Blanco and Nagin failed their constituents

[Montgomery Burns]

The actions and inactions of Governor Blanco and Mayor Nagin are a national disgrace

The plain fact is, lives were needlessly lost in New Orleans due to the failure of Louisiana's governor, Kathleen Blanco, and the city's mayor, Ray Nagin.

It's Bush's fault!!!!

The primary responsibility for dealing with emergencies does not belong to the federal government. It belongs to local and state officials who are charged by law with the management of the crucial first response to disasters. First response should be carried out by local and state emergency personnel under the supervision of the state governor and his emergency operations center.

Lying former state legislator who represented the legislative district most impacted by the eruption of Mount St. Helens (I smell a neocon)!!!! It is Bush's job to micromanage every single city, town, and village in the USA!!!! That is the very definition of a federal govt's duty!!!!

The actions and inactions of Gov. Blanco and Mayor Nagin are a national disgrace due to their failure to implement the previously established evacuation plans of the state and city.

IT'S ALL BUSH'S FAULT!!!!!

A year ago, as Hurricane Ivan approached, New Orleans ordered an evacuation but did not use city or school buses to help people evacuate. As a result many of the poorest citizens were unable to evacuate. Fortunately, the hurricane changed course and did not hit New Orleans, but both Gov. Blanco and Mayor Nagin acknowledged the need for a better evacuation plan. Again, they did not take corrective actions.

Bush let the air out of the tires of those buses and that prevented Blanco and Nagin from utilizing them!!!!

In 1998, during a threat by Hurricane George, 14,000 people were sent to the Superdome and theft and vandalism were rampant due to inadequate security. Again, these problems were not corrected.

Governor Bush was to blame!!!!!

Mayor Nagin was responsible for giving the order for mandatory evacuation and supervising the actual evacuation: His Office of Emergency Preparedness (not the federal government) must coordinate with the state on elements of evacuation and assist in directing the transportation of evacuees to staging areas. Mayor Nagin had to be encouraged by the governor to contact the National Hurricane Center before he finally, belatedly, issued the order for mandatory evacuation.

Bob Williams is obviously not from the reality-based community.

And sadly, it apparently took a personal call from the president to urge the governor to order the mandatory evacuation.

More lies from the ultra rightwing thoroughly uncredible Wall Street Journal!!!!

The federal government does not have the authority to intervene in a state emergency without the request of a governor. President Bush declared an emergency prior to Katrina hitting New Orleans, so the only action needed for federal assistance was for Gov. Blanco to request the specific type of assistance she needed. She failed to send a timely request for specific aid.

In addition, unlike the governors of New York, Oklahoma and California in past disasters, Gov. Blanco failed to take charge of the situation and ensure that the state emergency operation facility was in constant contact with Mayor Nagin and FEMA. It is likely that thousands of people died because of the failure of Gov. Blanco to implement the state plan, which mentions the possible need to evacuate up to one million people. The plan clearly gives the governor the authority for declaring an emergency, sending in state resources to the disaster area and requesting necessary federal assistance.

Reichwing hatemonger!!!!!

I HATE YOU!!!!!

If you will excuse me, I need to go fill up my jug with some more Kool-Aid.

AIIIIEEEEEE!!!

[apollo19]

The thing which seems so stupid about the whole situation to me is why didnt they just have buses prepared and ready to get people out either before the storm, or stocking them up in a neighbouring unaffected state (Texas maybe), then send the convoy in when Katrina left. Positioning buses and National Guard units around the "danger zone" could not have been that hard..

[Montgomery Burns]

Simply, Democrats Governor Blanco and Mayor Nagin were horribly negligent. That is why the American public does not trust them to defend its citizenry. Compare Jeb Bush's response to Florida's 4 hurricanes last year - versus Blanco.

Compare (ex)Mayor Rudy Giuliani's response to 9/11 - versus Nagin.

Remember last year when John Kerry said he would respond forcefully after America was attacked? Remember when he said that US military action would have to pass the global test? IOW, the US public would have to ask France's permission to defend the homeland.

The Democrats are weak and incompetent when it comes to defending its citizens. I'm not being partisan; this is a fact and the public knows it.

The Democrats lack of response to the Katrina tragedy will hurt them badly in the mid-term 2006 elections. Perhaps even bad enough that they will lose enough power to prevent their constant divisive filibustering antics.

[Argus]

Simply, Democrats Governor Blanco and Mayor Nagin were horribly negligent.  That is why the American public does not trust them to defend its citizenry.  Compare Jeb Bush's response to Florida's 4 hurricanes last year - versus Blanco.

