Chertoff is a liar. He's on MSNBC saying they had no authority to get...

[FormerRepublican]

...the military in there to help. Just prior to him speaking, another gentleman was talking about 4 or 5 times previously that they have used the military for disaster relief - and it didn't take 5 days to get them in there. Chertoff is covering his *ss. Then he says it's the Governor's fault, despite the fact that the Governor REQUESTED the help PRIOR to Katrina making landfall.

Right next to Bush, Chertoff is RESPONSIBLE for the horror of New Orleans. We need to burn his *ss for his failure and get him out of there. DHS with an incompetent running it isn't worth much.

And what makes me even more angry - I see them FLAT OUT LIE to us to make themselves look better. I'm tired of it, I'm sick of it, and it's TIME FOR THEM TO STOP!!!

Email MSNBC.

[Justitia]

1. I hate this asshole. He should not be allowed to leave NO until everyone

else does.

Chertoff should be the last one out.

I'm deadly serious.

[sickinohio]

10. I say the whole chimp administration

should have been dropped in the middle of the Superdome or the Convention Center from the first day after Katrina hit. Maybe they would have learned to be "compassionate conservatives".

[July]

34. Sounds good.

It doesn't matter what he says, though. People already know he's just covering his ass. It's just not going to work this time.

[3days]

2. Bullshit

From Americablog found on the DOHS website

In the event of a terrorist attack, natural disaster or other large-scale emergency, the Department of Homeland Security will assume primary responsibility on March 1st for ensuring that emergency response professionals are prepared for any situation. This will entail providing a coordinated, comprehensive federal response to any large-scale crisis and mounting a swift and effective recovery effort. The new Department will also prioritize the important issue of citizen preparedness. Educating America's families on how best to prepare their homes for a disaster and tips for citizens on how to respond in a crisis will be given special attention at DHS.

http://americablog.blogspot.com/2005/09/oops-dept-of-homeland-security-web.html

[Fenris]

3. He's right and he's wrong.

First off, under posse comitatus, the military cannot be used in domestic operations (at least by definition). However, the President can use his executive authority to override this, especially in times of dire emergency.

[Zenlitened]

19. Or even, instead of sitting by the phone waiting to be asked...

... a real president would give orders to get the ball rolling. Get the generals moving, the generals have their aides contact state and local officials to get authorization, etc. etc.

Of course, we'd need a president who was a leader...

:grr:

[Fenris]

32. Unfortunately, we're SOL there.

[rodeodance]

4. yeah, i heard that comment about Governers having control. This

is all confusing to me.maybe that is the objective-to confuse me/us!!!!!!!

[formernaderite]

33. No, the governors are in charge....and this one did fuck up

but the feds are supposed to give support to their needs. They should have realized that Blanco didn't know what to ask for and taken the command role away from her. My initial position was that we don't want the feds to come into states and usurp the power..particularly with Bush and Co around....but if you have an incompetent governor....then you'd like to expect that the feds will put all of our tax money to use. The incompetence in this situation goes from the bottom...Nagin...through Blanco and ends up with Bush. I am beyond disgusted.

[Boo Boo]

5. They're going to try to "Davis" her to save their own ass. /nt

[Don Claybrook]

6. I think two words would get his attention in a real hurry

ok, 3 words:

negligent homicide, mother****er.

[alcuno]

7. Line during election - something about Dems wanting a permission slip

Can't remember what it was but this sounds like that.

[rodeodance]

8. OH my gawd--he is breaking this down into TWO catastrophies-

saying the levee break was unexpantant-on top of Katrina--

what are implications of this?

[Kber]

31. Implications?

They will try to say - well, sure, we know the huricane was coming but...

We couldn't have foreseen or planned for the levee break.

Maybe someone needs to get the whiteshouse staff cable TV so they can watch the weather channel, discovery, PBS. Shit - I'm an NJ housewife with an education in Philosophy and a business background in HR... and even I thought the levees wouldn't hold.

Asshats.

[Vinca]

9. Chertoff and that FEMA weasel have to go.

Neither had any disaster experience and many have had to pay with their lives as a result. They're going to put this all on the governor and mayor instead of where it belongs.

[The Backlash Cometh]

11. Time for a trial to sift through the he said she saids.

[Zenlitened]

12. And here he goes... "it was not reasonably forseeable."

That's it. That's all they got.

:puke:

[rodeodance]

15. reporter asked if FEMA dir. should resign!

[rodeodance]

17. i think that answer was a NO--no fingerpointing. did i get this right?

