NBC "Daily Nightly" instant reaction (Brian Williams blog)

[crispini]

Sept. 15, 2005 | 10:40 p.m. EDT

Instant analysis and early reaction


Early reaction seems to be this: there will be local anger in this region (and many may find this frustrating) at the very portions of the speech meant to convey real and rare contrition on the part of the President. The anger may be in reaction to the government denials (of any major problems) and reassuring statements during that initial week of hell in this city. It truly appeared to be, as some branded it, a split-screen reality. During one particularly devastating briefing, Secretary Michael Chertoff appeared to be delivering a sunny and in-control message, especially when juxtaposed with the chaos that MSNBC, for one, was showing in the other half of the screen.

There will be the predictable chatter about the White House advance team's choice of the backdrop... one of the truly beautiful places in the Quarter (indeed in all of New Orleans). The other choices, a friend in politics points out: were devastation (a downer but real) or desolation (a compromise location that would match the reality on the ground here tonight). There will be locker-room deconstructions of that walk the President took (from his initial position behind the statue of former President Andrew Jackson) en route to the podium. I must say that taking the satellite delay into account and absent any real timing, I chose the path of least chance of on-air mess: I stopped talking and let viewers take in the solitary stroll prior to the start of his remarks.

more....

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8045532/

[progressivebydesign]

1. I felt it was bullshit for Bush to speak from that spot.

It belies the destruction and death that lies beyond. It was a Disney backdrop, as others have pointed out. Too perfectly lit, too perfect. he looked like a man on vacation.

And.. frankly, what value will there be in letting people build homes or put mobile homes on government land? What life is that? Where will that be? Montana? New Orleans? Is there a lot of govt land in New Orleans? Or is he just puffing smoke and promising a life of HELL in a house in the middle of nowhere for these people.

[librechik]

2. staged

[alfredo]

3. Reservations?

[TahitiNut]

4. "a Disney backdrop"??? How can you say that?

:evilgrin: Was Condi holding his hand?

[txindy]

6. Nah, she was out scouting potties for him, just in case.

:evilgrin:

[TomInTib]

5. I think it is overblown

I have spent a good bit of time there and would not have recognized the Cathedral. I wonder how much recognition that shot got across he board.

On clarification- I don't remember a lot of things I have done or seen in New Orleans.
Unfortunately there are plenty of folks that do remember what I did.

[kysrsoze]

8. The religious overtones were just f*cking sickening

In front of a church. Faith-based this and that. I was just appalled - and I'm a Christian. The whole speech was a PR joke.

[Joyce78]

7. He told the nation what

everyone has been watching for two weeks. These people needed help. I made my donations while this idiot was still vacationing and fundraising and eating cake with the other idiot McCain. Memo to Bush: You struck out.