On Napolitano's "the system worked" comment

[DrToast]

I didn't actually see the interview in which this happened. I did, however, see countless talking heads mocking her remark and about what a gaffe it was.

I took their word because it seemed to be the consensus.

Now over on the Daily Kos, they have the whole language of her quote and it's nothing at all like it has been portrayed in the media. In saying "the system worked" she was describing the response after the incident.

Here's the quote:

Once this incident occurred, everything went according to clockwork, not only sharing throughout the air industry, but also sharing with state and local law enforcement. Products were going out on Christmas Day, they went out yesterday, and also to the industry to make sure that the traveling public remains safe. I would leave you with that message. The traveling public is safe. We have instituted some additional screening and security measures, in light of this incident, but, again, everyone reacted as they should. The system, once the incident occurred, the system worked.

How many people knew that? I didn't until I read the full quote.

Reading the response to this thread, I get the impression that most everyone was in the same position as I was.

What she said and how was being portrayed were completely different. It's pathetic that the media could screw up something so basic and so completely unambiguous. It's entirely clear she's talking about the response after the incident.

I hate the media.

[Dennis Donovan]

1. The corporate media manufactures outrage on a regular basis...

...because it serves their two main goals; to garner ratings and to strengthen the Corpocracy by fomenting distrust and cynicism against progressive/anti Corpocratic ideals.

Bust the Media Trusts and push for meaningful campaign finance reform - without this, our democracy will forever be a sham...

[jaxx]

2. I caught this yesterday after reading a fox article put up somewhere else.

They go directly to "the system worked" and ignore what she said before "once the incident occurred". Typical rightwing bullshit, spinning it to get the Reps. King and Hoekstra in there putting down anything Obama related. Nothing changes with the right, they're ruthless and the whole picture isn't in their best interest.

[tnwarrior]

17. love for obama

the reason that Fox puts a spin on napolitano's remarks is
because they were useless.  who gives a shit if the sytstem
worked after the fact if the primary responsibility was to
prevent this type of terrorist attack.  Who gives a rat's ass
if the fire trucks were lined up and ready to go in case there
was an emergency.  You get hammered on these issues cause the
pres should fire her worthless ass.  Instead he will put his
loyalty into someone that helped him defeat Hillary in Az.  He
will get her back even if is puts his own people ion peril. 
This is exactly why the approval ratings are terrible.  The
Obama admin is incappable of saying they could have been wrong
on an issue.  It is always easy to know when they know they
have fudged up an issue because their claim of guilt is always
"it is Bush's fault".  He is terrible and your
idiots with the IQ of a chicken believe every word he throws
out cause you want to believe him and nothing more.

[mstinamotorcity]

19. You get the fuck on

Every time i see one of these ridiculous post i think troll. This is not what this post is about. This post is about the media's ability to swing and mis represent the truth. This is not about the President or his administration,but since your ass want to go there lets do it.This attempt could have been prevented two years ago because that is how long this kid has been on the radar. Who was in charge two years ago? Dubya/Shooter thats who punk. Even the Fort Hood suspect was known about during that administration. That administration is also the one who says that they implemented security measures that would keep us safe.Our current security system is full of missing links in communication.They have not been lined up to share information with each other. This is and was done for deniability. That is a troll move. Then you have a senate troll blocking the confirmation on the head of the TSA, another troll move. Then to get on here with two post criticizing our President and not acknowledging the fact that the security measures that the previous administration put in place had flaws.sounds like another troll move to me.:puke: :puke: :puke: :puke:

[butterfly77]

22. Didn't you forget to sign your post..

Hannity...

[mcablue]

3. Short Napolitano: Our system worked right after a man almost blew up 280 people

Did it matter whether the system worked right after the screw-up?

[RumJungle]

4. Exactly.

Very inane comment. She's lucky the fuse was a dud.

[DRoseDARs]

5. And that's all that really needs to be said on the matter. n/t

[Freddie Stubbs]

6. "once the incident occurred" is kind of like asking

"Other than that, how was the play Mrs. Lincoln?"

[snagglepuss]

8. Exactly. I think it was a clueless remark because it is evident to everyone that

the system didn't work. She was simply reaching for straws.

