For Every Cool Head, a Thousand Overheated Mouths (As Expected, the Media is Turning on Bush!)

Washington Post ^ | October 29, 2001 | Howard Kurtz

[Wphile]

Amen brother...let 'em go to hell.

[psjones]

Isn't this the same press that was all over the House of Representatives for leaving early so that their building can be swept for anthrax? Sheesh, now they're tripping all over themselves to criticize the administration for not knowing beforehand that the postal workers were in danger. Obviously, they didn't think that an onopened envelope can be as hazardous as an open one. After all, how many employees at AMI tested positive for exposure, not that many.

[Wphile]

So true. This is totally a case of "20/20 hindsight" and to see the press use it against Bush is deplorable but predictable.

[Rubber Duckie]

Keep in mind that Tommy Thompson was given the job at HHS because of the resultes he produced in Wisconsin getting people off welfare and to work. To bash him for his poor presentation on biological sciences is like expecting an airline CEO to explain what went wrong on 9-11.

Thompson obviously has people more qualified in the biological sciences than him to do the presentation, but it is his job. Dan Quayle was another with the "deer in the headlights" presentation, but behind the scenes was one of the brightest VPs we ever had.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

"FOX NEWS has pissed me off the last 4 weeks. They have been whipppping this non anthrex attack just as much as the next news company ! Shame on them ..."

They also showed the children in hospitals in Afganastain on Oct 12th that the Taliban claimed we injured.
Odd that they never showed any children from the WTC in hospitals.

[oldvike]

I'll agree with you that he is a politician and a pencil pusher who depends on "academics" for his technical information. But that does not excuse him for going to a press conference about anthrax and not knowing basic information about the disease. If he can't handle it then he needs to step down or bring some of his advisors to the meetings to handle the more technical questions.

[GVnana]

Shall we include the media in the War on Terrorism?

I hear Time magazine is launching a real Bush hit piece tomorrow--back to the "village idiot" days. Within weeks of the highest measured approval ratings in history.

[InfraRed]

Many of today's journalists are in their current positions because they went to college, took LSD-101, and majored in flower power during the 60's -- in lieu of risking their enlightened tails in Vietnam. All of a sudden, war has come to the homeland, and this time they have nowhere to run and hide. They simply can't come to terms with a reality where their precious little lives may be at risk. Drawing from prior experience, they are only qualified to blame their fellow countrymen and befriend the enemy - an enemy that cares not about their brand of psychedelic peace, love, and understanding. Far worse than useless, this bunch of losers is dangerous - in a deadly sort of way.

[weegee]

AMEN to your post. They also have too much time to fill on the CNN's etc. News mouths that just keep on tickin'!

Quick! Someone produce an awards show of some kind so that everyone can pat themselves on the back and the media will have something that they can cover objectively (did you see so-and-so's dress by yadda-yadda?).

That type of non-story should keep them preoccupied long enough that they won't need to fill airtime with this type of non-story.

[weegee]

1. GWB should go to the World Series in NY and sit with Rudy in the Front Row - not in Steinbrenner's box. If he isn't safe there he isn't safe anywhere (sing with me, New York, New York).

During the first 2 National League Championship games (Houston vs. Atlanta), former President Bush sat right behind home plate, along with Barbara Bush. I'm sure that in some circles he could still be a target (for the Gulf War and to get at his son).

If GWB did go to the game, there would still be cynics questioning his motives and saying that it's shameful to be enjoying a game while sending men into battle. Conversely, would he even get airtime for attending the game?

[weegee]

"FOX NEWS has pissed me off the last 4 weeks. They have been whipppping this non anthrex attack just as much as the next news company ! Shame on them ..."

Then again, FOX News has this on their website for "top stories". Is this breaking news for anyone with a calendar or computer?

Fall Back
Clocks shift back one hour as daylight savings time ends
(article here)

[sakic]

One thing the administration has totally blown is their handling of the anthrax threat. Out of one of their mouths they tell us to remain calm and don't run out and get antibiotics and carry on normally. Out of their other mouth they all run out and buy antibiotics and start taking it (i.e. Supreme Court) or run away from work (i.e. House of Reps).

The fact that they lagged in having our postal employees get their Cipro while they all went on Cipro is an embarrassment and criminal.

[Dane]

The Article the link points to states Diane Sawyer interviewed bin laden last Thursday.

Read it again, Diane Sawyer interviewed Bin Ladin's sister-in-law.

[LadyDoc]

One reason for the problem is that Clinton's political appointee Sacher is the Surgeon General.

The second problem is that few reporters realize that anthrax is present in lots of barnyards, so one case doesn't spell terrorism.

Third, none of them realize that most of the carelessness in the bureaucracy is due to eight years of neglect from the Clinton whitehouse.

Fourth, none of them bother to read the books on bioterrorism that are on the internet and have been there for years(I downloaded the army manual two years ago, and it's still available).

So they're too lazy, they blame W.

[Dane]

The fact that they lagged in having our postal employees get their Cipro while they all went on Cipro is an embarrassment and criminal.

Would you also include the hospital that sent home a postal worker that had flu like systems but died later of inhalation anthrax?

It is very easy to have 20/20 hindsight and to beat your chest in outrage, but all the postal workers knew that if they had flu like symptoms that they should go seek help and it looks like the Hospital dropped the ball.

Previous experience with the Florida letter showed that the post office in Florida wasn't affected as much as the National Enquirer office and that the major danger to people was where the letter was opened.

The letters to Capitol Hill proved that wrong and the situation has been corrected.

But you go ahead and beat your chest in outrage and think that you are the know all and be all.

[sakic]

Would you also include the hospital that sent home a postal worker that had flu like systems but died later of inhalation anthrax?

Most people understand the differnece between an honest mistake and negligence. Postal employees were left unprotected way too long despite your citing hindsight. The government already knew the seriousness of the problem and failed to act immediately. They were too busy running out and buying Cipro.

[be-baw]

The administration has done a first-class job of moving in quickly to defend against the anthrax threat

They've certainly done much better than they're being given credit for. Unfortunately, the administration's spokesmen on the anthrax issue--Tommy Thompson and Tom Ridge--have not articulated well. It's been reported that this week Tom Ridge will begin taking the lead on the issue. Hopefully he'll get his sea legs for his new position soon.

[Dane]

Most people understand the differnece between an honest mistake and negligence. Postal employees were left unprotected way too long despite your citing hindsight. The government already knew the seriousness of the problem and failed to act immediately. They were too busy running out and buying Cipro

BS and you know it. The Post Office in Florida was hardly affected while the National Enquirer Office was where two cases of inhalation anthrax happened. So the previous experience was that the major danger was at the place was where the letter was opened.

Also you do not want to give out Cipro like candy since it has side effects and also helps bacteria become more resistant to the anti-biotics.

But you go ahead and beat your chest and act like Ralph Nader in your indignation.

[Patria One]

"The press is kind to Bush when compared to what some of the Freepers have been saying lately"

You noticed that too?

I think he's doing a fine job.