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September 9, 2005
Blanco's Insurrection - It's time to act!
For days now, Major Garrett of Fox News has been reporting that it was the STATE OF LOUISIANA that refused to allow food and water from the Red Cross THAT WAS READY TO BE DELIVERED IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE HURRICANES PASSAGE to the throngs who congregated there to await evactuation.
HUME: Standing by, ready. Why didn’t FEMA send the Red Cross into New Orleans when we had all of those people there on that bridge overpass and elsewhere?GARRETT: At the Superdome (search), at the convention center...
HUME: Lack of water, right. Why not?
GARRETT: First of all, no jurisdiction. FEMA works with the Red Cross, the Salvation Army, and other organizations, but it has no direct control to order them to go one place or the other.
Secondarily, the Red Cross was ready. I just got off the phone with one of their officials. They had a vanguard, Brit, of trucks with water, food, hygiene equipment, all sorts of things ready to go, where? To the Superdome and the convention center.
Why weren’t they there? The Louisiana Department of Homeland Security told them they could not go.
HUME: Now, this is the Louisiana — this isn’t the Louisiana branch of the federal Homeland Security? This is...
GARRETT: The state’s own agency devoted to the state’s homeland security. They told them, "You cannot go there."
Why? The Red Cross tells me that state agency in Louisiana said, "Look, we do not want to create a magnet for more to come to the Superdome or the convention center. We want to get them out."
So at the same time local officials were screaming, "Where is the food? Where is the water?" The Red Cross was standing by ready. The Louisiana Department of Homeland Security said, "You can’t go."
Now I know that Moonbats out there will holla "How can you trust Faux News, they're on the Bushco payroll!!!"
How bout I just link to the RED CROSS THEMSELVES:
The state Homeland Security Department had requested--and continues to request--that the American Red Cross not come back into New Orleans following the hurricane. Our presence would keep people from evacuating and encourage others to come into the city. [Emphasis, mine]
The irony here is just tragic. But wait, it gets better. Beyond Blanco's refusal to allow the Red Cross to provide food and water, we have the evacuation issue.
SO. . .The State of Louisiana (read Governor Blanco) wanted people to leave the city. The mayor and governor jointly ordered an evacuation after being urged to by President Bush, so the wanted to get people out and had the buses to get people out, and didn't want the Red Cross to deliver food and water to those at the Dome and Convention center because they wanted to get the people out.
Do you get it yet, the City and State say they wanted to get people out. YET!!!! The buses that were supposed to GET THE PEOPLE OUT were left standing, unused. Now lets add some insult to injury, more than 24 hours after the storm passes, the 17th street levee breaks, but Nagin and Blanco STILL DON'T USE THE BUSES and eventually they are flooded. Now we've got a HUGE mess on our hands and people are trapped.
So now it's up to the FEDS to get the people out, and the Governor REFUSES to allow the FEDS to take over and GET THE PEOPLE OUT. So people suffer and the entire evacuation effort falls into chaos.
FINALLY, Blanco gives permission and the FEDS roll in and pull people out of the dome and the convention center.
But wait, it gets better.
Now we have a toxic soup in most of New Orleans due to the flooding. The water is so toxic that in some areas, simply getting the water on your skin can lead to death, in others, exposure will cause chemical burns to exposed skin.
The mayor has now ordered a FORCED evacuation citing public health concerns (that's good epidemiology folks, anyone who stays stands a good chance of becomeing a vector for some of the worlds most deadliest diseases), BUT GOVERNOR BLANCO REFUSES TO AUTHORIZE THE EVACUATION!!!! (At the time of this writing she has yet to authorize it.)
Gov. Kathleen Blanco said she was the only person who could call for such action as the National Guard reports to her. Blanco said she did not want to "put more grief on people" by ordering them to leave, noting that some may have everything they need.
***I'm sorry Governor, but NO ONE, short of those with specific training to work in biologically and chemically hazardous environments has "everything they need" to ensure their safety in the toxic soup that is New Orleans, and NO ONE with said training would choose to remain LIVING in said toxic soup.***
Let's recap a moment, the Governor wanted people out, but REFUSED FOR DAYS to allow the feds to get people out, while also refusing them food and water. All the while Gov. Blanco was screaming that she needed help to get the people out, she was preventing the federal government from getting them out. Now, when the situation is FAR MORE DIRE, and Gov. Blanco is refusing to allow the National Guard under HER CONTROL to take people out of the city by force if need be.
