Saturday, September 10, 2005

Kathleen Blanco Didn't Even Know What to Ask of FEMA

Even though the NY Times does its best to cast the Bush administration in a bad light, this story is quite illuminating.
For example, there's this line: " By the time the last buses arrived on Saturday, he said, some children were so dehydrated that guardsmen had to carry them out, and several adults died while walking to the buses. State officials said Saturday that a total of 10 people died in the Superdome."
This, after governor Blanco prevented the Red Cross from delivering food and water to the Superdome.

And this line: " When the water rose, the state began scrambling to find buses. Officials pleaded with various parishes across the state for school buses. But by Tuesday, Aug. 30, as news reports of looting and violence appeared, local officials began resisting.
Governor Blanco said the bus drivers, many of them women, "got afraid to drive. So then we looked for somebody of authority to drive the school buses."

So, it's the fault of fraidy-cat women that those buses were left unused?

Here's another good Blanco line: "Ms. Blanco, in an interview this week, said she had been frantic as conditions grew more perilous. "We went from early morning to late night, day after day, after day, after day. Trying to make critical decisions," she said. "Trying to get product in, resources, where does the food come from. Learning the supply network."

She said she didn't always know exactly what to request. "Do we stop and think about it?" she asked. "We just stop and think about help."

So, it's George Bush's fault that he didn't immediately provide what Kathleen Blanco didn't know she needed? If she doesn't know what she needs, how is Bush supposed to know? Is he just supposed to send everything?

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