NYT: White House Enacts a Plan to Ease Political Damage(blame state/local)

[jsamuel]

September 5, 2005

White House Enacts a Plan to Ease Political Damage
By ADAM NAGOURNEY and ANNE E. KORNBLUT

WASHINGTON, Sept. 4 - 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.

It orchestrated visits by cabinet members to the region, leading up to an extraordinary return visit by Mr. Bush planned for Monday, directed administration officials not to respond to attacks from Democrats on the relief efforts, and sought to move the blame for the slow response to Louisiana state officials, according to Republicans familiar with the White House plan.

The effort is being directed by Mr. Bush's chief political adviser, Karl Rove, and his communications director, Dan Bartlett. It began late last week after Congressional Republicans called White House officials to register alarm about what they saw as a feeble response by Mr. Bush to the hurricane, according to Republican Congressional aides.

As a result, Americans watching television coverage of the disaster this weekend began to see, amid the destruction and suffering, some of the most prominent members of the administration - Richard B. Myers, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Donald H. Rumsfeld, the secretary of defense; and Condoleezza Rice, the secretary of state - touring storm-damaged communities.

<more>
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/05/national/nationalspecial/05bush.html?adxnnl=1&pagewanted=print&adxnnlx=1125893207-iUs2pxKrco2+5iKEhfCwHA

Every day Bush stays in office is another day we are made less safe!

[ananda]

1. the press is complying

Blaming state and local officials is working. The press is repeating that meme now... though they also mention that many blame Bush and FEMA.

Sue

[bribri16]

31. The press as been reigned in. Paychecks are important.

I wish we had an alter-MSM but I guess we are it.

[gatorboy]

2. Wow. So what happen to Bush's request to not play politics in this matter?

That lasted, what? 2 days? :eyes:

[krkaufman]

4. Silly rabbit...! n/t

[goforit]

3. Unfortunately they are a little late to come up w/this plan.

People have already witnessed the truth.

So go ahead and lie boys......do what y'all do best.

[SlowDownFast]

44. The fact this is published means it's failing...

[kenny blankenship]

5. Their response to disaster in Mississippi was slow ALSO--

is that supposed to be the fault of Louisiana state officials as well?
I don't hear the administration and the GOP paid minions in the press blaming Mississippi state government for the fuckups in that state.

So Louisiana must have also caused the difficulty in Mississippi. I mean after all, if it's TRUE that obstinacy on the part of Gov. Blanco is the reason for the delay of Federal response to the declared emergency in Louisiana, then Bush would have had THAT MUCH MORE ability to send aid to Mississippi. But that is not what happened. Federal help was very slow to reach Mississippi too. Louisiana's Governor cannot stop aid from Washington getting to Mississippi.

It appears that the slowness and stupidity of response in both Mississippi and Louisiana has the SAME root cause and that it has nothing to do with Governor Blanco.

Isn't it Bush--and his FEMA, and DHS, and DoD--that are the common denominators in the failure of a sufficient rapid response in BOTH of these two states?

[meow2u3]

29. It's all about blaming DEMOCRATS

Bushco, under Rove's spell, is a master at shifting blame onto Democrats. Not even catastrophic devastation like Katrina keeps them from refusing to take responsibility for their own inactions.

No wonder Sen. Landrieu snapped! She's sick of the typical Bush response of attacking Democrats whenever they're wrong.

[AZBlue]

6. Yeah, but did Condi wear her new Ferragamos....

...that she bought in NYC at the very same people were dying in NO streets?

I pray the media and the US public aren't fooled by this latest attempt by the administration to blame the other guy. Let's hope this week was enough of an eye-opener to them!

[ismnotwasm]

7. This can only work to a certain extent

Since they all KNEW what was going on. If it was the local officials, a real President would have been on the phone saying what the hell is going on down there. He just continued his little tour doing whatever, Rice attended plays, I still don't know where-in-hell that asshole cheney is and the rest of them are just as bad. They dropped the ball. Pure and simple. The question is why. But nothing they do suprises me anymore. 5 days before federal intervention. It's bullshit.

