Perception vs. Reality

[thebullet]

Captured from a german website:


There was a striking discrepancy between the CNN International report on the Bush visit to the New Orleans disaster zone, yesterday, and reports of the same event by German TV.

ZDF News reported that the president's visit was a completely staged event. Their crew witnessed how the open air food distribution point Bush visited in front of the cameras was torn down immediately after the president and the herd of 'news people' had left and that others which were allegedly being set up were abandoned at the same time.

The people in the area were once again left to
fend for themselves, said ZDF.

 

[Stella_Omega]

The New York Times says;
"Stung by critics who say its sluggish response compounded the suffering and cost lives, the Bush administration rolled out a public relations offensive yesterday. Mr. Chertoff visited the Sunday television talk shows to give status reports and defend the government's response."


http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/05/national/nationalspecial/05storm.html?th&emc=th
(registration required for the NYT)

 

[Guest]

Did he learn nothing from his father? It's all about perception.

No matter what Bush could have done, what he shouldn't have done is stay on his vacation (especially as it was into the fifth week). And he shouldn't have given his usual smirky grin during that first speech following his New Orleans fly-over photo op.

And Condi shouldn't have gone shopping and to a Broadway show (though I'm certain Spam-A-Lot is wonderfully funny). She has money. She could have gone another time.

And all the folks in D.C. (who are supposedly running our country and giving a damn about the citizens who elected them) shouldn't have cheerfully puttered along, pretending business was as usual. (Yes I know they officially reconvene tomorrow).

If they had shown serious concern before the polls took a dip, despite the time lag in critical care services, even despite the deaths that caused, they probably wouldn't be villified by so many right now.

 

[Stella_Omega]

I don't know, Sarah... There are thousands- THOUSANDS- dead. And too many of those are attributable to the lag. This country just might wake up and remember the difference between actions and words.
maybe.

 

[Guest]

I don't know, Sarah... There are thousands- THOUSANDS- dead. And too many of those are attributable to the lag. This country just might wake up and remember the difference between actions and words.
maybe.

I heard an estimate today of possibly 10,000 dead.

I've villified this president since before he took office. But no matter what happens, he always somehow manages to spin gold.

Or perceived gold. And the people always buy it.

What will it take?

 

[Stella_Omega]

I heard an estimate today of possibly 10,000 dead.

I've villified this president since before he took office. But no matter what happens, he always somehow manages to spin gold.

Or perceived gold. And the people always buy it.

What will it take?

10,00 dead IN OUR OWN COUNTRY might do it. They aren't in a country far, far away.
He can't prevent photos of the dead from being published, like he did with US troops.

 

[Guest]

10,00 dead IN OUR OWN COUNTRY might do it. They aren't in a country far, far away.
He can't prevent photos of the dead from being published, like he did with US troops.

10,000 dead is horrifying. And so sad.

Do you think he'll bring up Katrina in every speech as he does 9/11?

(Though I believe that statement to be a valid point I apologize for any insensitivity towards all those affected by this tragedy.)

 

[LadyJeanne]

10,00 dead IN OUR OWN COUNTRY might do it. They aren't in a country far, far away.
He can't prevent photos of the dead from being published, like he did with US troops.

They can shift the blame to the local governments, talk about how many were saved, talk about how well the things that worked did work in an unprecedented disaster, spend money on rebuilding, and keep posing for photo ops, like Condi helping to distribute food at the shelter yesterday. They will spin. It's what they do. It's up to the people of the US to form their own opinions and decide if they'll let them get away with it.

 

[LadyJeanne]

10,000 dead is horrifying. And so sad.

Do you think he'll bring up Katrina in every speech as he does 9/11?

(Though I believe that statement to be a valid point I apologize for any insensitivity towards all those affected by this tragedy.)

He'll bring Katrina up when it's handy. "Can't do anything about those darn gas prices, Katrina knocked out 90% of our oil production in the Gulf Coast. We'll give corporations all kinds of tax breaks, so we can rebuild after Katrina, etc. etc."

Then they'll try to make us feel good by praising us for pulling together in times of crisis, and for all our donations to the victims, and for all those churches, and synagogues and mosques taking people in...

But there are no Katrina terr'ists to take down, so I imagine he'll drop the mentions as soon as he can, in case there are people who might forget their gross incompetence in handling the emergency.

