Well, I now think I know why Louisiana Governess Kathleen Blanco was so dilatory in requesting federal aid for her citizens in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. It was a chick thing. Specifically, she was concerned that the guard troops might be of the wrong gender composition.
The following is a true story, as reported to my dh "Joe" while in the war zone by a member of the Louisiana Guard unit in question.
It seems that when Madame Governess Blanco was elected, this gentleman's guard unit offered to perform an F-15 flyover at her inaugural celebration. The officer in charge of this unit met with Governess-elect Blanco and the following conversation ensued. :
Guard Pilot: Ma'am. We are planning a four-plane formation flyover at your inaugural celebration.
Governess-elect Blanco: That's wonderful. Thank you. I just have one question. Is a female pilot going to be flying the lead airplane?
Guard Pilot.: Er..no, Governor-elect Blanco.
Governess-elect: Well, you'd better fix that little problem if you want to fly over my inaugural celebration.
Guard Pilot: Er, Ma'am. I'm afraid we can't do that.
Governess-elect: Why not??
Guard Pilot: Ma'am. I'm afraid we don't have any female F-15 pilots in this unit.
Governess-elect: Well, you're just going to have to fix THAT little problem if you want to fly in my inaugural, aren't you?
Well, I don't know what they eventually did, but Miz Blanco is remarkably ignorant of military culture and procedure ( well, we knew that didn't we? ) if she thinks a state guard unit can just borrow or press-gang a female F-15 pilot from another state or from the active duty forces for a flyover for a state politician. They'd have to find one first, get her CO's permission, overcome her own possible objections if she's a Republican ( which is more than likely) and justify the extra expenditure. etc. etc.
OK. It sounds like an idiotic reason to delay requesting military aid for hurricane victims, but then, I think we are dealing with an idiot here.
