Fox News lays the Blame fully on Blanco.

[mikelewis]

Katrina: Major Garrett Exposes Faults of Louisiana and Governor Kathleen Blanco (VIDEO)
http://thepoliticalteen.net/2005/09/07/garrettblanco/
{Sorry, can't hotlink the video...}

He's saying that the LA Dept. of Homeland Security denied the Red Cross access to the Superdome and the Convention Center. This is echoed on the Red Cross's website...

Hurricane Katrina: Why is the Red Cross not in New Orleans?
* Acess to New Orleans is controlled by the National Guard and local authorities and while we are in constant contact with them, we simply cannot enter New Orleans against their orders.
* The state Homeland Security Department had requested--and continues to request--that the American Red Cross not come back into New Orleans following the hurricane. Our presence would keep people from evacuating and encourage others to come into the city.
http://www.redcross.org/faq/0,1096,0_682_4524,00.html

Something doesn't smell right about this; besides the fact that it's coming from Fox News. It was my understanding that once the National Emergency Situation was declared and FEMA showed up, they were in charge of directing all operations. I understand why the Red Cross wouldn't be allowed into New Orleans but what would prevent helicopters from picking up the food and water and delivering it to the Superdome or Convention center? The people in the dome and center were either not allowed or able to leave thier "shelters" and yet Red Cross stood at the edge of the city with enough food and water to save them? The inference is that the Gov. stopped this aid, how is this even remotely logical? Something's wrong with this story and I know you guys will find out what.

[PretzelWarrior]

1. it's called the "BLAME GAME". Bush and his buddies

wanted the game all to themselves as evidenced by this smear.

[niceypoo]

40. The disaster was federalized on the 27th....

....the DAY BEFORE the hurricane. See for yourself:

http://www.gov.state.la.us/Press_Release_detail.asp?id=976

BATON ROUGE—Today Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco forwarded a letter to President Bush requesting that he declare an emergency for the State of Louisiana due to Hurricane Katrina. The full text of the letter follows:

August 27, 2005

[marmar]

2. Faux is completely and totally shameless...

I don't think PRAVDA was this pro-government!

[niceypoo]

41. FAUX is the propaganda arm of the GOP

What else would you expect from them?

[Deja Q]

3. THE FAULT IS ON BOTH STATE *AND* FEDERAL LEVELS, FOLKS!!!

I am sick of the "it's all bush" or "it's all blanco" crowds.

Both sides are at legitimate levels of fault.

Pity people are too entangled in their partisan nonsense to think outside the box. (which means, once again, the neocons win.)

[The Backlash Cometh]

7. It is having an effect. It's canceling out the outrage from the sheep.

[Vincardog]

8. Bull$hit The state asked for aid before the damn hurricane hit.

The mayor was told for a week that help is on the way. Stop the shit the blame is on FEMA and BU$h

AWoL wanted the LA NG to be federalized. This crap is about his BS power grab.

[niceypoo]

42. The govenor asked Bush for federal help on the 27th

Here is the press release:

BATON ROUGE—Today Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco forwarded a letter to President Bush requesting that he declare an emergency for the State of Louisiana due to Hurricane Katrina. The full text of the letter follows:

August 27, 2005

http://www.gov.state.la.us/Press_Release_detail.asp?id=976

[DoYouEverWonder]

9. Don't eat the brown microtabs

That's what Rove wants you to believe.

Look at the reports during the storm and the public record. Blanco and Nagin did everything humanly possible to save people's lives.

HS/FEMA did everything they could to delay and even sabatoged efforts to help people.

This bs is coming up at least 4 times a day. Enough already.

[ElectroPrincess]

13. B.S. Washington didn't support the funds ... LA is NOT a rich state .

The lion's share of the blame rests with the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT for having (what Cheney loves to quip about not serving in Vietnam)*other priorities*.

Don't fall into the "both" trap. The damn Federal Government never made it a priority despite pleas from the Corps of Engineers and studies from reputable journals (Scientific American and National Geographic).

http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?articleID=00060286-CB58-1315-8B5883414B7F0000

As if the risk to human lives weren't enough, the potential drowning of New Orleans has serious economic and environmental consequences as well. Louisiana's coast produces one third of the country's seafood, one fifth of its oil and one quarter of its natural gas. It harbors 40 percent of the nation's coastal wetlands and provides wintering grounds for 70 percent of its migratory waterfowl. Facilities on the Mississippi River from New Orleans to Baton Rouge constitute the nation's largest port. And the delta fuels a unique element of America's psyche; it is the wellspring of jazz and blues, the source of everything Cajun and Creole, and the home of Mardi Gras. Thus far, however, Washington has turned down appeals for substantial aid.

