- #1
McGyver
Now that FEMA's head Brown is gone, and President Bush today accepted at least some federal responsibility for failures that exacerbated the initial disaster, who likely will go next?
I think no one can dispute that pre-hurricane planning and the initial days of response were grossly inadequate. Head have just begun to roll.
A Sunday evening TV-aired interview of Mayor Nagram did not look good for the mayor. You could clearly see the mayor was unable to explain the failures and mis-steps that occurred at his level. Russert is usually viewed as fair. My view now is that pressure will eventually build for the major to step down.
Next, or perhaps even sooner, will be the Louisiana governor. A "rift" has been exposed between the mayor and the governor, and also between the governor and Washington. The lack of smooth communications between these levels of government contributed greatly to the inadequacy in the response.
In an interesting twist, the Louisiana Lieutenant Governor was been quite visible and well spoken, and I believe he would succeed if the governor resigned.
With a great deal of rebuilding yet to get underway, I believe pressure will build for a "housecleaning" of those officials who have shown not to be up to their respective jobs.
Mississippi seems to have escaped any criticism regarding their pre-planning and responses to Katrina, so I don't anticipate any leadership changes there.
On the federal level, Democrats will continue to use the failed response in New Orleans to their political party advantage. However, with Brown gone that takes some wind out of their sails. They would have benefitted with his staying in office longer. I also find it interesting the President did not personally remove him - and the dems will be able to use this against his administration.
So place your bets on who will go, and when.
Knowledge and analysis breed vision. Action brings results.
Stephen Dolle
www.diaceph.com
I think no one can dispute that pre-hurricane planning and the initial days of response were grossly inadequate. Head have just begun to roll.
A Sunday evening TV-aired interview of Mayor Nagram did not look good for the mayor. You could clearly see the mayor was unable to explain the failures and mis-steps that occurred at his level. Russert is usually viewed as fair. My view now is that pressure will eventually build for the major to step down.
Next, or perhaps even sooner, will be the Louisiana governor. A "rift" has been exposed between the mayor and the governor, and also between the governor and Washington. The lack of smooth communications between these levels of government contributed greatly to the inadequacy in the response.
In an interesting twist, the Louisiana Lieutenant Governor was been quite visible and well spoken, and I believe he would succeed if the governor resigned.
With a great deal of rebuilding yet to get underway, I believe pressure will build for a "housecleaning" of those officials who have shown not to be up to their respective jobs.
Mississippi seems to have escaped any criticism regarding their pre-planning and responses to Katrina, so I don't anticipate any leadership changes there.
On the federal level, Democrats will continue to use the failed response in New Orleans to their political party advantage. However, with Brown gone that takes some wind out of their sails. They would have benefitted with his staying in office longer. I also find it interesting the President did not personally remove him - and the dems will be able to use this against his administration.
So place your bets on who will go, and when.
Knowledge and analysis breed vision. Action brings results.
Stephen Dolle
www.diaceph.com