Boustany learns fast
Rep. Charles Boustany (R-La.) having only been elected to Congress nine months ago, is apparently a quick study. As Jesse Lee noted yesterday, Boustany has already learned to abandon principles for political expediency.
For example, here’s Boustany on Sept. 1:
Rep. Charles W. Boustany Jr., (R-La.), said he spent the past 48 hours urging the Bush administration to send help. “I started making calls and trying to impress upon the White House and others that something needed to be done,” he said. “The state resources were being overwhelmed, and we needed direct federal assistance, command and control, and security — all three of which are lacking.”
And here’s Boustany on Sept. 2:
Rep. Charles W. Boustany Jr. (R-La.) said he spent hours on the phone yesterday at Acadian’s headquarters in nearby Lafayette pleading with the Pentagon to send more C-130s. By evening, after a short break to tour a center for storm victims with first lady Laura Bush, he still had not received an answer.
And then there’s Boustany yesterday:
“Most of the red tape and problems have been at the state level. I have to say that the federal response has been focused on New Orleans with search and rescue operations which is going very, very well at this stage. But we’ve had a completely ineffectual state response and this is being borne by the local communities to help now. and I have asked the president to take this into consideration, consider that the state response is completely ineffectual and the full range of social and health care needs needs to be met.”
If Boustany received White House talking points, encouraging him to blame his home-state officials, they must have been very persuasive.
what a schmuck!
If Boustany received White House talking points, encouraging him to blame his home-state officials, they must have been very persuasive.
Oh no, he simply remembered that he is a Republican and that he must work for his
constituency, not for those soggy useless bums in Louisiana.
Return to normalcy. About time, I’d say.
Haven’t heard much about DeLay lately, have we! — but I’m sure he’s hard at work behind the scenes promising nasty outcomes to those Republican members of Congress who dare to blame anything on other Republicans.
When they start handing out the Faithful Toady Awards this hot dog should be given one for his loyal service. To think in my own state
we have this level of sycophancy going on in spite of the obvious truth being available for anyone with a brain to see. Amazing!
Maybe he should talk to David Vitter and Mary Landrieu. They’ve
seen for themselves just how naked the emperor really is.
Talking points? HA! How about a big check. (Well, more likely CASH)
Payoffs, baby, payoffs.
The “we refuse to be held accountable for our actions” repubs are going to try to point the finger at Governor Blanco and Mayor Nagin - neither of whom are repubs.
Politics as usual.
Playing devil’s advocate here - After Boustany made that statement blaming the state and local government, did New Orleans get any federal aid? It seems the Bush admin could be waiting for the dems in charge to cry uncle.