Think Progress

DHS rips FEMA’s propaganda presser as ‘inexcusable.’

Department of Homeland Security spokeswoman Laura Keehner said that FEMA’s staged press conference is “inexcusable to the secretary.” FEMA is part of DHS. Keehner described the incident as a lapse in judgment, but said “stunts such as this will not be tolerated” and noted that “the senior leadership of the department is taking this very seriously.” “This is offensive, inexcusable,” she told USA Today.



78 Responses to “DHS rips FEMA’s propaganda presser as ‘inexcusable.’”

  1. Lefty Patriot says:

    How about if they borrow Horowitz’s noose for FEMA?


  2. Nature Rules says:

    Wanna bet Rove told them to use planted employees?


  3. joe cantwell says:

    i’ll say it again, how can they be outraged when these are the same people who gave us jeff gannon?


  4. TripMaster Monkey says:

    “the senior leadership of the department is taking this very seriously.”

    Sure they are. We’ll see how many people lose their jobs…and how many people are promoted and receive the Medal of “Freedom”.


  5. toasterhead says:

    i’ll say it again, how can they be outraged when these are the same people who gave us jeff gannon?

    Comment by joe cantwell — October 26, 2007 @ 7:22 pm

    They’re not outraged because FEMA did it, they’re outraged because they didn’t think of it first.


  6. Uncle Ho says:

    The person(s) responsible for this bs would be fired anywhere else, but in this administration, failing upward is the standard. Medal of Freedom awards at the very least.


  7. Dave C says:

    Well, at least they go through the motions of doing the right thing. I’m thinking that they’re outraged because FEMA was caught rather then concern about the issue. The WH ignores it when they do it themselves so they can hardly be upset when FEMA does it. The real problem is that FEMA did it so poorly. If they can even fudge a press conference it’s no wonder they screwed the pooch in New Orleans so badly.


  8. Nevar says:

    “the senior leadership of the department is taking this very seriously.”

    They’re headed out for margaritas and a big wet burrito as we speak.


  9. Paddy says:

    FEMA will be obsolete when they take over the world.
    Why bother?

    They’re polling for war


  10. Winski says:

    You think we would get better info from FUMA if real, and I use that term loosely, “reporters” from the MSM were there??

    HA!

    Fixed News and Fake reporters – hand in hand down to the candy store…


  11. Marie says:

    Sure they take this sort of thing seriously — there’ s a big bash planned at the local pub where they will joke about their own brilliance in taking the motif of Jeff Gannon and taking it to FEMA.
    Sort of like Bush bringing in Kleig lights to darkened New Orleans, having a photo op moment, then taking his generators and going home.
    Everything they do is phony. They are false to the core. They are not real. They are facade.
    This is mocking serious news, but not in a Comedy Central way – they used this in an attempt to manufacture their own press briefing in a serious manner. This must be a violation of a statute.
    Someone should have to be fired, pay a fine, and made an example.

    And not the Bushie verison of reward — with him, the worse the deed, the greater the medal.


  12. nigel says:

    I guess now the informercial has been canceled now

    Tired of those old mops that just move the dirt around? Now there’s new FEMA !!!!!

    FEMA not only cleans your whole state, it also has a mini spill attachment !!!!!! It picks up dirt, it picks up soot, it can mop up water in seconds !!!!!! why use fifteen different tools when FEMA does it all in one !!!!!!!!

    And now we can offer FEMA for the amazingly low price of just $19:95 (plus shipping and handling $199999999999999999999:95)

    BUT WAIT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Order now and we’ll double your order FREE !!!!!.(just pay separate shipping and handling)………………yes that’s two FEMAs for $19:95.

    We’ll even throw in a free gift, this bobble head figure of G.W.Bush.

    And if you’re not satisfied simply return it for a full refund (minus shipping and handling) and keep the bobble head as our gift to you, just for trying FEMA


  13. The Republic of Stupidity says:

    Now, for the REAL important question… where there any cookies there?


  14. Nevar says:

    No brownies, we can be sure of that…..