[ninkasi]

8. If this gang of criminals

Spent a tiny fraction of of the time they spend on PR and image in actually doing the work they are paid a fortune to do, the US would not be becoming a banana republic right now.

That's all they know...empty promises, photo ops, and sets that are built for the photo ops. There is nothing but hot air behind the curtain.

[Erika]

9. The Black faces seeking help and relief

are heart wrenching and shown world wide. Bush, one day after hurricane Frances, had photo ops showing him handing out bottled water to white Floridians.

[kenny blankenship]

10. Next time you hear someone say "Oh but Louisiana didn't ask for help"

Or say "Louisiana's Governor got in the way because she wouldn't give up control"

ask these questions as a reply:

So she delayed Federal relief efforts from getting to Mississippi TOO? Because things were just as slow and screwed up there. Did she threaten to shoot down airlifted supplies getting to Mississippi? Blast trucks on the interstates north of the Gulf coast states with tanks and helicopters?

This is their escape strategy -- to smear Blanco as some "ditzy broad" and "ultra control freak liberal" who "just doesn't get it" and who got in Bush's way.
We have to point out the gaping holes in the logic or they WILL ram this view through the media successfully. The media are very uncomfortable blaming Bush for anything; even when all they are doing is stating some facts, if those facts reflect poorly on Bush, a way is found to make someone else to blame or to pretend there is no knowing the facts. Someone has got to take the rap for this catastrophe. Rove won't stop planting lies (as with the WP story) until that someone is identified as a Democrat, and unless there's no way out, the media will comply. We have to leave no way out.

[cyr330]

11. Is this any surprise?

All they care about is how things are going for them politically. God forbid that they should actually care about the people they supposedly "govern."

On further note, when will they send their own "Uncle Tom" aka Condoleeza Rice, down there to make peace with the "coloreds"?

[Up2Late]

12. What ever happened to a President in charge of the Government???

"...As is common when this White House confronts a serious problem, management was quickly taken over by Mr. Rove and a group of associates including Mr. Bartlett...."

When did Karl Rove Become the President? Or has he been the President all along? I guess Karl's President until Darth Cheney gets back from Death Star 1.

[bee]

13. oy. but lets be glad the NYT is printing THIS story at least!

That sure is a perdy headline.

[Old and In the Way]

14. People know the truth.

They reached the saturation point. I think they've lost the media over Katrina. The red pill won't work anymore. He used up all his political capital and he can't cover the loan on the capital he's borrowed.

Keep showing that cake and guitar pic. Keep speaking truth to the lies. His troubles aren't over. There's more bad news about Katrina, about his budget allocations shorting the infrastructure for a no result WOT, Plame, Iraq, Republican corruption, administration incompetence, economy, price of gas, jobs...you name it. Does anyone think George is suddenly going to become Bill Clinton? This guy is a not a lame duck, he's a dying duck.

[Tomee450]

25. Not everyone has seen the truth.

Many of the callers on C-Span this morning were blaming the residents of New Orleans for not getting out, blaming the governor and completely letting the Bush administration off the hook. If most of the victims of this tragedy were white, this might be a turning point for Bush, but there are still people out there who will never desert Bush if the persons he has harmed by his inaction are black. Many of the callers to Washington Journal this morning were deeply racist. They showed no compassion for the New Orleans victims whatsoever. Said they should have gotten out when ordered. No consideration of the fact that many were poor, sick, old. I found their comments very troubling.

[Clarkie1]

15. They can't contain the damage this time.

It's not as simple as 9/11, where they could use anger and fear of others to cover up their own misjudgments.

