re: #186 Lupin

I entirely agree with you, but people here saw it more as “they can’t do it” because the notion of “they could but won’t do it” was beyond their ability to conceive (just as much as, say, the French Government abandoning, say, Bordeaux after a hurricane; literally inconceivable).

So they saw it as a sign of weakness, as in “America isn’t so powerful after all.” Not endorsing, just explaining.

They are not alone in being bewildered. The federal response to both disasters was appalling, as if neither NOLA nor PR were US territories. But you can bet if similar disasters happened to the ritzy parts of Florida or of the northeastern states, the feds would be tripping over their own feet they’d be in such a hurry to help.