In the past two days the New York Times has printed the following comments:
Each day since Katrina brings more evidence of the lethal ineptitude of federal officials. Paul Krugman 'Killed By Contempt'"
At a time when effective leadership is desperately needed, the United States is being led by a man who seems oblivious to the reality of his awesome responsibilities. Bob Herbert 'A Failure of Leadership'"
W. drove his budget-cutting Chevy to the levee, and it wasn't dry. Bye, bye, American lives....Shirt-sleeves rolled up, W. finally landed in Hell yesterday and chuckled about his wild boozing days in "the great city" of N'Awlins....When the president and vice president..... were deaf for so long to the horrific misery and cries for help of the victims in New Orleans - most of them poor and black, like those stuck at the back of the evacuation line yesterday while 700 guests and employees of the Hyatt Hotel were bused out first - they shook the faith of all Americans in American ideals. And made us ashamed. Maureen Dowd 'United States of Shame'"
As the levees cracked open and ushered hell into New Orleans on Tuesday, President Bush once again chose to fly away from Washington, not toward it, while disaster struck. We can all enumerate the many differences between a natural catastrophe and a terrorist attack. But character doesn't change: it is immutable, and it is destiny.
As always, the president's first priority, the one that sped him from Crawford toward California, was saving himself: he had to combat the flood of record-low poll numbers that was as uncontrollable as the surging of Lake Pontchartrain. Frank Rich "Falluja Floods the Superdome"
It would appear that the Times has once again become the official mouthpiece of the radical left-wing impatriots of the Democratic Party.
And what, pray tell, does the New York Times have to offer on behalf of the Bush administration......you know....just to provide some token symbol of being "fair and balanced?" They print this little article entitled, "White House Enacts Plan to Contain Political Damage"
Under the command of President Bush's two senior political advisers, the White House rolled out a plan this weekend to contain the political damage from the administration's response to Hurricane Katrina.
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Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - RJ
I've said it before, and I'll say it again:
When ANYTHING bad happens, regardless of the facts, it must be totally Bush's fault...
2 - RJ
What I meant is, that is the position the Left takes...
3 - Winston Jen
"It is to his CREDIT that President Bush did not exceed his constitutional authority by sending Federal agencies, supplies and military force into Louisiana without the expressed request of the Governor."
Why? Because he broke a trend of exceeding his authority a la the Terri Schiavo debacle?
In any case, prevention is better than cure, and the US government needs to pay more attention to preserving the environment and preventing future natural disasters such as Katrina.
4 - Marty Thau
The Republicans are slipping. How come they didn't blame Clinton for all that went wrong? Hmm?
5 - alethinos59
Speaking of LAME RJ... Doesn't it ever strike you odd that, according to you and the Bird up there it is ALWAYS the Left's fault too?
I'm as unimpressed with the Dems as I am with the Reps. They're both in bed with the same corporate whores.
Yet it seems your ilk are incapable of seeing the faults of the Right. No one "over there" ever makes mistakes. No one over there ever is corupt, dishonest, vile.
What a sad and pathetic view. There is plenty of blame to go around. It would be wonderful to see you two actually have the MATURITY to recognize that there are HUMANS on BOTH sides and that they ALL have shortcomings.
That would be asking to much of you though.
Best of luck with the myopia...
6 - Marshall
It is both unfair and irresponsible that the New York Times lay the majority of fault on President Bush. He does have some blame (cutting funding to improve one of the levees), but no more than Mayor Nagin, Governor Blanco, FEMA Director Brown, and DHS Chairman Chertoff share. They are all at fault, and to single out Bush is politics and dumb politics at that.
For the record, the Dems blame Bush for everything the same way the Reps blamed Clinton for everything. It was unfair both times, it was stupid both times (especially when both men have ample things for which to be blamed) and it is disgusting in both cases.
Having said that, someone's head deserves to roll, and Bush deserves to take his fair share of political lumps for this. Possibly, the effects of this week will appear in the mid-term elections.
