Daily Kos

More BushCo Tragedy Fakery?

by Armando

Sat Sep 03, 2005 at 07:49:04 PM PDT

Laura Rozen reports:

Dutch viewer Frank Tiggelaar writes:

There was a striking discrepancy between the CNN International report on the Bush visit to the New Orleans disaster zone, yesterday, and reports of the same event by German TV.

ZDF News reported that the president's visit was a completely staged event. Their crew witnessed how the open air food distribution point Bush visited in front of the cameras was torn down immediately after the president and the herd of 'news people' had left and that others which were allegedly being set up were abandoned at the same time. The people in the area were once again left to fend for themselves, said ZDF.

Ugh.

Hat tip Kevin Drum.

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  •  We all live in Potemkin village (4.00 / 3)

    It was a lot better in a yellow submarine.

    Knut

    by Knut Wicksell on Sat Sep 03, 2005 at 07:52:19 PM PDT

  •  Rught now this is rumor (none / 1)

    we need verifiable sources for this.

    cheers,

    Mitch Gore

    Wanna win in '08...?

    Put your money where your mouth is.

    by Lestatdelc on Sat Sep 03, 2005 at 07:52:32 PM PDT

  •  shocking and tragic (none / 0)

    by Tom Kertes on Sat Sep 03, 2005 at 07:52:57 PM PDT

  •  No hat tip to themis (none / 0)

    for either fake photo-op diary?

    Got Left off the Blogroll so I'll Pimp it Here NorthCoastOregon

    by OregonCoast on Sat Sep 03, 2005 at 07:53:26 PM PDT

  •  my feelings (none / 0)

    I am at least as angry as I was the night the Supreme Court chose Bush.

    And as sad for the victims as i have ever been for strangers.  Thank God everyone I know is safe.

    by nieman on Sat Sep 03, 2005 at 07:54:53 PM PDT

  •  There is a Looking Glass Quality to This (none / 0)

    Here David Brooks seems to make a lot of sense about our national shame and malaise, then he makes an abrupt right turn into la-la land with a Giuliani win prediction.  http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/04/opinion/04brooks.html?ei=5090&en=37eeb8918dbb6e2e&ex=12834 86400&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss&pagewanted=print
    What's he smokin?

    by hollywood on Sat Sep 03, 2005 at 07:54:58 PM PDT

  •  Armando? (4.00 / 2)

    Did I piss you off in another life? I'm not feeling the love here:)

    We have the original German report translated here.

    "Science is defined by how you ask the question, not the question you ask."

    by themis on Sat Sep 03, 2005 at 07:55:33 PM PDT

  •  To quote someone else: AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH (none / 0)

    Seriously, we need to get this meme out in the media, and fast.  FAKE fixing work (or, at least, temporary elevation of activity for photo op) on the 17th St. levee, plus FAKE food distribution set up just for the Pres?

    I didn't think I could become still angrier, but I'm learning otherwise.

    OK, Republican apologists:  Don't you DARE tell me not to politicize this tragedy.  What Bush has done is utterly craven, if true.

    Buncha assholes.

    It's time to get serious about renewables and efficiency. Let's win the oil endgame.

    by by foot on Sat Sep 03, 2005 at 07:55:42 PM PDT

  •  Demons in charge (4.00 / 2)

    This country is being run by demons who leave the ground littered with corpses.

    From Black Sabbath's War Pigs:

    Generals gathered in their masses
    Just like witches at black masses
    Evil minds that plot destruction
    Sorcerers of death's construction
    In the fields the bodies burning
    As the war machine keeps turning
    Death and hatred to mankind
    poisoning their brainwashed minds
    Oh Lord yeah

    We can't stop these monsters soon enough.

    Are you shaking or biting the invisible hand?

    by puppethead on Sat Sep 03, 2005 at 07:57:08 PM PDT

  •  Psychopaths (none / 0)

    He's a psychopath. His minions are psychopaths. And his supporters are either mentally deficient or psychopathic.

    I used to give them somewhat of a break. But not anymore.

    Bush is responsible now for how many thousands of deaths? How many thousands??

