I'm watching Anderson Cooper lose it right now. He just went bananas on Mary L. Landrieu, the Senator from Louisiana - she was talking a lot of wishy-washy policy and Andy just totally faced her by telling a story about watching rats eating a woman's corpse in the middle of the street. And Anderson's not even in New Orleans, but in Waveland, a ravaged area of Mississippi. After returning from commercial break, he had to take a second on camera to compose himself, and then choked back tears throughout a long interview with a couple who had just found their baby after being forced to leave her in a hospital four days before. "Reporters are suppossed to remain distanced," Cooper said. "There's just no distance in Waveland anymore." In general, it seems like the anchors on CNN are starting to get not only emotional, but angry. Earlier today, both Kyra Phillips and Aaron Brown were openly, aggressively critiquing the Bush administration's handling of the situation. It always feels good to see anchors break out of their shells in times of crisis, and admit to being real human beings with passions and opinions. This kind of anger on CNN is almost as shocking as the images that are spawning it.CNN anchors break down
I'm watching Anderson Cooper lose it right now. He just went bananas on Mary L. Landrieu, the Senator from Louisiana - she was talking a lot of wishy-washy policy and Andy just totally faced her by telling a story about watching rats eating a woman's corpse in the middle of the street. And Anderson's not even in New Orleans, but in Waveland, a ravaged area of Mississippi. After returning from commercial break, he had to take a second on camera to compose himself, and then choked back tears throughout a long interview with a couple who had just found their baby after being forced to leave her in a hospital four days before. "Reporters are suppossed to remain distanced," Cooper said. "There's just no distance in Waveland anymore." In general, it seems like the anchors on CNN are starting to get not only emotional, but angry. Earlier today, both Kyra Phillips and Aaron Brown were openly, aggressively critiquing the Bush administration's handling of the situation. It always feels good to see anchors break out of their shells in times of crisis, and admit to being real human beings with passions and opinions. This kind of anger on CNN is almost as shocking as the images that are spawning it.














Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
9-01-2005 @ 9:36PM
Emily said...
The Gulfcoast was hit by a catastrophic storm. I do not believe that the party affiliation of the president makes a tinker's dam difference in the recovery.
This is a situation where their best just isn't good enough simply because of the scale of the situation. My sister lived in New Orleans for 15 years, she moved out in the late 80s. People in NO have been talking about a storm that would break the levees for years and what would happen if it did.
Money shouldn't have been diverted from the levee project to the war, but I don't believe that had the levee project been carried out that it would have made a difference.
Please donate whatever you can - even if it is only an old blanket, although money is preferred. Check out the charity at give.org before you do to make sure it's legit. There are people working around the clock to help all they can.
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9-11-2005 @ 8:31PM
Monique Adam said...
It is so good to see and hear real people with real feelings, pain anger.
Anderson Cooper and AAron Brown, our hearts go out to you and we thank you
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9-01-2005 @ 10:18PM
Megan said...
I am happy that news anchors are asking real questions to politicians, no matter their party. This is a horrible thing that has happened and people need to be held responsible. I thought a journalists job was to question. I hope they keep it up!
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9-06-2005 @ 11:03AM
Richard Miller said...
A picture is worth a thousand words. The reporters are saying that its a war zone. They also say there are few National Guard troops on the ground there. Fema Director Mike Brown says the troops are there in place. Mike Brown says they were prepared for this and that they have the situation under control. You be the judge do the pictures lie? I'm tired of the Fema Director and Mr Bush talking the talk!
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9-01-2005 @ 10:45PM
John Frost said...
I don't blame the media for getting angry one bit. We have a developing human tragedy beyond imagining. The poor of New Orleans, Biloxi, and the rest of the gulf area have been abandoned by our government. It has to be bad if even the war hardened media types are wondering how the situation could have gotten so bad. I hope the people in Washington who are supposed to know better pay with their jobs at the midterm elections and we elect a house that has the balls to remove the incompetent idiots that are mismanaging our country. This is the question everyone should be asking: What if this had been a terrorist attack and instead of 200,000 people in New Orleans needing help, we had 1.2 million? In Japan they would all be resigning in shame and moving aside for people who could get results.
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9-01-2005 @ 11:05PM
Elaine said...