[Kablooie]

16. Nope. Federal, not state responsibility... read this...

The National Response Plan (NRP) was accepted and implemented by Bush Administration in December 2004.


http://www.dhs.gov/interweb/assetlibrary/NRPbaseplan.pdf
http://www1.va.gov/emshg/docs/national_response_plan/files/Catastrophic.pdf

some quotes:

Guiding principles for proactive Federal response include the following:
• The primary mission is to save lives; protect critical infrastructure, property, and the environment; contain the event; and preserve national security.
• Standard procedures regarding requests for assistance may be expedited or, under extreme circumstances, suspended in the immediate aftermath of an event of catastrophic magnitude.

• Notification and full coordination with States will occur, but the coordination process must not delay or impede the rapid deployment and use of critical resources. States are urged to notify and coordinate with local governments regarding a proactive Federal response.

The President leads the Nation in responding effectively
and ensuring the necessary resources are applied quickly
and efficiently to all Incidents of National Significance.

[leesa]

36. Thank you. Clearly their responsibility...However, CJ Roberts may disagree

[calimary]

39. Please also note this:

(snip)

MR. RUSSERT: But that's the point. Those who got out were people with SUVs and automobiles and air fares who could get out. Those who could not get out were the poor who rely on public buses to get out. Your Web site says that your department assumes primary responsibility for a national disaster. If you knew a hurricane 3 storm was coming, why weren't buses, trains, planes, cruise ships, trucks provided on Friday, Saturday, Sunday to evacuate people before the storm?

Note the FOURTH SENTENCE. UMMMM... I guess that means the feds ARE INDEED ultimately accountable for this. They can try to spin off the blame on somebody farther down the food chain, but this ON THEIR WEBSITE, DECLARES FLAT-OUT, that the Department of Homeland Security bears primary responsibility for a national disaster. Instead, we have a Department of Homeland Security that IS a national disaster.

From DU thread:
Russert Tears Up Homeland Security Chief (Are you planning resignation?)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1752789#1755408

[IndianaGreen]

17. They will be blaming Clinton and liberals next!

The point is that Bush will never take responsibility for his actions. Bush will never say he was wrong about Iraq, and he will never say that he fumbled the ball on Katrina and the environment.

[Karmakaze]

19. Next?

Wolf Blitzer already got that ball rolling!

I can't remember the exact details and I can't search for the original post, but Blitzer was interviewing some ex-congressman or senator and asked him "So, it's Clinton's fault?" or words to that effect.

[Mokito]

45. Not really a Wolf Blitzer fan,

but in all honesty, that rather sounds as a sarcastic snare instead of a pointing finger.

[Skwmom]

18. Dr. Phil said the people in the Astrodome are mad for not

being evacuated. He didn't say anything about people being mad because of the slowwwwwwwww and nonresponse. Of course he is a big Bush fan.

[jamesinca]

20. Well help was asked for and it was not received

Here are a few things:

From the WaPo

Correction to This Article
A Sept. 4 article on the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina incorrectly said that Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Babineaux Blanco (D) had not declared a state of emergency. She declared an emergency on Aug. 26.

Many Evacuated, but Thousands Still Waiting
White House Shifts Blame to State and Local Officials
By Manuel Roig-Franzia and Spencer Hsu
Washington Post Staff Writers
Sunday, September 4, 2005; A01
-------------------------------------------------------------------
From E&P
Hurricane Center Director Tells Paper He Briefed Brown and Chertoff on Danger of Severe Flooding

By E&P Staff

Published: September 04, 2005 6:55 PM ET
NEW YORK Dr. Max Mayfield, director of the National Hurricane Center, told the Times-Picayune Sunday afternoon that officials with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Department of Homeland Security, including FEMA Director Mike Brown and Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, listened in on electronic briefings given by his staff in advance of Hurricane Katrina slamming Louisiana and Mississippi--and were advised of the storm’s potential deadly effects.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
From Gov. Blanco , her follow up letter, not the first one that was sent regarding this issue.

September 2, 2005
The President
The White House
Washington, D.C.

Dear Mr. President:
Let me first thank you for your leadership during this unprecedented natural disaster. Your pledge of assistance for the initial and long-term recovery efforts is reflective of the tremendous outpouring of support by the citizens of our great country. Although we have been dealt a devastating blow, I can assure you Louisiana will recover, rebuild, and restore our communities.

