[Old NFO]

Is anybody else as frustrated as I am with the media coverage? A lot of the problems elucidated this week are a direct result of not completing the recommended fixes from Camille in 1969. I grew up in Louisiana, and many times heard the excuse, well there just aren't enough funds to "really" fix this, so we will do the part we can- Now the people there are paying the price, and want to blame someone-anyone but the guilty parties.

Doing some quick math, the total devastated area is roughly the size of England! It encompasses three states and roughly 2 million people. For those who are not familiar with NOLA, there is basically one way in and one way out. The Ponchatrain Causway is out, most of the smaller bridges are flooded and the only real approaches are from the West. NOLA is the only place where the flood waters have not receded, and they have not had a viable EOC/TOC and emergency coordination since the storm began. The other areas in Mississippi and Alabama have multiple routes in/out and little to no looters, due to good preplanning.

I also wonder how many deaths can be laid at the door of the media? Their excuse of having to remain "above the fray" is wearing a little thin with me.

Watching the media reports last night and this am, I really wonder if any of the media have a clue-

"These people have been on this overpass for three days without food and water!"

The media has armed guards, transportation (satellite trucks), and free movement- Why have they not at least taken food and water in, which they have access to, and/or evacuated the most serious cases? There IS room in these trucks for that. Did they pass any of this to the NG? They knew from their own interviews the police were helpless...

"The troops are ignoring these people! Why won't some one help them"

Military troops normally have these little things called orders they are expected to follow- With no emergency coordination on the ground, they were being tasked first to survey the situation, then establish control, THEN rescue.

The latest report, "Oh. the helos are FINALLY here to rescue these poor people."

Ah... let me guess, the military has stabilized the situation and are now complying with the rescue portion of the task...

"There are 100,000 people here at the Superdome, why can't they evacuate them?"

100,000 people = 2200+ buses, most of the caravans are 10 buses That is a minimum of 223 trips x 8 hours = 70 man days You can't do that in 1 day...

"The poor in NOLA couldn't leave, there was no way for them to get out before the hurricane hit."

No mention of the free rides offered three days ahead up to the last night, no mention of the mandantory evacuation decreed by the Mayor- A large number stayed because they wanted to for "whatever" reason-

But they expected the government to bail them out and now all the coverage is how the Federal government has failed them- Again no mention of the #$% bad planning by NOLA city managers, and the LA governor (who has STILL not declared martial law). She also appearently was very slow to agree to federalization of the troops, which is necessary for Federal intervention.

Lastly, "why wasn't the Navy's response faster with the ships and support helicopters?"

Well, for starters, you don't send ships into a hurricane! Also ships sail at 22-24 knots maximum if the plan to reach a destination with any bunker fuel left, the hospital ship only makes 18 knots max and is coming Philly, so that is 3-5 days in transit to get support there. The Helo's weren't going in without fuel and some measure of safety (although the one CANG helo did shoot back at the person shooting at them).

/Kicking the soapbox back in the corner for now/ :cuss: :cuss: :cuss:

[Preacherman]

You ask good questions. I've been involved in organizing relief operations since Tuesday, and I point my finger squarely at the New Orleans city government, which has been catastrophically inept in its handling of the situation. All the complaining from the mayor and his emergency management co-ordinator are, IMHO, designed to cover up for their disastrous mishandling and incompetence in this whole mess. I hope that the truth comes out, but it's now "politically correct" to blame FEMA and the Feds for everything, rather than admit that the local government didn't have a clue.

[itgoesboom]

Old NFO,

As some here may know, I am a freelance photojournalisst, and I spend a fair amount of time on some media forums (not as much as I spend on here though :D )

There are quite a few photojournalists heading down to the area, and one thing in common with them is that they are bringing extra food and water to pass out.

In fact, PJs that are on the route that the photogs are taking down there, are also giving them more food and water to hand out to the victims down there.

But no matter what, a old Toyota pickup can only carry so much gear, and 1 photographer can't feed 3,000 mouths by himself.

But they are doing what they can.

The other thing is that they won't tell you on the air that they are doing these things, because thats not what they do. Well, maybe Geraldo would :banghead: , but most journalists would just do it without tooting their own horns.

The journalists don't have to go down there, but they are often the first ones that can get into certain areas, and so they are the first to bring some relief to the people, in limited amounts. They also bring the people information, something they desperatly need.

