CNN Just Aired "What Went Wrong" - A Modified Version of Major Garrett's Story

CNN TV | 9/10/05

[Stajack]

Three days later, CNN just ran a modified version of the the Major Garrett story that broke earlier this week. The CNN caption was "What Went Wrong". It aired around 4:30 PM (CST). The segment discussed how Governor Blanco resisted the proposal to federalize the relief effort. It even aired the same footage of Mayor Nagin criticizing the Governor for wanting 24 hours to think over the proposal. The segment also contained commentary by Jamie McIntyre (CNN's Pentagon correspondent) and Donald Rumfeld. Rumsfeld's major point was that for the federal government to enter a state's territory over the objections of an elected Governor would amount to a dangerous breach of the Constitution and the law. The one thing I didn't hear was any mention of the State of Louisiana blocking the Red Cross and Salvation Army from delivering relief supplies to the stranded evacuees. Also, there's a fresh story on the Drudge Report about new revelations of friction between Governor Blanco and the White House during the crucial period last week. Stay tuned.

[TheDon]

I bet they advised her to refuse federal help because it might make Washington look good, and now they're all frantically trying to cover their posteriors.

A darker spin would be that they told her to refuse the help so that they could make President Bush look bad because he was "late with help" and "President Bush is a racist".

[savedbygrace]

They've figured out that the pubbies are going to hold some real hearings and reveal the truth, so they're doing a 180 now, before they're made to look like idiots. (Alright, I hear you saying, "Too late." Wise guy.)

[syriacus]

I think someone should check to see if the folks in Lousiana were deliberately feeding misinformation to the Feds, the folks of New Orleans, and the whole world.

They kept out the Red Cross, they kept out the Salvation Army. Who else did they keep out? Did they only allow newspeople into designated areas?

Terry Ebbert, the New Orleans chief of Homeland Security, misinformed everyone when he said that the levee break would be repaired within a few hours and that the water was rising very slowly in New Orleans.

How many people drowned because they thought the levee was going to be repaired quickly?

[TheDon]

Did they play Gov. "Whitey" Blanco accepting full blame for NO not being evacuated before the hurricane? She keeps stating that only she, as the Gov., has the ability to enforce a mandatory evacuation.

[mylife]

The truth always comes out

[ohioWfan]

NO WAY!

(They're going to lose the 13 viewers they have left if they start telling the truth......)

[Mr. Jeeves]

I hope she decides not to go down without taking some senior Democrats with her...or blurts out at a press conference, "Howard Dean told me to keep the Feds out so Bush wouldn't get a win on the issue!" ;)

[Pirogue Captain]

"This from CNN? Surely, you jest."




I know I was shocked watching CNN last night, when two blond female reporters were talking about the importance of the 2nd Amendment... as if they knew it really does mean inviduals can own firearms and use them for self defense. They will probably get called on to the carpet for that. Unfortunately before they could get too deep into the conversation, some nerd from somewhere became available for an interview, so they had to change subjects.

[p23185]

I've been wondering that also - probably waiting for "dust" to settle.

[Enchante]

"She keeps stating that only she, as the Gov., has the ability to enforce a mandatory evacuation."

That's a key issue that needs to be thoroughly investigated in relation to the timeline of Sat.-Sun.-Mon-Tues. as the hurricane approached and passed through.... so the Mayor supposedly announced a "Mandatory Evacuation" of the city late on Sunday morning -- but according to Governor Blankhead's comments this week he had no authority to do such a thing. So attention needs to be intensely focused (for the first time) on what the Governor knew and when she knew it.... why didn't SHE order the mandatory evacuation and commandeer the 1,000-2,000 buses that would have been required? Her own post-hurricane emergency order shows she had the statutory authority to commandeer all buses in the state, for she does exactly that several days AFTER the storm. Why didn't she act BEFORE the storm when it could have made all the difference? Why didn't SHE ensure that existing emergency plans for both city and state were carried out?

[shadeaud]

Agree, we watched in amazement last night and too many times to count I found myself asking why the whole story wasn't included.

[syriacus]

A darker spin would be that they told her to refuse the help so that they could make President Bush look bad because he was "late with help"

Just last year, during a press conference about a hurricane in Florida the MSM was badgering Bush about slow FEMA response during Hurricane Andrew, which had occurred 12 years earlier.

Q There was some consternation after Andrew that the federal aid didn't arrive soon enough. Can you promise that there will be a more expeditious response this time?

THE PRESIDENT: It's happening now --

Q Sir --

THE PRESIDENT: Hold up for a second. We're moving a lot of aid very quickly and, again, you can ask the governor whether or not he's satisfied with how fast the aid is moving. All I can tell you is that FEMA was on the ground yesterday morning and there's a lot of supplies surging this way. [snip]

Q What about what happened in '92, with Hurricane Andrew? ....

The press has been trying to paint Bush as someone who is incompetent during crises, even when the crises are handled well.

[Bush gal in LA]

Didn't see it, but I assume by modified, you mean, CNN gave minimal blame to local authorities( Blanco and Nagin) and gave most or all of the major blame to Bush. Right?

[NoControllingLegalAuthority]

Arguing over who has authority to order a mandatory evacuation is a turf battle of egos as people are drowning.

[Arizona Carolyn]

At this point Blanco is her own worst enemy. The story here today that she was supposed to show up at a shelter in Baton Rouge they were all excited about her coming) and sent her underlings instead and the people were ticked -- especially when the people she sent had zero answers for them.

[jackbill]

The one thing I didn't hear was any mention of the State of Louisiana blocking the Red Cross and Salvation Army from delivering relief supplies to the stranded evacuees.

You ain't ever going to see that on CNN, PMSNBC, NBC, CBS or ABC. Ever.

[Arizona Carolyn]

I don't know, I did have to laugh at the NOLA site (the pet section)... there is so much panic over this stupid cop shooting the dogs when rescue groups are being held back from getting them while still alive ... anyway they are trying to get the Whitehouse, anyone to stop this jerk...and everyone starts saying email CNN... and the next person: YES, CNN .... quick, everyone CNN.

What I learned is cajungirl is right. The mindset in LA is this is -- drum roll please -- Bush's fault... and since Bush and FOX news are considered one and the same they say call CNN.

[Arizona Carolyn]

It's pretty easy... Monday the 28th she went on CNN Larry King and basically indicated things were fine, the President was great, FEMA was wonderful... etc., it's all in the transcript from CNN.

[msnimje]

CNN - The Copying News Network - Think of us as a Xerox for news already broken and too big to no longer cover up....thanks to F'ng Fox News.....ratings bastards

Fantastic! Right on the money!

[kayak]

FYI