CNN: Chertoff 'in Direct Contradiction With the Facts'
Posted by Jesse Berney on September 5, 2005 at 11:40 AM
Yesterday morning, CNN's Tom Forman blasted Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff for lying to the public about the administration's efforts in the relief disaster following Hurricane Katrina.
Forman pointed out that Chertoff misled us about how much they knew before the disaster and the extent of the relief efforts so far.
And Secretary Chertoff has continued with the same tact this morning he's been on talk shows saying things which all can tell in many cases are in direct contradiction of the facts saying, for example they rescued 10,000 people in these days. His own department, people mark put on -- Homeland Security put out a press release that said they rescued 4500 people in three days. Suddenly the number has doubled. This is going on and on and on.
The full transcript of Forman's report is after the jump.
CNN FACT CHECK:
Transcript (from Closed Caption)
TOM FORMAN: Homeland Security Chief Michael Chertoff continues to say the power of Katrina could not have been predicted, even as his department is accused of miscalculating the destruction and a painfully slow response.
Michael Chertoff: It wasn't until comparatively late, shortly before, day, day and a half before landfall that it became clear this was going to be a category 4, 5 heading for the New Orleans area.
FORMAN: But, The national hurricane center was warning of Katrina's growing danger four days -- landfall.
Weather person: A vulnerable area of coast. If it goes in the western quadrant we talked about the nightmare scenario.
FORMAN: Chertoff's own undersecretary, Michael Brown of FEMA discusses the storm's power and direct on the Friday before the storm hit on Monday.
Michael Brown: The hurricane center at its 5:00 forecast says those could be a category 4 by the end of the weekend. Tonight's Friday. All of those people living all the way from Louisiana over to the Florida panhandle need to think now about getting ready for what could be a very major storm.
FORMAN: Katrina hit as a level 4 storm, exactly as Brown described. But afterward, when FEMA's relievers came under criticism he said this --
Brown: I must say, this storm is much, much bigger than anyone expected.
FORMAN: There's more. Chertoff repeatedly talks about the hurricane and the break of the levees in New Orleans as if they are separate events, another unpredictable one-two punch.
Chertoff: A devastating hurricane followed by a second devastating flood.
FORMAN: flooding, is, of course an expected result of any hurricane. And historically has killed many more people than high winds. Chertoff admits FEMA knew the levees around New Orleans might be overrun by a category 4 hurricane however --
Chertoff: The collapse of a significant portion of the levee leading to the fast flooding of the city was not envisioned.
FORMAN: But FEMA conducted a five-day drill last year to consider a big hurricane hitting New Orleans. They knew the levees were bill to withstand only a category 3 storm. And that floodwater flowing over a levee is a predictable cause of a collapse.
Chertoff: I will tell you, that really that -- that perfect storm of combination of catastrophes exceeded the foresight of the planners and maybe anybody's foresight.
FORMAN: Not true. For many years, many researchers weather experts and journalists have written in great detail about what would happen if a major hurricane hit New Orleans. Their predictions were widely known and now have prompt to be right. And Secretary Chertoff has continued with the same tact this morning he's been on talk shows saying things which all can tell in many cases are in direct contradiction of the facts saying, for example they rescued 10,000 people in these days. His own department, people mark put on -- Homeland Security put out a press release that said they rescued 4500 people in three days. Suddenly the number has doubled. This is going on and on and on.
Keeps saying it utterly unpredictable. When he's pressed about whether he or his director Mike Brown are doing their jobs and whether nobody should lose their jobs in the whole process he keeps saying, no, we're doing all we can in very difficult circumstances which everyone acknowledges. But I do know, talking to northerners all over the country friends from the past, others who called in, many people are very, very angry about this and they're saying that maybe some heads should roll, not for political reasons but practical reasons. Talking about a disaster that is ongoing, will be ongoing for weeks and months. And they're saying why on earth would peep be kept in jobs if they can't do the jobs? That's the accusation.
Comments (23) «
If the mainstream media can call out the Republicans on their bulls**t, why can't Democratic leaders? Let's quit acting like whipped dogs, afraid to lose moderate middle-America, grow a spine, and call Bush and his weenies what they are: incompetent buffoons.
i'll say it more polite...if demo leaders do not start asking those questions now, they'll eat crow later. do i need to remind them...karl rove is a media-master of spin. already, the blame is being diverted to the local demos. if speakin' out does not happen now within the spin of rove due to "now is not the time...we'll discuss this later." then, later comes, rove to divert "that's old news and we need to move on..." critics eat crow, w is a hero, and katrina's victims are then forgotten aka "old news." the decision rests with leadership...anyone out there? hello?
