Posted on 09/04/2005 8:57:39 AM PDT by Jacksonville Patriot
A New Low for the MSM?
The mainstream media's handline of Hurricane Katrina and the disasters in New Orleans is a disgrace, possibly the worst instance yet of media bias. Insane claims by left-wing nuts that President Bush botched the recovery effort on purpose so as to kill black people are repeated by the MSM in a chin-stroking mode, as if to say, "It's an interesting question--they might be on to something." Meanwhile, no one points out that it was President Bush who implored Governor Blanco to issue a first-ever mandatory evacuation order for the city, an action by the President that probably saved tens of thousands of lives.
Similarly, the media yammmer on and on about the allegedly slow federal response to the hurricane, without noting that the Governor of Louisiana has the power to call out the National Guard. Accusations that lawlessness and looting in New Orleans are somehow the federal government's fault are repeated endlessly; hardly anyone bothers to criticize the looters and other criminals themselves. And where is the outrage that should be directed toward the New Orleans Police Department? They were the authorities on the scene, and they, under the direction of the city's Mayor--who had an emergency plan in place, but apparently made no attempt to implement it--had the responsibility to maintain law and order. Yet some policemen reportedly joined in the looting, while a great many others turned tail and abandoned their responsibilities.
But it's hard to defend the administration when the administration won't defend itself. Yesterday Homeland Security head Michaeal Chertoff declared that the feds are now in control of New Orleans, but refused to defend the government's performance so far:
Chertoff defended the job of FEMA Director Michael Brown and declined to get into a discussion about whether the government moved quickly and forcefully enough to deal with the catastrophe. He shrugged off suggestions that the demand for National Guard troops in Iraq had depleted the numbers available to respond to the crisis. "I think when we go back and look at it lot of things worked well and some things didn't work well," he said.
That simply isn't good enough. I understand the administration's problem: it's hard to mount a defense without pointing out the scandalous performance of the state and local authorities who were responsible for emergency preparation and for the initial response to the hurricane. But if the administration thinks it can ride out the current news cycle as it has passively ridden out so many news cycles in the past, it's crazy. As Chertoff himself said yesterday:
We need to prepare the country for what's coming ... we are going to uncover people who died hiding in the houses, maybe got caught in floods, it is going to be as ugly a scene as you can imagine. Yes, that's right. And each new horror, and each painful step in the reconstruction of New Orleans over the years to come, will be the occasion for more Bush-bashing. This story is never going to die a natural death, and it is probably too late already for the administration to combat the media-driven impression that the disaster is somehow its fault.
I've often criticized the administration for not responding forcefully enough to unfair attacks by the far left and the media--often, for not responding at all. But this time the administration's habit of quietly riding out the storm could have incalculable costs.
I'm parting company here with two people whose judgment I respect. Michelle Malkin has recommended that President Bush fire FEMA head Michael Brown. Brown is, apparently, a political appointee with few qualifications for the job beyond general competence and management skill. This is hardly unusual in Washington; the conventional assumption is that staff who report to the head of an agency furnish the necessary expertise. As seems to have happened; FEMA's response to hurricanes last year was widely praised. In any event, whatever the wisdom of Brown's appointment in hindsight, firing him now would be an admission that FEMA performed poorly in the current crisis--an assertion that is constantly repeated, but for which I have seen, at this point, little hard evidence. There will be time enough for sorting out, in a rational environment, the pros and cons of FEMA's efforts; firing Brown now would accomplish nothing but to uselessly fan the flames of hysteria.
Hugh Hewitt, meanwhile, has advised conservatives to "turn the other cheek" in reaction to unfair criticism from the left. Among other reasons, he believes that the American people will react negatively to the left's maniacal, over-the-top attacks. Hugh thinks the current vile assault on the administration could be another Wellstone funeral moment. I think he's wrong; the MSM, in full support-the-Democrats mode, is daily making respectable even the wackiest attacks on the administration. Of course, I'm not by nature a cheek-turning sort, but I think that has too often been the administration's approach. This time, it could be fatal.
