Did New Orleans Catastrophe Have to Happen?

[johnfunk]

NOTE TO MODERATOR: I know, I know, this can be interpreted as a "news analysis" piece -- but a little indulgence as this article puts a large number of pieces into place and qualifies as news, because the lede, Series of Actions, Inactions By Federal Government Set Stage for Doom of Gulf Coast is buried behind the "analytical" headline.

Did New Orleans Catastrophe Have to Happen?
'Times-Picayune' Had Repeatedly Raised Federal Spending Issues]
By Will Bunch

August 30, 2005 9:00 PM ET -- PHILADELPHIA / E&P / Even though Hurricane Katrina has moved well north of the city, the waters may still keep rising in New Orleans late on Tuesday. That's because Lake Pontchartrain continues to pour through a two-block-long break in the main levee, near the city's 17th Street Canal. With much of the Crescent City some 10 feet below sea level, the rising tide may not stop until it's level with the massive lake.

...

[A]fter 2003, the flow of federal dollars toward [the Southeast Louisiana Urban Flood Control Project] dropped to a trickle. The Corps never tried to hide the fact that the spending pressures of the war in Iraq, as well as homeland security -- coming at the same time as federal tax cuts -- was the reason for the strain. At least nine articles in the Times-Picayune from 2004 and 2005 specifically cite the cost of Iraq as a reason for the lack of hurricane- and flood-control dollars.

Much, much more below the fold...

[Teaser]

1. Eventually, yes...

This time, no.

[DocSavage]

15. Disagree

When I lived in NO, it was known that the leveys would not protect the city from a serious storm. Yet, to the leadership of the city, only the feds could provide money to do anything. I was there from 93-97, and everyone just sat there fat dumb and happy waiting for Uncle to write the checks instead of the city figuring out a way to do it.

[wakeme2008]

2. This will become a Bush killer... the cuts ONLY started with

Bush and Clinton had been increasing the money for this project.

[rocktivity]

11. DING DING DING! Wakeme2008, you're our grand prize winner!

This will become a Bush killer...Clinton had been increasing the money for this project.

In addition being able to criticize Bush's de-funding, we can also spotlight his squelching of the global warming issue AND the shortage of National Guard personnel and equipment. You could say that we've hit our OWN trifecta!

:bounce:
rocknation

[Pirate Smile]

3. Recommended

[Guckert]

4. Well, according to Pat Robertson

In 1998 he warned that hurricanes were likely to hit communities that offended God.

[Waya]

8. Well, if Hurricanes will strike...

..areas offensive to God....then the White House, the Capitol, Crawford Ranch etc, are in for some nasty times, ain't they?

[yellowcanine]

9. It is all of that Mardi Gras debauchery coming home to roost.

That and not eouugh funding for the Army Corps of Engineers to strengthen the levees to withstand a Cat 5 hurricane.

Which is more likely? You make the call.

[ItsTheMediaStupid]

13. Trent Lott's house was destroyed

He's certainly offensive to any God I'd pray to.

[mcscajun]

5. Blast them all to hell, anyhow!

The last three paragraphs are so fucking damming:


One project that a contractor had been racing to finish this summer: a bridge and levee job right at the 17th Street Canal, site of the main breach on Monday.

The Newhouse News Service article published Tuesday night observed, "The Louisiana congressional delegation urged Congress earlier this year to dedicate a stream of federal money to Louisiana's coast, only to be opposed by the White House....In its budget, the Bush administration proposed a significant reduction in funding for southeast Louisiana's chief hurricane protection project. Bush proposed $10.4 million, a sixth of what local officials say they need."

Local officials are now saying, the article reported, that had Washington heeded their warnings about the dire need for hurricane protection, including building up levees and repairing barrier islands, "the damage might not have been nearly as bad as it turned out to be."

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001051313

[ramapo]

6. Yes

Build a city below sea level and nearly surrounded by water and you're on borrowed time. We think we can bully Mother Nature. We can only get away with it for so long....

[blm]

7. Great article to send to your local papers. My local paper IS going to

cover this point, as NC had their hurricane programs cut, too.

[leftchick]

10. More Death brought to you by bush

The Newhouse News Service article published Tuesday night observed, "The Louisiana congressional delegation urged Congress earlier this year to dedicate a stream of federal money to Louisiana's coast, only to be opposed by the White House. ... In its budget, the Bush administration proposed a significant reduction in funding for southeast Louisiana's chief hurricane protection project. Bush proposed $10.4 million, a sixth of what local officials say they need."

Local officials are now saying, the article reported, that had Washington heeded their warnings about the dire need for hurricane protection, including building up levees and repairing barrier islands, "the damage might not have been nearly as bad as it turned out to be."

[Seabiscuit]

12. No question about it: Shrub has fresh blood on his hands.

Who does he think he is? Dracula?

[Dora]

14. But will this break the GOP?

Hypothesizing that this causes an anti-Bush backlash, would that backlash spill over onto most Republicans in general? How will this effect the political mood in the Southern states? What consequences will there be in the '06 elections?

I hate to suggest the politicization of such a horrible natural disaster, but will the Democratic party be able to use this to their advantage, and will we support it?