More Proof this Administration is stupid (Re: The FEMA press conference)

truthlover writes:

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FEMA was blasted by everyone, including the white house, for "inexcusable and offensive" behavior that "will not happen again."

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But it had already happened previously in Katrina. Didn't they learn their lesson? Don't appoint political cronies to do any sort of job but instead, appoint people who actually know what they're doing?No...the lesson the administration learned from Katrina was: "Don't talk to the press."This administration has already been found to use fake news reports. Does nobody remember Armstrong Williams and how he was paid by the Bush Administration to write fake news stories about No Child Left Behind? Does nobody remember Gannon/Guckert, a fake reporter that the White House used to put out talking points in the guise of a press conference? Does nobody remember Karen Ryan and her fake news reports ("In Washington, I'm Karen Ryan reporting") about the Medicare drug plan? Does nobody remember Alberto Garcia doing the same thing?Where on earth does anybody get off believing for one second that the White House finds such behaviour "inexcusable and offensive" when they've been doing it FOR YEARS? What on earth makes anybody believe that it "will not happen again" when it has been their modus operandi from the beginning? They've been caught at it how many times? And how many times have they said that they'd never do it again?Does nobody understand the moral of the story, "The Boy Who Cried Wolf"?

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Rrhain

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Thank you for your submission to Science. Your paper was reviewed by a jury of seventh graders so that they could look for balance and to allow them to make up their own minds. We are sorry to say that they found your paper "bogus," specifically describing the section on the laboratory work "boring." We regret that we will be unable to publish your work at this time.

Jaderis writes:

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The cartoonish behavior of FEMA and other federal agencies under this adminstration has convinced me that most of the "bungling" is done on purpose in order to help spread the party lie that government is inefficient and inept and we'd be better off privatizing just about everything

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Does nobody remember Reagan's little quip that "The nine most terrifying words in the English language are, 'I'm from the government and I'm here to help'"?Who on earth is surprised, then, that people who are absolutely convinced that government is incapable of doing anything would, when put in charge of government, ensure that it was incapable of doing anything?

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Rrhain

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Thank you for your submission to Science. Your paper was reviewed by a jury of seventh graders so that they could look for balance and to allow them to make up their own minds. We are sorry to say that they found your paper "bogus," specifically describing the section on the laboratory work "boring." We regret that we will be unable to publish your work at this time.

nator writes:

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Bush created an enormous ocean preserve in the Hawaiian islands.

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Not so fast there.First, the nitpick: Just to people know the place we're talking about, the National Monument is the stretch of ocean between the main Hawaiian Islands and the Midway Atoll or thereabouts. It is roughly the size of California in area.Second, the details: Bush did this under the American Antiquities Act of 1906 rather than the National Marine Sanctuaries Act. By declaring it a National Monument rather than a Marine Sanctuary, there aren't any real penalties for violating it and the executive can make any declaration regarding its use as desired.Marine Sanctuaries, on the other hand, are run by the Secretary of Commerce with fines up to $120,000 per day per violation.In short, Bush declared a protected area he doesn't have to actually protect.

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Rrhain

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Thank you for your submission to Science. Your paper was reviewed by a jury of seventh graders so that they could look for balance and to allow them to make up their own minds. We are sorry to say that they found your paper "bogus," specifically describing the section on the laboratory work "boring." We regret that we will be unable to publish your work at this time.

Nemesis Juggernaut writes:

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The stunt pulled by members of FEMA was disgraceful and manipulative to be sure. However, what does that have to do with the Bush Administration when its a completely separate entity?

