Castro, Blanco, Nagin and New Orleans

Did you know that Blanco and Nagin might have been having a feud because Nagin was actually a Republican before switching parties to run for Mayor? Pundita has a lot of detail on the backgrounds of the key players in New Orleans.

Many in the center and on the Left are being critical of Bush for refusing help from Cuba in the form of 1,600 doctors:

HAVANA -- The United States still has not responded to Cuba's offer of 1,600 doctors to help victims of Hurricane Katrina, Cuba said yesterday.

The response "has yet to arrive, and may never come," said a front-page government statement in Granma, the ruling Communist Party daily.

But it appears Kathleen Blanco - who recently sent a delegation to Cuba

h/t Pundita: Blanco has traveled more than her predecessor, Mike Foster, to seek economic development for the state. She has visited Nova Scotia, and in December 2004, visited Cuba to boost trade with the state. On her controversial visit to Cuba, she met with Cuban President Fidel Castro.

seems ready to accept the offer:

Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco declared a public health emergency in her storm-ravaged state and suspended rules requiring doctors from other states or countries to acquire a license to practice in the state.

Under an executive order signed Tuesday, doctors need only present photo identification and a copy of their license from their home state or country to begin assisting victims of Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana.

Of course, the press doesn't seem to report the item below with the same zeal as the former item,  it clearly indicates this is little more than an attempt at political one-up-man-ship by Castro at a time when the US has suffered a great catastrophe.

Castro himself has routinely turned down offers of U.S. humanitarian relief for hurricanes and other disasters in Cuba. After Hurricane Dennis pummeled the island in July, he expressed gratitude but rejected Washington's offer of $50,000 in aid.

So, Blanco, in at least some off camera remarks, has appeared leery of even getting the US Military involved - and dropped the ball in so many other ways:

As a former state legislator who represented the legislative district most impacted by the eruption of Mount St. Helens in 1980, I can fully understand and empathize with the people and public officials over the loss of life and property.

The actions and inactions of Gov. Blanco and Mayor Nagin are a national disgrace due to their failure to implement the previously established evacuation plans of the state and city. Gov. Blanco and Mayor Nagin cannot claim that they were surprised by the extent of the damage and the need to evacuate so many people. Detailed written plans were already in place to evacuate more than a million people. The plans projected that 300,000 people would need transportation in the event of a hurricane like Katrina. If the plans had been implemented, thousands of lives would likely have been saved.

however, now she's positioning herself to bash Bush for refusing aid via political gamesmanship from a Communist tyrant ... real nice. I'm glad they aren't politicizing this thing.

Be sure and visit Pundita for some more good stuff.

Comments

[!]

This women has no business being governor of any state.

[DeeDee]

!: I agree. She has a down to earth way about her that is deceptive in my opinion. Men tend to believe her a little easier that the women I have spoken to in the state. I suppose that could be a pole bender for any politician. She won by a small margin. It had a lot to with the "trust" factor between the sexes. I bet a lot of men regret that vote since Katrina.

[callmeBetty]

Great article at Pundita.....
Thanks for the link Dan. Interesting stuff. Nice diversion from doing my filing. lol

What is the big deal about Cuba anyways. Personally, I am sick of it....the whole commie/embargo thing. The Berlin Wall came down. The Cold War is over isn't it?

The price of oil has doubled in the last two years. Poor caribbean countries may not be able to absorb bottom line price increases as easily as the US. I admire Chavez for reaching out and offering oil at reduced prices to them. He's cut the same deal with Jesse Jackson for some US contracts to serve poor people here. Politics, yes. But a Chavez/Castro alliance - doesn't bother me. Call me stupid. I think it's time to reach out and remove some of these barriers. At least travel visas, for crying out loud...... I'd go, too.

[TheAlamo]

But a Chavez/Castro alliance - doesn't bother me. Call me stupid. I think it's time to reach out and remove some of these barriers. At least travel visas, for crying out loud...... I'd go, too.

Posted by: callmeBetty | Sep 17, 2005 5:17:57 PM

I guess it really shouldn't matter since we put both of them in power in the first place. Wonder why Americans haven't figured out why all the people we put into power turn out to be dictators or communists?

[LALady]

I agree with Gov. Blanco's idea of trade with Cuba....first, we will trade her to Cuba for some cigars, then Clinton can hand them out.
I live in Louisiana.

[minnesota libertarian]

Looks like Castro will have to hold a bunch of families of these doctors hostage while they are helping in Louisiana so that they don't decide to defect (think about it.....$300,000 a year working part time isn't a bad gig compared to the peanuts made in Cuba). ml

[Dan]

Looks like Castro will have to hold a bunch of families of these doctors hostage while they are helping in Louisiana so that they don't decide to defect (think about it.....$300,000 a year working part time isn't a bad gig compared to the peanuts made in Cuba).

Very good point, actually. I suspect if he thought the offer would be taken up, it might not have been made. We'd probably wind up with a bunch of convicts in white smocks ala a part of the boat people fiasco of the past. As if we dont have enough criminals practicing medicine here already. ; )

[AuntJ]

Might not be related to this thread but I got to thinking about when a blizzard might hit my area of the US - under the NO/LA plan, I get to plan FEMA, George Bush and the federal government when my street doesn't get plowed on the first day?

[AuntJ]

Actually - that should be "blame" and not plan! Tx.