WuzzaDem

Running (Away) With the (RINO) Pack

Bobby! How's it hanging?

 

 

 

 

What's up, Stan?

 

 

 

 

You hear about DeLay getting indicted?

 

 

 

 

I heard. Should be interesting. You know...

 

 

 

 

Hi guys.

 

 

 

 

Oh, hi. I'm Stan, this is Bob.

 

 

 

 

Howdy.

 

 

 

 

I'm Nancy. Nancy, uh, rhino.

 

 

 

 

Pleased to meet you, Nancy. Haven't seen you around here before.

 

 

 

 

Are you kidding? I've lived in this neighborhood forever.

 

 

 

 

Funny, I thought I knew everyone in this...

 

 

 

 

So, Tom DeLay was indicted. Did you hear?

 

 

 

 

We were just talking about that.

 

 

 

 

I was just saying it should be...

 

 

 

 

Well, I say good riddance. Time to purge the ranks and put some real conservatives in office, right?

 

 

 

 

I've heard that indictment is pretty weak.

 

 

 

 

Oh, come on, Bob...

 

 

 

 

I'm Stan.

 

 

 

 

Whatever. DeLay's been spending like a drunken Emu, so I say let's give him the boot while we have the chance.

 

 

 

 

Shouldn't we give him a chance to prove his innocence?

 

 

 

 

Look, if you want to join the Tom DeLay fan club, maybe you should get on the White House payroll.

 

 

 

 

Fan club? What's that supposed to mean?

 

 

 

 

Sure, go ahead and stick up for DeLay. Who cares how many people he's killed, right?

 

 

 

 

Who said he killed anybody?

 

 

 

 

Who knows what he's done? Can you prove he hasn't killed anyone?

 

 

 

 

Of course I can't prove he hasn't killed anyone.

 

 

 

 

No, you can't. So if you want to play into the Democrats' hands, then you go ahead and stand up for someone who may or may not have killed one or more people.

 

 

 

 

You can't say that!

 

 

 

 

People are already saying it.

 

 

 

 

Who's saying that?

 

 

 

 

How should I know? I'm a rhino, not a lawyer.

 

 

 

 

I just don't know how...

 

 

 

 

Do you think he's doing a good job?

 

 

 

 

I've got my complaints, but...

 

 

 

 

Then let's take him out! That's what democracy's all about, right? If you don't like a politician, you give 'em the old heave-ho..

 

 

 

 

Shouldn't we vote him out if we don't think he's doing his job?

 

 

 

 

Listen, Stan...

 

 

 

 

I'm Bob.

 

 

 

 

You keep saying that. Listen, you shouldn't just automatically take DeLay's side just because he's a conservative. If he's done something illegal, then...

 

 

 

 

But we don't know yet if he's done anything illegal.

 

 

 

 

What's important is whether or not people think he's done something illegal.

 

 

 

 

But, if he's innocent, then why should we worry about what people think?

 

 

 

 

Because perception is reality, right, Bob?

 

 

 

 

I'm Stan.

 

 

 

 

I know, I was talking to Bob.

 

 

 

 

I guess it is hard to counter all these accusations...

 

 

 

 

Right, and why wait for the next election? After all, there's no guarantee his constituents will vote him out, right Stan?

 

 

 

 

I'm Bob.

 

 

 

 

I don't care! What I'm trying to say is, we need honest, responsible government.

 

 

 

 

Isn't it dishonest and irresponsible for a district attorney to indict someone if they don't believe that person has broken the law?

 

 

 

 

Whatever. Hey, if you want to toe the Republican party line, It's no sweat off my horn.

 

 

 

 

Who said anything about being Republican?

 

 

 

 

Nothing wrong with blind loyalty to your party. I mean, you've worked hard to build your creds, but if you've got your marching orders from Rush Limbaugh...

 

 

 

 

Whoa, hold on a second, there. I was just about to say maybe it's not such a good idea to go out on a limb for DeLay. Like you say, who knows what the guy's done.

 

 

 

 

Right, right. If you think about it, he's really just a liberal in conservative clothing - remember that crack about there being no pork in the budget?

 

 

 

 

I forgot about that. He should resign just for making that stupid remark!

 

 

 

 

Damned right he should. I don't think what this Texas DA's doing is right, but I just can't bring myself to support DeLay here.

 

 

 

 

Exactly. He stinks of corruption. Or, at least, he stinks of rumors of possible corruption.

 

 

 

 

For all we know, there might be even more rumors coming out.

 

 

 

 

That would be a disaster.

 

 

 

 

Total disater. DeLay can bite me.

