Kathleen Blanco

The Governor is taking a lot of heat for the delayed response. She was caught on a satellite feed telling an aid "I really should have called for the military" She was also caught on camera looking tired which some took as a sign of weakness.

In December she released documents and a timeline of communications that on the face shows she asked for assistance but somehow it didn't come. The press focused on several unsolicited staff emails advising her on fashion, posture political positioning. Her own communications were focused on business.

The dispute over federalization of the National Guard troops is historic. (see "Posse Comitatus"). The Congressional Investigations into the response to the storm developed these issues further but resulted in nothing.

Her handling of the contraflow evacuation planning and execution shows that she learns from experience and can pull off complex plans.

She initially communicated a recovery plan that was long on process but devoid of content, much less innovation. Then she seemed to be fall prey to the status quo as evidenced by the State Bond Commission under her tight control recommending spending millions of state development dollars on projects like a cargo airport study, baseball fields, picnic tables and an equine center in unaffected areas of the state. In other words “same-old, same-old.”

Her leadership is slow and measured.  As examples she was slow to get behind the Baker bill, take a stand on oil and gas severance taxes or take a position on repopulating the low lying areas of New Orleans.  However, once she does take a position she acts with determination to see it through.

The Louisiana Recovery Authority was the result of her efforts to put together a recovery plan. This group took the lead in managing CDBG funds allocated by the feds to rebuild the area. Blanco ultimately supported a Louisiana share in the severance taxes, the Baker Bill and drove a  special legislative session to deal with levee board reform in January.