I hate to join the chorus, but yes, where are our Democratic leaders? Who has said anything? At least Hillary Clinton's website addresses Katrina. The rest are filled with old news. It's time to stand up and stand for something. Do not let up the blame but also do something positive, something that you can point to later to say, "we were there." It is already getting late.
Hurray for Gov Blanco for hiring James Lee Witt. Because why would she trust Chertoff and Brown to manage Relief Disaster. The last few days proved their incompetence.
They are already spinning this--Newsweek and WP that Gov Blanco refused Federal help and was dilly dallying, the reason for the delay.
So, I guess CNN is weaning itself from WH and MSM? I sure hope so!
September 5, 2005
To Whom it May Concern Among the Democratic Leadership,
Where is the outrage? Where are the (seemingly politically incorrect, but compassion-based) recriminations against an administration that has once again revealed its innate hypocrisy? I’d even settle for a little old-fashioned political opportunism.
I am thoroughly baffled by the Democratic party’s response to the lack of effectiveness, empathy and – most galling of all – lack of accountability being demonstrated by the Bush administration in the wake of hurricane Katrina. While Condi Rice was enjoying a pre-Labor Day shopping spree in New York City, one of that state’s venerable Senators, and an apparent 2008 presidential contender, Hillary Rodham Clinton, was enjoying the State Fair.
Now is the time. This is the opportunity. I urge you all – regardless of your personal political ambitions, which should be compelling you to act differently than your Republican brethren – to demonstrate the power of your personal conviction and seize this once-in-a-career chance to establish your true humanitarian, indeed human, credentials.
You all read the newspapers. You are all intelligent people, and clearly more plugged in than I. So, you are infinitely more intimate with the remarkable hypocrisy that riddles our current administration. Despite the seeming litany of situations in which President Bush’s words seem diametrically opposed to his actions, or those in which his explanations for events ignore the precedent facts, this president has emerged virtually unscathed from scandal after scandal. Despite the raft of evidence to support this view, he has won one election fair and square and will be ensconced in the White House for another three and one-half years.
Now we are faced with the aftermath of perhaps his deadliest act of political subterfuge to date: hurricane Katrina’s wake. Much like 9/11, which resulted from the Bush administration’s convenient decision to ignore facts and intelligence that could have helped us avoid attack, or the failing Iraq war effort, the justification for which was contrived and the execution of which has been abysmal, the federal response to Katrina is inexcusably late and lacking.
Carpe Diem! If you, as leading Democrats, the brightest lights in a party that supposedly stands for change, for differentiation, for integrity, for accountability, for inclusion, for fairness, for equality, for truth, really have the power of your convictions, now is the time to show it. I urge you, as a life-long Democrat, Democracy bond holder and believer in all for which this party purportedly stands, to take a stand. Take a chance. Do what is right and denounce what you see as blatant hypocrisy and ineptitude costing thousands of American lives, and threatening thousands more. It is time to cast aside all notions of political conformity, or strategy, or so-called “logic”.
Ask yourselves what some of our party’s great leaders would have done at a time like this. Can you imagine John F. Kennedy standing idly by? Or Franklin Delano Roosevelt? I realize that times have changed. Political realities and imperatives are different than they were in 1960. The people of this country, however, those you represent in office and in humanity, have not. We still long for vision, courage, honesty and a clear, articulate voice to deliver these messages. If any among you possess these attributes, now is the time to put yourselves forth, to emerge as the next generation of leaders brave enough to confront the deadly propaganda that consistently spews forth from the current administration. Now is the time to stake out the high ground and take the politically risky action which can lay the groundwork for electoral gains in 2006 and 2008, and which is truly right and good and just and fair and empathic. It is time to be human first and politician second. That, after all, is what wins elections.
Well I see we have a rightwing paid shill troll on the boards in the name of Braaaahhhhd.
Go away moron. I notice you use ONLY the attacks on those who were actually TRYING to do something while your hero Dumbya was busy strumming a guitar and cutting some cake.
WHY was Brown named head of FEMA since his only qualifications were for judging HORSE SHOWS? I guess it takes someone who can spot a horse's ass to hire another horse's ass.
The buses couldn't be used because the drivers were all home taking care of their families or had already evacuated, MORON!
