There. You happy, people?

There you go again Czabe,

Blow a rod about how Katrina has been politicized by taking pot shots at Democrats. You're just as bad (if not worse) than they are!

You're much too smart to be so brainlessly partisan... So I can only assume you write this junk just to get people worked up. If you really hated people using disasters for their own political ends, you wouldn't be doing it yourself.

America first. Party (either one), second at best.

Czabe:

The first word in FEMA is "Federal," as in the Federal Government, as in that government which is run by George W. You don't honestly expect that the City of New Orleans government had the resources to deal with Katrina, do you? That was what FEMA was created for and it failed in its mission. Now maybe it's not all W's fault, but his performance was horrendous and really indefensible. If you are going to try to make a point that he isn't all that horrible a President, this is not the example you want to point to. But since you are one of those guys who think it's worse that Clinton got a "Lewinsky" while sitting in his chair in the Oval Office, than a bungled response to an epic natural disaster, nobody can get through to you. By the way, I hear the White House is hiring a new spokesman. You might want to check into that gig as long as it doesn't interfere with your morning show.

It figures. The first two responders to post have their panties in a wad because Czabe wouldn't blame the whole thing on Bush. Well, guess what? I'm someone who thinks that Bush has been a dreadful president and I don't blame Katrina on him.

You wanna pass out the blame? Let's start with that monosyllabic simpleton, Ray Naggin. And how about that blubbering nincompoop Kathleen Blanco? And how about Bush DOESN'T PERSONALLY OVERSEE THE OPERATIONS OF EVERY FEDERAL AGENCY.

Face it, you've let your blind hatred for Bush run your lives. Bush is to you as Emanuel Goldstein was to the sheeple in the novel 1984. Hurry up! It's time for the daily 2 minutes hate!

Asshats.

bjones1966, you did get one thing right. FEMA is a FEDERAL agency, and therefore, for a FEDERAL agency to take charge of a disaster area controlled by STATE and MUNICIPAL governments, the state and municipal governments must sign control over to the Federal agency, in this case the National Guard and FEMA.

NAGGIN AND BLANCO NEVER DID THAT.

Even after Naggin goes on Ophra and cries his eyes out, the Federal government had to seize control of the area because Blanco REFUSED to sign control over to the National Guard. THAT is why the Fema/National Guard response was slow. Tell me again why this is Bush's fault?

The only government more corrupt than the Louisiana state government is the Municipal government in New Orleans. New Orleans has over a 200 year history of not doing anything until they are forced to, and Katrina is just the latest in that proud history. Ever wonder why half of Iowa is rebuilt already, even though FEMA hasn't wrapped up its response yet?

Yeah Spike sure agitated all those dead bodies decaying, homes destroyed, city destroyed, people's memories gone forever. Czaban you are f'ing moron. Why don't flash your big screen TV and flaunt it for all of us to see again. That has to be the most important thing in your life, right? I hope that your home and big screen are destroyed one day and maybe Spike can come film your agitation.

Whoever made the decision to use the SuperDome as a place of last resort made the biggest blunder, in hindsight. They didn't think ahead on what to do after the storm. I don't care if the screw-ups had a D or an R next to their name, they still screwed up.

Should we bow down to Jindal this time for the pro-active measures taken to evacuate the city this time? I would say no. To quote Chris Rock, 'Whatcha ya want a cookie!?!' It's his job to do what he's done this time. I don't care about the R or D in emergency situations.

