This time it's James Nicholson, the head of the VA.
Congress plans emergency funds for vets health care
Tue Jun 28, 2005 8:29 PM ET
Richard Cowan
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - As U.S. war injuries in Iraq and Afghanistan mounted, Congress on Tuesday hurriedly crafted legislation to provide around $1.5 billion in "emergency" funds for veterans' health care programs stretched thin by combat and aging veterans of past wars.
The effort came after the Bush administration acknowledged that it had significantly underestimated veterans health care funds needed for the fiscal year beginning on Oct. 1.
"The bottom line is there is a surge in demand in VA services across the board," Veterans Affairs Secretary James Nicholson told a House panel.
As recently as April, Nicholson told the Senate that veterans health care programs had adequate funding, but he told a House Appropriations subcommittee the Veterans Administration had assumed it would have to take care of 23,553 patients who are veterans from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan based on 2002 estimates, before the Iraq war started.
That number has now been revised to 103,000, more than four times higher, he said.
Now, just what are Nicholson's qualifications?
Prior to his nomination, Mr. Nicholson served as U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See, a position he held since 2001, where he became a well-known advocate in Rome for the elevation of human dignity, giving special emphasis to human trafficking, religious freedom, starvation and bio-tech food, HIV-AIDS, and international terrorism. (Patronage position)
He practiced law in Denver, specializing in real estate, municipal finance and zoning law. In 1978 he founded Nicholson Enterprises, Inc., a developer of planned residential communities, and in 1987 he bought Renaissance Homes, which became an award-winning builder of quality custom homes.
In January 1986, Mr. Nicholson was elected committeeman from Colorado for the Republican National Committee (RNC). In 1993 he was elected vice-chairman of the RNC, and in January 1997, he was elected chairman of the RNC, where he served for four years, through the elections of 2000.
Saturday, September 17, 2005
Friday, September 16, 2005
NPR: FEMA WORKERS GET IT RIGHT
NPR's Morning Edition had an interview with a FEMA official who made sure that Chertoff, Brown and other higher ranking officials were informed about Katrina. If you click the link, you can get the audio and the links to the e-mails that were sent.
Here's the summary of the interview:
FEMA Official Says Agency Heads Ignored Warnings
by Laura Sullivan
September 16, 2005 ·
In the days before Hurricane Katrina hit land, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, FEMA Director Michael Brown and other top Homeland Security officials received e-mails on their blackberries warning that Katrina posed a dire threat to New Orleans and other areas. Yet one FEMA official tells NPR little was done.
Leo Bosner, an emergency management specialist at FEMA headquarters in Washington, D.C., is in charge of the unit that alerts officials of impending crises and manages the response. As early as Friday, Aug. 26, Bosner knew that Katrina could turn into a major emergency.
In daily e-mails -- known as National Situation Updates -- sent to Chertoff, Brown and others in the days before Katrina made landfall in the Gulf Coast, Bosner warned of its growing strength -- and of the particular danger the hurricane posed to New Orleans, much of which lies below sea level.
But Bosner says FEMA failed to organize the massive mobilization of National Guard troops and evacuation buses needed for a quick and effective relief response when Katrina struck. He says he and his colleagues at FEMA's D.C. headquarters were shocked by the lack of response.
"We could see all this going downhill," Bosner said, "but there was nothing we could do."
Here's the summary of the interview:
FEMA Official Says Agency Heads Ignored Warnings
by Laura Sullivan
September 16, 2005 ·
In the days before Hurricane Katrina hit land, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, FEMA Director Michael Brown and other top Homeland Security officials received e-mails on their blackberries warning that Katrina posed a dire threat to New Orleans and other areas. Yet one FEMA official tells NPR little was done.
Leo Bosner, an emergency management specialist at FEMA headquarters in Washington, D.C., is in charge of the unit that alerts officials of impending crises and manages the response. As early as Friday, Aug. 26, Bosner knew that Katrina could turn into a major emergency.
In daily e-mails -- known as National Situation Updates -- sent to Chertoff, Brown and others in the days before Katrina made landfall in the Gulf Coast, Bosner warned of its growing strength -- and of the particular danger the hurricane posed to New Orleans, much of which lies below sea level.