In addition to that, journalists do communicate with emergency workers to let them information about where people are.

While there are bad apples amongst journalists, most do it because they want to improve the world.

I.G.B.

[GT]

No arguments here NFO.

G

[Waitone]

There you go again want logic and rationality out of the media. Won't happen. Combine irrationality, ineptness, and a pack mentality with stupendous ignorance of what it takes to mount a rescue and you get the coverage we are treated to.

I think it is pitiful but it is the best we have. :fire:

[critter]

Oh, but you guys forget!!! The purpose of the media is NOT to provide news. It is MARKET SHARE!

[Rockstar]

It's a lot easier to ask questions critical of the current administration, when all you have to do is talk into a camera and focus on, basically, only two sites, the Superdome and the Convention Center. What about the othe 90,000 square miles? What about the 24/7 rescue efforts for the folks that made the choice to stay in their houses?

Think all the people who're in distress couldn't afford to get out? Think again. What about Fats Domino and his famous pink Caddy, etc., etc.

The logistics of this catastrophy are beyond any government's ability to fix within a few hours or a few days.

[fisherman66]

I point my finger squarely at the New Orleans city government

I suppose we have to point our fingers at something.

[M-Rex]

...most do it because they want to improve the world.

With all due respect to your post and position, I don't want journalists who want to 'improve the world'. I read that as 'manipulate information to suit a particular agenda'. I want journalists who report unbiased news without made up drama or conjecture.

So far, what I've seen is a bunch of network type trying to out-sensationalize each other to gain a larger share of the media market.

[itgoesboom]

M-Rex,

Most journalists who cover things like this believe they can improve the world by showing the truth about the situation, and giving the people an eye into what is actually happening on the ground.

Really, very few images that are captured have the capability to change the world, and often the go the opposite direction of what the PJ thought.

I.G.B.

[M-Rex]

I can see where you're coming from. With that perspective, I can agree. I didn't mean for my post to be viewed as a sarcastic response. I hope that was not the case. I view 'changing the world' and 'reporting the news' as two different things.

This:
Most journalists who cover things like this believe they can improve the world by showing the truth about the situation, and giving the people an eye into what is actually happening on the ground.
I can agree with. I think I may be in error by equating photojournalists with network reporters and will adjust my paradigm accordingly. Thinking back, I do remember that the photojournalists I've seen were 'rubber-meets-the-road' sorts and were rather down to earth. Reporters/network types didn't seem to fit into this catagory.

Mea culpa.

[Justin]

I heard the Mayor's interview via the web, and I have to say that it is one of the most petty and disgraceful things I have ever heard.

[thorn726]

i definitely think the media should beat least bringing in some supplies when they go around there-

i do ahve to wonder jsut how well the evac info was passed around before the cane though- maybe some of tese peopel never heard. but overall, it really appears a bunch of not so smart people weren't really thinking.

However- in an emergency of this size, i really would have expected mroe help sooner. that the looting an violence got this out of hand was ridiculous.

even Bush admits he could have done mroe, time to face up to it guys, the govt let these people down, even if a good part of it was their own stupid fault.

[Old NFO]

Preacherman, thanks for confiming what I thought, sad though it is to hear that... :fire:

Itgoesboom- I would put you in the 1% category- Most could care less, they just want the Pulitzer shot... I have seen too many of your cohorts pass up the picture of the soldier/sailor/marine giving a child candy to take the picture of the same individual standing over a dead enemy :cuss:

Yeah I do Waitone- I "know" that is a novel concept- In 22 years on active duty, I did a few of these around the world. We were enroute and boots on the ground before the wind and rain stopped, mainly because we didn't have to play politics, as must be done here.

GOOD point Critter :banghead: I got a rather interesting lecture on that from Max Schildler, the original director of Meet the Press. In a sentence, he basically told me a "sob" story was worth 15 minutes and 5 nights of play, where a "feel good" was worth 30 sec 1 night.

Thanks to all of you for your responses, I'm glad to see that I'm not alone with my questions.

