White House Enacts a Plan to Ease Political Damage

[chomerics]

By ADAM NAGOURNEY and ANNE E. KORNBLUT

WASHINGTON, Sept. 4 - Under the command of President Bush's two senior political advisers, the White House rolled out a plan this weekend to contain the political damage from the administration's response to Hurricane Katrina.

It orchestrated visits by cabinet members to the region, leading up to an extraordinary return visit by Mr. Bush planned for Monday, directed administration officials not to respond to attacks from Democrats on the relief efforts, and sought to move the blame for the slow response to Louisiana state officials, according to Republicans familiar with the White House plan.

The effort is being directed by Mr. Bush's chief political adviser, Karl Rove, and his communications director, Dan Bartlett. It began late last week after Congressional Republicans called White House officials to register alarm about what they saw as a feeble response by Mr. Bush to the hurricane, according to Republican Congressional aides.

As a result, Americans watching television coverage of the disaster this weekend began to see, amid the destruction and suffering, some of the most prominent members of the administration - Richard B. Myers, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Donald H. Rumsfeld, the secretary of defense; and Condoleezza Rice, the secretary of state - touring storm-damaged communities.

Mr. Bush is to return to Louisiana and Mississippi on Monday; his first visit, on Friday, left some Republicans cringing, in part because the president had little contact with residents left homeless.

Republicans said the administration's effort to stanch the damage had been helped by the fact that convoys of troops and supplies had begun to arrive by the time the administration officials turned up. All of those developments were covered closely on television.

In many ways, the unfolding public relations campaign reflects the style Mr. Rove has brought to the political campaigns he has run for Mr. Bush. For example, administration officials who went on television on Sunday were instructed to avoid getting drawn into exchanges about the problems of the past week, and to turn the discussion to what the government is doing now.

"We will have time to go back and do an after-action report, but the time right now is to look at what the enormous tasks ahead are," Michael Chertoff, the secretary of Homeland Security, said on "Meet the Press" on NBC.

One Republican with knowledge of the effort said that Mr. Rove had told administration officials not to respond to Democratic attacks on Mr. Bush's handling of the hurricane in the belief that the president was in a weak moment and that the administration should not appear to be seen now as being blatantly political. As with others in the party, this Republican would discuss the deliberations only on condition of anonymity because of keen White House sensitivity about how the administration and its strategy would be perceived.

In a reflection of what has long been a hallmark of Mr. Rove's tough political style, the administration is also working to shift the blame away from the White House and toward officials of New Orleans and Louisiana who, as it happens, are Democrats.

"The way that emergency operations act under the law is the responsibility and the power, the authority, to order an evacuation rests with state and local officials," Mr. Chertoff said in his television interview. "The federal government comes in and supports those officials."

That line of argument was echoed throughout the day, in harsher language, by Republicans reflecting the White House line.

In interviews, these Republicans said that the normally nimble White House political operation had fallen short in part because the president and his aides were scattered outside Washington on vacation, leaving no one obviously in charge at a time of great disruption. Mr. Rove and Mr. Bush were in Texas, while Vice President **** Cheney was at his Wyoming ranch.

Mr. Bush's communications director, Nicolle Devenish, was married this weekend in Greece, and a number of Mr. Bush's political advisers - including Ken Mehlman, the Republican National Committee chairman - attended the wedding.

Ms. Rice did not return to Washington until Thursday, after she was spotted at a Broadway show and shopping for shoes, an image that Republicans said buttressed the notion of a White House unconcerned with tragedy.

These officials said that Mr. Bush and his political aides rapidly changed course in what they acknowledged was a belated realization of the situation's political ramifications. As is common when this White House confronts a serious problem, management was quickly taken over by Mr. Rove and a group of associates including Mr. Bartlett. Neither man responded to requests for comment.

White House advisers said that Mr. Bush expressed alarm after his return to Washington from the Gulf Coast.

One senior White House official said that Mr. Bush appeared at a senior staff meeting in the Situation Room on Friday and called the results on the ground "unacceptable." At the encouragement of Mr. Bartlett, officials said, he repeated the comment later in the Rose Garden, the start of this campaign.

[Thiebear]

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/05/national/nationalspecial/05bush.html

this is where i found it...

and yes it starts at the churches and local ward leaders and school boards.

Then the Mayor and council members/police chief/fire stations

Gov / Fema / Corp of Eng. / neighboring Govs etc..

