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
Ping! to a thread related to our Obama discussion yesterday.
The corrupt and stupid political machine in New Orleans elected Mayor Nagin, who ignored the evacuation plan from 2000 which called for buses to get the people out who had no private means of transportation. Nagin beat feet to Baton Rouge, and let both the buses and the people sit where they were.
The corrupt and stupid political machine in New Orleans also provided the margin of victory for Governor Blanco, who had the responsibility to call out the National Guard. She rejected President Bush's suggestion that she call out the Board BEFORE Hurricane Katrina hit.
Then, of course, there are the local police in New Orleans. Some attempted to protect and serve, in impossible conditions. But many abandoned their posts, and some actually engaged in looting, themselves.
If anyone needs to be punched in the face, it is Mary Landrieu, not George Bush. (Not that I am actually proposing physical violence, mind you. I do admit, however, that the one time I ran for office I had award-winning posters, one of which said, "Fight Crime. Punch a Politician Today." LOL.)
I agree with Hinderacker that the Bush Administration should fight back against this tide of lib-Dem dishonesty. But it should NOT be with mere soundbites. Instead, it should be with a heavily-factual time line of who did (or did not) do what and when.
Congressman Billybob
Latest column: "Tide of Lies Swamps NY Times: Employees Riot and Steal Office Supplies"
I think that, over the long run, the Dems are fighting uphill
Many of those young folks who rode in transport helicopters are, right now, thinking about their strong and skilled rescuers .
The do-nothing Dems will have a hard time competing with the strong image of the "do-or-die" rescuers in uniform.
I look forward to a substantial increase in the number of recruits for all branches of service.
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. BTTT!
Want to bet?
You're right about that. I haven't heard ONE Democrat offer up what THEY would have done to make everything come up roses. The problem is any solution they offer has to go back and point the finger at the failure of local and state (Democrat) Government leadership, and they know it.
Message from Mayor C. Ray Nagin:
Dear Parish Residents,
The safety and well-being of the citizens of New Orleans is my greatest priority. For this reason, our Office of Emergency Preparedness has prepared this Guide to help individuals during times of natural or man-made disaster. The information contained is designed to help everyone deal with these emergencies in an effective and sucessful manner. Knowledge is power and knowing what to do during an emergency can be lifesaving. Our City, due to its central gulf location, is one of the most vulnerable in America to the furies of a hurricane. Heavy rains, because of our topography, can and do cause severe flooding. Our City’s place as one of the busiest rail centers and second busiest ports exposes us to potentially numerous hazardous materials incidents. All of these factors combine to make an effective Citizen’s Guide a necessity. This, our second annual update, serves that purpose. But, like any good tool, it is useless unless read and acted upon...
I am sure some consultants made a lot of money on this. It has all of the right ideas. It's a crime that NOBODY IN NEW ORLEANS OR LOUISIANA GUM'T, bothered to take care of the people..
Guess they've never really learned from that phrase about when you find yourself in a hole...quit digging. Let them rant.
MISSION STATEMENT
The Office of Emergency Preparedness is responsible for the response and coordination of those actions needed to protect the lives and property of its citizens from natural or man-made disasters as well as emergency planning for the City of New Orleans. Our primary responsibility is to advise the Mayor, the City Council and Chief Administrative Officer regarding emergency preparedness activities and operations.We coordinate all city departments and allied state and federal agencies which respond to city-wide disasters and emergencies through the development and constant updating of an integrated multi-hazard plan. All requests for federal disaster assistance and federal funding subsequent to disaster declarations are also made through this office.Our authority is defined by the Louisiana Emergency Assistance and Disaster Act of 1993, Chapter 6 Section 709, Paragraph B, “Each parish shall maintain a Disaster Agency which, except as otherwise provided under this act, has jurisdiction over and serves the entire parish”.
Senator, and I use that term loosely, Landrieu would you please explain how it is that your party can find buses and every functional manner of transportation to move millions to the polls on election day. But having no use for the poor, mostly black, citizens of New Orleans in September of an off election year you abandon your constituents and 300 life-saving city school buses to the flood. The corpses are your party's shame Senator.
This has disturbed me more than anything else over the Bush Administration's entire tenure. There are very few people in the House or Senate willing to go to bat for the guy. Frankly, it ticks me off.
I can only figure that the Lott fiasco was mishandled and the appropriate trust was not built because of that situation. Who knows. Or perhaps there has been vigorous defense and we don't hear about it.
Whatever it is, it's exasperating.
The American people aren't buying the smear campaign. The other websites I frequent show this and an ABC poll confirms it.
The White House is working towards strategic goals right now, goals that will affect the way that the next several years of effort are directed.
It will cost a hundred billion dollars, minimum, to rebuild New Orleans, and pumping that kind of money into Blanco's pockets is tantamount to flushing it down the toilet.
Bush is working to remove her incompetence from the equation and right now, that takes political compromise and maturity. It also takes precedence.
If he succeeds, she will become a political non-entity, a governor without a state or taxbase. If he does not succeed, then he will likely level the cannon and blow her out of the water with the well documented storm preparation and storm response failures at the state and local levels.
Looks past the shrill, Bush bashing media, and see that their very hysterics are an indication of just how scared they are.
The Left is about to lose an entire state, they know it, the media knows it, and all the emotional outbursts they can produce will not change the facts which have already been recorded.
With every day that aid increases in flow into the stricken areas, these attempts to cover up the corrupt and self-serving practices that have become a way of life in Louisiana government are running out of ammunition.
When the time is right, they will be overrun.
The Rats remind me of Plankton on Spongebob who keeps trying to steal the Krabby Patty formula.
>>>the inattentive masses lazily believing their lies<<<
I agree
I agree. This attitude dragged out Bolton's nomination, is doing the same with Robert's and now that Renquist's seat is open, things will really get complicated by continuing to give the demo's and the MSN time for more lies that will be met by more silence.
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