[beemerb]

I just met a lady at the VA clinic in Las Vegas yesterday.(guard) Her whole family lives in New Orleans. They all left 3 days before the storm hit.There where some people with common sense in NO that did get out.By the way this is not pertanant to the story but she is African-American if that is the PC term right now.Nice lady that all I care about about.
Bob

[dpesec]

NFO,
I know the Fox News Crews were pasing out food and water. I also know they were pleading for information so they could tell the people. There was none from the State or City.
That's where the problem rests, I Hizhoror was in Baton Rouge, he could have told the local Fox channel. or even called the HQ in New York and told them what the story was. Did that happen nope.

[wingman]

I've been involved in organizing relief operations since Tuesday, and I point my finger squarely at the New Orleans city government, which has been catastrophically inept in its handling of the situation.


Right on, city then state both poor. I have been astonished by statements from the mayor, a brilliant man in his own mind. :rolleyes:

[Old NFO]

I know the Fox News Crews were pasing out food and water.
dpesec, do you have verification? I've heard just the opposite from people there. If it's true, that's great and a MAJOR change from their normal method of operation.

[dpesec]

NFO,
Well if you consider confirmation me watching Sheppard Smith doing it himself and stating that his news crew was also.
He kept pleading on the air something like "I'm not pointing fingers all these people want is information, please somebody".
I heard that several time during each of his broadcasts.

[Byron Quick]

I point my finger squarely at the New Orleans city government, which has been catastrophically inept in its handling of the situation.


Isn't this basically the entire history of New Orleans government in a thumb sketch.

[Old NFO]

Well if you consider confirmation me watching Sheppard Smith doing it himself and stating that his news crew was also.
I stand corrected dpesec, thanks!

[dpesec]

NFO, I know this is also PC incorrect but I tend to like Fox because they seem to be real people and have a concern.

[MSGT9410]

This pretty much sums it up:

*Notice -- Bad language out the wazoo, make sure the kids aren't around*

http://www.illwillpress.com/kat.html

[pete f]

How about asking the people who were on the news befreo the storm hitting telling people, If you are going to s tay. fill up a few milk jugs. beer bottles what ever with water. At least 3 gallons per person. Hmmm then how about telling them that you are going to get flooded. you are going to need to move to higher ground BEFORE the storm gets here.

I saw a lady interviewed who had spent four days parked in a concrete parking structure, A black woman, she made comment that she looked for a several level concrete parking garage betweens two highrises. The reporter asked her how she was doing and she said she was fine, she opened the trunk of her car and she had several gallons of water, two pacakges of diapers, for her infant. a cooler with some food and what appeared to be several loaves of bread and boxes of crackers. She said she did not understand why the other people had not been thinking of similar things. There were too other cars occupied on the parking ramp. Pretty hard to damage a solid reinforced concrete parking structure. It was her and two kids, one low grade school age and infant, she made the comment that a half hour of preparation saved her a lot of trouble.

[Old NFO]

MSGT9410, you owe me a new keyboard... I spit coffee all over it trying not to laugh and/or cry :cuss: I pretty much agree with EVERYTHING the squirrel said :mad:

Pete f, you KNOW that won't get any coverage, it is too positive, someone who actually prepared? :what: Nah, that won't be in rotation at all... sigh

dpesec, Fox is not as bad as some, but Geraldo and Greta are about useless! I still think the best thing I ever saw was Geraldo getting his nose busted years ago by that neo-nazi punk on his talk show... :evil:

[MSGT9410]

MSGT9410, you owe me a new keyboard... I spit coffee all over it trying not to laugh and/or cry I pretty much agree with EVERYTHING the squirrel said


Hahaha

I found it to be utterly hilarious, but true to every word. Although I do have a bit of respect for Shep Smith of Fox News.

[280PLUS]

And your question is not PC because???

Seems like a good question to ask. As usual it sounds like them trying to make more out of the story than there really is. I just watched Geraldo :barf: right in the thick of things at the convention center walking around focusing on showing how bad it was there. MY question for him is, "Why aren't you putting down that microphone and lending a hand?" Don't stand there and tell us all how bad it all is. Jump in and do something about it you :cuss:

[MSGT9410]

He tried to appear important by holding a crying baby. I doubt he's a father. :p

[BenW]

Pete f, you KNOW that won't get any coverage, it is too positive, someone who actually prepared?
I'm starting to see a VERY few stories like this. Interesting that the people who stayed behind with even minimal preparation, and just a little common sense, seem to be getting through things all right.