 

 

 

 

Well, I'd love to stay and chat, but I see by my watch I'm running late. Nice talking to you, Rob, Sam.

 

 

 

 

Bob.

 

 

 

 

Stan.

 

 

 

 

Whatever. See you around.

 

 

 

 

Hey, Bob, did you notice anything unusual about her?

 

 

 

 

Now that you mention it, something didn't seem quite right, but I'm not sure what it was...

 

 

 

 

Come on, man - it's as plain as the horn on your face!

 

 

 

 

...

 

 

 

 

She was wearing a watch. Rhinos don't wear watches.

 

 

 

 

...

 

 

 

 

You know, because we don't have wrists.

 

 

 

 

Oh, riiiiight! I would have never noticed that.

 

 

 

 

I swear, you can be dense.

 

Related:

AYC? says DeLay is the victim of Pelosi-ism.

Rusty is calling for DeLay's resignation (WTF?), which pissed Will off, and caused Beth to pen a few choice words for Ronnie Earle.

UPDATE: Dan at Riehl World View has more on Travis County, TX DA Ronnie Earle.

Tom DeLay Indicted

Just wanted to let readers know that House majority leader Tom DeLay has been indicted on charges of conspiracy.

Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., will recommend that Rep. David Dreier of California step into those duties, although some of those duties may go to the GOP whip, Rep. Roy Blunt of Missouri.

This comes just one day after Lynndie England, the U.S. soldier pictured holding a leash to a naked (or nude) Iraqi inmate at Abu Ghraib prison in a scandal that prompted global outrage, was sentenced on Tuesday to three years in prison and given a dishonorable discharge, even as so-called "Peace mom" Cindy Sheehan met with AZ Sen. John McCain, a Vietnam veteran whom she called "a warmonger."

No word on whether or not this will affect Sky News' plans to air footage of British supermodel Kate Moss snorting cocaine, and Tom Cruise, who was reportedly "hoaxed" by popular web site Gawker.com, a site that reported Cruise was planning four free lectures at Scientology's Celebrity Centre in October, was not available for comment, nor was US Undersecretary of State Karen Hughes.

UPDATE: Welcome Google users!

Mr. Stick Figure Attends the Michael Brown Hearing

...to the best of my ability.

 

 

 

 

Thank you for those remarks, Director Brown. I'd like to ask you about...

 

 

 

 

How DARE you, Representative Chris Shays of Connecticut!

 

 

 

 

How dare I what? I'm trying to get some answers about what...

 

 

 

 

Don't you know this man has recently dealt with a major disaster? Who knows how long it's been since he slept, and you want to nitpick details about who called who when and said what?

 

 

 

 

I'm not satisfied with some of the statements he's made about...

 

 

 

 

Are you saying you doubt his word? What possible reason could he have for lying?

 

 

 

 

I didn't actually say he was lying, but I do want to...

 

 

 

 

Well, your relentless attack-dog line of questioning certainly makes it appear as though you doubt Director Brown's veracity. Don't you know there's plenty of blame to go around?

 

 

 

 

Well, yes, I think there were failures at all levels - FEMA, Homeland Security, President Bush...

 

 

 

 

Oh. My. GOD! Have you forgotten that the president is from Texas?? Does the name RITA mean anything to you?

 

 

 

 

Well, we also have questions for Michael Chertoff, who certainly...

 

 

 

 

You are aware that Mr. Chertoff resides in the United States, aren't you?

 

 

 

 

What does that have to do with...

 

 

 

 

So there's a good chance that he lives no more than a few states away from the location of a recent disaster. What kind of black-hearted bastard are you, Representative ChromeDome of Connecticut?

 

 

 

 

What are you talking about?

 

 

 

 

Now you're interrogating ME? How dare you! You sit up there where your toilets are flushing and your lights are working...

 

 

 

 

What toilets?

 

 

 

 

Again with the nitpicking! Have you no decency, sir??

 

 

 

 

Look, there are a lot of people up here, why is it you're only questioning me?

 

 

 

 

Because politicians like yourself are a symptom of a much larger...Actually, I just think you're kind of a dick.

 

 

 

 

Security!

 

 

 

 

Man, Washington is a tough town.

 

Deep Thoughts With Jeff and Joe

Gandelmeister - what up Jo-dawg?

 

 

 

Jarvinator!

 

 

 

So, did you catch Karl Rove's little puppet Tim Russert on Sunday?

 

 

 

Easy on the lefty lingo, dude. I'm a moderate, remember?

 

 

 

Right, right, I forgot. I'm a moderate, too.

 

 

 

Good one, man!

 

 

 

No, seriously, I am.

 

 

 

Oh. Sorry.

 

 

 

...

 

 

 

...