[liberal43110]

15. The "fault" is with POLICY not PEOPLE

Actually, I don't see the "fault" being with any PERSON. Sure, W showed his true colors by being a callous, heartless buffoon. But the problem lies with the conservative policies of the past 30 years: an orchestrated plan to defund government at all levels. Slash or eliminate everything (except the military, because we certainly can't stand intellectual honesty): kill social programs, kill regulations, kill transportation spending, kill prevention programs, kill scientific research, kill arts programs, kill education spending, kill environmental spending like protecting the Mississippi Delta.

Bush showed that he is an asshole, true. But the FAULT is the hollow policies of conservatism that have shown them selves to be harmful to society.

[Wordie]

24. Excellent analysis of the situation...n/t

[ProudDad]

35. This is EXACTLY on point

What happened is the logical result of the right-wing takeover of the Federal Government with their mantra of "Government is the problem".

Also, with credit to Lakoff, it's the triumph of the "strict father" model of a society as opposed to the "nurturing mother" model that the country was founded upon.

Did you notice that the same shit that's going on in Iraq has now been imported to the Gulf Coast? The military in N.O. is even pointing their guns at the media who dare to film the dead...just like Iraq. More "strict father" shit...

It's systemic now after the billions that the right-wing has investigated in their propoganda machine over the last 30+ years.

I'm hoping that their evil is on the way out. Katrina may have been the final straw that begins to break the camel's back. One can hope.

Visualize Dems in control of the House in '06...Impeachment in '07...

[starroute]

31. According to a post at Kos, it was all of them

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/9/3/02454/07418

I called the Communications Center for the Louisianna Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness at 225-925-7500. After an operator ("that's above my pay grade") and some other "officer" (at the Operations desk, I think), I ended up at the Media relations desk talking to a really cool and helpful guy, Lt. Kevin Cowan (Public Information Officer) who said I could quote him ("that's my job"). Although I didn't get everything typed word for word (the parts in quotation marks are though), I read him my notes when we were finished, so this is now 'confirmed'. Here goes...

"As part of the disaster plan there's an agreement between the state and the Red Cross for them not to enter."

He didn't know the exact details of the agreement, but he said it had to do with "safety issues" since this is "still a disaster area and still unsafe" with things like "high water, etc."

<snip>

He checked with the Operations desk and came back and told me it was probably a decision between the director of their agency, General Landreneau, the Governor, and Mike Brown at FEMA. He said he didn't know the exact groups in these agencies that worked out the agreement, but "ultimately, they're the ones in charge who sign off on it". He said "it's all a coordinated effort and guidelines are established." The point is they "don't want to put anyone at undue risk".

[formernaderite]

34. Thank you...I've been blaming everyone since the beginning...

they all fucked up...beginning with the mayor, then the governor and finally the feds headed up by Bush. I also see it as a political miscalculation by the dems in attempting to shift all the blame to the repubs. The Bush people laid back until late in the week to reciprocate. We'll see how this chess match plays out.

[TomClash]

4. I heard today from a friend that the Order has gone out

from the WH to boost *'s poll ratings and go on the attack.

[Raster]

5. How unexpected from The Rethuglican Channel

[The Backlash Cometh]

6. Has any MSM had the balls yet to print her 8/28 formal letter of

request?

[tsuki]

10. Are Rupert and the Saudis now playing the Blame Game? eoq

[Fridays Child]

11. NO was not safe to enter, and a Red Cross presence would have...

...discouraged evacuation. But, like you, I don't know why the Red Cross could not have worked with the authorities to airdrop food and water during those critical first days, when people were dying of dehydration. Helicopters could have gone in loaded and, for every evacuee they airlifted, they could have offloaded food and water for those who were left behind.

[rfkrfk]

38. total evacuation is not needed

Some parts of the city were not flooded, or
will need minimal cleanup.
The pumps are on, and I expect water to start dropping soon,
if it hasn't already.
The Red Cross, and other NGOs, are more than capable
of putting up tent cities, for the brave people
who have refused Blanco's order to evacuate.
The idea that 20 thousand (or whatever) people will
delay recovery by staying in the city, is rubbish.

I just don't see living in a tent for two months, as being
all that worse than being forced to move across country to
some unknown place.

Somebody, speak up for the people of New Orleans.

[PretzelWarrior]

12. Foxnews can lick my balls

stupid falafel suckers

[Vickers]

14. "Foxnews can lick my balls"

:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

Holy cow, I really needed a good belly laugh! :toast:

[Name removed]

21. Deleted message

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[NMDemDist2]

23. LOL the spelling says it all n/t

[NightOwwl]

27. your you're loser looser

Those are always the giveaways. :rofl:

[PretzelWarrior]

25. did I hurt your feelings, FoxZOMBIE? idiot.

Do you or your family have over $2 million in your estate?

Are you for the repeal of estate tax?