[Texpatriate]

The mayor of New Orleans and Govenor Blanco are completely useless figure heads of a disgustingly corrupt system. I just moved away from Baton Rouge 4 weeks ago. It is rediculous how the mayor keeps blathering about the president and the federal government. You would think that with all of the taxes we paid (state income tax + property tax + 9% sales tax) they would have thought to use some of it to improve the levee system- not to mention the horrible roads, the corrupt NO police, and the worst public school system in America. I have no idea where all of that money goes because I sure as heck don't see it being spent on anything usefull. Did anyone see the picture of the hundreds of New Orleans school busses sitting in 5 feet of water? Why didn't the mayor or the govenor think to use those to evac. some of those people BEFORE the storm? Oh yeah, I forgot- it's the president's fault. I smell BS.

90% of disaster relief depends on preperations done BEFORE the event- and that, is the job of the mayor and the govenor- not the president. I am not saying that the president or the fed gov has done a great job- they haven't- but it is pretty obvious that the media is attempting to politcize this tragedy to cast blame on the president. A trained monkey could see that.

[Sunray]

"...not as much as I spend on here though..." Media forums would be you working. Ain't the same thing.
I kind of suspect it's easy for most of us not up to our waists in water to point fingers. The fact remains that it takes time to get the National Guard organized and moving. Regular troopies they ain't. Part timers standing on their hind legs, leaving their jobs, families and jumping on a truck to go help.
Getting out ahead of the storm? Poverty means you can't. No place to go. No way of going.

[jhco50]

I was going to give to the relief effort until I saw so many of the people in front of the cameras coplaining because people weren't giving them enough. We are in the process of buying a second home and I seriosly thought about letting a family stay there for a couple of months. My wife and I decided against it because we felt a family would move in and never leave. We would be sitting there with a house that we were paying for and someone else would technically reap the benifits. No, I'm not going to donate to an unappreciative area that is just wanting someone to give them something. Let them loot and make it on their own. Sounds hard, but I wonder how many people will be broken by the New Oleans people just looking for something to be given to them.

[odysseus]

I was going to give to the relief effort until I saw so many of the people in front of the cameras coplaining because people weren't giving them enough

Don't believe everything you see on TV. There are a lot of people who need and would be grateful for help; anything we can chip in is good.

Keep in mind the TV is focused on NO, because I guess we all like watching disasters on top of disasters, but there was SO MUCH more affected and so many people other than those in NO.

[280PLUS]

He tried to appear important by holding a crying baby. I doubt he's a father. Geraldo Rivera in the convention center where people are dying and relieving themselves on the floor: "SSSSSSSShhhhhhawwwww baby, SSSSHHHHaaawww. Mom? MOM?!? THIS BABY IS HUNGRY!! DON'T YOU HAVE ANY MILK?!?"

I say again, :barf:

How stupid do you have to be to get an on camera job at any of these news centers?

Did anyone see the picture of the hundreds of New Orleans school busses sitting in 5 feet of water? Why didn't the mayor or the govenor think to use those to evac. some of those people BEFORE the storm? I saw that, I didn't think it through that far. I just wondered what IDIOT left all those buses there to be destroyed. :banghead:

Now THAT'S being caught flat footed. :cuss:

[dpesec]

MSGT9410
can you say Al Capone's Vaults :) Just remember that, plus the daytime shock TV show

[patentmike]

Of course there was not enough money. Ever hear any organization say, "We have plenty of money to do everything we could possibly want."?
I saw an Army Corps of Engineers General say that the levee that failed that they keep showing on TV was designed and built to withstand a catagory 3 storm. People were expected to get out of town for a category 4. You can battle nature for a long time, but you will lose one once in while.

[Ky Larry]

The liberal news media would never let facts get in the way of a story.

[Matt G]

My wife's and my biggest question about the "helpless refugees": why aren't they walking north? Even with a baby in her arms, I promise you that my wife could make a mile an hour. Camp out after 8 miles. Trucks are tossing bottled water to refugees. In 6 days, you can be 50 miles from start, and that puts you a lot closer to civilization.

