Talk about full spin mode...wow...wonder why I think they new evil catch phrase will be "finger-pointing and blame-game"...much like the scary WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION..later pusified to WMD
The press briefing from todays White House spokestard Scott McClellan.
Q Scott, does the President retain confidence in his FEMA Director and Secretary of Homeland Security?
MR. McCLELLAN: And again, David, see, this is where some people want to look at the blame game issue, and finger-point.We're focused on solving problems, and we're doing everything we can --
Q What about the question?
MR. McCLELLAN: We're doing everything we can in support --
Q We know all that.
MR. McCLELLAN: -- of the Department of Homeland Security and FEMA.
Q Does he retain complete confidence --
MR. McCLELLAN: We're going to continue. We appreciate the great effort that all of those at FEMA, including the head of FEMA, are doing to help the people in the region. And I'm just not going to engage in the blame game or finger-pointing that you're trying to get me to engage.
Q Okay, but that's not at all what I was asking.
MR. McCLELLAN: Sure it is. It's exactly what you're trying to play.
Q You have your same point you want to make about the blame game, which you've said enough now. I'm asking you a direct question, which you're dodging.
MR. McCLELLAN: No --
Q Does the President retain complete confidence in his Director of FEMA and Secretary of Homeland Security, yes or no?
MR. McCLELLAN: I just answered the question.
Q Is the answer "yes" on both?
MR. McCLELLAN: And what you're doing is trying to engage in a game of finger-pointing.
Q There's a lot of criticism. I'm just wondering if he still has confidence.
MR. McCLELLAN: -- and blame-gaming What we're trying to do is solve problems, David. And that's where we're going to keep our focus.
Q So you're not -- you won't answer that question directly?
McCLELLAN: I did. I just did.
Q No, you didn't. Yes or no? Does he have complete confidence or doesn't he?
McCLELLAN: No, if you want to continue to engage in finger-pointing and blame-gaming, that's fine --
Q Scott, that's ridiculous. I'm not engaging in any of that.
McCLELLAN: It's not ridiculous.
Q Don't try to accuse me of that. I'm asking you a direct question and you should answer it. Does he retain complete confidence in his FEMA Director and Secretary of Homeland Security, yes or no?
McCLELLAN: Like I said -- that's exactly what you're engaging in.
Q I'm not engaging in anything. I'm asking you a question about what the President's views are --
McCLELLAN: Absolutely -- absolutely --
Q -- under pretty substantial criticism of members of his administration. Okay? And you know that, and everybody watching knows that, as well.
McCLELLAN: No, everybody watching this knows, David, that you're trying to engage in a blame game.
Q I'm trying to engage?
McCLELLAN: Yes.
Q I am trying to engage?
McCLELLAN: That's correct.
Q That's a dodge. I have a follow-up question since you dodged that one. Does the White House feel like it missed opportunities to alleviate or head off some of the damage in the New Orleans area, flood damage? Did it miss an opportunity to head any of that off?
McCLELLAN: In what way?
Q In responding to requests to make structural improvements, or other improvements to alleviate flood damage, and so forth?
McCLELLAN: Maybe you ought to look at what General Strock said, because General Strock briefed on this the other day and he talked about the design issues relating to the levees and how that was a design issue. And he talked about that. And we provided, I think it was some $300 million in additional funding over the course of the administration for flood control in the Southeast Louisiana area. But General Strock talked about that and he talked about some of those issues. And any suggestion that it would have prevented something, that there could have been action that would have prevented something, I think he dismissed because of those reasons.
Q So if the President still has confidence in the FEMA Director, how is it that the FEMA Director is suddenly invisible? No briefings, nowhere out front, it's all gone to Secretary Chertoff.
McCLELLAN: I think he's going to brief later today. I think he's briefing later today.
Q Brown is?
McCLELLAN: Yes. And, again, that's clearly now just an attempt to try to engage in this finger pointing, and we're going to continue focusing on solving problems.
Q He's been the focus of an enormous amount of criticism. You know that, and yet, you choose not to respond.
McCLELLAN: I just talked about how there are over 75 -- no, that's not true. There are over 75,000 people that are involved in all the response and recovery and law enforcement when it comes to Katrina. And we appreciate the efforts of everyone. We appreciate the efforts of Secretary Chertoff and Undersecretary Brown and all those at FEMA who continue to work round-the-clock to get things done and to identify problems and fix those problems.
