If I had 30 seconds with the President in New Orleans

[Gozzmaster]

That newsreader is an arshole

[coldfish85]

To know how its like to live in new orleans u have to live in new orleans. Anybody else wouldn't be able to feel the same. To know it be part of it.

ONly we new orleanians know how it feels to miss new orleans.

[grgxbx360]

Chris Matthews sounded as impressed as I am with your proposal...

[Traveler2112]

If you believe the oceans are going to rise as they are predicting it doesn't matter. Levees are useless in the long run. It's already below sea level. They need to clear New Orleans and break the levees and let it go instead of wasting billions trying to upgrade a doomed soup bowl. And do it before we end up with a tragedy worse than Katrina ever was. But they won't do it.

[MrRue9]

Traveler2112, You are very ignorant and misinformed. New York would be underwater if a Category 5 Hurricaine hit it. New Orleans is a major port for the US and helps drive the economy.

Most of New Orleans is not below sea level like Holland is. The have a great levee system there and that is why they don't flood. Please educate yourself and live out your days in whatever boring town your from.

[Traveler2112]

And just how high do you propose they build the levees? It is the 5th Largest US port. No medal for 5th place. Has nothing to do with where I live. Looking at what happened in the past there. New Orleans has a much better chance of catching a Cat 5 than New York. Closest for New York was a Cat 3 that hit part of Long Island and New England in 1938. I'm thinking of possible loss of life not $ a port can make. Hope they do better the next time it happens. Save your insults I could care less.

[LeveesOrg]

The difference in storm surge for 100 year and 1,000 year protection for the main basin of New Orleans is only 3 feet .

[MrRue9]

I am not insulting you just pointing out how you are misinformed and the definition of ignorant is unaware because of a lack of relevant information or knowledge. South Louisiana is the #1 Port according to trade and tonnage.

New Orleans is 7th and Baton Rouge 10 so in South Louisiana we have 3 top 10 Ports in the US, so you think there is no economic significance. Wake up and smell the Coffee and Chickory. I live in New Orleans so I know what goes on here. Where do you live?

[Traveler2112]

Your changing your info from New Orleans to include all of S. La. But that was expected. But you are right. In the long run $ will always be put first before human life. Because a new port could never be built anywhere else to replace New Orleans. Show me where I said there was no economic significance? Never wrote those words. Don't lecture me on the meaning of words either. Run for office then you can direct everyone to safety the next time it happens since you know everything about there.

[MrRue9]

You know nothing of life or human lfe in New Orleans. I have friends who live here from New York, Philadelphia, L.A., Ireland, etc. They now the importance of Life in New Orleans. Port of South Louisiana is 90 miles south of New Orleans. No New Orleans, No Port of South of Louisiana. Obviously you have never lived here and don't understand. "They need to clear New Orleans and break the levees and let it go." Anyone that lives here disagrees with you and you will not mention where you live

[Traveler2112]

Yes I know nothing of life. You know everything about me. You must be psychic. I know nothing about life. You just keep on saying that. I really hope the future is good to New Orleans and they are better prepared next time but I doubt it. I was born in Florida. Lived in Texas, Arkansas, Guam, Korea, South Carolina, Louisiana (Alexandria and Leesville), Germany, Bosnia, North Carolina and now back in Florida. You take care and good luck.

[MrRue9]

I wish you luck as well. If you never lived in New Olreans, you don't understand my passion for it. I would never post Texas and Arkansas should be a wasteland because of Tornadoes. So please don't tell people anywhere in the world they should not live in their hometown . We live life to the fullest and appreciate culture and the history of New Orleans. I leave you with the words of Lafcadio Hearn. " Better to live in New Orleans than own the whole state of Ohio."

[Fibernocci]

Chris is a tool. He is like most insular people. The hurricane hit my town of Slidell and went on to destroy the towns in Mississippi & the Gulf Coast. THE LEVEES FAILED!! Slipshod engineering and greed. "Levees can fail" coming to a town near you! We need levees, let's build them like the Dutch, they rock!

[drkink66]

Kudos to Ms. Rosenthal for standing up to that jerk Chris Matthews. She made her point (repeatedly) and he couldn't - or wouldn't - get it through his thick skull. Let's hope Obama saw the interview, and got Sandy's message instead of Chris's arrogant "science class" posturing.

[oslin1]

Nice job, Sandy.  Let's hope Obama is listening!

[kkroessner]

Attention to the issues of Katrina will have to come from many angles. Education of the public will shift the focus of the disaster as "an act of God" to the failure of the levees built to protect this vital city and port. Educated citizens will learn that the Army Corps of Engineers was responsible for the deadly flooding. Citizens willing to make their voices heard will contact their senators and representatives. Pressure will force a change bringing the Katrina disaster into the spotlight.

