Should read: A lot of it will be spent on consultants and cronies!
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
Ha! You can learn a lot from watching cartoons. With the kids only, of course. ; )
Although I am forced to vote for them, my dislike for Republican politicians is growing into hatred. How can they be such wimps?
I feel your frustration, but right now for the Republicans to fight back, will be portrayed as petty, there will be a time when the information will come out. But for now, the Republicans are properly focused on solving the problems and saving lives.
The WH is playing the role of Adult and at the moment is letting the spoiled brats whine and cry and have there moment. I have no doubt that they will be hammered hard with the facts in the future.
right now the emphasis is on saving lives and getting Miss and LA stabilized. The Democrats just look like petty little crybabies among a seas of adults.
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.
I sure hope this is the case, and would like to see it. But somehow I doubt something like this will happen.
Too busy smoking it, if you ask me!
I wonder if John Edwards will channel some of the tens of thousands who needlessly died. I doubt there will never be any repercussions to those responsible. James Witt has already figured out how to make some big bucks. $10.8 billion can really make people greedy! Lots of it will be spent on fuel and logistical support. A lot more will be spent on consultants.
Absolutely not! Let them keep talking as they are turning off more and more people. We need to stop trying to take away their shovel as they dig their own graves.
By the same token, I think it's possible that, eventually, it occurs to even the most politically passive among us that one man can't possibly be as evil and incompetent as the media/Dems portray him on a daily/hourly basis.
Maybe I'm whistling in the dark, but I think it's possible the public grows weary of this constant sniping...and may realize that GWB and the Republicans do NOT respond in kind.
Should read: A lot of it will be spent on consultants and cronies!
You forgot RatherGate - or is it MemoGate? - one of the bigger Karl Rove rope-a-dopes.
It's not just them; a lot of people on this very forum are doing the same thing, along with quite a few of our "leaders."
It's disgusting.
I say let Bush and the Administration work to save the victims. We, the rank and file, shall defend them all so their work can continue. It's not a turn the other cheek, it's allowing the ones that need to direct matters the freedom to do so and not be sidetracked bickering back and forth, which is exactly what the leftist scum would like to happen.
We all can keep exposing the total incompentence of the Louisiana government and let Bush keep working where he needs to. It's called Priorities.
Yeah, I knew I was forgetting something but there are just so many out there it is hard to list them all.
Pray for W and Our Freedom Fighters
People also saw with their own eyes the nonchalant attitude of many -- even those in the MSM -- toward the hurricane. People were whooping it up in the French Quarter and elsewhere until the last minute. When Shep Smith asked one couple why they were not evacuating, the man replied for the whole world to hear, "It's none of your f'ing business." People interviewed at the Superdome said they could have left, but wanted to stay with their families. Fact is, many people made bad choices and bad choices usually result in unfavorable consequences. Everybody knows that.
Look,
I was 'brought' over to the light because of all the crap continually being dished out by 'my' side.
Let the wack out. They look crazy and they're digging their own graves.
I believe.
I could be wrong.
Correct. The MSM still doesn't get it. They don't have a monopoly anymore and this is going to backfire on them and their rat constituents.
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