See Update at Foot -- FEMA Administrator flatly debunks Garamendi
Good on Tamron Hall.
On the one hand, as I've noted here and here, Hall let her liberal leanings show more than once when serving as a "Morning Joe" panelist. But the MSNBC anchor is also the daughter of a career Army man, and clearly knows and respects the military.
When Dem John Garamendi, the California Lt. Gov., appeared on MSNBC this afternoon, Hall took the occasion to challenge him over the misleading remarks about the California National Guard that he made yesterday to Chris Matthews during an interview in which he also spoke most ungraciously, as I noted here, about Pres. Bush's impending visit to California.
TAMRON HALL: President Bush is coming tomorrow and you told Hardball's Chris Matthews that he did not need to come. Instead you'd rather have the National Guard back from Iraq. Chief of the National Guard, Lt. Gen. Steven Blum says that there are still 17,000 National Guardsmen in California right now and just 3,000 in Iraq. Would that have made a difference, and why did you make those comments?
Perhaps not anticipating a challenge in the normally-friendly confines of MSNBC, Garamendi seemed knocked off stride by Hall's question. He blathered for two minutes, and while claiming that the California National Guard was "stretched thin," eventually ran out of steam and acknowledged "these men and women [of the National Guard] like the other firefighters and the police and frankly hundreds of volunteers are doing what's needed to be done to meet this emergency in California."
Translation: California is not lacking for National Guard manpower in fighting the wildfires. Yesterday's crack to Chris Matthews about bringing the Guard home from Iraq was nothing but cheap political posturing.
Kudos to Tamron for raising the issue with Garamendi, whose TV ubiquity during this crisis seems to suggest that he sees the wildfires as his ticket to the governor's mansion.
Update 10-34 7:40 PM EDT: A bit later, under questioning from Norah O'Donnell, FEMA Administrator R. David Paulison flatly debunked Garamendi's National Guard claim.
NORAH O'DONNELL: Much has been made of the work that the National Guard does in a time like this, in emergency. Would it help if more of our troops were back here at home and not in Iraq?
R. DAVID PAULISON: There's plenty of National Guard on the ground. I've heard that rumor going around before. There's over 17,000 National Guard troops here in California . . . that's 85% of California's strength. On top of that, General Blum, that oversees the National Guard, has committed any resources the state needs and when they ask for assistance we're moving them in. General Renuar from NORTHCOM has made the same committment. We have a lot of resources on the ground, a lot of National Guardspeople here, so we need to dispel those rumors. There is plenty of help here.
—Mark Finkelstein is a NewsBusters contributing editor and host of Right Angle. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net.
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Tamron gets Kudos from me
October 24, 2007 - 18:05 ET by bassndudeTamron gets Kudos from me to. You go girl.
Save a SeAL, club a liberal!!
Concur with that. The
October 24, 2007 - 18:15 ET by BDConcur with that.
The California national Guards major formations have not deployed yet to the GWOT and are available for service by Governor Swartzenegger.
I AM SHOCKED, SHOCKED I SAY!
October 24, 2007 - 18:13 ET by Wildcatter1980How dare Tamron Hall ask such a question of Garamendi (D-CA)! Ms Hall! You are to report to Remedial MSM Journalism immediately! ;-)
Seriously, these occurrences in the MSM are much too rare and should be pointed out when they do happen. My hope is that Ms Hall will not stop there and ask "Dingy" Harry and other Democrats similar hard questions about their atrocious comments made solely for political cheap shots.
Just my $0.02
Wildcatter... I Second
October 24, 2007 - 18:15 ET by bigtimerWildcatter...
I Second that all!
Wildcatter, Comrade Hall is
October 24, 2007 - 21:50 ET by MikeBWildcatter, Comrade Hall is to report for re-education immediately. Once she has been successfully rehabilitated, then she may report for Remedial MSM Journalism. Once she has finished that, she may resume reporting, but not on any serious stories. She can do traffic reports in Tucumcari, New Mexico. We will be keeping an eye on her for a long time to come.
Sincerely,
Pinch Sulzberger
Minister of Information for
President for Life Hillary Clinton
"A communist is someone who reads Marx. An anti-communist is someone who understands Marx." Ronald Reagan
Good one MikeB! Having
October 24, 2007 - 23:01 ET by fosstenGood one MikeB!
Having lived in Albuquerque in the past, I know exactly where Tucumcari is - right in the middle of BFE.
Excellent post.
Forget 911, I dial 9MM.
I grew up in Las Cruces,
October 24, 2007 - 23:31 ET by MikeBI grew up in Las Cruces, and my Mom had family in Oklahoma, so I've been through there a few times. I kinda thought that place would be an appropriate locale for the heretic to be assigned once she was returned to the fold. ;-) Miles and miles of nothing but miles and miles.
