Not wanting to be sexist so it is only fair to point out that the mayor of New Orleans has busted out bawling several times during this crisis.
One of the jobs I had as a senior NCO was to keep an eye on my officers. One young captain, a fine man who I would follow in to battle to this day, had reached a breaking point due to stress and exhaustion. When I saw what was coming, I got him to a private place where he could lose it out of sight of the troops. He regained his composure and the rank and file still had the myth of the CO as an "iron man" to follow.
Perhaps some of these political types could use an old sergeant on the staff.
You are right, every man has his limit. It just seems though that with these malfeasant losers they reached their limit before they started. Way too defensive, way too early. Hell, it's only been six days.
They all know--including the police who have booked--that they have f*ed up bigtime from top to bottom; years of collusion, corruption, and willful negligence are coming home to roost.
Good for you.
It is essential to have a heart and a soul. But there are times when, in order to survive, you must not wear it on your sleeve. The President actually does a heck of a job at this, and he is a very emotional man.
M1911A1,
I do not know you, but your actions are those of a mature, compassionate, and highly qualified Leader(NCO)
Rocking Steady Always Ready,
NSNR-USASRT
I think you are right. Some of us prior service types were chatting the other day, and to a man and woman noted the distinct lack of leadership from those local and state types. We agreed that it is possible that not only didn't they exercise good leadership, they peobably couldn't define leadership.
When the military finally gets there in force, the situation changes for the better. Say what you want about the chain of command, but it is still in place because it works.
The Governor failed and the mayor failed and they failed first. Yes, there is plenty of blame to go around, but the primary responsibility were the local emergency managers, the mayors, the city councilmen, and the governors.
Local and state authority lie in the hands of the mayor via the governor.
The Senator in question here IMO is trying to cover the hole the entire state government dug for themselves.
Perhaps, as with any disaster, there are a few silver linings to the clouds. NO will never be the same, the old political machine is in pieces. If the greater majority of the people of Lousiana have any courage, they will throw this bunch out and start over.