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(*blink!*)You did not just say that, did you?Um, NJ? What do you think the "F" in "FEMA" stands for? That's right: Federal. That means it is run by the Executive branch just like the FCC, FTC, FDA, and all those other little TLA's that begin with F. That means the Administration is the one who appoints the head of the department. And what is the criteria used? Whether or not he will support the President's agenda.Why on earth do you think Michael Brown was appointed head of FEMA? Do you seriously not know Brown's ties to Bush before he was appointed head of FEMA? Do you seriously not understand why one-third of the entire FEMA staff resigned when Bush came into office?FEMA used to be one the model organizations for disaster response in the world. Then Bush came in and got rid of everybody who had any experience regarding same in order to put his buddies into those positions so that they could then do what conservatives have been trying to do for decades: Privatize everything. The head of FEMA used to be reserved for career employees...under Bush, it became a political employee and he gave the job to a lobbyist. The chief of staff used to be someone with over 20 years experience...replaced by Bush's advance man.And look what happened. FEMA is now a disaster.Do you really think that the Bush administration had nothing to do with setting the marching orders of FEMA?Please don't be disingenuous and say that you're just indicating that you don't believe Bush personally called up Vice Adm. Harvey E. Johnson to tell him to have a fake news conference. Nobody is saying he did.Instead, we're pointing out that the Bush administration certainly advocated a culture of hostility to the press to the point of fraud. Again, have you forgotten about the fake news reports regarding NCLB and the Medicare prescription drug expansion? Have you forgotten about Gannon/Guckert? Over and over again we have caught the Bush administration in putting out fake news and each time, they said that they were shocked (SHOCKED, I tell you!) that such would happen and that they would make sure it never happened again.So why on earth did Vice Adm. Harvey E. Johnson (and what's a Navy guy doing in the post of deputy director rather than a career FEMA employee?) get the idea that holding a fake news conference would be a good idea?

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Grouping everyone in the FedGov would mean that somebody like Pelosi or Sen. Kennedy are actually in collaboration with the Bush Administration, which obviously is not the case.

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(*blink!*)You did not just say that, did you?Do you seriously not understand the difference between the Legislature and the Executive?Congress has the power to create funding for federal agencies. It has no power to actually run them beyond their "advice and consent" role in the appointment of the heads...which, by the way, the Bush administration does their damnedest to avoid through the use of recess appointments (Bolton, Troy, etc.)No, it is the Executive that runs the departments and sets policy.

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About the only way to bring back on the Bush Administration's head is if they had ordered that representatives of FEMA concoct some scheme to hold their own fake news conference.

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Now, didn't I just ask you not to be disingenuous?A very serious question. I really want to know the answer to this. If you reply to this message at all, it's the only thing I really want to know:Do you think we're stupid?

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Rrhain

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Thank you for your submission to Science. Your paper was reviewed by a jury of seventh graders so that they could look for balance and to allow them to make up their own minds. We are sorry to say that they found your paper "bogus," specifically describing the section on the laboratory work "boring." We regret that we will be unable to publish your work at this time.

Nemesis Juggernaut writes:

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What is that supposed to prove, Jar? I'm part of the Executive government. Do you really think that I or my bosses have immediate ties with the White House?

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(*blink!*)You did not just say that, did you?Are you seriously claiming that the Chiefs of Staff have nothing to do with the White House?Let's not be disingenous and claim that you're simply pointing out that you don't believe Bush called Johnson to say, "Hold a fake news conference."

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Secondly, FEMA, like almost any other government agency, is divided in to sectors. It is possible that the parent command in Washington had absolutely no idea the yahoo's covering the California fires had prior knowledge of what would transpire.

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(*blink!*)You did not just say that, did you?Do you truly not know who Vice Adm. Harvey E. Johnson is? He's the deputy director of FEMA. The #2 man.And did he get fired? No, of course not. The PR guy did. The #2 man at FEMA is told to run a fake news conference and he goes along with it? And nothing happens to him when it's found out? When the Bush administration has a long history of fake news reports?

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Sets the tone? What does that even mean?

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(*blink!*)You did not just say that, did you?Are you saying you have never heard of a "political appointment"? Are you saying you truly do not know that the top staff of FEMA used to be pulled from within FEMA. Under Bush, they became political appointees.

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A president and his Administration sets in motion a government agency with laws and codes of conduct.

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Indeed. And what codes of conduct has the Bush administration set in motion?Privatize. Lie to the press. Have you forgotten Gannon/Guckert, Ryan, Garcia, Armstrong, etc.? Do you not know about the Pentagon Office of Strategic Influence? Have you forgotten that all during the 2004 election campaign, not a single person was allowed at any of Bush's "town hall" meetings that hadn't been personally vetted and screened?

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I can guarantee that nowhere in the FEMA manuals is a mandate to feign press conferences.

