Rumsfeld at Padres Ball Game As New Orleans Sank

[riverwalker]

Revealed: Rumsfeld at Padres Ball Game As New Orleans Sank

By E&P Staff

Published: September 06, 2005 9:30 PM ET

NEW YORK The seemingly carefree behavior of top Bush administration officials early last week, who stuck to their vacations as tens of thousands cried for help in New Orleans, gained another twist with revelations that Pentagon chief Donald Rumsfeld was taking in a ball game in San Diego last Monday night--about 24 hours after Katrina hit.

Rumsfeld has come under increasing criticism for the military's lack of early intervention in the rescue.

An E&P reader tipped us off to a column in last Tuesday's San Diego Union-Tribune by regular columnist Diane Bell. One item reads:

"Baseball Hall of Famer Dave Winfield wasn't the only VIP who joined Padres President John Moores in the owner's box last night at Petco Park. Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld, here to join President Bush at the North Island Naval Air Station today, took in the game, too. Three weeks ago, Winfield stopped by the Pentagon with his family and later joined the Padres as they visited wounded soldiers at the Army's Walter Reed Hospital during a road trip. "Winfield was very moved by the experience," says his agent, Randy Grossman. So he invited Rumsfeld to the Padres game.
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http://www.mediainfo.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001055561

[Straight Shooter]

1. Disgusting. All of them. "Compassionate conservatism" my a**. n/t

[niyad]

2. are we surprised? georgie was collecting graft, rummy at a ball game,

condi was buying shoes, and dick was. . just where WAS dick, and why wasn't he even mentioned until yesterday? did it take that long to thaw him out?

the cnn crawl said that he was being sent to NOLA on thursday. my friend's comment, even before I could get the same thing out, was "my god, haven't those poor people suffered ENOUGH?"

[riverwalker]

9. Cheney was shopping real estate in Maryland

he made an 2.9 million offer on a house.

[qanda]

3. I have barely been able to function for the last week

All of my heart, mind and soul is turned towards the plight of these people. From the traffic on this site, I can tell that I am not alone. The people in the Bush administration are heartless and cruel if they could just go with their normal schedules after that storm.

[Erika]

6. Me too. I can't believe the heartlessness of this administration

It's both hard for me to sleep and eat. I guess we believe in a different America than this administration does. How ultimately sad.

[daleo]

4. They were all just living the high life

While others died the low death.

[Erika]

8. Yep. n/t

[Erika]

5. So Rummy watched the Padres/Condi shopped for shoes and

a comedy act and W ate cake and strummed.
Meanwhile thousands of urban poor were desperate and beginning the process of drowning.

Bush has established a caste system in America.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

10. Don't forget Cheney shopping for a "weekend estate"...

on Maryland's Eastern shore...

[NYC]

19. With his new Halliburton profits?

Probably.

Frivolity in the face of death. That should be the Bush & Co. campaign slogan.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

23. 284% increase in 2Q, right? That'll buy...

alot of blue crabs and beer.

[krkaufman]

17. They ALL just continued w/ vacations as though nothing was going on.

Criminal negligence. I just don't see how the collective behavior isn't grounds for impeachment.

I mean... The Chimp had declared a state of emergency over the weekend, but then effectively ignored what was going on for 3 days.

[DoYouEverWonder]

21. Only staining blue dresses

is grounds for impeachment, you know that.

[Barkley]

20. Welcome to John Edwards' "Two Americas" - nt

[RamboLiberal]

7. Keep ammassing the evidence of their dereliction and

uncaring attitudes. And I'm still hoping someone comes up with good evidence of Bush playing golf that Randi Rhodes keeps referencing. Anyone?

[Rose Siding]

11. Are they kidding with this?

That was *exactly* when decisions to move into place should have been made! The levee breech was at about 11pm PDT.

HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN WORKING :grr:

[riverwalker]

14. like deploying the National Guard! n/t

[Erika]

15. Yep

They were all playing.

[UpInArms]

12. there's not a shred of human decency in the whole lot of them

not one.

That they receive a penny of public funds in compensation for their "time" disgusts me.

[Erika]

16. and Christian is not what I would call them

I'm now watching the dead bodies in the hospitals on MSNBC.

[The_Casual_Observer]

13. Condi was on 5th Ave buying shoes,

[Stinky The Clown]

18. The whole second tier of FEMA was in Greece

There was a thread here a day or three ago saying the whole second tier of FEMA's leadership was in Greece for a wedding ... between some woman who works at the White House and some second tier FEMA official.

I can't find the thread now .....

[BiggJawn]

22. Was anyone killed at the game?

I can't imagine that fucking Ghoul Rumsferatu taking in any kind of event that doesn't involve death and despair.

That's why he's always going to Baghdad, it's the only way he can get his nut.

[hopein08]

24. i hate to ask but...WHO THE HELL WAS RUNNING THE COUNTRY IN D.C???!!!!

Sorry for yelling, but honestly. Bush, Rice, Rumsfeld, bunches of FEMA people, the overwhelming majority of the House and Senate, Cheney (though he was close by in Maryland) were all MIA. So who'd that leave in charge? Miss Beazley's boyfriend? Alberto Gonzales?

Oh well, I guess it doesn't really matter because we're screwed if their in D.C. and we're screwed if they aren't.

What a sad and disgusting state of affairs.

[pfitz59]

25. The janitor?...the cleaning lady?..the receptionist?

DC clears out in August. (Bugs and humidity, yah know!) Impeach and imprison the entire Bush* administration. Add up all their personal assets and fine them TWICE that amount! Criminals!....ALL!

[ignatius 2]

26. Why would anyone think he would be prepared for NO, considering

35% of their National Guard is in Iraq? Speaking of Iraq, how totally unprepared was he for that disaster?

Rumsfeld at a ball game,Condisleazy shopping,Bush golfing and Cheney hiding out in a bunker undoubtedly plotting some sinister event..what a nightmare.

Ruthless,delusional maniacs the lot.

"