E Pluribus Unum

He wasn't a little off on his story, he had the all but the death incorrect. If he is going to tell a story, make sure it is factual.

Well, no.

The relevant facts can be summarized in four words: "Nobody came. She died."

The rest is detail.

Pam, just "what kind of sick mind, what kind of black-hearted" bitch are you?

Tell the truth if you are relaying a story. The gentleman being quoted was taken aback that this is how the story played out. The son called his mother. The son, Thomas Rodrigue, called the home and asked if they would be evacuated. He was told they would be. They weren't and his mother died on Monday at the latest is what he figures. The owners of the home are being charged. That is the story. They deserted patients that had no way to fend for themselves. Rodrigues mother never called him on Monday or Tuesday or Wednesday or even Thursday.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,170327,00.html

Considering that criminal charges have been filed, nitpicky details might matter. They might matter alot. Some of those nitpicky details might even lead to more criminal charges being filed. So, what kind of sick mind, what kind of black-hearted people want to nitpick a man's mother's death? Only the ones who think the truth is important, especially when lives and liberty are at stake.

I think there is some set of Constitutional principles which might apply here. Some way of thinking that free men use to protect their libery. And I'm pretty sure it isn't "damn the facts, damn the law, I've got emotion on my side". I wonder what that way might be.

Hmmmmm.

Yours,
Wince

”Only the ones who think the truth is important, especially when lives and liberty are at stake.”

And Republican talking points – don’t forget the Republican talking points! I understand they’re in great peril, especially that “compassionate conservative” thing.

But parsing how many phone calls Rodrigue made to reassure his soon-to-be-dead mother, as recounted (second hand) by the emotionally distraught Broussard as half of New Orleans filled with water and 1,000 people died, should really set us straight on that one.

Why didn't he just tell what really happened? Why was there a need to embellish. The true story is heartbreaking enough. It has nothing to do with political affiliation.

I'm making a general point here, shep.

Some of those additional charges might even be filed against corrupt, guilty Republicans who need those nitpicky details to be convicted. And some might be filed against innocent Democrats who need those nitpicky details to avoid an unjust conviction.

What does this have to do with Republican talking points? It has to do with respect for truth and and respect for justice - including those inconvenient details which make Republicans - even this one - look bad.

Either way, I thought we wanted a media which tried to find out the truth.

Yours,
Wince

Wince, good point.

Thanks, Pam.

”What does this have to do with Republican talking points? It has to do with respect for truth and respect for justice - including those inconvenient details which make Republicans - even this one - look bad.”

You can’t be serious, Wince.

Who’s attempting to smear Broussard (who is providing inconvenient details which make Republicans look bad)?

Oh yes, Republicans, the lovers of truth and justice, especially for the purpose of holding other Republicans responsible for their actions.

Pulease.

Wince:

You're missing the point: the story is about a man's anguish as met by the cold-hearted, tone-deaf, pampered-poodles of the press and the "compassionate conservatives" of the Bush-apologist sphere.

I agree -- some day, the "controlling legal authorities" will have the final word on this.

In the meantime, Bush apologists (like Russert and his bloggers) are revealed to be anything but compassionate.

"Nobody came. She died."

We'll be right back, after this message from our sponsor.

Well, Ara, you asked the question, I gave the answer. And it was a very good answer.

Yours,
Wince

I agree Wince. If you don't want differing opinions why ask the question? This has nothing to do with Bush in the first place. But I guess if you try to twist it enough it will. Where is your outrage at the owners of the Nursing Home?

"Nobody came. She died."

Wrong. The relevant fact is they (the nursing home) were offered help with evacuation BEFORE the storm hit, they turned it down and made their staff hunker down with the elderly occupants and they all died. Now they (the owners) are being indicted for negligent homocide.

Those are the relevant facts, sir. The rest is bullshit fodder for the haters.

Carry on.

