Documents Reveal Worries of Blanco's Staff [View All]

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.breitbart.com/news/2005/12/12/D8EETPEO3.html

Trying to avoid a public relations disaster, aides to Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco fretted over her not appearing in charge after Hurricane Katrina hit, even worrying about her clothing, documents released Monday show. Thirteen pages of e-mails sent in the immediate days after the Aug. 29 storm also reflect the Blanco administration's concerns over race relations _ specifically, the number of black victims leaving Louisiana to find shelter.

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In a Sept. 4 e-mail exchange, top Blanco aides bristled at Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff's remark that the federal government "is in control of New Orleans."

"Our answer is the National Guard is in charge of security under her direction," Blanco chief of staff Andy Kopplin wrote. "The mayor is in charge of the city. The governor is in charge of the state and the guard and security. The federal government is now meeting important missions that it has."

The next day, two Blanco press staffers appealed to other senior aides to stop travel that would have had the governor leaving the state on a day when President Bush was scheduled to be there.
"Reinforces the notion that she's not in charge and LA (Louisiana) needs to be federalized," wrote Blanco press secretary Denise Bottcher in a Sept. 5 e-mail.

Agreed Blanco communications director Bob Mann: "White House will be thrilled that she left the state. They will eat us for lunch. She cannot snub potus."

I'm not criticizing Blanco, cause I think Bush and his minions are the ones most guilty of putting appearance over substance and turning it in to an art, but I'm getting sick of the job not getting done while the staffers worry about wearing the "right disaster clothes", rolling up sleeves, symbolic handing out of ice trying to project concern while the poor citizens are suffering. If I was a pol I'd fire any staffer who sent emails regarding this crap.