  15. The Republic of Stupidity says:

    Comment by Nevar — October 26, 2007 @ 7:51 pm

    Indeed… and how can we be sure the “outrage” wasn’t canned, too?

    Do these SOBs ever do ANYTHING that isn’t deliberate/scripted?


  16. Stupid Git says:

    I’m hoping to see some sort of outrage from the media about this blatant attack on the press. If this get swept under the rug then most likely the administration and it’s cohorts will learn from today’s mistakes and continue doing this more often if they feel they can get away with it.


  17. Nevar says:

    The White House, and now DHS, are just scrambling up their own rockslide, trying to gain some moral high ground, and FEMA is just a handy footstep.
    Sadly, the incompetent saps at FEMA were probably following the only direction they got, which was to “make us look good”.
    California has one of the most advanced, well prepared and funded Fire and Forestry departments of any state.
    The credit for the work goes to them and the nationwide incident management system.
    Bush and FEMA are more nuisance than assistance.


  18. Arne Langsetmo says:

    FEMA is part of DHS. Keehner described the incident as a lapse in judgment, but said “stunts such as this will not be tolerated” and noted that “the senior leadership of the department is taking this very seriously.”

    In response to shouted reporters’ questions as he was leaving on Marine 1 to go chop some brush in Bigbadass, Texas, Dubya reinforced this point: “If somebody committed wrongdoing of any kind, they will no longer work in my administration.”

    They’re right on top of it, folks. Don’t worry, be happy. Just a few “bad apples”, I’m sure.

    Cheers,


  19. katy says:

    this evening, rachel and kent were talking about the briefing when perino had to “condemn” FEMA’s fake presser…
    they said she sounded sad, like, “why didn’t WE think of that”…

    ‘course, they already did… was gannon/guckert before dana’s time?


  20. Buckie Boy says:

    They are only outraged because the national media finally pointed out these fake reporters. Otherwise it would have been business as usual.

    Buck Fush


  21. The Republic of Stupidity says:

    Bush and FEMA are more nuisance than assistance.

    Comment by Nevar — October 26, 2007 @ 8:03 pm

    Ah yes! Another plan comes to fruition!

    Success!!!!


  22. dixie blood says:

    Blah and blah and blah….

    More horse sh!t from a lying, c0ck s&cking bunch of useless RePugniScumBags sh!t-for-brains FACIST!!!


  23. AngryOne says:

    The FEMA fake press conference and the White House censorship of the CDC report on health and global warming are far from the first times the Bush administration has doctored scientific reports and testimony. From rented reporters, purchased pundits, and rigged rallies to scripted sessions, fake news and pseudo-science, an unapologetic White House has long sought to alter public perceptions to control political debate – and reality itself.

    For the details, see:
    “FEMA, CDC and Bush’s Potemkin Presidency.”


  24. The Republic of Stupidity says:

    Otherwise it would have been business as usual.

    Comment by Buckie Boy — October 26, 2007 @ 8:09 pm

    It’s never over til the fat lady sings…

    Glenn Beck will show up any second now, and try to blame the “libruls”…


  25. Nevar says:

    DHS will probably up the security alert as well.

    “Beware of anyone telling us how wonderfully things are being taken care of.”


  26. SilverEcho says:

    Grrrrrrrrrrr. Can we get some support from the Democrats here yet? I can’t wait until elections!!!


  27. The Republic of Stupidity says:

    The cherry on this week’s Sundae would be yet another hideously embarrassing, yet hysterically funny GOOPer sex scandal…

    Seems like we’re due again, aren’t we?


  28. ForTruth says:

    It’s amazing our government would hold a fake press conference in a time of natural disaster. It was an insult to the intelligence the rich folk this time.


  29. toasterhead says:

    It’s amazing our government would hold a fake press conference in a time of natural disaster. It was an insult to the intelligence the rich folk this time.

    Comment by ForTruth — October 26, 2007 @ 8:36 pm

    Why? Dana Perino has a fake daily briefing whether there’s a disaster or not. Why can’t FEMA do the same thing?