 

 

 

Anyway, did you see the way Russert treated Aaron Broussard on Sunday?

 

 

 

He ambushed the guy.

 

 

 

Speaking of ambushes, you know, Bernie Goldberg tried to say he was "ambushed" on Donny Deutsch's show last July, but I was on that show, and that's just not what happened. In fact...

 

 

 

Jeff...

 

 

 

I mean, so I didn't read the guy's book. Anyone who looks at the cover can tell it sucks, so why shouldn't I say so on national television...

 

 

 

Jeff...

 

 

 

...then, right in front of me, Goldberg starts growing long fangs and razor-sharp claws...

 

 

 

JEFF! Let's try to stay on topic, here.

 

 

 

Sorry about that.

 

 

 

Anyway, I do think a journalist who runs something that's inaccurate has a right to go back to that source to ask follow-up questions.

 

 

 

I don't know, sounds like you're talking about getting bogged down in facts. Facts are the commodity. The truth is harder to find. Justice is harder to fight for. Lessons are what we’re after.

 

 

 

What does that mean?

 

 

 

I don't know, it sounded good when I wrote it.

 

 

 

It did?

 

 

 

Well, it sounded good to me.

 

 

 

Well, as an impartial, moderate, non-partisan centrist with no real political agenda, I'm just afraid Russert's conduct might cause people to think that all journalists are rabid, insensitive right-wing attack dogs like him.

 

 

 

Really. Why can't he be more like Shepard Smith?

 

 

 

Oh, don't even get me started on Shepard. He's my boy.

 

 

 

He's Da Man!

 

 

 

He's the shit!

 

 

 

He's like the Six Million Dollar Man, only shorter, and not bionic.

 

 

 

I'll just pretend I didn't hear that.

 

 

 

Thanks.

 

 

 

We are talking about Shepard Smith post-Katrina, right?

 

 

 

Of course.

 

 

 

Good, because he was a major a$$hole before that.

 

 

 

He was a dick!

 

 

 

He was insufferable.

 

 

 

Typical Faux News android.

 

 

 

So, how do you like teaching journalism?

 

 

 

I spend most of my time trying to correct the misconceptions most of the students have about what it means to be a journalist.

 

 

 

Really?

 

 

 

Oh yeah - talk about being hung up on facts.

 

 

 

At least you're there to set them straight now.

 

 

 

With any luck, we'll have a whole new crop of Shepard Smiths soon.

 

 

 

Maybe even a few Geraldos?

 

 

 

Don't even get me started on Geraldo.

 

 

 

Geraldo's the man!

 

 

 

He's the bomb!

 

 

 

He's the real deal!

 

 

 

He's the Batman of jounalism!

 

 

 

Yeah, um, I have to go now.

 

 

 

See you around.

 

 

 

I like talking to that guy. He's like the Dr. Phil of blogging.

 

Related:

If you don't stop nitpicking that thing, it'll never heal.

To hell with facts, we want the truth!

The MODERATE truth!

Scarborough Country: On the Ball and On the Case

Welcome to Scarborough, I'm Joe Scarborough, and tonight we have a Scarborough Country exclusive report. Let's go to our own Rita Cosby, live in Galveston, Texas. Rita, what's happening?

 

 

 

Joe, I'm here in Galveston, and I can report to you that at this moment there are hundreds, if not thousands of people missing from their homes...

 

 

 

Hold on here, Rita, did you say hundreds of people are missing?

 

 

 

That's right, Joe. Our investigation has found that scores of houses in this town are completely empty, most of them still furnished, many with cars still in the garages, but the occupants are nowhere to be found.

 

 

 

This is absolutely astonishing, Rita. What are the local authorities doing to track these people down?

 

 

 

Joe, you won't believe this, but when I tried to ask local police what kind of investigation they have underway, they basically blew me off, saying they were too busy dealing with water damage and downed power lines to stop and talk to me.

 

 

 

Just a second, Rita. Are you telling me that, right here in the United States, in a city where hundreds of people missing, the police are preoccupied with downed power lines?

 

 

 

That's right, Joe, in fact, I want to show you some video of an encounter I had with a police commander earlier today.

 

 

 

You call this dump a hotel? I specifically asked for a suite - a suite, and you gave me a dumpy single room! Do you know who I am?

 

 

 

That was obviously the wrong video, Joe.

 

 

 

Rita, hold on. I understand we have the Galveston Sheriff on the phone right now. Sir, we were hoping you could answer a few questions about...

 

 

 

Joe, we're making progress clearing out the downed trees, and it appears water damage is relatively...

 

 

 

Sheriff, you may be worried about trees and water right now, but I want to know where the citizens of Galveston are.