But Bosner says FEMA failed to organize the massive mobilization of National Guard troops and evacuation buses needed for a quick and effective relief response when Katrina struck. He says he and his colleagues at FEMA's D.C. headquarters were shocked by the lack of response.
"We could see all this going downhill," Bosner said, "but there was nothing we could do."
MORE PENSION TROUBLE AHEAD
It looks like Delta and NorthWest will try to dump their underfunded pension obligations on the Feds.
Bankruptcy will change Delta, Northwest
Sep 16, 8:08 AM EDT
By HARRY R. WEBER and JOSHUA FREED
AP Business Writers
Delta said it does not plan to make the next scheduled contribution to its pension fund. Northwest had a $65 million pension payment due Thursday, but said in a regulatory filing Tuesday that a claim against its assets for nonpayment could be avoided if it filed for bankruptcy first. Some analysts expect both airlines to terminate their pensions and dump the responsibility on the federal government like UAL Corp.'s United Airlines has done in its bankruptcy case. Northwest Chief Executive Doug Steenland has said he wants to avoid that.
Delta and Northwest have been seeking pension-law changes that would let them spread out payments to their pensions, but the relief they may ultimately get may not be enough to save the plans. The head of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. said Thursday that Delta and Northwest have a responsibility to meet their pension funding requirements. The federal agency said that Delta's pension is underfunded by $10.6 billion and Northwest's by $5.7 billion.
Delta's debt stands at $28.3 billion; Northwest's at $17.92 billion.
Bankruptcy will change Delta, Northwest
Sep 16, 8:08 AM EDT
By HARRY R. WEBER and JOSHUA FREED
AP Business Writers
Delta said it does not plan to make the next scheduled contribution to its pension fund. Northwest had a $65 million pension payment due Thursday, but said in a regulatory filing Tuesday that a claim against its assets for nonpayment could be avoided if it filed for bankruptcy first. Some analysts expect both airlines to terminate their pensions and dump the responsibility on the federal government like UAL Corp.'s United Airlines has done in its bankruptcy case. Northwest Chief Executive Doug Steenland has said he wants to avoid that.
Delta and Northwest have been seeking pension-law changes that would let them spread out payments to their pensions, but the relief they may ultimately get may not be enough to save the plans. The head of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. said Thursday that Delta and Northwest have a responsibility to meet their pension funding requirements. The federal agency said that Delta's pension is underfunded by $10.6 billion and Northwest's by $5.7 billion.
Delta's debt stands at $28.3 billion; Northwest's at $17.92 billion.
Thursday, September 15, 2005
SOME LATE-NIGHT HUMOR
Compiled by Daniel Kurtzman
"Today President Bush asked if his visit to the hurricane zone would count toward the service time he still owes the National Guard." -Jay Leno
"President Bush is vacationing in Crawford, Texas. He will be vacationing for five weeks. That's a long time. I don't think he has an exit strategy for his vacation either." --David Letterman
"President Bush is the fittest president in history. They said it's because he spends a lot of time exercising. See a lot of our previous presidents wasted that time reading." --Jay Leno
"Bush is denying reports today that he plans to invade Iran. Oh, we're still going to invade, we just don't have any plans." --Jay Leno
"Tonight in his speech, President Bush introduced his plan for Social Security. His plan: take the security part out of it." --Jay Leno
"Today President Bush asked if his visit to the hurricane zone would count toward the service time he still owes the National Guard." -Jay Leno
"President Bush is vacationing in Crawford, Texas. He will be vacationing for five weeks. That's a long time. I don't think he has an exit strategy for his vacation either." --David Letterman
"President Bush is the fittest president in history. They said it's because he spends a lot of time exercising. See a lot of our previous presidents wasted that time reading." --Jay Leno
"Bush is denying reports today that he plans to invade Iran. Oh, we're still going to invade, we just don't have any plans." --Jay Leno
"Tonight in his speech, President Bush introduced his plan for Social Security. His plan: take the security part out of it." --Jay Leno
WHAT A MANDATORY EVACUATION DOES
Corps of Engineers admits sandbag error
Sep 15, 12:31 PM EDT
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The government should have pre-positioned more sandbags and helicopters in the New Orleans area before Hurricane Katrina struck so that repairs to broken levees could have started sooner, the commander of the Army Corps of Engineers said Thursday.