Compare (ex)Mayor Rudy Giuliani's response to 9/11 - versus Nagin.

Remember last year when John Kerry said he would respond forcefully after America was attacked?  Remember when he said that US military action would have to pass the global test?  IOW, the US public would have to ask France's permission to defend the homeland.

The Democrats are weak and incompetent when it comes to defending its citizens.  I'm not being partisan; this is a fact and the public knows it.

The Democrats lack of response to the Katrina tragedy will hurt them badly in the mid-term 2006 elections.  Perhaps even bad enough that they will lose enough power to prevent their constant divisive filibustering antics.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Once again, you post a shrill, silly opinion piece which you seem to believe excuses Bush from the negligence he so obviously was guilty of. Once again I remind you that no one here is absolving the local officials of mistakes. No doubt they will be punished for their errors by the local electorate.

But their mistakes do not absolve Bush of his negligence in stuffing FEMA with political cronies who know nothing about disaster management. They do not absolve him of responsibility in downgrading FEMA and diverting its funding away from disaster management. They do not absolve him of the screwups which resulted and continue to result, and they do not absolve him of the actions of the White House in slashing money for flood control in the New Orleans area. This is so patently obvious I cannot figure out why you continue to remain utterly incapable of understanding it.

[Black Dog]

This is so patently obvious I cannot figure out why you continue to remain utterly incapable of understanding it.

I think you touched on this in another post:

Is the desperation to follow so great you simply have to pretend they're great men so you can be their faithful follower? Is your life really so utterly empty without someone you can worship telling you how to think, act, and behave?

The answer to the above questions is "yes."

[Shady]

I can just see Governor Blanco sitting around with her southern friends and saying, in effect, "There ain't nothin' in New Orleans but niggers and nigger lovers", to a round of appreciative chuckles, and then purposely doing nothing. I bet that's how it happened.

[Melanie_]

The Democrats lack of response to the Katrina tragedy will hurt them badly in the mid-term 2006 elections.  Perhaps even bad enough that they will lose enough power to prevent their constant divisive filibustering antics.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

MB - Having read what you have posted over the last few days, I hesitated to even respond to this post, as you seem to be very set in your opinion and unlikely to consider differing viewpoints. I'll offer one anyway, in the spirit of informed discussion.

The midterms will definitely be impacted by Katrina, but not in the way you have predicted. I don't think the Democrats as a national party are going to be disadvantaged by a mayor's and a governor's actions, even if they are held accountable for the majority of the problems in New Orleans (and I doubt they will be). The Republicans, however, will see damage to their party as a result of Bush's ineffectual response, delayed as it was by party priorities (the event in California). The FEMA response will be held up as an example of Bush's inability to pick the correct person to see a job done well. Bush and the Republicans will also be taken to task over the budget adjustments that saw money diverted from shoring up the levees to the Iraq war effort; the project had been underway for some time, but was brought to a virtual standstill when the federal money stopped coming.

Even more unfortunate, in my opinion, is the fact that we are even beginning to shift the focus from the needs of the hundreds of thousands of people impacted by the storm, to the political ramifications of government action (or inaction, as the case may be).

[Montgomery Burns]

The Democrats lack of response to the Katrina tragedy will hurt them badly in the mid-term 2006 elections.  Perhaps even bad enough that they will lose enough power to prevent their constant divisive filibustering antics.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

MB - Having read what you have posted over the last few days, I hesitated to even respond to this post, as you seem to be very set in your opinion and unlikely to consider differing viewpoints. I'll offer one anyway, in the spirit of informed discussion.

The midterms will definitely be impacted by Katrina, but not in the way you have predicted. I don't think the Democrats as a national party are going to be disadvantaged by a mayor's and a governor's actions, even if they are held accountable for the majority of the problems in New Orleans (and I doubt they will be). The Republicans, however, will see damage to their party as a result of Bush's ineffectual response, delayed as it was by party priorities (the event in California). The FEMA response will be held up as an example of Bush's inability to pick the correct person to see a job done well. Bush and the Republicans will also be taken to task over the budget adjustments that saw money diverted from shoring up the levees to the Iraq war effort; the project had been underway for some time, but was brought to a virtual standstill when the federal money stopped coming.

Even more unfortunate, in my opinion, is the fact that we are even beginning to shift the focus from the needs of the hundreds of thousands of people impacted by the storm, to the political ramifications of government action (or inaction, as the case may be).

