Mickey Kaus is, for practical reasons, a steadfast opponent of the redundancies created by federalism. (Incidentally, so is Joe Wright, though you'll have to dig to find the post(s) in question.)
Of course I'm the kind of conservative who'd stand up for federalism, normally, though posts like this do a lot to undercut my argument.
Meanwhile, race-based horror stories here and here. There are words to describe the thugs mentioned here, none of which one can say in polite company.
Posted by Matt Bruce at September 5, 2005 07:01 PMThe article doesn't seem to really support itself.
"Behind the scenes, a power struggle emerged, as federal officials tried to wrest authority from Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Babineaux Blanco (D). Shortly before midnight Friday, the Bush administration sent her a proposed legal memorandum asking her to request a federal takeover of the evacuation of New Orleans..."
So... the problem isn't with federalism being confusing. The problem is our big bloated federal government wants to ride the pony, but the big bloated state government doesn't want to let them. Meanwhile, people are dying.
Corwyn, I'm going to give the state government the benefit of the doubt and assume that they want to keep control not merely out of spite, but because they think they can do a better job (which, while I don't know if it's true, is not obviously false).
The problem that Kaus is complaining about is that there's no obvious head honcho. It would clearly be better if one side were clearly in charge, regardless of which it was, so that time weren't wasted on these stupid power struggles.
Posted by: Paul at September 5, 2005 11:17 PMI've been thinking... David Duke almost got elected governor of Louisiana in 1991. What if he had succeeded, and if this disaster had happened while he was in office?
Posted by: west coast dork at September 6, 2005 12:45 AMMy point was that, according to the article, there IS a head honcho in charge: Governor Blanco. According to the article, the feds are pushing in, trying to get her to turn over control to them.
I don't fault Blanco one bit for resisting. Absent evidence to the contrary, I assume the locals can do a better job than the feds on a local issue. There certainly hasn't been any evidence to the contrary. (I remember a time not too long ago when that position was considered quintessential Republican. Now, I'd be lynched at GOP events for saying that).
Perhaps I unfairly gave the impression that I thought the locals weren't "letting the feds ride the pony" out of spite. That was not my intention.
Posted by: Corwyn at September 6, 2005 12:50 AM