Then the Nation / Congress / President when all else fails.

http://www.cityofno.com/portal.aspx?portal=46&tabid=9

[twa]

Keep spinning Chom...Federal disaster was declared before the hurricane hit.

Still can't tell me WHO is responsible for requesting and cordinating response?

How about WHO asked for federal money,but not federal troops until too late?

[chomerics]

Keep spinning Chom...Federal disaster was declared before the hurricane hit.

Still can't tell me WHO is responsible for requesting and cordinating response?

How about WHO asked for federal money,but not federal troops until too late?

Who's spinning what? This is an article on how the White House is trying to blame everyone but themselves yet again.

[twa]

Who's spinning what? This is an article on how the White House is trying to blame everyone but themselves yet again.

The white house is simply stating FACTS...Have you STILL not done your research?

[chomerics]

The white house is simply stating FACTS...Have you STILL not done your research?

OK, so Bush and FEMA are supposed to do nothing until asked to do so huh?

And if Clinton was president would you feel the same way> Would you have the exact same argument? Think about that one for a while.

[SkinsHokieFan]

OK, so Bush and FEMA are supposed to do nothing until asked to do so huh?

The way our federal system of government works, yup.

Hopefully after this people will realize how useless the Federal gov't is, how slow it is to do anything, and elect people that will reduce the size and scope of it

[twa]

OK, so Bush and FEMA are supposed to do nothing until asked to do so huh?

And if Clinton was president would you feel the same way> Would you have the exact same argument? Think about that one for a while.

The president and fema MUST be directed by the state unless they cede authority, and yes I would feel the same way.

[Larry]

Um, granted, I'm not exactly a high-paid political consultant, but,

I think, if the Bushies want to dodge this one, "The city should have done more to get ready" will get a lot more traction than "Well, I know the Mayor was pleading for federal help on TV at T-plus one day, but he didn't send in the correct paperwork untill t-plus three".

The second one will fly about as well as "I know that the folks at the Convention Center were on TV on Tuesday, but the FEMA director wasn't officially notified untill Thursday" did.

[BlueTalon]

What's the point of rules and laws?

[visionary]

Um, granted, I'm not exactly a high-paid political consultant, but,

I think, if the Bushies want to dodge this one, "The city should have done more to get ready" will get a lot more traction than "Well, I know the Mayor was pleading for federal help on TV at T-plus one day, but he didn't send in the correct paperwork untill t-plus three".

The second one will fly about as well as "I know that the folks at the Convention Center were on TV on Tuesday, but the FEMA director wasn't officially notified untill Thursday" did.

The Convention Center was not even mentioned until Wednesday or Thursday on any of the programs that I saw. And the mayor did not notify anyone about it until later that day...whichever it was. (that said they should have seen the people there earlier anyway...and that "they" includes the media)

[NavyDave]

Chain of command the mayor of the city then the governor of the state whom both waited a day to start utilizing federal funds.

This won't stick so get over it.

Actually I wonder if its a good idea to rebuild this place as before?

The current levee system should be scrapped and take a look at a redundant system using the dutch dykes as a model.

Bulldoze the remaining high rise ghettoes and go with single family home units with the rent to or lease to buy option severely reducing gang strong holds as we see in former violent areas in DC.

The poor relocated in the more wealthier states should remain there and take advantage of the better job opportunites as well as education in Texas, Utah and Iowa

[BlueTalon]

The poor relocated in the more wealthier states should remain there and take advantage of the better job opportunites as well as education in Texas, Utah and Iowa

"Should" The problem is that this was home for those people. Some of them may want to stay in their new environments, but many will want to return. How do you tell them No?

[Thiebear]

