Posted on 02/27/2006 4:48:57 AM PST by governsleastgovernsbest
by Mark Finkelstein
February 27, 2006
If you look in the dictionary next to 'disgruntled', expect to find a photo of former FEMA Director Michael Brown. As the Today show graphic read, "Michael Brown Blames White House," and NBC Evening News host Brian Williams was there to record every embittered word, with nary a nuanced question that might have probed Brown's account of the federal response to Hurricane Katrina.
In the interview excerpt shown on this morning's Today, Brown sought to exculpate himself by describing a conference call he had held with the President and top White House advisors in which Brown had informed them that 90% of New Orleans population had been displaced.
Claimed Brown: "I am screaming that we need to do these things. We need all this stuff. It's like the old ketchup commercial. I just could not get the stuff to come out of the bottle."
You might expect that a good reporter would have challenged Brown's account. Instead, Williams fed him this softball: "Where was the disconnect?"
Brown: "I think the disconnect is this mentality that it's a natural disaster. I testified before Congress and caught a lot of flack for it but I still believe it: had there been a report that terrorists had blown up the 17th St. canal I would have been overwhelmed with resources."
Williams then portentously asked: "What has been your contact with people like Karl Rove since you left your job?"
"Zilch."
Just in case anyone didn't understand, Williams helpfully responded: "Zero?"
"Not a word."
Going for the golden ring, Williams continued: "What has been your contract with the President of the United States since you resigned?"
"Not a word."
How's this for a tough final question from Williams: "Do you feel hung out to dry?"
"Yes."
Again, you might have thought that a reporter trying to present a balanced picture would have asked Brown how much of the responsibility could rightly be laid at his feet. But Williams was content to let Brown cast all the blame at the White House.
Today Show/NewsBusters ping.
The mistake was giving the Dems this guys scalp. Now Blanco and Nagin skate.
Still waiting for ONE person who criticized the President on Katrina......to stand up and demand that the President of the United States be given the authority to usurp the power of ANY governor of ANY state and take command of that state's National Guard WITHOUT the concurrence of said Governor.
" a reporter trying to present a balanced picture"
Since when does the MSM attempt to do that? Especially Brian Williams?
Brownie seems embittered and should be shouting from the rooftops what Old Friend says in post # 4.
GOOD JOB, BROWNIE!
Excuse me, OldFriend. I forgot to include you in the TO: box........
BINGO.
And to quote 'Bill' (Kill Bill Vol 2)
"However, therein lies a dilemma."It's apparent that all those 'in government ', i.e.; bloviating Congress critters, who are screaming that "Bush should have done more, yada yada, yada..", have zero knowledge of Federalism, the 10th Amendment (powers reserved to the states), or the Constitution in general.
To me that's a dilemma when the elected representatives to our government have no idea of how our government works.
Why doesn't someone from the administration come out and educate the citizenry as to what went wrong when BlankO refused to act or cede responsibility to the President.
"Zilch."
Just in case anyone didn't understand, Williams helpfully responded: "Zero?"
"Not a word."
Going for the golden ring, Williams continued: "What has been your contract with the President of the United States since you resigned?"
"Not a word."
How's this for a tough final question from Williams: "Do you feel hung out to dry?"
"Yes."
****
Case closed ....... I'm voting straight Dem. next time.
;-)
Brown had already been deemed incompetent by the MSM and all Braown is doing is trying to do is use the public forum to help his resume.
The guy needs to work to survive and the press described him as a total boob.
It's sort of like Abu Ghraib. Every so often the MSM will haul it out and wave it around. But as you suggest, its ability to do more damage to the Bush administration, is, to quote Brian Williams, "zero".
Political tags---such as royalist, communist, democrat, populist, facist, liberal, conservative, and so forth---are never basic criteria. The human race divides politically into those who want people to be controlled and those who have no such desire. The former are idealists acting from highest motives for the greatest good of the greatest number. The latter are surly curmudgeons, suspicious and lacking in altruism. But they are more comfortable neighbors than the other sort. - R A Heinlein
O-kay-y-y-y. Just trying to determine whether the quote, interesting as it may be, was intended to have any particular relevance to the topic at hand.
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