Help with a recalcitrant freeper, anyone?

[Schema Thing]

Here's her blather:



So as the Mayor; declaring a mandatory evacuation of your city and knowing that a percentage of your population will not have the capability to evacuate and having the means, the time and the equipment available in the form of city buses and school buses to actually get them evacuated and thus safe and not doing so is a "relatively minor f-up"?

Sending your citizens to a facility and not supplying that facility for them so they had what they need is a "relatively minor f-up"?

Not following the documented evacuation plan set forth for your city for a Category 3 or higher hurricane before when it's forecasted to come right at you is a "relatively minor f-up?"

Taking 700 guests from the Hyatt Hotel who were dry and fed and blatantly ordering their evacuation in front of those of your own local citizens who have been living in the hell you left them in as a Mayor because you didn't help them get out and who have been waiting so long; is a "relatively minor f-up?"

As a Governor, meeting with the President about what needs to be done in the aftermath and then "needing to think about it for 24 hours" before acting is a "relatively minor f-up"?

As a Governor, being more concerned about turf wars and your own "power" instead of the needs of your own citizens is a "relatively minor f-up"?

I have no idea how any of these things can be considered "minor" by any stretch of the imagination.

Nagin had the knowledge of his city and it's inhabitants and their abilities to get out! He had the time and the equipment and the means to evacuate them and he didn't do it. If he had evacuated them and followed the plan in place for his city for the remaining people- it would not have been so bad. There would have been room for the remaining people. There would have been provisions for them. There would have been directions for them of where to go. He didn't do it and as a result, people died. I don't know how you can overlook that.

And yes, there is blame to rest elsewhere for after the fact but the mess was created before that hurricane ever hit. And the responsibility for that lies with Nagin himself.

[Spazito]

1. Tell her to provide proof with links before you will address this swill

[Celebration]

2. Huh

Most people did evacuate. Where was the mayor supposed to take the evacuated people exactly? He has no jurisdiction in Baton Rouge or ANYWHERE outside New Orleans.

Everyone was supposed to take three days worth of food and water to the Astrodome. Unfortunately the FEMA actually STOPPED food and water trucks from going in for five whole days, and refused food and water drops.

The bottom line is this. Even ASSUMING that local government dropped the ball, do the rest of us pay their salaries? Do the rest of us vote in New Orleans or Louisianna? I need to start asking accountability questions to the persons that I have some measure of control over. Let the Louisianna citizens ask the local questions.

Then the final question-- Do you REALLY feel secure in your own city with the current FEMA bosses in charge, in case of a nuclear attack that wipes out the leadership or your city?

[moc]

3. Wow, she's got her RNC talking points down. I heard virtually

the same arguments by a repug who called into the Jerry Springer show this morning.

Ask her if she actually thinks about what she hears on RW radio shows, or does she just simply regurgitate it wholesale?

Honestly, she's displaying a shocking inability to think for herself.

National disasters = federal response. End of story. Governor Blanco sent an urgent letter to the President on Sunday the 28th. Obviously, he couldn't be bothered because he went to AZ on Monday to eat cake and Tuesday to CA to strum a guitar.

The "24 hours to think about it" was in response the Presidents request to federalize LA NG troops. She was right to think about it, because federalizing her NG troops would have been the worst thing she could have done.

You should ask her why FEMA can't do anything right and ask her if she thinks it's because Bush hired a guy with no disaster management experience to head FEMA.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2005/9/5/16455/30830

The repukes are fucked.

[Alamom]

4. The Mayor and Governor could have been killed themselves

in the first winds that hit the city or the floods that followed.

Who would be to blame if this had happened?

[MsTryska]

5. hah......

I would jsut respond with....


"well he was a republican - and since you put it point-by-point it does clearly show a republican philosophy in action. thanks for pointing that out for me."


and then link up his background, and call it a day.

[txaslftist]

6. Don't bother.

Don't waste your time on her.

[erh7771]

7. This has worked for me (just FACTS from Homeland Security link)

This has been helpful in ending most cons arguments and start their melting

In the event of a terrorist attack, natural disaster or other large-scale emergency, <B>the Department of Homeland Security will assume primary responsibility</B> on March 1st for ensuring that emergency response professionals are prepared for any situation. This will entail providing a coordinated, comprehensive federal response to any large-scale crisis and mounting a swift and effective recovery effort. The new Department will also prioritize the important issue of citizen preparedness. Educating America's families on how best to prepare their homes for a disaster and tips for citizens on how to respond in a crisis will be given special attention at DHS.

http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/theme_home2.jsp

[newyawker99]

11. Hi erh7771!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[On the Road]

8. Here's One Way to Cut Through Some of it Quickly

Local preparation and relief efforts were typical of other hurricanes.

The federal followup in the aftermath of the hurricane was absolutely UNprecedented in the extent to which it it was late, inadequate, and uncoordinated. Attempts to help by other regions, other countries, local governments (the 500-boat flotilla) were refused for days, along with organizations like the Red Cross (who were not allowed to enter the city).

Orders to ground-level operatives were rigid and did not match the situation on the ground. Rather than helping in disaster relief, the troops (Guardsmen?) threatened and imprisoned the people they were supposed to be assisting without even basic supplies. This is the inevitable result of untrained, staff-oriented top management which is out-of-touch, unable to delegate authority and unwilling to be challenged by subordinates who are on the scene and who DO have the expertise.

Virtually all of the mistakes were made at the federal level. FEMA went out its way to take full control of such disasters several years ago. The governor asked for federal aid on the 28th, before the storm hit. It was promised. It just wasn't delivered.

If Bush and the heads of DHS and FEMA had been engaged and making every effort to help the hurricane victims, some inefficiency and chaos would be forgivable. It is forgivable with the local authorities, who appear to have done the best they can with what they had. What is absolutely enraging is the attempt by those in control to blame those at the local level who did everything they could with the resources available.

[GreenPartyVoter]

9. She needs to provide proof, then she needs to go through

this thread: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=106&topic_id=22507&mesg_id=22507

[applegrove]

10. Some people in cars got turned back because of the length of the

traffic jam. The Mayor assumed help in the way of travel busses would arrive on day two or three.