Message from Mayor C. Ray Nagin

Dear Parish Residents,

The safety and well-being of the citizens of New Orleans is my greatest priority. For this reason, our Office of Emergency Preparedness has prepared this Guide to help individuals during times of natural or man-made disaster. The information contained is designed to help everyone deal with these emergencies in an effective and sucessful manner. Knowledge is power and knowing what to do during an emergency can be lifesaving.Our City, due to its central gulf location, is one of the most vulnerable in America to the furies of a hurricane. Heavy rains, because of our topography, can and do cause severe flooding. Our City’s place as one of the busiest rail centers and second busiest ports exposes us to potentially numerous hazardous materials incidents. All of these factors combine to make an effective Citizen’s Guide a necessity. This, our second annual update, serves that purpose. But, like any good tool, it is useless unless read and acted upon. Its place is not on a shelf gathering dust, but in an easily accessible family emergency kit where it can be used.The Guide’s purpose is to:1. Inform citizens of the hazards they face.2. Provide guidance in preparing their own individual emergency plan..3. Advise them of the proper procedure needed to be followed in the event of an emergency.In reviewing its contents, the reader should pay particular attention to the section on Evacuation. Knowing the routes of egress during situations such as hurricanes, can avoid needless injury and loss of life. It is my fervent hope that the information contained in the Guide will never have to be used; however, being ready for an emergency before it occurs, through adequate preparation and planning, is the first step in surviving a disaster. Preparedness must begin with the individual and be carried over to the family, and then into the community in order to thwart any incident or disaster that may be visited upon us. Should you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Office of Emergency Preparedness (504)565-7200 located in City Hall Room 9E06, 1300 Perdido St., New Orleans, LA. 70112

Sincerely,

C. Ray Nagin

Mayor

http://www.cityofno.com/portal.aspx?portal=46&tabid=3

Its all there if you look, but just keep ignoring that and throwing softballs...

[twa]

"Should" The problem is that this was home for those people. Some of them may want to stay in their new environments, but many will want to return. How do you tell them No?

From the comments I hear around houston many will stay,although I am sure a lot of them will return.

[chomerics]

The way our federal system of government works, yup.

Sorry SHF, but you are wrong about this.

From the white house page.

Statement on Federal Emergency Assistance for Louisiana

The President today declared an emergency exists in the State of Louisiana and ordered Federal aid to supplement state and local response efforts in the parishes located in the path of Hurricane Katrina beginning on August 26, 2005, and continuing.

The President's action authorizes the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to coordinate all disaster relief efforts which have the purpose of alleviating the hardship and suffering caused by the emergency on the local population, and to provide appropriate assistance for required emergency measures, authorized under Title V of the Stafford Act, to save lives, protect property and public health and safety, or to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe in the parishes of Allen, Avoyelles, Beauregard, Bienville, Bossier, Caddo, Caldwell, Claiborne, Catahoula, Concordia, De Soto, East Baton Rouge, East Carroll, East Feliciana, Evangeline, Franklin, Grant, Jackson, LaSalle, Lincoln, Livingston, Madison, Morehouse, Natchitoches, Pointe Coupee, Ouachita, Rapides, Red River, Richland, Sabine, St. Helena, St. Landry, Tensas, Union, Vernon, Webster, West Carroll, West Feliciana, and Winn.

Specifically, FEMA is authorized to identify, mobilize, and provide at its discretion, equipment and resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the emergency. Debris removal and emergency protective measures, including direct Federal assistance, will be provided at 75 percent Federal funding.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/08/20050827-1.html

Notice the date? August 26th?

Are you people still going to say it was up to the state governer to control this operation?

Hopefully after this people will realize how useless the Federal gov't is, how slow it is to do anything, and elect people that will reduce the size and scope of it

I realize how useless THIS federal government is, I reserve the right to comment on another administration.

[twist]

Heres one you forgot:

From the Department of Homeland Security Website:

http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/theme_home2.jsp

In the event of a terrorist attack, natural disaster or other large-scale emergency, the Department of Homeland Security will assume primary responsibility on March 1st for ensuring that emergency response professionals are prepared for any situation. This will entail providing a coordinated, comprehensive federal response to any large-scale crisis and mounting a swift and effective recovery effort. The new Department will also prioritize the important issue of citizen preparedness. Educating America's families on how best to prepare their homes for a disaster and tips for citizens on how to respond in a crisis will be given special attention at DHS.

I give the DHS a F

Personally Im sure that every single branch and level of government will be much more remarkable when shifting the blame to others. That is what our government is set up to do, not efficiantly respond to problems.

[SkinsHokieFan]

Sorry SHF, but you are wrong about this.

I realize how useless THIS federal government is, I reserve the right to comment on another administration.

Na, the whole damn thing is pretty useless, always has been, and as evidenced by disaster's such as this, always will be

[Thiebear]

Sorry SHF, but you are wrong about this.

From the white house page.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/08/20050827-1.html

Notice the date? August 26th?

Are you people still going to say it was up to the state governer to control this operation?

I realize how useless THIS federal government is, I reserve the right to comment on another administration.

Can you school us all on what the word supplement means?

