Hurricane Katrina: The Scandal Karl Rove and the GOP Don't Want Us To Discuss

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• 1 - marc

  Sep 08, 2005 at 4:10 pm

  Counterpoint:
  

  In Katrina's wake, Louisiana politicians and other critics have complained about paltry funding for the Army Corps in general and Louisiana projects in particular. But over the five years of President Bush's administration, Louisiana has received far more money for Corps civil works projects than any other state, about $1.9 billion; California was a distant second with less than $1.4 billion, even though its population is more than seven times larger.
  
  Much of that Louisiana money was spent to try to keep low-lying New Orleans dry. But hundreds of millions of dollars have gone to unrelated water projects demanded by the state's congressional delegation and approved by the Corps, often after economic analyses that turned out to be inaccurate. Despite a series of independent investigations criticizing Army Corps construction projects as wasteful pork-barrel spending, Louisiana's representatives have kept bringing home the bacon.
  
  For example, after a $194 million deepening project for the Port of Iberia flunked a Corps cost-benefit analysis, Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., tucked language into an emergency Iraq spending bill ordering the agency to redo its calculations. The Corps also spends tens of millions of dollars a year dredging little-used waterways like the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet, the Atchafalaya River and the Red River -- now known as the J. Bennett Johnston Waterway, in honor of the project's congressional godfather -- for barge traffic that turns out to be less than forecast.
  
  Most controversial
  
  The Industrial Canal lock is one of the agency's most controversial projects, sued by residents of a New Orleans low-income black neighborhood and cited by an alliance of environmentalists and taxpayer advocates as the fifth-worst current Corps boondoggle. In 1998, the Corps justified its plan to build a new lock -- rather than fix the old lock for a tiny fraction of the cost -- by predicting huge increases in barge traffic.
  
  In fact, barge traffic on the canal had been plummeting since 1994, but the Corps left that data out of its study. And barges have continued to avoid the canal since the study was finished, even though they are visiting the port in increased numbers.
  
  Pam Dashiell, president of the Holy Cross Neighborhood Association, remembers holding a protest against the lock four years ago -- right where the levee broke last week. Now she's holed up with her family in a St. Louis hotel, and her neighborhood is underwater. "Our politicians never cared half as much about protecting us as they cared about pork," she said.
  
  Wednesday, congressional defenders of the Corps said they hoped the fallout from Hurricane Katrina would pave the way for billions of dollars of additional spending on water projects. Steve Ellis, a Corps critic with Taxpayers for Common Sense, called their push "the legislative equivalent of looting."
  
  Louisiana's politicians have requested much more money for New Orleans hurricane protection than the Bush administration has proposed or Congress has provided. In the last budget bill, Louisiana's delegation requested $27.1 million for shoring up levees around Lake Pontchartrain, the full amount the Corps had declared as its "project capability." Bush suggested $3.9 million, and Congress agreed to spend $5.7 million.
  
  Administration officials also scaled back a long-term project to restore Louisiana's disappearing coastal marshes, which once provided a measure of natural hurricane protection for New Orleans. They ordered the Corps to stop work on a $14 billion plan and devise a $2 billion plan instead.
  
  Levees only so strong
  
  But overall, the Bush administration's funding requests for the key New Orleans flood-control projects for the past five years were slightly higher than the Clinton administration's for its past five years. Lt. Gen. Carl Strock, the chief of the Corps, has said that in any event, more money would not have prevented the drowning of the city, since its levees were only designed to protect against a Category 3 storm. Strock also has said the marsh restoration project would not have done much to diminish Katrina's storm surge, which passed east of the coastal wetlands.
  
  "The project manager for the Great Pyramids probably put in a request for 100 million shekels and only got 50 million," said John Paul Woodley Jr., the Bush administration official overseeing the Corps. "Flood protection is always a work in progress; on any given day, if you ask whether any community has all the protection it needs, the answer is almost always: Maybe, but maybe not."
  
