2012 Category 5, studies schmuddies

Leaving no slack for any politician involved in New Orleans' crisis right now, here was the pathetic, lackadaisical response, to the most serious question every single New Orleans resident wants answered - New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin interviewed on NPR's Morning Edition, Friday:

Dr. Kevin Jordan: We're all waiting to find out what's going to happen with the levee system? It is a huge concern of everyone with whom I speak at the lunch table in between seeing patients. The levee system, and getting this levee system to a Category 5 protection level is the decision point for folks repopulating this city. What's the plan? What are we doing about it? Where is our government in order to do it?

Ray Nagin: Well you know the whole levee system I think that jump starts ah you know a serious acceleration of everything we're trying to do as far as rebuilding New Orleans, and here's what I know: Congress has appropriated $475 million to the Corps of Engineers through FEMA to build up to Category 3 "plus" standards with fortified levees. They also have appropriated $4.6 million this year, and another $8 million scheduled for next year to do the studies to get us to a Category 5 standard. There is no science right now for Category 5, so we need to get the best minds to figure out exactly how to do that.

Steve Inskeep: Well, given that that could take many years, what does that do for residents now deciding whether they want to risk their money and their lives rebuilding?

Ray Nagin: I think they ought to ah you know understand that the Category 3 "plus" plan that the Corps is working on right now, and have plans for, it's gonna be safety that we need to live ah you know with the water threat that comes every now and then.

What did you just hear? Did Ray Nagin actually offer anything that he's doing to contribute to the effort - to get the world's most talented engineers together to come up with a plan - hell, I'd even say he could pay taxpayer money to go to Holland. Come on Ray-Ray - you gotta do better than that!

1) "The "science" doesn't exist." Why then, Ray-Ray, has the Corps of Engineers had a Category 5 plan collecting dust for thirty years waiting for a commitment to build.

2) Studies schumddies. Sure, Ray-Ray, we need to study the issue. But do we have to wait two years for the studies to be reported before we get a commitment and start the appropriations process? NOW! RIGHT NOW! WHERE'S THE MONEY! WHERE'S THE PLEDGE! WE CAN'T WAIT .. WHAT? THREE, FOUR YEARS BEFORE THE FIRST SHOVEL HITS THE DIRT! ARE YOU CRAZY? ARE WE SUPPOSED TO BELIEVE YOU WHEN YOU SOUND LIKE YOU JUST TOOK A DOOBIE HIT? GET SERIOUS MAN! STOP SLOUCHING! STAND UP STRAIGHT AND GET TO WORK OR GET OUT OF THE WAY!

Ray-Ray, as you once screamed in that WWL interview with Garland Robinette:

I don't want to see anybody do anymore goddamn press conferences. Put a moratorium on press conferences. Don't do another press conference until the resources are in this city. ... It's too doggone late. Now get off your asses and do something, and let's fix the biggest goddamn crisis in the history of this country.

Ray-Ray, get off your ass and do something! When you go on NPR, at least sound like you have a plan man - it's the whole nation listening for christ sake! And if, when you meet with the president or congress and you don't hear what you want to hear, or if you do, then check in with us once in a while, okay, please, so we know WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON! And please, will you please start acting like this really is THE BIGGEST GODDAMN CRISIS IN THE HISTORY OF THIS COUNTRY! A-R-T-I-C-U-L-A-T-E! Articulate a plan Ray-Ray!

And hey, Ray-Ray ... take my cue: announce a 2012 target date for the ribbon cutting on a Category 5 storm protection system for south Louisiana. That'll light a fire under some people's asses to get them moving.