 

 

 

Joe, where they are right now isn't really important...

 

 

 

I'm sorry, did you just say it's not important??

 

 

 

That's right, Joe, at this time we're focused on...

 

 

 

Sir, I don't know if you're familiar with Scarborough Country, but thousands of people are watching you right now, and I don't think they're going to be very happy about someone in your position showing such blatant disregard for the citizens he's sworn to protect.

 

 

 

What are you talking about??

 

 

 

And I'll tell you right now, I will be in contact with your superiors, because we're going to get to the bottom of this. If you won't do your job, we'll do it for you.

 

 

 

Are you nuts?!?

 

 

 

Rita, I don't think I've ever seen such indifference and incompetence from a public official in all the years I've been doing this show. I tell you, it boggles the mind.

 

 

 

Yeah, the service in this town really sucks, Joe.

 

 

 

You know, friends, I'm certainly no fan of Bill Clinton, but I've gotta tell you, I don't remember hundreds of people coming up missing from Galveston on his watch.

 

 

 

President Bush had better wake up and smell the coffee, because people are getting sick of all these missing persons stories - believe me, I hear it all the time.

 

 

 

But I'll tell you this, friends - if there's even one person missing, we'll keep reporting on it here on Scarborough Country, night after night after night after night, even when there's no new information.

 

 

 

I don't care how many people call, e-mail or write saying they don't think this is news, or asking how many times I can say "Exclusive," or show the same "Exclusive Photo" over and over and over and over again...

 

 

 

Or how many times the executives here at MSNBC tell me that I can't keep basically doing the same show every night, substituting endless speculation for facts and substance.

 

 

 

None of that matters to me, friends, because here on Scarborough Country, all that matters is...Now I forgot what I was talking about. What the hell was I talking about, Rita?

 

 

 

You've got to be kidding me - how can you not have egg foo yong???

 

 

 

Looks like Rita's busy talking to a source. We have to take a break right now, we'll be right back with more from Scarborough Country, where only common sense is allowed.

 

CNN: Cindy Sheehan, By The Numbers

Good evening, and welcome to Late Edition, I'm Wolf Blitzer. Cindy Sheehan and a group of supporters arrived in Washington, DC yesterday, just days before a massive anti-war demonstration, planned for this Saturday in Washington. CNN's Jack Cafferty has the details.

 

 

 

 

Wolf, Cindy Sheehan's struggle to end the bungled, botched, hopelessly screwed up quagmire in Iraq has been an inspiration the people of this country - the people who can breathe with their mouths closed, anyway.

 

 

 

 

You've gotta wonder what was going through Karl Rove's mind yesterday when Ms. Sheehan arrived, accompanied by hundreds, if not thousands of supporters. We were there when the city was overwhelmed by throngs of anti-war activists, as you'll see in this report.

 

 

 

 

"The army of anti-war demonstrators who came to Washington yesterday..."

 

 

 

 

Jack, I hate to interrupt you, but I only count maybe 25 or 30 people there.

 

 

 

 

If you'll hold your horses, you'll see a lot more people in just a second.

 

 

 

 

Sorry, my mistake.

 

 

 

 

Crowd control had to be a concern for the DC police, and..."

 

 

 

 

Sorry, Jack...

 

 

 

 

What?!?

 

 

 

 

It's just that I can see Cindy Sheehan there. Isn't that just a different shot of the same people?

 

 

 

 

I'm not done!

 

 

 

 

All right, go ahead.

 

 

 

 

"No word on whether or not the White House had additional security personnel on duty, but..."

 

 

 

 

OK, was that snow in that picture?

 

 

 

 

It does get cold in DC, you know, Wolf.

 

 

 

 

It wasn't snowing yesterday - and that looked like a half-pipe in the foreground.

 

 

 

 

Hey, are we here to debate the weather, or to get this lunatic out of the White House?

 

 

 

 

What did you say?

 

 

 

 

I mean, uh, report on the people who say that's what they're trying to do. Not that I have an opinion one way or the other.

 

 

 

 

It's just that you said there were hundreds or even thousands of people there yesterday, and I don't see that in the pictures you're showing.

 

 

 

 

I have more pictures to back up those figures. Look at this one.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oh, come on, Jack!

 

 

 

 

All right, that wasn't a very good camera angle. This one's better.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That was obviously a group of Pakistani men.

 

 

 

 

They have an interest in stopping this war, too, you know. For Chrissakes, we're bombing their country into the stone age.

 

 

 

 

We're not bombing Pakistan!

 

 

 

 

Oh boy. Sounds like someone's been watching a little too much Fox News.

