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
"Russert can't be as stupid as he sounded."
Well, yes, he can. And is.
White House Passive in face of Democrat, Media Smear on Hurricane
....
Nah, The White House is feeding them rope.
;)
While the blame lies with the local Government in Louisiana, this White House 's Communications Dept. has been utterly incompetent for 5 years. Why this is, I don't know. but it has cost Bush and the Republicans in their attempts at winning the Public Relations battle against the 'Rats. A competent Communications professional is highly necessary to advance the Bush agenda, and to rebut Demorat rhetoric. It's high time for a change.
We all can keep exposing the total incompentence of the Louisiana government.....
You are right...focus on this and let the screaming on the left continue.
In this case, I am completely sure it is not. That doesn't mean they haven't made mistakes, but they have done everything they possibly could.
They never respond to this kind of hysterical "I'll punch you physically" kind of criticism. So this is very much within the SOP of the administration.
The President keeps his eye on the ball when it's in play and worries about the weaknesses of the team later.
Other federal and state officials pointed to Louisiana's failure to measure up to national disaster response standards, noting that the federal plan advises state and local emergency managers not to expect federal aid for 72 to 96 hours, and base their own preparedness efforts on the need to be self-sufficient for at least that period. "Fundamentally the first breakdown occurred at the local level," said one state official who works with FEMA. 'Did the city have the situational awareness of what was going on within its borders? The answer was no."
"Many of those young folks who rode in transport helicopters are, right now, thinking about their strong and skilled rescuers ."
I think this is an excellent point. The inner city children with no future but drugs, crime, poverty, and welfare have had a shining example of a different future handed to them.
Did the truth will out? Is the country better off for Bush's decision to let bygones be bygones?
I agree with you, although a part of me admires the Bush WH for NOT making PR "job one", as it's predecessors did. Having said that, their lack of coherent message, let alone response to outright slander, is now bordering on incompetence.
It could be the Democrats are overplaying their hand once again. The circus going on in the media is completely out of hand. We have adults screaming with foam coming out of their mouths and piling on the Big Bush - evidently the second coming of Darth Vader if one listens to CNN.
Check out my tagline, and it will answer your question.......I am not defending this President for allowing many festering wounds on the body politic to go untreated......I AM, however, defending him for not taking the time NOW, while NO is still on the brink, to lay blame at the feet of the Mayor and Governor........that's where WE come in.................
The Mayor has stated why the buses were not utilized. From past experience he knew that hardly anyone was willing to board a schoolbus ( without A/C and restroom) to be evacuated possibly for days when the local news reports showed long lines of parked cars on the interstates. Theses citizens remembered that recent hurricanes always turned to the east at the last moment and those who had evacuated always came back home griping about what a hassle they had been through.
"their lack of coherent message, let alone response to outright slander, is now bordering on incompetence."
No it isn't, they're not going to allow themselves to be suckered in while the disaster relief effort is number one PRIORITY. Let the screaming DNC banchee's sit and wallow in their soiled diapers while the mature adults tend to the REAL emergencies.
"I agree with you, although a part of me admires the Bush WH for NOT making PR "job one", as it's predecessors did."
The Reagan Administration did not make PR job one either, but they had a master in Michael Deaver. The Clinton White House was obsessed with damage control, and in doing so, really accomplished nothing worthwhile in 8 years, other than some Conservative trade legislation , along with some welfare reform.
Given the hostility of the MSM, Bush sorely needs a competent Communications Director to advance his program, over the carping by the MSM and the 'Rats.
We are doing our part, but where are the Senators and Congressmen who should be pitching the dirt back at the Demos? They are the ones who can save the political catastrophe that is occuring before our very eyes.
They are cowering under their desks, like the cowards they are, waiting for their pollsters to tell them what to think, say, do.
it most certainly is the job of the WH Communications office to
refute the outright bull$hit being shoveled at warp speed in the media.
...
You know and I know the MSM would just shelf all and any responses from the white house communication dept. Better to leave all responses to the internet and radio. Nobody "sane" believes the idiot/shizo MSM boob tube any longer. Too many decades of lies and lies on top of lies.
The people of NO chose to stay there ~ we are responsible for our actions or our inactions.
(except those mentally or physically unable to ~ then the mayor and other local authorities are responsible)
Personal responsibility ~ Bump!
A hard time line is the ticket. I called a friend in the NO suburbs Thursday, concerned about her welfare and just to listen to her account of the situation. Sort of got my bearings there.
That day, Nagin was making outrageous accusations against the feds, railing over the lack of response which at the time was moving towards the city limits. The account I got was of near total breakdown of local emergency response (credit was given to some brave cops behind the lines who acted responsibly) and ineptness on the state level dealing with the situation. Thursday evening, Blanco fully committed the LaNG. Friday morning federal and neighboring state's NG arrived on scene providing aid and means for evacuation.
I've heard enough from Nagin and Blanco and Landreau. I've no more time for them. They wasted a hundred hours while their constituents suffered.
Make this known...Mississippi and Alabama were also hit hard by Katrina. Those folks deserve our attention too.
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