From RWV on September 6th and along with Pundita on September 13th
In talking to several people, including a high level State Government Official, a Senior, experienced individual involved with regional emergency planning and more than a few other credible sources, one word always stood out so plainly I began to think the New Orleans Levee Board might be a fruit. The word was Plum, as in political. The levee board is a quasi-political governmental body, translation: according to some, how much did you give and to whom did you give it. But maybe that's just talk - a lot of talk. Because the levee board has done many things:
Along with establishing an Airport and Marina, the levee board is said to have also played a key role in establishing a floating casino and a fiber-optic cable network around the levee. Unfortunately, fiber optics don't hold back much water. However, I would think they, along with a marina, casino and private airport certainly could be good for business. One source indicated that the levee board spent approximately two-million dollars to erect a fountain and light show at a local lake in recent years.
And NBC on Sept. 14
By Lisa Myers & the NBC Investigative Unit NBC News
Updated: 6:26 p.m. ET Sept. 14, 2005 MSNBC TRANSCRIPT "The unveiling of the Mardi Gras Fountain was celebrated this year in typical New Orleans style.
The cost of $2.4 million was paid by the Orleans Levee Board, the state agency whose main job is to protect the levees surrounding New Orleans -- the same levees that failed after Katrina hit. "They misspent the money," says Billy Nungesser, a former top Republican official who was briefly president of the Levee Board.
"Any dollar they wasted was a dollar that could have went in the levees." Nungesser says he lost his job because he targeted wasteful spending. "A cesspool of politics, that’s all it was," says Nungesser. "[Its purpose was to] provide jobs for people."
Hmmm ... guess that's why they call it news!
Oh it's time to clean up the dirty politics in Louisiana. It's high time. I lived there for 47 yrs and you think joisey is bad..ha!
Posted by: DeeDee | Wednesday, September 14, 2005 at 10:43 PM
You're absolutely right, DeeDee. On behalf of my state on Jersey I bow before Louisiana's superior skullduggery. Truly, the state stands proudly upon the pinnacle of lowness.
Dan: Congrats on the Instalanche. Well deserved. Gee it only took NBC a week to catch up huh.
Posted by: Mr. Snitch! | Wednesday, September 14, 2005 at 11:05 PM
The Louisiana political machine is in serious trouble:
http://www.willisms.com/archives/2005/09/trivia_tidbit_o_166.html
Posted by: Will Franklin | Wednesday, September 14, 2005 at 11:59 PM
New Orleans To Prosecute Underage Rescuer For Driving An Ungreased Bus!
http://satire.myblogsite.com/blog/_archives/2005/9/3/1195810.html
Well, now you know how the machine works.
Posted by: james | Thursday, September 15, 2005 at 12:53 AM
As more and more information like this comes out, New Orleans is going to look more ridiculous, its "leaders" will get less sympathy, and there will be increasing skepticism about pouring money into "rebuilding" life as it was before the flood. At least I hope so.
Posted by: The Hedgehog | Thursday, September 15, 2005 at 10:50 AM
I have fond memories of the Election Night Drinking Game in New Orleans. Each time the words "indictment" or "scandal" came up in relation to a candidate, you took a shot.
Never did make it to the final results before passing out.
Posted by: Arnold | Thursday, September 15, 2005 at 03:45 PM
I own u; stay gay, watch tv & Die.
Stu "d!ckless" Lantz- black jew(gay-tv/phoenix, az. since 1997)Nazi- brain Damaging brainwasher/Murderer, overly sodomized homo tranny.
Posted by: Stu Lantz | Thursday, October 27, 2005 at 01:42 PM