Maybe if I had been drinking heavily.
Maybe if I was suffering amnesia.
Maybe if I'd had a lobotomy.
Maybe, in other words, if my memory was impaired, I could accept the apologies for last week's FEMA-brand bovine excreta at face value. Problem is, my memory is more or less intact, the routine ravages of age notwithstanding. So you'll forgive me if my response to FEMA's latest oops for its latest blunder is less than charitable.
For those who missed it: Last week, the Federal Emergency Management Agency called a news conference on 15 minutes' notice to discuss its response to the wildfires in California. The short notice guaranteed that no reporters could get there in time, though they were given a phone number that allowed them to listen - not pose questions, mind you, but "listen" - to a briefing from Vice Adm. Harvey Johnson, FEMA's deputy chief, after which, he took questions.
But wait a minute, you say: If no reporters were there, who asked the questions? It turns out that FEMA staffers, posing as reporters, did the honors. That's right, FEMA questioned FEMA. Or, to put it another way, a group of worker bees interviewed their boss.
It will not surprise you to hear that this format failed to produce tough questions. Instead, Johnson fielded slow rollers like, "Are you happy with FEMA's response so far?" Thankfully, the session ended before anyone could ask him what sort of tree he would like to be in the next life.
When news broke of what FEMA had done, confessions and condemnations fell like rain. The agency apologized. A spokeswoman for the Department of Homeland Security called the episode "offensive." DHS chief Michael Chertoff called it one of the "dumbest" stunts he has seen in government. The White House called it an "error in judgment."
I'd be happy to take the apologies and the you-a-culpas at face value and move on. Maybe I could do that if I were suffering some mental lapse that erased the accumulated experience of the last six years. Maybe I could do it if this was just an isolated instance of bad judgment. Maybe I could do it if this was not but the latest of many examples of the Bush administration manipulating news and information.
Maybe if a GOP shill and sometime porn entrepreneur had never been allowed to play reporter in the White House press room.
Maybe if the administration had never paid public funds to a supposed journalist for him to say good things about its No Child Left Behind law.
Maybe if the government had never put out promotional videos disguised as news, complete with Bush underlings pretending to be reporters.
Maybe if they were not in the habit of censoring science.
Maybe if Donald Rumsfeld had never proposed an office of disinformation.
Maybe if all 300 million of us were drinking heavily.
But there is not enough alcohol in existence and the administration's aversion to the whole truth and nothing but is all too well documented.
There is more at stake here than the credibility of a president or a presidency. What is at stake is the ability of people to trust that those in positions of trust are worthy of trust. To play fast and loose with fact as the Bush administration has habitually done, is to put truth itself into play and risk rendering government's word worthless. Not this government, but "government," period.
And for what? For short-term political gain? The prize seems hardly worth the price. Yet they keep on doing it just the same. They refuse to learn from their mistakes.
Which only makes this show of contrition feel all the more cynical and disingenuous. They should save the apologies for people with short memories. Maybe some of us don't see the pattern here.
But rest assured, some of us do.
- Leonard Pitts Jr., winner of the 2004 Pulitzer Prize for commentary, is a columnist for the Miami Herald.
Comments
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just_another_bozo_on_this_bus (anonymous) says…
Pitts nails it again.
Speakout (anonymous) says…
I don't care if Bill Clinton was a liar, He is not in office now. I disliked his presidency too. But Bush takes the cake. One cannot compare a democrat to a republican in this instance. Both were bad. We need to stop buying the office and get a real election going. Bush is a failure here as he was in everything else he has done, AND he bought the job with special interest money. We have to stop that. Until we Americans stand up to this kind of election and that kind of candidate, we will always lose. We are worse than those who live under dictatorships who are afraid to depose their dictator. We elect the rich who have no clue about the poor because the poor cannot afford to make the down payment on a good campaign. We are not living in a true democracy!
just_another_bozo_on_this_bus (anonymous) says…
No one defended Clinton for lying about a BJ. What they said was that it didn't justify impeachment.
Contrast that with BushCo, who lie just to advance their claim about the self-awarded executive privilege to lie, about nearly everything, including going to war.
shockchalk (anonymous) says…
Gee, I wonder if any of you will complain about President Bush AFTER he leaves office. Uh yeah, my guess is that you will complain about him for years.
