The speech that Mayor Nagin should have given

This is a speech that I believe, had it been given by the Mayor of New Orleans after the flood (rather than the curse-filled tirade he actually gave), would have kept things significantly calmer in his city.

To the people of New Orleans, those who have successfully evacuated and those still in the city:

We have just suffered the greatest tragedy in our city's history. Now is the time for dealing with this crisis, focusing on the 'hows' or the 'whys' will come later.

If you are outside the city, please remain where you are. Do not attempt to return unless you are trained in search and rescue. The city is without power, without running water and without hope of getting those things up and running anytime soon. Our focus now must be evacuating anyone who still remains in the city.

For those who are in still in the city, please remain calm. That one thing alone will help the continuing evacuation process.

Work together. Help each other. Be there for one another until we can get you safely evacuated.

Please do not use your cell phones unless you need emergency assistance so that those who do need such assistance can get through.

Please do not drink the flood waters. We have reason to believe they are contaminated and can make vast numbers of people ill. Use soap and antibacterial wipes whenever possible to help slow the spread of disease. Try to keep hydrated and fed so that you will have the strength to withstand the illnesses that are common in close quarters. Along those lines...we realize that most of you still within the city have limited supplies, if indeed you have any left.

Recognizing the emergency situation, the city of New Orleans will allow its residents to take food, water and hygiene products from wherever they can be salvaged. We will take responsibility and reimburse the owners for their losses.

This does not give the criminal elements of society the right to take advantage of the situation. Stealing and looting is still against the law and the police are instructed to stop those who attempt such crimes. The police have the authority to use whatever means they deem necessary, including deadly force.

To the police and other rescue workers: You are doing a tremendous job under incredibly difficult circumstances. I am proud of you. The entire city of New Orleans is proud of you. But we must ask you to do a bit more. I realize how difficult it is to work without knowing when your reinforcements will arrive, but I have faith in you. Furthermore, under these emergency cirumstances, I encourage you to use whatever means necessary to keep order.

This is a difficult time for New Orleans. But we have a long history and strong citizens. Together, we can get through this immediate crisis and then face with courage the rebuilding of our beloved city.

Forgivable and Unforgivable Acts by Mayor Nagin

In the devastating aftermath of hurricane Katrina, people are trying to figure out how the tragedy could have been prevented or mitigated. I have one thing to say.

Hindsight is 20/20.

Of course, now, it is obvious that the people of New Orleans should have been evacuated, by force if necessary. But, before Katrina hit, many people still thought it might miss the city. Even if it did hit, many, even those who should have known better, did not truly believe that the levee would break.

And remember, if these things had not happened and the Mayor did spend untold amounts of money (and possibly used force as well) , he would have been blamed for the apparent waste.

Still, he should have offered a way for those who did not own cars to be evacuated. But it is forgivable that he did not foresee the dangers.

It is less forgivable that Mayor Nagin did not have the buses moved to higher ground so that, in the worst case senario, they could be used to evacuate the survivors.

It is even less forgivable that the Superdome was not stocked with food, water and hygiene products before hurricane season started given that the authorities knew it was going to be used as an emergency shelter.

And it is completely unforgivable that, after the disaster, Nagin lost control while on the radio.

After a disaster, rescue workers, police and the public all look to the man in charge for guidance, for the promise that things will get better and to be inspired to work together for a little longer until reinforcements can come in. After 9/11, Giuliani became 'America's Mayor' because he accomplished these things so well.

Nagin had one job after the flood: to keep his city together until help could arrive. By failing in this duty, he made things infinitely worse. I blame his falling apart for contributing to the New Orleans Police were quitting in large numbers, for the suicides of some New Orleans Police Officers, for the assaults, for the rapes, for the looting and even for the shootings at rescue helicopters.

If Giuliani had been the Mayor of New Orleans, things would have been much better there. If Nagin had been the Mayor of New York City in 2001, things would have been so much worse here.

Point to Ponder...

Why are liberals insisting that the federal government should take on a greater role in disasters and, simultaneously, complaining about the crappy response by the feds?

Back Again

I know I've been gone for a while. I've been dealing with personal stuff in the real world (non-computer, for those who have forgotten). I'm feeling better now and hope to be able to continue for a while.