Last edited by myoung : Sep 8th, 2005 at 02:58 PM.
Its nice to see that the press has finally grown a pair and isn't taking the bullshit standard responses. We need to start asking tough questions, there's no excuse for all the shit that's been allowed to happen.
Well...if Scott had said 'yes' or 'no' to that question I think it could definitely be construed to become a blame game.
Yes, we have faith in FEMA = State/Local government failed
No, we have no faith in FEMA = FEMA/Federal failed
That's exactly the way the media would report it...I guarantee it. He was dodging the question, yes, but in my opinion he was trying to shift the focus on people being helped. Leave the questioning to the Senate committee that has formed to investigate.
__________________
HIS: '07 Mazda CX-7 Touring...20% tint all around
HERS: '06 Mazda 3s...tint/CAI/Mazda3 pedals
GONE: '99 Maxima...i/h/e/eibachs/b&m/17s
Well...if Scott had said 'yes' or 'no' to that question I think it could definitely be construed to become a blame game.
Yes, we have faith in FEMA = State/Local government failed
No, we have no faith in FEMA = FEMA/Federal failed
That's exactly the way the media would report it...I guarantee it. He was dodging the question, yes, but in my opinion he was trying to shift the focus on people being helped. Leave the questioning to the Senate committee that has formed to investigate.
He said Confidence...not faith
Saying you have confidence has no relevance on the job they may or may not have done... He didn't ask him if the Pres thought they screwed up...He asked if The President retains complete confidence
I read that as the Pres had confidence in them before..does he still have that confidence now... Damn seems like Yes should have been the quick answer...if my boss' spokesman wouldn't answer that Q then I might think the pink slip isn't far down the road......
See you even used the NEW TReNDY Think Tank made up TERM "blame-game".. I hate it already
Last edited by myoung : Sep 8th, 2005 at 03:20 PM.
I think it could have been a simple yes or no answerr as well.
No, we don't have complete confidence as of this moment...
(Generic responce) "for somewhere along the line something was messed up. People have died, and we need to now focus on improving our systems as a whole. There was an error which should not have been made, and we must make certain it never happens again. We will/are work with our people yadda yadda yadda..."
or
Yes, the president still has complete confidence in...
(Same generic responce as above) : "...."
I think it could have been a simple yes or no answerr as well.
No, we don't have complete confidence as of this moment...
(Generic responce) "for somewhere along the line something was messed up. People have died, and we need to now focus on improving our systems as a whole. There was an error which should not have been made, and we must make certain it never happens again. We will/are work with our people yadda yadda yadda..."
or
Yes, the president still has complete confidence in...
(Same generic responce as above) : "...."
That's pretty much how I see it... seems like the Press Sec wanted to throw the "Blame Game" catch phrase out there again and again for some strange reason....hmmmm
It's just my opinion but it sounded like he just wanted to talk about everyone being helped.
I work customer service and one way to get over an irate customer is to focus on solving the problem and not reminding them of 'what happened'.
It was a simple question, I would have answered:
"Yes, the president has always had confidence in FEMA Director Brown and Secretary of Homeland Security Chertoff and remains confident that they will provide help to the people that need it right now."
I agree, it sounds like they want to put out the lastest buzz word to further deflect answering the real tough questions. Typical strategy, stonewall, repeat the same buzzword over and over to any question, then you won't have to account for anything.
It almost seems like a child putting hi fingers in his ears and going "nah, nah, nah, I can't hear you, nah, nah, nah."
While to us basic citizens it could have been a simple yes or no we all know that the media will take the answer and spice it up which could include them making it sound like the govt is blaming someone. To be honest I don't see whats the big deal about this. I'll bet it's happened many times before with people whether they were govt employed or not and someone on here just happened to find it. In my opinion all he was doing was avoiding having his words twisted around. At my previous employer I got written up for say nothing. My mom worked in the office so I knew stuff most didn't. When a coworker got suspended I was asked if I knew anything and I said "I've heard some things but can't saying anything". Someone turned that into that I was going around saying the guy was gonna get fired and I got written up for it. Sometimes it's better to not leave any leads at all.
I have a monkey that continues the post whoring through out the night. His next stop is Pete's house where i taught him how to judo chop cracka ass thugs
