Popular Mechanics Takes on Katrina Myths (good read!)

The American Thinker ^ | 3/6/2006 | Noel Sheppard

[SonnyBubba]

If a hurricane had hit with the same results during Clinton's term, the media would have hailed him as a
hero.

[sweet_diane]

bookmarking and a ping

[COEXERJ145]

Popular Mechanics also did a great piece debunking the moonbat conspiracy theories concerning the 9/11 attacks:

It was written by Chertoff's nephew in order to cover up the fact that Bush blew up the WTC.

I read this on Libertypost so it must be true. /sarcasm

[MplsSteve]

I agree.

Ping for later reading.

[BadAndy]

Too bad this the impact of this article will be meaningless since the idiots in the administration prematurely accepted blame for a poor response. When will they learn to stand by their guns and not try to deflect media attacks by agreeing with them. The admission that there were no weapons o mass destruction is another example of premature agreement with media conclusions.

[goldstategop]

Like liberals care about the truth? The reality was Katrina's damage was mostly after the fact in the form of lies, libels and slanders that hurt the Administration. Popular Mechanics may be right about the myths but don't hold your breath waiting for the MSM to correct them.

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")

[nobdysfool]

Ping for some corroboration of my own observations, and some truth regarding Katrina and New Orleans.

[kellynla]

BTTT

[FreedomPoster]

Amazing what happens when you take the time to unearth and report facts, instead of engage in political "journalism."

[Steve_Seattle]

Even before I heard about this article, last week I decided to go back to the pre-storm casualty estimates to see how they squared with what actually happened. When I saw the 60,000 figure from that one computer model, and recalled Nagin's extimate of 10,000 dead in New Orleans, I began to realize that that the "botched recovery" story was a huge myth that was unsupported by the facts. If you compare the pre-storm casualty estimates with what actually happened, you must regard this is a remarkably successful disaster response plan. The myth of the botched hurricane response was almost entirely based on one or two incidents, i.e., the arguably slow evacuations of the Superdome and Convention Center. But even there, there were only a handful of deaths, which might have happened anyway, even without the storm.

[Blueflag]

REM: if it bleeds it leads! People stealing TVs and Fridges make news. People stealing water and food don't.

Also, don't forget the blow up over the apparent race(s) of the looters pictured on Yahoo.

[Steve_Seattle]

The administration was in a bind because it's hard to defend yourself when there are many dead and a whole region is wiped out, so a defense might seem callous to the victims and those still suffering with loss of home and livelihood. Plus, Bush has high standards and is always looking for ways to improve things, and is not one to make excuses. Still, you would think some Republicans - or some people in the news media - would remember what the casualty predictions were, and might ask, "Was this rescue effort really botched?" We expected 20-30 thousand dead, and there were only 1,300.

[RedEyeJack]

"In its March issue, PM took on virtually all of the media myths and misnomers that were so drilled into the citizenry by press representatives that many have become part of the public psyche."

And that, my fellow Freepers, is what we call neurolinguistic programming...

[Steve_Seattle]

The tone for the whole thing was set by Anderson Cooper and Nancy Grace and Geraldo and Shepherd Smith screaming and grandstanding about the Convention Center and Superdome. While they were doing that, I recalled how in Seattle local fire officials had always maintained that a 72-96 hour rescue period could be expected if there were a major regional disaster. I was thinking, in a sense, the people in the Dome and Convention center are already rescued - the primary response was for people still trapped in floodwaters and demolished buildings.

[brothers4thID]

The tragedy here is that all this overblown hyperbole has immunized the American people against the real day-to-day hardships that did occur and are still occurring because of Katrina.

The national scandal regarding Katrina is not the speed of relief efforts or the failure to warn people about the storm. The real investigations should be picking apart the insurance companies who refuse to pay and the insurance scammers who have made the insurance companies so tight fisted.

[Doc Savage]

Hi, I'm a mental moron, a genetic mutant who prefers to live in a large mosquito-infected swamp called New Orleans. Like everyone else down here my home is actually a shack. Even the 3 little pigs built better.

Insurance? Are you crazy? Why waste the money. The stupid Federal Government will cover any damage. Sure I live below sea level, the humidity here is intolerable, the crime is rampant, murder is a high school sport, and drugs are our normal recreation, but I love it!

Get hit again? Sure! probably this fall, but since I'm usually "drunk and can't get up" who cares? Beads, booze and babes! Sure the city is a filthy brothel and hell hole. Sure the streets are gross with vomit and bodies! That's why we love it here!

By the way, thanks to all you stupid suckers who actually pay taxes, have a sense of self-responsibility, and send me all that money every fall so I can "Recover!"

I used my gift card for some great crack I scored in Houston on my vacation and several hookers! Hey party on!

[Cruz]

ditto

[Cruz]

ditto

[mpackard]

This article was really informative and logical. It also laid out some REAL solutions to the issues. I was a little taken aback by the source as well but it was very informed.

[BadAndy]

"The administration was in a bind because it's hard to defend yourself when there are many dead and a whole region is wiped out, so a defense might seem callous to the victims and those still suffering with loss of home and livelihood."

I disagree. It is not callous to reject blame when you are not at fault. This is especially true when the fault obviously lies elsewhere and the media seems to think it's job is to destroy your administration. This admin has a history of inappropriately verifying media critisism. It has done them immense harm and only fueled crazier accusations. It's equivalent to polishing the bullet your enemy wants to shoot you with.