"In retrospect I would say yes, we could have, we should have, in anticipation of this," Lt. Gen. Carl Strock told a Pentagon news conference.
"The challenge in New Orleans is that we knew that this system would not protect against a category four or five event," he added, referring to hurricane intensity levels above the category 3 storm for which New Orleans' levees were designed to protect.
In evacuating the city, some of key emergency response capabilities were lost, Strock said.
"The people who would normally be up on the levees looking for weak spots and respond immediately were gone from the city," he said. "So that is one of the things that made it difficult for us to respond here."
Sep 15, 12:31 PM EDT
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The government should have pre-positioned more sandbags and helicopters in the New Orleans area before Hurricane Katrina struck so that repairs to broken levees could have started sooner, the commander of the Army Corps of Engineers said Thursday.
"In retrospect I would say yes, we could have, we should have, in anticipation of this," Lt. Gen. Carl Strock told a Pentagon news conference.
"The challenge in New Orleans is that we knew that this system would not protect against a category four or five event," he added, referring to hurricane intensity levels above the category 3 storm for which New Orleans' levees were designed to protect.
In evacuating the city, some of key emergency response capabilities were lost, Strock said.
"The people who would normally be up on the levees looking for weak spots and respond immediately were gone from the city," he said. "So that is one of the things that made it difficult for us to respond here."
Wednesday, September 14, 2005
CRS REPORT ON GOV.BLANCO
Congressional Research Service Report requested by Rep. John Conyers 
As you can see, Gov. Blanco did take all the legal steps necessary to allow massive Federal aid.
As you can see, Gov. Blanco did take all the legal steps necessary to allow massive Federal aid.
DHS CHIEF OF STAFF JOHN WOOD
Another one with little qualifications for the job. Here's what he's supposed to do:
...oversees the Department’s policy, planning and operations responsibilities.
And this is his background:
He began his service in the Administration in 2001 as Deputy Associate Attorney General and Counsel to the Associate Attorney General for the Justice Department, helping to oversee the Department’s five civil litigating divisions. From 1998 to 2001, Mr. Wood was an Associate in the law firm of Kirkland and Ellis. He clerked at the U.S. Supreme Court for Justice Clarence Thomas from 1997 to 1998 and for Judge J. Michael Luttig on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit from 1996 to 1997. Previously, he served on the staff of Senator John C. Danforth (R-Missouri).
LINK
...oversees the Department’s policy, planning and operations responsibilities.
And this is his background:
He began his service in the Administration in 2001 as Deputy Associate Attorney General and Counsel to the Associate Attorney General for the Justice Department, helping to oversee the Department’s five civil litigating divisions. From 1998 to 2001, Mr. Wood was an Associate in the law firm of Kirkland and Ellis. He clerked at the U.S. Supreme Court for Justice Clarence Thomas from 1997 to 1998 and for Judge J. Michael Luttig on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit from 1996 to 1997. Previously, he served on the staff of Senator John C. Danforth (R-Missouri).
LINK
EVEN CARTER WAS BETTER THAN BUSH
Most people think Carter was terrible on the economy and a good case can be made for that but Bush is even worse. Bush has told us that his tax cuts would create around 5.5 million new jobs but the actual results are less than one-tenth of that.
Let's compare Bush and Carter on private sector job creation.
(All data from www.bls.gov)
TOTAL PRIVATE EMPLOYMENT
SEASONALLY ADJUSTED
(IN THOUSANDS)
BUSH 2
JAN 2001 111560
JUL 2005 112004
NET == +444
CARTER
JAN 1977 65636
DEC 1980 74563
NET == + 8927
Let's compare Bush and Carter on private sector job creation.
(All data from www.bls.gov)
TOTAL PRIVATE EMPLOYMENT
SEASONALLY ADJUSTED
(IN THOUSANDS)
BUSH 2
JAN 2001 111560
JUL 2005 112004
NET == +444
CARTER
JAN 1977 65636
DEC 1980 74563
NET == + 8927
CHERTOFF MUST GO!
