oops
Shake head - The President is never really 'On Vacation'
besides - where have all the congresscritters gone? Any criticism for them?
As far as Katrina:
President Bush - being a Commander In Chief
Jefferson/Democrat Louisiana - demanding the military cease their rescue operations to take him to his house to get his skimmed/hidden freezer money
Hummmm....I think I'll applaud the President
.
This webpage will give anyone a good idea of what happened when before and after Katrina hit. Remember NO did not recieve a direct hit. Remember (like here in MN) the state if altimately responsible for what it does with the funds that they are supposed to use for repair and updates to our infrastructure. There is enough blame to go around but the fact that NO did not follow their emergency preparedness plan is rarely mentioned. For those who really want to get some information that is more truthful then do some research on both sides to maybe get a middle that is close to the truth.
FactCheck.org: Katrina: What Happened When
Friday, Aug 26 2005 - 3 Days Prior to Katrina's Louisiana Landfall
Hurricane Katrina strikes Florida between Hallandale Beach and North Miami Beach as a Category 1 hurricane with 80 mph winds. Eleven people die from hurricane-related causes.
—"A chronology of Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath," Associated Press, 3 Sept 2005.
The storm heads into the Gulf of Mexico and by 10:30 am CDT is reported to be "rapidly strengthening."
—"Hurricane Katrina Special Advisory Number 13," National Hurricane Center, 26 Aug 2005.
Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco declares a State of Emergency in Louisiana.
—"Governor Blanco Declares State of Emergency,"Louisiana Governor's Office, 26 Aug 2005.
Saturday, Aug 27 2005 - 2 Days Prior
Blanco asks President Bush to declare a State of Emergency for the state of Louisiana due to Hurricane Katrina. Bush does so authorizing the Department of Homeland Security and FEMA "to coordinate all disaster relief efforts…" and freeing up federal money for the state.
—"Governor Blanco asks President to Declare an Emergency for the State of Louisiana due to Hurricane Katrina," Louisiana Governor's Office, 27 Aug 2005.
—"Statement on federal Emergency Assistance for Louisiana," Office of the White House Press Secretary, 27 Aug 2005.
Katrina is a Category 3 storm, predicted to become Category 4. At 4pm CDT, it is still 380 miles from the mouth of the Mississippi.
—"Hurricane Katrina Special Advisory Number 18," National Hurricane Center , 26 Aug 2005.
Director of the National Hurricane Center, Max Mayfield, calls the governors of Louisiana and Mississippi and the mayor of New Orleans to warn of potential devastation. The next day he participates in a video conference call to the President, who is at his ranch in Crawford, Texas.
—Tamara Lush, " For forecasting chief, no joy in being right," St. Petersburg Times , 30 Aug 2005.
Sunday, Aug. 28 2005 - 1 Day Prior
1 a.m. - Katrina is upgraded to a Category 4 storm with wind speeds reaching 145 mph.
—"Hurricane Katrina Special Advisory Number 20," National Hurricane Center, 28 Aug 2005.
7 a.m. - Katrina is upgraded to a "potentially catastrophic" Category 5 storm. NOAA predicts "coastal storm surge flooding of 15 to 20 feet above normal tide levels."
—"Hurricane Katrina Special Advisory Number 22," National Hurricane Center, 28 Aug 2005.
—"New Orleans braces for monster hurricane," CNN.com, 29 Aug 2005. >>>
again it's continued here:
FactCheck.org: Katrina: What Happened When
ME:
Note that Pres. Bush did in fact declare a state of emergency BEFORE Katrina even made landfall. This made available funds and it also made available the national guard if it was REQUESTED. The president (and federal gov.) cannot send troops into a state without the request of the state. The Gov. of the state MUST make the request. It would be nice if our schools actually taught our Constitutional history, including the papers written by the various founders clarifying exactly what they mean.
Also when one notes that the president is agian on vacation one should remember that while Bush does take his vacation during the month of Aug. he is always available. Hence the ability to declare a state of emergency before Katrina made landfall. Exactly why should he not be boating and entertaining when he's on vacation? Did our former pres. Clinton never take vacation? The congresscritters run home on vacation much more often then the President.