Cheney Turned Down Request To Oversee Katrina Recovery Because ‘He Doesn’t Do Touchy-Feely’
Cheney Turned Down Request To Oversee Katrina Recovery Because ‘He Doesn’t Do Touchy-Feely’
Just after Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast in 2005, Vice President Dick Cheney refused President Bush’s request to head up a “cabinet-level task force” aimed at speeding the recovery effort, writes the Washington Post’s Barton Gellman in a still-embargoed section of his new book, “Angler: The Cheney Vice Presidency.”
When asked by Bush if he would “at least go do a fact-finding trip for us,” Cheney responded saying, “That’ll probably be the extent of it”:
Days after the storm had passed, when he finally returned to Washington from Crawford, Bush assembled his senior staff in the Oval Office. He was going to set up a cabinet-level task force, he said.
“I asked Dick if he’d be interested in spearheading this,” Bush announced. “Let’s just say I didn’t get the most positive response.” Bush nodded ironically toward the vice president, putting on a show for the others: Card, Rove, Bartlett, Condi Rice. His expression, the tone of voice, had a hint of edge. Can you believe this guy? [...]
“Will you at least go do a fact-finding trip for us?” Bush asked.
“That’ll probably be the extent of it, Mr. President, unless you order otherwise,” Cheney replied.
Gellman writes that White House counselor Dan Bartlett “came to see Cheney’s demurral ‘quite frankly as pretty good judgment.’ Cheney ‘doesn’t do touchy-feely,’ Bartlett said.”
Cheney’s refusal to lend the weight of his office to the Katrina recovery effort is not surprising, as he has a record of underestimating the seriousness of Katrina’s devastation. As the storm hit, Cheney was reluctant to cut his vacation short. In September 2005, Cheney commented dismissively, “I think we are in fact on our way to getting on top of the whole Katrina exercise.”
During his fact-finding trip to the affected region, Cheney was famously insulted on live television. As 2005 came to a close, Cheney scrambled to take advantage of the Katrina tax relief act, which was aimed at spurring Katrina-related increases in charitable donations. When his tax returns were released, however, it appeared that “none of [Cheney's] charitable contributions actually went to Katrina-related charities.” Since then, Cheney has reportedly “tried to kill proposals to increase…aid for Hurricane Katrina victims.”
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No, just shooty-in-the facey…
September 15th, 2008 at 4:41 pmCheney, like his ilk, care nothing about ordinary Americans, poor Americans, black Americans or working-class Americans.
Only himself and people just like himself.
September 15th, 2008 at 4:44 pmFascist pig Cheney do “touchy-feely” activities to help Americans after suffering from hurricane assaults? Naah, he’s totally into corporate greed, murder, lies and treason…
September 15th, 2008 at 4:45 pmJust think, McCain has a VP that makes Chaney look like Mother Theresa…..
September 15th, 2008 at 4:47 pmtouchy feely my arse… this administration hides all for political gain
As I just posted:
September 15th, 2008 at 4:48 pm
“Now, Mr. President, on the other hand, if you were to send me down there to look for ways corporations can make a buck off of other peoples’ miseries, well, I’m already packed to go on that trip.”
Note: That is probably not an actual quote.
September 15th, 2008 at 4:50 pmI was holding my breath when I got to the “cheney tried to kill…..” I was almost expecting the next line to read – “a puppy dog with his bare teeth” : ) .
September 15th, 2008 at 4:51 pmWow , and I always thought of him as a real Mr. Cuddles. Sounds like some poor maniacal dictator grew up deprived of a father’s affection!
September 15th, 2008 at 4:52 pmHe’s just bitter because he can’t cure his daughter.
September 15th, 2008 at 4:53 pmThe whole kitten kibbodle was on flipping vacation for Katrina, Bush, Cheney, Card, Townsend, Rice, Hadley. They left Joe Hagin in charge.
The guy who fed back Cheney’s line to Senator Leahy was an ER physician, who lost everything in the storm and had to take a twenty minute detour (and waste precious gasoline) for Cheney’s motorcade.
September 15th, 2008 at 4:54 pmOT
The market has suffered its worst day in 7 years — who has been in charge for 7 years? Yet, they are again pointing fingers at the Dems (Boehner) and not accepting responsibility for the results of their own deregulation.
