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The Tragedy of New Orleans (ingrained culture of political corruption in New Orleans)
WSJ/Opinion Journal ^ | Tuesday, August 29, 2006

Posted on 08/29/2006 3:57:58 AM PDT by IrishMike

"New Orleans has suffered from the trauma of three crises," says Louisiana Congressman Bobby Jindal. "First was the hurricane, second was the levees breaking and third has been the widespread incompetence of the federal, state and local government response. This has been a one-year case study in bureaucracy and red tape at its very worst."

Congressman Jindal's aptly stated charge of incompetence across all levels of government is the gentle assessment. Here, on the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, are the views of prominent Democrats:

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, touring New Orleans: "What is needed in New Orleans is public works projects." Senator Hillary Clinton, from a church in Harlem: "Our leadership has turned its back on those people who still need us."

Turned its back? As the chart nearby indicates, Congress has approved $122.5 billion for the Gulf Region, a figure incomprehensible in size to anyone but, well, a politician. The real wonder is that anyone is surprised, much less feigning surprise, that things are going poorly.

New Orleans' plight is not the result of federal underspending. Uncle Sam has spent some five times more on Katrina relief than any other natural disaster in the past 50 years. Both parties in Congress and the White House opted for the status quo by relying on federal bureaucracies to oversee the rebuilding effort. If Uncle Sam were deliberately trying to waste these funds, it is hard to imagine a better way than to funnel the money through the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Small Business Administration and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Both HUD and the SBA have been on the chopping block back to the early Reagan years. ..........................

(Excerpt) Read more at opinionjournal.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Crime/Corruption; Editorial; Government; News/Current Events; US: Louisiana
KEYWORDS: blanco; bobbyjindal; bush; clinton; congress; corruption; gangs; hurricane; hurricanes; katrina; media; mediabias; nagin; neworleans; no; senate; tax; taxes; welfare; wod
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1 posted on 08/29/2006 3:58:00 AM PDT by IrishMike
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To: All

Another article..............

THE REAL LESSON OF
KATRINA
August 29, 2006 --
http://www.nypost.com/postopinion/opedcolumnists/the_real_lesson_of_katrina_opedcolumnists_nicole_gelinas.htm
Nicole Gelinas ... New York Post



2 posted on 08/29/2006 4:01:59 AM PDT by IrishMike (Democrats .... Stuck on Stupid, RINO's ...the most vicious judas goats)
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To: IrishMike
Turned its back? As the chart nearby indicates, Congress has approved $122.5 billion for the Gulf Region, a figure incomprehensible in size to anyone but, well, a politician. The real wonder is that anyone is surprised, much less feigning surprise, that things are going poorly

LOL. Me thinks the US has hit the....."a democracy that votes itself freestuff"....stage.....If I remember correctly the next stage of a democracy is "downfall"...

3 posted on 08/29/2006 4:05:02 AM PDT by ScreamingFist (Annihilation - The result of underestimating your enemies. NRA)
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To: IrishMike

A bit of pandering for votes by Jindal. Wouldn't be good to put the blame squarely where it belongs. On the ages old corruption of the elected officials in Louisiana and the morally bankrupt citizens who voted for those officials.


4 posted on 08/29/2006 4:09:02 AM PDT by OldFriend (I Pledge Allegiance to the Flag.....and My Heart to the Soldier Who Protects It.)
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To: ScreamingFist

Katrina spending is five times larger than past disasters.


5 posted on 08/29/2006 4:09:24 AM PDT by IrishMike (Democrats .... Stuck on Stupid, RINO's ...the most vicious judas goats)
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To: IrishMike
As a taxpayer, tragedy is not the word I'd use. I'd call it a rip-off.
6 posted on 08/29/2006 4:11:42 AM PDT by mewzilla (Property must be secured or liberty cannot exist. John Adams)
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To: IrishMike

Democrats love corruption. That's the only way they can get power and hold public offices. As Rush says, if they told the truth they'd never get elected.


7 posted on 08/29/2006 4:12:44 AM PDT by Savage Beast (9/11 was never repeated--thanks to President George Bush.)
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To: Savage Beast

Not un like some inner city slums where crime, crack, political and police corruption, failure of schools is the norm. Peoples failures and misfortune is the backbone of the democratic party.