    How many thousands have died and are dying in New orleans and the Gulf Coast because of him --- how many torturous slow agonizing deaths?

    How many wonderful ancient old grannies and grandpas died from heat stroke and neglect and broken bones which quickly overwhelmed them with sepsis?

    How many thousands of bodies are floating, half eaten by rats and alligatorsm bloated and no longer recognizable as even human because of Bush's negligence?

    And to do a photo-op???

    Is there any difference in the psychology of Bush and the BTK killer? Or Ted Bundy? Is there?

    He's a psychopath.

    James Inhofe (R - Exxon): The greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the people of Oklahoma. - Eiron

    by cookiebear on Sat Sep 03, 2005 at 07:57:33 PM PDT

  •  We know the (none / 0)

    levee was a staged photo-op, why should the others be any different?

    "Life is a tragedy for those who feel, a comedy for those who think" - Jean de la Bruyere

    by Tinuviel on Sat Sep 03, 2005 at 07:59:12 PM PDT

  •  POTEMKINPALOOZA! (none / 0)

    FEMA was a fraud before there was a major disaster, why would it stop being a fraud once a major disaster occurred? Our government sucks. Whether you want it big or small, whether you place the most blame at the local, state, or federal level, we deserve better than this façade or whatever the hell you want to call it.

    Specifically speaking to Bush's past, present, and likely future malfeasance: it's like Bush grew up in one of those fake Wild West towns where there's just the fronts of building, behind which is only open air. He grew up there and under some metaphorical mayor's tutelage learned tha good policy meant not building a real town or walling in the rooms, but instead convincing people never to open the doors.

    Potemkinpalooza.

    (-2.75, -4.92) | Hillary isn't the opponent anymore.

    by Addison on Sat Sep 03, 2005 at 08:01:21 PM PDT

  •  Um... (none / 0)

    Video please? Pretty please? Bitteschön? Bitte sehr schön? Mit Schlag?

    Intelligent Designer Laments Lapse in Intelligence

    by mrblifil on Sat Sep 03, 2005 at 08:03:21 PM PDT

  •  More proof. (none / 0)

    Armando, you're going to be crucified for this, and even though you probably don't deserve it, it's gonna happen.

    You're not going to convince a damn person outside of the rest of the usual audience that this is happening without firsthand evidence available. We need it.

    Sometimes the jokes write themselves. Sometimes they run for President.

    by Sixfortyfive on Sat Sep 03, 2005 at 08:04:54 PM PDT

  •  Question (none / 0)

    Given the recent growth of a nutsack by various members of the press, how would such a stage managed operation be able to pass without one of the newly nutsacked journos saying something about it?

    Everyone has a plan 'til they get punched in the mouth. -Mike Tyson

    by jmgotham on Sat Sep 03, 2005 at 08:07:21 PM PDT

  •  More on the Dutch: (none / 1)

    I'd posted earlier about the Dutch being the most technologically advanced experts on construction,maintenance and repairing of levees(dijks) on earth since they've lived below sea level for almost a thousand years.
    The Dutch Ministry of Waterways volunteered their experts less than 24 hours after the hurricane struck,but received NO response from the US authorities.
    http://www.expatica.com/source/site_article.asp?subchannel_id=1&story_id=23281&name=Netherla nds+offers+US+help+with+Katrina+floods

    Apparently the DUtch have given up waiting are are sending relief supplies via a frigate anyway.
    I seems they figure by the time they get to New Orleans they might be able to raise someone-anyone in the US Federal Government who will accept and authorise their Aid and Expertise.
    Headline:
    "Dutch aid agencies say they have not been asked for financial support after Hurricane Katrina. Government to dispatch frigate with relief supplies anyway."

    http://www.expatica.com/source/site_article.asp?subchannel_id=1&story_id=23330&name=Dutch+fr igate+but+no+aid+appeal+for+Katrina+relief+

    by comrade on Sat Sep 03, 2005 at 08:11:01 PM PDT

  •  Ah (none / 0)

    This explains the peculiar exchange Bush had yesterday with the two sisters who said they needed clothes.  Bush kept directing them to the Salvation Army, and they didn't get it -- isn't everything destroyed?  Bush insisted there was a functional Salvation Army facility nearby, until a man in sunglasses leaned over to him and said, "It's gone."  The villagers and the village must have moved over to the levee, where they pretended to be repairing it.

