Everyone by now has heard the rather unhinged whining and screaming and cursing of New Orleans mayor Nagin (sp?). This man has shown, with his inability to take control of his own city, his passing the buck of responsibility to the US government, that he is not a leader. Govr. Blanco, sadly, also has shown herself to not be an effective leader in getting the word out. Think this is being petty? Let's have a look see at recent events.
The hurricane was known to be heading toward New Orleans Saturday. All Saturday and Sunday the mayor issued curfews and ordered the city to be evacuated. The governor also ordered a state of martial law and ordered evacuations. People were told to go to the Superdome. However, empty buses passed people out past curfew, and many simply decided to not heed the warnings.
Monday comes and, the news reported, the city of New Orleans missed being levelled again. The mayor and governor, however, allowed around 5000 or so rioters to plunge into downtown and go unstopped. No one decided to check on the levees until they burst. The crisis was well into its third day, and the mayor is bunkered down somewhere talking about how there will be a party this weekend because the hurricane missed New Orleans.
The flooding done by the storm surge and collected rains hits in force Monday night and Tuesday. The mayor never checked on the levees, he and the governor break down emotionally on TV. The mayor did not enforce his law over the weekend dealing with the curfews or the mandatory evacuations. Thousands were allowed to stay in their homes despite the law saying otherwise, and were thus left to the elements. Governor Blanco was slow in sending out the Guard.
Now, these two are whining loudly that help is not arriving soon enough. The Mayor has gone to the radio waves castigating everyone, talking about drug dealing and addicts looking for a fix, etc. However, much of the loss of life could have been avoided if the mayor would have enforced the law and removed these people to the Superdome before the waters came. Much of this could have been done if the Mayor would have enforced the law, rather than going to the cameras and getting face time. Now, the mayor and Governor are playing political CYA by blaming the feds, and are even turning on each other.
Contrast that with Mississippi. Thousands there have gone homeless, been killed, been made destitute. However, is there large scale rioting going on there? No. Are there incidences of rescuers being shot at by vandals and thugs? No. Are shelters scenes of murders and rapes, as the Superdome has become? No. Why? The governor, Haley Barbour, and the mayors and officials of the cities took the initiative. They did not wait for the magical fed fairy to fix everything. People heeded and were made to heed the evacuation orders in greater numbers. Instead of taking such a lax approach as Nagin, the folks in Mississippi and Alabama took a proactive approach. They made people leave. Laws were enforced.
Contrast Louisiana with New York, Sept. 12, 2001. Aid had not yet fully arrived, even until the 17th of Sept. Yet, the cities were not in turmoil, Times Square was not in flames, and things were moving. George Pataki (despite his many faults) and Rudy Guiliani were proactive in getting things done. They thought ahead. They had a crisis plan. They had things under control. Despite the huge loss of 343 officers in fire and police, they still kept order in a city far greater in population than what is left in New Orleans.
Mayor Nagin should not be blaming the President. He should not be blaming the governor. He should be looking at himself.
If he were a true leader, he would stop this petty bickering and take to the streets and airwaves to inspire his fellow New Orleanians, not give them excuses of "oppression" and the friggin "race" card, along with saying the feds aren't doing enough.
Mr. Mayor, it takes time to mobilize ships. It takes time to get the convoys through flooded areas. What have you actually done or accomplished, aside from encouraging excuse making for the lawbreakers?
Now, Jesse Jackson the RaceBaiter is headed downt to sow more division and hate. Do you think he is bringing generators? Nope. Do you think he is bringing millions from his lawsuits? Nope. He is bringing hate and ill will toward the government, toward others, so that he can further maintain a hold on an audience. Disgraceful.
Nagin, Blanco, Jackson--this is not the federal government's fault. Why wasn't the state more prepared in terms of crisis management? Why wasn't the city more prepared? New Orleans has been below sea level for over 280 years, why haven't better plans been made?
Also, look at Sri Lanka and the Tsunami zone. Hundreds of thousands dead, and no rioting. Hmmm....perhaps it says something about character and leadership by officials, eh?
