Rumfield - "First war plan doesn't work" - explain why things went

[FloridaPat]

wrong in NO. More lies. Said locals were just too overwhelmed and their plans were not adequete. Where was the national guard again?

[Spazito]

1. He is BLAMING the first responders while pretending to

sympathise with them! Code for blame the Mayor and the Governor. Disgusted but not surprised.

[eleny]

4. Blaming the first responders when the administration failed to...

keep its promise to make adequate the means by which they all communicate with each other.

[GreenPartyVoter]

7. Dept of Homeland Security IS the first responder.. but they keep

saying it's on the shoulders of the states and cities.

------------------------------------------------------
Save the Gulf:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=106&topic_id=22507&mesg_id=22507

Then save the nation!
http://timeforachange.bluelemur.com/electionreform.htm

[whistle]

2. Rumsfeld should be only allowed to talk about what enamas...

...work best for him!

[eleny]

3. I sprang away from my chair to come write about this

Thank you, Florida Pat!!!

He's a liar and he's insane if he thinks we're going to buy that load. Time for an email champaign on this.

A first war plan doesn't work against an enemy. Is he ravng???

In the first place, FEMA was weakened and Witt said this and shopulkd testify about it. This administration's actions to downgrade and defund protecting the American people will be the demise of the Republican Party and the careers of those Dems who went along with it. That's if we can wrest their precious e-voting machines from their grip. We'll figuratively drown Norquist in his own tub before this is over.

[Spazito]

5. Rummy is using his low tone, measured voice he uses when he

is both furious and lying through his hat, it occurs when he can't joke his way out of stuff, it would be 'unseamly'.

[VolcanoJen]

6. Richard Myers is burying himself under Jamie McIntyre's questions. OMG!!!

My best transcription:

McIntyre (CNN): But on Wednesday, when the situation became most desperate at for example the Superdome, why couldn't helicopers be sent in to drop food and water? Perhaps Gen. Myers could answer this question.

Myers: As far as I've heard, there was food and water at the Superdome. I don't know that it was sufficient, but it was there. The first priority was to save lives. The helicopters were dispatched to rescue people from the flood waters. Food and water were secondary to that.

[VolcanoJen]

8. Rumsfeld added, "Sustaining life was not the top priority....

... saving lives was."

So, as an American I'm to believe that we only have a handful of helicopters at any given time?

These two seem seriously satisfied with the response. Unbelievable.

[VolcanoJen]

9. Reporter asks Rumsfeld for a "detailed timeline" of military planning...

... before the hurricane. Wants to know exactly when things were moved, where to, what the plans for deployment were.

Rumsfeld says something about "housekeeping." He says that he imagines detailed records were kept, and eventually we'll learn things, but now is not the time.

I can't believe everyone on DU isn't watching this abortion of a press conference. OMG!

[onecent]

10. Rummy walked off while a reporter was asking a question..wht a pomp ass

[DoYouEverWonder]

11. Rummie officially took control of the relief efforts last Weds

He is spinning his ass off blaming everyone else, when he was the one in charge the whole time and he ran this operation like he's run the war in Iraq, which is not saying much. Rummie should be the first to get fired. The blood of Iraq and now New Orleans is dripping from his evil hands.

[eleny]

12. Furthermore - he is trying to manage our expectations

This is an example of how FEMA also trains its people to deal with the media and therefore the public. Last night, someone at DU posted the training course outline for FEMA on how to deal with the media. Here are some bullets:
• Know what you want to say.
• Keep it simple.
• Manage expectations.
• Stay on message.
• Practice.

[oasis]

13. Rummy said Gen. Honore explained everything earlier. They had to deploy

"assets" away from the danger and them bring them in later. The 'copters were used for rescue first and food drops later. Blah, blah blah.

[VolcanoJen]

14. Jamie McIntyre right now on CNN, post press-conference.

Jamie says no concession was given and no criticism of the efforts was taken by Gen. Myers and Secy. Rumsfeld.

He says they remain adamant that "the best possible was done."

He says (and I agree) that they refused to answer why helicopters were not providing food/water drops, instead insisting that the priority was rescue, not sustaining lives.

Jamie is not satisfied with the answers from the press conference and seems a little peeved.