"A communist is someone who reads Marx. An anti-communist is someone who understands Marx." Ronald Reagan
Did a cow fly over the
October 24, 2007 - 18:20 ET by futbolisgreat1Did a cow fly over the moon? Tamron is still a Liberal pundit pretending to be a news anchor.
Remember even a broken clock gets the time right twice a day.
Well now I Second that
October 24, 2007 - 18:22 ET by bigtimerWell now I Second that too...
I'm in big trouble now....lol.
Second seconds?
October 24, 2007 - 22:49 ET by FastEdYou're beginning to stutter like dingbat reid, the next thing you'll spout is that you didn't say the wild fires in CA were caused by GW, before you said they were!
There is no sense in being stupid, if you can't prove it! - my dad V
Tipping Point
October 24, 2007 - 18:25 ET by kdoliverI wonder (hope?) that we have reached the tipping point in the big partisan game that the libs and MSM have been playing for years now. The entrenched left (Matthews, NYT senior management, KO, etc) will never sway. They have drank the kool aid and looking for more. But some of the younger faces (Ms Hall) seem to be coming around, at least on some of the issues.
The Betrayus crap and some of the recent grasps by the left to control situations has become so transparent it can't be hid. First, some in the media (Ms Hall) personally know members of the military and know we are not the morons that Reid wants to portray us as.
Maybe, with the help of people like Newbusters, the younger crowd of journalists are starting to see what the old guard really is.
Or maybe I am crack?
http://thelazytriathlete.blogspot.com/
Younger journalism
October 25, 2007 - 00:53 ET by KC MulvilleI applaud Tamron Hall. I've always said that I don't mind the journalist being liberal, as long as they don't distort their reports to further the liberal agenda. Just play it straight. In this case, it seems that Hall did precisely what we ask journalists to do -- and she deserves respect for that.
I like your comment about the younger journalists. Forgive me, but I'm going to steal that, use it around others, and pretend it was my idea. Sorry, but truth is public domain.
KC -- Imitation is the most
October 25, 2007 - 09:00 ET by kdoliverKC -- Imitation is the most sincere form of flattery :)
http://thelazytriathlete.blogspot.com/
Wow!! I am impressed!! It's
October 24, 2007 - 18:32 ET by motherbeltWow!! I am impressed!! It's about time someone got back in the face of these people that are used to just throwing accusations out there and getting away with it.
You just KNOW he was knocked off stride when she not only challenged him, but had the numbers that proved him wrong! I'll bet he had no idea how may NG troops there were in CA and how many are in Iraq right now.
And I notice he never answered the question "and why did you make those comments?"
I wonder why.
And bravo to Hall for researching his answer and not just taking it as fact.
Garamendi has been
October 24, 2007 - 18:38 ET by Chris NormanGaramendi has been hellbent on being governor of CA since I used to serve him, as a waiter, way back when I was in college. I can't believe he's still around and has the same ambition at his age. The only other CA politician I can think of that had such unseemly and unrelenting ambition was Phil Angelides.
Chris... Did ya ever want
October 24, 2007 - 18:38 ET by bigtimerChris...
Did ya ever want to accidently spill something in his lap?
Was he a good tipper?
As an excellent ex-waitress that has been around some, this inquiring mind wants to know....lol.
BT,You know, I was
October 24, 2007 - 18:50 ET by Chris NormanBT,
You know, I was trying to remember that, but I just can't. I do remember, complaining about the noise, he was suing to get compensated for his riverfront estate near Sacramento Int. Airport, that he bought and moved into years AFTER the airport was built (it was under the flight path - hee-hee). I don't know if he ever collected - I sure as hell hope not.
I wonder
October 24, 2007 - 22:51 ET by FastEdDid any blue ice fall on his house?
There is no sense in being stupid, if you can't prove it! - my dad V
Garamendi on MSNBC's Tucker
October 24, 2007 - 18:41 ET by coffee260Did anyone catch Garamendi on Tucker tonight? I couldn't help but notice he sounded more like Cindy Sheehan than the Lt. Gov of California. I was steamed after hearing him give his anti-war spiel on MSNBC while is citzens were fleeing for their lives from wildfires.
coffee... I have
October 24, 2007 - 18:49 ET by bigtimercoffee...
I have intentionally not listened to those shows to today for the very reason that you stated at the bottom of your post, people are fleeing for their lives, some people do not even know what shape their home is in yet and such...adn we have these selfish spoiled rotten pathetic ungrateful leftists trying to make political points at the expense of others...
I hope this is not forgotten and backfires big big time!
This has been absolutely deplorable.
This episode reminds me of Kerry
October 24, 2007 - 20:51 ET by exLibRemember during the 04 election when one of the anchors on ABC tried to question John Kerry about his medals that weren't his medals?
