http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/05/national/nationalspecial/05bush.html?adxnnl=1&pagewanted=print&adxnnlx=1125893207-iUs2pxKrco2+5iKEhfCwHAUnder 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.
Just read this over at Kos, and the best reply was this by Volvo Liberal :Are you safer than you were 4 years ago? (none / 1)
That's the only question we should be asking...Don't get caught up in the Louisiana details and criticism...That is what Rove wants obviously...We need to go meta "big picture" on them and let Rove's minions lie about who called who when about declaring a state of emergency."
Democrats should say something like:
"Look, this issue is settled. Americans know the Federal government failed the Southeast. There is no debate on it. We are passed that now...Now the question must be asked: are we safer than we were 4 years ago? And the answer, sadly, is no. And we need new leadership to make this country safe." Clear and to the point.
I did not receive $ from Ketchum, U.S. Department of Ed or HHS to write this---though I wish I had.
by Volvo Liberal on Sun Sep 4th, 2005 at 20:56:58 PDT