Posted on 09/04/2005 5:24:35 AM PDT by Alissa
Watching both Fox and NBC after President Bush had been inspecting the Gulf Coast and New Orleans, I was shocked at how the nets, and even some newspapers, were trying to blame the Bush Administration for the slowness in which help was reaching the damaged cities.
Obviously, Brian Williams and his news team do not know the law, nor do they know the past history of New Orleans--a city built in a bathtub of a swamp. This is a city where the dead, for centuries, have had to be buried in above-ground structures because the water is so close to the surface of this sinking city. If coffins are put in the ground, they will rise to the surface as the underground water pushes them up. I have been to these cemeteries personally to witness this.
For decades, New Orleans has been told that the city is sinking, and that the old levees have to be rebuilt and modernized in order to keep the city from being flooded. Local officials never finished the work, nor have pleas to Congress for additional federal help been heeded. Congress has simply never seen fit to fully complete this effort, whether controlled by Democrats or Republicans.
"Why did it take five days for Bush to help?" is the mantra constantly voiced by all the "Talking Heads" on TV. Here are the reasons:
(1) It is against the law for any President to order troops into a city or across state lines without a request and permission from the Governor of that state.
John Armor, a First Amendment lawyer and one of my favorite writers, told me, "Federal law prevents the President from sending in the National Guard until the Governor gives the order. It is little known, but the Commanding General of the National Guard in every state reports to the Governor, not the President, until the Governor says otherwise. U.S. military units (regular Army, not the Guard) cannot be used because of the Posse Comitatus law, until the Guard has been authorized."
According to some news sources, the Governor of Louisiana, who knew the levees were weak, who knew that the city had been slowly sinking, and who knew that a major # 5 hurricane was approaching her city, did not call Washington for help.
(2) The Mayor of New Orleans did call for evacuation over a loud-speaker, but did nothing to be sure that the police went door-to-door, followed by transportation, to pick up all those who did not have cars or any ability to leave.
There was no other leadership practiced by the mayor there, as had been in New York City during 9/11 by Mayor Giuliani.
(3) The hurricane veered east and saved New Orleans, Brian Williams announced a week ago, and all breathed a sigh of relief...until the levees broke a day or two later allowing the surrounding waters to pour into the city.
(4) It was this predicted levee failure which had been ignored for so long that doomed the local people to be held hostage in their attics or on rooftops, not the storm. It was also the failure of the local bureaucrats and local elected leaders to maintain law and order, and to have pre-arranged for complete evacuations of the city.
It was only after a request went out to the President that troops could be sent in. Can you imagine the anti-Bush media screaming that Bush had invaded Louisiana as he had done in Iraq if he had gone in before being asked? I can just imagine The New York Times headlining, "A Repeat of Shock and Awe by Bush!"
Bill O'Reilly, on Fox News, was the only commentator I heard who explained this. All the other network commentators seemed too willing to allow the implication inferred by the viewers, that this was all the fault of the Bush Administration.
I guess the Far Left also works in mysterious ways!
Now you know why my channel is glued to Fox News, and why I no longer listen to NBC or its aide-de-camp, MSNBC!
Very well written post. It's amazing that anyone with an objective view on politics could buy into the blame Bush for everything strategy.
My feelings exactly.
When Whoraldo started covering the disaster, I could only stomach about 30 seconds of him.
Switched to CNN, which did a pretty good job except for Cooper Anderson, who is a Whoraldo wannabe.
I hate the MSM! I work in an office where my co-workers just eat this stuff up - believe all the lies and keep telling me that Bush is toast now...such sheep!
I don't have any links, but I remember cancelling my subscription to the Seattle Post Intelligencer after reading a front page article about Hurricaine Andrew. The article claimed that the only reason that (the first)President Bush visited Florida and pledged federal aid was because he had family there. The article went on to say that states such as Florida, California and those along the Mississippi, which are prone to natural disasters, should not be eligible for federal aid. I remember thinking at the time that I should send a copy of the article to newspapers in those states so that they could see what there fellow leftists were saying.
BTTT!
BTTT!
There is so much misinformation out there right now that I won't form any strong opinions about what did or did not happen until months from now when it all gets sorted out. It is my understanding, for example, that Wal-Mart has a standing policy of permitting security personnel to take whatever they need to perform their duties during an emergency. If this is true, then it is irresponsible to portray them as 'looters' unless you know what they are taking and why they are taking it.
After the geraldo grandstand the other night...the Katrina coverage has made me SHUT OFF FNC and....MY TV!
Who in the world is the leprachan???????????????????
bookmarked -- well done!
Fox reported that the police were removing ammunition from the Wal-Mart to prevent it from falling into the paws of the looters.
I'm still wondering why Geraldo, "The Fake", had his contract renewed. It seems, as though, the majority of Freepers, can't stand him. Are his ratings that high?
I still cannot watch CNN (even though it is channel 25 where I am and Fox is 26; MSNBC is 23) and watched MSNBC almost all day yesterday. I thought they did a pretty good job--better than Fox. Fox spent too much time in the studio with talking heads--MSNBC was there. I especially thought that the report from Pass Christian, MS, as tragic as it was, was excellent.
I agree with the post and I agree that Whorealdo is the sour note. Bursting into tears from time to time to prove his empathy, he never forgets to remind viewers that he's been to Iraq five times (and we should also remember that John Kerry served in Vietnam.)
Thanks ... I hadn't heard this.
The wife and I have sent several thousand $$ to the Salvation Army for Katrina relieft, but at this point, we're sufficiently disgusted with the political points that the left and the MSM (is there a difference?) are trying to score that we'll be sending future donations to the RNC, the NRSC, and the NRCC.
I have been extremely disappointed in Fox News and I sent them a few emails telling them so and I'm sure that I'm not the only to do this. I am totally bewildered by the absence of Brit Hume throughout the week although fortunately he was on the panel on Fox News Sunday this morning.
I WATCHED THE FILM DID YOU? If you did not then YOU are the one spreading false information
The reporter and photographer saw a Wal mart and decided to go in and see what was going on.
All around were looting people . The reporter asked a rhetorical question, so where are the police ? Then HE answered his own question.."why in Isle 3 "
They then went there where 3 New Orleans police were doing their Wal mart shopping . They had carts and were loading them up.
The Reporter asked her what she was doing there ? She said "my job" . He asked what her job was , she answered "looking for looters" .
He said you do not have to look far they are all over this building, he then asked her something to the effect why are you taking things?
At that point she threatened him , she said he had "better watch himself" he asked why and she had the nerve to say he was "trespassing and had no business in the building." At last she knew enough to be embarrassed the other cops just kept looting .
THESE WERE NOT WALMART GUARDS THESE WERE NEW ORLEANS COPS .
Of course if Fox had shown it you probably would have believed it.
I am constantly amazed at the Republican apologists here.
May this never happen in your back yard
Do you understand that police and security guards are both classified as 'security personnel'? Do you understand that under Louisiana law it is not 'looting' if security personnel, or citizens of any description for that matter, take necessities from Wal-Mart or any other commercial establishment during an emergency situation? Did the reporter ask or determine what she had in her shopping basket? Was it medical supplies or food or water? Do you know? I don't, and until I do know I will reserve judgment.
bump
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