7 - Dave Nalle
Really nice summary of the bias of the Times, Bird. I don't read their editorial page so I miss a lot of the real, hard-line craziness they publish.
The one thing you missed in your summary is the REASON why no one went into New Orleans in the first couple of days after the storm hit - which the left certainly isn't going to mention. FEMA specifically kept responders out of the city because they would be at more risk and be unable to provide any effective support until the waters had receded enough to get their vehicles and personnel and equipment into the city safely. It was better to let the survivors wait a couple of days and then get them ALL out as they did very quickly once they moved in, than to carry out a haphazard, dangerous and protracted removal.
Dave
8 - Eric Berlin
Dave - There should have been airdrops of food and water and essential supplies to the people at the convention center and the Superdome at the LEAST. That failure needs to be explained.
There's plenty of blame to go around -- don't pretend that this was a flawless operation.
Lastly, the NYT does have conservative voices on its editorial pages, unlike some right-leaning pubs.
9 - Gary
Watching this administration is like watching the O.J. trial.
At this point even his own defense team knows he's guilty but they will continue to defend him because it's their $$job$$.
The blacks support him because he's black.
And yes- despite physical appearances Karl Rove is playing the role of Johnnie Cochran.
10 - Dave Nalle
>>Dave - There should have been airdrops of food and water and essential supplies to the people at the convention center and the Superdome at the LEAST. That failure needs to be explained. <<
There were supposed to ALREADY be supplies at the Superdome because it was in the disaster plan. A major failing of the New Orleans city government. But once the media got in there so we knew there was a problem they should have dropped food, but I guess that since they started getting people out very shortly thereafter maybe an airdrop would have been redundent.
As for the convention center, there weren't supposed to BE ANY people there. It wasn't on the disaster plan and some city police just started sending people there and didn't inform FEMA about it.
Two examples of entropy at work. So yeah, there was no perfect execution at all here, but it also wasn't totally botched the way many are making out.
Dave
11 - Eric Berlin
Granted, there were failures on many levels.
But I think a huge and preventable failure -- and I predict this will indict and hinder Bush's legacy -- was a failure on the federal level to mobilize massive amounts of aid (the food/water/supply drops I mentioned, along with a host of other first responder resources) the instant it was realized what a catastrophe was in the offing.
Most conservatives, along with the rest, are acknowledging this very point.
12 - Marc
Winston Jen: "Why? Because he broke a trend of exceeding his authority a la the Terri Schiavo debacle?
That was Congress that rushed back to DC for that debacle.
More from Winston: "and the US government needs to pay more attention to preserving the environment and preventing future natural disasters such as Katrina
A quick search will turn up time after time projects to upgrade the NO leeve system was stymied by the tree hugging enviro-weenies.
It's also important to note the last Congressional bill for spending money on the NO levee system was soundly critcised by the NYT editorial board as being a "poor bill."
13 - Marc
I should also point out this from the same fish wrap, the NYT to you faithfull suscribers:
14 - Gary
After working a 168+ hr shift because the National Guard was busy with other things I think they deserve a break. Let the National Guard gather the dead.
After all- most of these corpses were created by their lack of prescence to begin with.
15 - Marshall
These officers and fire fighters have, like the people been under duress, seeing dead bodies, living in squalor, with limited if any food and water, under risk of murder, rape, assault and disease. To top it off, like others in the city, some of their loved ones were missing as well.
Granted, paid vacations to Vegas are a bit much, but don't they deserve a break?
16 - waggoner41
It is a foregone conclusion that state and local authorities screwed up in their efforts to evacuate the citizens of New Orleans. Both the governor of Louisiana and the mayor of New Orleans bear responsibility for the lack of evacuation preparation.
That said:
When we, the people, see the predicted devastation on our TV news fully 2 days before Katrina struck, we have to wonder that FEMA had not pre-positioned emergency help in the most moderate way.
It has been well known for years that the levees around New Orleans were built to stand no more than a category 3 storm it becomes a matter of inaction at the federal level.