Chertoff delayed federal response, memo shows
By Jonathan S. Landay, Alison Young and Shannon McCaffrey
Knight Ridder Newspapers
Posted on Tue, Sep. 13, 2005
http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/12637172.htm
WASHINGTON - The federal official with the power to mobilize a massive federal response to Hurricane Katrina was Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, not the former FEMA chief who was relieved of his duties and resigned earlier this week, federal documents reviewed by Knight Ridder show.
Even before the storm struck the Gulf Coast, Chertoff could have ordered federal agencies into action without any request from state or local officials. Federal Emergency Management Agency chief Michael Brown had only limited authority to do so until about 36 hours after the storm hit, when Chertoff designated him as the "principal federal official" in charge of the storm. But Chertoff - not Brown - was in charge of managing the national response to a catastrophic disaster, according to the National Response Plan, the federal government's blueprint for how agencies will handle major natural disasters or terrorist incidents. An order issued by President Bush in 2003 also assigned that responsibility to the homeland security director.
White House and homeland security officials wouldn't explain why Chertoff waited some 36 hours to declare Katrina an incident of national significance and why he didn't immediately begin to direct the federal response from the moment on Aug. 27 when the National Hurricane Center predicted that Katrina would strike the Gulf Coast with catastrophic force in 48 hours. Nor would they explain why Bush felt the need to appoint a separate task force.
The Chertoff memo indicates that the response to Katrina wasn't left to disaster professionals, but was run out of the White House, said George Haddow, a former deputy chief of staff at FEMA during the Clinton administration and the co-author of an emergency management textbook.
A former FEMA director under President Reagan expressed shock by the inaction that Chertoff's memo suggested. It showed that Chertoff "does not have a full appreciation for what the country is faced with - nor does anyone who waits that long," said Gen. Julius Becton Jr., who was FEMA director from 1985-1989. "Anytime you have a delay in taking action, there's a potential for losing lives," Becton told Knight Ridder. "I have no idea how many lives we're talking about. ... I don't understand why, except that they were inefficient."
By Jonathan S. Landay, Alison Young and Shannon McCaffrey
Knight Ridder Newspapers
Posted on Tue, Sep. 13, 2005
http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/12637172.htm
WASHINGTON - The federal official with the power to mobilize a massive federal response to Hurricane Katrina was Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, not the former FEMA chief who was relieved of his duties and resigned earlier this week, federal documents reviewed by Knight Ridder show.
Even before the storm struck the Gulf Coast, Chertoff could have ordered federal agencies into action without any request from state or local officials. Federal Emergency Management Agency chief Michael Brown had only limited authority to do so until about 36 hours after the storm hit, when Chertoff designated him as the "principal federal official" in charge of the storm. But Chertoff - not Brown - was in charge of managing the national response to a catastrophic disaster, according to the National Response Plan, the federal government's blueprint for how agencies will handle major natural disasters or terrorist incidents. An order issued by President Bush in 2003 also assigned that responsibility to the homeland security director.
White House and homeland security officials wouldn't explain why Chertoff waited some 36 hours to declare Katrina an incident of national significance and why he didn't immediately begin to direct the federal response from the moment on Aug. 27 when the National Hurricane Center predicted that Katrina would strike the Gulf Coast with catastrophic force in 48 hours. Nor would they explain why Bush felt the need to appoint a separate task force.
The Chertoff memo indicates that the response to Katrina wasn't left to disaster professionals, but was run out of the White House, said George Haddow, a former deputy chief of staff at FEMA during the Clinton administration and the co-author of an emergency management textbook.
A former FEMA director under President Reagan expressed shock by the inaction that Chertoff's memo suggested. It showed that Chertoff "does not have a full appreciation for what the country is faced with - nor does anyone who waits that long," said Gen. Julius Becton Jr., who was FEMA director from 1985-1989. "Anytime you have a delay in taking action, there's a potential for losing lives," Becton told Knight Ridder. "I have no idea how many lives we're talking about. ... I don't understand why, except that they were inefficient."
