Pelosi
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi was interviewed by CNN and there are a couple of interesting items here:
PELOSI: But if he does — but if he wants to then say that it didn't go right last week, then he should replace Michael Brown.
PHILLIPS: But if you, if we go back, I mean, we can go back year after year after year, and we can talk about FEMA and what went wrong within FEMA and should FEMA be under the Department of Homeland Security.
But if we want to be historical here, and we want to go back in time, I mean, we can go back to "The Times Picayune" and the investigation that it — when it — when reporters revealed that time after time, monies were asked for from all types of various politicians, of the politicians you worked side by side with, laws that you yourself vote on, and monies that should have gone to Louisiana to take care of the problems with regard to the flood control systems.
And I think it's unfair that FEMA is just singled out. There are so many people responsible for what has happened in the state of Louisiana.
PELOSI: Well, that's true. That is true. And I'm sorry that you think it's unfair. But I don't. I think it's unfair to the people who lost their family members, their lives, their livelihoods, their homes, their opportunity.
Ok, first note that in that last quote, Pelosi is using the stupid deflection technique I've previously complained about. Keep an eye out for this technique – it's everywhere and I tend to notice liberals using it much more than conservatives. I think that's because they like to take the righteous indignation tactic in arguments and this helps keep them from actually arguing the merits of their position or defending a point that's under attack. Pelosi hasn't demonstrated that her point is fair, she has just deflected attention away from the issue by talking about something else.
The interview continues right after that:
And FEMA has done a poor job. It had no chance. It was (INAUDIBLE)…
PHILLIPS: But what about all those warnings…
PELOSI: … may I please respond?
PHILLIPS: What about all the warnings from the Army Corps of Engineers…
PELOSI: But the Army Corps of Engineers…
PHILLIPS: … years ago, saying there's a problem with these levees, there's a problem with this city.
PELOSI: Myra, Myra, Myra…
PHILLIPS: It's Kyra. It's Kyra.
PELOSI: … if you want to make a case for the White House, you should go on their payroll. But the (INAUDIBLE)…
PHILLIPS: I'm not making a case for the White House, by all means, believe me.
Apparently the media is only supposed to be aggressive in questioning Bush and Republicans. If they dare question Dems, they get labeled as Rovian stooges. Notice the effectiveness of the charge, though, as Phillips quickly defends herself.
There are a few other points, but these are the ones that really stood out.
