Posted on 09/03/2005 7:39:26 PM PDT by Mount Athos
Watching both Fox and NBC after President Bush had been inspecting the Gulf Coast and New Orleans, I was shocked at how the nets, and even some newspapers, were trying to blame the Bush Administration for the slowness in which help was reaching the damaged cities.
Obviously, Brian Williams and his news team do not know the law, nor do they know the past history of New Orleans--a city built in a bathtub of a swamp. This is a city where the dead, for centuries, have had to be buried in above-ground structures because the water is so close to the surface of this sinking city. If coffins are put in the ground, they will rise to the surface as the underground water pushes them up. I have been to these cemeteries personally to witness this.
For decades, New Orleans has been told that the city is sinking, and that the old levees have to be rebuilt and modernized in order to keep the city from being flooded. Local officials never finished the work, nor have pleas to Congress for additional federal help been heeded. Congress has simply never seen fit to fully complete this effort, whether controlled by Democrats or Republicans.
"Why did it take five days for Bush to help?" is the mantra constantly voiced by all the "Talking Heads" on TV. Here are the reasons:
(1) It is against the law for any President to order troops into a city or across state lines without a request and permission from the Governor of that state.
John Armor, a First Amendment lawyer and one of my favorite writers, told me, "Federal law prevents the President from sending in the National Guard until the Governor gives the order. It is little known, but the Commanding General of the National Guard in every state reports to the Governor, not the President, until the Governor says otherwise. U.S. military units (regular Army, not the Guard) cannot be used because of the Posse Comitatus law, until the Guard has been authorized."
According to some news sources, the Governor of Louisiana, who knew the levees were weak, who knew that the city had been slowly sinking, and who knew that a major # 5 hurricane was approaching her city, did not call Washington for help.
(2) The Mayor of New Orleans did call for evacuation over a loud-speaker, but did nothing to be sure that the police went door-to-door, followed by transportation, to pick up all those who did not have cars or any ability to leave.
There was no other leadership practiced by the mayor there, as had been in New York City during 9/11 by Mayor Giuliani.
(3) The hurricane veered east and saved New Orleans, Brian Williams announced a week ago, and all breathed a sigh of relief...until the levees broke a day or two later allowing the surrounding waters to pour into the city.
(4) It was this predicted levee failure which had been ignored for so long that doomed the local people to be held hostage in their attics or on rooftops, not the storm. It was also the failure of the local bureaucrats and local elected leaders to maintain law and order, and to have pre-arranged for complete evacuations of the city.
It was only after a request went out to the President that troops could be sent in. Can you imagine the anti-Bush media screaming that Bush had invaded Louisiana as he had done in Iraq if he had gone in before being asked? I can just imagine The New York Times headlining, "A Repeat of Shock and Awe by Bush!"
Bill O'Reilly, on Fox News, was the only commentator I heard who explained this. All the other network commentators seemed too willing to allow the implication inferred by the viewers, that this was all the fault of the Bush Administration.
I guess the Far Left also works in mysterious ways!
Now you know why my channel is glued to Fox News, and why I no longer listen to NBC or its aide-de-camp, MSNBC!
I had to prove this to my Mrs. last night. Just flipping the Channels, I first went to Fox and CBN. Both had uplifting stories of survival and thankfulness for still being alive. Then I went to MSNBC and CNN. Practically NO PICTURES or FILM of rescues or survivors or even anything outside of N.O.. Just finger pointing, race baiting, and Bush Blaming.
She soon conceded the argument.
BTTT!
No no no,,,,always
BUSH'S FAULT!!!!
Good article and you are mentioned.
He's great when the nitwit news is on-topic, but I'd never trust this monologue as far as I could throw him out of a foxhole.
Excellent post...the slimebag MSM and sleazy lefties will climb over hurricane victims in a pathetic attempt to score political points against the President-they have done NOTHING for four and one-half years but avidly seek to undermine, mock and ridicule a decent President and an honorable Administration. This is vile, shameful, repulsive and, yes, UNPATRIOTIC. Unfortunately, get ready for more of the same, but let's continue to fight back with the TRUTH!!!
Thanks for that!
I also get frowned on when I suggest that, someone HAS to be the last to get out. Do you first save the producers, or the dependents. If you lose all the producers, who will provide for the dependents?
Who is this person? Doesn't he/she know that such logic is not allowed?
I gave up the Democrat party for the same reason.
I haven't seen a single news station that can keep thier composure and report what is going on New Orleans and Mississippi. Television news media sucks bigtime.
I guess the writer missed what I did. Fox has been unwatchable and unworthy from day one. Saturday and especially Sunday the best coverage was from the Weather Channel, because no one told it better.
Monday, Shep Smith blathered on about rattling shutters and Steve Harrigan played stupid games outside in the thick of the storm winds: "Whoooooooa! Whooooooooooooooa!"
Tuesday, Shep Smith was beaming about how New Orleans dodged a bullet, all the while Free Republic was warning about at least one levee breach.
Wednesday-Friday the media slowly awakened to the DU talking points about how the whole thing was the President's fault. However, Thursday-Saturday was when the wave of relief arrived.
Friday, despite the countless indignities already endured by the city of New Orleans, Fox News landed WHOREALDO.
Fox News has come to, well, suck.
In before the Zot! Viking Kitties are hungry tonite.
Damn, our mods are fast. I guess I missed the zot after all.
Once upon a time I was a journalism major in college (didn't stay with it but that's beside the point.) Back in those days, it was pounded into your head that a journalist was to REPORT FACTS, not editorialize. It has been mind-blowing to me to watch the reporters and anchors on the major news outlets unapologetically crossing that line in the coverage of the Katrina aftermath, not even trying to disguise that they believe it was all Bush's fault.
Guess that's why I've always liked Fox's slogan -- "We report, You decide!"
Great article, thanks for posting.
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