Percy-L: Literary, Religious, Scientific, and Philosophical Discussion of Walker Percy

["Tommy Armstrong" <tfa AT brickengraver.com>]

The declaration of the state of emergency was only the first step. She was declaring a state of emergency for the State of Louisiana.
Read it.

That declaration gave her as governor to delclare martial law and do such things as she deemed fit to "preserve the lives and property of the citizens of the State of Louisiana"

She did not do so and I contend did not act to fulfill the mission of "preserving the lives..."

 

This puts the "director of the state (my emphasis) office of Homeland Security, essentially in charge under the Governor of the State.

We are not talking about any request to the Federal Government at this point.

Now it is true that perhaps the President could have pre-empted the state with the powers of the NRP--but to do so would have been essentially subjugating the States Office of Security and Emergency Preparedness  to that of the Federal government. And Ms. Blanco subsequently stated that she was against such a command structure. The state National Guard is under her command, but never can be the Military forces of the US.

The President cannot simply send in the 82nd Airborne or the Marines to enforce civil state and local laws. In fact, I think this might have been the first use as such in American History--might be wrong. Federal troops were sent to Little Rock, but that was to enforce federal laws that the local establishment refused to enforce.

But no matter how you look at it there was an incredible "cluster screwup" as a good redneck would call it. Blame is everywhere to be found--but to rest it solely on an incompetent administration is only looking at the tip of the iceberg. The 80% of the iceberg that remains below water are local and state authorities, criminals, incompetents, and mostly just unprepared normal people.

 

Tommy Armstrong

PO Box 484

Lillington, NC   27546

http://www.brickengraver.com

 

...with the method of science one beholds what is generally true about individuals, but art beholds what is uniquely true.

 

Walker Percy

Signposts in a Strange Land

 

 

-----Original Message-----

From: percy-l-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org [mailto:percy-l-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Teresa Brader
Sent: Friday, September 09, 2005 4:49 PM
To: Percy-L: Literary and Philosophical Discussion
Subject: [percy-l] Countdown to a Meltdown

She declared a state of emergency on August 26.  Is that not soon enough?

Teresa
 
> >From the Newsweek Article cited.
> "... Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Babineaux Blanco seemed uncertain and
> sluggish, hesitant to declare martial law or a state of emergency,
> which would have opened
the door to more Pentagon help.


       
               
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