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I disagree, Melanie. Look at the difference in response between the Mississippi Republican Governor and Louisiana's governor. And Mississippi was hit much harder by Katrina than LA was. Look at how Jeb Bush handled the 4 hurricanes in Florida last year. Or Rudy Guiliani's response to 9/11.

Who would a reasonable person trust to protect them and take charge when something goes wrong? A Democrat leader or a Republican leader?

And let's not forget that FEMA's Mike Brown was appointed by a Democrat-controlled Congress.

And the fact that during the 5 years of the Bush administration, LA has received more funding for Civil Corps Projects ($1.9 billion) than any other state in the Union. Indeed, California was second at $1.4 billion and it has 7 times the population of LA.

[Montgomery Burns]

Deleted

Edited September 10, 2005 by Montgomery Burns

[ValleyForge]

It's quite obvious the State cannot handle a disaster of this size. The law must be changed to where the Federal Government will assume control and take care of responsibilities in a time of a disaster of this magnitude.

There was too much confusion over who was in charge and who was allowed in and who could do this or that. FEMA, the govenor, the national guard, the mayor, the white house were all clawing at each other and nobody knew what the boundaries were.

A disaster of this size MUST be handed over to the United States Military machine and given full authority to handle the crisis.

[Montgomery Burns]

Blacks fault lack of local leadership

I used the word Blacks in the title, because I don't like using the N word like some do on this forum.

Some in the black community are beginning to question what happened to the black leadership during the Hurricane Katrina disaster, especially in the city of New Orleans.  While a few black leaders, including the Rev. Jesse Jackson, the Rev. Al Sharpton and the Congressional Black Caucus, have singled out the president for blame, others say Mayor C. Ray Nagin, who is black, is responsible for the dismal response to the flooding that stranded thousands in the city's poorest sections.

"Mayor Nagin has blamed everyone else except himself," said the Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson, founder and president of the Brotherhood Organization of a New Destiny.

"The mayor failed in his duty to evacuate and protect the people of New Orleans. ... The truth is, black people died not because of President Bush or racism, they died because of their unhealthy dependence on the government and the incompetence of Mayor Ray Nagin and Governor Kathleen Blanco," he said.

The New Orleans mayor has criticized the president for the slow response and the resulting loss of life, but recent reports show he failed to follow through on his own city's emergency-response plan, which acknowledged that thousands of the city's poorest residents would have no way to evacuate the city.  He took a second hit when an Associated Press photo showed 2,000 school buses under water and parked in a lot, unused in the evacuation. Reports say those buses could have ferried thousands of residents to safety outside New Orleans had they been deployed.

Louisiana officials spent less than one-tenth of 1% on levees

Despite [Louisiana Democrat Senator Mary] Landrieu's complaints of budget cuts and paltry funding, the fact is that over the five years of the Bush administration, Louisiana has received more money — $1.9 billion — for Army Corps of Engineers civil works projects than any other state, and more than under any other administration over a similar period. California is a distant second with less than $1.4 billion despite a population more than seven times as large.

Investor's Business Daily is a business magazine that concentrates heavily on stocks. Stocks. Business. I think you get the picture. Undoubtedly a Rich White Republican Rag that believes in exploiting poor people. Ergo, we can dismiss these biased rabid rightwingers.

Only the Toronto Star and the CBC offer fair and balanced reporting!!!!

In December 1995, the Orleans Levee Board actually boasted to the New Orleans Times-Picayune about all the federal money it had to protect the city from hurricanes. As a result, the board said, the "most ambitious flood-fighting plan in generations was drafted," one that would plug the "few manageable gaps" in the levee system.

The problem was at the local level. The ambitious plan fell apart when the state suspended the Levee Board's ability to refinance old bonds and issue new ones. As the Times-Picayune reported, Legislative Auditor Dan Kyle "repeatedly faulted the Levee Board for the way it awards contracts, spends money and ignores no-bid contract laws." Blocked by the state from raising local money, the federal matching funds went unspent.

Halliburton!!!!

By 1998, Louisiana's state government had a $2 billion construction budget, but less than one-tenth of one percent, or $1.98 million, was dedicated to New Orleans levee improvements. By contrast, $22 million was spent that year to renovate a home for the Louisiana Supreme Court.

Obviously this is a lie. They actually only had a $2 million budget and they spent 99% of it on improving the levees. I read this at the always credible, unbiased impeachbush.org website.

