"LA refused a federal request to assume control of the evacuation"?

[Marr]

I'm having an argument on another forum on this point and I could really use a little help. I've seen the Louisiana governor's letter requesting federal assistance that was issued on Saturday, and I've read FEMA's info on jurisdiction (though I must admit that the legalese leaves my head swimming).

Anyway- this guy references this article:

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

Specifically, this passage:

"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."

Is this article correct, or not? I was under the assumption that FEMA had control of the evacuation, whether the governor allowed federal control of the police and National Guard or not. Is this info even relevant? It seems like a smokescreen to me.

I've seen this argument coming up in 20 different ways today. There's ALOT of attempts to deflect blame on the local government, and I'd like to figure out what's fact and what false.

[Erika]

1. Flooding by Navigable waters comes under Federal

jurisdiction. That's all that should be to the story. The rest is hyperbole.

[Marr]

4. That's how it seems to me. Lot's of meaningless info

to cloud the situation.

[xultar]

2. That is why * delayed. NG is supposed to be under Gov control

* wanted them under his and FEMA control. Rightfully so the Gov shouldn't want to give that up.

Why shoot to kill orders for her citizens should be under her command.

[Usrename]

3. I saw (or) heard somewhere that she hired james witt

[roguevalley]

5. They asked and she refused. If they had, they could have made

her the fall guy and they could say they took over because she failed. Right now, I imagine they are making a case folder of their requests and the chuckles from chuckles as he said no. They are already laying a case to deflect blame and she refuses to play.

[roguevalley]

6. They asked and she refused. If they had, they could have made

her the fall guy and they could say they took over because she failed. Right now, I imagine they are making a case folder of their requests and the chuckles from chuckles as he said no. They are already laying a case to deflect blame and she refuses to play.

[Oerdin]

7. Don't you get it?

They are making her the fallguy by saying she was the reason Bush did nothing for five days.

[maddezmom]

8. I get that they are trying their hardest to make her the fallgal

only time will tell if it works. Right now, I think the images of * eating cake and playing the guitar while NO flooded is still in many peoples memory. Why was the NG delayed? :shrug:

[charlie]

10. Bill Richardson offered troops from his state's NG

and Blanco accepted Sunday. Paperwork for the transfer wasn't completed in Washington until late Thursday. Such was the case with other states as well.

[EFerrari]

9. Where are those damn schoolkids when Bush needs them?

I bet this guy has had an excuse and a fall guy for every single fuck up in his whole miserable life. In fact, by now he must have an army of them.