White House ignores Wall Street meltdown in daily news summary *

* Post updated below.

They did it again.

The stock market is in free-fall. U.S. financial institutions are in crisis. The president is meeting with his economic advisors. And newspapers are full of stories about the effects of the government's $85-billion bailout of insurer AIG.

But if you read the Morning Update, a daily news roundup from the White House communications shop, there's no mention this morning of any financial crisis. The president's trip to Texas for a briefing on Hurricane Ike gets a mention. Ditto his meeting today with Army Gen. David Petraeus, new trade talks with China, CIA Director Michael Hayden's latest warnings on Al Qaeda and an economist's argument that international trade had "saved the day" by generating 2 million new jobs.

As Countdown to Crawford previously reported, this is not the first time the official White House newsletter has completely ignored the most historic meltdown on Wall Street since the Great Depression.

Perhaps, as we asked earlier, the White House is trying to distance itself from the crisis that happened on its watch.

(An earlier version of this post erroneously linked to a private news roundup, which did mention the crisis. Thanks to one of our readers for pointing this out. The full White House Update from today is printed below.)

-- Johanna Neuman and Maura Reynolds

Photo: Richard Drew / Associated Press

From: White House Communications
Sent: Wednesday, September 17, 2008 8:05 AM
Subject: The Morning Update: 9/17/08

September 17, 2008

President George W. Bush shakes hands with military personnel outside the emergency operations center at the U.S. Coast Guard Hangar at Ellington Field in Houston Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2008, during his visit to Texas to see firsthand the destruction left in the wake of last weekend's Hurricane Ike. White House photo by Eric Draper

Today, President Bush will meet with General David Petraeus, former Commander of the Multi-National Force in Iraq.

Then, President Bush will meet with President Martin Torrijos of the Republic of Panama, an important friend and ally of the United States. The presidents will discuss a range of issues, including our common commitment to the United States-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement, expanding free trade and strengthening democracy throughout the region, enhancing security cooperation, and strengthening cooperation in international fora.

Later, President Bush will attend an Iftaar dinner with ambassadors and Muslim leaders. Each year of this Administration, President Bush has hosted an Iftaar dinner. This year's dinner highlights American Muslims who have made significant technological, artistic, or innovative contributions to our Nation. 

11:15 am:
EDT THE PRESIDENT meets with the Former Commander of Multi-National Force-Iraq, General David Petraeus
The White House | Washington, D.C.

1:15 pm:
EDT THE PRESIDENT meets with the President of Panama
The White House | Washington, D.C.

7:50 pm:
EDT THE PRESIDENT attends Iftaar Dinner
The White House | Washington, D.C.

 

Today, Mrs. Bush will deliver remarks at a White House Constitution Day event.

10:30 am:
EDT MRS. BUSH delivers Remarks at a White House Constitution Day Event
The White House | Washington, D.C.

President Bush Visits Texas And Meets With Those Affected By Hurricane Ike, Urges Americans To Donate.  "After a briefing on Ike's rampage in his adoptive home state of Texas, Bush singled out the American Red Cross as needing support and underlined: 'I hope the country does not have disaster fatigue.' 'It's a tough situation on the coast,' he said, adding: 'I have been president long enough to have seen tough situations and have seen the resilience of the people who deal with the tough situation.' 'I know with proper help from the federal government and state government that there will be a better tomorrow,' said Bush, who added: 'It's good to be home. I'm just sorry it's under these circumstances.'" ("Bush Urges Americans To Donate For Ike Victims," Agence France-Presse, 9/16/08)

President Bush To Meet With General David Petraeus.  "US President George W. Bush will meet with Army General David Petraeus on Wednesday to discuss his duties as commander of all American forces in the Middle East, the White House said Tuesday. 'The president is seeing General Petraeus tomorrow,' said spokesman Gordon Johndroe. 'It's an appropriate time to meet with him as he takes on the challenges the broader Middle East.' … Petraeus, architect of the troop surge the White House credits with improving security in war-torn Iraq, has been named to run the US Central Command that oversees US military operations in the region – including the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan." ("Bush To Welcome Petraeus Wednesday," Agence France-Presse, 9/16/08)

The Washington Post's David Ignatius Says "By Force Of Will, Petraeus And His President, George W. Bush, Turned [Iraq] Around."  "Petraeus did something astonishing here. It wasn't simply managing the 'surge' of U.S. troops, whose precise effects military historians will be debating for years. It was that he restored confidence and purpose for a military that had begun to think, deep down, that this war was unwinnable and unsustainable. By force of will, Petraeus and his president, George W. Bush, turned that around. … Defense Secretary Robert Gates put it eloquently yesterday when he said of Petraeus, paraphrasing Gen. Douglas MacArthur: 'You have built courage when courage seemed to fail; regained faith when there seemed to be little cause for faith; and created hope when hope had become forlorn.'" (David Ignatius, Op-Ed, "20 Months In Baghdad," The Washington Post, 9/17/08)

General Ray Odierno Takes Command of U.S. Forces In Iraq.  "Gen. Ray Odierno, the incoming commander of U.S. forces in Iraq, said Tuesday that conditions in the country remain fragile despite dramatic security gains over the past year. Odierno assumed command of coalition forces Tuesday from Gen. David Petraeus, who will move to Central Command, based in Florida, which oversees a broader region that includes Iraq and Afghanistan. 'Where chaos reigned, hope now prevails,' Odierno said. 'However, we must realize that these gains are fragile and reversible.' … Odierno served under Petraeus as the No. 2 U.S. commander until seven months ago and worked closely with him to execute the new strategy." (Jim Michaels, "Odierno Takes Reins In Iraq; General Calls Gains 'Fragile'," USA Today, 9/17/08)