[marshall]

10. It's like trying to spin the "Mission Accomplished" sign

It's not as egregious by any means, but it's awkward. It was a tense time, Obama was out of town, she did the best she could. She's already reworded what she said. It's all over but the shouting.

[snagglepuss]

11. I remember seeing a day time talk show in the 90s that always stayed

with me. The guests that day were 6 American and 6 Canadian bachelors. What really struck me was that when asked about their weaknesses none of the Americans were willing to divulge any whereas the Canadians listed several apiece. It was such a contrast.

I have always wondered whether the highly competitive nature of America made the Americans guys less willing to disclose anything that could potentially put them in at a competitive disadvantage. It was if winning the game was all that matter and being honest wasn't the thing that going to get you there.

I am reminded of this anytime politicians anywhere avoid admitting obvious truths that may reflect poorly on them.

[peaches2003]

13. That was the best she could do?

She was spinning so fast it is a wonder she didn't get whiplash. And you can be sure her words were not all her own as Robert Gibbs gave the same pitiful spin. The Obama administration is very poor on first responses to anything.

If her initial interview on Sunday was the best she could do she shouldn't have the job.

[tnwarrior]

18. the best she could do

i cant believe you cut her slack by saying it was a tense time and she did the best she could and she has already changed her story. She is in a position of immense importance and just cause daddy was out of town and she did the best she could is a major part of the problem. your worthless slack jawed excuses for human intelligence are more worried bout patting poor little janet on the back and telling her it is ok honey, good hustle, than you are realizing her position does not get mulligans. She does not have the luxury of screwing up but tried hard therefore it is ok. She is not qualified for the job but it is easeir for you guys to let innocent Americans die than to nut up and fire her pathetic failing ass. This is not a baseball game where good hustle can justify failure. This is about the responsibility of the President of the United States to put the very best people into the positions to guard his people. This should not be a payback for the votes she pulled from Hillary in Az. There is too much at stake and he should be ashamed for taking his duties so lightly.

[mstinamotorcity]

21. No body is trying to cut Ms Janet

any slack the fact is that the systemic failure of the coordination of department heads to exchange information has been in place forever. So don't try and put this all on the head of any one entity. You need to do a little more research instead of slinging mud.If the communication gap between departments was all that we would not have had 9/11.And had the system been modified after 9/11 as Cheney has said then there would have not been an underwear bomber as they now call him. And may i f--king remind you that this was not on the U.S. end of the flight, it originated on the Amsterdam part of the flight. They wouldn't let him come into the U.K.But he was not thoroughly checked out before he boarded the flight to the States. Do you think Ms Janet should have been in Amsterdam personally checking the passengers herself. Maybe you expect the President to stand at the gate. They have other screeners at most airports who do a good job. But the screeners at this airport did not. He should have not been allowed on a flight period no matter where the plane was going,he was a flight risk.When you think someone is giving someone a free pass you need to remember what school it is you are attending. Because in the school of the DU you will now find that you will get links to your post that will put you up on our national security procedures pre and post 9/11. You lack knowledge i suggest you get some and come back.You still sound like a troll.

[AspenRose]

7. Media reform can't come fast enough for me.

I hate the media too

[rusty fender]

9. I used to respect her before she became HS director, but

now I see her as the arrogant, bloviating politician that she really is.

[MH1]

15. sure.

[jenmito]

12. I saw the interview and knew her words were being taken out of context. To be fair,

a couple reporters SAID that her words were taken out of context, that she was talking about AFTER the incident.

[zulchzulu]

14. I saw Napolitano's statements on the incident and they mirrored what...

...people like Peter King, John Ashcroft, Karl Rove and others said about the shoe bomber, Richard Reid.

At that time, they all said that we can't stop everyone from wanting to kill themselves and that the system has worked well overall.

[MH1]

16. well yeah, IOKIYAR

[freddie mertz]

20. What she said makes no sense. The only "system" that worked was the fellow-passengers.

That and the fact that the explosive is apparently very hard to ignite.

She misspoke.

[BeyondGeography]

23. What a trollapalooza this thread is