Interesting politics

[BuckNaked]

Link

The attack is a lie, plain and simple. Those promulgating it should be ashamed

What attack are you talking about?

 

[bsnyder]

What attack are you talking about?

Buck, if you read Josh Marshall (and I do, every day) you would know that ANY criticsm of the state and local officials is part of a vast right wing conspiracy headed by Karl Rove.

The New York Times has all the details this moring about the "plan to ease the political damage". Of course there's not one single fact in evidence in the article, just the usual sources of Republicans familiar with the White House "plan".


http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/05/n...0b7c96ac5&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss

If this wasn't such a sad tragedy, this oh-so-typical response would actually be comical.

 

[peachgirl]

What attack are you talking about?

I believe it refers to the claim that 1)Bush was powerless to do anything until he received a formal request from the Governor and 2) that the declaration of a state of emergency wasn't issued early enough.

First, due to the implementation of the National Response Plan in 12/04, the Federal Government does not have to wait for a request for assistance. Secondly, the formal declaration of a state of emergency was issued on Aug. 26. Any other declarations are in addition to this original one.



http://www.dhs.gov/interweb/assetlibrary/NRPbaseplan.pdf

From pg. 9:

Secretary of Homeland Security
Pursuant to HSPD-5, the Secretary of Homeland Security
is responsible for coordinating Federal operations
within the United States to prepare for, respond to, and
recover from terrorist attacks, major disasters, and other
emergencies. HSPD-5 further designates the Secretary
of Homeland Security as the “principal Federal official”
for domestic incident management.
In this role, the Secretary is also responsible for
coordinating Federal resources utilized in response to or
recovery from terrorist attacks, major disasters, or other
emergencies if and when any of the following four
conditions applies:
(1) a Federal department or agency acting under its
own authority has requested DHS assistance;
(2) the resources of State and local authorities are overwhelmed
and Federal assistance has been requested;
(3) more than one Federal department or agency has
become substantially involved in responding to the
incident; or
(4) the Secretary has been directed to assume incident
management responsibilities by the President.

http://gov.louisiana.gov/2005%20%20proclamations/48pro2005-Emergency-HurricaneKatrina.pdf

If you don't like the op of soda's link..here's another one. I have no idea what the political leanings of the author are, but the links to supporting documents are from official government websites.

http://www.tpmcafe.com/story/2005/9/4/171811/1974

Although the NRP recognizes that State and local authorities have a responsibility to ask for help, the NRP correctly provides a provision to take proactive steps to deal with a threat. On page 43 of the NRP the section is titled, "Proactive Federal Response to Catastrophic Events" (which I have copied and pasted below:

The NRP establishes policies, procedures, and mechanisms for proactive Federal response to catastrophic events. A catastrophic event is any natural or manmade incident, including terrorism, that results in extraordinary levels of mass casualties, damage, or disruption severely affecting the population, infrastructure, environment, economy, national morale, and/or government functions. A catastrophic event could result in sustained national impacts over a prolonged period of time; almost immediately exceeds resources normally available to State, local, tribal, and private-sector authorities in the impacted area; and significantly interrupts governmental operations and emergency services to such an extent that national security could be threatened. All catastrophic events are Incidents of National Significance.

Implementation of Proactive Federal Response Protocols

Protocols for proactive Federal response are most likely to be implemented for catastrophic events involving chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, or high-yield explosive weapons of mass destruction, or large magnitude earthquakes or other natural or technological disasters in or near heavily populated areas.

Guiding Principles for Proactive Federal Response
Guiding principles for proactive Federal response include the following:
■ The primary mission is to save lives; protect critical infrastructure, property, and the environment; contain the event; and preserve national security.
■ Standard procedures regarding requests for assistance may be expedited or, under extreme circumstances, suspended in the immediate aftermath of an event of
catastrophic magnitude.
■ Identified Federal response resources will deploy and begin necessary operations as required to commence life-safety activities.
■ Notification and full coordination with States will occur, but the coordination process must not delay or impede the rapid deployment and use of critical resources. States are urged to notify and coordinate with local governments regarding a proactive Federal response.
■ State and local governments are encouraged to conduct collaborative planning with the Federal Government as a part of "steady-state" preparedness for catastrophic incidents.

