Meyer's Inbox: Nix The Blame Game
Like to read other people's mail? Well, have at it. The Against the Grain inbox is open for your perusal. And by the way, this is not a blog.
Scapegoats Can Wait
OK, so my instincts are way off. I thought for sure this piece would be a hate-mail generator. It wasn't at all. In fact I received way more nice e-mails than I'm used to. My hunch is that despite the fact that I often write about often how different politicized and partisan people are from the majority of us, I forgot about that when I began to write the column. Most people are much more concerned about helping than blaming. And they don't really buy the line the blaming and investigating helps for the next time. So very sincerely this time, thanks for all the e-mail.
Also, thanks for all the concern about my job. It never struck me that this column was even remotely "conservative" or "liberal" but many readers seemed morally certain that the mysterious uber-bosses at CBS wouldn't like the piece. Guess what. Everything is just dandy.
Good article. As a Republican, I can't believe you actually work for CBS. Maybe there is some common sense in the main stream media after all? I am truly sick of the constant politicizing of anything and everything.
Thanks,
Joan Santos
Thank you. You wrote what I feel.
I would include most media members to the embarrassing political class. Too many are focusing on the sniping instead of the efforts to relieve suffering. They could be bringing us together, focusing our efforts on the many ways to help.
I am so sorry that political people and media members do not revere their roles more.
Marcella Wilson, Maple Park, IL
I was so pleased to see this reasonable article from CBS. The partisan sniping has gotten way out of hand. I can only hope that this message gets through to those who need to hear it. Certainly there were mistakes at many levels, but the idea that they were intentional is unsubstantiated at best and destructive in all probability. CBS would do well to spread this message far and wide. Let's stop the baseless accusations.
Jim Ogden, Dover, PA
I took the day off to work on the house and was sitting down to read the latest news on the internet. I followed a link from Lucianne.com and almost choked to death on my breakfast bagel. A voice of reason from CBS!!!! More of this type of objective reporting on your evening broadcast, and I might start watching again…..
Cheers.
E. Royce White, Niceville, FL
It is a wonderful editorial, Washington has become a place where "winning" and "losing" seem to over ride doing what is best. Katrina provides just another example of this. If Congress really wants to help have each Congressman and Senator go to the Transportation bill and cut one Pork project from his district - that would go along way for paying for the cleanup.
U-DUB
Agree with everything you wrote, but now wonder how many days you have left at CBS News. Remember Bernard Goldberg.
Kathie
I am sure that the politicians, President Bush and all parties concerned can walk and chew gum at the same time. I don't think it is too much to ask that questions be answered and the victims of Katrina be taken care of simultaneously. The race and class issue has been swept under the rug for too long. The real crime is that in 2005 America is still grappling with race relations and issues involving class distinction, not that it is mentioned. For a country that is quick to try and solve problems in other nations, how about if we solve our own first.
BGILWIL
I disagree with you about 99 percent of the time. I read your articles and find your views often to be idiotic. However, and I can't believe I am writing this, you are right on the mark this time. We need to come together as a nation and help our fellow Americans. I am sick of the finger pointing. The blame game is distracting from the nations current task at hand. We have American citizens who need our help, immediately. Stop the political game that is exacerbating the situation.
For once I am in agreement with Dick Meyer. Dogs and cats playing together!
Brian P. Leech, Houston, Texas
We the "normal" American public agree with what Dick's article said. We are sick of politicians trying to get camera time at the expense of the real victims of a disaster which was impossible to prevent.
Thank you CBS News, for FINALLY getting the story right. If CBS continues along these lines, maybe we will give you another chance.
M. Nice, Corpus Christi, TX
Let me catch my breath...
It is hard to believe there is someone at CBS who can still tell the truth.
Please don't fire Dick Meyer for doing it. Who knows, truth-telling may catch on over there.
George Croft, Dallas, Texas
This was a great article on the political comments after Katrina. I have experience with emergency response and am tired of hearing people and mostly politicians that have never been in a command center spout off about "their assessment." As in warfare you do not send in forward relief without back channel support. You do not evacuate with no facility. Yes this is not a shinning moment for America but mostly for Washington. So much of response is not visible and that is the most essential work.
