As heard on the Rush Limbaugh show last week, we've learned from Sec. Powell's remarks that the first person the President of Thailand heard from was George W. Bush. Some press nimrod made note that we hadn't heard a press release about that.
There you have it: INSIDER SYNDROME. Too lazy to do the leg work, the press assumed (in the full meaning of the word, thank you Felix Unger) that since GWB didn't call a press conference to tout his action, as we'd expect from the normal politician, that nothing happened. Series, the press dood was bemoaning that there wasn't a press release and he got tripped up. Unbelievable. Well, GWB was too busy acting on the problem to worry about taking credit. How refreshing and how understandable that once again Old Media misunderestimates GWB.
If you want some scoop on how the UN is helping, check out The Diplomad's blog or do a keyword search on Diplomad here on FR.
If this story was reported in the MSM, the DUmmmie spin would be that Bush reacted *too fast* and didn't spend enough time consulting with the Democrats before he contacted the President of Thailand.
Not entirely accurate. May I suggest: as we came to expect during the self-aggrandizing Clinton Administration.
As heard on the Rush Limbaugh show last week, we've learned from Sec. Powell's remarks that the first person the President of Thailand heard from was George W. Bush
I think that is worthy of it's own thread. (first time I heard of this)
QUESTION: The U.S. government was criticized in the way they responded to this disaster. Some were saying it was too slow and the first budget was too little. What do you think about it?
SECRETARY POWELL: Well, who criticized us? It wasn’t the countries in the region. As the Foreign Minister of Thailand said, my good friend, said on television a little while ago, the first phone call he received from anyone was from me. And what I said to him is, “let me know what you need and you can count on the United States.” And within hours, United States planes were arriving.
...
So I just don’t accept the criticism that some in the media have given to the United States that we were slow. I called all the ministers right away. The President spoke to heads of governments and states within 48 hours and we have put our military on the ground, our ships are in the region, we have increased significantly our financial contribution. And, of those that would like to criticize the United States, it is not the countries who are receiving the benefits of our assistance. They are very pleased to receive our assistance and they have been very complimentary of what we have done with them.
The clip Rush played of the reporter's whine about no press release came from another interview that I cannot locate right away. I would remind readers of the phrase "For the Commander" of which Gen. Powell is well aware. In a well functioning management team, each member has their area of responsibility and it doesn't require the CEO to do everything himself in order to have it accomplished. With a glory-hoarding and megalomaniac style (self-aggrandizing as JennysCool would say), you get the news clips but not the effectiveness.