Gulf Coast Governors Leaving National Guard Idle

[imurhuckleberry]

Source: CBS News

(CBS) All along the Gulf coast, local officials have been demanding more help from the federal government to fight the spill, yet the Gulf states have deployed just a fraction of the National Guard troops the Pentagon has made available, CBS News Chief Investigative Correspondent Armen Keteyian reports.

That's a particular problem for the state of Louisiana, where the Republican governor has been the most vocal about using all resources.

Gov. Bobby Jindal's message has been loud and clear, using language such as "We will only be winning this war when we're actually deploying every resource," "They (the federal government) can provide more resources" and "It's clear the resources needed to protect our coast are still not here."

But nearly two months after the governor requested - and the Department of Defense approved the use of 6,000 Louisiana National Guard troops - only a fraction - 1,053 - have actually been deployed by Jindal to fight the spill.

"If you ask any Louisianan, if you said 'If you had those troops, do you think they could be put to good use? Is there anything they can do in your parish?' I think they'd all tell you 'Absolutely,'" Louisiana state Sen. Karen Carter Peterson, D-New Orleans, said.


Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/06/24/eveningnews/main6615414.shtml

[JI7]

1. bunch of hypocrites, political whores

[babylonsister]

2. All their bitching and moaning, now they have manpower and

no plan. Brilliant.

[FBI_Un_Sub]

3. That's Louisiana. NT

[gateley]

4. Just heard Jindal today saying "the Federal Government isn't doing its job" -- I

HOPE a reporter asks "why haven't you utilized the entire National Guard allotment the Federal Government provided to you two months ago?"

He may be sincerely upset at the horror -- and who wouldn't be? -- but I think he's loving his time in the spotlight. Drama queen.

[Grassy Knoll]

5. This explains how others sees it........

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5C9Q7ZLMVM&feature=player_embedded

From Crooks and Liars.

[pitohui]

6. jindal is making noise to put $ in his pocket, he gives fuck-all for the state of louisiana

before this oil spill...what was the number one complaint everyone had about bobby jindal? bad enough that he can't get elected to any office unless he runs un-opposed so the GOP had to resort to all kinds of dirty tricks to slam a good and decent person who saved lives in katrina (blanco) so that a good and decent person wouldn't run against him...but now...he makes noise...why?

to put $ in his pocket

he is not interested in actually helping anyone or preserving our coast, he's looking for a pay-off, plain and simple

it's human nature to assume MOST people are good and decent and trying to do the right thing, but if you keep assuming that someone who profits by being a figurehead for the GOP is a good and decent person pretty soon you have reagon-omics

he isn't good & decent, and he isn't interested in cleaning up this spill

prior to the spill he spent almost his entire governor-ship OUTSIDE THE STATE campaigning for nat'l office...he hardly knew where baton rouge even was...

he is there to deal and to steal, not to keep the coast clean, and if you are fooled by any of this crew, the jindals, the nungessers, and the so on, well, what can i say? "won't get fooled again"? at what point do you admit to yourself that a libertarian/capitalist/hard-core republican is out for self considering their IDEOLOGY is based on being out for SELF, you're stupid to assume these people care about you or yours when they tell you to your face that life is about self interest...

jindal is a waste of oxygen, wow, who knew, what was your first clue

[barbtries]

8. rec a post

it's true. he's just grandstanding, what an asshole.

[atreides1]

14. I've never assumed most people are good and decent!

I have also never assumed that most people are trying to do the right thing!

I always assume that people are human with all the flaws that go with that description.

But your right Jindal is and has always been a waste of oyxgen, as are most Republicans, and even some Democrats(Ben Nelson).

[tomm2thumbs]

7. grandstanding, plain and simple /nt

[davidinalameda]

9. I can see Florida not using too many NG members

since the oil spill isn't as bad there yet but why hasn't Jindal put the ones at his disposal to work yet

[groundloop]

10. Gee, is it surprising I haven't seen this on Faux yet???

This story needs to be told far and wide. Jindal is such a, a, ah hell - I can't think of the right word for him I'm so pissed right now.

[earcandle]

11. These repugs have a very cruel agenda in mind. Who can blow these creeps out of the proverbial

water?  They need to be shamed, boycotted, and banned from
everywhere.  The government is paid by the people to serve the
people. If we are not being served, we need to stop paying. 
How?  No more payroll taxes coming out of your check. Fill out
a new W-4 and claim 10 dependents.  In six more months, by the
time taxes roll around things will be better.   Wanna bet?  

[Kringle]

12. states are having $$$ problems .nt

[nalnn]

13. Mississippi

I am not sure what the DoD allotment for my state is, but I know that the NG is present on the Coast. Primarily for cleanup when there aren't enough volunteers or other state employees available. They have not yet been called upon for this because there are enough vols. and Fisheries personnel at the moment.

If you look at a GoM current map, Mississippi has been very lucky. It makes one reason to be glad to live in a literally, Backwater state.