    Wouldn't it just be easier to do the actual thing than to fake it like this?  At least sometimes?

    by Lisa on Sat Sep 03, 2005 at 08:14:19 PM PDT

  •  If you want (none / 0)

    reality news coverage go to the foreign press and media, all the reality tv in America is staged for consumer consumption and ratings just as this event so aptly shows.
    Our news coverage in America is as believable as the WWF.
    PEACE!

    by PC on Sat Sep 03, 2005 at 08:17:26 PM PDT

  •  Use Your Own Eyes (none / 1)

    Watch the CSPAN video of the Biloxi photo op.  The people who approach the president are all very clean, newly shaven,well groomed.  Some have rather elaborate upsweeps.  The whites are the whitest white- and I am referring to more than laundry here.
    These people bear no resemblance to the poor souls we have seen for the past week.  This is BS of the highest order.  And now the Chief Justice has passed away. Just who has the hand on the Great Remote Control of the national agenda? After what I have witnessed in the past week, it is difficult to believe anything I see or hear coming from DC. What's next-"And now a word from our sponsor...Exxon" ?

    Support citizen journalism. Please donate to ePluribus Media.

    by DEFuning on Sat Sep 03, 2005 at 08:18:54 PM PDT

    •  No .... you gotta watch the Fox News (none / 0)

      blip on this about 1:20'sh EST .... the reporters know the WHOLE STORY on the mother and daughter and the guy, the white guy in the long sleeved black shirt also there .... only Fox had the sound going when the guy holds hands with W and then says "my father is such a fan of yours.  he's at home in florida watching us right now!" ........ get it ....  this also was a staged op - they were given clean clothese (mother's shirt too clean and not wrinkled - she did not sleep in that) and the guy had time to call dear o dad in florida to tell him to watch fox news!   i don't have tivo .... somebody - please post it

      by bobnbob on Sat Sep 03, 2005 at 08:39:02 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

    •  That's what I thought, sparkling white shirt n/t (none / 0)

      1/20/2009 will mark the end of an error.

      by winstnsmth on Sat Sep 03, 2005 at 10:21:07 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

  •  Tin-foil hat loonies looking good now (none / 0)

    As I said on one of the other diaries, this is what a conspiracy is. And what it always has been--conspire to get W. elected, conspire to cover up his voluminous failings (the only thing he's good at), conspire to make him look good, conspire to make the MSM cover up the conspiracies.

    People used to think that the Ptolemaic model of the solar system was accurate. It took them years (in the case of the Church several hundreds of years) to ralize that Copernicus and Galileo were right.

    Folks, there are just too many epicycles in W.'s orbit and one day we'll see that the conspiracy theories make a lot more sense than accepting the official story.

    -8.38, -4.97 "...there is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so." Hamlet, Act II, Scene ii.

    by thingamabob on Sat Sep 03, 2005 at 08:19:19 PM PDT

  •  Making their own reality (none / 0)

    I'm not sure what's more amazing - the headline or Laura Bush's statement. and, of course, all of the bullsh*t in between.
     see below, please.

    Sept. 2, 2005, 10:21PM
    PRESIDENTIAL VISIT
    Firsthand look deepens Bush's concern

    By JULIE MASON

    WASHINGTON - President Bush, abruptly changing tone on the government's response to Hurricane Katrina, called the results unacceptable Friday and toured areas of devastation that he described as "worse than imaginable."

    Four days after the storm churned ashore, Bush touched ground in Mobile, Ala., Biloxi, Miss., and New Orleans, promising an improved government response and hugging tearful survivors.

    "My attitude is, if it's not going exactly right, we're going to make it go exactly right. If there's problems, we're going to address the problems," Bush said in Mobile. "And that's what I've come down to assure people of."

    The president's comments marked a turn from the previous days, when he and other administration officials repeatedly said that an unprecedented relief operation was going according to plan and that affected residents had only to wait for help to arrive.

