Is the politics of fear spreading?

[Alex]

Originally Posted by Gemini Cricket

Speaking of fear spreading, CNN is going to rebroadcast it's coverage of the 9/11 bombings. Isn't that great? (He posts with sarcasm...) Oy, I'm ready to give up my cable subscription...

They aren't rebroadcasting it on cable. It will be available as a stream from what is usually the subscription section of the Web site, which will be freely available on 9/11.

[innerSpaceman]

Originally Posted by Moonliner

Are they planning to replay the coverage of our Commander-in-Chief scurrying around the country like a scared bunny rabbit?

When I make a home edit of "United 93", I'm going to plug in a split screen of Bush sitting in kindergarten with deer-in-headlights face during the part where the military finds out only the president can order the downing of civilian aircraft and immediate action is necessary to prevent Flight 93 from hitting its target in Washington, D.C.



2008 is so close, I can taste it. In retrospect, the Bush, Jr. presidency is going to prove very funny. Tragic, but funny.

[Moonliner]

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

When I make a home edit of "United 93", I'm going to

Let me know when it's up on youtube.

[scaeagles]

Originally Posted by Not Afraid

Ernesto has time - and enough open sea - to return to hurricane strength before hitting the Keys and Southern Florida. Or at least that is what was reported 20 minutes ago.

In this case, I dont think it is fear but reality.

Thankfully for the people in Florida it was simply a rather weak tropical storm as it hit. The mountains in Cuba pretty much killed any chance it had of gaining stregth, as they significantly broke it up.

I think all of the panic and discussion by local and government officials is simply a CYA. With Katrina mismanagement well in memory (both on a local and national level), that's going to continue for a long time. In fact, scare tactics in general - if you want to call them that - are simply a CYA. They can all say, should things turn bad, that they warned the populace and did all they could in preparation.

This is the case with terrorism too. I don't think Bush and his admin are trying to scare the populace, I think they are pulling a CYA. Knowing that just one even insignificant attack that is successful will call into question every single policy and every moment of preparation or lack thereof and every avenue of intelligence gathering, they want to remind the population frequently that they are doing all they can in the face of a determined enemy so that they can be on record when (sadly, I wish I could say if, but I can't) it happens.

And with every disaster situation, no matter what is done, there seems to be a need for a fall guy. Sometimes bad things happen and no one is to blame. It just....is.

[innerSpaceman]

I don't remember too many fall guys needed with FEMA under Clinton.


Sometimes does indeed mean sometimes. As in - sometimes not.

[Gemini Cricket]

Sometimes bad things happen, sometimes it just is. But Katrina was a big fvck up by this administration. It still is. People are living in trailers now since Katrina, trailers that could not withstand another harsh hurricane. They haven't learned a thing. If this happens again, we're not prepared.

[scaeagles]

I agree with the Katrina thing. Not trying to deny it at all, however I often think the responsibility of the local authorities is overlooked. Regardless....

I was speaking of a CYA in the face of impending disaster. Making sure everyone knows the worst possible scenario so in the event of anything the people in charge can say warnings were issued. Saying a horrible terrorist attack could happen at any moment so that when one does no one can say it was unexpected. This is all I am saying.

I just find it ridiculous that people need to be told how severe a hurricane can be so that if they are hurt in anyway it isn't the fault of the government.

Personal responsibility seems lost in all of it.

[Motorboat Cruiser]

Originally Posted by scaeagles

I just find it ridiculous that people need to be told how severe a hurricane can be so that if they are hurt in anyway it isn't the fault of the government.

Seems to me that knowing how strong an impending hurricane may be would be pretty useful information if you happened to be in its path.

[scaeagles]

Of course. Declaring states of emergency with mandatory evacuations for a storm that is weak on an unknown track is excessive, though.

[Moonliner]

Originally Posted by Moonliner

The weather service has been denigrated to reporting on depressions just forming off the coast of Africa that could in a week or two become a real storm due to the lack of any real activity to report on.

Yeah that's about average for my life. I disrespect one little tropical depression and the next thing you know it's tracking right at my house and just in time to spoil some of my weekend plans.

Seesch. Get a sense of humor Gaia.