Blame Blanco? Hell no! Blame FEMA! Blame Bush!

I find myself corresponding with quite a few reactionaries these days. As always, conservatives repeat any script they are handed. Today's recital holds that Governor Blanco of Louisiana created the problem by not calling in Federal aid earlier.

In fact, she had called for aid, well before the storm struck. One of my left-leaning correspondents tells the rest of the story.

"Statement on Federal Emergency Assistance for Louisiana: The President today declared an emergency exists in the State of Louisiana and ordered Federal aid to supplement state and local response efforts in the parishes located in the path of Hurricane Katrina beginning on August 26, 2005, and continuing."

So the feds -- FEMA -- was put in charge the day before the storm. Sunday 28th of August. Once FEMA is activated, and an emergency declared at the Federal level, they ARE in charge. They did not have to wait for anyone !!

Here is the link: http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/08/20050827-1.html

Although the ball was officially in their court, FEMA officials did nothing. Nothing.

From AP:

The government's disaster chief waited until hours after Hurricane Katrina had already struck the Gulf Coast before asking his boss to dispatch 1,000 Homeland Security workers to support rescuers in the region — and gave them two days to arrive, according to internal documents.

Michael Brown, director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, sought the approval from Homeland Security Secretary Mike Chertoff roughly five hours after Katrina made landfall on Aug. 29. Brown said that among duties of these employees was to "convey a positive image" about the government's response for victims.

Aid took a back seat to PR.

We also learn that Bush himself was fully briefed on Sunday the 28th. He did nothing. Nothing.

He did not even cut his vacation short until politics forced him to do so.

Blame Bush. No amount of Rovian spin can render him guiltless.