Meanwhile, the insanity continues. The Democrats know that in order to defend itself against their onslaught, the administration will have to criticize the people who really bungled the job--the Governor of Louisiana, the Mayor of New Orleans, and other local officials. So, earlier this morning Senator Mary Landrieu threatened President Bush with violence if he does any such thing:
Louisiana Democrat Sen. Mary Landrieu threatened President Bush with physical violence this morning on ABC's Sunday morning news program "This Week". "If one person criticizes our sheriffs, or says one more thing, including the President of the United States, he will hear from me - one more word about it after this show airs and I - I might likely have to punch him - literally," says Landrieu. For the first time, the Democrats and their allies in the MSM (to the extent one draws the distinction) believe that they have the administration on the run, in a way that could destroy President Bush. Destroying the President is the goal they have pursued passionately since January 2001. In that regard, nothing has changed in 4 1/2 years. The administration, it seems to me, has two choices: defend itself, or suffer crippling damage from which it likely will never recover.
Posted by John at 10:37 AM | Permalink
As usual, the Democrats are their own worst enemy. They have opened their collective mouths and inserted their collective feet for all the world to see.
I don't understand why Drudge doesn't post there pictures BIG AND BOLD like you have...no need for words...the pictures tell the story of the lack of Nagin/Blanco leadership.
Another benefit that I see is the further margalization of Cindy "the traitor" Sheehan and her stillborn "peace movement"
People are pulling together as Americans in a spirit of lets roll rather than her bitter divisive message
Toss a bucket in the bus and tell them to hit the road. Had he ordered a madatory evacuations days ealier, there would have been no traffic tie-ups.
Air conditioning? open a window. This was not like other hurricanes, it was catagory 4. Go or die. People ride transit buses, and school buses every day. They manage.
Shouldn't this have been posted under "Activism"? With an engraved invitation to visit FR sent to Ms. Landrieu? ;-)
Absolutely. Except they need supplies like lumber, nails. They don't sit around waiting for the government to do everything. They help themselves and each other, gripe about things later. A BIG contrast to NO. Because media is busy attacking Bush and exploiting NO, it's hard to find out what's needed in Alabama and Mississippi. Almost no coverage at all except through the internet.
Be not afraid. When the dust settles those who are yelling and screaming at President Bush will look like fools. I would also imagine that some Democrat officeholders in Louisiana will be looking for jobs while others will be doing the perp walk.
You notice that the really savvy Democrat pols like Kennedy, Kerry, Shumer, Clinton, et. al. are hunkering down and keeping quiet. They know when to hold 'em and when to fold 'em.
LMAO! He actually said that? Bush is in far better shape than him. He'd kick his butt big time.
I guess the truth hurts, huh Landrieu? You and your crooked state managers are INCOMPETENT!!! You screwed up royaly, and you just can't make it go away. Jerk.
You're right. Other than a rigged poll or two, Bush's numbers don't change with events. There's a reason for this. Nobody takes any criticism of him very seriously anymore. Even non-political people roll their eyes at this nonsense.
Thanks, and welcome to the team!
Bears repeating. Their rescuers may have done more than save the physical lives of those children. They may have given them hopes for the future.
It's hard to believe that so many newspeople were swarming around her camp not too long ago.
And you, sir, are one smart freeper. I hope you're correct about the public not buying into the smear.
Viler than the smell of sewage-filled water is the stench of political corruption in NOLA that goes back a hundred years and more. With this new Katrina impetus, I'm sure that reporters with squads of research assistants are documenting it as we speak. Books will be written -- perhaps the only honest money that will be made out of this debacle.
Long ago, at the beginnings of the "women's lib" movement, a wise woman wrote, "Given the same opportunities, women will make the same mistakes as men." To which I add, they'll become just as corrupt.
Here in WA state, corrupt US senator Patty Murray drags billions home from the federal government to fund still more "studies" to investigate ways to improve public transportation. Money is lavished on consultants who come up with useless plans so riddled with problems that there's nothing to do but hire more consultants. The consultants contribute millions over the table and who-knows-how-much under the table to Murray, and she finagles more federal bucks to fund them. But nothing ever gets built. Like Blanco, Murray hides behind a facade of a bumbling, not-bright, but sincere mom who wants to help.
I can only imagine NOLA twenty years from now with nothing but piles of studies to show for the billions of federal bucks pumped in. Scam City.
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