Tuesday, September 13, 2005
OPINION INERTIA
Some people just won't sway in their support of Bush. This is from StoriesInAmerica:
Dorothy Bischoff, 63
What do you think about the government's response to the hurricane?
I think it was very, very slow. It's sad. Those people didn't have any food for how many days? Five, six, seven days. Not good.
Why do you think it took so long?
I don't know. Lack of communication.
It's the fourth anniversary of 9/11 and we've spent a lot of money on homeland security. Do you think the Bush administration has done enough to prepare the country for natural disasters and terrorist attacks?
No, I don't. I think we're really way behind where we should be, especially after 9/11 and I like Bush. I voted for Bush, so I'm not against him, but this is unacceptable behavior. He really messed up on this one.
Does this change your overall opinion of him?
No, I still like him. He just messed up on this.
What do you like about him?
I don't know. I've just always liked him.
Dorothy Bischoff, 63
What do you think about the government's response to the hurricane?
I think it was very, very slow. It's sad. Those people didn't have any food for how many days? Five, six, seven days. Not good.
Why do you think it took so long?
I don't know. Lack of communication.
It's the fourth anniversary of 9/11 and we've spent a lot of money on homeland security. Do you think the Bush administration has done enough to prepare the country for natural disasters and terrorist attacks?
No, I don't. I think we're really way behind where we should be, especially after 9/11 and I like Bush. I voted for Bush, so I'm not against him, but this is unacceptable behavior. He really messed up on this one.
Does this change your overall opinion of him?
No, I still like him. He just messed up on this.
What do you like about him?
I don't know. I've just always liked him.
ANOTHER BUSH FLIP-FLOP
FLIP:
In the same remarks, Bush gave FEMA chief Brown - the face for many of the inadequate federal response - a hearty endorsement. "Brownie, you're doing a heck of a job," Bush said.
FLOP:
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Bush said Tuesday that "I take responsibility" for failures in dealing with Hurricane Katrina and said the disaster raised broader questions about the government's ability to respond to natural disasters as well as terror attacks.
"To the extent the federal government didn't fully do its job right, I take responsibility," Bush said.
In the same remarks, Bush gave FEMA chief Brown - the face for many of the inadequate federal response - a hearty endorsement. "Brownie, you're doing a heck of a job," Bush said.
FLOP:
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Bush said Tuesday that "I take responsibility" for failures in dealing with Hurricane Katrina and said the disaster raised broader questions about the government's ability to respond to natural disasters as well as terror attacks.
"To the extent the federal government didn't fully do its job right, I take responsibility," Bush said.
Monday, September 12, 2005
THE WINGNUTS ARE GETTING A LITTLE TOUCHY
I made some posts at WizBang about Katrina, correcting some of the more obvious mistakes but all I get for my efforts is disdain.
Steve J-
Might I suggest blogger.com.
I've watched patiently as you have spammed the commetns section here. If you want to be a blogger then by all means get a blog. Please don't abuse the comments section. http://wizbangblog.com/archives/007057.php#093437
Here's an example of my "spam" and the response:
For instance, it took five days for National Guard troops to arrive in strength on the scene in Homestead, Fla. after Hurricane Andrew hit in 2002.
Andrew hit in 1992. Posted by: Steve J. at September 12, 2005 03:24 PM
Steve J., I believe it was probably a mistype.
shut up. Posted by: Henry at September 12, 2005 03:40 PM
Here's another example of me correcting a wingnut:
How exactly should FEMA have known that Katrina would be the 'Big One'?
Posted by: Radical Centrist
LMFAO!!!!!!!
Urgent Weather Message from NWS New Orleans
WWUS74 KLIX 281550 NPWLIX URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW ORLEANS LA
1011 AM CDT SUN AUG 28 2005
DEVASTATING DAMAGE EXPECTED
Posted by: Steve J. at September 12, 2005 01:03 PM
Steve J-
Might I suggest blogger.com.
I've watched patiently as you have spammed the commetns section here. If you want to be a blogger then by all means get a blog. Please don't abuse the comments section. http://wizbangblog.com/archives/007057.php#093437
Here's an example of my "spam" and the response:
For instance, it took five days for National Guard troops to arrive in strength on the scene in Homestead, Fla. after Hurricane Andrew hit in 2002.