Now, as for myself, I'll be damned if I can't make 15 miles a day, even with luggage (Note: my personal self-estimate is frankly higher than that, but I know I'd end up carrying a lot). In 6 days, that's 90 miles. Get. Out. :rolleyes:

[etex]

The husband of my wifes best friend is in NO working as guess what? Geraldo and his crews security. He is one of two LEO's from Angelina County, Texas
providing their security. He gets to call his wife 1 or 2 times a day. If you happened to see this evening the officer in the Cowboy hat walking the 72 year old lady and her dog to the chopper thats him .Geraldo helped organize and directly participated in her rescue.Because of this inside connection my wife has gotten a lot of info about what geraldo and his crews
days and nights are really like.

Don't get me wrong, most of the time I share the same opinion of the media that you have expressed here. Most of the time they just need to get their liberal biased butts out of the way. This time I dont believe thats the case.

They are sleeping 1-2 hours a night, none of them have had a bath since they got there, when not on the air they are busting their butts doing whatever they can to help. Carrying water, helping people,
going out on boat rescues,etc. the conditions are deplorable for them also. They have been on site since Thursday.They dont fly out to a 5 star hotel nightly for fine dining and R&R. I personally feel the media has helped more than they hurt this time.

[280PLUS]

I personally feel the media has helped more than they hurt this time. How does sticking a camera and microphone in the middle of misery help those people? If Geraldo had taken his personal water out and given that baby a drink I would have been inclined to see things your way. Greta was looking pretty fresh yesterday. I can't believe a media frenzy is helping anyone. When I see a chopper watching / filming another pick up an evacuee off a rooftop while others are left there because there's no room for them I wonder why the eatra fuel and manpower and machine are being put to no real good use. They are only getting in the way. Now the rescue pilot has to contend with another flying in close proximity. How does that help?

[deputydon]

280plus - I wondered that myself. Just what they need is a bunch of news choppers in the air creating hazzards for the rescue choppers. It just ain't that important that America see these pictures. As far as I can see the only good the news choppers are doing is helping evaporate the standing water. :banghead:

[Daniel T]

Just what they need is a bunch of news choppers in the air creating hazzards for the rescue choppers.

News choppers were spotting people that were stranded and the rescue choppers were using that info to go rescue people. Is it a better use of time for a rescue chopper to be flying around looking for someone to rescue, or go straight to the people in need because the news choppers have done the spotting for them?

[280PLUS]

If a news chopper is filming a rescue, how is it spotting people? Granted, they may be helping but they could do more.

It just ain't that important that America see these pictures.

I couldn't have said it better myself...

[RamblerReb]

Some of the folks on here seem to have a handle on LA politics, but for those of you who may have some questions, here's a quick primer:

When someone, just about anyone, is elected to public office in LA, or appointed to a lucrative sinecure like warden of a state prison or chief of the NOPD, he is just taking a step on the road to higher ofice or a cushier, more lucrative appointment with even less to actually do. While he is in office, his job is not to do whatever he was elected or appointed to do, it is to do the favors which fall within the purview of his office for the people who got him there and to receive favors from those who owe him for services (awarding public works contracts, appointing "honorary" deputies, etc.) rendered. At no time is the politician to address any legitimate concern of any of the citizenry who elected him office or otherwise pay his salary through taxes. If he did that, it might upset the status quo and inconvenience people who have either done him favors in the past or could potentially do him favors in the future. It goes without saying that, as a result of this system, no highly placed office holder or political appointee is ever competent to deal with something like a hurricane or other natural disaster, as they have not been put where they are based on competence or efficiency, but for the reach of their back-scratching hand.

The fact is, had the mayor and chief actually turned out to be up to the task without suffering mental breakdowns, I would have been shocked. The tears of those men were wept, not for the misery and devastation wrought by Katrina, but because they knew their political careers would be over when a national media spotlight was blazingly turned onto their utter unfitness for office.

But then, it is an axiom of politics is that no one capable of attaining high office should ever be allowed to hold it.

