I don't think this is as much a question of the MSM's ability to sway opinion as it is proof that Bush's political enemies have overplayed their hand. This is a classic case of crying wolf.
I think this crisis and its aftermath, under normal circumstances, present a real vulnerability for the President--not because the complaints about the Federal response are all credible, but because the sad and disturbing images and the confusion make it easy to muddy the picture, and hence to shape the story.
With that in mind, I'm certain that the backlash against Bush and FEMA would have been much greater had the left not chosen to respond to EVERY bit of bad news with a knee-jerk "it's Bush's fault!" reaction.
As supporters of the President, I think this is one of the most effective (and perfectly valid) criticisms we can level at the other side to ensure their credibility remains shattered.
I agree with your post -- the RATS and the MSM overplayed their hand.
Additionally, it was stupid and counter-productive for the left to play the race card. It backfired.
The American people are reasonable and fair; and they do not believe that their government would be indifferent to suffering because the victims were poor or black.
They also know that this President has appointed more persons of color to positions of immense influence than any Administration in history.
With that in mind, I'm certain that the backlash against Bush and FEMA would have been much greater had the left not chosen to respond to EVERY bit of bad news with a knee-jerk "it's Bush's fault!" reaction.
Actually no it would not since the FACTS of how the Disaster Response system works are all on Bush's side. AS the facts come out the numbers will only move one way. The Left got in a sucker punch because everyone on the Right was all ready to be bipartisan in the face of a disaster. The message a lot of average people are going to take from this is "Man, Dems are Dems 1st and Americans way down towards the bottom of the list." As the Right REPONSES to the nonsense, the momentum is all shifting Bush's way. One again the Hysteric Left, and it's lap dog the Dinasour Media" WAY over reached. Like most things. Those who hate Bush, Hate Bush still, those who Like Bush LIke Bush still, and in the middle is a big 1/3 that either do not care of do not have any strong feelings about it.