Unfortunately, I believe that had Katrina happened last year, Bush would have won by a larger margin. Why? Remember, disasters is what made his administration: first 9/11 and then the quartet of hurricanes which struck Florida last year. If New Orleans were hit last year, the Bush Cheney 2004 campaign would have been at the forefront of the relief efforts, if only to collect more of the political capital he received after 9/11.

If Katrina happened last year, they would be working triple overtime to help out because it was an election year.

Does anyone have numbers regarding the voter breakdown in the Katrina affected regions related to the 2004 election?

It would be interesting to see if that area was pro-Bush.

Bush probably would have still won if Katrina happened last year because he most likely would have been more on top of the situation in an election year. What is his incentive to act quickly now?

Your argument is weak and full of holes. Let's explore fact. How long has the Department of Homeland Security existed? The Department of Homeland Security was established in 2002. The article's statement, "merged FEMA into the Department of Homeland Security, where natural disaster programs are often sidelined by counterterrorism programs," suggests there is sufficient history to make this characterization. There isn't. Besides, there aren't hard facts supplied to back up this opinion. Even if the main focus of the Department of Homeland Security is homeland security does not suggest that FEMA has no budget or competent people.

2. The article says that some services are being privatized. What does that prove? It proves nothing. Without measurements before and after privatization, nothing can be construed from that statement.

3. What does this mean? "Some FEMA veterans complained." How many? Two? Have you ever seen an organization where nobody complained after a change?

4. Moral at FEMA has plummeted. How does anybody know that? One would have to have access to agency surveys or internal memos, none of which should be in the hands of people outside the agency.

If you make a claim, you should be prepared to back it up. Those reading this article and commenting on it have accepted statements that don't say anything as though they do. This only proves the bias they have already, reading an article looking for statements that agree with what they feel. But that is the problem. They should be examining the facts and then forming an opinion rather than blindly reading stuff full of mischaracterizations and generalizations.

Did anybody happen to notice the characterizations used for Democrat Administrations vs. Republican Administrations? But you probably think that Jon Elliston is fair and balanced. It's funny how Democrats say they are for diversity but if your republican and state your opinion that openness goes away quickly.

Republican Administrations are characterized:
"They're doing a good job," one former FEMA executive says of the response efforts. "And the reason why they're doing that job is because it's so close to the election, and they can't f ... it up, otherwise they lose Florida – and if they lose Florida, they might lose the election."
sapping FEMA's long-term ability to cushion the blow of hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, tornados, wildfires and other natural disasters.

key federal disaster mitigation programs, developed over many years, have been slashed and tossed aside.

it's become more difficult to get the equipment and funds they need to deal with disasters.

residents of all disaster-prone states will find the government less able to help them when help is needed most, and both states and the federal government will be forced to shoulder more recovery costs.

powers bordering on martial law

FEMA rule would supplant constitutional government

questionably effective, reorganizations of FEMA

“. . . he wasn't a very open guy."

Realizing that the Lieberman Bill would likely pass both houses, with no credit given to the White House, in June 2002 the administration changed its tune, calling for a new Department of Homeland Security (DHS) larger than the one Lieberman had proposed.

Democrat Administrations are characterized:
"mitigation" – measures taken in advance to minimize damage caused by natural disasters – is a crucial part of the strategy to save lives and cut recovery costs.

set the agency on a corrective course

ambitious campaign to bulk up natural disaster programs while staying prepared for "all hazards."

reversed FEMA's reputation for being unfocused and ineffective

The agency garnered praise

FEMA fostered partnerships between federal, state and local emergency workers, along with local businesses, to prepare communities for natural disasters

Now let's talk about facts.

In 1971 New Orleans they had an opportunity to strengthen the levies. Instead they built the Superdome so they could keep football.

Communications completely failed right after the hurricane. Did the mayor and the governor not know that when power went out and the phone lines went down that they would need an alternative communication plan?

"The day after the storm President Bush asked Governor Blanco to get the National Guard into New Orleans. Nothing happened. He then asked her to give him federal authority over the Louisiana National Guard, but she refused."
http://www.thenews.org/main.cfm/include/displayIssueArticles/issue_date/20050916.html

The authority and responsibility to get the National Guard mobilized in a specific state belongs to the Governor and only the Governor can reliquish that authority. But she blamed FEMA for the slow response.

Everybody was warned to get out of the way of the hurricane. They didn't leave. Why is that the governments fault? Don't tell me they didn't have resources, transportation, or any place to go. Those reasons may have been true for a minority. The first thing most people did when they arrived at a Red-Cross shelter outside of New Orleans was to use the free phone. If they didn't have any place to go who were they calling? The pioneers in this country's early years walked across several states to move west for opportunity. These people were facing death and couldn't walk 100 miles north? I saw on TV a woman complaining because she hadn't had a hot meal since she arrived at the shelter. During that time my wife and I both work full time in Florida and we didn't eat a hot meal either. Why was she demanding a hot meal in the middle of a situation she was told to get out of? This woman obviously did not listen because they were told there was no food or water in the Superdome (shelter of last resort).