  30. The Republic of Stupidity says:

    The entire administration has been one gigantic fake news conference right from the start. Sh*t, dude, Brusch is one gigantic fake, right down to his phony Texas accent.


  31. ForTruth says:

    Yeah the Bushmeister is a fake cowboy from a fake ranch. Scared of horses. Fake press conferences.

    The only positive fake item would be fake b**bs on the Purina Lady. I would watch the videos then.


  32. Veritas says:

    Everything about this administration is “offensive and inexcusable”!


  33. Shayne says:

    The only positive fake item would be fake b**bs on the Purina Lady. I would watch the videos then.

    Comment by ForTruth — October 26, 2007 @ 8:44 pm

    There’s already too many fake b**bs in this administration, don’t you think?


  34. Veritas says:

    Smoke & Mirrors White House with faux departments throughout – no one’s minding the store, folks – ‘cept a group of neonutcases.


  35. Veritas says:

    Perino’s the quintessential “token fake woman” who’s becoming very (yawn) boring. There’s nothing worse than an airhead blonde playing an airhead blonde.


  36. ForTruth says:

    Yes Shane, I think there are already a ton of fake boobs in this administration. LOL.


  37. ForTruth says:

    I think the newly freed Wilson kid should be the next Dem nominee.

    Here it is.


  38. Shayne says:

    I think the newly freed Wilson kid should be the next Dem nominee.

    Here it is.

    Comment by ForTruth — October 26, 2007 @ 9:47

    Oh the horror for the Repukes. Here’s a kid, A KID, who got a blow job from a willing female. The horror.


  39. ForTruth says:

    A kid can do better than all the Republicans combined.


  40. dlet says:

    “This is offensive, inexcusable,” she told USA Today.

    And by inexcusable she means that no one will be held responsible or fired.


  41. Lefty Patriot says:

    hey, francie, go back to the 17th century where ignorant racism and bigotry was accepted among the conservative idiocracy. you’re in the wrong place.


  42. Lefty Patriot says:

    New Orleans was one of the most desirable tourist destinations in the world for the past 100 years, francie. only an ignorant hick like you would fail to know that. your racism has rotted your little tiny brain into uselessness.


  43. DallasNE says:

    Let’s see what comes of this, if anything.

    Should something meaningful transpire it would be a long overdue step in the right direction.

    Somehow I expect this is just an attempt to put the matter behind us and they count on the media not following up to see that something actually happens.


  44. dlet says:

    Only an uniformed idiot like franicie could actually not realize how many coastal towns, villages, cities, homes are actually built below the flood line of oceans and rivers. It just takes one hit to expose it. Just look at what happened to the towns along the Ohio River last year.


  45. Leftside Annie says:

    Hey, Francie – David Horowitz would like to borrow your noose – why don’t you mosey on over to his thread and fix him up…?

    Or string him up – or whatever it is you racists do…ok?


  46. Stupid Git says:

    If we were to withdraw from NEW ORLEANS,,, could i get a HALLELUJAH!!!
    If you want a “Hallelujah” go through a few bucks at any of you Mega-Church pastors and I’m sure they’d be willing to give you one. Question for you though: Who Would Jesus Let Drown? Oh, that’s right, the poor and the meek, the hungry and the merciful.


  47. Nevar says:

    francie, the patterning of your capitalizations suggest a rythmic pounding.
    I hope you are wearing a well padded helmet.


  48. Lefty Patriot says:

    francie, there isn’t a black man anywhere on the planet that couldn’t out-think you on any subject at any time. for someone who’s such a blatant race-baiter, you sure don’t have any reason to think yourself superior in any way. i remember you from pre-registration days, I think we’ll have to get you banned again. We already have our quota of stupid white rightard conturds, thanks anyway. you’re reported.


  49. Lefty Patriot says:

    what’s your problem, francie? A qualified black man took your job? I hope so. I hope he took your girl, too. You don’t deserve the things that decent humans earn.