Andrew hit in 1992. Posted by: Steve J. at September 12, 2005 03:24 PM
Steve J., I believe it was probably a mistype.
shut up. Posted by: Henry at September 12, 2005 03:40 PM
Here's another example of me correcting a wingnut:
How exactly should FEMA have known that Katrina would be the 'Big One'?
Posted by: Radical Centrist
LMFAO!!!!!!!
Urgent Weather Message from NWS New Orleans
WWUS74 KLIX 281550 NPWLIX URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW ORLEANS LA
1011 AM CDT SUN AUG 28 2005
DEVASTATING DAMAGE EXPECTED
Posted by: Steve J. at September 12, 2005 01:03 PM
TUCSON DAILY STAR IN LOUISIANA
Tucsonans treat ills in La. town that has nearly nothing left
By Stephanie Innes
ARIZONA DAILY STAR
Published: 09.11.2005
http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/katrina/92789
CHALMETTE, La. - They spent four days isolated from the outside world, their remote community reduced to piles of rubble, decay and broken hearts.
Now agencies from around the country, including a medical team of 30 Arizonans, are living side-by-side with residents of St. Bernard Parish, which was so devastated by Hurricane Katrina that 95 percent of the parish will be condemned, the sheriff estimated Saturday.
"There will be nothing to save in most of these houses. We're very worried about the psychological effects," said Alan Abadie, special assistant to both the St. Bernard Parish president and sheriff. "It's obliteration. One hundred percent of the homes were flooded." And like many others he is angry at the Federal Emergency Management Agency for taking at least four days - some say five - to get to the community and now for not getting housing assistance to evacuees quickly enough.
The death toll in St. Bernard, a "big small town" of about 75,000 southeast of New Orleans, is at 100 and climbing.
"I saw on television what everyone else has seen, but I was not prepared," he said. "To see mile after mile after mile of houses underwater, total destruction, trees blown over - I was not prepared. As I've talked to people in Tucson, I've said think of Tucson from Valencia to Cortaro and between Mission to Craycroft under water, and that's just the parish I'm in right now."
By Stephanie Innes
ARIZONA DAILY STAR
Published: 09.11.2005
http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/katrina/92789
CHALMETTE, La. - They spent four days isolated from the outside world, their remote community reduced to piles of rubble, decay and broken hearts.
Now agencies from around the country, including a medical team of 30 Arizonans, are living side-by-side with residents of St. Bernard Parish, which was so devastated by Hurricane Katrina that 95 percent of the parish will be condemned, the sheriff estimated Saturday.
"There will be nothing to save in most of these houses. We're very worried about the psychological effects," said Alan Abadie, special assistant to both the St. Bernard Parish president and sheriff. "It's obliteration. One hundred percent of the homes were flooded." And like many others he is angry at the Federal Emergency Management Agency for taking at least four days - some say five - to get to the community and now for not getting housing assistance to evacuees quickly enough.
The death toll in St. Bernard, a "big small town" of about 75,000 southeast of New Orleans, is at 100 and climbing.
"I saw on television what everyone else has seen, but I was not prepared," he said. "To see mile after mile after mile of houses underwater, total destruction, trees blown over - I was not prepared. As I've talked to people in Tucson, I've said think of Tucson from Valencia to Cortaro and between Mission to Craycroft under water, and that's just the parish I'm in right now."
Sunday, September 11, 2005
THE PRESS STARTS REPORTING
TIME and NEWSWEEK start revealing the Bubble Boy:
How Bush Blew It
By Evan Thomas
Newsweek
Sept. 19, 2005 issue
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9287434/
The reality, say several aides who did not wish to be quoted because it might displease the president, did not really sink in until Thursday night. Some White House staffers were watching the evening news and thought the president needed to see the horrific reports coming out of New Orleans. Counselor Bartlett made up a DVD of the newscasts so Bush could see them in their entirety as he flew down to the Gulf Coast the next morning on Air Force One.
How this could be—how the president of the United States could have even less "situational awareness," as they say in the military, than the average American about the worst natural disaster in a century—is one of the more perplexing and troubling chapters in a story that, despite moments of heroism and acts of great generosity, ranks as a national disgrace.
