doing all they could to protect the people. The fact that Bush failed in doing his own duty (and how!) does in no way excuse -- or even only mitigate -- their own inaction.

[BeFree]

33. Oh, they're victims alright

They live there. Those are their people who have been mashed and now ignored. You think you know so much, provide some links saying how they screwed up. I saw them on TV before the winds blew in and they were pleading with people to leave.

B**h on the other hand was golfing and playing as the city leaders were doing what they could... unless you have links showing they were golfing too, I suggest you can your remarks.

[NorthernSpy]

36. then why did they leave "their people" in harms way?

Begging the trapped and desperate to "evacuate" is no more useful than begging the people of a famine zone to eat more.

They did nothing but run their mouths. As far as I'm concerned, they can join Bush in the dock.

[BeFree]

38. Well, you are pretty much alone

Ya know, the rest of us are working from a basis of facts but you are just running your mouth. Show us some links or articles supporting your trashing.

I've seen a lot of trolls here and what they do is run their mouths without support. Don't tell me you are just trolling, eh?

[NorthernSpy]

40. show you the links that suggest that Blanco didn't do her job?

You've got to be kidding. How about I just show you the bodies?

I've seen a lot of trolls here and what they do is run their mouths without support. Don't tell me you are just trolling, eh?

Like I said, the evidence is bobbing lifeless in the waters of our brand new Lake New Orleans. Blanco did nothing at all to actually get those people out before Katrina hit. What more do you need?

[BeFree]

51. I've been reading from day minus 3 and

I haven't seen the first bit of info that supports your trolling. Yes, I see the bodies, and I saw federal effort not get in place until day plus 3.

Meanwhile the locals who were victimized by the storm had their hands full. You have shown no proof supporting your accusations. But reading DU one finds many which contradict your trolling.

[bpilgrim]

24. they called for MANDATORY EVAC before the storm AND heavily advising EVAC

days before the storm hit.

obviously many poor couldn't heed that warning.

after the disaster of this magnitude (and much smaller) the feds step in to help for OBVIOUS reasons.

where were the feds :shrug:


http://news.globalfreepress.com/katrina/Disaster_Relief_Request/

there was a STAND DOWN ORDER given, bet!

psst... pass the word :bounce:

peace

[NorthernSpy]

30. you see, I expect them to do more than go around barking, "Leave now!...

... We advise you to leave. Also, it's an order!"

Talking ain't doing.

[bpilgrim]

32. RESOURCES

it's a FED ISSUE

peace

[truth2power]

46. Hey Billy, thanks. I had this letter saved on my HD..forgot

to include link. Was looking for it on globalresearch. Duh! I'm tellin' ya'..just can't keep everything straight.

[Tatiana]

25. Evacuation on a scale that massive requires $$$$

FEDERAL dollars, to be exact. Blanco requested this on the 28th of August. Bill Richardson had already offered NG troops to Blanco a day before the hurricane hit, but deployment requires authorization of the President. They just got it on Thursday.

What were they supposed to do? Strap every citizen on their backs and personally carry them out on foot? They needed HELP. They didn't receive it in time. How do you think some of those people made it to the Dome in NO? The police officers rescued them. That's why the so-called "lawlessness" occurred. Police were out there saving lives. They did the best they could locally with the resources they had. They needed more and everyone knew this.

[NorthernSpy]

28. well, they could have sent many thousands via freight rail to Texas...

... it wouldn't have been comfortable, but it sure would have beat dying like a dog in twelve feet of stinking sewage. And they could have used their fleet of school buses and public transit buses as well.

No excuses.

[Tatiana]

34. Who would drive the buses?

Those people had already evacuated. They had the financial means, resources, and arranged lodging to do so. Don't get me wrong, when you have a disaster of this magnitude, there will be fatalities. But with a natural disaster like Katrina, FEMA is the agency that should be in charge of command and control.

[NorthernSpy]

37. why didn't they arrange all that before hurricane season?

My gawd, what the hell are people paying taxes for?

[ClassWarrior]

42. Why didn't FEMA?

My gawd, what the hell are people paying taxes for?

NGU.

[charmsicle]

27. They DID call for an evacuation

According to my L.A. times today, they did call for a complete evacuation. But there were TONS of people who couldn't leave for whatever reason which was why the Superdome was turned into a shelter.

Also, they asked for Federal help on Thursday.

[NorthernSpy]

29. telling people to leave is NOT an evacuation...

... helping people leave, is.

[BeFree]

35. Helping people leave?

Since you have all the answers, you tell us how they could have helped.
Tell us the costs, the plans to use resources outside of their control, where the people would go and what they woould do with them once they had been removed from the city and the state.

Really, I feel you are blaming the victims without regard to the realities, and that places you as someone who just likes to bitch, and is nothing more than that.

[NorthernSpy]

39. It. was. her. job. to make sure that such things got done.

If she wasn't up to doing her job, then she never should have sought public office. Handling these matters was part of the job.

Just as it was Bush's and the Fed's job to repair the goddamn levees and keep the coastline from sinking into the gulf and all those other things that they didn't bother to do.

[charmsicle]

41. BOTH of them started asking for government help LAST THURSDAY

So it wasn't like they didn't realize they were working with limited resources. And both of them have been asking for help ever since. It's like they were sitting around with their thumbs up their asses.

[ClassWarrior]

44. Any evac. plan would require fed assistance. So any plan would fail...

...if federal assistance was withheld.

NGU.

[Igel]

47. They tried.

The plans didn't deal with poor people.

And if the reporting is accurate from Sunday, Blanco and Nagin ordered the mandatory evacuation *after* * "appealed" to Blanco to do so. "Appealed" is the word they quoted Blanco as using.

FEMA screwed up.
LA screwed up.
NOLA screwed up.

Worry about blame in October.

[oasis]

43. There is a right wing effort to let Bush/FEMA off of the hook and blame

the locals.

MOST of the propaganda is being spread on radio and tv.

[ClassWarrior]

45. Notice how the troll disappeared after you posted this...

:rofl:

NGU.

[Igel]

48. And there is a DU effort to make sure that nobody with (D)

after their names be held responsible for doing their jobs.

Blanco was asked to step aside as far as NOLA was concerned Friday night. She said no. This entails that *she* was in charge of NOLA at the time, not FEMA.

We have the PDF of a form letter asking for all the usual things. It didn't constitute an abdication of her authority, or of Nagin's. It didn't request many things that she needed to request *after* she knew what was needed.

When she requested these things is, I'm sure, going to be a carefully guarded secret. I consider her hiring Witt to be CYA: a strong implication from that act is that the breakdown occurred at the interface between FEMA and local authorities, which is, to be frank, one of the primary places to look (there are only three likely places: Blanco's office, the interface, and FEMA).

FEMA screwed up, and doesn't like saying what their mistakes are. I'd say Blanco and Nagin screwed up, and aren't going to like saying what their mistakes are.

If we don't have a full accounting, we can't fix the problems.

[ClassWarrior]

49. Show me "a DU effort" to not hold accountable officals for their...

...responsibilities. Prove it.

NGU.

[ClassWarrior]

50. Yeah, I figured.

NGU.