Not Inspiring Confidence

Why would Governor Blanco get a combined Free Parking, Get out of jail and $10 Beauty Contest winner trifecta from Congressmembers investigating the failures during Katrina?

Because she said she shouldn't be asked?

Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Babineaux Blanco, blamed by the former leader of the Federal Emergency Management Agency and New Orleans Mayor C. Ray Nagin for many of the city's post-hurricane problems, was given no questions about her response to Hurricane Katrina when she appeared before a Senate committee to plead for more federal money.

She asked not to be questioned about it and the senators agreed.

Mrs. Blanco, a Democrat, was invited by the Senate Finance Committee to respond to charges by former FEMA Director Michael D. Brown, who the day before called Louisiana officials "dysfunctional" in handling the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

What is that about? Why is she getting a pass? It was her state involved. Her actions or inactions are crucial to determining what happened in the state. Some of the failures originated in her office. Wouldn't Congress like to know that these failures will be corrected in the future?

So she wants to talk about the future without discussing the past? Put all the errors down the memory hole and demand money from the federal government to pay for all kinds of programs. Sure. I'd go along with that; if I were an idiot who expected things to operate differently when absolutely nothing had changed from pre-Katrina to post-Katrina SOP. We have no idea what Louisiana did wrong or right during the Katrina preparations, and yet we are supposed to give money going forward on some kind of expectation interest? I want to know what happened before Katrina hit to make sure that we learn from the mistakes - not only in LA, but anywhere else a disaster could strike. Will plans be adhered to or thrown to the four winds? Will local authorities tuck tail and run at the first sign of trouble or will they do their jobs? Did corruption and petty political differences affect the planning, implementation, and execution of the plans?

We have no idea, because no one asked these questions of Blanco. And for that Congress should be ashamed. That's no way to engage in Congressional oversight.

Others covering this are Michelle Malkin and The Anchoress. Both are fuming. I don't quite think that goes far enough.

UPDATE:
Added link to original Washington Times news story.