Keep up the writing and get yourself on the main CBS programming. Those of us who have been in a response command center are outraged at the Congressional, Hollywood and political commentary. I mean children are in schools only 9 days after. When FEMA rolled into New Orleans on Friday they were able to evacuate the city to established shelters due to work done on Wednesday and Thursday.
Timothy J Bates
For a moment, as I read it, I thought I was dreaming. This, surely, can not be a product of CBS. Then, I realized that, in fact, it had come from CBSNews.com --- quite likely, a more enlightened and honorable group than those at TV and Radio. But then, who among us is not more enlightened and honorable than the "mainstream media".
Many thanks and I hope Dick Meyer can keep his job and keep these types of columns coming.
Greg Willcox, Spokane, WA
It is utterly refreshing to read a piece of such good common sense and lucidity.
Mr. Meyer clearly shows the link between our national propensity for litigation and the current scapegoating and finger pointing regarding Katrina. It's a subtle point, and worth pondering.
Jane Patsakos, Kentwood, Michigan
I am astonished to read the comments of Mr. Meyers. Are we taking a step forward in journalism when a MSM outlet speaks out about the political motivations of those who constantly jump in front of the cameras? There are a small percentage of citizens who always join in on this political division of our country but the over whelming number of citizens, I believe, are sick to death of this crap!
Ruth Skidmore, Plymouth CA
Bush has always been mighty quick and mighty good at playing the blame game on everyone else, so why should he and his henchmen not be held accountable?
This can't be blamed on Bush. It's all Clinton's fault. It's the fault of Democrats. If Clinton hadn't had sex with a woman, that hurricane would never have formed. Let's get him! No wait...it's the fault of TEACHERS! Teachers must be held accountable! Let's blame unions! Teacher's unions did it. We can't let those lousy teachers get away with this! Fire them all! Get rid of teachers! Get rid of their unions! Get rid of public education! Those lazy underprivileged people need to take some responsibility for their own education. They must be held accountable for their own actions!
But not Bush. Bush is not accountable for anything. The buck doesn't stop with him. It stops with YOU.
The media is just SO unfair. They pick on poor, innocent Bush all the time. So stop your whining on Bush's account.
Lanette Fox
Enough is right. Enough Bush can do no wrong talk.
From Jon Stewart on the "Daily Show": "Little observation: When people don't want to play the blame game? They're to blame."
Which school of criminal investigation would recommend that anyone interested in learning the truth wait and let evidence evaporate before an investigation begins? Are you so complacent that you are willing to wait until after the mid-term elections for the report that says the head of FEMA should have been fired not only for botched preparedness and botched rescue but you need to give him time to add botched recovery to the list? Out of respect for the dead, I want to know how many people suffered unnecessarily and I want to know how many died and I really want to know how many of them died between Monday and Friday.
I swear, the people who voted for Bush must have also signed a loyalty pledge and a pledge to hear no evil, see no evil, speak no ill of their potentate. I see he has set Sept. 16th as the national prayer for victims of Katrina day. Like I need him to tell me when to pray. I've been praying since day one. He should name the day his wing and a prayer day. Better yet, wing ding and a prayer day. Grrr . . .
Eldonna Ruddock
Racism was involved in the withholding of aid to the black citizens of New Orleans.
Your changing the subject to scapegoating is typical of the white-controlled media of today.
You enjoyed showing the suffering of those black people - didn't you?
Dick Richards, Atlanta GA
Yes, I agree that we all need to pull together. Unfortunately, the divisive, winner take all, unwillingness to take responsibility or to admit error, and responsiveness of the Bush administration only to the perceived constituency of the moneyed and the religious fundamentalists have set the tone for present plethora of finger pointing.
Your closing remarks imply a large part of the political problem in the U.S. They state:
"Most people thought 9/11 would bring the country together and ease the so-called culture wars. It may have for some, but certainly not for the politically engaged. And so it will be with Katrina."
