From the article at CBS.com:
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.
-snip-
As of today, the federal government has authorized a total of 17,500 National Guard troops across four Gulf states, all to be paid for by BP.
But CBS News has learned that in addition to Louisiana's 1,053 troops of 6,000, Alabama has deployed 432 troops of 3,000 available. Even fewer have been deployed in Florida - 97 troops out of 2,500 - and Mississippi - 58 troops out of 6,000.
What is going on? These GOPer Governors are all saying the Federal Government needs to do more, yet the resources the President has given them are not being used.
It's believed officials in Alabama, Florida and Mississippi and are reluctant to use more troops because their presence could hurt tourism. In hardest-hit Louisiana, however, Jindal is pointing fingers.
"Actually we asked the White House to approve the initial 6,000," Jindal said. "What they came back and said is the Coast Guard and BP had to authorize individual tasks."
But Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen, the national incident commander in charge of the government's response to the spill, said Jindal is just flat wrong.
"There is nothing standing in the governor's way from utilizing more National Guard troops," Allen said.
In fact, the Coast Guard says every request to use the National Guard has been approved, usually within a day. Now Jindal's office acknowledged to CBS News the governor has not specifically asked for more Guard troops to be deployed.
Whether it's simple confusion or the infusion of politics into the spill, the fact remains thousands of helping hands remain waiting to be used.
Why are they lying about the Guard when the Governor's are the ones responsible for utilizing them, after they have been approved by the Administration.
To me this is just another attempt to paint the President as not doing his job, at the expense of Gulf Coast residents... and politics. The GOPers want to point fingers at the President, yet here they are standing in the way of progress in cleaning up the oil.
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Just politics as usual? Or something else keeping them from allowing the Guard to help.
4 comments:
It's politics as usual no matter how much it hurts the people and every little critter down to the tiniest cell. It is so outrageous.
Of course it's politics with these republican bastards. They would rather people suffer than give Obama any victory. They've done this crap since Reagan with their government bankrupting supply side economic nonsense. Their goal is to render government useless as a protecter of the average American. It is only to be used as a tool for the rich and powerful.
Ever wonder why so many of them are so devoted to the feudalist kook Ayn Rand?
yes, the GOP is doing this on purpose just like they are doing in the halls of Congress by obstructing every single thing Pres. Obama is trying to do to help Americans. The GOP thinks if they obstruct enough the economy and every other disaster happening will worsen to the point voters will turn to them in November!! This is how stupid the voters are, they are not educated and paying attention to who the GOP really are! This infuriates me to no end so if I have spelling errors I'm sorry, I am so pissed at this country!!!
I was dumbfounded when I saw this.. and then it figured too.. They are just doing anything they can to make the president look bad.... and the media is complicit in this..
I am really surprised CBS did this... but at least someone is... Rachel covered it tonight too.
Thanks all for reading and commenting.
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