[GAMALOT]

I believe some stayed because they had nothing and nowhere else to go.
I also believe others stayed for the soul purpose of taking advantage of those who left!
I feel for those who suffer and I have no use for those who suffer now because their plan got them in over their heads. Loved watching the news man ask one guy why he was LOOTING. "I got to feed my family", Just how nutritious is a basket full of Nike Sneakers?
Take the "Political Correctness" out of the mix and place blame where it really belongs. Criminals are not the sharpest tacks in the box and this time they have compounded an already bad situation and increased ten fold the numbers of people needing to be rescued.
My friends in NO left and took everything of value with them because they knew if it did get even just a little bad, the criminals where going to have a blast. Seems there is a rather vast number of criminal types in that area. They discussed this with other friends a few days before the storm hit and as politically incorrect as it might seem, they all EXPECTED exactly what has happened and got out of dodge before the lawlessness began.
Don't expect to hear any of this from any of the media and if placing blame is what you need to do then put it in the right place or continue believing all those poor people got stranded. HOG WASH!
Gary

[Old NFO]

Reb and Gamalot you are both correct- Interestingly enough, there was one "quick" report about the fire at the Riverwalk indicating it had been set by looters to cover their tracks, I have not heard a word about it since. Reb, both the Mayor of NOLA and the Gov are going to actually have to get jobs, as their patronage will end on election day since they are already pariahs after this week.

[Kamicosmos]

I have actually implemented a self-imposed 'Media Blackout' because I am so disgusted with the media and politics lately. Even before NOLA.

I'm even trying to stay of my gun forums because all of them are filled with NOLA related crap.


Obviously, I'm not doing a very good job of enforcing my blackout. :rolleyes:

[GAMALOT]

Hey Kamicosmos, I can relate very well to the Media Black out.
Not sure I understand the forum one.
At least here you have a choice to read or not to read, post or not to post and learn a bit about how others are feeling.
I don't expect or want everyone to agree with me and I sure don't agree with everyone else but I do respect their rights to an opinion and to voice it. Heck, thats how I decide who I care to be friendly with and who's opinions I value and who I want to avoid.
Certainly no need to avoid the forum, just avoid threads that you have no desire to bother with.
IMHO.
Gary

[GAMALOT]

WORTH THE READ!!!

DON"T BLAME BUSH FOR KATRINA

Christopher Ruddy
Monday, Sept. 5, 2005
George Bush and the federal government are not to blame for the disaster we have witnessed in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

In fact, the primary responsibility for the disaster response lies with New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin, Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco and other local officials.


Yet leading Democrats and their allies in the major media are clearly using this disaster for political purposes and ignoring one obvious fact.

This fact – which needs to be repeated and remembered – is that in our country, state and local governments have primary responsibility in dealing with local disasters.


The founding fathers devised a federal system of government – one that has served us remarkably well through great disasters that have befallen America over more than two centuries.


But if we believe the major TV networks, George Bush, FEMA and the Republicans in Congress are all to blame for the current nightmare.


Let's remember that FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, was created only in 1979. It was formed to coordinate and focus federal response to major disasters – to "assist" local and state governments.


Common sense suggests that local and state governments are best able to prepare and plan for local disasters.


Is a Washington bureaucrat better suited to prepare for an earthquake in San Francisco, a hurricane in Florida, or a terrorist act in New York?


After the Sept. 11 attacks against the World Trade Center, no one suggested that the Bush administration should have been responsible for New York's disaster response or that federal agents should have been involved in the rescue of those trapped in the buildings.


Last year, four major hurricanes slammed into Florida. Governor Jeb Bush led the disaster response and did a remarkable job, with nothing happening like what we have seen in New Orleans.


The primary response in disasters has always come from local communities and state governments.


First responders and the manpower to deal with emergencies come from local communities: police, fire and medical. Under our federal system, these local departments answer to local authorities, not those in Washington. These first responders are not even under federal control, nor do they have to follow federal orders.


In addition to local responders, every state in the Union has a National Guard.


State National Guards answer first to the governor of each state, not to the president. The National Guard exists not to defend one state from an invasion by another state, but primarily for emergencies like the one we have witnessed in New Orleans and in other areas impacted by Katrina. (See: http://www.arng.army.mil/about_us/organization/command_structure.asp)



Tim Russert and the Blame Game


The media would have you believe that this disaster was worsened by a slow response from President Bush and his administration, though the primary responsibility for disaster response has always been with local and state governments.


It is true that federal response was not as fast as it could have been. The president himself has acknowledged that fact.


But the press has focused on the first 48 hours of federal response, not uttering a word about the fact that New Orleans had 48 hours of warning that a major Category 4 or 5 would make landfall near the city, yet local officials apparently did little to prepare.

Obviously, Gov. Blanco did not effectively deploy her state's National Guard.