Perhaps if those who are politically not engaged would become engaged, we would have an administration that truly represents the majority of the electorate. Then we might be better able to pull together.
Robert V. Hubbard, Springfield, VA
After reading your column "Scapegoats Can Wait", I have come to the considered conclusion that you're an idiot.
Read this aloud and perhaps it will sink in: The hurricane was a natural disaster. The flooding was man-made. Are you getting it now?
Objecting to a president who leaves thousands to die while he plays guitar is not partisan. It's human. In case you haven't noticed, this country has come together over this crisis. It's come together in condemnation of this incompetent administration. The only thing embarrassing is clueless columnists like yourself who refuse to believe the abundant evidence before their eyes.
I really couldn't care less about the democratic "leaders." When will you start saying what really needs to be said: that this president is so overmatched by the demands of his job that he needs to resign.
How many more Americans -- Americans for God's sake -- need to die before "journalists" like you will take a stand? Are your career and connections really that important? What if it was your family lying dead under the flood waters? Would you still want to wait for answers?
Yours in disgust,
John Graziano
Not A Time For Partisan Sniping
Some readers thought I had hit the nail on the head this week with my comments on the partisan harping about the Hurricane Katrina. But many others, it seems, would like to hit me on the head.
Thank you for a thoughtful piece; the media is much at fault for showing ONLY the dreadful horror of the event; it would be wonderful to hear from a few of those risking their life to help others and to hear from those who don't blame Bush for EVERYTHING that happens anywhere, anytime. May God bless and protect all who have suffered so much.
Barbara Anderson, AZ
Bush has shown incompetence in everything he has ever attempted. It is vital that Americans are aware of it and make decisions in light of it. To not point out how stupidly Bush acts, and the tragic results of his decisions, would be a failure of understanding and action on the part of the people.
Quoting Limbaugh is a fool's errand. Limbaugh is the ultimate partisan, who uses any tactics to accomplish his sleaze. I frankly am amazed a legitimate professional like you would quote Limbaugh for any purpose.
It is vital that the people unite in strength to hinder any other actions on the part of this dim bulb. If we can't, then we deserve what we get.
Jim Slark, Dana Point, CA
"Of course some howlers in the winds of politics and culture war are trying to score political and rhetorical points on Katrina's back; we'll make fun of them later."
I think making fun of this ridiculous comment is warranted now. This was a tragedy being predicted and talked about for years. The government had days to plan for the hurricane's arrival. Bush cut funding to fix the levees so more money could go toward Iraq and other areas which do not help Middle America. Now is not the time to hold people accountable?? Please, WHEN is the time?? How much more are Americans going to sacrifice and suffer for the miserable failures and delusions of this President?? Can someone please explain why helicopters did not air drop food and water supplies to the Dome until FRIDAY?? Even if we believed Bush's pathetic excuse that our superb military couldn't make it into a flooded American city before now and that no one could have possibly predicted this tragedy, WHY couldn't helicopters have at least air dropped these supplies Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday?? But no, let's just hold Bush unaccountable yet again for another one of his miserable failures.
What will it take to wake up Americans to what Bush has done to us by sending all our resources, lives, and money for his delusional war and ignoring warning after warning after warning on global warming? What will it seriously take? How much longer are Americans going to tolerate listening to Bush parrot over and over again how he's working hard and thinking about things? The absolute failures of this President with NO consequences is literally amazing. When will we finally say enough?
"This event is frankly too big to have opinions about."
Frankly, if you really believe this, find a new job.
Jenny Wienke
You often hit the nail on the head in your commentaries, and this one, again, sinks into the wood. When a neighbors' house is on fire, we rush to put it out, first. Later, when everyone is safe, we can talk about the housing code violations that may have caused it. Today we have Americans dying across the Gulf states, and dead bodies to be respectfully picked up and buried. My state -- Vermont -- stopped what we were doing yesterday and filled dozens of tractor trailers with water, clothes and food at 11 drop-off sites, including the statehouse lawn. I was at one site, loading pallets with countless volunteers who just appeared and were likewise grateful to pitch in. It may be human nature to seek advantage out of turmoil, but it was human spirit that filled the trucks with essentials for our southern neighbors.
