finger pointing federal, state, and city government bueorcrat blame each other for the mess in new orleans. Original Article Bush, La. governor console evacuees, reveal tensions Jennifer Loven Associated Press Sept. 6, 2005 12:00 AM BATON ROUGE, La. - Like estranged in-laws at a holiday gathering, President Bush and Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco kept their distance as both toured a relief center for storm victims Monday. At their next stop, the Republican president kissed the Democratic governor on the cheek, but it wasn't clear whether they had made up. State and federal officials are all facing public criticism for a slow response to the crisis. Behind the scenes, each suggests the other is to blame. In front of the cameras during Bush's visit to the Gulf Coast states on Monday, the president and Blanco said little to each other, focusing instead on thanking relief workers. "I know I don't need to make any other introduction other than 'Mr. President,' " Blanco said tersely, turning the microphone over to Bush after praising emergency management officials during a stop with Bush at an emergency operations center. "This is one of these disasters that will test our soul and test our spirit, but we're going to show the world once again that not only can we survive but we will be stronger and better for it," Bush said after taking the microphone. Blanco late Monday sought to tone down suggestions of a rift. "We'd like to stop the voices out there trying to create a divide," she said. "There is no divide. We're all in this together. Every leader in this nation wants to see this problem solved." Bush echoed Blanco's praise for rescue workers. "I hope that makes you feel good to know you have saved lives," Bush said, promising state, local and federal officials that he would fix anything that isn't going right. "This is just the beginning of a huge effort," he said. The president, looking choked up as he finished his brief remarks, nodded at Blanco and kissed her on the cheek. She nodded back and both left the podium, headed for separate spots in the crowd. Blanco has refused to sign over control of the National Guard to the federal government and has turned to a Clinton administration official, former Federal Emergency Management Agency chief James Lee Witt, to help run relief efforts. Blanco was not told when Bush would visit the state, nor was she immediately invited to meet him or travel with him. Blanco's office didn't know Bush was coming until told by reporters. Bush spokesman Scott McClellan said the White House reached out to Blanco's office on Sunday, but didn't hear back. White House staff in Louisiana spoke with Blanco early Monday, he said. Making his third visit to the Hurricane Katrina-ravaged states, Bush stopped first at the Bethany World Prayer Center, a huge hall half covered with pallets and half filled with dining tables. Blanco visited at the same time, but she and Bush kept apart as they walked around talking to people. During his stop at Bethany, several people ran up to meet Bush and get autographs as he and first lady Laura Bush wandered around the room. But just as many hung back and looked on. "I need answers," said Mildred Brown, who has been there since last Tuesday with her husband, mother-in-law and cousin. "I'm not interested in handshaking. I'm not interested in photo ops. This is going to take a lot of money." Bush hasn't gone a day without a public event devoted to the storm and its aftermath. But none of those trips, nor appearances by several Cabinet members in the region, has quieted complaints that Washington's response to the disaster has been sluggish. Congress already plans hearings on the response.