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So where on earth would FEMA's #2 man, Vice Adm. Harvey E. Johnson, get the idea to go along with a fake press conference when, being so close to the White House, he would know just how bad it would be for the administration to be tied YET AGAIN to a fake press report? Where on earth would he get the idea to go along with a fake press conference when FEMA was already under fire for the complete failure of Katrina?

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And if you think some executive order was given, by President Bush, please provide evidence.

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Now, didn't I ask you not to be disingenuous?Nobody here is saying Bush called Vice Adm. Johnson. He didn't have to. It was already well established policy. The administration has a long history of fake press announcements. Why on earth is anybody surprised that FEMA would be in on it, too?

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Otherwise, admit that its unadulterated speculation on your part, fed by your hatred for all things Bush.

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Logical error: False dichotomy.Just because Bush didn't pick up the phone and personally order the fake press conference doesn't mean the Bush administration wasn't involved.

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Rrhain

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Thank you for your submission to Science. Your paper was reviewed by a jury of seventh graders so that they could look for balance and to allow them to make up their own minds. We are sorry to say that they found your paper "bogus," specifically describing the section on the laboratory work "boring." We regret that we will be unable to publish your work at this time.

jar writes:

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This Administration has placed the military is an absolutely untenable position and designated them for tasks where they are assured of failure.

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You only went halfway. Then, after failing in their doomed mission, the administration then blames the military for that failure, cuts their benefits, and leaves them to rot after avoiding their corpses when they come home.And this is supposed to be the "pro-military" presidency.

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Rrhain

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Thank you for your submission to Science. Your paper was reviewed by a jury of seventh graders so that they could look for balance and to allow them to make up their own minds. We are sorry to say that they found your paper "bogus," specifically describing the section on the laboratory work "boring." We regret that we will be unable to publish your work at this time.

Nemesis Juggernaut writes:

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So you need no evidence of misconduct on the Bush Administration in order to believe they had a hand in the scandal? Noted. And this coming from Lord Empiricism himself. That's delectable.

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Incorrect. We have plenty of evidence. Every single department, every single agency has been filled with political cronies who lie to the press. From the prescription drug plan to education to disaster management to the science departments to the health departments, every single agency has been compromised.Is not empirical observation that if you observe somebody behaving the same way every time, then it's pretty much expected to behave the same way under similar conditions? Are you seriously claiming that it's just a coincidence that they all screw up in exactly the same way?

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1: For hiring an inexperienced person to run a very serious institution, and 2: For not firing him after the Katrina debacle.

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You act like this is an isolated incident, as if the only department that has had trouble is FEMA.Again, let's not be disingenuous and try to claim that because there is no videotape of Bush calling up Vice Adm. Johnson, then the Bush administration has no connection to this.Would it really have been so difficult for the #2 man at FEMA to give a press release rather than a fake press conference? The "conference" was thrown together so fast that there was no way for press to be there. The actual press was given a phone number to call where they could listen but ask no questions. Well, that's why they good lord created Adobe Acrobat so you could create a document and email it to all the press outlets detailing the various things you want to say.What on earth possessed them to think that holding a fake press conference was a good idea? Didn't they learn their lesson from all the other fake news stories they've been caught doing? Didn't the Bush administration claim that they were shocked (SHOCKED, I tell you!) that this had happened and that they would never, ever do it again? How on earth did the #2 man at FEMA come to think that this would be a good idea?

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But alleging misconduct without any kind of substantiated reason to do so is only wishful thinking. It doesn't make it so.

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By your logic, Bush either has the worst luck in the world in that every single person he has appointed to every single position has been an incompetent hack or he's a complete moron and is incapable of noticing that they're incompetent hacks. Anything to hold onto your faith that Bush has done no wrong and had absolutely nothing to do with all of his appointees doing the same thing wrong in every single department.

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How can any thinking person blame all the abject misery in the world on one man's shoulders?

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Because he's the one who puts those people into their positions.Because Harry S. Truman used to have a sign sitting on the desk in the Oval Office: The buck stops here.Because Bush said that he was going to run the government like a business and in business, when the CEO hires incompetent hacks, it means the CEO is to blame.

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Rrhain

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Thank you for your submission to Science. Your paper was reviewed by a jury of seventh graders so that they could look for balance and to allow them to make up their own minds. We are sorry to say that they found your paper "bogus," specifically describing the section on the laboratory work "boring." We regret that we will be unable to publish your work at this time.