Michael T. Heath, Hinesburg, VT
No, Dick, it IS time for partisan sniping. We've been told for six years that this administration was re-organizing agencies to protect the U.S. in case of disaster. We've had color coded warnings that make Chicken Little look mild-mannered. Billions have been squandered to that end only to discover that, when the chips are down, the responsible agencies cannot manage a simple water drop to an elevated freeway. And the former F.B.I. head who was tipped to the imminent hijacking jet attack has been given a medal of honor.
It is time for more than partisan sniping. It's time for people to hit the streets to show their disgust with this sham of a government and a poseur for a president.
Dean Hubbard, Orlando, FL
Admittedly, I have not for a couple of years done more than rarely browse your website nor those of the other mainstream media outlets because I became tired of the lack of news being reported and the obvious increase of editorializing being offered instead.
In the wake of the hurricane catastrophe, however, and the unbelievable speed at which this country and its elected leaders are being scoffed, I felt compelled to scan some of the headlines on CBS News and other media websites to confirm what I could not believe was already being said by the media in the hourly radio reports. Your lone headline, "Not a Time for Partisan Sniping," is the lone sane voice on all of these websites (abcnews.com, nbcnews.com, cnn.com) to this average American who is trying to gather the facts, to decide where to send my money, and to make sense of this American human tragedy. Mr. Meyer, you are it...the only one expressing this sentiment.
I have decided one thing already: I would prefer to persevere with my fellow Americans without those who would take this time to politicize this disaster. Thank you for your point of view and for putting it into words for the world to read. I hope to hear more such sanity from you and your cohorts -- although, sadly and except for you, I will not hold my breath.
M. K. Cirame, Saint Clair Shores, MI
I agree it is no time for partisan sniping. However, it is a time for accountability. The road map for that accountability will need to include the decision to cut funding for the New Orleans area levees for the first time in 37 years, starting in the first year this administration was in office (See Times Picayune, New Orleans CityBusiness, etc.), the decision to fight a discretionary war in a far off land after drumming up popular support by fear mongering references to mushroom clouds and mendacious linking of 9/11 actors to Iraq, poor planning for the aftermath of that war resulting in an overextended National Guard, poor evacuation planning for this very hurricane disaster that has been predicted for decades, tax cuts during war which had a direct effect on federal spending on levees, and by the complete lack of leadership as evidenced by this President's need to keep a T-Time and make political stops in Arizona and California to raise partisan campaign money after the hurricane had hit. Oh, I would also recommend reading the EPA report on global warming, especially the part headed by "CLIMATE CHANGE EXPECTED to LEAD TO STRONGER HURRICANES." It was severely criticized and dismissed by the President, but you might find it a good read for an accountability article.
In passing, I see you have quoted Rush Limbaugh as a source of information for your article calling for an absence of partisan sniping and on the irrelevance of global warming. I thought he built his empire on those very things: partisan sniping and hot air.
Rich Brock
I am so relieved to read your commentary and see that not all members of the press corps have gone totally insane. I am sick to death of the typical, pseudo-intellectual but overly simplistic analysis that sensationalizes the news, exploits the victims, further polarizes an already divided public and assigns ridiculous blame to political enemies -- most often to the current President.
Thank you for your much-needed voice of reason. May your influence be felt and copied by your comrades and colleagues throughout the media.
Jane Day
I fully agree that partisan cheap-shots, left, right or center, are out of order in a time when we see so much death, so much suffering that it is impossible to absorb it all at once. But pragmatic criticism is another matter. If one life is spared because one FEMA official, or one politician works one minute more than she or he would have done in the absence of that criticism, then I say let us not withhold at least this measure of criticism. From Federal and State agencies to our politically elected leaders, the effort to save New Orleans and the Gulf Coast has been slower than it should have been, smaller than it needed to be, and as uncoordinated beyond what one familiar with the centralized nature of other governmental programs could ever have imagined. Despite the heartbreaking scenes, I did not expect the government to respond for 24 hours after the levees broke (i.e. until mid-day on Wednesday). But it is now very early Thursday evening and no one is even dropping water and MREs to thousands of people congregated in small spaces easily reached by helicopters for low-level dumps to the ground.
