Impressions From The Hurricane Coverage

Impressions I received while watching media coverage of the recent hurricanes.

TX: A productive, industrious state run by Republicans.
LA: A government-dependent, welfare state run by Democrats.

TX: Residents evacuate themselves.
LA: Residents wait for government to evacuate them.

TX: Local and state officials protect their citizens and property.
LA: Local and state officials blame federal government for not protecting their citizens and property.

TX: Command and control remains in place to preserve order.
LA: Command and control collapses allowing lawlessness.

TX: Law enforcement officers remain on duty to protect city.
LA: Law enforcement officers desert their posts to protect themselves.

TX: Local police watch for looting.
LA: Local police participate in looting.

TX: Law and order remains in control, 8 looters arrested.
LA: Anarchy breaks out, looters take over city, no arrests, criminals with guns have to be shot by federal troops.

TX: Flood barriers hold preventing cities from flooding.
LA: Flood barriers fail due to lack of maintenance allowing city to flood (despite billions of federal dollars given to the state over the past 30 years to reinforce the Levees) .

TX: Orderly evacuation away from threatened areas, few remain.
LA: 25,000 fail to evacuate, are relocated to another hurricane area.

TX: Citizens evacuate with personal 3 day supply of food and water.
LA: Citizens evacuate without 3 day supply of food and water, do without it for the next 4 days.

TX: FEMA brings in tons of food and water for evacuees. State officials provide accessible distribution points.
LA: FEMA brings in tons of food and water for evacuees. State officials prevent citizens from reaching distribution points and vice versa.

LA: Media focuses on poor blacks in need of assistance, blames Bush.
TX: Media can't find poor blacks in need of assistance, look for something else to blame on Bush.

TX: Coastal cities suffer some infrastructure damage, Mayors tell residents to stay away until ready for re-population, no interference from federal officials.
LA: New Orleans is destroyed, Mayor asks residents to return home as another hurricane approaches, has to be overruled by federal officials.

LA: Over 400 killed by storm, flooding and crime.
TX: 24 killed in bus accident on highway during evacuation, few storm related deaths.

TX: Jailed prisoners are relocated to detention facilities outside the storm area.
LA: Jailed prisoners are set free to prey on city shops, residents, and homes.

TX: Local and state officials work with FEMA and Red Cross in recovery operations.
LA: Local and stae officials obstruct FEMA and Red Cross from aiding in recovery operations.

TX: Local and state officials demonstrate leadership in managing disaster areas.
LA: Local and state officials fail to demonstrate leadership, require federal government to manage disaster areas.

TX: Fuel deliveries can't keep up with demand, some run out of gas on highway, need help from fuel tankers before storm arrives.
LA: Motorists wait till storm hits and electrical power fails. Cars run out of gas at gas stations that can't pump gas. Gas in underground tanks mixes with flood waters.

TX: Mayors move citizens out of danger.
LA: Mayor moves himself and family to Dallas.

TX: Mayors continue public service announcements and updates on television with Governor's backing and support.
LA: Mayor cusses, governor cries, senator threatens president with violence on television, none of them have a clue what went wrong or who's responsible.