Pot, meet Scenebooster or if you like..........kettle, meet illogicsound.......
just_another_bozo_on_this_bus (anonymous) says…
Given the disaster(s) that Bush will leave us when he leaves office, people will be justifiably complaining for decades.
just_another_bozo_on_this_bus (anonymous) says…
"The idea of Willary back in the WH is a deeply depressing and disturbing thought."
Yes, it is, because although she and he will be a vast improvement over the current occupants, we could do so much better.
ksdivakat (anonymous) says…
Geez...Get ovewr the clinton thing already, that was almost a decade ago!!! It has no baring on how incredibly dishonest THIS administration has been!!! Unless you are of course saying that Bill somehow "taught" GWB HOW to be dishonest!!!
Dang, hasnt he done enough?? even 10 year olds know that GWB is dishonest...hes a screw up, he has lied over and over, this war is for nothing other than financial gain for HIS friends and he speaks like an inbred redneck!! What gives???
ksdivakat (anonymous) says…
Im speaking of Bill RT......ok here i go and i konw this is gonna cause hate and discontent...but.....I dont think this country is ready for a women or a black president, and although Im not ready to go through another republican administration, I also wont vote for Hilary either.
shockchalk (anonymous) says…
illogicsound0snore............no, I didn't butcher the phrase, you're just too stupid to understand it.
A part of you feels bad when you read my posts.........of course it does. Your feel inadequate whenever you exchange comments with me because of your extreme ignorance and lack of common sense.
I know you feel bad and I hope you talk to a counseling professional about it. There is help out there for people like you and scenebooster.........I hope you will seek it.
scott3460 (anonymous) says…
Americorp:
bush is not an idiot....he is a remorseless, deliberate, deceiptful liar and the worst Chief Executive this country has ever attempted to endure. Make no mistake, and bear him and his criminal cohorts no charity, each of the acts cited in the above article were deliberate acts designed to mislead the populace so that the day may be delayed when even more than 80% of the public see him for what he is.
scott3460 (anonymous) says…
"ksdivakat, don't fret about the vicious attacks that may follow, I've endured many, many vicious attacks."
And you've often deserved many of them. What would be nice would be if you would address or comment on the central contentions made in the article being discussed, rather than your litany of Clinton deflections. Perhaps you will one day, but for now your inability/refusal to do so speaks so much louder than your efforts to shift attention to whatever abuses Clinton may have committed
chet_larock (anonymous) says…
"the president has done a masterful job of leading the free world."
Silliest. Comment. In. This. Thread.
--So far, and there have been some silly ones!
shockchalk (anonymous) says…
illogicsound........the only fool you frame is the one in your mirror..........By the way, you don't need to clarify anything ever for me, it's very easy to understand what you write. And we all know why you feel bad, and trust me, we feel bad for you as well. I'm glad you keep trying though, it builds character. Try using some facts and substance when you post your thoughts, it's helpful for the rest of us.
just_another_bozo_on_this_bus (anonymous) says…
"I guess he has completely forgotten about all the liberals who defended Clinton by saying, "Everyone lies about sex.""
It's a fact, not a defense. But if you believe lying about a BJ warrants impeachment, then you'd better write your congressperson today demanding that Bush and Cheney, who are guilty of much more egregious breaches of the public trust, if not outright crimes, be impeached.
just_another_bozo_on_this_bus (anonymous) says…
Yes, he almost certainly did lie about other things. But there are no indications that it was the default official policy to do so, which is clearly the case with BushCo.
ndmoderate (anonymous) says…
I find myself similarly wondering which of Pitts' facts are wrong. Anyone care to illuminate us?
chet_larock (anonymous) says…
nd, They don't, can't, and the won't. Instead, they'll just keep referring back to Clinton.
jackbinkelman (anonymous) says…
right_thinker-ie you're doing a great job! [as in a@@kissing!]
just_another_bozo_on_this_bus (anonymous) says…
I have no problems condemning Clinton for his mendacity.
Why can't you Bush sycophants do the same for Bush?
shockchalk (anonymous) says…
Scenebooster............You never asked me a question in this thread so don't whine about me not answering you. As I wote earlier, unless you and illogicsound are going to quit crying about Bush after the next election, quit complaining about people bringing up Clinton. He was, afterall, one of the most unethical, sleazy, and gutless presidents we ever had.
At least Hillary voted against Iran much to the dislike of her democratic counterparts.
beatrice (anonymous) says…
446 days 4 hours 36 minutes 21 seconds to go until the national nightmare is over!