Yes, I'm a cynic.

 

[rgraham666]

Don't forget he can blame the Dems too.

I doubt that all the problems are entirely attributable to the current administration, since both sides hold essentially the same philosophy. And it would be easy to play up anything bad that happened on Clinton's watch.

And don't forget that the current governor of LA is a Dem, the mayor of NO also as I recall. So blame can be played up there while down playing the administrations.

And there will undoubtedly be a very quiet effort to round up the Christian Right by saying Katrina was a punishment from God or some such, for allowing the Godless any say at all in government, thus weakening a good Christian nation.

And the shooting that took place in New Orleans will give ammo to the anti-gun crowd, which will cause the pro-gun crowd to become more rabid.



I should become a political consultant. Can't though, I have ethics.

 

[CharleyH]

ZDF News reported that the president's visit was a completely staged event. Their crew witnessed how the open air food distribution point Bush visited in front of the cameras was torn down immediately after the president and the herd of 'news people' had left and that others which were allegedly being set up were abandoned at the same time.

The people in the area were once again left to
fend for themselves, said ZDF.

My friend LOL - a news conference for a busy person with more on the agenda is this: go, leave, go somewhere else and leave and go somewhere else and leave and go somewhere else. What exactly could George W. do as a person with responsibilities as the president of the US? Second, it is amazing to me how people believe everything they see ... even from news sources that always have left or right wing, or other .... agendas.

 

[Wildcard Ky]

I'm glad the Dems never do any staged events.

http://littlegreenfootballs.com/weblog/pictures/MamaMoonbatAndAl-01.jpg

http://littlegreenfootballs.com/weblog/pictures/MamaMoonbatAndAl-02.jpg

 

[Guest]

I'm glad the Dems never do any staged events.

I saw Bush in Topeka at the anniversary of the Brown vs. Topeka Board of Education.

The plane flew in, they drove him to the capitol, he mugged for the camera, purposefully getting between two choirs of predominantly African-Americans for a quick hug, and then he left. I think he was there ten minutes.

Off he went. I saw Air Force One land and take off.

He's the MASTER of staged events.

 

[Boxlicker101]

Captured from a german website:


There was a striking discrepancy between the CNN International report on the Bush visit to the New Orleans disaster zone, yesterday, and reports of the same event by German TV.

ZDF News reported that the president's visit was a completely staged event. Their crew witnessed how the open air food distribution point Bush visited in front of the cameras was torn down immediately after the president and the herd of 'news people' had left and that others which were allegedly being set up were abandoned at the same time.

The people in the area were once again left to
fend for themselves, said ZDF.

I would find ZDF extremely hard to believe on this. I can believe it was a staged event with the pres. leaving immediately after the pics were taken. After all, he DOES have other things to do than hand out food to crowds of people when there are others who can do that. However, I absolutely don't believe that the distribution point and whatever supplies they had were removed.

By the way, instead of just taking notes, why didn't the ZDF crew and the "herd of 'news people'" pitch in and help?

 

[cuninglinguist61]

I'm glad the Dems never do any staged events.

http://littlegreenfootballs.com/weblog/pictures/MamaMoonbatAndAl-01.jpg

http://littlegreenfootballs.com/weblog/pictures/MamaMoonbatAndAl-02.jpg

Were there any ELECTED officials in those pics ?
THAT is the difference.

 

[Wildcard Ky]

Were there any ELECTED officials in those pics ?
THAT is the difference.

So Sharpton doesn't count because he didn't win the nomination?

Anyone that is political has staged events. It happens on both sides of the aisle. Always has, always will.

 

[Guest]

So Sharpton doesn't count because he didn't win the nomination?

Anyone that is political has staged events. It happens on both sides of the aisle. Always has, always will.

Yes, of course they will.

But Dubya is beyond compare. We've heard 9/11 in every single speech since it happened.

 

[CharleyH]

Yes, of course they will.

But Dubya is beyond compare. We've heard 9/11 in every single speech since it happened.

Great point!

 

[Boxlicker101]

So Sharpton doesn't count because he didn't win the nomination?

Anyone that is political has staged events. It happens on both sides of the aisle. Always has, always will.

This is one of the reasons I have always had so much contempt for politicians, definitely including Sharpton. They are all out for power and/or money and will do whatever lying or cheating or stealing or whatever else it takes to get as much of it as they can.