It is about time the news media is questioning this incompetend administation. It is about time the people that voted Bush back into office started calling for his and Cheney's resignation. We need someone to lead this country that truly cares about its citizens and the citizens of the world.
At this time of human tradgedy, has anyone thought of the human tradgedy this unjust war has caused the Iraqi people???? And that was man made !!
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9-03-2005 @ 9:23PM
Kay said...
I'm so disgusted - why didn't they think that they needed to have food and water two or three days or even four days ago? Where are the leaders - in their air conditioned offices giving orders - why aren't they on the streets with the people? I just can't even believe what has happened to these poor people. I hope the officials can't sleep at night because of their lack of compassion - Friday is too late for Bush to visit. I'm so sick of hearing how he had to cut his vacation short - why wasn't he there Monday. I'm just so sick and disgusted for the lack of help to these people - basically the deaths from lack of food should be on the politicians conscience. Our own people should have been taken care of immediately - not in 5 days!
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9-01-2005 @ 11:15PM
randy said...
The media has found a spine! It's about time.
It's amazing what politicians will do for a single brain dead woman by the name of Terry Schiavo, but when it comes to poor black people, fuck 'em! Let them live like animals!
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9-02-2005 @ 10:44AM
John Cunningham said...
The faces of the "refugees" look so much like those we are accustomed to seeing in Third World areas. France could execute a major diplomatic coup if the put their enmity toward W away and launched major relief contributions to a city which has their heart in it. While I understand W has dissed most Euros I'll be pretty unforgiving if they take this chance to ignore the Gulf Coast to pay back a personal enemy.
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9-02-2005 @ 12:10AM
Anita G. Perez said...
I say we take a truck load of these politicians and dump them in NO. Bush still hasn't been there. This is Our country we need to take care of our own. How are we to explain to our children when they see this type of dispair. Where is our compassion. Businesses our charging people outragous prices for motel rooms when in fact the are renting to refugees. I'm sure not everyone looting is looting for greed. My 13 y/o had tears in his eyes at dinner as he gave thanks for his dry clothing and his home. So much money has been spent by the right wing , on denying us the right to marriage. The same people who put that asshole in the white house, should be sending funds to NO or at least asking why not enough is being done. I've never trusted the Media but the have truly redeemed themselves. At least this cannot be covered up. AGP
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9-02-2005 @ 1:12AM
Krista Haugland said...
How many hours passed before President Bush was in the middle of ground zero sporting his NYC hat?? Where is he - and many others during this time of need for the people in NO? I believe that if in the beginning, he made himself visible and available - for even a few minutes - to the thousands of suffering people, then he may have been able to make the "We know what you're going through" statements. If he knows, it's because he's watching CNN.
Thank you, Anderson - and all of the other truly dedicated professionals who are putting themselves in the midst of this. I think YOU should run for president!!
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9-02-2005 @ 4:18AM
epobirs said...
There are some seriously thought impaired people posting here. What good would it do for a President to insert himself in a disaster area? No matter how good the intention it would only serve to divert critical resources from the relief effort. The last thing the emergency personnel need is an added security issue.
The people in New Orleans don't want to see a President, whether they voted for him or not, unless he's there to deliver supplies or transport them out. Showing his face would be a silly useless gesture. Calling upon the nation as a whole to contribute is the most he can really do while the professional emergency workers get down to business.
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9-02-2005 @ 5:31AM
Mary Connelly said...
NO, calling for private donations is NOT "the most" the President of the United States of America can do! The most powerful man in the world doesn't need to visit them--he needs to get to WORK.
He can mobilize the armed forces AND the National Guard from all the states, and commandeer helicopters, airplanes, trains and buses needed to get those people OUT of there. He could at least make sure those people have food and water, instead of just leaving them to die. He can stop the price gouging for water, food, hotel rooms, and gas by freezing all prices. Presidents have done it before in times of great trial. He can appoint competent people versed in disaster management to FEMA, rather than his political buddies and kick their asses until they get the job done right. And what about Homeland Security? Isn't that his JOB to make sure that's up and running by now? Where are they?
We have been paying billions of dollars in taxes every year since 9/11 to prepare a response to just this sort of situation. And THIS is what our people get--whole families stranded on rooftops, no help in sight for days, watching the dead float by as they die themselves? Is that what you expect from our government?
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9-02-2005 @ 10:16AM
Torry Hayes said...
