Democrat Head of Jefferson Parish Accuses Federal Government of "Murdering" Thousands

CNN | governsleast governsbest

[q_an_a]

as he told the story of how "My government officals worked to patch a levee. We kept telling the people in the nursing home day after day that help would come, but when we finished the levee and got to the home the mother of our project manager had died." Does this civic leader realize that he had a choice save the nursing home or the levee and he chose the levee. People want to blame others for their choices.

[FarmerW]

I was doing a little searching too. It wasn't just a colleague it was The guy who runs this building I'm in, emergency management, he's responsible for everything.

So can't we figure out who that is?

Is it this man?

The levees of New Orleans, two of which are now broken and flooding the city, were also victims of Iraq war spending. Walter Maestri, emergency management chief for Jefferson Parish, said on June 8, 2004, "It appears that the money has been moved in the president's budget to handle homeland security and the war in Iraq."

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2002472647_ivins05.html

No idea why he would say it back in june of last year, but is this the guy who's mother died? If he is, why isn't anyone interviewing him?

[Rockingham]

In fairness to Aaron Broussard, in the same or another interview, he completely broke down in describing the death of the mother of one of his officers. The poor woman called her son day after day begging for rescue, and the son told her again and again that rescue was on the way. Finally, when the son went to rescue his mother himself, he found her dead by drowning.

Multiply such tragedies by the dozens if not hundreds, among people whom one knows and is responsible for, and one cannot be anything other than emotional, bitter, and inclined to find fault. Katrina was not an earthquake striking suddenly in the night, but was as well-advertised in advance of arrival as any Hollywood blockbuster; and New Orleans' vulnerabilities were better known than even the pre-9/11 declarations of Islamic terrorists that we were their targets.

With a record cat four hurricane and a deadly storm surge on the way, did any public official anywhere say something like: "Get at least five miles away from the coast and out of low-lying areas even if you have to walk to do it. If you do not, get ready to die. Call your family and tell them goodbye because you will be dead within hours." All of that was true, but no public servant wanted to be held responsible for a panic, which is another way of saying that the weak, slow, and inattentive were expendable.

Why did New Orleans and state government ignore their own emergency plans and not use municipal and school buses to evacuate people before the storm arrived? Why wasn't there a stockpile of john boats ready for use on flooded streets? Why weren't food stocks and essential supplies commandeered and used by police and local officials before or immediately after the storm?

Why weren't people allowed to keep their pets and a few possessions so as to better coax them into evacuation? Surely enough portable pet carriers and plastic boxes could have been bought or commandeered. Why not take over hotels for the temporary shelter of the most vulnerable after the storm? Even without power and water, with windows blown out, they would have been out of the sun and more secure than on the open street or in the menacing, criminal infested crowds at the Super Dome and Civic Center.

Why not deputize responsible looking citizens, give them armbands, and use them as auxiliaries to help gather and distribute supplies, keep order and rescue people? Would it really be all that hard for even a white guy in army fatigues or with a badge to pick out solid looking Black men with wives and kids and ask them to help? Why not use food, beverages, battery powered TVs, radios, and CD players to pacify the restive crowds sheltering in the Super Dome and Civic Center?

If you do not want to shoot looters, why not grab them and cuff them to a heavy or anchored fixture? Not enough cuffs? Use jail restraints and chains and padlocks. Even wandering loose, a looter with ten pounds of chains triple padlocked around him will not be very energetic or inclined to further mischief.

All of those things and much more would have occurred to police, national guard, and other authorities on the scene, but potential leaders failed to act because they did not have orders. In modern, bureaucratized, litigation happy, welfare state America, you can get fired, sued, or even prosecuted for disobeying orders or acting without orders, but you do not get fired or prosecuted if you follow orders or wait for orders and let people die.

Fully warned, and technologically and materially equipped as we were for Katrina, frontier America and the America of a generation ago that still cultivated self-reliance and individual responsibility would have dealt far more effectively than we did with a severe hurricane and its aftermath. Abstract thought is the domain of educated elites and often leads them astray, but practical action is a nearly universal human ability. Yet, over the last generation, we Americans have diminished our collective capacity for practical action even in the most severe crisis.

Immediately after the storm, did Mayor Nagin, Governor Blanco, FEMA head Brown, or President Bush go on TV and say anything like: "This storm has done terrible damage. Government at all levels is moving quickly to help, but no one with authority or resources should wait for orders if that is all that you are waiting for. Saving lives is the first priority. Do not wait. Act now."

In addition to the fault that is attributable to state and local officials, Bush must bear blame for hiring as head of FEMA Michael Brown, a poorly qualified crony of a crony. Just how does 11 years running a judging program for show horses qualify one to become head of FEMA?