 

 

 

 

Are you exaggerating the number of people that were out there yesterday?

 

 

 

 

Of course I'm not. Look at this picture of the crowd in front of the Capitol building.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That's the Vatican!

 

 

 

 

Hey, you say tomato, I say tomahto. You're just pissed because Cindy Sheehan is speaking truth to power, and she's going to make sure your precious President Bush doesn't get reelected!

 

 

 

 

Bush isn't running for reelection!

 

 

 

 

Thanks to Mother Sheehan!

 

 

 

 

Not because of...Look, do you have any pictures to back up the crowd figures you gave earlier or not?

 

 

 

 

Yeah, look at this one.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That's not even a real photograph!

 

 

 

 

So what? "Wolf" isn't a real name, but you don't hear me giving you a ration of sh*t about it on the air.

 

 

 

 

I'm done talking to you. Bob, have the guys in the booth cue up some pictures from Jack's report yesterday. I want to see how many people were there.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I can see how you might have been mistaken.

 

 

 

 

Apology accepted.

 

Related: Party!

Depressing

UPDATE: Now I know why they were too busy to show up at the Move America Foward Press Conference.

Mother Sheehan Goes to Washington

Cindy Sheehan arrived in Washington, DC today, accompanied by a massive crowd of somewhere between 29 and 30 supporters.

 

 

She bought a giant letter, addressed to the president.

 

 

Once all the camera crews arrived, she signed the letter...

 

 

Then delivered it to the White House.

 

 

Later, she enjoyed a slice...

 

"Mmmm"

 

Then washed it down with a hot cup of java.

 

"Fight the power!"

Funny, she never asked for a second cup in Crawford.

Dan Rather: INXS

So, Dan, tell us how you think you did tonight.

 

 

 

Dave, for the record - no pun intended - I would have to say that after careful consideration of the matter, I really believe that I rocked the house, no doubt about it.

 

 

 

You do know we're doing original songs tonight, right?

 

 

 

Absolutely.

 

 

 

Well, mate, that was definitely one rocking tune...

 

 

 

Slow down there, young man, a fella can only take so much adulation at one time.

 

 

 

I was going to say that it was a rocking tune, but there's a bit of a problem.

 

 

 

Too edgy for INXS?

 

 

 

No, it's just...

 

 

 

Think I need to work the crowd a bit more?

 

 

 

That's not it at all...

 

 

 

Is it the suit? Should I wear something a little more casual on stage?

 

 

 

It's just that we're pretty sure we've heard the song before.

 

 

 

That's what I was going for - the kind of tune that a regular joe could listen to and think to himself, "You know, I'm not sure if I've heard this song before, but I would certainly feel confident in recommending it to my friends and family members."

 

 

 

You are aware that Lynyrd Skynyrd wrote a song, also titled Free Bird, with the exact same music and lyrics, aren't you?

 

 

 

Well, I'm not sure when this Skinner guy wrote his song, but I wrote that some time ago. I'm sure you noticed when I turned my song in this week that I'd had it professionally printed.

 

 

 

Well, mate, if you take a close look at this document you gave us, you can see some fine print at the bottom of the page that says "Lynyrd Skynyrd's Greatest Hits," how do you explain that?

 

 

 

I'm not sure. I will say that there are some partisan rock and roll operatives, particularly among my fellow rockers, who'd like to see me in the bottom three this week.

 

 

 

Listen, mate, I'm afraid this is a violation of the rules of the show.

 

 

 

I don't know where this is coming from, but there's a climate of fear running through this show, stronger than I have ever seen in the more than four weeks I've been here.

 

 

 

Nevertheless, rules are rules...

 

 

 

I'm sure some of my fans may be wondering if I've broken those rules. Folks, nothing could be further from the truth.

 

 

 

I'm sorry, Dan, I'm afraid you're just not right for our band, INXS.

 

 

 

Dude, are you crying?

 

 

 

NO!

 

 

 

Rock on, Dan Rather!

 

 

 

*Sniff* Courage.

 

Encore!

 

Previous INXS posts: Mr Stick Figure: INXS, Dry Cleaner: INXS, Burger King: INXS

Tim Russert Is No Mr. Stick Figure

So, Tim Russert - what's up, dawg?

 

 

 

 

Stick figure, these are exciting and turbulent times, and as a journalist...

 

 

 

 

Yeah, yeah, whatever. Listen, I want to talk about your interview with...

 

 

 

 

Of course, the Bill Clinton interview. You know, it's stirring up quite a bit of controversy, but President Clinton has always been a very direct man, and...

 

 

 

 

Hey, do you have to do a monologue every time you open your mouth? I wasn't talking about the Clinton interview.