  The Corps had been studying the possibility of upgrading the New Orleans levees for a higher level of protection before Katrina hit, but Woodley said that study would not have been finished for years. Still, liberal bloggers, Democratic politicians and some Republican defenders of the Corps have linked the catastrophe to the underfunding of the agency.
  
  "We've been hollering about funding for years, but everyone would say: There goes Louisiana again, asking for more money," said former Democratic senator John Breaux. "We've had some powerful people in powerful places, but we never got what we needed."

  Yep, yep, yep.... It's all Bush's fault!!!!!!
  
  Not. The left seem to be having trouble keeping another meme alive.

• 2 - Balletshooz

  Sep 08, 2005 at 4:15 pm

  "Louisiana has received far more money for Corps civil works projects than any other state"
  
  New Orleans is below sea level protected only be levees, so is it relevant that they got more money than say Alaska? thats a big red herring you posted.
  
  They obviously needed way more $$$ than they got, which IS Bush's fault.
  
  Should he have sent the levee money to the Rocky Mountains? He still slashed their budget even if apples are compared to oranges, which IS relevant.

• 3 - marc

  Sep 08, 2005 at 4:45 pm

  You didn't take note of this section:

  The Corps had been studying the possibility of upgrading the New Orleans levees for a higher level of protection before Katrina hit, but Woodley said that study would not have been finished for years.

  The study in question was part of what was cut. And it's also the genesis of the current "Bush cut spending" meme that was started by an article in the Editor and Publisher that atrios and dKos seized on.
  
  The study would have taken 8 years to complete. The entire project if found fesable would have taken 25 years to complete.
  
  while I'm here, opinion polls are like A-holes everyone has one.

  When asked to identify who was most responsible for the problems in New Orleans after the hurricane, 38% of Americans said no one was really to blame, while 13% cited Bush, 18% the federal agencies, and 25% state and local officials.

  The left/progressives attempted to use "approval rating has sunk even lower" crap when trying to foist Kerry on the American public, it didn't work then and it won't work now.
  
  

• 4 - Silas Kain

  Sep 08, 2005 at 4:54 pm

  OK, back to your respective corners, kids. I'm pissed off as the next guy about this whole mess and as much as I would love to ride GW Bush out on a rail from D.C. it ain't gonna happen. I think our jets need to be cooled and we must demand full accountability under the leadership of an independent party like Colin Powell, Jimmy Carter or even Bob Dole. The Democrats, who have had no political chutzpah for 8 years, should just shut up. Republicans in Congress are scared to death that they will suffer the wrath of the voters so their spin machines are in heavy duty cycle. What's it going to take for Americans to come together? Another hurricane? We may just get that one with Ophelia.

• 5 - Go Bush

  Sep 08, 2005 at 5:05 pm

  The over all response to save lives was overshadowed by the disgracefully leadership of the mayor of N.O. which failed to move his citizens in time of need. That is why there will never be a president such as the mayor of N.O. because of his lack of intelligence. Nothing to do with black or white only ignorance and selfessness. Maybe more planning needs to be focused on the people and not the gambling, whore houses, and drugs which seems to be a major element to the people of N.O. Sure is amazing how history creeps back up on you like the days of Sodom and Gomorrah. Stay and school, get some education and leave the temptations of worldly luxuries to the evil oppressors such as the mayor of N.O.
  
  Praise due to Allah

• 6 - yoyo

  Sep 08, 2005 at 5:12 pm

  The mayor and liberals give the true meaning to what a Nigger means

• 7 - billy

  Sep 08, 2005 at 5:16 pm

  i thought it was an overgeneralization to call all republicans racists, i now take that back. they are all racists.

• 8 - marc

  Sep 08, 2005 at 5:16 pm

  yoyo; Take that crap elsewhere.

• 9 - Balletshooz

  Sep 08, 2005 at 5:29 pm

  Marc, at least there is something we can agree on. there is hope for this country yet. yoyo is either a real right-wing bigot, or she is pretending to be one to give republicans a bad name.