Where did all the money go? Again, the Times-Picayune says much of the money went not to flood control, but to lawmakers' pet projects, from a $750 million for a new canal lock to a $2.5 million Mardi Gras fountain project that ran $600,000 over budget.

There go the neocons again with their "Democrats are the Party of Graft and Corruption" meme again.

Nine months before Katrina, three top Louisiana Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness officials were indicted by a federal grand jury in Shreveport and charged, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Louisiana, "with offenses related to the obstruction of an audit of the use of federal funds for flood mitigation opportunities throughout Louisiana."

There go the Republicans again; oppressing the poor. I can't wait until Michael Moore addresses this issue in his next book or movie.

[Argus]

Who would a reasonable person trust to protect them and take charge when something goes wrong?  A Democrat leader or a Republican leader?

I can't imagine a sane person caring whether they were Republican or Democratic, but concentrating instead on what kind of person this "leader" was.

Let's see: George Bush; coke sniffing, whore mongering, alcoholic party animal from high school until about 40, strong supporter of the Vietnam war, but got daddy to get him into the Texas national guard so he could avoid service, loved to walk around campus in his cowboy boots and flight jacket like a big man, still a strong supporter of the war - but safe from having to go there. Inherited his money, said poor people were just lazy. Convicted of drunk driving, lied repeatedly about it. Had one failed venture after another, always losing money, but being bailed out by companies owned by family friends. Eventually one of them let him buy a partnership in a baseball team for a song (he later sold it for 24 times that amount). Friends of the family bankrolled his run for governor (and their oil companies made huge profits from him therafter), then president (and their oil companies made and continue to make huge profits because of it). No known ideology. Spouts strong pro-life type messages he clearly doesn't believe in, just like daddy did. Rails against permissiveness and pre-marital sex now. Surrounded himself with crooks, zealots and nut cases. Married to a woman who ran a stop sign and killed her boyfriend in bizarre circumstances. No one has explained exactly how and no charges were ever filed - clearly a woman with her own family influence. Has two party animal daughters who seem destined for alcoholics anonymous (anyone think they're virgins?). Known for making bizarre, unintelligeable remarks.

Hmmm... yeah, there's a man I'd follow! Even worship!

[Shady]

Let's see: George Bush; coke sniffing, whore mongering, alcoholic party animal from high school until about 40, strong supporter of the Vietnam war, but got daddy to get him into the Texas national guard so he could avoid service, loved to walk around campus in his cowboy boots and flight jacket like a big man, still a strong supporter of the war - but safe from having to go there. Inherited his money, said poor people were just lazy. Convicted of drunk driving, lied repeatedly about it. Had one failed venture after another, always losing money, but being bailed out by companies owned by family friends. Eventually one of them let him buy a partnership in a baseball team for a song (he later sold it for 24 times that amount). Friends of the family bankrolled his run for governor (and their oil companies made huge profits from him therafter), then president (and their oil companies made and continue to make huge profits because of it). No known ideology. Spouts strong pro-life type messages he clearly doesn't believe in, just like daddy did. Rails against permissiveness and pre-marital sex now. Surrounded himself with crooks, zealots and nut cases. Married to a woman who ran a stop sign and killed her boyfriend in bizarre circumstances

Classic example of a rabid anti-Bush loonie. Thank you for proving my point. You're offically deemed irrelevant as are your "opinions", not to be mistaken from Moveon.org talking points.

[Montgomery Burns]

Let's see: George Bush; coke sniffing, whore mongering, alcoholic party animal from high school until about 40, strong supporter of the Vietnam war, but got daddy to get him into the Texas national guard so he could avoid service, loved to walk around campus in his cowboy boots and flight jacket like a big man, still a strong supporter of the war - but safe from having to go there. Inherited his money, said poor people were just lazy. Convicted of drunk driving, lied repeatedly about it. Had one failed venture after another, always losing money, but being bailed out by companies owned by family friends. Eventually one of them let him buy a partnership in a baseball team for a song (he later sold it for 24 times that amount). Friends of the family bankrolled his run for governor (and their oil companies made huge profits from him therafter), then president (and their oil companies made and continue to make huge profits because of it). No known ideology. Spouts strong pro-life type messages he clearly doesn't believe in, just like daddy did. Rails against permissiveness and pre-marital sex now. Surrounded himself with crooks, zealots and nut cases. Married to a woman who ran a stop sign and killed her boyfriend in bizarre circumstances

Classic example of a rabid anti-Bush loonie. Thank you for proving my point. You're offically deemed irrelevant as are your "opinions", not to be mistaken from Moveon.org talking points.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

A classic case of Bush Derangement Syndrome.

