Posted on 09/02/2005 5:00:38 AM PDT by governsleastgovernsbest
Today show Tide Shifts: Relief Efforts Out, Blaming Federal Government In
Anyone seen Kathleen Blanco lately? Remember her, the Democratic Governor of Louisiana, the lady who put in a few shaky, overwhelmed performances at the beginning of the Katrina catastrophe? She seems to have disappeared off the MSM radar screen.
How about the Mayor of New Orleans, another Democrat? How many Americans can even name him? Compare and contrast with the role Rudy Giuliani played in the wake of 9/11.
Instead, Today's focus this morning was almost entirely on the shortcomings of the federal [read Republican-led] government in its response to Katrina.
Katie Couric spoke of "the growing chorus of criticism over the government's response this national crisis."
Chorus-leader Couric first grilled FEMA Director Michael Brown. Criticized about the lack of law and order, Brown said that by Sunday there would be 30,000 National Guard troops on the ground. That wasn't good enough for Katie, who after saying she didn't want to "belabor the point" went on to do just that, carping that "it seems like a pretty long lag time."
Katie then turned to the lack of funding to improve the levee system. "Why weren't federal funds allocated for that?"
Brown: "with all due respect to you, I'm focused on life-saving efforts now."
A clenched-jaw Couric cut him off rudely: "but that might have saved lives, Mr. Brown."
Next up was an interview of Tim Russert by Matt Lauer. He joined in the chorus of criticism, focusing on the lack of pre-positioning of supplies. "This is the United States of America appearing to be incapable of rescuing and saving its own people after five days."
Lauer then offered up some editorializing of his own. He noted that "the great majority of the peole we see suffering now are black and poor."
He then, incredibly, added: "these are the people who don't have the safety net in their daily lives. How much of a wake-up call does this have to be for people in our country."
No safety net? It's been estimated that since the beginning of LBJ's "War on Poverty" in the '60s, the federal government has spent $5-6 trillion on a variety of 'safety net' programs, from Medicaid, to AFDC, to food stamps, etc.
Even Bill Clinton, who signed an historic welfare reform bill, was eventually forced to recognize that making people dependent on government had been a failure, exacerbating the very problems the programs sought to address.
But Lauer seemed to draw just the opposite conclusion. When he spoke of the lack of a safety net and a "wake up" call, the apparent implication was that the federal government should be spending more than ever on welfare.
There undoubtedly have been mistakes made on all levels of government, and there will be plenty of time to analyze and criticize.
But the MSM already seem to be developing their strategy: focus the criticism almost entirely on the federal government, rather than on the notoriously corrupt, Democrat-led New Orleans and Lousiana governments. And offer up as a solution more government welfare spending. When socialism fails, try more socialism.
Finkelstein has degrees from Cornell University and Harvard Law School. He lives in Ithaca, NY where he hosts "Right Angle," a local political talk show. Finkelstein specializes in exposing liberal bias at NBC's Today Show.
Not only that, but the city/state officials dropped their guard after the storm passed. I remember watching Shep Monday evening, and people were "celebrating" how they missed the big one. Instead of continuing evacuations, many in the state were happy to have survived another near-miss.
People were so thrilled, that looters were taking material they would never be able to use had they known the danger that laid ahead. And because the governor didn't immediately establish law and order, chaos was about to follow as the situation got out of control. It isn't Bush who screwed up, it was a state government who sat still as even more danger was to come.
Yep. And she'll be first in line to vote for President Hillary.
Yep. The truth is systematically being drowned out by the most deplorable spin yet to spew from their vile pie holes. I only thought my hatred for the MSM had reached it's limits. Can they not STFU long enough to catch a breath and let rescuers and others do their jobs? Whining and moaning and bitching and groaning about Houston's inability to take all 25,000 *refugees*. It's not good enough that 12,000 are now safe. What about the rest? What's going to become of those left behind? What about the ones left on the buses out front? What, what, WHAT,...they squauk...GAWD, STFU. If you don't like the way it's being conducted, MS> COURIC, bring your smarmy ass down to Houston and take home a family. Hey, Matt..for the price of one cup of latte' a day, YOU could sponsor a child, and teach a village to GTHO next time a hurrican threatens. I've truly reached my breaking point with the MSM.
I believe Rush yesterday said the liberal talking points websites were making this a race issue, and that somehow it would make it's way up to the MSM. Seems to me Matt is not even filtering the DU/Daily Kos style rants at this point.
Dead on, G. You deserve combat pay for this one.
They were down in the French Quarter...I saw that piece too. Celebrating they missed the big one...
Talking points issued daily at 4:00 a.m. EST.
Thanks, LG. It terms on the impact on everyday American life, in some ways this catastrophe is even more far-reaching than 9/11. We can be sure the MSM will try to exploit it for liberal political gain.
Hey, dude, billions of that money went to states and municipalities -- as it should have. It is not the fed government's fault that NO, La., screwed it up. They have known forever that this could happen. If the feds had said, "no, we'll take over planning for you," there would have been bloody hell to pay -- and rightfully so.
No, NOla has no one to blame but themselves.
I've said to Pan_Yan... about ANY looter, regardless of race or income, who stole a television, a dvd player, a radio, etc... "How do you like hauling that thing around on Day 5?" Not a practical item, and I doubt many of the looters that stole such unnecessary items get much use out of it. UNLESS they traded it for real goods on the first day. Kind of like, you reap what you sow. Excuse me if this offends. But diapers, milk, are different. And now, on Day 5, I doubt much is left in the city. The tragedy is that the people are victims of the local government, like you suggest.
Most excellent.
Leni
All good points!
" Her CNN interview this am. was the worst so far. She stated she did not know what day today was...and she could not reference when (this past week) she asked for what and in what order from the Federal govt. She seems truly heartsick at what has happened to her state...but ill prepared to take the reigns and make the tough calls."
She had that "deer in the headlights" look of someone who realizes they are completely incompetant and that it is obvious to all. Perhaps she also realized that people will pay a high price for her incompetance.
Bingo!
For true leftists like Katie and Matt, ONLY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT EXISTS. State and local governments are an unwanted impediment to their grand scheme for a socialist utopia, and represent a permanent blind spot in their thinking.
And they are the civic leaders who should have known the most about the dangers to their area.
Perhaps they each thought their job description only include one thing ---
Marching on Mardi Gras.
I saw that interview. I thought it was about time someone asked her some hard questions.
LA got what they asked for when they elected them - misery.
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