Keep in mind that staying in New Orleans presents a VERY REAL HEALTH RISK, not only to those who stay, but anyone that they may come in contact with in the future.
I'm starting to agree with the moonbats now. Not on who's to blame, but rather that George Bush needs to push Gov. Blanco aside and disregard the authority of the state.
I'm not advocating that Bush violate "posse comitatus", not at all. I will always support the authority of the State government until such time as that authority works directly against the Constitution or threatens the life of U.S. citizens. What I am now advocating, in light of Governor Blanco's blatant disregard for the safety and security of the citizens of New Orleans, is that Bush invoke the powers of the Insurrection Act to invalidate Gov. Blanco's authority in the State of Louisiana.
It's quite obvious that Blanco is working DIRECTLY AGAINST THE INTERESTS AND NEEDS OF HER CITIZENS. It's evident that Blanco is incompetant, negligent, directly responsible for the death of Louisiana citizens and directly endangering the lives of citizens still remaining in New Orleans.
U.S. CODE, TITLE 10, SUBTITLE A, PART I, CHAPTER 15, § 333:
The President, by using the militia or the armed forces, or both, or by any other means, shall take such measures as he considers necessary to suppress, in a State, any insurrection, domestic violence, unlawful combination, or conspiracy, if it—(1) so hinders the execution of the laws of that State, and of the United States within the State, that any part or class of its people is deprived of a right, privilege, immunity, or protection named in the Constitution and secured by law, and the constituted authorities of that State are unable, fail, or refuse to protect that right, privilege, or immunity, or to give that protection; or
(2) opposes or obstructs the execution of the laws of the United States or impedes the course of justice under those laws.
In any situation covered by clause (1), the State shall be considered to have denied the equal protection of the laws secured by the Constitution.
I'm not a lawyer, but I knew about the Insurrection Act and googled the text. Until now, I don't think there has been sufficient evidence to invoke it's provisions. However, it's now clear to me that Governor Blanco is violating and has violated both of the code's cited provisions. Those who remain are certainly being denied the protection of the Federal Government with regard to the toxic soup that surrounds them, AND Gov. Blanco certainly appears to be obstructing the evacuation of citizens from the disaster zone.
While I would NEVER support a violation of "posse comitatus", things are getting further and further out of hand due to Governor Blanco's actions. It's time she be taken out of the equasion by using the powers contained in the Insurrection Act.
People need to realize that those attempting to remain in New Orleans pose a significant epidemiological risk not only to themselves, but to anyone who comes in contact with infected persons. Through her stonewalling, obstruction and incompetance, Blanco is putting hundreds, if not thousands of lives at risk.
--Jason
Posted by JasonColeman at September 9, 2005 2:12 AM
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» Go Home Red Cross from The Crazy Rants of Samantha Burns
GO. READ. THIS. NOW. I detest and hate the whole blame game, but this is just beyond moronic. Let's starve the people out of the superdome. You Red Cross with your food, go back to where you came from, eh?... [Read More]
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Comments
If this is true, then it is truly outrageous.
I wish they'd elected Bobby Jindal...
Posted by: Aakash at September 9, 2005 5:59 PM
BLANCO NEED TO GO NOW. She must not pass go and must not collect 200.00 . Need I say more ??
Posted by: ! at September 9, 2005 9:03 PM
Jason, thank you for your interest on this as a few of us earlier @ RVW did try to find Gov Blanco irresponsible for her actions considering, the Federal State of Emergency supports LA's State of Emergency and Pres Bush went ahead enforing the Insurrection Act.
Don't know if there is a political motive on Gov Blanco's part, however what has happen to the life of the citizens in NO, its criminal. It has been said the root of corruption in the State of LA, its deep.
Posted by: *flo* at September 9, 2005 11:38 PM
This blows me away. I'll definitely be looking into these links and more in Gov Blanco.
Posted by: Ada at September 10, 2005 12:46 AM
Welcome to Louisiana government! Corrupt and inept in the extreme. Having lived there, I'm familiar with how south Louisiana specifically seems to be it's own little world and functions accordingly. Now the rest of the US is witnessing that-unfortunately at an extremely high price. I hope that Blanco is removed-her inability to handle what was coming seemed evident even before the storm hit. I do wonder if she was a puppet figure for a select few in Baton Rouge. Just a thought.