Shep,

I think you should update your dictionary. You use the word smear a lot and I do not think you know what this word means. It isn't a smear to point out when a Democrat is LYING.

Broussard was lying and Kerry lied too. Get over it already.
And, while I believe it is possible that they weren't actually lying but merely mistaken I like to keep things even, so any Democrat that is wrong about something will henceforth be called A LIAR. See, I have learned something from all you libruls.

Repeat after me:

Telling the truth isn't a smear.

Telling the truth isn't a smear.

Telling the truth isn't a smear.

”The rest is bullshit fodder for the haters.”

Now there's some (typically accidental) Republican truth-telling.

The haters:

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

”Aaron Broussard's crocodile tears came at the tail-end of a tirade against FEMA, …Just before his "breakdown,"…

”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?”

”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.”

"You use the word smear a lot and I do not think you know what this word means. It isn't a smear to point out when a Democrat is LYING."

Everyone lies, Rosemary. And I learned everything I know about the meaning of the word "smear" from Republicans. If and when you rejoin the reality-based community, I'm sure you'll see what I mean.

I learned everything I know about the meaning of the word "smear" from the Anti-Federalists!

Talk about needing to join the reality-based community! Of course the Constitution is better than the Articles!

Yours,
Wince

The Federalists weren't exactly chopped liver, either.

If and when you rejoin the reality-based community, I'm sure you'll see what I mean.

I see the "reality-based community" as being much akin to a "cheese-based product".

Something like "reality-based" is to reality as "Cheetos" is to cheese.

Thanks, I'll pass.

Allow me to point out that the original point of this post was to point out what a whore Tim Russert is.

Arianna Huffington gets it:

In Tim's interview with Broussard, we saw a classic illustration of the Russert M.O.: the obsessive focus on small, meaningless detail in an effort to distract attention from much larger and actually meaningful points. It's such a Tim staple, I'd be surprised if he hasn't patented it.

You may remember Broussard from his appearance on MTP three weeks ago, in which he emotionally illustrated the disastrous incompetence of the Bush administration's response to Hurricane Katrina with the story of the 92-year-old mother of one of his staffers who died before help arrived.

Russert replayed the clip. And leaving aside the fact that it was clear from Broussard's reaction that he hadn't been told the clip was going to be played again, the only point of replaying it was because Russert had found some discrepancies in the timeline of the woman's death. And this was worth a third of Meet the Press? More time than dozens of discrepancies from people at the top with the power to actually make life-and-death decisions?

This is downright disgusting that this one tragic anecdote has been turned into fodder for the partisan wars.

Rose, Wince, Pam, just what the hell are you guys so afraid of that you would obsess on the minutiae of this one death among so many, this one tragic story when there are a million displaced, thousands who lost everything. What possesses you to protest so much?

And Shep. You really should know better than to fall for the bait.

Ara, I agree with you and Arianna, Russert deserved to be torn a new one. And he looked like an ass, especially when he kept pounding the point that he wanted Broussard to eventually make, that it wasn't just the Fed's fault but all levels blew it.

But I do know why Russert did it. It's a compelling story told passionately. Broussard was once again used by MTP in a sequel which undoubtedly garnered more ratings than the first time around. It was a train wreck, but that makes good TV.

If Timmy had just listened instead of insisting on staying on script, Broussard was doing nothing but singing the praises of the Feds until he was ambushed. Or do you non-reality based folks believe that Broussard deliberately set up Russert so he could play the victimization card again.
Puh-leeze

1098 Americans dead. Dead from something the world watched for days bearing down on them. Dead from something entirely avoidable.

Dead. Buried. Mourned. In America. In the most advanced civilization the planet has ever known. That the Fed's can find locals partly responsible and visa-versa IN NO WAY absolves anyone from their responsibilities.

If we are honest enough, and think hard enough, each one of us can find blame -- in ourselves -- and can be responsible enough to resolve that this will never, ever happen again. America failed. All of us, as Americans, bear some responsibility.