I was privileged to be one of the “first responders” to Katrina relief, and anyone who knows anything about disaster relief knows that the most effective and efficient response to any disaster is the response executed at the lowest level of government. After all, that is where the actual resident knowledge of the region and people exists; the federal government can provide resources, but the actual coordination of relief efforts is most effective when conducted at the local level—just ask Florida. That said, the local response in the New Orleans region that I experienced and with which I worked was horrid—absolutely horrid. Those folks had no clue, and blaming the response deficiencies on the President or even the federal government is ridiculous. It’s easy to do, though, particularly by many who had other issues with this administration, so that became the mantra of too many uninformed people who thought they actually knew what was happening there. The facts just do not support this point, though, and a simple comparison with their counterparts to the east clearly demonstrates the inaccuracy of the partisan sniping.
We initially deployed to the Mississippi coast, and anyone who believes that Mississippi was any less damaged than Louisiana is sadly mistaken. The damage in Mississippi was just as bad—if not worse—than it was in Louisiana. Parts of Gulfport looked like scenes from movies depicting nuclear devastation. The level of destruction was far more violent than Louisiana experienced; however, the Mississippi state and local services had their acts together from the beginning. We spent less than two weeks there before we were sent to the New Orleans area for another two months because MS simply did not need us; they were executing as they had planned. New Orleans, on the other hand, was a different story, and before someone comes back with the “well, N.O. is much bigger than MS” argument, I’ll simply respond that the size of the community is not what doomed N.O. Rather, the lack of any sound, coordinated, local plan is the culprit. Mississippi had a plan and competent people to execute that plan. The same cannot be said of New Orleans.
Now, all I know is what I saw and experienced, and the nature of my profession means I have no party loyalties, however, Governor Barbour definitely had a plan to take care of MS, a state that the media tends to overlook as having received the full brunt of Katrina. From what party is that governor? Yeah, he’s a Republican. From what political party was just about every single decision maker in the governmental chain from governor down to parish levels in Louisiana? Ah, yeah, members of Team Donkey. Those are just facts that cannot be disputed. Am I implying that Dems are worse than Repubs as far as responding to natural disasters? Maybe, but any such implication is merely coincidental. The bottom line is that the leadership chain in MS worked phenomenally well; the same cannot be said of their counterparts to the west. Again, those are just the facts, and they are indisputable. Many twist the facts around to suit their own partisan purposes, but I take such people with a grain of salt because the vast preponderance utter such theories from the comforts of their own homes and simply did not experience, first-hand, the vast response distinctions between those two communities. Semper Fidelis,

As the first two 'challenged' posters and bootsy prove: tell the same lie over and over and it becomes the truth. A mayor who couldn't find his rear end with either hand - couldn't find anyone to drive the buses (hey Ray, a big storm is coming - a little gear and fender damage isn't going to be a big deal! - let anyone with a license give it a shot!). A governor who also did nothing to get the citizens to take the storm seriously. But it's all FEMA and W's fault. The same FEMA was in place for the SF and Northridge earthquakes - didn't hear any complaining about their incompetence then. Oh, because most of the people trying to get help were white. And it's not like Bush put new people in place - these hulking fixtures of government are filled with lifers.

Anyone who doesn't like Steve's politics, head over to ESPN - how's the sports coverage at MoveOn.org?

Madtown, bjones and bootsy: from the rank, hater, partisan tone of your postings, I take it you do not subscribe to Sen. Obama's "post-partisan unifier" "narrative," and will therefore not vote for him. Unless, of course, Sen. Obama never meant it when he said he would be a "post-partisan unifier," and his supporters all know it.

There was enough blame to go around after Katrina. Why did the mainstream media and the Democrat party focus solely on President Bush? That's a rhetoeical question that does not call for an answer. We all know why. Partisan politics.

Hurricane Gustav and its aftermath are proof that Michael "Fat-Bastard" Moore doesn't like poor black people.

I find it maddening that people are so quick to blame the government for disaster recovery. Living in Wisconsin, I know that it will snow. If we get 12" in 12 hours (like Good Friday 2008) I'll dig out without federal assistance. If you live in Kansas, I hope you expect an occasional tornado. The bottom line is personal responsibility. Don't get me wrong, I really do feel sad for those who lost everything, but to sit back and blame the Federal government (no matter who is in control) is assinine.

Apparently reading comprehension is at an all time low on this site. My point was simply that if you want to defend W's performance as Prez, pointing to his management of the post-Katrina relief effort is not a particularly compelling example. But if you boys want to keep drinking the Kool Aid, that's fine with me. And as to why the media attention was focused on W, as opposed Democrats, Da Mayor, Blanco or anyone else, the "great job, Brownie" quote may explain it.

Right back at you, bjones. Reading comprehension isn't your strong suit either. I'll type slowly so you can understand.

I didn't point to President Bush's "management of the post-Katrina relief effort" to defend his performance as President. Frankly, he spends too much for my liking. But we are so much better off having had President Bush than we would have been under a President Gore or a President Kerry.