George Bush strums guitar as hurricane Katrina strikes Gulf Coast. George Bush's lack of response until Wednesday displays a lack of concern for our citizens when he is involved in a purely political speech regarding the dead issue of Social Security in San Diego on Monday.
The director of FEMA, Michael Brown, has proved to be incompetent. Secretary Michael Chertoff is in the process of trying to cover up the failure of FEMA and the Department of Homeland Security in regards to leadership.
Once deployed, FEMA employees proved that the professional teams are capable of responding.
For Michael Brown to state on Thursday that FEMA had no idea that thousands were gathered at the convention center is another indication of incompetence in his ability to gather basic information.
Michael Chertoff's statements that they thought they had avoided the failure of the levees after Katrina had passed indicate that he is obviously unaware that water flows downhill. As Katrina moved north depositing torrents of rain which flowed into the Mississippi river it would obviously indicate that New Orleans was not out of the woods yet. This is a devastating lack of foresight.
So, in the end, we have the slow footed response on the part of the president, the lack of forethought on the part of the secretary of Homeland Security, the incompetence of the director of FEMA on top of local and state governments all converged to cost the lives of possibly 10,000 citizens of our nation.
Every leader, on every level, from George Bush to Michael Chertoff to Michael Brown to Governor Kathleen Blanco to Mayor Ray Nagin shares blame for criminal incompetence in this disaster.
The fault is with neither Republican nor Democrat. It is a fault of leadership on every level. It is a matter of criminal negligence and treasonous inaction directed toward citizens of the United States.
Anyone who believes that they can defend any of the foregoing leaders is either unaware of the facts or has a political motive.
I live in the Los Angeles area and we are getting a fine preview of what we cannot expect from the federal government if the big one does strike. We can only hope that the governor of California and the leaders of our local cities have a plan.
17 - Qalbun
Permission was granted by the Louisiana governor to the President and the Federal agencies on Aug 27 including access, right-of-ways, easements:
"I have determined that this incident is of such severity and magnitude that effective response is beyond the capabilities of the State and affected local governments, and that supplementary Federal assistance is necessary to save lives, protect property, public health, and safety, or to lessen or avert the threat of a disaster. I am specifically requesting emergency protective measures, direct Federal Assistance, Individual and Household Program (IHP) assistance, Special Needs Program assistance, and debris removal."
The delivery of this assistance was then bungled by FEMA. Bush and Cheney's continued vacationing and jetting about then added insult to the deadly delays.
Condi, the executive branch's number three officer, was shoe-shopping--while our nation suffered thorugh it's worst national disaster in decades.
Seems like criminal incompetence no matter whose paper you read/trash.
18 - Gary
Is there still a single person left in America that is confident in this administrations ability to protect Americans in the event of even a small scale terrorist attack?
19 - Marshall
Waggoner41 posts:Every leader, on every level, from George Bush to Michael Chertoff to Michael Brown to Governor Kathleen Blanco to Mayor Ray Nagin shares blame for criminal incompetence in this disaster.
The fault is with neither Republican nor Democrat. It is a fault of leadership on every level. It is a matter of criminal negligence and treasonous inaction directed toward citizens of the United States.
Anyone who believes that they can defend any of the foregoing leaders is either unaware of the facts or has a political motive. END POST
It needed to be posted again. Also, I estimate that California's leadership will be out in the city on a Harley Davidson, brandishing a shotgun in one hand, and stoogie in the other, giving directions via quips and catch phrases.(I say this jokingly:) )
20 - BD
The bushies have their marching orders from King Karl and they troops are forming the line. "We'll blame it on the locals" is the tune and now the whole band is beginning to blow. "I don't think anyone could have forseen the breach of the levees" was President "MIA"'s personal aria, until Karl brought him back to Washington for another round of singing lessons. Now he's back on stage ... because darnit George cares!
21 - Marshall
And Chertoff and Brown get away scott free.