We should, indeed we have a moral obligation, to keep the people responsible for policy, administration and execution of life-saving services for those who are sick, starving and scared. I don't care about Rush Limbaugh, or Robert F. Kennedy Jr. right now. Neither should you. But I do care that people if those with responsibility are asleep at the switch. So should you.
Ira J. Cohen, Plainsboro, NJ
It's not partisan bickering when the evidence of GROSS INCOMPETENECE is so damned overwhelming. The policies of this administration, the lack of performance on the part of FEMA and the DOD, etc are a disgrace.
Joseph Plunkett
The article on CBS News' website regarding avoiding partisan politics in the N.O. mega-disaster is extremely lame.
I would like to indict CBS as one of the major media as guilty players in all of this. I am an independent voter who cares about people more than corporate profits, and all the networks are in a race down, down, down in terms of accountability to their viewers.
Not only do you not hold the elected officials who are guilty of massive corruption, fraud and lying to the world accountable for their incompetence, you had the audacity to run a piece on the Monday night news to the effect of "Camille -- there was a real storm."
If you truly think the disorganized bunglers who comprise the president's "Homeland Security" henchmen have not proven themselves to be completely incompetent, I sure hope the next catastrophe hits the town where you and the rest of CBS News' smug employees live. In the meantime, how about some real reporting instead of this apology for people who don't even slightly deserve it.
No wonder we have the worst president, ever.
David Brown, Renfrew, PA
Granted, perhaps now is not the time for a discussion about global warming as a possible contributing factor to Katrina.
Let us note, however, that in order to divert funding to a war in Iraq, the Bush administration repeatedly cut requested funding to repair the New Orleans levees that broke in the wake of Katrina, leaving an entire city half-submerged and evacuated. Let us note that over half of the National Guardsmen (and their equipment) needed to save desperate New Orleans residents in this time of catastrophe are in Iraq. And let us note that the war in Iraq was started by our administration for reasons that have been, one by one, been proved misleading.
It isn't partisan sniping to write articles that explicate how the means for preventing the catastrophe in New Orleans were diverted for an unnecessary war: it's holding the current administration accountable for its disastrous actions. That's what the media should be doing right now -- I wish you would put aside your partisan politics to do that, instead of using column space for frivolity.
Maya Gurantz
Once again, a moronic, simple minded editorial from Dick Meyer. He actually quotes one of the most vile and hypocritical people in America -- Rush Limbaugh to attack Robert Kennedy (a passionate defender of the environment).
Rush Limbaugh for years has ignored real scientist on Global warming and its impact including extreme hurricanes -- the Bush administration has ignored plans for fixing New Orleans levy system and deferred the money for the war in Iraq -- both deserve blame in this mess and NO it should not wait for pathetic shills like Dick Meyers to sweep their culpability under the carpet.
What actual purpose does Dick Meyer serve other than to play toady to Bush and Limbaugh? Quit wasting my time and others on crap like Dick Meyers and his moron personnel opinions!
W.R. White
'Save Gas: Liberate the Left Lane'
In response to my proposal to liberate the left lane from slow-moving left lane hogs, some readers fired back with complaints about the dangers of aggressive left lane bullies. Some goodie-goodies complained about anyone who would exceed the speed limit. But this time, most readers agreed with me; that won't happen again soon, I promise.
I get the distinct impression that you are one of those people who think the speed limit signs along our highways and byways have a disclaimer that says the speed limit only applies to everyone else.
Using the left lane for passing only is a good idea, except that some morons think it is carte blanche to use the left lane for Grand Prix racing. This is America, where we have more cars than people -- not Europe, where you do not need a car to travel across the continent and a driver's license costs $1,200.
In actuality, it is the speed differential that causes the most serious accidents. If only one person in the right-hand lane is doing 45 m.p.h. in a 65 m.p.h. zone, it does slow everyone down. But it is when some idiot in the left lane is doing 100 m.p.h. that unexpected and fatal accidents are likely to happen. By your logic, and I have heard it from others, those people who are stuck behind the person doing 45 have no right to pass unless they can go faster than everyone else on the road.