[dprentice16]

Well done, Sandy!

I can't stand Matthews. Thanks (I think) for the refresher course on why. Pompous azz, and blowhard personified, and that's just for starters.

You held your own, despite what I perceive as CM's attempted brow beating.

You and your org are getting the word out! Keep up the good work.

[kkroessner]

Attention to the issues of Katrina will have to come from many angles. Education of the public will shift the focus of the disaster as "an act of God" to the failure of the levees built to protect this vital city and port. Educated citizens will learn that the Army Corps of Engineers was responsible for the deadly flooding. Citizens willing to make their voices heard will contact their senators and representatives. Pressure will force a change bringing the Katrina disaster into the spotlight.

[kkroessner]

Matthews dismissed the issue as relevant, and he was disrespectful to Ms. Rosenthal. His tone was callous and reflected the ignorant attitude of the majority of the population. It also served to reinforce the notion of "why should we care about this?'' He could have at least summed up Sandy's foremost point of curbing Katrina shorthand in the media, and shifting the attention to the Army Corps of Engineers' gross negligence. It was not "an act of God." The levees broke. THE LEVEES BROKE.

[spktruth200]

Did Obama as a candidate use Katrina to get votes? Why would he fly over? Matthews is a no nothing corporate supporter. Thank god he didnt run for Senator.

[beatrixxy]

Chris Matthews flippant tone to Sandy is an indication of how many Americans feel about New Orleans. Also--he didn't do any research before this interview. Sandy really is a great advocate for the cause, but I think Matthews made her argument sound flimsy. Chris, don't play "hard ball" with the heroes, stupid! Sandy is a hero for New Orleans.

[muzzmatrix]

"....because he sounds like a whiner....like most of the people that watch him religiously. It's like why do people go watch the Detroit Lions play at Ford Field? Because their lives are so pathetic at home, they need to scream at someone else for a few hours."

[smujismuj]

Matthews has all the intellectual prowess of a jr. high school soccer coach.

Why does this goober have a talk show?

[OwbeDoBedo]

Matthews is a fool, dis-information agent.

There are parts of this city that should never be used for residents. They should be used for drainage and parks. Like San Fransisco we're landlocked. There's only so much habitable land. That land can be protected, but failure of our CORRUPT government has made that impossible.

It wasn't levees that failed, it was a corrupt government that is failing us.

[algiers400]

This is not New Orleans area problem. This is a US Gov't problem and gross shortcoming in not providing adequate levee construction and protection. This short coming killed people and destoryed lives and property. Thanks, Sandy for all your work.

[audubon5425]

Chris Matthews is a yellow journalist. What else would you expect but for him to try to belittle and disrespect not only Ms. Rosenthal but everyone who's been a victim of civil engineering disasters.

[annaliviab]

Great interview! Correcting the language of Katrina shorthand is so critical!

[ascii3fhex]

Obama doesn't give a damn about New Orleans. My observation is that the Nobel Laureate regards it as his predecessor's screw-up, rather than his.

[starjunkie1]

Obama only cares what His central Banking Handlers say! David Rockefeller might as well have his hand up Obamas Back woking him like a Puppet! Financial Oligarchs and Tax Exempt Foundations decide what the new Agenda shall be!CHANGE THAT GLOBAL ELITE CAN BELIEVE IN, YES WE CAN!!!!

[bbethany7]

Right on, Bro! The big O, like every other recent prez, senator or congressman, is a tool of an entrenched cabal

of extremely powerful big business moguls and bankers

who have us all by the short hairs.

[dad7732]

Chris Matthews is nothing more than a drive-by-media nincompoop. He kept trying to badger Sandy by asking if she thinks there should be any levees at all. What a jerk. Sandy did a great job in that interview.

[chrisdier]

Great interview. Sandy knows what needs to happen in the New Orleans area. I hope Obama listens to our plea. This issue is about the most fundamental of human rights- the right to life. As well as the right to property, etc.

We, or the wetlands and its inhabitants, shouldn't suffer from the manipulation of nature by big corporations and ignorant government officials at our expense. Life is more important than profit. We demand to know the truth.

Thank you Sandy.

[HenscheMan]

Chris Mathews is not exactly my idea of a forum to discuss the security of New Orleans in. Nevertheless, attention is needed to dispell the ignorance behind these issues and get something going with Vitter's and Landrieu's Bill to remedy this problem. Proper levees can be built but that would require an independent study be done on the existing ones and by all means, "to LEARN from history" before we end up repeating it.

[curtrock]

Katrina offered a chance to rebuild a city built on a bad idea...Dutch engineering for levee systems...eliminate neighborhoods in danger zones ...

