[GraniteStateConservative]

Bush made this a federal issue. Take your complaint up with him. He declared a state of emergency in Louisiana on SATURDAY! He knew what was about to happen to the Gulf. Bush has the authority to mobilize the NG for national emergencies (The National Defense Act of 1916), and a hit to NOLA is a national emergency.

[niteowl77]

You are now reverting to semantics in your pursuit of this line (only after patronizing me with that James Madison remark, I might add).

[DAC21]

"Bush has the authority to mobilize the NG for national emergencies (The National Defense Act of 1916), and a hit to NOLA is a national emergency"


Sure just like Pearl Harbor, line those planes up nice and pretty, like ducks in a barrel. The debate will go on about whether the President had the authority to mobilize the NG, or for that matter the Gov. But should they have been? Have all the resources sitting ready and thus have them wiped out also?

The fact of the matter is the problem was logistics. The Gov. / Mayor and local authority need to be the first responders, and thus communicate with some degree of competence what they need and were they needed it. Time will tell if that happened. And even if it did, getting into the city (other than by helicopter) was without a doubt was a daunting task.

[RedMonqey]

Even in an emergency, Bush must follow the LAW.

It seems what you want Bush to be is an law unto himself.

In other words, a DICTATOR!

[Truthsayer20]

I found this on another thread: Shortly before midnight Friday, the Bush administration sent her a proposed legal memorandum asking her to request a federal takeover of the evacuation of New Orleans, a source within the state's emergency operations center said Saturday.

The administration sought unified control over all local police and state National Guard units reporting to the governor. Louisiana officials rejected the request after talks throughout the night, concerned that such a move would be comparable to a federal declaration of martial law.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/03/AR2005090301680.html

It seems, after all, it was the local Democrats that dropped the ball. However, Bush should have declared martial law and have the inept Governor thrown out on the street. However, I don't want hear one word from the media, Democrats or anyone else about the inaction of Bush if Louisiana on purpose delayed federalization of the issue.