Based on our initial assessment, I have previously requested significant federal support to include: an additional 40,000 troops; trailers of water, ice and food; commercial buses; base camps; staging areas; amphibious personnel carriers; deployable morgues; urban search and rescue teams; airlift; temporary housing; and communications systems. Even if these initial requests had been fully honored, these assets would not be sufficient to address our critical, immediate needs. Additional assistance requirements for the federal government are outlined below. As we continue to assess our needs, I will ensure you receive our updated requirements.
---------------------------------------------------------------------

They pledged help, but they did not send it for the better part of a week.

From the 8/29/05 USA Today

RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif. (AP) — President Bush on Monday pledged extensive federal help for victims of Hurricane Katrina to "get your lives back in order." The government put into effect a massive emergency assistance program that included rushing baby formula, communications equipment, generators, water and ice into hard-hit areas.

[DoYouEverWonder]

21. As usual, the WH is more concerned with controlling their image

then they are with controlling the disaster. You would think they would have more important things to work on at the moment?

They did the same thing on 9-11. After Bush finally finished reading My Pet Goat he went to the situation room. Instead of responding to the ongoing attack, Condi Rice (the National Security Adviser) spent her time on the phone getting him ready to make his first statement to the public. This was their top priority, not defending the country.

[EST]

22. The fundamental insanity seems to be

that each of these incompetent, arrogant pricks (yes, Condi included) makes the unassailable assumption that he is elected/appointed as a member of a royal aristocracy, an instant moral leader and pundit, and has such a mandate that his own behavior becomes the official standard, by which all others are judged - and, of course, always found wanting.

[bklyncowgirl]

23. Karl Rove & the boys have leaped into their swiftboats.

And are conducting an all campeign to shift the blame to Democratic state and local offials. Operation CYA has started and compared to the inept response to the actual disaester, this will be fast, efficient and relentless.

Fortunately, I don't know about Governor Blanco but Ray Nagin does not seem like the sort of guy who's going to take any shit from them and maybe, just maybe the media is starting to wake up.

[kenny blankenship]

24. Kick

[Vinca]

26. Are the swifties back shilling for Bush?

"The water wan't (yeah, wan't) that deep. Why the ole swift boat'd sink like Kerry's reputation on that other August day. Ahhhh, I love the smell of rotting carcases in the morning." Assholes.

[napi21]

27. Most amusing was the info that Rove told Chertoff NOT to respond

to questions about what HAD or HAD NOT happened, but what we are doing NOW! Simply say that there will be a time to debate the past but NOT NOW!

That's exactly what Chertoff did on all the Sunday shows, and I recognized it as a Rove ploy the first time Chertoff opened his mouth!

I don't think it's going to work this time! Too many reporters were there in the middle of this disaster, and too many people saw and heard how slowly things were going!

[PATRICK]

28. At last, a plan they will enact

n/t

[nookiemonster]

30. "Don't point fingers!!" "Don't point fingers!!"

I wish that America would wake the fuck up and realize that politics reigns supreme with these murdering assholes.

:mad:

[teacher2560]

32. Louisana State National Guard vs. National Guard???

This is crazy that the Bush Crime Company would try to blame the Governor of Louisana. The only reason that they are doing this is because she is a Democrat and they are the accountibility last crowd. She is only in control of the Louisiana National Guard which many of her guardspersons are in IRAQ. She ordered the ones she had to respond but she doesn't have the authority to bring in any from outside that is the PRESIDENT'S job. We all know where he was when the hurricane hit "Now, watch this drive..."

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

33. Way to step up to the plate, Mister Responsibility.

It had to be thus, of course. But this time there is plenty of evidence contrary to what they will attempt to imply.