  50. Lefty Patriot says:

    SIGH>>>

    Comment by francie — October 26, 2007 @ 11:24 pm

    poor francie actually thinks there can be a conversation with an idiot racist. sorry, francie, the North won, kicked your ass from Carolina to Atlanta. Still hurts? Good.


  51. Lefty Patriot says:

    FEMA never had a chance…

    That is the point….

    Comment by francie — October 26, 2007 @ 10:56 pm

    On that point, you score. a George Bush-run FEMA never had a chance, just like a George Bush-run invasion never had a chance. you rightards are admirably consistent in your failures.


  52. Lefty Patriot says:

    So hurry up and call me names, ignore the question

    Comment by francie — October 26, 2007 @ 11:28 pm

    you never raised a question, so continue pissing into the wind until it all comes back to you. stringing together a series of lies and twisted, racist opinions isn’t quite the same as asking a question, or having a discussion. So, did your mother run off with a black man? Is that what’s troubling you, bunky?


  53. Lefty Patriot says:

    explaining why asians don’t get, need, or want govt. help but blacks do….

    This makes me a racist…. YEP

    Comment by francie — October 26, 2007 @ 11:30 pm

    Why don’t you ask the Asians?


  54. Nevar says:

    “…my real name is scooter…”

    I thought you sounded familiar, you reminded me of a dog whose owner never trimmed it’s fur.
    The poor critter constantly scooted across the floor on it’s butt, trying to get rid of the dingleberries.
    Scooter!


  55. Lefty Patriot says:

    Lefty,,, if a asian came and stole your girlfriend would that explain why you hate the race and don’t extend them the same benefits that you do to the blacks.???

    BIGOT

    Comment by francie — October 26, 2007 @ 11:32 pm

    Very good, francie, your straw man is truly imaginative. So, you are jealous of the blacks? is it because they’re smarter than you, better-looking than you, or more civilized than you? Because the kind of hate you are radiating must have a basis of some sort. Asians have nothing to do with the subject of your racism, whatsoever. As a left-liberal, I’m in favor of helping anyone who needs it, no matter what color, gender or creed. I will never be less than ashamed of my white racist forbears for their treatment of Africans, nor their treatment of Chinese laborers, nor their treatment of women and children. If it takes another 1000 years, I want justice done. You seem uninterested in any of that.


  56. Lefty Patriot says:

    why is the asian race successful and the black race relatively NOT?

    Difficult for you i know….

    Comment by francie — October 26, 2007 @ 11:36 pm

    sorry, the black race has been very successful in getting the whites to pony up for their inhuman, criminal treatment of their ancestors. I like that very much, as much as I like the fact that my native American ancestors are finally collecting the millions owed them from white gamblers. As far as I’m concerned, hard-working Asians are suckers.


  57. Lefty Patriot says:

    again,,, my apologies

    Comment by francie — October 26, 2007 @ 11:38 pm

    pussy.


  58. dlet says:

    why is the asian race successful and the black race relatively NOT?
    Comment by francie — October 26, 2007 @ 11:36 pm

    Why you think the black race in unsuccessful compared to any other is beyond me.


  59. Nevar says:

    “…my apologies,,, gotta run,, again,,, my apologies…”

    Comment by francie —

    To much excitement, not enough toilet paper…


  60. Nevar says:

    Don’t let the seat hit you in the head on your way down…


  61. Leftside Annie says:

    Yikes, Francie – get yourself a towel! You’re spewing everywhere.

    Oh – and be sure to wipe that froth off your lips, k? It makes you look really, really insane…


  62. DHS_did_it says:

    An insider I know at FEMA, who happens to be a Dem and a career employee, tells me that it was in fact DHS who forced them to call the press conference on short notice (and would not allow it to be canceled or pushed back even 15 minutes when nobody showed up). The hypocrisy from the folks at the Department is ridiculous. FEMA is an easy target to throw under the bus, no matter what their failings of two years ago. Orders from DHS leadership were to make the administration look good on this one. (Apparently, to DHS, canceling a press conference is taboo — they’d rather run one without any media). To FEMA’s credit, they called press conferences on each of the next two successive days and the media happily showed up. And the questions were still softballs.


