One of the Foghorns Speaks Up

Stuff us walkie-talkie types have been saying for days.
Another take that I nod as I read:

…Scapegoating the federal government misses the point. No president can stop a hurricane, or keep people from looting, rioting or shooting at government aircraft. Nor, for that matter, can a president know all that’s needed, and how much, in an emergency.
Indeed, the federal government’s response is almost always elephantine, and inadequate to local needs. That’s why we elect local officials and have local government.
Unfortunately, many of those affected by Katrina have, in one way or another, been crying, “Where’s the federal government?” all their lives. And their lives are more miserable for it….
…As far as we can tell, it didn’t have one. Certainly not one that worked. Maybe years of political and police corruption in Louisiana and New Orleans matter today more than people think…

And Tim Russert actually asked the tough one. Of course, the loser local official ran him over, but hey! He did ask…

(Jefferson Parish President MR. BROUSSARD:) It’s not just Katrina that caused all these deaths in New Orleans here. Bureaucracy has committed murder here in the greater New Orleans area, and bureaucracy has to stand trial before Congress now. It’s so obvious. FEMA needs more congressional funding. It needs more presidential support. It needs to be a Cabinet-level director. It needs to be an independent agency that will be able to fulfill its mission to work in partnership with state and local governments around America. FEMA needs to be empowered to do the things it was created to do. It needs to come somewhere, like New Orleans, with all of its force immediately, without red tape, without bureaucracy, act immediately with common sense and leadership, and save lives. Forget about the property. We can rebuild the property. It’s got to be able to come in and save lives.
We need strong leadership at the top of America right now in order to accomplish this and to– reconstructing FEMA.
MR. RUSSERT: Mr. Broussard, let me ask–I want to ask–should…
MR. BROUSSARD: You know, just some quick examples…
MR. RUSSERT: Hold on. Hold on, sir. Shouldn’t the mayor of New Orleans and the governor of New Orleans bear some responsibility? Couldn’t they have been much more forceful, much more effective and much more organized in evacuating the area?
MR. BROUSSARD: Sir, they were told like me, every single day, “The cavalry’s coming,” on a federal level, “The cavalry’s coming, the cavalry’s coming, the cavalry’s coming.” I have just begun to hear the hoofs of the cavalry. The cavalry’s still not here yet, but I’ve begun to hear the hoofs, and we’re almost a week out.

STFU, you miserable, carbon-based puddle. He asked YOU what YOU had done to prepare and protect YOUR PEOPLE. And, just like the Mayor, you no speaka de Anglish. And haffa no dee answer.

3 Responses to “One of the Foghorns Speaks Up”

1. GetALifeAgain says:

   September 5, 2005 at 4:33 am

   It’s so absolutely ridiculous that I think returning to school to learn semantics is in order.
   I think that he should shut his mouth and roll up his sleeves.

2. The Real JeffS says:

   September 5, 2005 at 6:15 am

   And the really stupid thing is, FEMA used to report directly to the President, before the Department of Homeland Security was formed. Fact!
   Even more stupid (and such is possible, I am slowly learning) — FEMA is already empowered to do what it was created to do. The problem is, if FEMA enforced (for example) the Floodplain Management Act to the full extent of the law, and enacted draconian regulations to do so, I am certain that local governments (including this pissant parish president) would be squealing to high heaven about undue Federal influence in local jurisdictions. I’ve seen it happen, folks.
   So, youse got rights, THS. STFU!!!!

3. Cullen says:

   September 5, 2005 at 8:49 am

   I saw part of this interview … the part quoted here. It was sad to watch him. He was very, very emotionally disturbed — and looking for someone to blame. Unfortunately Southern Louisiana politics isn’t about which political candidate is going to be elected next, it’s about which Democrat is going to be elected next. These guys have no concept of planning or disaster management.
   Still sad to see someone who’s been through so much and have so much pain. And instead of directing that emotion toward helping his folks, he’s laying blame. So sad.
   Gov. Barbour was interviewed at the same time and commented right after the Parish Pres. His comments were far more real.