But it is not clear what President Bush does read or watch, aside from the occasional biography and an hour or two of ESPN here and there. Bush can be petulant about dissent; he equates disagreement with disloyalty. After five years in office, he is surrounded largely by people who agree with him.
Living Too Much in the Bubble?
A bungled initial response to Katrina exposed the perils of a rigid,
insular White House. Inside Bush's plan to show he isn't isolated
By MIKE ALLEN / WASHINGTON
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1103526,00.html
A related factor, aides and outside allies concede, is what many of them see as the President's increasing isolation. Bush's bubble has grown more hermetic in the second term, they say, with fewer people willing or able to bring him bad news—or tell him when he's wrong. His chief of staff, Andrew Card, has never been mistaken for James Baker, the man who made a minor career out of setting Bush's father right. And Bush has filled a number of lesser spots around the government with political hacks and patronage candidates—most embarrassingly Michael Brown, director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (fema), who was yanked from on-site supervision of Katrina on Friday.
How Bush Blew It
By Evan Thomas
Newsweek
Sept. 19, 2005 issue
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9287434/
The reality, say several aides who did not wish to be quoted because it might displease the president, did not really sink in until Thursday night. Some White House staffers were watching the evening news and thought the president needed to see the horrific reports coming out of New Orleans. Counselor Bartlett made up a DVD of the newscasts so Bush could see them in their entirety as he flew down to the Gulf Coast the next morning on Air Force One.
How this could be—how the president of the United States could have even less "situational awareness," as they say in the military, than the average American about the worst natural disaster in a century—is one of the more perplexing and troubling chapters in a story that, despite moments of heroism and acts of great generosity, ranks as a national disgrace.
But it is not clear what President Bush does read or watch, aside from the occasional biography and an hour or two of ESPN here and there. Bush can be petulant about dissent; he equates disagreement with disloyalty. After five years in office, he is surrounded largely by people who agree with him.
Living Too Much in the Bubble?
A bungled initial response to Katrina exposed the perils of a rigid,
insular White House. Inside Bush's plan to show he isn't isolated
By MIKE ALLEN / WASHINGTON
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1103526,00.html
A related factor, aides and outside allies concede, is what many of them see as the President's increasing isolation. Bush's bubble has grown more hermetic in the second term, they say, with fewer people willing or able to bring him bad news—or tell him when he's wrong. His chief of staff, Andrew Card, has never been mistaken for James Baker, the man who made a minor career out of setting Bush's father right. And Bush has filled a number of lesser spots around the government with political hacks and patronage candidates—most embarrassingly Michael Brown, director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (fema), who was yanked from on-site supervision of Katrina on Friday.
RADIO TIDBITS
Last night I listened to a bit of The Jerry Doyle Show and was suprised to hear an elderly caller complain about, yes, Clinton. Apparently, she believes that Clinton's FEMA director is now a lobbyist down in New Orleans, gaming for reconstruction funds. In fact, it is Joe Allbaugh, Bush's first FEMA chief, who is doing that. Naturally, Doyle didn't correct her.
This morning I listened to interviews with some NO survivors on This American Life and several people confirmed the paramedics report about the Gretna cops preventing them from leaving NO. The clip isn't up yet but you will be able to download it here.
This morning I listened to interviews with some NO survivors on This American Life and several people confirmed the paramedics report about the Gretna cops preventing them from leaving NO. The clip isn't up yet but you will be able to download it here.
Saturday, September 10, 2005
THIS ONE IS SCARY
Democrats Assail White House on Katrina Effort
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: September 7, 2005
Filed at 1:50 p.m. ET
At a news conference, Pelosi, D-Calif., said Bush's choice for head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency had ''absolutely no credentials.''
She related that she had urged Bush at the White House on Tuesday to fire Michael Brown.
''He said 'Why would I do that?''' Pelosi said.
'''I said because of all that went wrong, of all that didn't go right last week.' And he said 'What didn't go right?'''
''Oblivious, in denial, dangerous,'' she added.
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: September 7, 2005
Filed at 1:50 p.m. ET
At a news conference, Pelosi, D-Calif., said Bush's choice for head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency had ''absolutely no credentials.''
