White House Investigates Itself, Concludes It Wasn’t At Fault For Katrina Response
White House Investigates Itself, Concludes It Wasn’t At Fault For Katrina Response
The White House’s report released today, “The Federal Response to Hurricane Katrina: Lessons Learned,” blames the Katrina response exclusively on the federal government’s plans and structures, rather than on individual people. Homeland Security Advisor Frances Fragos Townsend:
The system wasn’t dependent on any one person. … It was a failure of various aspects of decision-making that needed to happen real time and quickly to get federal response efforts.
The report ignores the responsibility of top Bush administration officials. Luckily the recent bipartisan report from House of Representatives fills in the gaps. From The Washington Post:
[The report] lays primary fault with the passive reaction and misjudgments of top Bush aides, singling out Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, the Homeland Security Operations Center and the White House Homeland Security Council.
Regarding Bush, the report also found that “earlier presidential involvement could have speeded the response” because he alone could have cut through all bureaucratic resistance.
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White House investigates itself.
That is the absolute zero on the Kelvin scale of political trustworthiness.
February 23rd, 2006 at 12:12 pmFile this report alongside last year’s “Strategy for Victory” in Iraq.
And file under political propaganda.
February 23rd, 2006 at 12:14 pmDidn’t FEMA already have authority to cut through red tape?
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/08/20050827-1.html
“The President today declared an emergency exists in the State of Louisiana and ordered Federal aid to supplement state and local response efforts in the parishes located in the path of Hurricane Katrina.
“Specifically, FEMA is authorized to identify, mobilize, and provide at its discretion, equipment and resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the emergency.”
February 23rd, 2006 at 12:17 pmThis administration has to go! NOW!
February 23rd, 2006 at 12:18 pmHow can anyone Investigate Themselves fairly?
This has gone on in for too long. The Fox bith Raids and Protects the golden-egg laying Hen House.
The 911 report is evidence of this Self Investigative Hoax
Off topic but tangent to Bush and his
TAX BREAKS CREATE JOBS
mentality
By STEPHEN OHLEMACHER
The Associated Press
Thursday, February 23, 2006; 12:38 AM
WASHINGTON — More than 25 million Americans turned to the nation’s largest network of food banks, soup kitchens and shelters for meals last year, up 9 percent from 2001.
Those seeking food included 9 million children and nearly 3 million senior citizens, says a report from America’s Second Harvest.
February 23rd, 2006 at 12:21 pmLOL so Bush Regime investigates themselves as a cover-up?
February 23rd, 2006 at 12:21 pmThis group is so nuts that it defies understanding > can those in the Congress finally say the word IMPEACH?
On Second thought, the White House said this, yet they now wish to Overhaul FEMA?
Thats just Crazy Talk.
February 23rd, 2006 at 12:21 pmThis admin. cuts through he red tape when they want to.
February 23rd, 2006 at 12:23 pmI’ll file this right next to DeLay in charge of the committee to see if he did anything unethical in regards to Abramoff. No accountability whatsoever.
February 23rd, 2006 at 12:23 pmLOL so Bush Regime investigates themselves as a cover-up?
This group is so nuts that it defies understanding > can those in the Congress finally say the word IMPEACH?
Comment by Jay Randal #6
NO!
…they can’t afford to allow the world to witness the impeachment of two U.S. presidents in succession…
…the office would virtually rendered “insignificant”…
…as opposed to it’s current state- to paraphrase Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, “DANGER!”
February 23rd, 2006 at 12:28 pmWelcome to the world of, one party rule. This is going to continue indefinately.
February 23rd, 2006 at 12:29 pmFace it we now live in a dictatorship and there are few ways to remove them save regeim change.
February 23rd, 2006 at 12:31 pmWell big papa the Clinton impeachment, for lying about a BJ,was considered comical by the entire world, and remember the Senate failed to convict him for his petty crime!
As for Dubya and Dicky, there has to be a REAL impeachment with conviction in the Senate, for HIGH crimes! Otherwise WE the people will have to impeach the entire Congress?!
February 23rd, 2006 at 12:37 pm“No, Mr IRS Inspector, my accounting books are totally accurate, I’ve inspected them” – Al Capone.
February 23rd, 2006 at 12:37 pmThe world is obviously not going to sit idly by as America implodes. They will wean themselves from our manipulations. It is our duty as citizens of the United States and human beings to demonstrate the truthful pursuit of human rights and a sustainable earth. Our call for the removal of the present self serving, incompetent and disastrous leadership will be greeted with a sigh of relief around the world.