Funny how jerkoffs such as yourself blame someone who hasn't been in the FEMA office with totally bullshit lies and character assassination attempts about FEMA money when it's PUBLIC knowledge you dipstick that DUMBYA and BROWN and JERKOFF have been cutting the budgets for FEMA and for Lousiana for the last FIVE YEARS! What a moron if you think you can come over and spout your rightwing paid for BS.
And the rest of your tripe? Well it's just that...tripe.
Go back to your bosses at the RNC where NO DISSENT is allowed and tell them the truth. You have failed miserably at Your Fearless Leader's orders (Herr Rove) to start the slimemachine and character assassination attempt over here where dissent is allowed, BUT not at your beloved RNC blog.
Go away pissant.
The problem:
March 20, 2001 (about 6 months before 9/11)
Thornberry Introduces Legislation to Realign Federal Government So It is Better Prepared to Respond to Homeland Threats Bill would establish National Homeland Security Agency
"WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Mac Thornberry (R-TX) today introduced legislation that would reorganize the federal government to better prepare for threats against the American homeland."
"Under this legislation, FEMA would be renamed the National Homeland Security Agency. The new NHSA would continue to be the federal government's principal response agency in times of natural disaster."
http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a3aba8a58753e.htm
---------------------------
The solution:
Democrat to submit FEMA bill
Rep. John D. Dingell (D-MI) said he will introduce legislation Tuesday that would remove FEMA from the Department of Homeland Security and make it, instead, an independent agency headed by a Cabinet-level executive.
"I can clearly see that FEMA has lost its way," the Democrat from Michigan said in a written statement.
http://premium.cnn.com/2005/US/09/04/katrina.blame/
Republicans' Homeland Security Policy
(from www.gop.com)
Homeland Security
--President Bush has nearly tripled homeland security discretionary funding.
--More than $18 billion has been awarded to state and local governments to protect the homeland.
--The Bush Administration developed a comprehensive National Strategy for Homeland Security, focused on six key areas: intelligence and warning; border and transportation security; domestic counterterrorism; protecting critical infrastructure; defending against catastrophic threats; and emergency preparedness and response.
--For the first time, the President has made countering and investigating terrorist activity the number one priority for both law enforcement and intelligence agencies. The Bush Administration has transformed the FBI into an agency whose primary mission is to prevent terrorist attacks and increased its budget by 60 percent.
---------------------
As you can clearly see, though Bush has "tripled" the budget of Homeland Security, it is subject to "discretionary" spending -- in other words, at the "discretion" of the president and Secretary Chertoff:
"the president has made countering...terrorist activity the number one priority..."
So little, if any, of the "$18 billion" allocated to Homeland Security to "focus on...defending catastrophic threats; emergency preparedness and response; and protecting critical infrastructure..." was used for this purpose, but only instead countering terrorism, and still, there has not been a terrorist attack on the US since 9/11.
But now that we really needed the government to have provided this critical protection and disaster contingency plan, and it has failed to give it to us (especially after we paid for it), we wonder what other outstanding expenditures stick out on the government balance sheet that are siphoning away vital Homeland Security funds. Hmmm...
WAR:
1) IRAQ -- $300 billion; 1886 sons and daughters dead.
2) Body Armor for Troops -- (Mission Accomplished; armor no longer necessary)
Posted by braad on September 5, 2005 at 03:30 PM
I hope my last two posts address your confusion about the facts.
It's a tough call in the economic balance which got better value for taxpayer dollars:
$300 billion, 1886 sons and daughters dead, gas prices up more than a dollar since 2003 (when the war started). Situation not improving.
VS.
$18 billion for Homeland Security, thousands of American civilians dead, New Orleans gone, state of Mississippi gone (2-3 months before power in the state can be restored), anarchy. Situation not improving.
What American citizens are "winning":
(Excerpt from George W Bush's State of the Union address to Congress on Tuesday, February 2, 2005)
"While our military strategy is adapting to circumstances, our commitment remains firm and unchanging. We are standing for the freedom of our Iraqi friends, and freedom in Iraq will make America safer for generations to come...We are in Iraq to achieve a result: A country that is democratic, representative of all its people, at peace with its neighbors, and able to defend itself."
http://www.cnn.com/2005/ALLPOLITICS/02/02/sotu.transcript.6/index.html
(accessed on February 2, 2005)
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I suppose it's nice that the president is fighting so hard for the freedom and prosperity of Iraqi's, but wasn't he elected to help Americans?