 

 

 

 

Did you see the Clinton interview?

 

 

 

 

Yes, I saw the Clinton interview.

 

 

 

 

Can we show a clip?

 

 

 

 

*Sigh* Hey, whatever floats your boat. Roll it, boys!

 

 

 

 

Mr. President, can you give us a laundry list of the things you think the current administration is doing wrong?

 

 

 

 

Well, Tim, past presidents don't generally do that, but I'll give it a shot...

 

 

 

 

...before UN inspections were completed...

 

 

 

 

...undermined the support that we might have had...

 

 

 

 

...don't really have enough troops to do that...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You want people to see that?

 

 

 

 

What do you mean?

 

 

 

 

Never mind - anyway, I'm talking about another politician who wouldn't know the truth if it bit him in the ass.

 

 

 

 

Doesn't ring a bell.

 

 

 

 

Perhaps THIS will refresh your memory!

 

 

 

 

Still don't know who you referring to.

 

 

 

 

It's this guy, you idiot!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ah, yes - Aaron Broussard. You know, that was one of the defining media moments of the hurricane Katrina coverage, a moment in which raw emotion...

 

 

 

 

He was lying, you jackass!

 

 

 

 

Lying?

 

 

 

 

Yeah, lying. You know, BSing, yanking your chain, blowing smoke up your...who does your fact checking, anyway - Chris Matthews?

 

 

 

 

I'm not aware of any discrepancies in his...

 

 

 

 

You didn't notice that his story about when that poor woman died contradicted your own network's reporting?

 

 

 

 

I think we should be very careful, here. We don't want to appear insensitive about someone's death.

 

 

 

 

Oh, but it's OK for someone to LIE about the facts surrounding someone's death?

 

 

 

 

Of course not...

 

 

 

 

Well, that's exactly what he did, you putz, and you didn't challenge him once.

 

 

 

 

That's not exactly true, Stick Figure. I did ask him if he thought the mayor of New Orleans and the governor of Louisiana could have been more effective in evacuating the area.

 

 

 

 

Yeah, then he he went on a five minute rant blaming everyone but them, and you never followed up. I swear, you remind me of Ed.

 

 

 

 

Murrow?

 

 

 

 

No, McMahon!

 

 

 

 

He wasn't a journalist.

 

 

 

 

Exactly! He was a straight man. Johnny Carson would say "Boy, was it cold today," and Ed would say "How cold was it?" and then shut up so Johnny could do his schtick.

 

 

 

 

I think you're mischaracterizing my...

 

 

 

 

Yeah, that's it, you're the Ed McMahon of journalism. You should be proud.

 

 

 

 

In all fairness, there are times when a journalist...

 

 

 

 

I did not know that.

 

 

 

 

Come on, Stick Figure, no one can be sure about...

 

 

 

 

HI-yo!

 

 

 

 

Now you just being...

 

 

 

 

YESsssss!

 

 

 

 

I don't have to listen to this. This interview is over.

 

 

 

 

Don't let the door hit you in the ass, Timmy!

 

 

 

 

I wonder why Brian Williams won't return my calls.

 

Related:

What a (Dick?)

George is in love, too.

Bumped: Another Katrina Myth: Aaron Broussard's "Emotional" Appearance on MTP (Updated: MSNBC/NBC Correction(?))

(Originally posted 9/14/05)

NOTE: The update featuring MSNBC and NBC News' "Correction" is toward the bottom of the page (UPDATE IV).

In yesterday's Chicago Sun-Times [9/12/05], Richard Roeper called Jefferson Parish, LA president Aaron Broussard's tearful outburst, shown September 4th on Meet the Press, "One of the defining media moments of all the hurricane [Katrina] coverage":

 

"The guy who runs this building I'm in, emergency management, he's responsible for everything. His mother was trapped in a St. Bernard nursing home and every day she called him and said, 'Are you coming, son? Is somebody coming?' And he said, 'Yeah, Mama, somebody's coming to get you. Somebody's coming to get you on Tuesday. Somebody's coming to get you on Wednesday. Somebody's coming to get you on Thursday. Somebody's coming to get you on Friday.' And she drowned Friday night. She drowned Friday night.""

Like a lot of people, I didn't think Broussard's story passed the "smell test". We were right: He was lying.

MSNBC's Dateline web site, September 5th:

On Sunday, America met 56-year-old Jefferson Parish president Aaron Broussard in an extraordinary display of raw emotion on NBC’s “Meet the Press” when he talked about a colleague whose mother was trapped in a nursing home awaiting rescue.

The man he was talking about is Thomas Rodrigue, who told “Dateline” that his 92-year-old mother was one of 32 elderly people found dead at the St. Rita’s nursing home.