Despite being eventually fired from that gig for supposed incompetence, Michael Brown found high positions in FEMA at the elbow of college roommate Joe Allbaugh, Bush's chief of staff as Texas Governor and his 2000 campaign manager. Promoted to head FEMA when Allbaugh departed for the 2004 campaign, Michael Brown now looks like another Bernard Kerik, waved through the background check despite easily findable flaws. Hiring cronies and loyalists at top positions in government is an acceptable, even essential practice, but they have to be capable and free of politically disabling personal and career blemishes -- or at least that is how it works for Republicans.

Bush's public comments and attitude have also been off the mark in regard to Katrina, with his trademark halting, casual, even lackadaisical manner on view. Too often, Bush's good qualities are obscured and he seems to be coasting and passive, with a built-in smirk that suggests arrogance.

At high levels in politics, every public appearance is the equivalent of a first date, with seeming flaws and lapses judged harshly. There is no changing that by saying that the news media are being shallow and unfair, as they almost always are to Republicans. In large part, that is because the public is shallow and unfair and the media use that to further their own biases and program.

Bush at times seems to not fully grasp the nature of his office and what the public expects of him. Bush often sounds like the federal bureaucrat-in-chief instead of the public's representative against bureaucracy. Where Reagan, even as president, used to tell jokes denigrating the federal bureaucracy and government programs, Bush seems to want to cuddle and tout their virtues, a dutiful son praising the family line of work.

No matter the stakes involved in evacuation and rescue in a disaster, FEMA is a federal bureaucracy. Unless it beats the odds and has exceptional leadership, good planning, adequate budget, and luck, it will falter and people will die as a result. That seems to have happened here, as even Bush and Republican officeholders on the scene have been driven to admit.

In the end, despite the unnecessary loss of life, Bush will probably and foolishly stand by Michael Brown, just as he kept George Tennet in place at CIA after 9/11. Hearings and likely a commission will spread blame around so as to diminish public anger against government lapses. As with any con, government must keep the marks distracted lest they start to think for themselves.

Conservatives ought not to expend much effort defending FEMA the Bush administration as they are fully capable of defending themselves. Instead, we should press the larger point again and again: after failing to prevent the 9/11 attacks, to fully warn and evacuate before a major hurricane, to maintain order, and to timely rescue the survivors, why should anyone with a lick of sense trust large bureaucracies to deliver the mail, fund and deliver health care, educate children, "save" social security, defend the borders, or accomplish anything else important?

We are often -- no, far too often -- forced to fund and depend on dysfunctional and predatory government bureaucracies of one sort or another, but we are fools to ever genuinely trust any bureaucracy. When something important is on the line, such as your life, or the life of someone you care about, fend for yourself. Any help from government is a lucky something extra.

When the water is rising -- and this is an era of rising waters -- do not be like Aaron Broussard's officer or so many thousands in New Orleans thinking that FEMA or anyone else in government can be counted on to rescue you and your family. Be vigilant. Be prepared. You and yours are on your own.

[Mark17]

Democrat Head of Jefferson Parish Accuses Federal Government of "Murdering" Thousands

He should try to be a little more original. Doesn't he realize that other demon rats have been saying this for years?

[FarmerW]

In fairness to Aaron Broussard, in the same or another interview, he completely broke down in describing the death of the mother of one of his officers. The poor woman called her son day after day begging for rescue, and the son told her again and again that rescue was on the way. Finally, when the son went to rescue his mother himself, he found her dead by drowning.

In fariness to truth, that is an unverified story Broussard is telling about his emergency manager. I can't find anyone has heard this story from the Emergency Manager of Jefferson Parish.

I am not prone to believe someone that spouts off about forming his own country of Jeffersonia.

[Rockingham]

True or not, the man surely believes it, and no doubt many have died waiting in vain for rescue.

[ru4liberty]

Thanks for all you do to keep us up to date. I missed this today, and it's an important piece of news. Please feel free to ping me when you have any important news coverage story from any source.

[television is just wrong]

There was a segment of the population trapped.

There was a segmment of the population no matter what REFUSED TO LEAVE.

There also was a segment of the population who got the heck out of town.

You cannot save stupid people from their fate.

[FarmerW]

No idea if he believes, he just sounds a little nutty. Shock perhaps, libelism maybe. I just wish the MSM would stop putting second, third-hand reports without bothering to even try and verify them. Not the slightest attempt of even asking names.

What is sadly very true is what you say about many have died waiting in vain.

Our prayers with them and their families.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

My pleasure, ru4. As you know, while the ping list is normally for Today show threads, I occasionally take the liberty of passing along other items, and will continue to do so.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Very well put.

On the local TV talk show I host, I interviewed last week the head of our county's emergency response department.

He said that the rule of thumb is that in a widespread diaster citizens should be prepared to take care of themselves for the first 72 hours, and should not expect rescue before then.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

See first word in headline of thread ;-)

[TennTuxedo]

Here is an email from a hurricane chopper relief pilot sent to me from this pilot's good friend and a resident of New Orleans who did evacuate the city ahead of the hurricane hitting land.