    "The results are not acceptable," Bush declared at the White House before leaving for the ravaged Gulf Coast. "I want to assure the people of the affected areas and this country that we'll deploy the assets necessary to get the situation under control."

    Later, as Bush walked along decimated streets in Biloxi, a convoy of National Guard trucks arrived in New Orleans, bringing long-awaited assistance and heightened security to an area wracked by despair and anger.

    First lady 'proud'

    First lady Laura Bush visited the Cajundome in Lafayette, La., where thousands of evacuees are taking refuge.

    "One thing I have to take back is that this doesn't really look like what we're seeing on television," she said, impressed by the organized relief effort. "And I'm proud of the people here. I'm proud of the people who are having to live here like this, whose lives are in shatters around them."

    by compass rose on Sat Sep 03, 2005 at 08:35:37 PM PDT

  •  It's all political (none / 0)

    These bastards just don't get it do they?  They think anything can be polished over with a good photo-op and talking points.  
    People fucking died and all they are really worrying about is thier fucking image.

    Liar. Liar. Pants under fire.

    by God loves goats on Sat Sep 03, 2005 at 08:36:57 PM PDT

  •  This confirmed it for me (none / 1)

    Yesterday I wrote this while I was watching him on T.V. http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/9/2/114137/6615

    So many of us know when this is about to happen or is happening. It's enough to drive one to the brink! This story is no surprise to me, I saw it in it's first stage as did many others. This man is not serious about this country, it is run by big business and Neo Cons and the American people are left out in the cold.

    Iraq is their jack pot! It might look like a failure to us because it is but to them it's the jack pot.

    All their energy and "our" resources are over in Iraq. There they are handing out "billions" in cash. They are making "billions" in cash.

    There is not "ONE" aspect of America that they haven't completely fucked up.

    We really need to come together and find a way to take serious action. It's great to vent and post more jaw dropping stories but we really need to find a way to put a stop to this.

    I can't believe when people talk of elections as if there is a chance for a Democrat to be elected. They hijacked the elections! We have seen it over and over. Most recently with Hackett!

    Let's puit a stop to all this now, we can't wait for another stolen election.

    If America were to die and an autopsy was to be performed the media would be the cause of death.

    by dynamicstand on Sat Sep 03, 2005 at 08:49:52 PM PDT

  •  Here's a second German source (none / 1)

    Different German reporter in Biloxi

    The German Tagesschau (first state channel, ZDF being the second) reported a similar scenario, with a different reporter.

    Bottom line: When the convoy of the President arrived, hectic activity broke out for the first time, bulldozers appeared and cleared areas that didn't need clearing because nobody was still living there, and when the President disappeared, so did the bulldozers and workers.

    Christine Adelhardt, the reporter, said, that the fake scenario shocked her as much as the destruction she had seen.

    http://www.tagesschau.de/video/0,1315,OID4700936_RESreal256_PLYinternal_NAV_BAB,00.html

    (video only)

    I could do a German transcription and English translation if you put it as an update so it doesn't get lost in the comments.

    The Tagesschau has the strictest journalistic standards for news reporting.

    And then another commercial German news channel with this

    Im schwer zerstörten Biloxi im US-Bundesstaat Mississippi war außer den Sicherheitskräften keine Menschenseele auf der Straße zu sehen - abgesehen von zwei jungen, attraktiven Afroamerikanerinnen, die Bush sofort an seine Brust drückte.

    (In heavily destroyed Biloxi in the US state of Mississippi no soul was to be seen except the security forces - with the exception of two young attractive afroamerican girls, who Bush did immediately hug)

    http://www.n-tv.de/575243.html

    I'd like the media to investigate where those girls came from, and what happened to them.

    Barack Obama will be President, John Edwards will send George W Bush to The Hague

    by vanguardia on Sat Sep 03, 2005 at 08:55:31 PM PDT

    •  Good job... (none / 0)

      keep it coming if you can. The more bullet proof we can get this the better.

      cheers,

      Mitch Gore

      Wanna win in '08...?

      Put your money where your mouth is.

      by Lestatdelc on Sat Sep 03, 2005 at 09:13:53 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

    •  Can we get this translated? (none / 0)

      It is a fairly short clip.

      cheers,

      Mitch Gore

      Wanna win in '08...?

