“We have done this so many time I am not going to put the residents through it again”

and let us not forget this one …

“Our shops will be open so come to Galveston this weekend”

These types of comments lead the public to believe there is nothing to fear, so why not hang around. I have friends in different parts of the country who are blaming the residents for not leaving. The don’t know the rest of the story because the local media has let the mayor slide on this one because…well, I am not really sure why.

While it is true some people will never leave, many who did not leave would have done so had the tone been different. The Mayor was obviously more concerned with generating revenue than following logical storm warning protocol. When you throw in her invitation to the evacuated residents to return too early and the media ban placed on city employees this really starts to look like extremely poor management.

It looks like the winds of change need to blow through Galveston Island city management.

Her desicion was totally irresponsible. It reflects an emotional desicion rather than a logical one. It does not matter how bad people want to get back if you cannot ensure their safety. Galveston has nothing! No gas, no EMS, no food, no water, nothing! It is no place for ordinary civilians, property owners or not, to be. When the entire area is starving for gas, she recklessly encouraged thousands to “come take a look”, wasting precious fuel. The vast majority never saw the island and had to turn back. Meanwhile critical relief vehicles were stuck in an unecessary traffic jam.

This woeful desicion is proof that Galveston should be under marshal law and the military and/or State Police should be calling the shots. Where were her advisors? Did no one tell her this was a very bad idea? She and anyone who did not oppose her should resign immediately. She is obviously in way over her head. Why didn’t the governor or someone step in and over-rule this dangerous lack of judgment? I am in absolute shock that this idea got even a moment of consideration let alone it actually was allowed to happen. People in leadership positions must act more responsibly. That’s what they are elected to do.

“In light of recent events, we have decided to change the name of Texas to Tina Turner”.

Why yes, that is my ticket to Hell. I’ll have an aisle seat for the trip, please.

I can also understand. After the lessons of Katrina, leaving for a hurricane was a one-way ticket for a slow death in poisonous trailers. That and I have few doubts that the same lack of resources for those without the transportation was in play again.

If there is death, it is entirely on the heads of Bush and his failures both to aid and to provide any sign that leaving would almost certainly be a worse prospect than certain death.