Ebbie,

No president sends military forces to a state without being asked by the governor of the state. It is the basis of federalism. I will agree that President Bush showed poor PR by not being more visable in the New Orleans tragedy. I also believe that the Mayor of New Orleans and the GOvernor showed very poor leadership skills in their dealing with the situation. WOuld you agree?

Case in point, look at the most recent hurricaine that has hit today. It has passed over much of Texas and the big problem is that people now want to return to their homes. THe problem is that in New Orleans there was a terrible flood. Related to the hurricaine. but a flood nontheless. The levees broke.

In our form of government, it falls on the people of an area to deal with their own issues. If there is a problem in California with power, it is the issue for Californians to take care of acquiring more power, making more porer ect to deal with California brown-outs. If a forest fire hits in Utah, it is by and large a Utah issue. Federal government is there for support, ancillary help, etc.

Do people in ALaska feel that their tax dollars should be spent building levees in New Orleans? I imagine they are more interested in dealing with ALaska issues and they probably feel that if people live in New Orleans they should be basically in charge of dealing with their own issues. This is the way I understand my government and the separation of states powers as opposed to what the federal government is responsible for.