You didn't address my point about Sen. Obama's fraudulent reason for running. Thank you for conceding the point.

Speaking of reading comprehension......

Did any of you guys actually read my post???

I did not blame GW for anything. I didn't even imply it. All I said was that going on a half-baked rant blaming Katrina on Democrats like Czabe did is just as bad as people who blame GW for it.

I'll type slowly so you can move your lips when you read this..... THEY ARE BOTH WRONG.

The fact that you guys read so much into my post that wasn't there shows what you're really about. Just like Czabe, you're Republican first, Americans second - and don't bother you with the facts or with reading carefully.

Pathetic.

Oh, and by the way..a note to Bodhi.

Thank you for your help and service during the disaster. By helping out, you set a great example for all of us to shoot for.

Thanks.

MikeJ, you are a freaking moron. To suggest that 12 inches of snow is comparable to having your house sit under 10 feet of water for 14 days is assinine. I've never had to shovel away 12 inches of snow but I have thrown out every piece of furniture in my house, ripped out all of the sheetrock, flooring, appliances, etc. and started from scratch rebuilding my home for my family. I'm pretty sure your 2 hours of self reliance to dig out from your annual snow pales in comparison. The response to Katrina was botched from top to bottom. Its great theater for the national news to show the people who waited around for the government to rescue them then waited for the government to rebuild their homes. The reality is a great number of people took the initiative to protect and rebuild their homes despite the failings of FEMA, state and local governments, the Corp of Engineers and their faulty levees. Ours is not a perfect city or state, but, it's not the place depicted in the aftermath of Katrina.

I agree with cubsfan. Mikej is an idiot. If you get 12 inches of snow, and don't shovel any of it, you still have a place to live. Everyone can't go live in the midwest where they can avoid most natural disasters. The fact is some dumbass decided to build a city below sea level. The government knew the levees needed work, and did nothing until it was too late. See above picture to see dumbassery at work.

Madtown? Did you say something? I tuned you out a long time ago.

Bjones - think before you type again. Bodhi's explanation mirrors what many first responders I've talked to have said. Simply put, it is not FEMA's job to be first on the scene and first in coordinating a response. FEMA can be dispatched and Nat'l Guard troops can be dispatched, but since ours is a REPUBLIC, they can't do anything UNTIL the local and state level cedes control.

If someone is looking for blame for the post-Katrina response, they need look only on the Left side of tha aisle. Nagin didn't even follow his OWN EVACUATION PLAN!! Blanco dithered and hemmed and couldn't make decisions that needed to be made in the crisis. Bush finally got pissed enough to "Federalize" the Nat'l Guard in other states and send them to LA. Only at that point did Blanco agree to relinquish control of the LA Nat'l Guard, which by then was too late.

Also - those who are complaining about the levees and how the government knew they weren't "up to snuff" need to actually check their facts. The Federal Gov't gave BILLIONS of dollars over the years to N.O. to help shore up their levees. N.O. then turned over the money to the local Parish Levee Boards. Know what they did with the money?? Everything else BESIDES strengthening the levees (try floating casinos instead)!!!

Oh and Madtown - I'm an American first. But when the Left and its MSM allies starts to blame Bush and the GOP for the post-Katrina response, you bet your ass I'm gonna respond that it wasn't the Right side of the aisle that screwed the pooch in Katrina. Doubt me? Then take a look at what happened in MS (run by GOP) and then take a look at what happened in LA (run by the dems). One had competent local and state management. The other...didn't. So while originally I wasn't caring about if the LA governor and mayor had an "L" next to their name, you bet your ass I care now after 3 years of lies about Bush and the GOP and how they "don't care about black people".

On a related not... anyone know if Kanye started tearing up before Gustav passed by Cuba??

Doc, I'm glad you tuned me out. I wouldn't want you to hurt yourself by actually having to think and put together a rational response.

Thai, with all due respect, you're making my point for me. It's asinine to take a natural disaster and use it to make sweeping generalizations about Democrats and Republicans.

Can you point out inept Democrats in this particular case? Absolutely. Can others point out the same in Republicans? You bet. But it proves nothing about the relative worth/competence of either party. It only proves what rational people already know, there are good and bad people in both parties. And there is more than enough blame to go around when it comes to Katrina.

