MetaChat - Nagin Interview from WWL-AM.

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02 September 2005

Nagin Interview from WWL-AM. Please host on your site and get his message out there. (Transcript.)
UPDATE: This interview is now also available at CNN.

post by: dodgygeezer at: 07:09 | 39 comments

It's up on my site and on yousendit as well. It really was an amazing interview.

posted by LeeJay 02 September | 07:20

This is great! Do you think a MeFi post is in order? If so, I'd like some input on the wording maybe...

Or will it be criticized for not being a part of a previous thread? Should it just be posted in the existing "coverage" post?

posted by taz 02 September | 07:38

Okay... Well, I've put it up. I hope it doesn't get axed, because people really need to hear the real deal. Or, if it does, I hope another post with a link to somewhere else on the web (once that exists) will be allowed to stand. The situation is beyond unbelievable, and Nagin is the only one laying it on the line.

posted by taz 02 September | 08:35

Wow, that was really something. Wow.

posted by mr.marx 02 September | 08:48

Though CNN doesn't have the audio, they are reporting this story with a link in their top headline box. I don't think anyone has to worry that this isn't going to get widespread attention.

Whether it will have any widespread effect remains to be seen.

posted by briank 02 September | 08:56

holy hell. What an interview.

posted by gaspode 02 September | 09:00

The end, with both Nagin and the reporter breaking down. Just heartbreaking. Why can't more politicians be honest? Why can't they be this straightforward all the time? THIS is what I have been listening for since this happened.

posted by LeeJay 02 September | 09:03

briank, I hope that it is seen and heard everywhere... But when I heard it this morning (late, late night to US people) there was nothing at all on the web. Nothing. And I checked everywhere. And I wrote to wwl radio begging them to put up a link to the interview.

posted by taz 02 September | 09:06

Thanks LeeJay, I hope your bandwidth isn't hit too hard. I thought the interview was finished and was about to close the window, then they started talking about being too broken up to carry on. Shit.

posted by tellurian 02 September | 09:07

Is there a transcript? I can't hear right now.

posted by Hugh Janus 02 September | 09:09

Thanks LeeJay, I hope your bandwidth isn't hit too hard.

No worries. No one visits my site anyway. I'll get a little thrill seeing the bandwidth spike in the logs at the end of the month. ;)

posted by LeeJay 02 September | 09:15

Oh, Hugh! Sorry, but it would take me so long to try to transcribe at my typing rate that it wouldn't be worth it. Please, everybody, be on the lookout for a transcript, and when we find one we can add a link to the original post.

posted by taz 02 September | 09:20

Thanks, taz. Just to be clear, I meant I don't have a soundcard here at work. My Dumbo wings are doing fine.

posted by Hugh Janus 02 September | 09:24

LeeJay, I was suitably impressed. I'm at home now on a 56k and it streamed to Quicktime (Mac) without any stuttering.
::posts convolutedcompositions.com to slashdot::

posted by tellurian 02 September | 09:35

LeeJay - I should've pointed out earlier: I changed your link to use Coral so that your bandwidth doesn't get blasted to hell. Sorry if I've spoilt your spike!

posted by dodgygeezer 02 September | 09:48

I know that Hugh, darling. I just feel sad because you can't read it right now. We'll get it eventually though!

posted by taz 02 September | 09:52

I should also say that I've e-maled the link to a couple of blogs I frequent. Maybe everyone here could consider e-mailing this link (at least the direct mp3 link at the top) to your favorite bloggers be they left, right, red, blue, purple with green spots, whatever.

posted by dodgygeezer 02 September | 09:54

By the way, if we have any wikipedia folkses (dhartung, are you reading?), maybe you can find the appropriate places to post the interview.

posted by taz 02 September | 10:08

wow.

Nagin 2008, who's with me?

posted by whatnot 02 September | 10:24

OK. I have transcribed the entire interview. I need to go back now and clean it up, fix typos and such. As soon as it's done I'll post it here. By the way, does anyone know the proper spelling of the general that Nagin talked about in the interview? Honaray? Oneret?

posted by LeeJay 02 September | 10:34

Honore

posted by sophieblue 02 September | 10:46

General Honoré

You are a hero, LeeJay.

posted by taz 02 September | 10:47

Nagin 2008, who's with me?

