For years now, the mainstream American press has been giving the Bush administration a free pass when it came to challenging his government’s web of lies. These lies have been spun almost continuously since September 11th – from the supposed tie between Iraq and Al Queda to the supposed ability of Saddam Hussein to wage a major chemical war. This same American press that has been so good to Bush had no problem spending massive amounts of ink challenging President Clinton regarding his extra-marital activities, but when it came to issues of life and death, issues that led to a horrible and avoidable war, for the most part, the press chose not to challenge the on-going lies that are the hallmark of the Bush-led government.
Well now in the face of this terrible disaster on the Gulf Coast, the press is finally doing it’s job by challenging the chronic lies that continue to pour from Bush and company…
Yesterday, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff argued that that government planners did not predict such a disaster ever could occur. In the face of piles of evidence otherwise, the blatent-ness of this lie is shocking. Scenarios predicting the exact occurrence in New Orleans have long been known and discussed in Louisiana and Washington alike. The effects of Hurricane Katrina have long been known and spelled out in an eerie precursors to the realities of the horrors that began last week.
And as if the lie of not expecting the effects of the Hurricane were not enough,Chertoff also argued that authorities did not have much notice that the storm would be so powerful and could make a direct hit on New Orleans:
“It wasn’t until comparatively late, shortly before — a day, maybe a day and a half, before landfall — that it became clear that this was going to be a Category 4 or 5 hurricane headed for the New Orleans area.”
LIE, LIE LIE.
The response to this lie from the normally cowardly CNN?
“As far back as Friday, August 26, the National Hurricane Center was predicting the storm could be a Category 4 hurricane at landfall, with New Orleans directly in its path… the National Weather Service prediction proved almost perfect.
Now that the mainstream American press has finally decided to challenge the mounting pile of lies that is the hallmark of the most inept and dishonest government in American history, perhaps they will challenge Bush and Co. on the lies regarding the war, the economy, the environment, etc. etc. that have been foisted upon the American people for 4 1/2 years now.
It’s sad that it took a horrible disaster like Katrina to awaken the sleeping giant that was the passive American Press, but at least they are finally documenting the lying ways that so many of us have been screaming about for years.
End of Rant.