Bush wears cowboy boots. Oh, the horror!

Did you notice he never said what channel broke the Bush DUI story days before the 2000 election? The *cough* Fox *cough* News *cough* Channel.

[Shady]

A classic case of Bush Derangement Syndrome

Exactly. You gotta know it's Bush Derangement Syndrome when the anti-Bush zealots start attacking Laura Bush for things that happened when she was a teenager. Boy, that has a lot of relevance to Hurricane Katrina and the war in Iraq. I would hate to be so miserable and so filled with hate as these people seem to be. I kind of feel sorry for them.

[Argus]

A classic case of Bush Derangement Syndrome

Exactly. You gotta know it's Bush Derangement Syndrome when the anti-Bush zealots start attacking Laura Bush for things that happened when she was a teenager. Boy, that has a lot of relevance to Hurricane Katrina and the war in Iraq. I would hate to be so miserable and so filled with hate as these people seem to be. I kind of feel sorry for them.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I agree! Imagine considering a man's character when deciding how great a leader he'd be instead of just looking at his party affiliation! That's all any good wacko reactionary needs, after all!

[Shakeyhands]

Let's see: George Bush; coke sniffing, whore mongering, alcoholic party animal from high school until about 40, strong supporter of the Vietnam war, but got daddy to get him into the Texas national guard so he could avoid service, loved to walk around campus in his cowboy boots and flight jacket like a big man, still a strong supporter of the war - but safe from having to go there. Inherited his money, said poor people were just lazy. Convicted of drunk driving, lied repeatedly about it. Had one failed venture after another, always losing money, but being bailed out by companies owned by family friends. Eventually one of them let him buy a partnership in a baseball team for a song (he later sold it for 24 times that amount). Friends of the family bankrolled his run for governor (and their oil companies made huge profits from him therafter), then president (and their oil companies made and continue to make huge profits because of it). No known ideology. Spouts strong pro-life type messages he clearly doesn't believe in, just like daddy did. Rails against permissiveness and pre-marital sex now. Surrounded himself with crooks, zealots and nut cases. Married to a woman who ran a stop sign and killed her boyfriend in bizarre circumstances

Classic example of a rabid anti-Bush loonie. Thank you for proving my point. You're offically deemed irrelevant as are your "opinions", not to be mistaken from Moveon.org talking points.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

A classic case of Bush Derangement Syndrome.

Bush wears cowboy boots. Oh, the horror!

Did you notice he never said what channel broke the Bush DUI story days before the 2000 election? The *cough* Fox *cough* News *cough* Channel.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The only thing you could come up with in response to that is Cowboy boots? Who cares who broke the story on the DUI... The Republicans pulled the wool over the worlds eyes with this guy.

[Argus]

The only thing you could come up with in response to that is Cowboy boots?  Who cares who broke the story on the DUI... The Republicans pulled the wool over the worlds eyes with this guy.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The thing about the cowboy boots is the same as him wearing a military flight jacket - it's so friggin phony. Bush has a "ranch" for example, which has no cattle or horses. It's a country home! It's not a ranch! But they call it a ranch so it makes him seem like a rugged cowboy sort of guy. Likewise when he'd walk around in cowboy boots and flight jacket, Mr. hotshot pilot who dodged duty in vietnam but acted all gung ho about it, Mr. cowboy, whose servants no-doubt polished his boots - the boots his daddy paid for.

[Montgomery Burns]

Let's see: George Bush; coke sniffing, whore mongering, alcoholic party animal from high school until about 40, strong supporter of the Vietnam war, but got daddy to get him into the Texas national guard so he could avoid service, loved to walk around campus in his cowboy boots and flight jacket like a big man, still a strong supporter of the war - but safe from having to go there. Inherited his money, said poor people were just lazy. Convicted of drunk driving, lied repeatedly about it. Had one failed venture after another, always losing money, but being bailed out by companies owned by family friends. Eventually one of them let him buy a partnership in a baseball team for a song (he later sold it for 24 times that amount). Friends of the family bankrolled his run for governor (and their oil companies made huge profits from him therafter), then president (and their oil companies made and continue to make huge profits because of it). No known ideology. Spouts strong pro-life type messages he clearly doesn't believe in, just like daddy did. Rails against permissiveness and pre-marital sex now. Surrounded himself with crooks, zealots and nut cases. Married to a woman who ran a stop sign and killed her boyfriend in bizarre circumstances

Classic example of a rabid anti-Bush loonie. Thank you for proving my point. You're offically deemed irrelevant as are your "opinions", not to be mistaken from Moveon.org talking points.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

A classic case of Bush Derangement Syndrome.