[VegasWolf]

34. Wee Cowboy - "The buck stops, errr, err, over THERE!" nt

[Gruenemann]

35. A Mole in Gov Blanco's office

Is the source for the following, sent to me by a friend in Baton Rouge:

Okay, I'm gonna come clean, because I see that Bush and his cronies are going to try to do what I heard they were going to do. I mentioned a few emails back that Bush was doing something despicable and cowardly.

Well, here is the story: a few nights ago, he met with Gov. Blanco. He isolated her, and attempted to get her to sign an agreement that partly would have exonerated the Feds and FEMA, and placed blame squarely on the state government. Well, I see in these NY Times articles that Karl Rove is orchestrating this cowardly attempt to diffuse blame. This story, by the way, comes from someone very high up in Blanco's administration.

From someone pretty high up in Mayor Ray Nagin's administration, word
also got out just yesterday athta Bush was going to try to aim blame at Nagin and his people. Believe me, this is serious shit. Both the state and city governments have real fears that their lines are being bugged by the Feds (not unfounded by the way). And all this during a disaster such as the aftermath. It is becoming painfully aware that Bush has no conscience, no integrity whatsoever. Okay, so I said if need be, I'd spill the beans on this, and I encourage all of you to pass it around.

Here are the NY Times articles. The excerpt included on the first tells of the Bush plan to diffuse blame. My god, this son of a bitch has no plan to save people, but he has a plan to diffuse blame. It's time for people like us to wake America up and work towards getting rid of this cancer before it kills us all.

The President
White House Enacts a Plan to Ease Political Damage
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/05/national/nationalspecial/05bush.html

The Fallout
After Failures, Government Officials Play Blame Game
By SCOTT SHANE
Published: September 5, 2005
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/05/national/nationalspecial/05blame.html?hp&ex=1125979200&en=755e637e66f8b02f&ei=5094&partner=homepage


ON A PERSONAL NOTE:
Spent about five hours in a shelter last night. Volunteerism is still
strong. Truckloads of toys, diapers, and clothes were coming in from as far as Tennessee. People were actually driving these down from other states. Sadly, bus loads of evacuees were still coming in as late as 2:00 AM.

A few parishes opening up this morning. A personal friend has two
friends stuck on a roof in New Orleans. Jeffereson Parish President Aaron Broussard's mother drowned in a nursing home Friday. He talked to her evey day on the phone, and every day she asked, "when are they coming to get us?"

I met a man from Algiers at the shelter last night, and asked him if
the company he worked for was going to relocate (he was adamant about
telling me that he had a job, he felt the need to stay connected to his old life). He was inistent that they won't and shouldn't, and vowed to be one of the people to rebuild New Orleans when he can go back in. He high fived me, right before I had to be torn away to show the guy from Tennessee where to put his truckload of toys.

It saddens me that these are the people who should be the focus of our stories, not the relative few who stole televisions.

[underpants]

46. Good for you-EVERYONE NEEDS TO READ THIS

There is no policy apparatus in this White House (those decisions were made a long time ago) only a political apparatus. Their only aim is to keep W's numbers up and to sell their spin...whether or not it has anything to do with to what they are actually trying to do.

http://www.ronsuskind.com/newsite/articles/archives/000032.html

[grytpype]

37. Criminals.

They deserve to be locked up in the Convention Center for the rest of their lives, living in their own filth.

[ngGale]

38. Oh me, oh my.....

the sheeple will believe this, because they want to.:scared:

[raysr]

40. Did you see this thread

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=4644904&mesg_id=4644904

[thebigidea]

41. could you imagine that asshole Nagourney writing a piece like this...

... about a President Kerry admin and not sneering the whole time?

[lumpy]

42. A plan to ease political damage ?

What is more important here? Rescuing New Orleans or Bush's sorry reputation? Orchestrating always orchestrating, politics always politics. Sickening.

[0007]

43. In the "SITUATION ROOM"? The White House has one also?

White House official said that Mr. Bush appeared at a senior staff meeting in the Situation Room on Friday and called the results on the ground "unacceptable." At the encouragement of Mr. Bartlett, officials said, he repeated the comment later in the Rose Garden, the start of this campaign.