HAVE you guys and gals heard THIS?
From Barbara Bush. After reading it and listening to it, I am convinced Dumbya takes after his momma:
"And so many of the people in the arena here, you know, were underprivileged anyway, so this--this (she chuckles slightly) is working very well for them."
http://tinyurl.com/cwqyj
There is an AUDIO of her saying it as well at www.huffingtonpost.com among the comments.
Just unfreakingbelievable.
Let us rally around our Democratic Elected Officials? Our men and women have always worked long and hard to help the people. Even Al Gore rented two Airliners to get a lot of his friends out that couldn't get out, otherwise. Our people have been working to help the stranded people. They can't just take over the Bush Administration and began to give orders, the Republicans would have shot them to stop them had they tried? It was the head of Fema and Homeland Security, and Bush that didn't make the calls to get people forced to evacuate? After the Storm ended the heads of National Guard, Fema, & Homeland security should have been standing by to take over as soon as the storm was over? It was seven days before they even started because Bush Administration didn't make the neccessary calls to activate all First Responders? Do you have anything but criticism for the Democrats or for the Republicans? Majority rules and they also are helt responsible!
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I would like to make a sugestion. I hate to sound like a democrat version of Rove, but I may. We need to be clear in the coming weeks. There is a lot of information and I'm sure that the media will be trying to be "fair" by pitting pundits of both sides against each other. They are going to try and blame the democrat local officals. There are many responses, but people need a clear simple message.
What I propose is that the first opportunity the "left" side gets they say the following. "On August 26, before Katerna hit New Orleans, the governor of Louisiana asked for and was granted by the president a declaration of emergency for south Louisana from the that day on" If need be shorten it to get to 8 sec. That IS the soundbyte. Next "left" person on the next show starts the same way. If you want they can cite the first person. "I like what so and so said, On Aug . . . . . "
Please Please Please do not drop the ball. We need to have a federal government that can not shirk responsibility in the handling of a FEDERAL DISASTER
I am with braad.
I look forward to Mrs.Clintons investigation as well.
It is my sincere hope that the republican controlled senate and congress will allow it move forward unimpeded, without the outright fabrications and distortions that characterize this administration.
Reading braads "questions" got me thinking a little. I used a little reason and logic mixed with some compassion and creative thought. Here is what I came up with.
I strongly suspect that those who would have driven the busses, trucks, helicopters, boats and other rescue and relief equipment had already evacuated the city. There was a standing order for people not to come back into the city, for obvious reasons. A dead rescue worker is less help than a live rescue worker out of theater.
The number of people that were moved to the superdome after the storm passed and the flooding began was significant. Getting porta potties there would have been a nice touch. I am with you on that one braad. Unfortunately, there may have been a few flooded roads and getting the victims to the superdome would have been my priority.
One reason there is a FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY is that it is unlikely rescue equipment and personel across the country will be disabled by a storm that could easily cripple state and local emergency agencies. FEMA can mobilize military resources that state agencies cannot.
Although it is unlikely that the levees could have withstood a cat 4 even with the improvements that funding Bush cut over the last 5 years would have provided, the levees would have been better maintained and the damage may not have been as severe. That funding would also have helped pay for rescue and relief planning and provisioning.
As braad must know, many police and firefighters are also members of the national guard. I do not have numbers but I am sure that many of the New Orleans police department are serving in the middle east. How could they be expected to run relief efforts as well?
Why do Chertoff and Brown want to take over the state? What are they trying to cover up? Does FEMA do body counts?
As Condi Rice said, "I just hope that when people stop and think about it,,,,,,,,,,"
Speaking of Carl Rove, we've not forgot about him revealing the CIA operatives name either. You republicans may think all this has caused us to forget but we haven't. What he did I consider Treason, and he should be dealt with as such. So any of you that Rove has sent here, take this back and tell him to put it in his pipe and smoke it! He's nothing but the lowest form of scum found on this earth and the truth is not in him, nor could be beaten out of him! If I seen him laying in a ditch begging for help, I'd drive on by.
Sincerely,
Will Matney, Ohio
JOIN IN A NATIONWIDE BOYCOTT OF EXXON AND MOBIL. DO NOT BUY GAS FROM THESE STATIONS FOR THE REMAINDER OF THIS YEAR. SHOW THESE GIANTS WHO REALLY CONTROLS SUPPLY AND DEMAND... THE CONSUMER, NOT THE SUPPLIER!!!