[twa]

Can you school us all on what the word supplement means?

Or he could read what the governor requested and recieved

http://snookerswamp.blogspot.com/2005/09/before-katrina-what-did-gov-blanco.html

She asked for and recieved money

Under the Stafford Act, the Federal Government can only supply what is requested. Request nothing, you get nothing

[Cskin]

Here's the issue.... listen up Chom.

It's the local authorities that start the process rolling, which flows uphill to the state, which flows uphill to the federal govt. and finally to the President and FEMA.

This debacle started AFTER the President issued a state of emergency for the region but BEFORE the storm struck. The emergency declaration released money and manpower to the states... which should have filtered to the local levels as preperation for the approaching storm.

What happened: All the above happened and then the local govts. (NO) got caught with their pants down.... listening to reports of the storm turning to the east and sparing them. The urgency to evacuate those last people.... the "poor, sick, and incapacitated" dissipated because of the storm's new path.

WHen the levee broke..... all hell broke loose. No leadership, the FEMA apparatus out of position due to the storm's new landfall path....

Blaming this all on the Bush Administration is simply political sour grapes. Everything that goes wrong in the country is Bush's fault. The fact that we've got rising gas prices and shortages of refined gasoline is considered Bush's fault, when it is in fact the Dems, Envirofreaks, and others that have prevented this country from building one more refinery in the last 25 years that would have ameliorated the situation.

The Left has simply seized on yet another tragedy to blame on Bush in order to gain traction for their deep seated desire to reclaim power in Congress and the White House, power they believe they have a right to regardless of how America votes in elections.

[Cskin]

and... on top of all that... we've got the largest storm in US history slamming the coast and causing damage NEVER BEFORE SEEN on three state's infrastructure.

But no... it's all George Bush's fault. :doh:

[chomerics]

Or he could read what the governor requested and recieved

http://snookerswamp.blogspot.com/2005/09/before-katrina-what-did-gov-blanco.html

She asked for and recieved money

Under the Stafford Act, the Federal Government can only supply what is requested. Request nothing, you get nothing

Why don't you do some more research, here is a pdf of the actual document with the governers signature requesting $130million and signed on Sunday. What you listed is the formal paperwork needed to get the ball rolling for the transger of power to FEMA.

Blanco's request for $130million BEFORE the storm hit

[chomerics]

and... on top of all that... we've got the largest storm in US history slamming the coast and causing damage NEVER BEFORE SEEN on three state's infrastructure.

But no... it's all George Bush's fault. :doh:

I NEVER said it is all Bush's fault :doh:

When are you people going to get this???? The local and state governments failed, but this was a problem bigger then any local or state could handle. This was a problem for the FEDERAL government, and it is their DUTY to seize the authority. That's why WE, the American people, ELECT a president, to lead us in times like this. The void was so apparent, and the ENTIRE WORLD sees it. Read a paper from anywhere outside of the right wing blog sphere and see what people are saying.

You people are actually arguing that a state should trump the federal government just to try and spin the fact that your leader was ON VACATION while this happened. Look at your argument, can you even argue this without examining your position? You think the state should trump the FEDERAL governemnt WTF???

BTW, here is another little bit Bush did to try to cover his butt. . .on Friday none the less.

Behind the scenes, a power struggle emerged, as federal officials tried to wrest authority from Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Babineaux Blanco (D). Shortly before midnight Friday, the Bush administration sent her a proposed legal memorandum asking her to request a federal takeover of the evacuation of New Orleans, a source within the state's emergency operations center said Saturday.

The administration sought unified control over all local police and state National Guard units reporting to the governor. Louisiana officials rejected the request after talks throughout the night, concerned that such a move would be comparable to a federal declaration of martial law. Some officials in the state suspected a political motive behind the request. "Quite frankly, if they'd been able to pull off taking it away from the locals, they then could have blamed everything on the locals," said the source, who does not have the authority to speak publicly.

A senior administration official said that Bush has clear legal authority to federalize National Guard units to quell civil disturbances under the Insurrection Act and will continue to try to unify the chains of command that are split among the president, the Louisiana governor and the New Orleans mayor.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/03/AR2005090301680.html

[luckydevil]

Na, the whole damn thing is pretty useless, always has been, and as evidenced by disaster's such as this, always will be

Yep

I find it amusing how so many believe that things would be different if democrats were in charge.

This just shows how incompetent government truly is at all levels at even doing the most basic things.