Just for the sake of argument

Let's assume, just for the sake of argument, that the latest Repub spin is absolutely correct (work with me here, and suspend some major disbelief) and FEMA can't do anything without a request from the governor.

So, suppose a monster tornado hits Topeka and destroys a major chunk of the city, including the capitol building, killing the governor, lt. gov., and other legislative leaders. By that rationale, FEMA just sits on the sidelines wringing its hands until the next special election.

Pretty absurd, but certainly a possible conclusion if one accepts the premise.

where you been?

jurisdiction. That is why FEMA plays a role in hurricanes.

I don't know where the responsibilities lay in Topeka but I'm sure we will find out.

be reasonable to assume that in a large magnitude quake, many of the local leaders would be dead or incapacitated. The Gropenator might be at home in Los Angeles if a Big One strikes there; he could be dead or missing for days.

Part of a prudent emergency plan has to have backup in case certain leaders are not "available" right after the disaster.

It was clear after 9-11 that we had no real plan if the Capitol had indeed been hit. I doubt if much of that problem has been dealt with.

entertaining (in a certain sadistic sense of the word), or the feds will take charge. I'm sure there's some sort of inheritance of authority in either the Kansas constitution/legal code, or in the FEMA guidelines.

I hope you're not saying that the feds should have judged Blanco and/or Nagin incapacitated, and not worthy of listening to.

There are things FEMA can do; mostly they shouldn't have been sitting around with their thumbs up their butts, but instead should have anticipated requests so they could act promptly when they came in. But remember what their job is at this point in the disaster: coordination between state/local authorities with the federal government, and providing of extra-state resources.

whatever they want. They left it to the states to muddle under because it was great to have riots -helped the base.

Trust me. The facts will come out. We know the Mayor requested help on Sunday. It didn't come.

George will pay for his purposefull vacuum. At the very least it was an fun neocon excercise is teaching people to not rely on federal government (because it alone is the only thing big enough to actually take on corporations so needs to be deminished) - at the very least.

You don't do that in the greatest natural disaster seen in the USA.

There will be investigations. Trust me on that.