      Put your money where your mouth is.

      by Lestatdelc on Sat Sep 03, 2005 at 09:19:36 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

      •  Transcription and translation (4.00 / 3)

        Here you go. I can vouch for literal transcription and I kept the translation as literal as possible as well.

        Note, this is a live report from Biloxi.

        TRANSCRIPTION

        Zum letzten Stand jetzt live aus Biloxi Christine Adelhardt

        Vor 2 Minuten ist hier gerade der Präsident in seinem Konvoi vorbeigefahren. Was sich hier in Biloxi aber während des Tages abgespielt hat, ist wirklich unglaublich. Plötzlich tauchten hier Bergungstrupps auf, plötzlich waren hier Räumfahrzeuge, die hatte man die ganzen Tage hier vorher nicht gesehen, und das in einem Gebiet, indem es wirklich nicht notwendig wäre, groß aufzuräumen, weil hier lebt weit und breit kein Mensch mehr, die Menschen sind weiter innen in der Stadt. Der Präsident reist mit einem Pressetross. Dieser Pressetross hat damit sehr schöne Bilder, die da sagen sollen, der Präsident war da und die Hilfe, die wird auch kommen. Das Ausmaß der Naturkatastrophe hat mich geschockt aber das Ausmaß der Inszenierung hier heute schockt mich mindestens genauso. Damit zurück nach Hamburg

        TRANSLATION

        On the last state of things here's Christine Adelhardt live from Biloxi

        2 minutes ago the President drove past in his convoi. But what has happened in Biloxi all day long is truly unbelievable. Suddenly recovery units appeared, suddenly bulldozers were there, those hadn't been seen here all the days before, and this in an area, in which it really wouldn't be necessary to do a big clean up, because far and wide nobody lives here anymore, the people are more inland in the city. The President travels with a press baggage [big crew]. This press baggage got very beautiful pictures which are supposed to say, that the President was here and help is on the way, too. The extent of the natural disaster shocked me, but the extent of the staging is shocking me at least the same way. With that back to Hamburg.

        ----

        Barack Obama will be President, John Edwards will send George W Bush to The Hague

        by vanguardia on Sat Sep 03, 2005 at 09:25:49 PM PDT

        [ Parent ]

      •  Forgot the link (none / 0)

        http://www.tagesschau.de/video/0,1315,OID4700936_RESreal256_PLYinternal_NAV_BAB,00.html

        Note that the two German state channels ARD and ZDF are competitors in news reporting, so they send their own (and different) reporters and report independently.

        No hearsay, this is eyewitness reporting.

        Barack Obama will be President, John Edwards will send George W Bush to The Hague

        by vanguardia on Sat Sep 03, 2005 at 09:30:55 PM PDT

        [ Parent ]

    •  Just when you think they can't stoop lower (none / 1)

      they find a bigger ditch to squat in. I read several other reports posted at tagesschau, and they were scathing.

      "Our programs are as lawful as they are valuable." -Michael Hayden

      by smintheus on Sat Sep 03, 2005 at 09:39:51 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

    •  the girls (none / 0)

      I said upthread that the older one stated that they had returned to see what could be salvaged. So, ostensibly, their home used to be in that area.

      Also, Aaron Brown interviewd them later that evening. So some producer for his show would know something aout them. Anyone with access to CNN producers around? Someone there may be able to shed some light.

      "They're telling us something we don't understand"
      General Charles de Gaulle, Mai '68

      by subtropolis on Sun Sep 04, 2005 at 07:26:48 AM PDT

      [ Parent ]

  •  Is there a link (none / 0)

    to the German article?