• 10 - Dave Nalle

  Sep 08, 2005 at 5:40 pm

  Did anyone mention the massive allocations for levee work in Louisiana under the Clinton administration which was far more than enough to do all the needed maintenance and repairs, but which was diverted into pork projects by state government?
  
  Dave

• 11 - Balletshooz

  Sep 08, 2005 at 5:53 pm

  I havent heard that one, but even so, if its true, the logical response is why didn't Bush do something to make it right. He had half a decade.

• 12 - marc

  Sep 08, 2005 at 5:54 pm

  and "silly" billy, same goes for you. Take that crap over to the denizens of dKos, atrios and the DUmmies.

• 13 - marc

  Sep 08, 2005 at 6:49 pm

  "He had half a decade." that's correct balletshooz, a half a decade to complete an 8 year study and a 25 year project. something doesn't compute.
  
  Levee board under federal investigation before Katrina hit. Damn, I didn't know that had a levee board. Lets have a look.

  Rampant public corruption was doing big business in New Orleans long before Hurricane Katrina ever hit. What then Congressman, now Senator David Vitter calls "corrupt, good old boy" practices were apparent in the New Orleans Levee Board just one year before the collapse of regional levees, emergency communications and government services brought the Big Easy to the brink of anarchy. In fact, Senator David Vitter requested a federal investigation into improper practices of a number of public utilities, including the New Orleans Levee Board, and a new Task Force was to have been initiated in the Baton Rouge office, beginning in July 2004.

  And unlike the Corp of Engineers, this was a political plum. Staffed by the Governors appointees. Sorta like FEMA's Michael Brown I would say.

  Orleans Levee District, a quasi-governmental body, is resposponsible(sic) for 129 miles of earthen levees, floodwalls, 190 floodgates, 2 flood control structures, and 100 valves. The governor appoints six of the board's eight members, and they serve at his pleasure. When a storm approaches it is responsible for closing the hundreds of hurricane protection floodgates and valves on levees surrounding the city. All residents outside of these levees evacuate.
  
  The District's General Fund accounts for all operating funds for the daily operations of the Administrative Offices, Field Forces, Law Enforcement and support operations necessary to maintain the Board's level of services for flood protection and public safety.
  
  The District's Special Levee Improvement Projects Fund (SLIP) accounts for the capital funds for major maintenance and/or capital improvements of all physical property and plant owned by the Board that is identified as directly related to flood protection.

  Oh hey look not one requirement for an engineering degree to be "qualified" to sit on the board, it says only that: they serve at his (the Governor's) pleasure.
  
  It's also apparent that the board is made of 6 members appointed by the Governor; must be qualified electors of Orleans Parish. Mayor of New Orleans or his designee and 1 other member of N.O. City Council, appointed by Mayor, serves Ex-Officio.
  
  They also apparently did their job as you read through the link provided. But to what end? Many of the decisions that resulted , get made with business, not necessarily a levee, or city residents, in mind.

  New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin followed at 5 p.m., issuing a voluntary evacuation.
  
  Nagin said late Saturday that he's having his legal staff look into whether he can order a mandatory evacuation of the city, a step he's been hesitant to do because of potential liability on the part of the city for closing hotels and other businesses.
  
  Levee board officials around the area closed or prepared to close floodgates to protect low-lying areas. The Orleans Parish Levee District said it would close floodgates and sever Louisiana 11 and U.S. 90 at today at 6 p.m., cutting that route to or from the city. Most other floodgates already were closed.

  This "levee board", comprised of businessmen ,vice engineers, also have developed a marina, and the New Orleans Lakefront Airport, , the levee board is said to have also played a establishing a floating casino and a fiber-optic cable network around the levee.
  
  Wonder how much water this "levee board"
  kept out of the city by investing in and operating casino's, airports and fiber optic cables?
  

