New Orleans

As blame flies back and forth about the disaster, I would like anyone with certain knowledge on the following subjects to comment:
1) What were the responsibilities of the city government, and to what degree were they fulfilled?  What was the greatest failure?
2) What were the responsibilities of the state government, and to what degree were they fulfilled?  What was the greatest failure?
3)  What were the responsibilities of the federal government, and to what degree were they fulfilled?  What was the greatest failure?
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Unfortunately, this whole thing will be grotesquely politicized, as the party out of power (Democrats) seek weaknesses inthe incumbancy (Republicans).  this is one of the games both sides play, and I find it loathsome, but inevitable.  I would like to clarify, in my own mind at least, as much of this as possible.  I'm not interested either in Bush-bashing, or in excusing what APPEARS to be a sluggish response.  Opinions, please?