I think part of why Gov. Blanco got no help can be found here

[AlCzervik]

I could be way off but Bush and his minions are very petty nasty people.

From WAPO

Behind the scenes, a power struggle emerged, as federal officials tried to wrest authority from Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Babineaux Blanco (D). Shortly before midnight Friday, the Bush administration sent her a proposed legal memorandum asking her to request a federal takeover of the evacuation of New Orleans, a source within the state's emergency operations center said Saturday.

The administration sought unified control over all local police and state National Guard units reporting to the governor. Louisiana officials rejected the request after talks throughout the night, concerned that such a move would be comparable to a federal declaration of martial law. Some officials in the state suspected a political motive behind the request. "Quite frankly, if they'd been able to pull off taking it away from the locals, they then could have blamed everything on the locals," said the source, who does not have the authority to speak publicly.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/03/AR2005090301680.html

[aquart]

1. Blanco is a Democrat.

The chain of command should have been decided years ago. When the agency first assumed the mission. No one should have had any doubt what anyone was supposed to do under any contingency. THAT'S PLANNING.

As we found out with Iraq. BushCo ONLY plans for its pre-determined, fantasy outcome. No other possibility is accommodated.

[Walt Starr]

2. The idea from the instant Blanco requested Federal Aid on August 28th

the plan was to allow thousands upon thousands of poor black people to die and blame it all on Blanco so they can wrest control of the Louisiana governorship from the Democratic PArty.

Bush quite literally committed mass murder for political gain.

[AlCzervik]

3. here she is begging for help but he witholds becasue

she won't just turn over the entire state for republican control, it is beyond criminal. Whatever happened to states rights?

[Usrename]

4. It's half right, half true. The * does't need any agreement to take

control of waterways,roads, comunications, and about ten more things under separate executive orders. Basically he has authority to take control under FEMA which was already asked for by LA. * wants to get some other deal and it isn't clear to me what it is. I think he wants to boss her cops around too.

[Old and In the Way]

5. In normal times, this would send the Freepers off the deep end.

In the parallel univese, though, they are probably quite happy to see the federal government trampling state control....because it's Bush doing it.