• 14 - Mark

  Sep 09, 2005 at 2:08 am

  BUILDING WAR BASES IN IRAQ AS AMERICANS DROWN AT HOME.
  The more I see of the Bush administration, the more I fear for the future of America.
  It seems these days that in Washington "the only people not represented are the people". Has there ever been a president and administration that has put the USA on "Fast Track" to third world status as much as the current regime?
  The great wealth of our nation is being squandered on "the sandbox war" (Iraq) (which has now surpassed the cost of the Vietnam war), tax rebates to the wealthiest and uneediest, the exporting of American jobs to India and China and Mexico, and the influx of thousands of illegal aliens driving up the cost for services and driving down the cost of the minimum wage.
  Now, hurricane Katrina (whose damage to the nation are staggering and could have been largely prevented or mitigated through wise and prudent management of FEMA) threatens to squander more American capital.
  We are now the richest and most mismanaged Western country. This cannot last forever.
  As Americans, we should not ask, but demand Truth, honesty, and financial accountability from our government. Our government is accountable to we the people, and if we fail to make them accountable, we will ultimately have to blame ourselves for the failure of a great nation.
  Let's band together as Americans and work for a common good where the whole nation reaps the rewards of good governance. Let reason, honesty, inventiveness, and responsibility be the hallmarks of our Conress and President.
  We deserve better than what we are getting as citizens. I encourage you to vote independently and contact your senators and representatives so they understand your desire for a better country.

• 15 - marc

  Sep 09, 2005 at 2:46 am

  Now, hurricane Katrina (whose damage to the nation are staggering and could have been largely prevented or mitigated through wise and prudent management of FEMA) threatens to squander more American capital.

  So tell me old great sage "Mark" how could FEMA mitigate any damge done by Katrina? They are in charge of disaster response (you know "response" meaning after the fact), not building levees. Or anything close to what you attempt to spin.
  
  Your total lack of understanding of what FEMA is responsible for places you very close to the moonbat crowd.
  
  

• 16 - Lori

  Sep 09, 2005 at 8:11 am

  We have a disaster on our hands and people who have died and ones who are still suffering I personally get sick of all the finger pointing and wish that everyone could just agree that we all need to help them out! I don't think you need a photographer to take pictures of you doing it either. Just get with the red cross or any charitable organization and put forth a true honest effort and help out It isn't that hard to find something to do rather than find blame everywhere.

• 17 - Silas Kain

  Sep 09, 2005 at 11:46 am

  But, Lori. If Bush, Cheney or Condi rolled up their sleeves and pitched in they might break a nail.

• 18 - billy

  Sep 09, 2005 at 12:23 pm

  what i cant understand is how republicans can live with themselves, they go one day to calling the red cross communist, socialist, or pro-terrorist for trying to keep america' standards up at gitmo, to imploring people to donate to them now. if you hate these institutions so much, along with the court system, public tv, public schools, social security, etc why pretend you care now? could it be that it is just an attempt to avoid political catastrophe?

• 19 - Matt Connell

  Sep 09, 2005 at 2:38 pm

  Let's not forget the basics. We all know deep down that this is Bush's fault. Bush apologists can only churn out the BS for so long until they've finally lost all credibility. I don't gove a rat's ass about who funded what and when. I know for a fact that Bush did nothing during the storm, then proceeded to sit on his ass for a few days immediately after. Of course the guy can barely tie his own shoes, but that's not the point. Bush promised America that he was the one to be trusted to keep Americans safer. He either lied, or he failed miserably. I have never, ever heard Bush take responsiblitiy for a damn thing and I'm tired of it. It's his fault this is as bad as it is and he should pay. History will show that the aftermath of this disaster is a result of the MOST corrupt administration in US history and will help to expose more and more lies and atrocities as time goes on. Mark my word: Bush will be punished not only for this, but for all other crimes against humanity he is guilty of. He will die in prison while I laugh at his misery. I'd say the best thing for Bush apologists to do would be to just shut the fuck up. You're only making yourselves look like even bigger assholes than you already did. You all suck. Stop now or I will not be able to forgive you and I will teach my children to focus their lives on destroying everything the Right stands for, just as I have. What's even cooler than destroying the Right's agenda is watching them do it themselves. My, what a tangled web we weave!
  
