Spin This!

From the National Response Plan (italics are mine):

Pursuant to HSPD-5, the Secretary of Homeland Security
is responsible for coordinating Federal operations
within the United States to prepare for, respond to, and
recover from terrorist attacks, major disasters, and other
emergencies. HSPD-5 further designates the Secretary
of Homeland Security as the “principal Federal official”
for domestic incident management.

In this role, the Secretary is also responsible for
coordinating Federal resources utilized in response to or
recovery from terrorist attacks, major disasters, or other
emergencies if and when any of the following four
conditions applies:

(1) a Federal department or agency acting under its
own authority has requested DHS assistance;
(2) the resources of State and local authorities are overwhelmed
and Federal assistance has been requested;
(3) more than one Federal department or agency has
become substantially involved in responding to the
incident; or
(4) the Secretary has been directed to assume incident
management responsibilities by the President.

What part of "is responsible" don't the administration apologists understand?

And what's so confusing about this...

When State resources and capabilities are
overwhelmed, Governors may request Federal assistance
under a Presidential disaster or emergency declaration.

...in connection with this? (In the first paragraph of an official letter from Governor Blanco to Mister Bush, dated August 28, 2005.)

I request that you declare a major disaster for the State of Louisiana...