Posted by: Shannon at September 10, 2005 9:47 AM
Posted by: Ada at September 10, 2005 12:46 AM
Welcome to Louisiana government! Corrupt and inept in the extreme. Having lived there, I'm familiar with how south Louisiana specifically seems to be it's own little world and functions accordingly. Now the rest of the US is witnessing that-unfortunately at an extremely high price. I hope that Blanco is removed-her inability to handle what was coming seemed evident even before the storm hit. I do wonder if she was a puppet figure for a select few in Baton Rouge. Just a thought.
Ada - I couldn't have said it better. Please include the Mayor of NO, he sat around for quite a while too. What a horrible mess for these unsuspecting residents. And they thought that they were being taken care of.
Posted by: moey at September 10, 2005 5:54 PM
Pointing the finger is just wrong at this stage in the game, but... at the risk of sounding childish, they started it. And if I were them, I would've made damn sure I'd done everything in my power before I started laying the blame on others. The responsibility lies first and foremost with the Levee Board and Mayor Nagin in New Orleans, and then goes to Governor Blanco. Before this is all said and done with, I think they're gonna be the ones with a hell of a lot of questions to answer to the people of New Orleans. These are elected government officials who were entrusted with the care of the entire city - AND THEY FAILED MISERABLY!! They should have used the busses at their disposal to get people out of there -- beginning Friday night! What the hell were they thinking?!?! And then to not let the Red Cross in -- how asinine! The whole thing pisses me off to no end. The loss of life, the loss of the history of that beautiful city, the loss of everything those people owned in this world... it's simply inexcusable! I'm done with my soapbox now, someone else care to take a turn??
Posted by: Zoe at September 11, 2005 4:37 PM
I can't quite think of any reason for censoring my comments, except you realize your flawed logic. You are still extremely misinformed about the nature of The Insurrection Act. You are seeing what you choose to see, not the truth.
Posted by: Mountain Girl at September 14, 2005 5:45 PM
Mountain Girl,
What your failing to realize is that I never suggested that Bush use the Insurrection Act, YOU DID, in fact, by suggesting that Bush enter the city of New Orleans or the State of Louisiana in violation of posse comitatus. There are but two ways that a president can put federal troops or troops from another state National Guard into a state. First, the permission can be given by the governor of the state, which was not done until late Wednesday evening after the 17th St. levee broke. The only other way a President can do this is by invoking the Insurrection Act.
There is no other legal means, short of an authorization from Congress (which was on vacation) that a President can put troops into a state. You suggested that Bush should have put troops in sooner, since you fail to recognize that Blanco stonewalled this (despite her own words), you must be referring to the Insurrection Act provisions. There is simply no other legal means for this to occur.
So unless you know of some other legal loophole that Bush could have used, it's you miss, that's woefully incorrect.
Bush did not have the legal authority, and I'm doubtful that you'd have given him a pass on violating the Constitution to enter the state illegally.
What do I "choose to see", I see an evacuation plan that wasn't followed, buses that weren't used, I see a Governor who admits (from her own mouth) that she stonewalled the federal government, and a President who has enough personal strength to stand up and say "Yes, I take full responsibility even when it's quite clear that others deserve the actual blame."
Is that what I choose to see not true??? The buses are there, I've seen the video of Nagin and Blanco blame, then spin and blame again, I see the buses underwater, I saw the Ivan evacuation, and finally I saw the city mass people in one spot without food or water when they were A) supposed to have food and water and B) were supposed to be evacuated on buses.
So what exactly, what truth am I missing??
Jason Coleman
Posted by: Jason Coleman at September 14, 2005 10:51 PM
Jason, great post. I think you should consider submitting it to the local papers in Louisiana and also to the LSU newspaper. Lots of folks back in Louisiana are irate with Blanco. She should resign. Jendal would have made a better Governor without a doubt and even Edwin Edwards would have handled this with professionalism not out of emotions. She gives a bad name to women in government on every level.
"Well I just don't know what we are going to do" make me puke. I wish she would have gone ahead and fainted at that moment so that someone else could have made those calls.
Posted by: DeeDee at September 15, 2005 7:29 AM
