Tuesday, September 06, 2005
It's no game to lay blame...
If now is not the time, when will it be?
The toxic stew that is New Orleans is ebbing, coating everything with bacteria and toxic sludge. Politicians and there defenders are also slinging the mud, saying it's not time for the "Blame Game." In fact, resident deer in the headlights Scott McClellan said so himself today as blogs, politicians and others call for FEMA Director Brown and HSD Director Certoff to be fired. The question is, after the U.S. was hit by what may be the worst natural disaster in our history, and the federal government was caught unready, and 1,000s are dead, when is a good time to hold federal agencies accountable?
For years now, the leadership of our Majority Party has been telling us another terrorist attack is inevitable and have spent tens of billions of dollars creating the Department of Homeland Security to help protect us from disasters both natural and man-made. After spending these tens of billions of dollars what have we gotten? A director that says he got up on the day after the vacation, read a few papers that said New Orleans dodged a bullet and that was that. Sad to say that even DC's resident Snark Blogger Wonkette was able to see through that one. Much has been said by the defenders of the powers that be that criticism of the war in Iraq was sending the wrong message to those who wish to attack us. If Cindy Sheehan's little protest sends the wrong message, what kind of message does gross misfeasance in the face of a natural calamity send? I don't mind a harsh standard, but if your going to be throwing it around at least try to be consistent.
FEMA Director Brown is no better. Rather than reiterate all the stories about his incompetence, I'll direct you here. The brainy father of the Republican Revolution, Newt Gingrich put it best on the O'Reilly Fact on Monday. He said...(I paraphrase)
And Newt is right.
I keep waiting for the leadership from Bush that I'm told he's capable of. He hasn't vetoed one spending bill in five years. He's grown the federal government at a record pace (to keep us safe by creating HSD), he's abandoned federalism and limited government to placate the so-called religious right and now he defends bureaucratic malfeasance that approaches legendary status. I hope, I wait, I give the benefit of the doubt again and again...and still nothing.
Oh yes, there's the various state governments and local authorities too. But the citizen's of those various jurisdictions have standing to address those issues and I have no doubt they will. My expertise, my stake here is the Feds. and since when did it become fashionable for Republicans to defend government failures?
The toxic stew that is New Orleans is ebbing, coating everything with bacteria and toxic sludge. Politicians and there defenders are also slinging the mud, saying it's not time for the "Blame Game." In fact, resident deer in the headlights Scott McClellan said so himself today as blogs, politicians and others call for FEMA Director Brown and HSD Director Certoff to be fired. The question is, after the U.S. was hit by what may be the worst natural disaster in our history, and the federal government was caught unready, and 1,000s are dead, when is a good time to hold federal agencies accountable?
For years now, the leadership of our Majority Party has been telling us another terrorist attack is inevitable and have spent tens of billions of dollars creating the Department of Homeland Security to help protect us from disasters both natural and man-made. After spending these tens of billions of dollars what have we gotten? A director that says he got up on the day after the vacation, read a few papers that said New Orleans dodged a bullet and that was that. Sad to say that even DC's resident Snark Blogger Wonkette was able to see through that one. Much has been said by the defenders of the powers that be that criticism of the war in Iraq was sending the wrong message to those who wish to attack us. If Cindy Sheehan's little protest sends the wrong message, what kind of message does gross misfeasance in the face of a natural calamity send? I don't mind a harsh standard, but if your going to be throwing it around at least try to be consistent.
FEMA Director Brown is no better. Rather than reiterate all the stories about his incompetence, I'll direct you here. The brainy father of the Republican Revolution, Newt Gingrich put it best on the O'Reilly Fact on Monday. He said...(I paraphrase)
President Bush has a choice. He can hold those responsible for a dismal federal response to the disaster accountable and move towards rebuilding both New Orleans, FEMA and DHS or he can defend the failings of his administration. If he does the former, he comes out a true leader, if he does the later..he's toast.
And Newt is right.
I keep waiting for the leadership from Bush that I'm told he's capable of. He hasn't vetoed one spending bill in five years. He's grown the federal government at a record pace (to keep us safe by creating HSD), he's abandoned federalism and limited government to placate the so-called religious right and now he defends bureaucratic malfeasance that approaches legendary status. I hope, I wait, I give the benefit of the doubt again and again...and still nothing.
Oh yes, there's the various state governments and local authorities too. But the citizen's of those various jurisdictions have standing to address those issues and I have no doubt they will. My expertise, my stake here is the Feds. and since when did it become fashionable for Republicans to defend government failures?