[daedalusmc]

it's about time he made his way down to nola

[rollsthepaul]

In today's climate New Orleans is collateral damage and so will be many other locations. If you think the problems created by our government are bad, you should see their solutions. Prepare by putting down supplies, stay tuned, help your neighbor and try to stay alive. The help that we will get is already here and it is us.

[lnhtennis]

The levees of the Mississippi River were built to tame the banks of the river and are long standing and truly keep the river running in it's course. The diversion of the natural course of the river is what is responsible for the loss of wetlands in Louisiana. That loss is now the size of the state of Delaware... This situation is dire and until Congress see's that and acts appropriately, the BS on Wall street and saving car company's, bank's etc. is ridiculous. Save a STATE!!!!!

[lnhtennis]

Chris Matthews still doesn't get it. The levees that were built after Hurricane Betsy by the Army Corp of Engineers to protect the city from future storms, are the levees that failed and destroyed 80% of the city. The "repair" work is an example of continued waste and the appearance of doing "something" but, it is not comforting to me 4 years later that true levee protection is occurring in this area. The grace of God has spared us with quiet hurricane seasons. An 8/29 Commission =answers 2 ?'s

[mixplix100]

Forget the reviews they happened already when it was discovered that the funds that were supposed to go to repair the levies was used for other costs. The State was responsible not the Feds. Bush was criticized for sending 2 aircraft carriers there that had doctors, fresh water, helo's and medical supplies. Hind sight is 20/20.

[flanneryged]

Holland and the "Low" Countries are the perfect place to start.These People have been fighting against high Seas for generations.The greater part of Holland is reclaimed from the turbulent North Sea.

I would also like to add this on a personal point.I have always had a longing to go to New Orleans,when I see the Videos of how it looks now my Heart breaks.Ever since Sugar Ray beat Roberto Duran in this very city it has remained one of my favourites.God go with the good people who live there.

[lablvr55]

Yes, Civil Engineering Mistakes and continuing mistakes. Start caring about New Orleans, the same thing will happen to you in Boston, Washington,DC, Honolulu, Sacramento, New York City, etc. You are all in line for the same catastrophe or WORSE. Let's get going now !!!

[jayezzo]

Obama is turning out to be a Big Lie working for the same criminals.

[NewOrleansBon]

Great job on a critical message. I don't understand what you mean by Katrina shorthand, though. Would someone explain.

[HenscheMan]

The Bottomline is that the levees NEED to be constructed properly. Sandy went to Holland and saw first hand what man can do to control water IF THE ENGINEERING and study is done properly. The issue of the mississippi River and the marshland is another matter which could be remedied partialy by letting the river flood the marshed periodically and deposit its silt into the marshland. This would restore the marshes over time.

[milagrep]

She's just say that it wasn't the hurricane Katrina, it was the failures of the levees and smaller wetlands that caused new Orleans to flood. So when people refer to the disaster as Katrina, it implies a natural disaster and not a federal infrastructure failure.

[roseagain2]

How is it not both?  Levees wouldn't have broken without Katrina.

[milagrep]

The problem was that the levees were built to withstand a storm Katrina's size. They broke because they were originally built shallower than reported (basically they said they built them 20 ft deep, but they were only 17 1/2 ft deep, so someone pocketed some cash there) and they were not maintained. Cracks had been reported for years and nothing was done about it.

[dad7732]

Well of course it's "both". Without one you can't have the other. What Sandy is referring to by not being Katrina, is that the levee system failed because of poor design and construction. If the levees were built correctly then there would not have been a disaster such as was experienced.

[roseagain2]

No shit!

[sheema56]

I think she is referring to blaming all that has occurred on Katrina exclusively, without addressing the part that the levee failure played in the final disaster.

[madamesing]

Right on Sista!! Keep up the great job, we are behind you all the way.... unlike our levees!

[Zmbie]

Yahoo! Sandy you sure didn't flinch!!! You stayed right on topic, no matter how hard he tried to divert you.

Thank You for representing the people and carrying the message so well!!!

[milagrep]

It seems Chris Matthews was thinking the levees and wetlands were related. The levees aren't related to the shrinking of the wetlands. Those are two colliding issues. The levees simply protect the city of New Orleans.

[bjmalus]

Yes, Mr. Matthews got stuck on, "Are you for or against levees?" The answer to that question isn't whether you are for or against. Facts are that levees have been used to control the Miss., causing issues to arise that have created a disaster.

It doesn't matter whether you are for or against, an independent investigation will answer that question.

And yes, what happened in New Orleans and St. Bernard parish does serve as warning to the rest of the country.

[ezking76]

Great job Sandy.

If I had 30 seconds, I'd also would tell him that he needs to spend 1 hr in Marine One over the wetlands with a few of our states independent and credible coastal scientists.