So to take something like this and get so worked up about how great one side did and how horrible the other side did is at best a waste of time and at worst damaging to our national fiber.

Perhaps you could consider being equally critical and demanding of all our public figures. Judge each individual by their effectivness, not by the D or the R.

That's all I'm saying.

Give him credit for this.
Attacked and took over two countries.
* Spent the surplus and bankrupted the treasury.
* Shattered record for biggest annual deficit in history.
* Set economic record for most private bankruptcies filed in any 12 month period.
* Set all-time record for biggest drop in the history of the stock market.
* First president in decades to execute a federal prisoner.
* First president in US history to enter office with a criminal record.
* First year in office set the all-time record for most days on vacation by any president in US history.
* After taking the entire month of August off for vacation, presided over the worst security failure in US history.
* Set the record for most campaign fund-raising trips than any other president in US history.
* In my first two years in office over 2 million Americans lost their job.
*Cut unemployment benefits for more out of work Americans than any president in US history.
* Set the all-time record for most foreclosures in a 12 month period.
* Appointed more convicted criminals to administration positions than any president in US history.
* Set the record for the least amount of press conferences than any president since the advent of television.
* Signed more laws and executive orders amending the Constitution than any president in US history.
* Presided over the biggest energy crises in US history and refused to intervene when corruption was revealed.
* Presided over the highest gasoline prices in US history and refused to use the national reserves as past presidents have.
* Cut healthcare benefits for war veterans.
* Set the all-time record for most people worldwide to simultaneously take to the streets to protest me (15 million people), shattering the record for protest against any person in the history of mankind.
* Dissolved more international treaties than any president in US history.
* My presidency is the most secretive and un-accountable of any in US history.
* Members of my cabinet are the richest of any administration in US history. (the 'poorest' multi-millionaire, Condoleeza Rice has an Exxon oil tanker named after her).
* First president in US history to have all 50 states of the Union simultaneously go bankrupt.
* Presided over the biggest corporate stock market fraud of any market in any country in the history of the world.
* First president in US history to order a US attack and military occupation of a sovereign nation.
* Created the largest government department bureaucracy in the history of the United States.
* Set the all-time record for biggest annual budget spending increases, more than any president in US history.
* First president in US history to have the United Nations remove the US from the human rights commission.
* First president in US history to have the United Nations remove the US from the elections monitoring board.
* Removed more checks and balances, and have the least amount of congressional oversight than any presidential administration in US history.
* Rendered the entire United Nations irrelevant.
* Withdrew from the World Court of Law.
* Refused to allow inspectors access to US prisoners of war and by default no longer abide by the Geneva Conventions.
* First president in US history to refuse United Nations election inspectors (during the 2002 US elections).
* All-time US (and world) record holder for most corporate campaign donations.
* My biggest life-time campaign contributor presided over one of the largest corporate bankruptcy frauds in world history (Kenneth Lay, former CEO of Enron Corporation).
* Spent more money on polls and focus groups than any president in US history.
* First president in US history to unilaterally attack a sovereign nation against the will of the United Nations and the world community.
* First president to run and hide when the US came under attack (and then lied saying the enemy had the code to Air Force 1)
* First US president to establish a secret shadow government.
* Took the biggest world sympathy for the US after 911, and in less than a year made the US the most resented country in the world (possibly the biggest diplomatic failure in US and world history).
* With a policy of 'dis-engagement' created the most hostile Israeli-Palestine relations in at least 30 years.
* First US president in history to have a majority of the people of Europe (71%) view my presidency as the biggest threat to world peace and stability.
* First US president in history to have the people of South Korea more threatened by the US than their immediate neighbor, North Korea.
* Changed US policy to allow convicted criminals to be awarded government contracts.
* Set all-time record for number of administration appointees who violated US law by not selling huge investments in corporations bidding for government contracts.
* Failed to fulfill my pledge to get Osama Bin Laden 'dead or alive'.
* Failed to capture the anthrax killer who tried to murder the leaders of our country at the United States Capital building. After 18 months I have no leads and zero suspects.
* In the 18 months following the 911 attacks I have successfully prevented any public investigation into the biggest security failure in the history of the United States.
* Removed more freedoms and civil liberties for Americans than any other president in US history.
* In a little over two years created the most divided country in decades, possibly the most divided the US has ever been since the civil war.
* Entered office with the strongest economy in US history and in less than two years turned every single economic category heading straight down.