He's responsible for a place that's below sea level, which has always been at high risk of major storms, but that didn't spend adequately on flood protection and apparently has nothing like a plan for dealing with major floods. And somehow you think he's competent for leadership?

posted by biffa 02 September | 11:13

Hmmm, could you take that argument to Metafilter where it belongs?

Thanks.

posted by dodgygeezer 02 September | 11:17

could you take that argument to Metafilter where it belongs?

Huh? Political chat is not welcome at MetaChat? Is that a rule?

posted by mediareport 02 September | 11:20

Do you think he's responsible that it's below sea level? He's just the current mayor. Didn't spend adequately? New Orleans doesn't even have the money to keep its teachers paid. Please consider that what was once termed "white flight" but is not accurate, because it really has to do with income, not skin color, takes hundreds of thousands of dollars out of the tax base. You have tons of people working in Orleans Parish, but living in outlying communities where they pay their taxes to another parish...

It's much more complicated and intense than you realize.

(Sorry, but I couldn't resist. Dodgy is right, we're really not here to argue the politics of it all.)

posted by taz 02 September | 11:21

Nagin needs to take some responsibility. Especialy for that hair-brained 'everybody go to the superdome' plan.

What a mess, what a mess. Failure of government on every level.

posted by delmoi 02 September | 11:30

Huh? Political chat is not welcome at MetaChat? Is that a rule?

No, it's not a rule. But look at that comment up there and compare it to the thread in Metafilter and you have to agree it fits much better there than here.

Seriously, Metafilter thrives on that stuff.

posted by dodgygeezer 02 September | 11:31

OK. The transcript is up here. Forgive any typos. I think I got them all.

posted by LeeJay 02 September | 11:38

You know, what strikes me is the President's complete inability to lead. In the aftermath of 9/11 it was Giuliani that stood up and was visible while the President futzed about. It's like the President freezes up in a crisis rather than acts. To me it shows the lack of character that I've suspected long before he was put into power.

posted by eekacat 02 September | 11:46

thanks, LeeJay! I've added it here, and I'll put it in the askme... I don't know that it's worth posting in the main thread, as it will just get lost. Eh. I probably will.

posted by taz 02 September | 12:02

Atrios/Eschaton/Mr Black/Whateverthehellheiscalled has posted the interview.

posted by dodgygeezer 02 September | 12:02

Thanks, LeeJay.

I can't find the words.

If that fucker ups and declares victory, *'ll **ll h*m.

On preview, thanks, dodgygeezer, too.

posted by Hugh Janus 02 September | 12:08

In the aftermath of 9/11 it was Giuliani that stood up and was visible while the President futzed about.

An excellent point, which also manages to reinforce the point several people have made that Nagin ain't exactly A Man With A Plan, either. Personally, I can't stand Giuliani, but this makes it even easier to see how Bush got all the credit for someone else's effort four years ago and howe very little of substance has been done since.

posted by briank 02 September | 13:25

Sorry, just for the curious, that said "I'll sell ham" before the censor came along.

posted by Hugh Janus 02 September | 14:19

CNN also has the transcript and video (same page) of the interview. I've linked to the transcript on my blog as well as hosting a copy of the mp3.

posted by deborah 02 September | 14:23

Wow. Just wow.

posted by PsychoKitty 02 September | 15:26

Nagin 2008, who's with me?

Eh... any chance we can stop playing the "get me someone better than ____" game and actually look for the most qualified person? Someone with degrees in economics and law, perhaps? Someone with a history of fiscal responsibility and humanitarian commitment? Cause if it's "anyone better than Bush", that's not really narrowing the pool.

posted by dreamsign 02 September | 18:25

I'm also hosting the mp3 at http://www.infogoddess.com/share/RayNagin9-1-05.mp3.

posted by matildaben 02 September | 21:54

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