Posted on 09/06/2005 9:26:48 AM PDT by Registered
Having worked with Bartlett and Rove, I think I can tell you what the strategy and approach is. I'll try to explain briefly.
#1. The disaster in all states was a disaster, but the WH lost control of the headlines only in New Orleans because Haley Barbour and his Republican Alabama counterpart have continued to spin the reactions there. The feedback is not all good, but the spin control is in the hands of the Republicans.
Already someone leaked the strategy of Rove and Bartlett concerning blaming Louisiana and the local governments.
Let me take what the NY Times said and complete what they didn't say. Both the Governor and the mayor are Democrats. This morning Rick perry made comment that Texas was full up after receiving 250,000 storm victims. I'm sure that his statement is true, but it also has a political edge coordianted with the WH, I speculate. This cuts Louisiana off at the knees and isolates them a little further so that the blame game can begin in earnest. We'll see a daily stream of miscues written about at the local level. COunt on the big headline being that it was the locals responsibility to evacuate prior to the storm - not the feds.
2. When the press isn't going your direction - change the subject.
We noticed that John Roberts will be nominated for Chief Justice now. Believe me, he was not the first choice. They just had to have a controlled headline that knocked the storm off the front pages. Count on this being a high profile full court press by the WH with the upcoming Supremes fall session being the reason for the rush. In other words, rather than a genuine crisis, we create another false crisis that is able to divert attention.
These will be the two major methods.
Now here's what they hope.
1. This puts the Dems on the spot about whether or not to get into a political fight over Katrina.
2. it puts the Dems on the spot about fighting the nomination of Roberts or being declared obstructionists.
What Rove-Bartlett are counting on:
The Dems will not fight and will be anemic in their reponse.
What Rove-Bartlett won't count on.
1. The Dems standing up with a two pronged strategy.
a. The Supreme Court Chief Justice is too important to rush to a decision, especially since the WH hasn't shared all of the papers yet - and now those papers are more important because he is being appointed within a leadershp/mananement position as CHief Justice rather than as an associate.
b. The fall calendar must be set aside in order to concentrate on the storm damage. THat should be the item that controls the fall congressional calendars and the headlines. Obviously aid of 10.5 billion is insufficient. I believe we are looking at this being a trillion dollar storm when we factor in the commerce loss. It is essential - from a national security standpoint - that we get a handle on what happened and fix it . . .not delay and not speak of it. This is truly a national security problem for it preludes what could or would happen in the case of a terrorist attack, and we are more vulnerable today than at any time in our history.
There need to be headlines that shape this deabte starting right now. There need to be hearings called right now.
The Democratic party needs to take a position of standing up for the people that could not fend for themselves and were left without resources by the Government - the every man for himself approach of the Bush Administration.
The Democratic Party needs to speak of the loss of jobs and commerce and the loss of an entire major port and city - stress the business side of things and take that issue away from the Republicans as well as stress the racism issue and Edwards two America's theme.
The Texas Democratic Party needs to speak of the humanitarian charge of Texas and what we now must do to take care of our new 250,000 population growth, some of which will become permanent residents of Texas as a result of this storm. This is a positive message and one that we need to get in front of rather than waiting and hearing the momentum shift back to the Republicans.
Take the momentum and establish it at all levels and you will keep the Bush administration on defense.
If you do not, Bush will again escape accountability.
I wonder if he is busy creating MORE forged documents to assist the Dems in trying to smear Bush?
"I wonder if he is busy creating MORE forged documents to assist the Dems in trying to smear Bush?"
I smell good parody material here :-)
This wouldn't make logical sense even if it were true.
"The fall calendar must be set aside in order to concentrate on the storm damage."
Of course. The Senators are getting fitted for hip wading boots right now so then can head down and help out.
What a raving loon this guy is.
Why in the world isn't this partisan jackass being investigated for forging government documents?
The Dims finally have some bad news that they can use and they will make the most of it. They just have to make things continue to look bad until 2006.
My this guy has a lot of information.
Honestly how could even the losers at CBS have listened to this lunatic.
I can only hope this is a joke!
No kidding, it is amazing that the MSM gave him any credibility at all.
Because they really didn't care.
They have an agenda for change and it seems that the truth has nothing really to do with it.
Hey, we don't have proof but this guy says he does so lets use that. How long did it take them to trot out the phrase "fake, but accurate?"
Big brother loves you.
This isn't parody material?
It's perfect.
If the Democratic leadership is wise enough to take Mr. Burkett's recommendations there could be serious repercussions from the general populace.
If Bush is seen rushing the John Roberts nomination (especially now that he's nominated to Chief Justice!) without sufficient vetting from the Democrats in the Senate, the Republican spin about the need to hurry will likely fall on deaf ears and turn President Bush's opinion ratings even lower.
As for the fall calendar, what greater priority for all levels of government than to address those who are currently suffering as a result of Hurricane Katrina. But beyond the suffering, getting to the root of the unresponsiveness of the Government in the days after the hurricane will display's just how inept the administration has become and it's constant focus on the war rather than the people in America. If the Democrats in Congress really push for a complete reorg of the Fall Calendar as per Mr. Burkett, it could lead to real trouble for Karl Rove et al.
Mr. Burkett's positive message regarding the value of the displaced population of New Orleans in Texas and elsewhere throughout the US is likely to be effective in countering the drum beat of most conservative pundits that the Democrats are always negative and offer no alternatives.
In short, Mr. Burkett makes very valid points in this alert and the administration should be concerned if the Democratic leadership follows through.
As FReepers, we need to make sure Mr. Burkett's message gets the attention it deserves.
I can't believe that anyone out there in the MSM even cares one whit what Bill Burkett says or thinks about anything.
The media used him - or he allowed himself to be used.
Either way, his 15 minutes of fame ended last summer.
The public is, according to an ABC News poll, blaming the incompetence on state and local governments in Louisiana.
Oh I'm series alright! ;-)
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