February 23rd, 2006 at 12:39 pmSo, what they’re saying is that Pres. Clinton should have investigated himself for sexual misconduct during the 90’s. If pres. Bush can impartially investigate himself, the Prees. Clinton could have been QUITE impartial during an investigation of his sexual misconduct. . . . er, um. . . . “allegations”. Yeah! That’s the ticket!
Double standards, thy party is Republican!
February 23rd, 2006 at 12:40 pmJay,
No doubt about it. The only impeachment well have to do for now is in terms of November 2006 when we can remove those who obstruct justice and put those who will listen to us in position to take back both Houses. Thus, Bush becomes a lame duck.
February 23rd, 2006 at 12:55 pmThe report concludes that the problem is beurocracy. The solution, therefore, is massive deregulation and gutting all social programs, because Bush just proved they don’t work. What does work? Why foreign military engagements, of course!
So exactly how stupid are American voters? I doubt we’ve plubmed the depths.
February 23rd, 2006 at 12:56 pmYes JIMBO we have to vote every Bush apologist that we can out of the Senate and House too! That means a few Democrats removed too like Lieberman and that fool in Nebraska Ben Nelson! I do hope we survive to November to vote, because it looks grim at present > Bush might ignite WWIII in March?
February 23rd, 2006 at 1:10 pmFrom a PR standpoint, the White House was a disgrace. But, I totally, as do most Americans, reject the liberal argument that this was somehow all Bush’s fault. The mayor and Governor are the most to blame and you know who else – some of the vicitms. They were warned. They couldn’t get on a Greyhound???
No one is brave enough to say that publicly because they would get lynched by the left-wing thought police. But it is being said in private by people of all political stripes.
Katrina exposed what a failure govt is. Those who have to rely on it will always get screwed, Democrat or Republican.
February 23rd, 2006 at 1:21 pmBush takes the blame for Katrina, but really…he doesn’t. No one does. The “system” was wrong. Just like it was the levees’ fault.
February 23rd, 2006 at 1:24 pmteh report calls for a “national preparedness system.” now, i can’t quite put my finger on it, but why does such an idea seem vaguely familiar.
February 23rd, 2006 at 1:25 pmWasn’t FEMA working fine when Bush inheirited it?
February 23rd, 2006 at 1:33 pmWell, THAT’S a relief. No one person is to blame. The entire administration is screwed up. Friggin’ joke.
February 23rd, 2006 at 1:33 pm#21 – it’s not Bush’s fault. The levees aren’t his fault either. Look no further than the Democratic machine that has been running that state since the days of Huey Long! It’s corrupt and they raise the dead on election day, rather than help the poor. Don’t you dare blame Bush – it is not his fault that Louisiana chose poor leaders and chose to look the other way on the levee.
February 23rd, 2006 at 1:34 pm#23 – yes, Bush also inherited a recession, a national disaster oh – and I guess an unstable climate from Clinton. Please stop being such a partisan moron.
February 23rd, 2006 at 1:35 pmBrown blamed Chertoff, Bush blamed Chertoff… when will he be fired???
February 23rd, 2006 at 1:37 pm“Pile of dogshit smells itself, concludes it doesn’t stink”.
February 23rd, 2006 at 1:52 pmOur criminals now investigate, and exonerate, themselves.
February 23rd, 2006 at 1:59 pmBushco’s version of accountablity.
You go into a hurricane with the system you have…..
February 23rd, 2006 at 2:19 pmI really needed a good laugh today and this did it, thanks!
As I’ve mentioned before about my being in a family who joined Organized Crime linked to Political Corruption and other criminal activities: “What are they going to do when the other more extreme crimes surface?†The news is filled with corruption and an endless parade of “I dunno†excuses, but when the REAL BAD STUFF surfaces, the comic relief should go into high gear!
February 23rd, 2006 at 2:37 pmKatrina exposed what a failure govt is. Those who have to rely on it will always get screwed, Democrat or Republican.
Comment by Samuel Alito
Actually, ass, we are saying the those that rely on Bush’s government get screwed. His government screwed up. His agencies screwed up. There was no failure other than at the top – where he is. And of course you miss the whole point of this post was not about their miserable failure in Katrina but failing to take responsibility and appointing rubber stamp committees that are not critical when they need to be.
yes, Bush also inherited a recession, a national disaster oh – and I guess an unstable climate from Clinton. Please stop being such a partisan moron.
He also inherited a national debt that was half the size of what it is now and a surplus. Don’t accuse us of being “partisan morons” for noticing that Bush has broken systems that were previously working.