I rest my case, moran.

[Edgewater_Joe]

16. 40% Approval Ratings For Bush, Fox

Translation: nobody's buyin' what yer sellin'.

[pippin]

17. We'll See if they will Blame Jeb

when Ophelia hits Flordia.

[McCamy Taylor]

18. Sat Sept 3, Red Cross says FEMA wont let it enter

NOte the last line: "Calls to the Department of Homeland Security and its subagency, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, were not returned yesterday." Sounds like FEMA was out to lunch.




http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05246/565143.stm

As the National Guard delivered food to the New Orleans convention center yesterday, American Red Cross officials said that federal emergency management authorities would not allow them to do the same.

Other relief agencies say the area is so damaged and dangerous that they doubted they could conduct mass feeding there now.

"The Homeland Security Department has requested and continues to request that the American Red Cross not come back into New Orleans," said Renita Hosler, spokeswoman for the Red Cross.

"Right now access is controlled by the National Guard and local authorities. We have been at the table every single day . We cannot get into New Orleans against their orders."

Calls to the Department of Homeland Security and its subagency, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, were not returned yesterday.

[shuffjb]

37. minor correction STATE Homeland Security dept, not Federal

The quote from the Red Cross Site is referring to the LA Homeland Security Dept. The "Calls to the Homeland Security and its sub agency, the Federal Emergency Management Agency..." is a quote from the post-gazette, which obviously did not understand that there are two Different Homeland Security Depts.

FWIW

[Hello_Kitty]

19. Blanco and Nagin don't have their finger on the button!

Our national security doesn't rest in their hands, or those of any other politician. Chimpy can function with handlers most of the time but there are situations where he needs to LEAD. And every time one has arisen, he shits his pants.

[Name removed]

20. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[AndreaCG]

29. What garbage

The Democrats in La. didn't cut the levee budget 71%.

[Lerkfish]

22. keep in mind Elizabeth Dole Runs the Red Cross... not exactly

a neutral player.

[PretzelWarrior]

26. huh? several years ago, maybe. now it's Mannequin lady

running the show.

[Lerkfish]

28. oh? ok.

If so, I stand corrected.

[PretzelWarrior]

30. Lizzy Dole is a U.S. Senator now

pity us.

[sepia_steel]

32. woah

I can hardly contain my shock :sarcasm:

[sunnystarr]

33. The Red Cross will say exactly was Bush and Rove

want them to say. Bush is their major fund raiser.

[MidnightWind]

36. Sadly, more people watch Fox News than MSNBC & CNN

put together. Shocking, maddening and deplorable-but true. What Fox says does matter. Why do you think the Repugs started their own news network? To spread lies and distortions like this. :argh:

[LiberalFighter]

39. The major in Major Garrett isn't a title it's the dumbass guy's first name

As for the echoing what is on the RC website...

It would be better to read every word of the website pertaining to Katrina. But of course someone like MAJOR garrett has a short attention span regarding the truth.

Hurricane Katrina: Why is the Red Cross not in New Orleans?

* Acess to New Orleans is controlled by the National Guard and local authorities and while we are in constant contact with them, we simply cannot enter New Orleans against their orders.

* The state Homeland Security Department had requested--and continues to request--that the American Red Cross not come back into New Orleans following the hurricane. Our presence would keep people from evacuating and encourage others to come into the city.

* The Red Cross has been meeting the needs of thousands of New Orleans residents in some 90 shelters throughout the state of Louisiana and elsewhere since before landfall. All told, the Red Cross is today operating 149 shelters for almost 93,000 residents.

* The Red Cross shares the nation’s anguish over the worsening situation inside the city. We will continue to work under the direction of the military, state and local authorities and to focus all our efforts on our lifesaving mission of feeding and sheltering.

* The Red Cross does not conduct search and rescue operations. We are an organization of civilian volunteers and cannot get relief aid into any location until the local authorities say it is safe and provide us with security and access.

* The original plan was to evacuate all the residents of New Orleans to safe places outside the city. With the hurricane bearing down, the city government decided to open a shelter of last resort in the Superdome downtown. We applaud this decision and believe it saved a significant number of lives.

* As the remaining people are evacuated from New Orleans, the most appropriate role for the Red Cross is to provide a safe place for people to stay and to see that their emergency needs are met. We are fully staffed and equipped to handle these individuals once they are evacuated.

[zulchzulu]

43. It's good to see Fixed Newz doing the work of the RNC...again...

They are utterly without merit.

They lied that Blanco never signed the Emergency order until they were debunked and seen as proven liars and now they want to shift the blame on Louisiana officials with NO MENTION of Bush cutting levee funding by 80% since SCOTUS appointed him in 2000.

They lie. And lie some more. Are they calling it Hurricane Corrina yet to cover Pickle's tracks?