  63. dlet says:

    how many asians are getting into UCLA on affirmitive action? how many are turned down due to the same?
    Comment by francie

    That’s an acceptable question. Can you provide a factual link that would provide us all of this information? Or are you just blathering questions into the void?


  64. ForTruth says:

    I still can’t believe our government held a fake press conference.


  65. Shayne says:

    You can’t ForTruth? They’re holding a fake war.


  66. Lefty Patriot says:

    Comment by DHS_did_it — October 26, 2007 @ 11:51 pm

    bullshit.


  67. Lefty Patriot says:

    NICE…… how many asians are getting into UCLA on affirmitive action? how many are turned down due to the same?

    NICE

    Comment by francie — October 26, 2007 @ 11:41 pm

    neither my problem nor yours.


  68. ForTruth says:

    Alright I can believe it.


  69. DHS_did_it says:

    bullshit.

    Comment by Lefty Patriot — October 27, 2007 @ 12:26 am

    How so? It’s well known that DHS has been trying to sink FEMA since long before Katrina. But it’s DHS that is what’s wrong with FEMA. Let’s make FEMA independent again, get the DHS suits out of the picture and see how our Government is supposed to work… (I imagine FEMA’s independence will be the first order of business for the new Clinton or Obama administration…)


  70. Lefty Patriot says:

    FEMA is run by hacks, no need to blame the DHS, also run by hacks. Your friend is merely playing the blame game, that’s all I’m saying. Pass the buck is an old game in the US government, taken to new heights during this admalistration.


  71. DHS_did_it says:

    FEMA is run by hacks, no need to blame the DHS, also run by hacks. Your friend is merely playing the blame game, that’s all I’m saying. Pass the buck is an old game in the US government, taken to new heights during this admalistration.

    Comment by Lefty Patriot — October 27, 2007 @ 12:40 am

    I get what you’re saying… Believe me, he has no love for the leadership there. He’s just a peon trying to do his job and gets pissed when no one listens to him. But I guess that’s the nature of Government service, no matter who resides in the White House. The people who actually know what they’re doing are ignored… We know there won’t be any real consequences for the politicals involved, but it’s yet another black eye for the hard-working career employees. That’s the real shameful part of it.


  72. Lefty Patriot says:

    Hard work is overrated.


  73. DHS_did_it says:

    Hard work is overrated.

    Comment by Lefty Patriot — October 27, 2007 @ 12:49 am

    Understatement of the century…


  74. TC-12 says:

    “DHS rips FEMA’s propaganda presser as ‘inexcusable.’…FEMA is part of DHS.”

    Apparently the right hand, which is cupping the balls, isn’t aware of what the other right hand, stroking the shaft, is doing.


  75. Wayne says:

    This fake “press conference” was aired by Faux Snewz as a “real” event, the only news org that had advanced notice of this staged event. Faux Snewz was in on the hoax. Faux Snewz is complicit.

    This was a purposeful propaganda move, the only reason any of the Bush Administration officials are “outraged” if because FEMA broke the Mafia Organized Crime Republican Golden Rule:

    “Do what the phuck you want, but just don’t phucking get caught.”


  76. willyloman says:

    FEMA is no longer an agency designed to assist victims in times of crisis, in this country. They are, rather, the “tip of the spear” in an effort to manipulate disasters to maximize profit potential for certain corportions, as well as implementing privitization agendas being sought by Freidman Capitalists. They have been doing this since Bush came to power.

    Please read this history of FEMA’s crimes:

    http://willyloman.wordpress.com/2007/10/27/what-has-fema-become/


  77. lefty says:

    This is amazing to me. It’s nothing more than a scam. The government didn’t used to try to get away with this kind of thing. Unbelievable.


  78. MapleStreet says:

    So inexcusable that a news story today (at the top of TP) is that the FEMA PR person in charge of this stunt has resigned in order to accept a more lucrative job in National Intelligence.



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