February 23rd, 2006 at 2:43 pmI see another predictable–but did anyone predict it?–excuse to increase the use of the US military at home. First it was the President announcing that the appropriate response to bird flu is a military quarantine (Fear of Flu Outbreak Rattles Washington – New York Times, October 5, 2005 By Gardiner Harris). Now it’s a military response to hurricanes (plenty of those to come!). What’s next–a military response to hanging chads?
February 23rd, 2006 at 3:33 pm“Bush’s govt” – gimme a freakin break. If the opposition wasn’t so unglued and unreasonalble, Americans might be willing to put you back in power. But, when you sit here and pretend that somehow Katrina was all Bush’s fault, you turn off the average voter. What about the chocolate mayor?
And as bad as Bush’s fortunes are right now, it is highly unlikely Democrats and their radical constituents will gain from them. After the hissy fit you guys will throw this summer when Stevens steps down from the Court, you will lose every competitive red state senate race. Must suck when you are totally out of touch with America. ASS.
February 23rd, 2006 at 4:03 pmThat headline reads suspiciously like something from “The Onion”. Too bad it’s actually true.
February 23rd, 2006 at 4:25 pmEven if you accept that as true, you have to ask where was the leadership? Or were they hoping the system will correct itself? Seems like these government hating Republicans sure like to rely on the government.
February 23rd, 2006 at 4:33 pmThey’re not really “at fault” — you were expecting a different answer?
February 23rd, 2006 at 4:38 pmWhat is this vapid, puling, vacuous idiot’s political pedigree? She can’t be getting paid enough to tart this shit around on the teevee as if it were actual thought worthy of a moment’s consideration. Meanwhile she worships at Chertoff’s altar? Gated community living must be nice, some people seem willing to do or say anything as long as it promises to secure a comfortable retirement near a mall and not too far from a golf course. Sweet jesus what an insult to the dead this woman’s existence poses. Please tell me they’ll be stupid enough to trot her out in a venue where she’ll actually be posed hard questions. I take it she has no plans currently to visit the Gulf Coast and let them know the “lessons learned.”
February 23rd, 2006 at 6:11 pm#34. Chocolate mayor? What are you attempting to express? What possible relevence does the mayor’s skin color have to do with it?
You know plenty of white folks died and were displaced and have very little to show for it in terms of assistance from the federal government. Of which George Bush is the titular head. So does that give you some indication as to why some here might view Bush’s performance as important, perhaps critical, toward determining who might have survived?
February 23rd, 2006 at 6:14 pmYou know, I thought this was an Onion headline spoof. Sadly, it turns out to be real.
February 23rd, 2006 at 7:28 pmIf the Congress backs down and allows the UAE to control our ports, then our Representatives and Senators have betrayed us all?!
February 23rd, 2006 at 7:37 pmI like John Stewarts comment, “Clinton should have classified his penis and saved us from a whole lot of trouble, and W.”
February 23rd, 2006 at 8:22 pmYeah, check out right-wing fasci-mc-hitler-burton’s Fox News propaganda department’s reporting on the issue:
Oh wait, Fox News is saying that the report indicates significant flaws in the federal response plan. “Inexperienced managers”, “poor planning”, “more than 1300 dead”… It’s almost as if Fox News is reporting a story that casts a negative light on the admininstration, and the source is from the admininstration. That doesn’t make any sense in the context of this thread. It must be a deeper, more sinister plot than normal.
Right.
February 24th, 2006 at 1:12 amG.W. sure is a lucky guy. Mr. Magoo’s evil twin. Just blindly stumbling along, leaving death and destruction in his wake. And his confusion, when his endless errors are pointed out to him, is clear. The Republicans have long since accepted the reality that he is absolutely worthless, and a failure at everything he does. So it is not surprising that they do not hold him responsible for anything he does, or, does not, as it were. But the rest of us are not inclined to give him a pass on failure. He took the job. No one forced him too. So go on making excuses for him, like always. We will keep on dealing with reality, since he won’t. Or can’t.
February 24th, 2006 at 3:34 amBush thinks an investigation is something done by his toady lawyers who are just his YES men > lol. Americans have to demand the Congress to impeach him and old Cheney too!
February 24th, 2006 at 7:13 amAPRIL FIRST IS IMPEACH THE FOOL DAY …
get out and get heard, plan a rally or a march, put signs in your yard and on your car…
IMPEACH THE FOOL ON APRIL FOOL’S DAY!
a day of protest and civil disobedience
pass it on!
February 24th, 2006 at 5:29 pm