Who's on first?

[LeeG]

Meanwhile, back at the Howdy Doody Command Center...
by Bill in Portland Maine
Tue Sep 6th, 2005 at 05:41:56 PDT
Homeland Security chief Michael Chertoff and FEMA director Michael Brown make headway...

Chertoff: All I'm tryin' to find out is what's the guy's name in charge of food and water.
Brown: Oh, no, wait a minute, don't switch 'em around. What is in charge of evacuation.
Chertoff: I'm not askin' you who's in charge of evacuation.
Brown: Who is on food and water.
Chertoff: I don't know!
Brown: He's in charge of media spin...now we're not talkin' 'bout him.
Chertoff: Now, how did I get on media spin?
Brown: You mentioned his name!
Chertoff: If I mentioned the media spin guy's name, who did I say is in charge of media spin?
Brown: No...Who's in charge of food and water.
Chertoff: Never mind food and water, I wanna know what's the guy's name in charge of media spin.
Brown: No, What's in charge of evacuation.
Chertoff: I'm not askin' you who's in charge of evacuation!
Brown: Who's in charge of food and water.
Chertoff: I don't know!
Brown: He's in charge of media spin.
Chertoff: Aaah! Would you please stay on media spin and don't go off it?
Brown: What was it you wanted?
Chertoff: Now who's in charge of media spin?
Brown: Now why do you insist on putting Who in charge of media spin?
Chertoff: Why? Who am I putting over there?
Brown: Yes. But we don't want him there.
Chertoff: What's the guy's name in charge of media spin?
Brown: What is in charge of evacuation.
Chertoff: I'm not askin' you who's in charge of evacuation.
Brown: Who's in charge of food and water.
Chertoff: I don't know.
Brown & Chertoff: MEDIA SPIN!!
Chertoff: You got someone in charge of fixing the levees?
Brown: Oh yes!
Chertoff: The guy's name?
Brown: Why.
Chertoff: I don't know, I just thought I'd ask you.
Brown: Well, I just thought I'd tell you...

-

[Jim Hillman]

It doesn't matter who's on First when the pitcher didn't bring a ball to the mound.

City of New Orleans Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan (http://www.cityofno.com/SystemModules/PrintPage.aspx?portal=46&tabid=26)

[Bruce Hooke]

Has anyone else noticed that those who did not like Bush before the hurricane are very happy to point out all the failings of the Federal follow up to the hurricane, and those who like Bush are eager to point out all of the failings of the state of Lousiana and the City of New Orleans?

Maybe we should just acknowledge that both made some big mistakes and look to how to do it better the next time...

[Alan D. Hyde]

A good idea, Bruce.

Alan

[LeeG]

Well, if we could get the GWOT behind a more resilient disaster response,,even in poor urban areas,,it wouldn't be a bad idea.

[George.]

That won't work, Bruce.

Most people in the Forum are not from Louisiana. State and local officials, and the impact of their failure upon their future prospects, are irrelevant to most here.

That means that acknowledging the obvious truth - that all three levels of government failed - will only satisfy the ones who dislike Bush. The Bush supporters will have to keep spinning to save Bush from the spin-off, because they could care less if Blanco and Nagin take a hit, if the price is to have their own boy king take one as well.

[Jim Hillman]

Aw George, now that's not nice. :( I haven't started a single thread about who's responsible for this mess. I just add the parties who are missing when someone wants to place blame. Can't just lay it at the feet of one party, but then I sense a change in your position. Hell, Lee just wants some attention anyway. Texas has taken in 250,000 evacuees, I-10's been cut, Many of us have friends or relatives from there, how are we not affected?

[George.]

Jim: one of the moments in this mess for which we, collective mankind, can be proud, was when the Gov. of Texas opened the Astrodome for refugees and began organizing it to receive them - well before anyone else "got off their ass," as the mayor of NO would put it. His words - something to the effect of "there, but for the grace of God, are we" - were equally stirring.

I didn't change my position. From what I can see from here, the Gov of Louisiana did not do such a great job. The Mayor of Nawlins is a toss-up - he is mayor of a poor city, which was almost totally destroyed. It may be that he could have done more, but it may be that he woke up on Tuesday cut off at the knees, and at least he did have the balls to order an evacuation on Sunday.

Bush and the Feds came up short too. My point is merely that Bush is of global relevance, as President of the hyperpower and our current Caesar. Therefore, it is only natural that those of us who do not live in Louisiana, and had never heard of Blanco or Nagin till Sunday, and will likely soon never hear of them again, focus on Bush's shortcomings.

[Meerkat]

I think the Mayor of NO has done a fine job as the voice of the refugees. When you have no other resources, standing up and yelling to attract attention is what you do. I think he's been articulate and honest.

Also, please keep in mind that he's not a career politician and inherited the machinery of one of poorest and most corrupt cities in the US. Their police department was a national scandal: the subject of a 60 Minutes piece and threatened to be taken over by the DOJ (not the state gov't!).