Lets hope he doesn't invade Canada in his time left.
ibroke (anonymous) says…
I think gwb is a great president
scott3460 (anonymous) says…
"Snott3460, I did provide a link above that is ever so pertinent, the esteemed Dennis Kucinich has suggested W has a mental health issue. Is that not related? Why are you picking on me?"
Well, RightStinker, glad you asked!
You provided the link and then promptly ridiculed Kucinich's comments. So, no, your record of failing to offer any comment on any of the substance of the article remains unblemished. And that, dear sir, is why you deserve whatever abuse is thrown your way. By a margin of about 90% or more no one here cares to hear the constant whining about 10 years ago. So.... please refute, comment or argue (if you can) some point made in the article, but STFU about Clinton and all his perceived wrongs. You don't seem to want to acknowledge this point, but, believe me, you are going to come to understand it during the upcoming Democratic turn in power when each and every criticism you ever choose to offer here of their policies will be met with the laundry list of bush crimes and abuses.
BigAl (anonymous) says…
right_thinker keeps pointing out the low approval ratings of congress. And, he is absolutely correct. This congress was elected by the American people to put an end to the Iraq war and to hold GWB responsible for the blunders made in executing this war. And they haven't done either.
shockchalk (anonymous) says…
Big Al, And you are absolutely incorrect about the reasons the American people elected this congress.
BigAl (anonymous) says…
shockchalk... then please enlighten me. It seems to me that this was the primary reason that the Republicans were soundly defeated in the last election. Maybe I am wrong.
shockchalk (anonymous) says…
Well, what blunders by President Bush has the congress not addressed? Certainly the congress was elected to do more than just the two things you mentioned. I believe there are a whole host of items that the public is upset about in terms of this congress. Illegal aliens, healthcare, tax issues, homeland security are just a few of several issues the American people think congress should be addressing. Not to mention the fact that many of these congressmen voted for the war in Iraq so they would be responsible for some of the "blunders" that you were referring to.
BigAl (anonymous) says…
Shockchalk. Thank you. I believe the items you mentioned were all inherited by the current congress from the previous Republican congress and GWB. And yes, there needs to be some serious actions taken to clean up these issues. But I respectfully disagree with you in that I still think that the Iraq war was the primary reason for the democrats being voted in.
aeroscout17 (anonymous) says…
RT wrote "...Willary have a huge score to settle-it'll not be pretty and it most likely will be the beginning of the end of America as we know it, or just be the end."
I kind of agree, but she will only be finishing what GW has started. I never actually thought I would be seeing the abuse of constitutional rights that have happened under his administration in my lifetime.
scott3460 (anonymous) says…
And just for giggles.....how many "fake" news conferences, fake stories, fake science, etc did old Slick Willy engineer? Anywhere near the number of disinformation campaigns undertaken by our current Liar in Chief?
shockchalk (anonymous) says…
Actually americorps...........I think the "hate" comes from the Democratic party...........I don't know any Republicans who "hate" President Bush. Almost all of them believe he has done a far better job than his predecessor. In fact, the only Dems I know that "hate' him are the rabid, ignorant ones who think he is responsible for anything and everything. The ones who thing that "personal accountability" only applies to the Commander in Chief and not to the congress or the rest of the Federal government. Nothing you can type will make your lies into the truth. Keep your hate to yourself and let Republicans and Democrats who have common sense determine the course to take. I haven't seen one problem solved by pointing your finger at Bush and saying.........it's his fault, it's his fault.
shockchalk (anonymous) says…
I don't point my fingers at congress and say........it's their fault. I may share my opinion or comment on Congress but that isn't reserved for the present congress only and has nothing to do with who holds the control. Only a narrow-minded person would perseverate and obsess over a certain congress or a certain President. Oops, I just described you and a few others whose hatred for President Bush overwhelms them to the point they can't rationally discuss anything that he can't be blamed for.
All of it.
More terrorist attacks on the US and their Embassy's worldwide.
Tens of thousand of dead men, women, and children in mass graves.
Development of nuclear and biological weapons for the use by Islamic Radicals.
More violations of the United Nations sanctions.