And New Orleans' city leaders did almost nothing to evacuate the portion of the population with no transportation. In failing to follow their own evacuation plan, these officials did little to pre-position food, water and personnel to deal with the aftermath.


I was surprised Sunday to watch Tim Russert, on his show "Meet the Press," tear into Homeland Security Chief Michael Chertoff. During his encounter with Chertoff, Russert did not suggest once that local government had any role in dealing with the disaster. Russert also asked for Chertoff's resignation.


It wasn't until after the first 29 minutes of his show – 29 minutes – that Russert raised the question of local responsibility. And when he did so with Jefferson Parish President Aaron Broussard, he did so in a passing way. Broussard brushed off his question with a non-answer.


Broussard began his interview claiming that the nation had "abandoned" New Orleans.


That is nonsense and a lie.


Broussard, who was never identified by "Meet the Press" as a Democrat, spent much of his time attacking the Bush administration, as has Democratic New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin.


Broussard then ended his performance as he collapsed in tears with a demand: "For God's sake, just shut up and send us somebody!"


His tears didn't wash with me. My sympathies lie with the tens of thousands of people who have suffered or died because local officials like Broussard, Mayor Nagin and Governor Kathleen Blanco, also a Democrat, failed monumentally at their jobs.


As former New Orleans Mayor Marc Morial told Russert, the disaster in New Orleans was "foreseeable."


In fact, New Orleans has long known that such a disaster could take place if a major hurricane hit the city.


The municipality even prepared its own "City of New Orleans Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan."


The plan makes it evident that New Orleans knew that evacuation of the civilian population was the primary responsibility of the city – not the federal government.


The city plan acknowledges its responsibility in the document:


As established by the City of New Orleans Charter, the government has jurisdiction and responsibility in disaster response. City government shall coordinate its efforts through the Office of Emergency Preparedness.


The city document also makes clear that decisions involving a proper and orderly evacuation lie with the governor, mayor and local authorities. Nowhere is the president or federal government even mentioned:



The authority to order the evacuation of residents threatened by an approaching hurricane is conferred to the Governor by Louisiana Statute. The Governor is granted the power to direct and compel the evacuation of all or part of the population from a stricken or threatened area within the State, if he deems this action necessary for the preservation of life or other disaster mitigation, response or recovery. The same power to order an evacuation conferred upon the Governor is also delegated to each political subdivision of the State by Executive Order. This authority empowers the chief elected official of New Orleans, the Mayor of New Orleans, to order the evacuation of the parish residents threatened by an approaching hurricane.



It is clear the city also recognized that it would need to move large portions of its population, and it would need to prepare for such an eventuality:


The City of New Orleans will utilize all available resources to quickly and safely evacuate threatened areas. Those evacuated will be directed to temporary sheltering and feeding facilities as needed. When specific routes of progress are required, evacuees will be directed to those routes. Special arrangements will be made to evacuate persons unable to transport themselves or who require specific life saving assistance. Additional personnel will be recruited to assist in evacuation procedures as needed. ...

Evacuation procedures for small scale and localized evacuations are conducted per the SOPs of the New Orleans Fire Department and the New Orleans Police Department. However, due to the sheer size and number of persons to be evacuated, should a major tropical weather system or other catastrophic event threaten or impact the area, specifically directed long range planning and coordination of resources and responsibilities efforts must be undertaken. [You can read New Orleans' Emergency Plan for hurricanes at its Web site: http://www.cityofno.com/portal.aspx?portal=46&tabid=26]


The city's plan also specifically called for the use of city-owned buses and school buses to evacuate the population. These were apparently never deployed, though the Parish of Plaquemines just south of the city evacuated its population using school buses.


The plan, written well before Katrina was even a teardrop in God's eye, was obviously never heeded or implemented by local leaders.


But why should the New Orleans mayor and Governor Blanco take responsibility when they can blame George Bush and the Republicans in Washington?


With congressional elections fast approaching, Democrats who are out of power in every branch of the federal government know they need to change the tide quickly.


They have apparently seized on the Katrina disaster to harm the president politically.


Criticism of the federal government's response is fair and warranted. But putting full responsibility for this disaster on the Bush administration is way over the top.

Primary responsibility for this disaster remains with local officials like Nagin and Blanco, not President Bush