September 7th, New York Times reported on the deaths at St. Rita's:

St. Bernard Parish officials say that 32 of the home's roughly 60 residents died on Aug. 29, more than a week ago.

August 29th was a Monday. Was Broussard confused about the day on which Rodrigue's mother died?

Susan Candiottoti, reporting on the September 8th broadcast of Newsnight With Aaron Brown:

CANDIOTTI: Sunday night [ed: August 28th], as Katrina struck, Rodrigue was 30 miles away directing emergency personnel for Jefferson Parish. He called the nursing home in St. Bernard Parish again, pleading with officials to get the residents out. He was told they were going to try.

RODRIGUE: I called the St. Bernard officials again and, you know, told them that, you know, they've got to get, you know, these people out. And they said they notified them, and that they weren't -- they refused to leave. And I said, "Well, you need to send the sheriff's office down there and make them leave." And he said, "I'm doing everything I can."

So, Thomas Rodrigue says he was calling the St. Rita's nursing home, and St. Bernard Parish officials on Sunday, August 28th, asking them to send the local sheriff to evacuate the nursing home. Katrina hit St. Bernard Parish on Monday, August 29th, killing his mother.

Broussard claims Rodrigue was talking to his mother for four days after she died, promising her some nebulous "cavalry" was on the way. His story doesn't jibe with the reporting of CNN, MSNBC, the New York Times, or even Thomas Rodrigue's own account.

Why would he lie about such a thing?

Aaron Broussard's crocodile tears came at the tail-end of a tirade against FEMA, in response to a question from Tim Russert asking whether the mayor of New Orleans and the governor of Louisiana could have been "more forceful, much more effective and much more organized in evacuating the area." Just before his "breakdown," Broussard said:

"Sir, they were told like me, every single day, "The cavalry's coming," on a federal level, "The cavalry's coming, the cavalry's coming, the cavalry's coming.""

Who is the "they" he's referring to? It's worth noting that, according to the State of Loisiana's Emergency Preparedned Plan (PDF warning)local officials are responsible for evacuating residents of the various parishes before and during the early stages of the aftermath of a hurricane.

Was Broussard (a Democrat) trying to score political points (and possibly deflect blame away from local government officials) by blaming federal agencies for failing to respond in a timely manner when people's lives were in danger?

If that was his intention, it worked (at least at first). Russert didn't challenge him, even when he made wild accusations of FEMA "cutting [his parish's] emergency [communication] lines" and ordering the Coast Guard not to give them badly needed fuel.

Since any blame for this should be placed on Lousiana state and/or local government officials, any OUTRAGE or RIGHTEOUS indignation should be directed toward them. But don't hold your breath waiting for Tim Russert to issue a correction.

To their credit, even Lies.com issued a correction after initially reporting on reporting on Broussard's accusations has been suspicious of (and asking questions about) Broussard's claims from the very beginning, and recently offered the following:

So, assuming the MSNBC story is accurate, Broussard’s story was at least significantly embellished... Broussard, for all the apparent sincerity in his emotional on-air breakdown, was willing to lie in order to make his story work better as political theater, which in turn makes it harder for me to credit the rest of the slow-FEMA-response anecdotes he described.

I won't be as kind. At best, I think Aaron Broussard is the political equivalent of a price gouger; taking advantage of a tragedy in order to gain political capital. He may very well be purposely trying to blame someone's death on an innocent party (or parties). Either way, it's despicable.

See also: Heh.

Other Katrina Myth posts: "Homeland Security" Wouldn't Let Red Cross Deliver Food and Water to Katrina Victims

UPDATE: Right Thoughts smelled a rat here (no offense to rats) as well, and has been tracking this story.

UPDATE II: I sent a link to this post to Richard Roper, with a short note saying:

It looks like (Aaron Broussard's) story doesn't match the facts as reported by CNN, MSNBC, Dateline, the New York Times, or even the son of the woman who was killed.

Last night (9/14/05) I received the following response:

thanks john, i appreciate the info.

Roeper is now on the record as knowing the facts surrounding the story Broussard recounted to Tim Russert on Meet the Press. I hope he informs his readers.

UPDATE III: I made a mistake on the date of the Sunday noted in the Newsnight With Aaron Brown interview with Thomas Rodrigue. It was the 28th, not the 27th. I neglected to link the transcript as well, that's been fixed. Neither of these mistakes would have changed the subtance of the post.

UPDATE IV: Check out this morning's MSNBC/NBC News article:

"An emotional moment and a misunderstanding"

New details and interviews with the son whose mother died in the flood show that the tragedy unfolded from Saturday through Monday, Aug. 29 — not Monday through Friday, Sept. 2 as recounted by Broussard...