After 9/11, they did the same thing — having been in office for 9 months, they managed to blame the Dems and refused to accept their own responsibility – or irresponsibility.
What is going to be done with these liars, these criminals, these recklessly, dangerous people?
September 15th, 2008 at 4:55 pmThe chutzpah, the brazen arrogance, the irresponsibility, the collective immorality of the Bush administration is simply asstounding.
Is it too much to expect a public official to have some sort of humanity?
Or have we become so accustomed to corporate drones that we want to elect another one?
September 15th, 2008 at 4:55 pmNo touchy-feely — he’s more of a smash and grab guy.
September 15th, 2008 at 4:57 pmWhat a shitty person.
September 15th, 2008 at 4:58 pmNote to the people of Louisiana:
V.P. Dick Cheney thinks the people of Georgia, as in the Asian country, are more important than Americans. Either that, or he likes real war zones better than those created by Mother Nature.
Cheney did meet with the Chair of Goldman Sachs and the head of BP during his final war tour trip through Europe and Asia. Goldman has the corner on oil futures and BP was behind the first overthrow of an Iranian elected leader. I feel more Cheney/Bush violence coming.
September 15th, 2008 at 4:59 pmCheney is only “touchy-feely” with his latest batch of fresh puppies.
September 15th, 2008 at 4:59 pmOnly in Bushneyworld would doing what’s right, ethical, humane, economically practical, sensible, and compassionate be sneeringly called “touchy-feely”.
But Bartlett was right. Cheney doesn’t do touchy-feely. Nor does he do anything on the above list that apparently falls into that category.
September 15th, 2008 at 5:00 pmCheney is pure evil. Bush smells of sulpher because he hangs around Cheney.
September 15th, 2008 at 5:00 pmCheney might not do “touchy feely” but he does a-hole very well.
September 15th, 2008 at 5:00 pmNo touchy feely for Darth, unless puppies and skinning involved…
September 15th, 2008 at 5:06 pmChuck Feney!
September 15th, 2008 at 5:10 pmNews:
About 150,000 of the 220,000 residents who evacuated ahead of the storm were still out of their homes Monday…
…estimated that damage costs in Harris County alone would run into the billions of dollars…
…Ike and its remnants left at least 27 people dead from the U.S. Gulf Coast to the Great Lakes…
Cheney: “So?”
September 15th, 2008 at 5:11 pm# 11 Marie Says:
OT
The market has suffered its worst day in 7 years — who has been in charge for 7 years?
I heard Mcinsanes response a few moments ago… feebly trying to yell enough! enough!… and stealing Obama’s statement, condemning the wall street bidders, alluding to the fact it is their risky bidding which caused this mess.
September 15th, 2008 at 5:13 pmNote “the days after Katrina struck”, Bush returned to Washington after sharing birthday cake with John McCain.
Nero fiddled, Bush strummed
But here’s what Scotty McClellan had to say about the White House effort:
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, Joe Hagin has been very involved in it, and Joe Hagin updated the President earlier this morning on the latest in terms of the assessments that are being made and the response efforts. We have search and rescue teams deployed. We have ongoing efforts to make sure assistance is getting to those in need.
But in terms of the White House interagency task force, that’s being led by our domestic policy council. And in terms of — you know, Joe Hagin has really been a point person in terms of overseeing efforts from the White House.
When Gov. Landrieu called the White House on Wednesday, two days after landfall, she got transferred around, finally to Homeland Security Adviser Fran Townsend.
Bush put Fran on a plane to Saudi Arabia to deliver a letter to the monarchy on Hurricane Katrina. Then she came back and wrote the sorriest investigative report.
September 15th, 2008 at 5:14 pmRescuing Americans in a time of crisis is a core competence, not a touchy-feely. Cheney wants the government to be bad at it, so the private sector can turn it into a profit center.
September 15th, 2008 at 5:18 pmHe had enough time to have his goon squad arrest and detain that guy who shouted out to him while he was down there doing his “feel good tour” in New Orleans.
September 15th, 2008 at 5:21 pmIf it’s touchy feely they want, then why not send in Mark Foley or Larry Craig?
September 15th, 2008 at 5:24 pmDick(head) Cheney is just a cold, blackhearted SOB!