U.S. And China Announce New Trade Deals.  "The United States and China announced Tuesday a raft of trade agreements at the end of bilateral trade talks … US Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez highlighted China's agreements to commit to a single set of standards on a range of health-care products and work more closely with the US to prevent contaminated pharmaceutical ingredients. 'That's going to save a lot of time and money' for US companies, he said at a news conference. Gutierrez underscored the public safety benefits of the agreement on active pharmaceutical ingredients, in the wake of tainted imported Chinese drug and product recalls. … [U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Edward Schafer] said China had agreed to lift immediately longstanding import bans on US poultry from six states: Connecticut, Nebraska, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and West Virginia." ("US, China Ink Trade Deals After Bilateral Talks," Agence France-Presse, 9/17/08)

Peterson Institute For International Economics Director C. Fred Bergsten Says "International Trade Has Saved The Day."  "It is generating at least 2 million new and high-paying jobs, about half of them from increased foreign sales by the beleaguered manufacturing sector. … International trade has saved the day. Our external balance has improved by more than $200 billion as calculated for gross domestic product (GDP) purposes, cutting the previous deficit by more than one-third. This dramatic progress has kept the overall economy growing by modest amounts. … Globalization is paying off for the United States just when we need it. Our traditional strategy of helping other countries, especially in the developing world, strengthen their economies is redounding to our major benefit. … We should be making new compacts to reduce barriers as rapidly as possible rather than fearing to implement those already negotiated, such as the free-trade agreements with Colombia and Korea that are languishing in Congress." (C. Fred Bergsten, Op-Ed, "Trade Saves The Day," The Washington Post, 9/17/08)

CIA Director Michael Hayden Says "We Know That Al Qaeda Remains Determined To Attack Our Country In Ways That Inflict Maximum Death And Destruction."  "Osama bin Laden is no longer believed to be the head of al Qaeda's day-to-day operations, but the United States' capturing or killing him would still have a powerful effect on the organization, CIA Director Michael Hayden said Tuesday. There is no greater security threat facing the United States than al Qaeda and its associates, Hayden said in a speech to the Los Angeles World Affairs Council. … 'Bin Laden said repeatedly that he considers acquisition of nuclear weapons a religious duty, and we know that al Qaeda remains determined to attack our country in ways that inflict maximum death and destruction,' he said." ("CIA: Bin Laden Doesn't Oversee Day-To-Day Al Qaeda Operations," The Associated Press, 9/16/08)

Al-Qaeda In Iraq Increasingly Using Female Suicide Bombers Out Of Desperation.  "U.S. and Iraqi officials say Sunni insurgent groups, especially al-Qaeda in Iraq, are using religion, money and empty promises to persuade sometimes vulnerable women to conduct suicide attacks, highlighting the movement's desperation at a time when its influence and ranks have declined. Efforts by the U.S. military and Iraq's neighbors have limited the number of Arab fighters reaching Iraq, a flow that was once the major source of recruits willing to commit suicide. … 'There's a definite correlation between pressure we've put on al-Qaeda, in stopping funding and stopping foreign fighters from coming into Iraq, and the rise in female suicide attacks,' said Col. Scott Maw, a U.S. military intelligence officer. … Abu Abdul Aziz al-Mohammadi, an al-Qaeda leader in Anbar, conceded that women are being recruited because there were fewer Arab fighters. Many male Iraqi insurgents, he added, are less willing to 'die in car bombs or wear explosives belts.'"  (Sudarsan Raghavan, "Female Suicide Bombers Are Latest War Tactic," The Washington Post, 9/17/08)

To subscribe directly to this mailing list, please e-mail WhiteHouseCommunications@whitehouse.gov.

President Bush Receives a Briefing on Hurricane Ike Damage

Statement on Additional Federal Disaster Assistance for Texas

Statement by Press Secretary Dana Perino

Memorandum for the Secretary of State

Nominations Sent to the Senate

Personnel Announcement

Press Gaggle by Scott Stanzel and FEMA Administrator David Paulison

Comments

[scootmandubious]

Maybe there is a correlation between Bush and Cleopatra...the King and Queen of denial.

Bush, like McCain, has 2 ways of dealing with issues.

1) Ignore the truth. Make it invisible.
2) Lie. Repeating it endlessly, even when you know it is not the truth.

Trust me, tomorrow, Bush will follow McCain's lead and blame the financial collapse on the Democrats.

For an excellent 5-minute CNN video on the lies of McCain/Palin, and a recommended strategy for Obama to take:
http://scootmandubious.blogspot.com/2008/09/calling-out-mccainpalin-on-their-lies.html

[Rommel Panlilio]

If you look at the recessions in the US from 1953 to today, all of them happened during terms of Republican Presidents.

I believe recession is the result of the Republican strategy of shifting back the wealth from the middle and lower income group to the wealthy group.

The middle and lower income group represents the majority of the voters but they keep voting for Republicans and keep suffering for their mistakes.

When will they realize that Republicans are the party of the wealthy.

[Just the Facts]

Despite the claims of LA Times writer Johanna Neuman, the “Morning Update” is published by a private company, is not “the official White House newsletter,” and is not “sent to e-mail subscribers from the White House communications shop.” It’s unbelievable what garbage gets tossed out there these days by bloggers, including those from the LA Times.

[Daren Wong]

And the first four stories from today's Morning Update are listed below. Good reporting, Los Angeles Times and Ms. Neuman. You once again got everything wrong.

“Government To Rescue AIG With $85 Billion Loan”
“Pelosi: Financial Turmoil Not Democrats’ Fault”’
“House Now Expected To Approve Loan Guarantees For Auto Industry”
“McCain Seen As Struggling As Economic Issues Take Center Stage”