[spacely7]

Nice job Sandy. Sign the Executive Order; stop saying Katrina flooded New Orleans & St. Bernard.

[chiffarobe]

Sandy, you did an excellent job. How can one answer complex questions about the centuries of complex hydrology in South Louisiana?

"Are you for the gall bladder or against it?"

"You have thirty seconds to answer correctly."

America is a game show. And because of the complex nature of science and engineering in the 21st century of global thinking, we may already be a loser. And only the carny barkers get to ask the questions.

8/29 is the only intelligent solution. Ignorance=death.

[EricKodjo]

CM kind of missed the point here.

Well built levees & wetland protection are not an either or choice. Both are possible & necessary.

Doing both right requires, as a 1st step, a broad coordinated understanding of what we previously did wrong.

[CrescentCityRay]

I bet the President doesn't realize how offensive New Orleanians find the Katrina shorthand by him of all people.

I mean, it feels like he just used our losses to help himself get elected.

[LittleGreenFrog2]

Over a century ago, a Mr. Eads pushed for the building of levees on the Mississippi River all the way down to the Gulf. This was done within the Victorian mind set of "eminent domain" and for the benefit of commercial interests.

<

Chris Matthews played the jerk because that is his personality. His type is one of the reasons I stopped watching TV altogether. You said what had to be said, Sandy. Go get them!

[55cameo57]

Army corp problems are not localized to the NO. The Army Corp of Engineers has more problems up in Washinton state, in the cities near and in, the green river valley that are in danger of flooding this winter due to the Corp having to let more water from a faulty dam up stream of thousands of homes and bussibesses.The Corps decision to flood the valley to protect the dam from collapse., has caused property values to declined drastically. Sandy Thanks for being a bulldog for justice.

[JJoompa]

You go Sandy! And I must agree with CrescentCityRay. Mr. Matthews did seem like he was trying to contradict her. What a slimeball!

[CrescentCityRay]

What we need, so the Corps doesn't drown us again, is that independent levee investigation so sorely needed like Sandy says. The life, properties and jobs of half the nation are at stake.

[Ogmern]

Well done, Sandy. Thanks for all your hard work for the people of New Orleans.

[blogometer]

Maybe a simpler message would be build levees restore wetlands. So much of the damage to the wetlands is owed to all the canals dug through them, not only the evil Mr. Go. Restore the wetlands, build levees.

[CrescentCityRay]

Lots of people even think New Orleans is on the coast when actually ships have to travel 96 miles up river from the gulf to reach downtown New Orleans.

[CrescentCityRay]

Why cannot they understand that the river levees that channel our river and starve our wetlands are a totally different levee system than our Hurricane storm surge protection levees system - apples and oranges.

People generally don't know the Corps also issued permits to oil & gas & sulfer mining companies to dredge 8000 miles of canals criss crossing our south Louisiana wetlands.

[oran6es]

So really, is it okay that OUR taxes bail out MEGABANKS( mostly in NYC) funding bonuses for bank managers et. al., and can't be used to save ourselves, our city, and our coastal communities? ( 1/2 the state's population! )

[CrescentCityRay]

Why cant the president understand that our outfall canal levees fell down when the storm water height was over four feet lower than the top of the floodwalls. They failed because the steel sheet piles supporting the floodwalls were specified by the US Army COE to be driven to only 17.5 feet below sea level rather than the 60 feet as needed to keep the floodwalls standing even if the water rose to the top of the walls like simple calculations indicated.

[edart9]

Katrina WAS a man-made mistake and a let down by our Government overlooking protection and engineering!

[BoZhest]

Well done, Sandy. Chris Matthews, seems to believe that his roll as a commentator is to protect President Obama even when he isn't being attacked. (Who would dare attack a radical socialist?)

[oran6es]

Chris Matthews is an idiot. He is the same guy that asked city officials within weeks of Katrina " How would you convince the taxi driver from Detroit that New Orleans is worth saving?"

My answer: WHAT?

Louisiana taxpayers pay approximately $40 billion annually to the federal government per year(combo of income, excise, corporate taxes and offshore oil lease revenue). A $30-50 billion coastal restoration project over a 30-40 year span amounts to <5% of the money WE send to Washington !

[kidbleau]

Yay Sandy!

Guess you showed Ol'Mr. Hardballs some bigger...OVA! Hahahaha

Well done, and thank you for Nailing so many points in such a short time frame. Really. You cut to the Chase and kept it there.

[stratcat50]

Good work, Sandy!

[crescentrose]

Well said, Sandy. An engineering failure, that's what it was.

[CrescentCityRay]

You did great job Sandy. That man seemed intent on making you contradict yourself. What is up with that?

[TheFunkmanearl]

yea, he was being quite the jerk. Great responses though, I hope it gets heard by the right people.