Idiotic Comment of the Day

I know it is early, but we already have a winner. Mayor Ray Nagin made the following statements yesterday during the press conference where NOLA Police Chief Eddie Compass resigned:

"It's a sad day in the city of New Orleans when a hero makes a decision like this," said Nagin, who had appointed Compass in mid-2002. "He leaves the department in pretty good shape and with a significant amount of leadership."

Is Nagin talking about the same police department where 15% of the force quit on the job during the storm, failed to enforce the law throughout the situation, and basically threw its hands up from the top down, all while the Chief was saying things that weren't true on national television? Is Nagin living in some alternative universe where leadership for a police force means watching your police officers engage in the very looting they were supposed to be stopping and standing idly by?

How exactly is Compass a hero. What actions did he take that deserve slapping him with that term? I know that the Mayor wants to show that he's taking a leadership role here, but he could have done so without the empty platitudes. Compass is leaving the job in the middle of the crisis - it isn't over as the city still needs someone in a civilian role managing the law enforcement effort and to rebuild the police force from the ground up as it has essentially disintegrated.

What kind of leadership is that? For this Nagin labeled Compass a hero?

What does it say about the Mayor? And more to the point, what does that say for New Orleans and the next police chief? Will that person be qualified to handle the situation, rid the department of the corruption, lethargy, and self-destructive tendencies we saw in the aftermath of Katrina.

As for Michael Brown's testimony yesterday, there were a couple of close calls for idiotic comments, but Rep. Chris Shay's (R-CT) question nearly took the cake:

"I can't help but wonder how different the answers would be if someone like Rudy Giuliani had been in your position instead of you," Mr. Shays said. Mr. Brown responded angrily, saying, "I never thought I'd sit here and be berated because I'm not Rudy Giuliani."

Actually, the entire country should be thankful that this question was asked, since it once again shows how leaders rise to the occasion and actually lead, both through managing the situation and projecting leadership. None of the people who were supposed to lead in the early stages of the disaster preparation (Gov. Blanco, Mayor Nagin, Chief Blanco, or FEMA head Brown) did so - and then quickly made the situation even more difficult by passing the buck, sniping at each other and letting personal politics get in the way of saving lives.

It should also be noted that not even Giuliani might have been able to get Louisiana to improve its disaster response as it appears to be one of the most dysfunctional in the nation. The guy may have won the nation's respect and gratitude for handling 9/11 with grace and authority, but there are some things that even he can't do by himself. Louisiana's electorate will have to figure this out for themselves.

UPDATE:
CNN has more on Compass' resignation and names the successor.

The mayor named Assistant Superintendent Warren Riley as acting superintendent.

Lt. David Benelli, president of the union for rank-and-file New Orleans officers, said he was shocked by the resignation.

"We've been through a horrendous time," Benelli said. "We've watched the city we love be destroyed. That is pressure you can't believe."

Benelli would not criticize Compass.

"You can talk about lack of organization, but we have been through two hurricanes, there was no communications, problems everywhere," he said. "I think the fact that we did not lose control of the city is a testament to his leadership."

But in fact, chaos reigned in New Orleans as Katrina's floodwaters rose. Gunfire and other lawlessness broke out around the city. Rescue workers reported being shot at.

We're quickly gaining new contestants for idiotic comments of the day. Benelli thinks that the NOPD retained control of New Orleans? When? After the Louisiana and other state National Guard units, the Marines, US Army MPs, and law enforcement units from around the country (including the NYPD) showed up to take over because the NOPD ceased to operate as a cohesive unit? What about those rank and file officers who took up looting alongside the civilian looters who were busy grabbing electronics and other items despite the fact that there was no power to run them? That's maintaining control?

What this suggests is that no one is willing to do the hard work of cleaning up the Department. And that's a sad story indeed.

And CNN continues to peddle the story that rescue workers were shot at. Do we actually have confirmation of this or are we still experiencing the fog of media? The situation was bad enough without the media embellishments due to lack of following basic journalism - checking facts.

UPDATE:
Michelle Malkin has more.

Technorati: flood aid; hurricane katrina; katrina aid; looting; new orleans police; compass; waveland; nagin; blanco; barbour.