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An article written by Ben Stein defending bush from the bashers.
Sep 23, 2005 7:17 AM
Re: Facts About Hurricane Katrina Aftermath
Six words: "You're doing a great job Brownie."
Who hired Mike Brown to be the Director of FEMA?
Who hired Mike Brown to be the Director of FEMA?
By: spam_vigilante
Re: Facts About Hurricane Katrina Aftermath
Amid all the accusations of lack of response to Katrina, the facts show that in comparison to other hurricanes, this response was just as fast, if not faster. Media hype? I think so.
By: shadowbot
Re: Facts About Hurricane Katrina Aftermath
You forgot to mention how it was really the fault of the state and local officials. Come on now, get with the GOP attack dog program!
By: spam_vigilante
Re: Facts About Hurricane Katrina Aftermath
Somewhere along the way, FEMA became a dumping for the President's political cronies with little experience in disaster relief. The Agency's first director was Joe Albaugh. He was President Bush's 2000 campaign chairman. Albaugh brought in the current failure, Michael Brown. His previous work was with Arabian horses. The number two guy, Brown's top deputy at FEMA is a fellow named Patrick Rhode. He worked for the President's 2000 election campaign. The number three guy at FEMA is Brooks Alchuler. He used to work in the White House. His job was planning Presidential trips. And FEMA's long-term recovery director is a guy named Scott Morris. He produced television and radio commercials for the Bush campaign. The Federal agency charged with handling national emergencies is staffed at the very top by a bunch of political hacks with virtually no experience that qualifies them to respond to something like Katrina.
By: spam_vigilante
Re: Facts About Hurricane Katrina Aftermath
I think what Stein was trying to say is that Bush isn't the cause of a catastrophic natural disaster, no matter how much the Dems would like to lay it at his feet, along w/everything else that's gone bad over the past 5 years. And every administration has its share of cronyism: look at Clinton's Travelgate scandal. The comedy shows (and yes, I think Bill Maher and Jon Stewart are comedians, not commentators) are having a field day w/this; Stein just offers the other side of the coin and he actually HAS political experience, working as Nixon's speechwriter. But I'd lump him in as a comedian too despite his past cred.
By: podwall
Re: Facts About Hurricane Katrina Aftermath
Quick question: How many lives were placed at risk by the White House travel office being staffed by political appointees?
It's not just Dems, BTW. Large flocks of GOP in Congress are distancing themselves from the prez. Of course, Al Bore also did as much in his most recent attempt at running for office.
I don't discount Stein because of his party affiliations. Or his recent career as a humorist. I just think that the guy at the helm needs to learn what the word accountability means.
It's not just Dems, BTW. Large flocks of GOP in Congress are distancing themselves from the prez. Of course, Al Bore also did as much in his most recent attempt at running for office.
I don't discount Stein because of his party affiliations. Or his recent career as a humorist. I just think that the guy at the helm needs to learn what the word accountability means.
By: spam_vigilante
Re: Facts About Hurricane Katrina Aftermath
Except no one got killedbecause of Travelgate. How many people died in the aftermath of the hurricane because Bush decided to give the position of Director of FEMA to one of his old buddies instead of someone who was least halfway competent?
By: Geist
Re: Facts About Hurricane Katrina Aftermath
Media hype? Bush and Republicans in Congress have admitted the response was too slow. The truth is, the media did its job and did it well. If you think it's hype to show the terrible impact of this storm -- the bodies floating in putrid water, thugs shooting innocents at the Superdome, victims stranded for days on their roofs -- then you're right. Keep the hype and the truth coming.
By: ghost_dog5150
Re: Facts About Hurricane Katrina Aftermath
C'mon, I'd listen to O'reilly before Stein. Stein is the guy who wrote Nixon's "I'm not a crook" speeches.
Besides, Stein published that on SEPTEMBER 2ND!
Now just imagine Ben in trouble waiting for Bush.
Bush....Bush.....Bush.....Bueller....
Besides, Stein published that on SEPTEMBER 2ND!
Now just imagine Ben in trouble waiting for Bush.
Bush....Bush.....Bush.....Bueller....
By: Topp
Re: Facts About Hurricane Katrina Aftermath
Stein is also a great dimestore novelist. I have a copy of his book 'Ludes which is like a mash-up of Jackie Collins and Elmore Leonard, classic late-'70s sleaze.
By: podwall
Re: Facts About Hurricane Katrina Aftermath
Why do so many of Bush's defenders go to the trouble to point out that he didn't cause the hurricane? Of course he didn't! No one has suggested that he did (anyone who has is either an idiot or actually thinks Bush is God...who would probably be one of his supporters anyway). It's like they don't have any better arguments. Telling.
By: Geist
Re: Facts About Hurricane Katrina Aftermath
Im just sick of hearing how everyone blames the federal government for not reacting fast enough when the local authorities are responsible for first response.
For whatever reason, those people sat back and acted like total morons, not evacuating, killing each other, raping people, and somehow all of that falls under the category of Bush's screw up of appointing unqualified candidates to FEMA.
Did local emergency officials do anything? No, the police abandoned their posts and the mayor sat around asking where the federal government was.
3 days isnt too shabby for driving rescue vehicles into areas with washed out roads, and pulling together massive amounts of supplies and allocating them for distribution. Whether thats considered slow or not, the majority of the blame here is in the wrong place.
For whatever reason, those people sat back and acted like total morons, not evacuating, killing each other, raping people, and somehow all of that falls under the category of Bush's screw up of appointing unqualified candidates to FEMA.
Did local emergency officials do anything? No, the police abandoned their posts and the mayor sat around asking where the federal government was.
3 days isnt too shabby for driving rescue vehicles into areas with washed out roads, and pulling together massive amounts of supplies and allocating them for distribution. Whether thats considered slow or not, the majority of the blame here is in the wrong place.
By: shadowbot
Re: Facts About Hurricane Katrina Aftermath
The problem, as I see it, is that the only ones wanting to blame state and local authorities as inept are the ones who are truly at fault.
"You're doing a great job Brownie" still happens to be on the payroll of FEMA as of this date. Just a four week severance pay so he can help with the transition to someone competent. This bolsters your confidence in the installed Bush government, right?
"You're doing a great job Brownie" still happens to be on the payroll of FEMA as of this date. Just a four week severance pay so he can help with the transition to someone competent. This bolsters your confidence in the installed Bush government, right?
By: spam_vigilante