" A note from a friend running choppers in Louisiana.... No words to describe what I have seen. Much like Vietnam, but I wish to tell you all..the negative media can kiss my ass. I have seen miraculous and heroic action like you have never seen.

DO NOT listen to the negative media. They look to sensationalize and place blame. The sequence of events could not have been forseen and it was a minute by minute crisis like this country has never seen.

God bless the people who have served and God Bless the best damn military in the world and God Bless our President. He has shown strong leadership and screw the naysayers who try to politicize this issue..they have no damn clue..none.

I can tell you I have seen things I have never seen or thought possible and the good that is being done far, far outweighs the negative crap you see from media. Those magnificent ####s are getting it done and they are doing it without a road map. You adapt and you roll.

Put the damn petty politics aside and pitch in and support these wonderful men and women. There will be many books written and history will tell the real story. The cream has risen to the top and I have seen it firsthand and these people of New Orleans have cried in my arms thanking us and I can assure you that there will be a changing of their hearts of many when all this is said and done and they reflect back on the events.

A special thanks to the people of Lafayette and Baton Rouge. My crews say they have never seen such wonderful people in their lives. LSU coeds greeted us when we landed at Ryan field and Bernie Moore with food and water and tearful hugs and it meant so much to our haggared crews and pilots. We have been pushed to our limits but our crews never stopped and often we threw the rule book out the window. We just get it done. I have never done such flying in my life and I am so grateful I knew the lay of the land and was able to help our crews and the dozens of other crews. I have witnessed so much heroism and sacrifice. So many stories..real stories and the media needs to tell it to the American people.

Do not dispair...America and their people are strong and no other country in the world could have done what I have witnessed. This country will be so much stronger and do not let the few bring it down.

God Bless President Bush. I do not care what your politics are...but this man has and is showing leadership and I have witnessed it firsthand and I don't give a damn if John Kennedy or Abraham Lincoln or FDR was President...no one could have foretold the scope of this event and what it would entail...but by the grace of God it is getting done.

As I walked thropugh triage and smelled the death and saw the magnificent work being done under horrible conditions that are beyond description..I stopped to check on an elderly 80 year old lady sitting alone in a corner..she looked at me and smiled. She looked near death and I walked to her and asked if she was OK. She said she was dying, but that was OK..she welcomed the peace and seeing her God. She took my hand and said, "God Bless you and save all you can. God protects the saviors."

I tried to say something, but the words would not come out as my throat tightned and tears came into my eyes. I have not cried in 40 years, but I could not stop the tears from my eyes. I gathered my crew and went back to my mission. I told my crew we had to put on our game face and when we lost people..we just lost them. We had to keep on going. I am glad they did not see my tears.

Keep the faith and we as a people will be stronger. This country and it's people are magnificent. Absolutely magnificent.

Got to get some sleep. Later"

[governsleastgovernsbest]

What a beautiful, important message. I hope it is getting more attention than it will as a reply here. If you haven't already, I'd encourage you to post it as a separate thread, and, with your friend's permission, get it out to your local media, etc.

[Rebelbase]

[Rockingham]

That's about the size of it. I was visiting family in Orlando last year and stayed through Hurricane Charley. We escaped structural damage but were without electricity for five days, telephone for ten, and cable for six weeks. Even with running water, abundant supplies, and a pantry full of food, without electric power, we were bored to tears and utterly miserable in the heat of summer.

Mercifully, despite the massive tree fall and loss of power in the area, there were restaurants, stores, gas stations, malls, and movie theaters within a mile that never lost power. The night after the storm hit, my brother and I ate at Hooters and saw a movie.

The first free ice, water, and tarp distribution did not start until more than two days after the storm. Much essential tree clearing to make neighborhood streets passable was begun in the first daylight hours after the storm by guys with chainsaws, with boys dragging branches and women and girls passing out refreshments and cooking meals on barbeques. The extent of cheerful, productive energy and self-organization was remarkable.

Except for the levee breaches, New Orleans would probably have coped reasonably well. When I went to college there, I was shocked at first to learn of how vulnerable the city was, with the canal levees and pumping system seen as the weak points. Everyone knew the danger, and I am staggered to see how unprepared the city was. Then again, considering how New Orleans is, I know better than to be surprised.

[an amused spectator]

I just caught an interview on CNN of Aaron Broussard, a Democrat who is the President of Jefferson Parish, Lousiana.

Aaron Broussard is at the very least emotionally unstable. I watched him on "Meet The Demmy Press" on Sunday, and he broke down on camera while attacking Bush.

Of course, Timmy "The Demmy" Russert forgot to mention that Broussard is a Democrat...

[ladyinred]

I am starting to think these remarks are being faxed out by someone high in the rat party.