My new favorite General

[Buffalo Six]

New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin held a press conference a little bit ago, and started losing control to a media pool assembled that was showing signs of panic, due to the previous incompetence in the region by the local and state government. Lt. Gen. Russel Honore stepped in and literally took over. Here's what he had to say:

Honore: And Mr. Mayor, let's go back, because I can see right now, we're setting this up as he said, he said, we said. All right? We are not going to go, by order of the mayor and the governor, and open the convention center for people to come in. There are buses there. Is that clear to you? Buses parked. There are 4,000 troops there. People come, they get on a bus, they get on a truck, they move on. Is that clear? Is that clear to the public?

Female reporter: Where do they move on...

Honore: That's not your business.

Male reporter: But General, that didn't work the first time...

Honore: Wait a minute. It didn't work the first time. This ain't the first time. Okay? If...we don't control Rita, you understand? So there are a lot of pieces of it that's going to be worked out. You got good public servants working through it. Let's get a little trust here, because you're starting to act like this is your problem. You are carrying the message, okay? What we're going to do is have the buses staged. The initial place is at the convention center. We're not going to announce other places at this time, until we get a plan set, and we'll let people know where those locations are, through the government, and through public announcements. Right now, to handle the number of people that want to leave, we've got the capacity. You will come to the convention center. There are soldiers there from the 82nd Airborne, and from the Louisiana National Guard. People will be told to get on the bus, and we will take care of them. And where they go will be dependent on the capacity in this state. We've got our communications up. And we'll tell them where to go. And when they get there, they'll be able to get a chance, an opportunity to get registered, and so they can let their families know where they are. But don't start panic here. Okay? We've got a location. It is in the front of the convention center, and that's where we will use to migrate people from it, into the system.

Male reporter: General Honore, we were told that Berman Stadium on the west bank would be another staging area...

Honore: Not to my knowledge. Again, the current place, I just told you one time, is the convention center. Once we complete the plan with the mayor, and is approved by the governor, then we'll start that in the next 12-24 hours. And we understand that there's a problem in getting communications out. That's where we need your help. But let's not confuse the questions with the answers. Buses at the convention center will move our citizens, for whom we have sworn that we will support and defend...and we'll move them on. Let's not get stuck on the last storm. You're asking last storm questions for people who are concerned about the future storm. Don't get stuck on stupid, reporters. We are moving forward. And don't confuse the people please. You are part of the public message. So help us get the message straight. And if you don't understand, maybe you'll confuse it to the people. That's why we like follow-up questions. But right now, it's the convention center, and move on.

Male reporter: General, a little bit more about why that's happening this time, though, and did not have that last time...

Honore: You are stuck on stupid. I'm not going to answer that question. We are going to deal with Rita. This is public information that people are depending on the government to put out. This is the way we've got to do it. So please. I apologize to you, but let's talk about the future. Rita is happening. And right now, we need to get good, clean information out to the people that they can use. And we can have a conversation on the side about the past, in a couple of months.

I think the General just started a movement, and he may not even realize it. Every time a reporter, in any situation, starts spinning, or completely misses the point, they need to be peppered with, "Don't get stuck on stupid."

I'd pay money to see David Gregory in the White House Press Corps foaming at the mouth over something trivial Scott McClellan said, and have McClellan say, "David, you're stuck on stupid. I'm not going to answer that."

I'd have fallen out of my chair if John Roberts would have listened to Joe Biden ramble on, and said, "Don't get stuck on stupid, Senator."

I can see the bumper stickers now. I can even see those stupid rubber wristbands with DGSOS etched in them.

I love General Honore.

[Hudson]

Once people start obtaining some rank, their eccentric, but all too often, appropriate natures, can really come out. You get some weirdos who learn to focus on "What needs to be done and how do we accomplish it", despite their very bizarre logic. It can be more than amusing to watch them interact with the uninitiated at times.

[KODIAK]

Man, I love that! :lol: This is how the military should be able to talk to the outside world, when we get into this sort of environment. The media need to take a long hard look at themselves to be honest. With all the panic they spread with sensationalistic headlines and reporting methods - the sort of irresponsible methods used in journalism, tend to cause such a dram that otherwise was nothing - just look at the recent oil scare here in UK! And all the time, the protestors stated on public television they would NOT be protesting violently, or causing ANY disruption to the public or transportation of fuel to the public. But the media manged to whip it up . . . . :roll:
We are having a 50 year celebration over here in UK for one of our reporting channels; who are very good at what they do too. However, one now famous TV journalist, did once state that we as the media focus too much on the tragic stuff to report on, sensational headlines about death and destruction. Fine! But we are also responsible for bringing stories of hope, and good in the world too. Hope for cancer patients, luck for accident victims who survive etc.,
And the guy is right, we have to be looking at what's infront of us, not behind. Focussing on what we need to do to jump the next hurdle - things can be analysed later when there is sufficient time. In the military we all know, that is how to survive, and your thinking is always channeled there.
But that must be a classic quote! I think I may have to add that to my sig.

[PanzerMeyer]

My favorite General is Frederick the Great or Friedrich der Grosse if you prefer. He's one of the greatest military minds of all time.

[KODIAK]

Strange that! My sig won't show for some reason. I noticed when I first re-initiated my sig, it didn't show straight away either. And now the bloody thing is gone again! :shock:

[Tach Deneva]

My favorite General is General Mills.

:mrgreen:

TD

PS: "You can't vote that damn water out of the city of New Orleans." - Lt. Gen. Russel Honore

[KODIAK]

Okay, siggy sorted now!