When issues, such as abortion rights, gay and lesbian rights, educational rights, etc. are raised, the media regularly covers the implication of “States Rights” yet wit the hurricane coverage there was a fanatical rush to show that George Bush and his federal government screwed up. If balanced coverage were in place a few things might have gotten more attention such as:

1) The National Guards are state militia who report to their state Governors who is there Commander-In-Chief, not the President of the United States. This is is to allow the states to have militias that serve as a check and balance to any potential coup/overthrow of the government by a federal dictator to me and is also embodied in the constitutional right to bear arms. Only when federalized for action outside of the US does the President become share the Commander-In-Chief role for for National Guard Troops. Very little was done to question the Commander-In-Chief of the Louisiana National Guard as to her response to the emergency in her role as Commander-In-Chief and her control and use or lack thereof of troops and equipment at her disposal. Is the Governor responsible to the people of her state to ensure they have a good emergency plan regardless of the federal government role? Does she understand states right and her authority and responsibilities as commander-in-chief and governor?

2) The federal government is not allowed, by law, to deploy troops withint the borders of the United States in a police type of capacity. National Guard troops, under the command of the state Governors, are not subject to this limitation. So, for many of the control efforts, George Bush could not legally provide policement to help enforce laws. The Governor could.

3) Prior to the hurricane hittin New Orleans, the Mayor of New Orleans declared a mandatory evacuation of the city yet the Governor would not approve the order, even after the hurricane stuck, flooding was occuring, etc. She continuted to take a “Wait and See” attitude. In TV coverage, a few questions were asked if she and the mayor were on the same page with absolutely no foloow up questions when it appeared they were not.

4) After the hurricane struck, the Governor said she should not have to ask the Federal Government for help. This help should have been automatically provided, yet, both democratic and republican administrations have been very aware of the states rights and other legal issues that require a Governor to initiate requests for federal aid, support or intervention. The Governor even posted a copy of the letter she sent President Bush asking for military help, help from other state National Guards, and naming an overall commander to coordinate the state and federal militias. Yet the Governor declined the first offer of support when she learned what this would entail including putting the Louisiana National Guard under the same structure. She she hesitated on the implementation wanting to retain direct control of the LA National Guard and wanting control of all other militia hurricane response resources to be beased in her Louisiana Emergency Headquarters.

5) Did the governor have ulterior motives of keeping all relief internal to the State of Louisiana? I personally know that volunteers from Angel Flight, a group of pilots that ferry people with medical needs to locations to receive that aid, were initially prohibited, by the Governor of Louisiana, from flying anyone needing medical attention to any destination outside of the State of Louisiana. Why weren’t these types of things reported in the media? Was it because theres type of issues would reflect state and local political issues that could not be tied to the federal government or a conspiracy by George Bush against blacks? The net results for citizens of Louisiana was the Governor’s action delayed medical attention to peole requiring it.

Things I have learned from watching hurricane coverage on TV during the last two weeks:
1. White folks don’t make good news stories.

2. The hurricane only hit black families’ property.

3. New Orleans was devastated and no other city was affected by the hurricane.

4. Mississippi is reported to have a tree blown down.

5. New Orleans has no white people.

6. The hurricane blew a limb off a tree in the yard of an Alabama resident.

7. When you are hungry after a hurricane, steal a big screen TV.

8. The hurricane did 23 billion dollars in improvements to New Orleans. Now
the city is welfare, looters and gang free and they are in your city.

9. Don’t give thanks to the thousands that came to help rescue you, instead
bitch because the government hasn’t given you a debit card yet.

10. Only black family members got separated in the hurricane rescue efforts.

11. Ignore warnings to evacuate and the white folks will come get you and
give you money for being stupid.

Regards,
Peter Hughes

How about that Dan Rather Media Center or whatever at Sam Houston State?
Think they might rename it for Marvin Zindler? ;P

Therefore, I apologize on behalf of all Texans, especially for the vast majority of us who have helped the state carry the GOP in all national elections since 1980. (The election of Ann Richards as governor in 1990 was strictly a fluke – it was either her or Clayton Williams. Talk about a rock-and-a-hard-place choice!)

If I could, I’d revoke Rather’s state citizenship. Maybe I can petition the state Legislature to do it.

Boy, talk about having a Dixie Chicks moment….!

Regards,
Peter Hughes

Dan was on with Marvin Kelb last night, praising the media’s Hurricane Katrina coverage. Today, we find out that much of the Katrina hype about murder and mayhem in the Superdome never happened. It was 6% fact 94% hype. Sweet!

That must have hurt more than having wisdom teeth pulled.