She related that she had urged Bush at the White House on Tuesday to fire Michael Brown.
''He said 'Why would I do that?''' Pelosi said.
'''I said because of all that went wrong, of all that didn't go right last week.' And he said 'What didn't go right?'''
''Oblivious, in denial, dangerous,'' she added.
OUT OF TOUCH, PART 2
Laura Bush called the hurricane "Corinna." Don't believe me? See the video at Crooks and Liars!
Friday, September 09, 2005
ANOTHER "BLAME THE LOCALS" MEME DEBUNKED
There is a story going around that state and local officials prevented the Red Cross from entering New Orleans despite the desperate situation. A commenter at Atrios, I believe, found a news report that said federal officials (DHS, FEMA) were responsible, not the locals.
I wrote to the reporter and she confirmed her story. Here's the text:
UPDATE: Ms. Rodgers sent me a follow-up letter
Dear Steve,
Sorry I can't continue sending information because I'm beign bombarded with e-mail about this. I took longer to reply to you because you were so polite. I will tell you that I just got off the phone after a long conversation with Major George Hood, the national spokesman for the Salvation Army, who told me that the decision to keep aid agencies out of downtown New Orleans at the height of the flood was made jointly by FEMA (the federal agency) and the Louisianna Dept. of Homeland Security.
Ann
I wrote to the reporter and she confirmed her story. Here's the text:
Dear Mr. J,
Due to e-mails such as yours I called the Red Cross again to make sure I had not misunderstood them in our conversations about Homeland Security and FEMA. (The F stands for Federal). They said my story was not in error.
After many calls to the federal Dept. of Homeland Security, both before I wrote the article and after it ran, their spokeswoman finally returned my call. She had no idea whether the federal dept. was a party to the decision to keep the Red Cross out. She said she would get back to me after she checked it out, and I am waiting to hear from her.
The Louisiana Department of Homeland Security and and Emergency Preparedness is currently impossible to reach because whatever phone lines are working down there are overwhelmed. If the story is in error I will be more than happy to write a correction, but the Red Cross stands by what it originally told me.
Sincerely,
Ann
Ann RodgersReligion reporter
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 34 Blvd. of the Allies Pittsburgh PA 15222
412-263-1416 1-800-234-6990 ext. 1416 arodgers@post-gazette.com Fax:
412-391-8452 www.post-gazette.com
UPDATE: Ms. Rodgers sent me a follow-up letter
Dear Steve,
Sorry I can't continue sending information because I'm beign bombarded with e-mail about this. I took longer to reply to you because you were so polite. I will tell you that I just got off the phone after a long conversation with Major George Hood, the national spokesman for the Salvation Army, who told me that the decision to keep aid agencies out of downtown New Orleans at the height of the flood was made jointly by FEMA (the federal agency) and the Louisianna Dept. of Homeland Security.
Ann
PAT ROBERTSON REPLIES
I just received this e-mail from CBN, weeks after the event. Here's the text:
I'd like to know exactly what "the crisis" was that moved Robertson to make his remarks and what are the religious beliefs of Hugo Chavez. If I get a reply to these questions, I'll post it here.
Thank you for contacting CBN in response to remarks I made during a recent edition of The 700 Club. These unplanned comments followed a news report of the crisis in Venezuela. I have written a letter of profound apology to President Chavez assuring him of my prayers for him personally and for the people of Venezuela. Along the way, I hope that God in His grace might bring President Chavez to the saving knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Please join me in this prayer. I hope this apology will have the effect of providing peace and harmony where there has been much strife. More than anything else, I want you to know that CBN's core mission is the same today as it has been for 44 years - to bring the love of Jesus and the message of His
saving grace to the nations of the world. Every day, it is our privilege to tell His story to millions of men, women and children throughout America, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Latin America, and yes, certainly Venezuela. God bless you for your support of CBN and I hope that it will continue. I remain ...Sincerely yours,
Pat Robertson
I'd like to know exactly what "the crisis" was that moved Robertson to make his remarks and what are the religious beliefs of Hugo Chavez. If I get a reply to these questions, I'll post it here.
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