Implementation Mechanisms for Proactive
Federal Response to Catastrophic Events
The NRP Catastrophic Incident Supplement (described in the Catastrophic Incident Annex) addresses resource and procedural implications of catastrophic events to ensure the rapid and efficient delivery of resources and assets, including special teams, equipment, and supplies that provide critical lifesaving support and incident containment capabilities. These assets may be so specialized or costly that they are either not available or are in insufficient quantities in most localities.

The procedures outlined in the NRP Catastrophic Incident Supplement are based on the following:
■ The pre-identification of Federal assets and capabilities;
■ The strategic location of pre-identified assets for rapid deployment; and
■ The use of pre-scripted mission assignments for Stafford Act declarations, or individual agency authority and funding, to expedite deployment upon notification by DHS (in accordance with procedures established in the NRP Catastrophic Incident Supplement) of a potential catastrophic event.

Agencies responsible for these assets will keep DHS apprised, through the HSOC, of their ongoing status and location until the JFO is established. Upon arrival at the scene, Federal assets will coordinate with the Unified Command, the SFLEO, and the JFO (or its forward elements) when established. Demobilization processes, including full coordination with the JFO Coordination Group, are initiated either when the mission is completed or when it is determined the magnitude of the event does not warrant continued use of the asset.

While the Bush Administration is to be commended for coming up with a plan for dealing with terrorism and large scale disasters, it must be condemned for its abject failure to implement the NRP. And, specific heads must roll starting with Michael Chertoff and the head of FEMA.

 

[sodaseller]

Very interesting read

 

[DisDuck]

I stated this in a closed thread without any response so I will post it here for those who continue to believe that the Fed had to wait for Local requests. That the 'law' and The Constitution prevent Fed usurption.


Anyone one here learn about the Whiskey Rebellion and George Washington's response to it? Anyone here remember Eisenhower and Kennedy and desegregation? In all 3 cases the Fed, ie. president, federalized National Guard without local requests and in the Eisenhower & Kennedy cases with local/state opposition.

So there already has been in our history a precedent for Fed takeover of troops in 'emergencies'.

Bush likes to think of himself as a CEO. He is not involved in day to day operations but the 'broad picture' running of the company, oops government. It is up to the 'senior' management to do the day to day work. Well, this might work at GM but the Fed Government is not GM. Its beauracrocy(sic) is combersome and unwieldy. Sometimes it needs a good kick in the butt to get it moving. That is one of the jobs of being President. Kick butt when necessary. Teddy R. had it right, 'carry a big stick but speak softly' (or something like that). It was called the 'bully pulpit'. Kennedy used it during the railroad strike in the 60's. Bush just sits back and waits for things to happen. Unless, of course, he can strut his macho and attack weaklings like Iraq. So much easier than responding to a hurricane.

 

[BuckNaked]

Just watching CNN, it was good to see that someone is finally starting to scrutinize the local and state response as the hurricane came in, and its immediate aftermath.

 

[peachgirl]

Just watching CNN, it was good to see that someone is finally starting to scrutinize the local and state response as the hurricane came in, and its immediate aftermath.

You can't believe anything CNN reports..biased reporters putting their spin on things.

I only watch Fox News to get the real truth!

I am very glad to see that there is bipartisan support for an congressional inquiry!

 

[BuckNaked]

You can't believe anything CNN reports..biased reporters putting their spin on things.

I only watch Fox News to get the real truth!

WTH are you talking about?

I am very glad to see that there is bipartisan support for an congressional inquiry!

Absolutely! Now we'll have to wait and see if there is truly a bipartisan effort to find the truth and a bipartisan willingness to accept the final outcome of the report.