And we will. We already are acting responsible. One month later, Rita kills only 7. The folks in Galveston remembered their big one a hundred years later and ran. That's what you do. The Bayou will remember Kartina for generations. Next time, they'll remember to run.

Nobody's going to move back to Jefferson Parish or New Oreleans' ninth ward if those levees aren't rebuilt better than the walls of Fort Knox. And nobody is going to reelect anyone remotely responsible for so much tragedy.

Except Aaron Broussard. To the few die-hard fools who will return to that swampy tip of the delta, he stood up to big government and big media. He was their voice, telling the world that nobody came -- and she died.

Rose, Wince, Pam, just what the hell are you guys so afraid of that you would obsess on the minutiae of this one death among so many, this one tragic story when there are a million displaced, thousands who lost everything. What possesses you to protest so much?

Afraid of? Nothing, but again, this wasn't just one death it was one in over 30. Why is wanting to get the facts straight so disgusting to you, I thought you libruls cared about facts?

This tragedy was a failure of all levels of government. ALL OF THEM.

False tales of woe are really unnecessary here and they don't help.

Broussard isn't a hero that stood up to government, he's part of the problem. I am sick of politicians that resemble pinnochio closer than they do public servants.

I thought you were too. If you only have anger towards lying Republicans, rather than lying politicians of any stripe, then you are no better than those you angrily mock. So, get off your high horse lying politician apologist.

"I learned everything I know about the meaning of the word "smear" from the Anti-Federalists!"

"The Federalists weren't exactly chopped liver, either."

OK, so maybe you guys are a bit, er, older than I.

My political consciousness was raised on Nixon and Atwater who’s partisan extremism, along with that of disciples such as Rove, has created a genuine cultural tragedy.

Besides, I think that the political smear has changed somewhat since placards and town square speeches. Mass media and enablers in the MSM such as Russert have made an industry out of slime that was once more easily ignored.

"Something like "reality-based" is to reality as "Cheetos" is to cheese."

"Thanks, I'll pass."

"I thought you libruls cared about facts?"

You don’t like Cheetos!? What are you, some brie-eating elitist ;-)?

OK, if we’re going to throw out cheesy analogies, mine would be: Republicans use facts the way a drunk uses a lamppost; to support rather than to illuminate.

Or, to borrow your frame, Republican ideology is like “cheese food” – containing no actual cheese, and while tasting cheesy to the undiscerning; it leaves a bad taste in everyone else’s mouth.

What the heck is wrong with brie you anti-cheesite?!?!

Mark,

Well, I didn't want to slam either Broussard or Russert, so I was talking about the general problem. Is the press ghoulish? Yes, death, tragedy and corruption brings eyeballs to sell. Are news media personalities needlessly and unkindly combative? Yes, and that bring eyeballs, too. Do politicians demonize opponents and angelify themselves using flamboyant rhetoric with a loose but compelling association to the facts in a way that dramatizes real problems? Yes, that brings votes.

Is it helpful when the news media checks those inaccuracies? Sometimes, especially when the inaccuracies are driving the political process to a sub-optimal result.

Was this such a case? Probably not. It sounds like typical media 'gotcha' reporting. What's the key issue? That Broussard, to his credit, had stopped pointing fingers at everyone, started praising some folks who were doing a good job and focused on those who were criminally liable. Had Broussard continued blaming everyone and started engaging in conspiracy mongering, than Russert's ambush would have been useful. But Russert's people confused a man who is fond of flamboyant Southern rhetoric ala Zell Miller with a conspiracy theorist. Whoops! Wrong guest! Look, Tim, you can't spring the ambush when the convoy takes a different route.

But if Tim had the right guest who took the right tack that ambush would have served a useful purpose in the political process.

Yours,
Wince

"What the heck is wrong with brie you anti-cheesite?!?!"

Cheese, sorry Rosemary. I had no idea you effetes were so touchy about your snack foods, I mean, hors'doeuvres ;-)