Since the broadcast of the interview, which elevated Broussard to national prominence, a number of bloggers have questioned the validity of Broussard’s story...

The chronology of the phone calls described by Broussard came under particular scrutiny by bloggers.

Rodrigue said he didn’t see or hear Broussard’s comments on Meet the Press. When told of the sequence of phone calls that Broussard described on Meet the Press, Rodrigue said “No, no, that’s not true.”

(H/T: The Anchoress)

The article goes on to quote a spokewoman for Broussard, who says it was "A misunderstanding."

Rodrigue himself says he believe Broussard "Must have been confused."

I think it's worth noting that anyone who's watched the interview can plainly see that Broussard is reading from prepared notes throughout. If this was a misunderstanding, it was one that was carefully prepared.

UPDATE V: Satire from The Therapist: Broussard To Retract Drowning Timeline On Wednesday,Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday

Dean and Ted's Excellent Surprise

Dean Reynolds here for ABC News, here outside the Astrodome, where I'll be getting reaction to the President's speech from some of the evacuees who are still here.

 

 

 

Excuse me, ma'am, what part of the President's speech made you the most angry?

 

 

 

What kind of question is that?

 

 

 

It's what we journalists call an "impartial" question. That means...

 

 

 

I know what impartial means, the question you just asked me was what we non-jounalists call a "leading" question.

 

 

 

Leading?

 

 

 

You know, a question so framed as to guide the person questioned in making his reply.

 

 

 

Right, right. So, which part made you the angriest?

 

 

 

Are you on some kind of medication?

 

 

 

How about you, miss - I'm sure you agree that the "promises" the President made are just too little, too late, but...

 

 

 

I don't agree with that at all.

 

 

 

All right, it sounds like you're willing to give him another chance after he botched the evacuation...

 

 

 

Why would you say he botched the evacuation? Louisiana's emergency preparedness plan says the state and various parishes are responsible for evacuating citizens in the early stages of a hurricane.

 

 

 

Well, there's plenty of blame to go around, maybe this isn't the time to...

 

 

 

Well, if there's plenty to go around, maybe you could assign some to Mayor Nagin, since he let those buses sit idle and flood. That wasn't Bush, you know.

 

 

 

That may be true, but the President could have sent troops in...

 

 

 

So you think he should have invoked the Insurrection Act for the first time since the Civil War?

 

 

 

The what?

 

 

 

Are you familiar with the Posse Comitatus Act?

 

 

 

Well, I mean, I, uh...

 

 

 

You don't know your a** from a hole in the ground!

 

 

 

Who gave you a job as a reporter?

 

 

 

I work for ABC!

 

 

 

That explains the leading questions.

 

 

 

Why aren't you trying to find out why there was no food and water at the evacuation centers they sent us to?

 

 

 

Maybe you could poke around and see if you can find the governor while you're at it.

 

 

 

Yeah, ask her some of those "impartial" questions.

 

 

 

You think you can get us to bash the president just because we're black?

 

 

 

He thinks we're stupid!

 

 

 

No, not at all, I didn't even notice you were stupid - I mean I didn't notice you were black! I mean, I just wanted to get a reaction to Bush's speech from the perspective of poor people.

 

 

 

So you just assume we're poor because we're black?

 

 

 

I, I, I...

 

 

 

I may not be pulling down six figures, but I know the difference between a reporter and an idiot.

 

 

 

Guess which one you are.

 

 

 

Yes, well...I...back to you, Ted.

 

Here's the video! (From Newsbuster.org, H/T: PoliPundit)

More from AYC

And from The Therapist

After Reviewing the Constitution, Michael Newdow Vows to Take His Battle With a Local Fast-Food Establishment All the Way to the Supreme Court If Necessary

 

Sorry, I've read this thing from front to back and I don't see any mention of "tartar sauce."

 

 

 

What a loser!

 

More:

Michelle Malkin

The Therapist owes me a new keyboard

Speaking of Which

Captain Ed

Al Qaeda: "Plenty Of Blame To Go Around"

Welcome to Good Morning America, I'm Diane Sawyer, and I'll be smiling for the entire first half of the show, even when it's inappropriate. Be sure to stay tuned, because later I'll be demonstrating expressions of deep empathy, genuine concern and profound sadness.

 

 

 

 

Yesterday, Al Qaeda released yet another videotape of the mysterious man known only as Azam the American, who threatened terrorist attacks against Los Angeles and Melbourne.

 

 

 

 

This morning, we bring you a Good Morning America exclusive. We have just received another ta