Attacked and took over two countries.
* Spent the surplus and bankrupted the treasury.
* Shattered record for biggest annual deficit in history.
* Set economic record for most private bankruptcies filed in any 12 month period.
* Set all-time record for biggest drop in the history of the stock market.
* First president in decades to execute a federal prisoner.
* First president in US history to enter office with a criminal record.
* First year in office set the all-time record for most days on vacation by any president in US history.
* After taking the entire month of August off for vacation, presided over the worst security failure in US history.
* Set the record for most campaign fund-raising trips than any other president in US history.
* In my first two years in office over 2 million Americans lost their job.
*Cut unemployment benefits for more out of work Americans than any president in US history.
* Set the all-time record for most foreclosures in a 12 month period.
* Appointed more convicted criminals to administration positions than any president in US history.
* Set the record for the least amount of press conferences than any president since the advent of television.
* Signed more laws and executive orders amending the Constitution than any president in US history.
* Presided over the biggest energy crises in US history and refused to intervene when corruption was revealed.
* Presided over the highest gasoline prices in US history and refused to use the national reserves as past presidents have.
* Cut healthcare benefits for war veterans.
* Set the all-time record for most people worldwide to simultaneously take to the streets to protest me (15 million people), shattering the record for protest against any person in the history of mankind.
* Dissolved more international treaties than any president in US history.
* My presidency is the most secretive and un-accountable of any in US history.
* Members of my cabinet are the richest of any administration in US history. (the 'poorest' multi-millionaire, Condoleeza Rice has an Exxon oil tanker named after her).
* First president in US history to have all 50 states of the Union simultaneously go bankrupt.
* Presided over the biggest corporate stock market fraud of any market in any country in the history of the world.
* First president in US history to order a US attack and military occupation of a sovereign nation.
* Created the largest government department bureaucracy in the history of the United States.
* Set the all-time record for biggest annual budget spending increases, more than any president in US history.
* First president in US history to have the United Nations remove the US from the human rights commission.
* First president in US history to have the United Nations remove the US from the elections monitoring board.
* Removed more checks and balances, and have the least amount of congressional oversight than any presidential administration in US history.
* Rendered the entire United Nations irrelevant.
* Withdrew from the World Court of Law.
* Refused to allow inspectors access to US prisoners of war and by default no longer abide by the Geneva Conventions.
* First president in US history to refuse United Nations election inspectors (during the 2002 US elections).
* All-time US (and world) record holder for most corporate campaign donations.
* My biggest life-time campaign contributor presided over one of the largest corporate bankruptcy frauds in world history (Kenneth Lay, former CEO of Enron Corporation).
* Spent more money on polls and focus groups than any president in US history.
* First president in US history to unilaterally attack a sovereign nation against the will of the United Nations and the world community.
* First president to run and hide when the US came under attack (and then lied saying the enemy had the code to Air Force 1)
* First US president to establish a secret shadow government.
* Took the biggest world sympathy for the US after 911, and in less than a year made the US the most resented country in the world (possibly the biggest diplomatic failure in US and world history).
* With a policy of 'dis-engagement' created the most hostile Israeli-Palestine relations in at least 30 years.
* First US president in history to have a majority of the people of Europe (71%) view my presidency as the biggest threat to world peace and stability.
* First US president in history to have the people of South Korea more threatened by the US than their immediate neighbor, North Korea.
* Changed US policy to allow convicted criminals to be awarded government contracts.
* Set all-time record for number of administration appointees who violated US law by not selling huge investments in corporations bidding for government contracts.
* Failed to fulfill my pledge to get Osama Bin Laden 'dead or alive'.
* Failed to capture the anthrax killer who tried to murder the leaders of our country at the United States Capital building. After 18 months I have no leads and zero suspects.
* In the 18 months following the 911 attacks I have successfully prevented any public investigation into the biggest security failure in the history of the United States.
* Removed more freedoms and civil liberties for Americans than any other president in US history.
* In a little over two years created the most divided country in decades, possibly the most divided the US has ever been since the civil war.
* Entered office with the strongest economy in US history and in less than two years turned every single economic category heading straight down.