The hellhole formerly known as New Orleans

Bye Bye Big easy.

New Orleans mayor Nagin says the death toll will be in the thousands according to a quote in the Times-Picayune. Floating bodies and bodies trapped in attics and wreckage will be a major health problem. No one has any idea when the flood will be stemmed much less when the water will recede or when transportation and communication will be restored. Gangs of armed looters are using fork lifts to empty drug stores and gun stores and have fired at police; hitting at least one officer in a shootout. Trucks carrying food have been run down by hungry, armed mobs. The city is hoping to be able to send in 70 more officers.

“We are asking for more military presence in the city to control the situation better.” Mayor Nagin is quoted as saying. 70 officers? What about 7 thousand? What about 10 or 15 thousand National Guardsmen and a few hundred more in helicopters? A great American city is in its death throes. So where is that military presence? Ask George W. Bush.

According to the New York Times, “On New Orleans' Canal Street, dozens of looters ripped open the steel gates on clothing and jewelry stores and grabbed merchandise. In Biloxi, Miss., people picked through casino slot machines for coins and ransacked other businesses. “

''The looting is out of control. The French Quarter has been attacked,'' Councilwoman Jackie Clarkson said. ''We're using exhausted, scarce police to control looting when they should be used for search and rescue while we still have people on rooftops.''

Where are the troops, George? Getting ready to attack the Bahamas?

Read here in the Washington Post how Bush has gutted and reassigned FEMA so that it can't respond to disasters any more. Read here in Editor & Publisher how Bush killed funding for levee repair that would have saved the city. Read it, Red States and think about how you voted for them. Read it and weep.