VP on Message with Talking Points.

In an impressive display of administration-wide discipline and coordination Vice President Cheney was right "on the money" today in Gulfport.  He followed the "talking points" without a flaw in his performance and diction.

-Fulsome praise was bestowed on "first providers."

-State officials and state government were given "faint praise."  So faint I could not hear it.  Perhaps I missed it but Governor Barbour did not seem to be in evidence in Gulfport.  (perhaps he offered some private word of critique for FEMA in private, and had "something else to do today.")  If that is wrong, let me know.

-A direct appeal to the people as the recipients of federal largesse bypassing credit for local and state government was made with considerable effectiveness.

-The military, both National Guard and "active duty forces," were repeatedly referred to as instruments of federal assistance.  The NG was mentioned repeatedly as coming from "across the country" thus minimizing the role of local action and maximizing the image of a benevolent federal government.

Well Done!  I would give the planners an A-, and hope that they can do even better!!  The meetings in which these things are decided must be marvelous.

Pat Lang

Comments

[RJJ]

BEHOLD! [cue fanfare]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/07/AR2005080700843_pf.html

"The U.S. military has devised its first-ever war plans for guarding against and responding to terrorist attacks in the United States, envisioning 15 potential crisis scenarios and anticipating several simultaneous strikes around the country, according to officers who drafted the plans."

________________________________

Quick work!!!

They must have been going round the clock.

[sbj]

Ah yes! The "Ministry For The Peoples Enlightenment" is doing a bang-up job!

[RJJ]

Not their brief. Never thought of it before. Got busy, pulled it out of a hat.

The regime demands one thing of its subjects (formerly known as citizens): the suspension of disbelief.