At first Kerry was all flustered that someone actually threw him a curveball, but then he just got indignant until the anchor gave up and started throwing him softballs the rest of the way.
Since then, You've had BClinton and then a slew of other lefties who think of you "challenge" the anchor and claim bias then it must be true.
It just goes to show you how biased they really are that those on the left can't really handle tough questions from someone armed with a few facts that contradict their talking points.
Pure Politics
October 24, 2007 - 21:14 ET by TaserCatThe truth is... Nothing can stop a wildfire when it's being pushed by Hurricane-strength Santa Ana winds--- Not even an army of National Guardsmen. The only thing that can stop it is the beach, or the winds dying down.
Garimendi was making a cheap political shot. "Let's blame Bush for this one too."
Good for Hall and Paulison for shooting back.
Nothing like it.
October 24, 2007 - 21:51 ET by pbthinkerThere's nothing like seeing a liberal getting clocked, when they try to hand out the daily talking points. They can't even talk about a natural disaster without it being all politics, all the time. Morons.
Democrats: Specializing in "high tech lynching" since 1987.
The difference is painfully obvious
October 25, 2007 - 08:18 ET by c5thenThe left see any issue or event in purely political terms and always look at how they can get an advantage from it, or use it to make some political or ideological point. The rest of the country sees events and issues for what they are and rarely tries to get an advantage out of someone elses misfortunes.
The day that "politician" became a career choice is the day we started losing the Republic. Let's get it back! Fred08.com
So, just as what happened to
October 25, 2007 - 08:49 ET by BeowulfSo, just as what happened to Kathleen Sebelius from Kansas, Garamendi has now been publicly caught in a LIE! A LIE made for partisan politics and political gain. A LIE made based on the tragedy these fires are causing to HIS constituents - you know, those whom he is supposed to serve? And what is going to happen to him? Not a damn thing. Just like Sebelius. Which to me, is worse than his LIE. If these elected morons, regardless of party affiliation, were called out on frivolous rhetoric such as this, it would stop rather quickly. As long as they continue to get away with it, as long as there are no reprecussion for their idiotic and inane blathering, it will not only continue, it will increase.
The Closed Mind Erects Strong Barriers
But when the time is right,
October 25, 2007 - 09:48 ET by Gat New YorkBut when the time is right, will Arnold call Garamendi out on it and give hima public rebuke?
GNY, that's what we're
October 25, 2007 - 11:40 ET by BeowulfGNY, that's what we're going to have to wait and see. Arnold made the first strike. Now we'll see if he follows through. If he doesn't, we're back to square one, and the encouragement of this type of "reporting" will continue.
Personally, if it was me, Garamendi would have already had his walking papers. And a swift kick to point him towards the door.
The Closed Mind Erects Strong Barriers
You got your Facts wrong---
October 25, 2007 - 09:42 ET by Ole_SargeThe California National Guard has PREVIOUSLY deployed at least twice (in large numbers) on the GWOT. And many units were activated shortly after the events on September 11, 2001 and remained on duty for MONTHS providing security to critical assets and resources.
All the men and women in the California National and Air National Guard have served proudly, I know, we have some in our family!!!!
Statement made yesterday
October 25, 2007 - 15:12 ET by BDStatement made yesterday was that the 40th Infantry Division has not deployed as of yet to either Iraq or Afghanistan and is avaialable at the Governors request.
No scorn heaped on the California Naitonal Guard. Just stating the current status of it in light of complaints that California has depleted its guardsmen by sending them to Iraq. They have not..
It should come as no
October 25, 2007 - 15:47 ET by BenderIt should come as no surprise that if a Democrat politicians lips are moving - lies are usually coming out that go unchalleged by the MSM.
It's sad really. The media has no veracity or respect these days.
John Garamendi
October 25, 2007 - 19:20 ET by fitzfongThis clown has been a disease on California since the '70s. It's amazing how all these Gerry Brown acolytes see themselves as Presidential material. Garamendi is the proverbial career politician who gets elected to one bureaucracy after another until he's termed out...then runs for the next bureaucracy. He keeps his name out there with a series of lateral moves in the hopes that he'll be set up to run for Governor...then President. There's a whole crowd of them starting with the former Governor Moonbeam himself (now inexplicably the Attorney General)...Gray Davis, Bill Lockyer, Cruz Bustamante, Steve Westly, Phil Angelides, Zev Yarslovsky, Willie Brown (not to mention the new crop of career government hacks like Villaraigosa, Newsom and Fabian Nunez). Most of LA and San Francisco keep recycling these turds because they'll vote for any recognizable name with a (D) after it. I'd call John Garamendi an arrogant, incompetent scumbag, but that would be unfair to arrogant, incompetent scumbags.