Stop Pointing Fingers for One Second

[Maxprime]

I just read that the Coast Guard has rescued 22,000 people via air and water - has anybody in the political realm stopped yelling at FEMA to stop and thank them?

1) FEMA=Coast guard?
2) Would that 22k have been 30k had the federal government got their act together more quickly?

[Pseudolus]

Well, that was a nice 4 minutes, anyway.

[Uncle Rico]

Originally Posted by Titania

1) FEMA=Coast guard?
2) Would that 22k have been 30k had the federal government got their act together more quickly?

No, but it may have been a lot less if the People of New Orleans evacuated when they were asked to do so.

But I agree, we should not be greatful to the Coast Guard for Rescuing some 22,000 + people.

[The Waiting Hurts]

Originally Posted by Uncle Rico

No, but it may have been a lot less if the People of New Orleans evacuated when they were asked to do so.

If you have $2 in your pocket & no car, exactly how are you going to evacuate?

Everyone, IMO, needs to share in the blame for this; from the mayor on up to the President. The mayor orders people to the Superdome a day before the hurricane hit; he, as the ultimate authority for the city, should have had the foresight to make sure that there was food and water in the Superdome, just in case. He knows his own city better than the gov., FEMA, and the Pres. He knows how many of his constituants are poor and without means to evacuate. If the Superdome is the 'safe haven' for the city in such an event, he needs to be able anticipate certain 'what ifs' and plan for them accordingly. What good is it to tell people to bring 3 days worth of food with them if you know 30% of your city lives below the poverty line? The governor should have anticipated that she would have needed the military in the event of a category 4 or 5 hurricane. She should have anticipated that there would have been bureaucracy in getting federal resources and should have had certain items in place; just in case. How long has she been in politics that she doesn't know how the government works? The FEMA and Homeland Security directors are jokes. I don't even have words for them. They have proved that they are just collecting paychecks. I'm sure they do work on a daily basis, what that work is; I don't know. Sadly, the person I feel has the least indirect responsibility in all of this is Bush. Putting FEMA under Homeland proved itself to be a bad move. The creation of Homeland is clearly a waste of money and time; if they can't handle a hurricane, what is their purpose?

Originally Posted by Uncle Rico

But I agree, we should not be greatful to the Coast Guard for Rescuing some 22,000 + people.

I don't think that it's the individuals in the Coast Guard who didn't do enough.

I'ts not like they are autonomous and can take CG assets and start rescuing people on their own. They need authorization and leadership to do their jobs.

I think that the men and women on the ground there have done an exemplary job.

I'm just questioning why it took thier commanders so long to send them there.

[SamTheEagle]

Originally Posted by Titania

I don't think that it's the individuals in the Coast Guard who didn't do enough.

I'ts not like they are autonomous and can take CG assets and start rescuing people on their own. They need authorization and leadership to do their jobs.

I think that the men and women on the ground there have done an exemplary job.

I'm just questioning why it took thier commanders so long to send them there.

Maybe they were afraid of getting stuck in a quagmire.

[llcooljabe]

Drudge today had an interesting story of Irony.

[Loner]

Originally Posted by Pseudolus

Well, that was a nice 4 minutes, anyway.

Pseudolus, when one of your students gets 40% on a test, do you tell him, "Great job, keep it up?"

[Uncle Rico]

Originally Posted by Loner

Pseudolus, when one of your students gets 40% on a test, do you tell him, "Great job, keep it up?"

He wont get the chance because his student, if will likely say "I would have passed if my Mnager Psuedolus had given me more time" or "I would have passed if the exam was fair"

A ggod student would look inh the mirror and say "I only got 40%, I need to improve my study habits to make sure I pass next time."

NOBODY wants to excpet responsibility for what hass happened in New Orleans, for all the criticism of Pres Bush, I have at least seen him meeting with people in various shelters. In contrast I have seen the Mayor of New Orleans blame federal officials for not doing more. I have not seen him (the Mayor) as a true leader in any fashion this past week. Of Course I cannot see evertyhing, so I am sure he is doing something to fullfill his role.

While blasting FEMA...has anyone wondered why the Mayor has not apologized for having a better evacuation plan in place?