  Adios to the Right, forever and ever!

• 20 - Michael

  Sep 09, 2005 at 2:43 pm

  This is yet another failure of George W. Bush. He has, in his presidency, ultimately failed in his role as protector of the American citizenry. I has neither the intelligence or humanity to fulfill his role as President of the United States. He needs to be impeached before he can do more harm. We need new leadership.

• 21 - what ever

  Sep 09, 2005 at 2:46 pm

  Those that can do...DO, and those that can not DO, criticize and complain!!!

• 22 - Dave Nalle

  Sep 09, 2005 at 2:58 pm

  >>top now or I will not be able to forgive you and I will teach my children to focus their lives on destroying everything the Right stands for, just as I have.<<
  
  This is the kind of thing I worry about even more than the problems with emergency response - the fear that a generation full of irrational hate and self-delusion will teach that same philosophy of hate and resentment to their children.
  
  Dave

• 23 - Maddog 20/20

  Sep 09, 2005 at 9:05 pm

  I feel that most politicians are liars at some point, conservative, liberal, independent whatever. Unfortunately today that's part of the job. When the right wing has leaders (liars) like Bush that lie to start wars and get our own soldiers killed for no reason what-so-ever. I draw a very deep line. Now with the poor response in Louisiana he has shown his truest colors.

• 24 - Brad Eleven

  Sep 12, 2005 at 11:09 am

  The GOP is, plain and simple, reaping what it has sown. The party swept the 2004 elections with its "win at all costs" strategy.
  
  It looks to me like a classic boxing film, where one of the combatants doesn't so much "fight dirty" as he pushes the envelope of acceptable tactics. The other fighter gets the audience's sympathy. What remains to be seen is whether the other fighter changes his tactics or sticks to his strategy.
  
  The tragedy is the level of divisiveness. Our country hasn't been so sharply divided since the 70s. IMHO, it's no coincidence that fashion has moved towards the styles we saw thirty years ago. The circumstances are very similar: an unpopular war, a Republican executive and a GOP-dominated Congress, with the bonus of Supreme Court appointments for the President.
  
  I keep hoping that we, as a nation, will demonstrate the intelligence to refrain from repeating history. Have we learned anything, or are we satisfied to go down the same road? The main difference seems to be that the stakes are much higher this time around. It would be a shame if all we can manage is more finger-pointing. In the clamor for responsibility, where does the electorate (and the entire citizenry) begin to look to ourselves for how we, individually and collectively are responsible for where we are today?

• 25 - gonzo marx

  Sep 12, 2005 at 11:42 am

  ok..once again, let me haul out the 2004 FEMA National Response Plan..
  
  signed by GWB in 04..i will just touch a point or two, you can gfo to the Homeland security website and see the entire thing for yourself, the text of the Plan shows the entire WH to be vacuous liars...to wit...
  
  "The President leads the Nation in responding efficiently and ensuring the
  necessary resources are applied quickly and effectively to all Incidents of
  National Significance."(NRP, 15)"
  
  how's that...now some say that the Response was NOT the Fed's problem...
  
  
  "Federal departments and agencies are EXPECTED to provide initial and/or ongoing response, when warranted, under their own authority and funding; alert, notification, pre-positioning and timely delivery of resources; proactive support for catastrophic or potentially catastrophic incidents using protocols for expedited delivery of resources. (NRP, 6)
  
  that little ditty shows that they are REQUIRED to do whatever they can , first, under their own spending budget...
  
  now, some of the Apologists will go on to say that the State officials had to ask for help...not so..another Lie..
  
  
  "Notification and full coordination with States will occur, but the coordination process must not delay or impede the rapid deployment and use of critical resources."
  
  nuff said?
  
  Excelsior!