Dean Esmay:
Knowing now that the real failure wasn't even Ray Nagin's, but was admitted to be the Army Core of Engineers, it's very interesting in retrospect isn't it?

I mean, they gave Michael Brown all sorts of grief but then it turns out he did better than he was accused of.

Yes, there were balls dropped--and at every damned level of the whole thing. But the most upsetting part is realizing that flooding never should have happened, it is now acknowledged to have been an engineering failure really changes things. I can't even get mad at Ray Nagin anymore. I think the Wizbang folks got it right: as inept as he may have been, even HE had no reason to think there was a need for instant evacuation, because Katrina was only level 1 when it hit New Orleans, and New Orleans had weathered many Level 1 storms before.

Just astonishing that the whole thing's now been swept under the rug like that.
8.30.2006 4:20pm
Martin L. Shoemaker (www):
Everyone has their Truths from Katrina now, Dean, so they can't be bothered with facts. That seems to be a recurring theme at Dean's World today.
8.30.2006 4:32pm
Dean Esmay:
It do indeed.
8.30.2006 5:02pm
Tyrone Steels II (mail) (www):
My aunt has been complaining about those levees (or "water walls" as my aunt called them) since I can remember. When she used to come up and visit, she used to say:

I made it up here without drowning first!

I remember clear as day when she arrived here 1 week before Katrina hit. She said "New Orleans is done because those water walls can't hold back a garden hose". Even a laywoman had it figured out.
8.30.2006 5:15pm
MaryJ:
Tyronne,

That is quite a conversation with your Aunt and her friend. Yes, I can see why you say she has good ole' Louisana style good sense. It made me chuckle ;-)
8.30.2006 8:28pm
Mike (mail):
Common sense is so uncommon.
8.30.2006 8:43pm
Tyrone Steels II (mail) (www):
I did leave out some choice slang she dropped on her friend. Wanted this to be a family post.
8.30.2006 9:01pm
Martin L. Shoemaker (www):
Actually, MJ, I was thinking of how Aunt Raine reminded me of you. I can almost picture the two of you sitting over coffee, telling stories about Tyrone and Dean and laughing the day away.
8.30.2006 11:00pm
MaryJ:
Martin,

You've got that right! (you are a pretty special man to read dear one).

I do sit with some different friends and we talk away about George Bush, Iraq and Immigration. Oh, and of course we love his 'You Tube', music selections ;-) Most naturally Dean comes up, and I do like Tryon's style on some subjects. This article sure made me feel like I was sitting in the room with the two dear friends. The Auntie got to me and gave me a smile ;-)

Giggle giggle
8.31.2006 4:07am