22 - steve
criminal incopetence falls onto one's self...blame should not be diverted to the Govt, be it republican or democratic blame.
maybe these looters should have a conscience. do animals have consciences?
after all the rape and pillaging ive seen this week, who knows?
I have a great idea!! let's loot gun stores and shoot at those trying to save us!!! (sarcastic, as you know)
23 - Fact checker
How's this for a fact?
24 - Bird of Paradise
Thanks to everyone sharing in this thread. I was hoping some good thoughts would come out. That is why I posted my piece in the first place.
I do have something to add for alethenos59, however.
My criticism was for the NY Times' irrisponsible bias and errors and those of their writers. Any shots I took at the Democratic Party (not counting the Louisiana bunch) were tangential.
While I am very critical of the Democratic Party leadership and many elected Democrats for many reasons, there are many Democrats who I do respect for their sincere desire to deal with resolving real issues rather than simply criticising and blaming the Bush administration for everything (how can everything associated with a man who won the first popular majority vote since Reagan be considered far right extreme?)
Having said this, I will be happy to criticize Republicans, too. I'll begin with Homeland Security Head Michael Chertoff. He has made comments this past week that have made him look like a total and complete fool, liar or idiot. I have written critically of one inexcusable comment he made earlier this week on my web site here. There has been much criticism of FEMA head Brown, mostly about his lack of experience in the area in which he was appointed. I have not yet been able to see how much, if any, of the early confusion in Louisiana stems from anything related to him. If so, he should probably be replaced.
On the other hand, there have been few, if any, complaints from Mississippi or Alabama concerning the Federal response to their emergency disaster plans. This leads me to suspect that the chaos, confusion and (probable) corruption in Louisiana and New Orleans reflects (once again) more poorly on their preparedness than the lack of same with the Feds.
We all know that there will be "bi-partisan" congressional investigation into this whole matter. We will see plenty of heat and smoke but, alas, probably very little fire.
It is a very touchy and politically dangerous thing for the Federal Government (either administrative branch or legislative branch) to say too many bad things about a State. For one thing, there is more political capital to be lost than gained in such things.
An example of how dangerous this is was the Florida voting fiasco that pitted national Democrats against State Republicans which brought in the national Republicans and ultimately brought conflict between all three of the Florida branches of government....the Governor, the Legislature and the State Supreme Court. In the end, the only national or state branch of government left was the US Supreme Court who, like Alexander and the Gordian Knot, simply cut the whole thing off rather than try to unravel it.
When the Federal Government gets entangled with State government usually only bad things happen.
In the end it will be up to the voters of Louisiana to decide who botched up the whole matter. Personally, I do not think that this will bode well for the Democrats in Louisiana. How this will play out nationally for Bush and the Republicans...I'm not really sure.
Stay tuned.....!
25 - bird of paradise
Qalbun, Thanks for that link. There is a very good discussion thread there. Great questions are raised that none of us can yet answer about the "line of command" and the FEMA response.
Obviously the area that could have been effected by the hurricane was vast. Four states were under watch up until the day the hurricane actually hit. No doubt FEMA resources were spread very thin, not knowing where the worst of the storm would hit.
They were then expected and needed to respond to disasters in Louisiana, Mississippe and Alabama simultaneously.
The situation in New Orleans could likely have absorbed all of the first response by itself.
Deep down, I still feel that the federal and state resources were more or less ready and available. It seems that the breakdown came in figuring out who and how to evacuate the folks in Mew Orleans and how to get the supplies and assistance to where they were most needed.
I am very disturbed by the rumor that military and other federal assistance was offered to Homeland Security but "turned down." If this is true then Chertoff needs to be bounced out immediately if not sooner. He certainly has not impressed me in any way shape or form.
At this point I am simply happy to have a modicum of order restored in New Orleans and a seemingly effective evacuation plan assisting those who are left.
I am still waiting to see a house to house search of the flooded areas. Why was this not begun days ago?
Don't get me wrong. I'm still mad at the New York Times. But am well aware that something else besides death is smelling up the Gulf Coast.