The feds were in charge as of August 27th
That's two days before Katrina hit land. From the White House's own site: “Specifically, FEMA is authorized to identify, mobilize, and provide at its discretion, equipment and resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the emergency.”
The right-wing blogs are going far, far beyond the call of duty in their determination to sell the notion that local officials are to blame for everything that's happened since Katrina hit-- the federal government had no involvement, and in fact have done an admirable job. Once again, this is clearly, demonstrably false. I've never been so disgusted with the right-wing blogosphere. What possible reason could they have to defend this administration's bungling incompetence? What is the purpose of defending their inaction while people are still stuck in New Orleans more than a week after the flood? It's beyond me.
[Former Bush economic advisor Pippa] MALMGREN: I think the key here question is, what was the responsibility of the officials at the local level, as well.
[Host Jeremy] PAXMAN: You're not agreeing, then, with the proposition stops with the president.
MALMGREN: Not on emergency response. The bottom line is the president begged the governor of louisiana to declare a federal emergency. She declined. They declared a state emergency instead. This raised all kinds of issues in the federal government. It has been illegal since 1872 for the president to send federal troops into a state, unless the government requests their presence.
PAXMAN: Sidney Blumenthal, Technically, that's correct, isn't it?
[Journalist Sidney] BLUMENTHAL: No. It's not only technically not correct, it's factually incorrect. On August 26, Governor Blanco of Louisiana sent a letter to President Bush asking him to federalize the emergency. On the next day, August 27th, he sent a letter back confirming that he had indeed federalized the emergency. So, that indeed is what has happened.
PAXMAN: At that point, technically, the president was in charge, and he could have done what he wished.
BLUMENTHAL: He was in complete charge, and the governor had requested that he be in complete charge.
This is from the BBC's show NewsNight.
The right-wing blogs are going far, far beyond the call of duty in their determination to sell the notion that local officials are to blame for everything that's happened since Katrina hit-- the federal government had no involvement, and in fact have done an admirable job. Once again, this is clearly, demonstrably false. I've never been so disgusted with the right-wing blogosphere. What possible reason could they have to defend this administration's bungling incompetence? What is the purpose of defending their inaction while people are still stuck in New Orleans more than a week after the flood? It's beyond me.
[Former Bush economic advisor Pippa] MALMGREN: I think the key here question is, what was the responsibility of the officials at the local level, as well.
[Host Jeremy] PAXMAN: You're not agreeing, then, with the proposition stops with the president.
MALMGREN: Not on emergency response. The bottom line is the president begged the governor of louisiana to declare a federal emergency. She declined. They declared a state emergency instead. This raised all kinds of issues in the federal government. It has been illegal since 1872 for the president to send federal troops into a state, unless the government requests their presence.
PAXMAN: Sidney Blumenthal, Technically, that's correct, isn't it?
[Journalist Sidney] BLUMENTHAL: No. It's not only technically not correct, it's factually incorrect. On August 26, Governor Blanco of Louisiana sent a letter to President Bush asking him to federalize the emergency. On the next day, August 27th, he sent a letter back confirming that he had indeed federalized the emergency. So, that indeed is what has happened.
PAXMAN: At that point, technically, the president was in charge, and he could have done what he wished.
BLUMENTHAL: He was in complete charge, and the governor had requested that he be in complete charge.
This is from the BBC's show NewsNight.
posted by Matt Sandwich | 11:40 AM
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