Former US president Bill Clinton sharply criticised George W. Bush for the Iraq War and the handling of Hurricane Katrina, and voiced alarm at the swelling US budget deficit.
...On Hurricane Katrina, Clinton faulted the authorities' failure to evacuate New Orleans ahead of the storm's strike on August 29.
People with cars were able to heed the evacuation order, but many of those who were poor, disabled or elderly were left behind.
"If we really wanted to do it right, we would have had lots of buses lined up to take them out," Clinton said.
...FEMA boss Michael Brown quit in response to criticism of his handling of the Katrina disaster. He was viewed as a political appointee with no experience of disaster management or dealing with government officials.
"When James Lee Witt ran FEMA, because he had been both a local official and a federal official, he was always there early, and we always thought about that," Clinton said, referring to FEMA's head during his 1993-2001 presidency.
The second reason is that Clinton is an inveterate liar. James Lee Witt was *not* always there early. Just ask Jesse Jackson:
The Hurricane Floyd disaster was followed by what was judged by many to be a very slow Federal response. Fully three weeks after the storm hit Jesse Jackson complained to FEMA Director James Lee Witt on his CNN program Both Sides Now, "It seemed there was preparation for Hurricane Floyd, but then came Flood Floyd. Bridges are overwhelmed, levees are overwhelmed, whole town's under water . . . [it's] an awesome scene of tragedy. So there's a great misery index in North Carolina." Witt responded, "We're starting to move the camper trailers in, It's been so wet it's been difficult to get things in there, but now it's going to be moving very quickly. And I think you're going to see a -- I think the people there will see a big difference over within this next weekend."
Emphasis mine.
Three weeks then versus three days now - it seems to me that FEMA's response time has improved greatly. But of course, George Stephanopoulos didn't bring that point up when he did the interview with Clinton. If a rank amateur in pajamas (actually, shorts and a T-shirt) could find the Hurricane Floyd debacle, why couldn't a highly trained - and paid - professional do likewise?
UPDATE 1: I'm not the only person who caught Clinton lying on This Week today - Lorie Byrd of Polipundit zeros in on Clinton's fast and loose treatment of WMD:
What REALLY got me about the quote above, though, was the “no evidence that there were weapons of mass destruction” part. If I don’t see a big, fat MSM story showing Clinton to be the liar he is by quoting the long list of evidence that he cited as his reason for making regime change in Iraq the official policy of the U.S. in 1998, then I will never believe another word that I read or see in the MSM.Okay, I passed that point long ago. I guess I will just shake my head in disgust like I always do and rant a little here. Since the MSM is not likely to do it, I will provide some prime examples of Clinton WMD evidence here in a separate post.
We'll all look forward to reading it, Lorie.
UPDATE 2: That was fast - here is Lorie's follow-up post.
UPDATE 3: Thanks to all of the blogs who linked to this post:
- Memeorandum.com
- The Urban Grind
- The Other Corner
- The Nose on Your Face
- The Jawa Report
- The Anchoress
- According to this Jim
- Flopping Aces
- Jack Lewis Net
- Newmark's Door
- Joust the Facts
If I've missed anyone, I'll add you in a later update - thanks again!
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