This is the most likely scenario of what would have happened if President Bush had lost the last election and we placed a liberal Democrat in charge. Even Hillary knows that.......which is a plus.
shockchalk (anonymous) says…
Actually, you never asked me to repudiate anything that Pitts wrote which was my point in an earlier post from yesterday. Try to stay up to speed scene.....
staff04 (anonymous) says…
Ohferchrissakes...the team has been asked more times than I can count on this board to repudiate anything that Pitts says in his article. I just read the entire thread, and the closest any of you comes is kozakid's reference to Hansen, which still is less of a repudiation than it is innuendo.
shockchalk, you take the cake.
scott3460 (anonymous) says…
Chirp.....chirp......chirp.......
The crickets continue singing while we wait for bushie's supportors to address the embarrassing fake news/science/press conferences detailed in the article above. Heck, even Skelator Chertoff himself came out and blasted the way they acted. You'd think one of our local right leaning friends could come out and acknowledge the wrongness of the deliberate deceipt.
shockchalk (anonymous) says…
And just like that??? Actually illogicsound, you may have all day to whine and point fingers online but some of us have careers to look after and responsibilities to fulfill. I don't need to run off and sulk, I feel quite vindicated about my exchange with sceneloser and as far as your concerned. Well, the fact that you took up two paragraphs talking about your ignorance of your own screen-name is quite telling. Talk about typical responses........The only response you and sceneloser have is to point fingers, lie, and act like little babies when someone reveals ignorance. I've always backed up my claims Defender, but you gave nothing but lies in support of yours. You are a joke and illogicbound is a ignorant little whiner. At least Scenebooster has a relative point now and then although he tends to lump everything together and judge with an elitist attitude. The one common theme you alll share is your insecure, prideful, inability to ever admit your wrong........thus thinking you are perfect and everyone else is flawed. You don't see that from Konservativeman, right_thinker, or possesionannex. They know there are two sides to every topic, debate, and conversation. That's the beauty of intelligence..........you aren't so scared or intimidated to believe that others might have a point. But you three are scared to death that your pitiful arguments will be held up to the light of truth. Sad, so sad.
Rationalanimal (anonymous) says…
"Maybe if a GOP shill and sometime porn entrepreneur had never been allowed to play reporter in the White House press room."
*****************************************************************************************************************
I didn't know the Clintons were White House reporters.
Rationalanimal (anonymous) says…
"Unless your point being that everytime a columnist or writer is critical of the Bush administration, they also have to list any problems with Clinton's administration"
**************************************************************************************************************
Frankly logic it's because Bill and Hillary set the standard for bimbo, FBI files,healthcare, missile secrets and fundraising scandals. The Moveon Socialist party, dba Democrat National Party, would just like us all to forget about that as water under the bridge. The relevance is, if you play this game of our party is so lilly white, scandal free, you're horrible, then it is completely relevant to remind the country of the shame the Clintons dragged us through for 8 years. The relevance of discussing who the bigger scandal is doesn't go back 10 seconds and stop as you might like. George Bush will be remembered as a man who stuck to his guns and shaped foreign policy for the better for generations to come despite a bunch of malcontent blame America first traitors who did everything in their power to secure our defeat, Nanoo-Nanoo Nancy and Dingy Harry being the foremost, whereas Clinton will be an afterthought in Hustler magazine. But, of course, that's the MSP dba DNP base.
pace (anonymous) says…
I was out in Western Kansas and my passenger (75 years old, from Liberal) start off saying that people keep calling Bush a cowboy. He said it just made him so mad. Said that fool can't ride a horse and his words no damn good. It takes sense to ride a horse. He couldn't do it. It is a disgrace when they call him a cowboy. Cowboy means something out here, they are crazy, He couldn't even drink coffee with a real cowboy.
I loved it. He did temper the remarks by saying that Reagan was a good horseman.
The Fema boys don't believe the American people can tell substance from spiel. They can when they drown, starve and suffer, No one is that gullible. Bush is to blame.
Rationalanimal (anonymous) says…
...yes and I've met a lot of cowboys who've been thrown from one to many horses and walked tipsy ever since. Obviously your friend at 75 has been touched by dementia as a result of being kicked in the head one to many times by a mule. Bush wasn't to blame for Katrina. Nor does he hate black people because they are poor. It is pathetic rhetoric fanned by the willing socialist media in an attempt to cover for that incompetent liberal Governor Blanco and Mayor Nagen. From listening to you socialists you'd think that Bush was a god with the power to direct category storms towards poor black people and then use all his powers to not help in the recovery. What a bunch of superstitous political kooks.