[OregonBlue]

26. Looting in Iraq could not reasonably have been anticipated,

insurgency in Iraq could not reasonably have been anticipated. Who are the people who are doing the anticipating? I know 10 year olds with a Ouija board that could do a better job of anticipating/forecasting. God the incompetence is stunning.

[BootinUp]

13. My head is spinning

THis fuckking bullshit!

They destroyed our National Guard and FEMA and now they are making shit up to cover their asses!

[OneGrassRoot]

14. He also said..........

when talking about the National Guard that it takes time to get them mobilized. We don't issue orders for them to report at once unless it's a huge disaster (obviously, I'm paraphrasing).

The NG probably EXPECTED to be called up as of Monday night because it IS A HUGE DISASTER!!

Also, what's all this crap about the levee actually being breached? We watched the news last weekend and all we heard was the potential catastrophe of NO being flooded. Whether it was flooded by a levee breaking or water simply overflowing, it's still a flood, right? I don't get their "talking point" on that.

[rodeodance]

20. he is worse than Scotty M.!!

[burned]

28. i heard that too

It was in response to a question regarding whether the guard was spread too thin by being deployed in Iraq. Chertoff rambled on and then stuck his foot in his mouth and said that they don't even ask the N Guard to drop everything and deploy OVERSEAS WITHIN 24 HOURS unless its a major emergency.
This was after explaining that NO was an ULTRA catastrophe and that a new model needed to be made to fit such an event.

[blondeatlast]

16. It's the laws, it's the rules, it's the gfovernors', it's the levee breaks

NO, FUCKWIT--IT'S YOU.

[htuttle]

18. What the hell good are they then?

What if the Governor were missing? What if there were no communications?

Would they just sit back watching the whole thing on TV indefinitely?

[blondeatlast]

22. Yes--and brainstorm on their blackberries who they could pin the

blame on.

[Justitia]

23. They are trying to scapegoat the DEM, FEMALE guv - desperately. -eom

[rodeodance]

24. He is there to do damage control! Period!! --here comes NATURE again.

[Justitia]

21. He's a LIAR, but what do u expect from the lawyer for Whitewater fiasco???

He's been paid to LIE for years....

[rodeodance]

27. C. says he has been consistant over last 6 months in saying Fed has

to focus on catastropies. um....

[htuttle]

25. Chertoff is trying to sell us a car

Listen to him. The tone of his voice sounds just like the worst kind of salesperson who'll tell you anything they think you want to hear in order to get a sale.

This is the sort of skill that Corporate America teaches you, isn't it? Good at bullshitting. Good at placing blame, minimizing, obfuscating and changing the subject.

[mzmolly]

29. Just goes to show you the buck stops with Bush.

:wow:

[FormerRepublican]

30. Here's the letter I wrote to MSNBC...

"First of all, I want to compliment you on your recent coverage of the Katrina disaster. I believe the honest coverage of the suffering and horror in New Orleans and other places in the path of Katrina has saved lives. While horrified to the point of sickness by what I've been seeing, I've been watching non-stop, hoping there's something I can do to pressure the government to help the people who are desperate and dying.

I'm currently watching Sec. Chertoff briefing us on the disaster relief efforts, I'm ANGRY that he is flat out lying to us to avoid taking responsiblity for our government's abject failure to respond appropriately to this tragedy. Specifically, the Governor of New Orleans specifically ASKED for national guard and other assistance from the Federal Government on Sunday, prior to Katrina landfall. We've seen the results of the failure of the Federal Government to respond to that request. I am ENRAGED that Sec. Chertoff thinks we're so stupid that he thinks he can get away with lying to us to avoid blame. If anything, my view of the Federal Government is lowered further by his actions - and it was already pretty freaking low.

It's also clear to me that the Federal Government is attempting to pressure the news media to report what's happening in a way that's more favorable to THEM, after they FAILED miserably. Please resist this pressure. They have an ulterior motive, and that motive does not best serve the American public. Complying with their pressure might also cost American lives by directing public attention away from the desperate survivors of this terrible disaster. I know it might seem like a simple thing, but PLEASE call out the lies and force the government to accountability. Human lives depend on it.

Once again, I appreciate the excellent coverage you've had of this terrible disaster. Keep up the great work, and don't let politics prevent you from providing this essential and life saving public service.

Sincerely,"

Please add your emails to mine.

[e-mail]

(I just noticed - after I sent the email - that I said Governor of New Orleans, rather than Louisiana. Lack of sleep. I guess they'll still understand what I meant.)