Media Coverage of Katrina

Does the cable new coverage suck as bad as the network coverage does? Luckily the USS Bataan has a web-site, (via Powerline) or I would never have know that they have been in the Gulf of Mexico since LAST TUESDAY. Yes, the day after the hurricane:

The crews flew off Tuesday night towards New Orleans and were tasked by the on-scene rescue coordinators. “Our first mission was to provide food and water and to take some people to a safer haven and to help with the levee by providing sandbags,” said AS2(AW/NAC) Johnny Ramirez, MH-53 Aircrewman for HM-15. “We weren't able to complete our assigned mission Tuesday night because it got too dark and it was too risky to land anywhere with all of the water and power lines. Instead, we just flew Tuesday night to survey the area.”

On Wednesday, a crew from HM-15 assisted with lifting numerous stranded citizens in a very short period of time. “My crew and I airlifted nearly 100 people from the roof of a building and onto a field where ambulances and busses were waiting for them,” said LCDR David Hopper, detachment Officer in Charge of HM-15. “Ten of those who we rescued couldn't even walk; my crewmen had to carry them.”
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“We have jumped in feet first to provide as much assistance as we can,” said Capt. Nora Tyson, Bataan's commanding officer.

The ship's captain is a woman and they still can't get any coverage. You'd think that would be right MSM's PC alley.

All last week, I was as upset as the next person about the plight of the people in the Superdome. When Brian Williams and the others asked "Where is the military?" I wanted to know too. But I wondered why this intrepid crew of journalists couldn't tell me. "You're the reporter Brian. You tell me where the military is!" Turns out they were on the other side of the city picking people off of roofs. And Brian didn't mention that because....

Maybe the Navy guys are too busy to give interviews.

Update: Lots of commentary on the Media's performance at (where else) The Media Blog.