Anderson Cooper did a story lst evening. He was in Waveland. I am very familar with the area. We were stationed down there (Stennis). WHat I need is for someone help me get in touch with someone to help save the horses in Waveland. I have someone that will drive to Waveland to pick them up and take them to safety in Georgia.
Please contact me if anyone out there can help me contact Anderson, people in Waveland with the miniature horses, or anyone that may know the peoples name.
My email is torryhayes@cox.net
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9-02-2005 @ 9:35AM
Andrew PAdula said...
First off, I wish the media would stop calling the displace people of the Gulf Coast Region “Refugees”. This is degrading and demoralizing for these displaced individuals; the media should address them as Evacuees.
It is clear to see that this disaster will take months, if not years to recover from. The immediate course of action should be the long-term housing needs for the Evacuees of this region.
All of America most come together in assisting these Evacuees by opening their hearts and homes.
If American families can afford to take in a family into their home that has no place to go or any relatives to assist these displaced families, then the Federal Government should setup a network to start this process. FEMA could provide a website for American Families willing to volunteer for this program.
The volunteers of the program could provide housing for up to two months until the Federal Government could devise a plan as to more long term housing options for these Evacuees. FEMA could reimburse these volunteers for the expense of providing food to the Evacuees, maybe $50.00 per week per person or something like that.
Then this would allow the Federal Government time to setup maybe tent cities or trailer parks in the states that were effected and the Evacuees could them be transported back to their state and be provided with jobs in the clean up and rebuilding process of these effected areas.
I see in the media that many Americans are willing to provide temporary housing for these folks. I also have seen reported recently that Rev. Billy Graham son stated that if all the parishes in the U.S. could provide temporary housing for up to 10 families this would elevated the currant conditions being reported in the Astrodome and Texas. Thank god for the generosity of Texas!
This is just an idea or possible solution for a problem that will take many years to resolve. But it is something I think the American public would consider to help in this unprecedented time in the history of our great country.
GOD BLESS AMERICA
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9-05-2005 @ 3:00PM
Kristopher Berling said...
I just wanted to thank Anderson Cooper for saying what all of America was thinking and screaming at their TV's during the interview with that senator on Thursday. I was in complete shock with her responses to his questions, and when he replied the way he did, it brought a tear to my eye. Thank you.
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9-02-2005 @ 11:37AM
Elizabeth Fryer said...
Thanks to Anderson Cooper for telling the truth! Where are the politicians? Where are the officials? Where are the state officials of every southeastern state nearby? Where are the medical supplies? Where are the relief medical teams? Where are the national Greyhound bus lines? Why haven't the Carnival and other cruise lines docked and evacuated people to other ports and cities? If television crews can be on the scene, why can't supply trucks? We can go around the world in a few hours by air and it only takes a few hours to drive there from anywhere in the southeast and west. This happened Monday - and now it's Friday! This is an insult to our intellegence as Americans! Why can't we all drive down there in our cars loaded with supplies in one big convoy if no one else can handle it? We could at least bring people and their pets back to our local shelters in our southern cities. Keep speaking for all of us Anderson. You are an American hero to us.
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9-02-2005 @ 2:50PM
Linda said...
Why can't they take in the aircraft that puts out wildfires dump the bucket into the lake and put the fires out? My 13 year old grandson thought of that days ago.
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9-06-2005 @ 11:58AM
Jim Crawford said...
Human emotions are true to us all. The CNN anchor is connected and understands compasion during this challenging period. I would also encourage all anchors to refer to the citizens of these three states as citizens or the people of Alabama, Mississippi, Lousiana.
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9-02-2005 @ 2:14PM
Amperage said...
As someone FROM Louisiana I have a slightly different perspective. Mary Landrieau has been fighting and fighting hard to get money to Louisiana for Coastal Erosion and Hurricane Control/Preparedness, but each and every year she's seen the money cut HUGELY.
Anderson Cooper was almost feeding her questions, trying desperately to goad her into saying "Hell yes! I've been fighting the hard fight to try and get money, I KNEW this was gonna' happen and I've BEEN knowing it was gonna' happen for YEARS!"
Long before Anderson Cooper even knew that New Orleans was flood-prone, "Little" Mary has been in Washington trying desperately get the state help.
At this point, spitting in Bush's face won't get her any money any faster. And I don't think she cares right now about assigning blame. She wants to get her state HELP. You catch more flies with honey.
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