And exactly how do you apply the left lane rule in metropolitan areas?
The real answer is to start driving sensibly and realize that we all have a tax stake in the roads of this country and have a right to go from point A to point B without some steroid-crazed, Earnhardt-wannabe driving up our tailpipe -- right lane or left.
Doug Williamson
So, let me get this straight -- us mere mortals are supposed to cower in the right-hand "stop 'n go" lanes, dodging traffic entering and leaving the highway, so the chosen ones can sail majestically by? That's OK with me when traffic is light, but when it gets busy, all bets are off. Every lane is public property so the left lane is available to all -- even us troglodytes who insist on keeping our speed within the same neighborhood as the posted limit.
Most cars get their best mileage at about 40 to 55 m.p.h., so having the freedom to go faster won't save gas at all.
As for your admiration for the European way of doing things, well, if the grass is greener ...
Mike Graham
Dick Meyer completely ignores what AAA and the National Transportation Safety Board include among the most deadly causes of highway accidents: speed and aggressive driving. While all motorists would do well to heed the rules of the road and keep to the right, except for passing other vehicles, Mr. Meyer appears to sanction aggressive techniques in an effort to "push" the offending motorist into the right lane.
There is absolutely no room on our highways for an ego, Mr. Meyer. Perhaps Mr. Meyer would get better mileage and feel safer if he were to move to Europe where speed and aggression are not only tolerated, but encouraged. Hey Mr. Meyer ... I'd be glad to help you pack.
S.M. Eliopoulos
Cute column, but Mr. Meyer missed the point. Unfortunately, most of the freeways/expressways are beyond capacity. My late father, then a surveyor with the city of Los Angeles, was informed by a highway engineer that the design capacity of Los Angeles freeways was 3,500 cars per hour at 35 m.p.h. past a given point. Add to that the various sizes and capabilities of vehicles, plus the training and experience of the vehicle operators, and it all adds up to a can of worms. Don't drive if you don't have to--walk, bicycle, carpool, shuttle, public transit – lots of options. Consolidate your errands. It can be done. Since fuel is a market-driven commodity, the less that is used, the cheaper it will be. When we make water (hydrogen) a viable fuel source, demand for oil will be cut in half.
Jim Emanuel
Hallelujah! Amen! And every other exclamation one can think of regarding Dick Meyer's article on Left Lane Hogs. Can't tell exactly how much of the piece was intended as tongue-in-cheek (if any), but no matter; I wholeheartedly agree and was happy to see my views reflected so nicely.
Lollygagging in the left lane does not just inspire road rage in males – it tends to infuriate this particular female as well. People who are moseying need to be in the right lane (or, preferably, at home) not impeding the flow of traffic by tying up the passing lane. To them I say – stop being so selfish. You're in someone's way – and that someone is going to try a stupid maneuver to get around you. Yes, it is not legal to drive too fast. Yes, it is not legal to cut in front of cars to pass someone. But, you in your piety are blocking the way, leaving those of us in a hurry no other choice.
However, I don't think passing lane laws will solve the problem. This country needs to see a culture change. Like smoking, Left Lane Hogging should be frowned upon, ridiculed and made unacceptable by every driver. Then, and only then, will the lollygaggers get the heck out of the way.
Karol Olson
Your suggestion about getting slow drivers out of the left lanes on multi-lane highways is fine, but there's an idea that would save a lot more fuel and frustration. At long last, why don't businesses that employ knowledge workers get serious about telecommuting? There are many millions of people clogging up the highways and burning up gasoline commuting every day to jobs that they could do at home just as easily and effectively. I'll bet most of these workers already have their own computers and high speed Internet connections, not to mention fax machines and cell phones and just about everything else they would need. If every knowledge worker in America would work at home just two or three days a week out of five, what a difference it could make on the roads.
Steven Randolph
If you still want to send in an e-mail, you'll have to read a real column to find the address.