    Pennacchio for Pennsylvania

    by PAprogressive on Sat Sep 03, 2005 at 09:57:45 PM PDT

  •  There is no mismanagement at LAKE BUSH (none / 0)

    I'm getting tired of this.
    There is no mismanagement. No mistakes.
    These criminals know exactly what they are doing and George's stupidity is the carrot they dangle in front of us daily while they carry out their sick plans.
    Am I nuts for thinking this?
    It's shakey ground to stand on when you are suggesting that the White House would like to see as many blacks die as possible, but itsn't this the logical conclusion?
    Rebuild for rich whites along the shores of the gulf and get their vote.
    Halliburton signs on while dead people are still floating through the streets.
    The reports of staged relief areas torn down when the cameras turn off.
    Paperwork holdups forcing relief agencies to remain motionless?
    The Director of FEMA hired by Bush is a man who has never handled any kind of official emergency situation in his life. He is a willing puppet and they just bypass him. He's the George Bush of FEMA!
    And we all know that Bush WOULD NOT give them the money to upgrade those levees.
    Though I don't blame Bush solely for this.
    My guess is those folks they bussed over to Texas will be given decent jobs IN TEXAS and reminded how their Democrat mayor FAILED them.
    Bush says that no one anticipated the failure of the levees. Don't let that distract you. He knew they would fail. We all knew. That's a script to keep you laughing. Don't fall into that trap.
    These criminals DON"T CARE about the polls, which means you and I.
    I am quickly coming to the conclusion that these bad people would let this whole country drown if the money was big enough.
    They don't want to win in Iraq, because then we have to come home. And home IS NOT where the money is. Unless you have the weather on your side...
    When will we all just say it out loud?
    They don't care about America because it doesn't pay as well as death.
    THESE ARE REAL LIFE SUPERVILLIANS.

    the darkest hour is just before the dawn...

    by batgoat on Sat Sep 03, 2005 at 10:25:39 PM PDT

  •  What about the people that work for him? (none / 1)

    The people that set this stuff up. How do they sleep at night, knowing the charade that they pull? Honestly.

    And the people that have been following orders this week to frisk 10 year old kids just rescued, or tell people they can't walk out of town?

    Ever wonder about these people? Do people have a conscience anymore? Or is that too much to ask?

    This is just too much. They're brazen about it -- I gather they KNOW the US Press won't report it.

    by Dunbar on Sat Sep 03, 2005 at 10:35:36 PM PDT

  •  Stranger was the first to post this on blah3 (none / 0)

    but thanks for bringing up the rear, Armando.

    JP
    http://jurassicpork.blogspot.com

    Defending bad taste and liberalism since 2005.

    by jurassicpork on Sat Sep 03, 2005 at 11:03:24 PM PDT

  •  Where's Our Media? (none / 0)

    My question is, do they really fool this easily, or do they simply choose to remain quiet?

    It's a shame that we have to get information like this from other countries.

    "I don't know where bin Laden is. I have no idea and really don't care. It's not that important. It's not our priority." - George W. Bush, 2002

    by MHoward on Sat Sep 03, 2005 at 11:08:02 PM PDT

  •  Potemkin Village for Bush Visit in Biloxi (none / 0)

    The link to the ZDF Article is good!

    Also, availabe is the video of the correspondent in Biloxi.  It's entitled "Verzweiflung in der Anarchie" (Desparation in Anarchy) and says of Bush's visit to Biloxi on Friday (9/2), "this morning suddenly emergency troops ("Hilfs-troopen") appeared. These were people who cleaned up the debris and looked for bodies in the houses -- however only along the President's route.  Around four hours ago, the President left Biloxi and with him went all the sanitation emergency troops."

    Personal Blog: LiberalMinded.org

    by patachon on Sun Sep 04, 2005 at 12:02:57 AM PDT

    •  slight correction (none / 0)

      she speaks of "Hilfs-Trupps". Correct translation for that is "Support Teams" or some such - the word "Trupp" (pl. "Trupps") does not itself imply a military context (but also doesn't exclude it). To make matters confusing, "Trupp" in a military context is also the name for the smallest military unit, something like a fire team.

      by cris0000 on Sun Sep 04, 2005 at 02:39:27 AM PDT

      [ Parent ]

  •  Where was the plastic turkey? (4.00 / 2)

    Couldn't Rove have had Bush meet the convention center refugees carrying the same big plastic turkey he carried on Thanksgiving in Iraq 2003?

    That would have been a terrific image . . .

    "Am I not destroying my enemies when I make friends of them?" - Abraham Lincoln

    by LondonYank on Sun Sep 04, 2005 at 03:59:08 AM PDT

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