So now they're going to blame the Levee Board.

[ktowntennesseedem]

Not sure how recent, so I posted here instead of LBN. But MSNBC has a story with the headline, "Where Was the Levee Board?" that I found quite eye-opening, if not enjoyable.

<http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9342186/>

<snip>

The unveiling of the Mardi Gras Fountain was celebrated this year in typical New Orleans style. The cost of $2.4 million was paid by the Orleans Levee Board, the state agency whose main job is to protect the levees surrounding New Orleans — the same levees that failed after Katrina hit.

"They misspent the money," says Billy Nungesser, a former top Republican official who was briefly president of the Levee Board. "Any dollar they wasted was a dollar that could have went in the levees."

<snip>

Critics charge, for years, the board has paid more attention to marinas, gambling and business than to maintaining the levees. As an example: of 11 construction projects now on the board's Web site, only two are related to flood control.

"I assure you," says Levee Board President Jim Huey, "that you will find that all of our money was appropriately expended." Huey says money for the levees comes from a different account than money for business activities and that part of the board’s job is providing recreational opportunities.

<snip>

I thought we weren't playing the blame-game.

Oh, and a hearty thank-you to MSNBC for once again making it painfully clear that the liberal-biases media is truly a myth.

[quaoar]

1. They could have done without the fountain

But the idea that an extra $2.4 million would have made the difference in the levee system is absurd.

[msgadget]

2. But, what if its true ?

Just because we agree the federal government was grievously remiss in its responsibility doesn't mean the Levee Board is completely blameless. There's plenty of blame to go around for both the state and federal government and for both parties. If the money appropriated was spent on other things...it was spent on other things! HOWEVER, since it bolsters the other side's contention that the dems have run Louisiana into the ground I can understand how reading it would cause a few winces.

It's too late for the dems to get in front of it but they've got to address it head-on sooner or later. Instead of being pissed at the coverage of the facts, we should be pissed at being unable to get cold, non-partisan facts from either side!

Besides, the republicans certainly have no right to point fingers when it comes to spending money! Who was it that promised not to touch the Social Security trust fund?? And, how much Saran-wrapped money went missing in Iraq??

[ktowntennesseedem]

3. Yeah, for all I know the levee board is packed with scum.

And reading this article does nothing to counter that assumption. But any fair non-partisan investigation would reveal where the fault truly lies, and like you I think there's plenty to go around on this one.

And like you, I'm waiting for Dems to step up and hit back, demand impartiality and truth, and point their own fingers. Finger-pointing for the sake of covering your ass is wrong, and I'm sick of it, especially coming from the self-righteous GOP who claim to be so against it. But finger-pointing for the sake of uncovering the truth is sorely needed.