September 15th, 2008 at 5:26 pmThis is just hearsay. What a bunch of grabage. I love the double standard of the people on this site. Earlier I posted a link to the same media source about Obama trying to halt troop withdrawal, and the bloggers said it was hearsay. How is this any different?
September 15th, 2008 at 5:26 pmOT: Was there election fraud in the Montana Senate race?
September 15th, 2008 at 5:27 pmhttp://www.archive.org/details/MontanaGov.BrianSchweitzerSpeechToTrialLawyersConvention7142008
Cheney ‘doesn’t do touchy-feely,’ Bartlett said.”
Translation: Cheney doesn’t do “human”.
September 15th, 2008 at 5:34 pmthem_libs Says:
This is just hearsay. What a bunch of grabage. I love the double standard of the people on this site. Earlier I posted a link to the same media source about Obama trying to halt troop withdrawal, and the bloggers said it was hearsay. How is this any different?
Why is it you people can not stay on topic when caught in the wrong?
And it is garbage not grabage.
September 15th, 2008 at 5:38 pmhad enough Says
So can you prove Obama said this to Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari? Obama insisted that Congress should be involved in negotiations on the status of US troops – and that it was in the interests of both sides not to have an agreement negotiated by the Bush administration in its “state of weakness and political confusion.”
we’re waiting?
September 15th, 2008 at 5:53 pmArn Gunnutes Says:
September 15th, 2008 at 6:01 pmThanks!
# 35 Arn Gunnute
typo? as had enough did NOT say:
had enough Says
So can you prove Obama said this to Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari? Obama insisted that Congress should be involved in negotiations on the status of US troops – and that it was in the interests of both sides not to have an agreement negotiated by the Bush administration in its “state of weakness and political confusion.”
September 15th, 2008 at 6:12 pm#34 them_libs and #35 Arn Gunnutes needs to be flagged… purposely mis stated under my name.
and as these two showed up at the same time – may be the same
September 15th, 2008 at 6:25 pmHey them_libs=Arn Gunnute...
decided not to flag your false statements in my behalf… let all see this as it only reinforces what we already know:
You people have NO argument and must always resort to LIES and games hoping to distract the truth.
September 15th, 2008 at 6:48 pmHe’s a reg’lar Mr. Warmth, that Dick Cheney.
September 15th, 2008 at 7:16 pmPoor Dick, sounds like he’s getting ready to retire. He’s lost interest in his job.
What a display of leadership (or lack thereof)!!!!
September 15th, 2008 at 7:18 pmIt’s the same guy who calls shooting disabled birds “hunting”.
September 15th, 2008 at 7:29 pmHe can’t do touchy feely because he has no heart. Only an electric wallet where his heart used to be.
September 15th, 2008 at 7:42 pmShruby is such a pussy. There’s not one day he’s been in charge of his own administration. What a wasted opportunity. To be POTUS and to let some pudgy, sneering, black hearted jerk pull your strings for 8 years. Shruby’s a zero. A doormat that Cheney wiped his feet on. What a scummy crew they are.
September 15th, 2008 at 8:55 pmCheney only does creepy-weepy.
September 16th, 2008 at 3:27 amThe Burger Meister-Meister Burger wouldn’t dare do something positive for all those Americans suffering after Katrina. If I passed Dick lying in the street, gasping for air and clutching at the spot where his heart should be, my first response to his pleas for help would be, “SO?”. My second response would be something along the lines of, “Sorry Dick, I don’t do touchy-feely, go Cheney yourself!”
September 16th, 2008 at 11:03 amYep, he was so devastated by what happened in New Orleans that he sent Halliburton down there right away to see what they could rebuild. Cheney gives the word “VICE” President
September 16th, 2008 at 4:01 pma whole new meaning
Like most Neocon Warmongers, Cheney is a coward. During the Antrax Scare he ran and hid in a “Secret Room” in the basement. He keeps a Biological Warfare suit in his car. These “Chicken Hawks” are great putting others in “Harms Way” to kill or be killed for the glory of their ‘Corporate Masters” but they are never going to get anywhere near any danger themselve.
He was probly afraid he would catch something from one of those dirty tax payer or be mistaken for a rat and drown in a puddle.
September 18th, 2008 at 6:00 pm