The Gaza strip sounds like New Orleans ?????



8 posted on 08/29/2006 4:14:33 AM PDT by IrishMike (Democrats .... Stuck on Stupid, RINO's ...the most vicious judas goats)
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To: IrishMike
Katrina spending is five times larger than past disasters.

Oh yes.....and I heard on the radio today that the Louisiana politicians are already lobbying for more FEMA money....which expires.....next August! 2007.....boo hoo, 3 years isn't enough....boo hoo....

9 posted on 08/29/2006 4:17:48 AM PDT by ScreamingFist (Annihilation - The result of underestimating your enemies. NRA)
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To: IrishMike

Oh yeah. Nailed it.


10 posted on 08/29/2006 4:24:18 AM PDT by SueRae
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To: IrishMike

There is no sense in rebuilding New Orleans until a Plastic waterproof bubble can be installed over and around all the sections that are already below sea level. Much like an undersea city.

Mistakes have certainly been made. Dems cried for immediate asistance. $2,000 credit cards were issued.
Dems called for immediate assistance. Contracts were issued without bids.Dems called for immediate asistance ,money was poured in.

Dems called for immediate asistance, then they cried about the mistakes that were made in the rush.Dems cried for immediate assistance , but they didnt have a clue what to do and still dont , but they do one thing really well.

They criticise, piss and moan constantly. They still dont have a clue.


11 posted on 08/29/2006 4:32:32 AM PDT by sgtbono2002 (The fourth estate is a fifth column.)
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To: IrishMike

"Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid"???

Did he get a promotion or perhaps just Freudian wishful thinking on the writer's part?


12 posted on 08/29/2006 4:41:24 AM PDT by horton
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To: Savage Beast

Democrats=ever dead voter counts.


13 posted on 08/29/2006 4:46:02 AM PDT by GeorgefromGeorgia
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To: IrishMike
"The Gaza strip sounds like New Orleans ????? "

Unlike New Orleans, the gaza Strip has at least one former occupant who was honest.

14 posted on 08/29/2006 4:59:12 AM PDT by Cvengr
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To: IrishMike

Mississippi was devastated too, but they had competent state and local leadership.


15 posted on 08/29/2006 5:00:27 AM PDT by cvq3842
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To: IrishMike
Katrina spending is five times larger than past disasters.

Yep, and the rest of the Gulf Coast is busy recovering while New Orleans sits with a clueless Mayor with no plan for rebuilding waiting on more handouts from the Feds.....

16 posted on 08/29/2006 5:03:04 AM PDT by Thermalseeker
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To: horton

"Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid"???

Did he get a promotion or perhaps just Freudian wishful thinking on the writer's part?
.
.
.
.
I never spotted that.
Like the talk of the 'cat woman' Pelosi picking drapes.



17 posted on 08/29/2006 5:06:54 AM PDT by IrishMike (Democrats .... Stuck on Stupid, RINO's ...the most vicious judas goats)
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To: ScreamingFist
Oh yes.....and I heard on the radio today that the Louisiana politicians are already lobbying for more FEMA money

See this article. Louisiana Senator, Mary Landrieu (D), is presently asking the Congress for $250 BILLION to rebuild New Orleans

New Orleans rebuilding request...something to think about

18 posted on 08/29/2006 5:10:06 AM PDT by Arrowhead1952 (The media and the democrats are the biggest supporters of the terrorists.)
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To: Cvengr

Unlike New Orleans, the gaza Strip has at least one former occupant who was honest.

.
.
.
Who was that ?


19 posted on 08/29/2006 5:10:39 AM PDT by IrishMike (Democrats .... Stuck on Stupid, RINO's ...the most vicious judas goats)
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To: cvq3842

.... but they had competent state and local leadership.
.
.
.


Republican Governor Barber, and he probably doesn't take naps to relieve stress.


20 posted on 08/29/2006 5:12:29 AM PDT by IrishMike (Democrats .... Stuck on Stupid, RINO's ...the most vicious judas goats)
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