Bush wears cowboy boots. Oh, the horror!

Did you notice he never said what channel broke the Bush DUI story days before the 2000 election? The *cough* Fox *cough* News *cough* Channel.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The only thing you could come up with in response to that is Cowboy boots? Who cares who broke the story on the DUI... The Republicans pulled the wool over the worlds eyes with this guy.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yep. All those 62 million Americans were stooopid and had the wool pulled over their eyes. If only they had listened to the liberal elitists and elected great men like Gore and Kerry. Just another example of why the peons need to be taxed heavily and have the liberal elitists spend their money for them. The American people are just too gosh-darned stooopid to know what is good for them.

Didn't they heed Michael Moore's wise words? Americans are the stooopidest people on earth.

Btw, I cursed out my neighbor down the street the other day. He has the nerve to wear cowboy boots and he doesn't own a farm or ranch. The bastard. :angry:

[Montgomery Burns]

Nagin: The worst Mayor ever

Appearing on NBC's "Dateline," Nagin was asked by host Stone Phillips: "What was mobilized? I mean were national guard troops in position. Were helicopters standing by? Were buses ready to take people away?"

"No. None of that," the Big Easy mayor replied.

"Why is that?" an incredulous Phillips asked.

Nagin replied: "I dont know. That is (a) question for somebody else."

The Louisiana Democrat didn't explain just who the "somebody else" was.

This is beyond pathetic. You have the mayor of New Orleans, THE MAYOR, admitting that he made no preparations whatsoever to evacuate his city after the hurricane. He had city buses that could have been used to evacuate the city before and after the hurricane. In fact they were supposed to be used for that purpose, but he didn't order that it be done. Then when he's asked about his gross incompetence, he says:

"I dont know. That is (a) question for somebody else."

And one top of that, he has now joined the race-baiting Democrats (and some others on this forum) claiming that it was racism on the part of the Bush administration.

No wonder these clowns are in the minority in the Senate, House of Representatives, governorships, and can't get in the White House.

[Shady]

I agree! Imagine considering a man's character when deciding how great a leader he'd be instead of just looking at his party affiliation!

So where exactly does Laura Bush's car accident fit into the equation? Answer, it doesn't. You're a rabid anti-Bush zealot. Plain and simple.

[Argus]

I agree! Imagine considering a man's character when deciding how great a leader he'd be instead of just looking at his party affiliation!

So where exactly does Laura Bush's car accident fit into the equation? Answer, it doesn't. You're a rabid anti-Bush zealot. Plain and simple.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I think it fits a pattern of the spoiled rich boy from the influential family being above the law marrying a spoiled rich girl from an influential family who was also above the law. And who might be a murderer. I mean, what are the odds you're speeding through a stop sign and run down your boyfriend? Coincidence? Maybe, but a very odd one.

[Shady]

Married to a woman who ran a stop sign and killed her boyfriend in bizarre circumstances. No one has explained exactly how and no charges were ever filed - clearly a woman with her own family influence

I guess the circumstances aren't so bizarre, you seem to have the whole case solved, eh? And why don't you share the information you have regarding Laura's family, since you seem to know so much about them.

[moderateamericain]

ive notice that not a single anti-bush advocate has addressed the original post, no, the only thing ive seen is attacks on the charachter of bush or attacks on the original poster. Is anyone going to actually address the main point?

http://www.mapleleafweb.com/forums/index.p...pic=3829&st=105

i made this post earlier, it goes into detail as to where the blame trully lies for this particualr event.

[Argus]

ive notice that not a single anti-bush advocate has addressed the original post, no, the only thing ive seen is attacks on the charachter of bush or attacks on the original poster.  Is anyone going to actually address the main point?

http://www.mapleleafweb.com/forums/index.p...pic=3829&st=105

i made this post earlier, it goes into detail as to where the blame trully lies for this particualr event.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I have responded to this on numerous occasions, to the effect that as this is a national forum and we know little or nothing about local politics in that part of the world we really can't say one way or the other. If local officials were at fault then they will be roasted by the local electorate. But regardless of their degree of guilt in this it does not erase the lousy job FEMA did. It does not take away from the fact that 5 of the top 8 positions in FEMA are Bush cronies with no experience with disaster relief. It does not excuse Bush slashing the budget for flood relief either.

In other words, it's irrelevent.