[enlinnyGoob]

I'm not sure exactly how would be a "thought provoking political exercise", the title implies it's more aimed to "remember" BUSH-KATRINA than to discuss CHAVEZ-VARGAS, or the similarities between the 2.

By the title and then your intro, I can pretty much guess that Bush was called at the time a racist murderer, I'm guessing due to the population in New Orleans being mostly black?

I wasn't here and I'm a "visitor" in this country, so I better refrain to comment on such issues.

Now, on the other hand, as of Chavez being a racist murderer?, Not racist, now murderer.....mmmmm......putting aside the rest of his term and just focusing on the VARGAS issue, I say, yes, he share's some of the blame on the amount of deaths, and just 1 would suffice.

I say that because of 1 single fact only.

He could had called out that day's referendum, and start the evacuation of the zone and all the emergency movilizations.

This not only did not happen, but he actually was seen on TV encouraging people to go out and vote, that a "simple rain" shouldn't deter the Chavez movement and blablabla..... and this was the goverment stance 'til pretty much it was impossible to not act and declare emergency.

For that simple fact alone, my answer to your question is yes, it wouldn't have saved all those lives lost, but a few hundreds if not thousands (and again just 1 would suffice)

Now, after it was declared national emergency, here's another fact that adds to the charges, just like that other nutcase dictator from Burma, that didn't accepted US aid after that cyclon a few years ago, Chavez didn't accepted aid by the US, which would had saved more lives during the first days of evacuation when it was most necessary.

Won't extend more on the issue on what/how/why Vargas' current state is.