NationStates Jolt Archive

I haven't really watched for her much, but in the two times that I did happen to see her on TV, she said something that made me do a double take at the TV set and think, "did she really say that?"

I researched it on the web to see if I really heard what I thought I heard.

The Governor of Louisiana, Kathleen Blanco, who struggled to control herself at times during her press conference, saved her anger for the looters.

KATHLEEN BLANCO: We are going to restore law and order. We will do what it takes to bring law and order to our region. We're not going to put up with petty criminals or hardened criminals doing their business. This is not a time or a place for any of that behaviour and I am just furious, this is intolerant. (I assume she meant "intolerable.")

in·tol·er·ant ( ĭn-tŏl ' er-ant ) adj. Not tolerant, especially: Unwilling to tolerate differences in opinions, practices, or beliefs, especially.

AND

Gov. Blanco did little to reassure observers during a press conference on Tuesday, when she seemed on the verge of bursting into tears.
"The magnitude of the situation is untenable," she told reporters. "It's just heartbreaking." (I assume she meant... actually I have no idea what she meant to say...)

untenable adjective FORMAL.

1 describes a theory or argument that cannot be supported or defended against criticism.

2 describes a situation that cannot continue as it is.


Now you might attribute these "Dan Quayle-isms" to the extreme stress of the situation, but she is also being accused of having grossly mismanaged the situation, and not calling the National Guard in until two days after the Hurricane hit her state, in spite of President Bush declaring a disaster area BEFORE the Hurricane hit in order to better facilitate that sort of thing.

Maybe she's just getting a bad rap because she is the easiest person to blame... I don't know.

Anyone have experience with her who does know?

I'm undecided. While some of their criticism against the Feds is accurate, the National Guard units should've been called in days before and help people get out who couldn't.

I saw today that she has just now declared a medical emergency that will allow doctors from other areas to come in and work. Again, why wait so long?

It's quite possible. A lot of the disaster management has been left to her. Usually, in the US, the state government does the cleanup after disasters, and the federal government just provides FEMA and funding. Now, things are starting to look up now that Washington realized that they need to step in.

It's quite possible. A lot of the disaster management has been left to her. Usually, in the US, the state government does the cleanup after disasters, and the federal government just provides FEMA and funding. Now, things are starting to look up now that Washington realized that they need to step in.
Not correct. Major disasters generally require massive government intervention, see the floods along the mississippi back in the 1930's.

Not correct. Major disasters generally require massive government intervention, see the floods along the mississippi back in the 1930's.
I said a lot of disasters. Some require more intervention than others. But the vast majority have no help. I can never remember anything more than our Natl. Guard helping us during the Superstorm of '93, which was the last big disaster I lived through.

I said a lot of disasters. Some require more intervention than others. But the vast majority have no help. I can never remember anything more than our Natl. Guard helping us during the Superstorm of '93, which was the last big disaster I lived through.
Considering this one is shaping up to be the largest hurricane to ever hit the US, I'd say that this counts as one of the ones we need government assistance in.

Considering this one is shaping up to be the largest hurricane to ever hit the US, I'd say that this counts as one of the ones we need government assistance in.
Probably. But you bring up an interesting point with the Mississippi floods. That was a protracted disaster, one with weeks in the making. This was a sudden disaster, where the threat materialized only about 24 hours before landfall. The federal government was, as usual, going on with the business of being a federal government. They need at least a week to respond to any change, and often longer. It comes with such a large democracy, I guess.

She is an incompetent fool.