NOTIFY ALL YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY TO DO THE SAME!!
Posted by bluebird on September 6, 2005 at 12:05 AM
"As Condi Rice said, 'I just hope that when people stop and think about it,,,,,,,,,,'"
They will what? Decide that it's more important to go shopping for shoes than mobilizing emergency services?
Granted that Ms. Rice's responsibilities do not extend to disaster contingency planning -- that is the job of the president, Secretary of DHS, and the director of FEMA, especially when a potential disaster situation emerges that can affect multiple states. This is the definition of Federal responsibility. It is not just Louisiana that was affected; Mississippi was hit perhaps the hardest, and Alabama also experienced significant damage. The entire state of Mississippi is virtually wiped off the map. Power is not expected to be restored to the entire state for another 2-3 months.
At the very least, I just expected a little more sensitivity and respect to the thousands of dead folks who were neglected by the Federal government in their time of need.
Former House Speaker-elect Bob Livingston, who strangely resigned right before impeachment proceedings against president Clinton begun, perhaps out of shame for his more hawkish Republican colleagues like Mr. Gingrich, who was only out for partisan character assassination of the former President, spoke on FOX news today, where he blamed environmentalists and get this: sport-fishermen for the flooding of Lake Pontchartrain that caused the levees to break.
I think we always knew that Mr. Livingston was not in Speaker O'Neill's class, but his ludicrous, insensitive, and reckless blaming of everything but the kitchen sink (that's probably coming next) only embarasses himself and his Republican colleagues.
------------------------------------
December 19, 1998:
Rep. Bob Livingston's statement:
"I was prepared to lead our narrow majority as speaker, and I believe I had it in me to do a fine job. But I cannot do that job or be the kind of leader that I would like to be under current circumstances.
So I must set the example that I hope President Clinton will follow. I will not stand for speaker of the House on January 6th, but rather I shall remain as a backbencher in this Congress that I so dearly love for approximately six months into the 106th Congress, whereupon I shall vacate my seat and ask my governor to call a special election to take my place."
------------------------
If this is the kind of example Republicans have set, then it is incumbent upon the president to do the right thing, take responsibility for this failure to respond, and resign, just like Republicans expected and demanded of former-president Clinton.
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/impeachment/hearings/livingston_12-19.html
Livingston was one of those that had to resign because of what (some porno magazine) uncovered? I can't think of the man's name but he is in a wheelchair and he was offering anyone a Million for information on the Republicans because of what the Republicans did to Clinton. He uncovered Newt's affair and two others that the Republicans were trying to put in as Speaker. Henry Hide was one also that had affairs, that is more than one. That is all I remember. That is when the Republican Party decided to support the Christian Coalition for Political claims of being THE CHRISTIAN PARTY?
I would like to join in Ajeffery's call to our democratic leaders: Please now is the time to lead.
There are two specific legislative items the Democrats should address right now.
1) Please amend, delay, or repeal the recently enacted bankruptcy act. This bill is very unfair to individuals who endure medical or natural disaters and in the wake of Katrina we can clearly see an example of this unfairness.
2) Fight against the repeal of the tax on inherited wealth. Again, in the wake of Katrina we can see the consequences of depleting the public coffers. This is not the time to enrich the less than 2% of the country that is subject to that tax.
A question or two...where were the Dem's when this was happening? Can we afford to simply sit back and carp about the way things are being done? Seems to me, that was a major factor in the Kerry defeat. It's not enough to say,"Bush is bad." We need a reasonable,coherent alternative.
Why is anyone at all surprised by the fact that the Bush administration lies to us? Wholesale lies seem to be their stock in trade. They've been lying since before the first election, why would they stop now?
And, finally, where is the rage of the American people? Why are there not crowds of people protesting this in every city,town, village, and hamlet along the Gulf Coast, and every city in America?-----Dan
The Democratic Party is the most gutless group of politicos ever. They are so afraid of speaking the truth about the continual lies of Bush & Co. They continue to let the Rove traitor's slime machine define and cow them.
I'm sick of these cowardly Dems (with the exception of heroes like Rep. Conyers, Waxman, Sen. Boxer and a few others).
I will no longer vote for any Democrat, like my state's Dianne Feistein, who is not a true progressive.
Any Democrat that supports the illegal war in Iraq, torture, genocide, tax cuts for the wealthy or John Roberts, will never ever again get my vote.
And Democratic Party, no more contributions until you get some backbone.
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