Monday, September 05, 2005
Katrina: Now the Republicans are shifting the blame to "red tape"
Seems that even Rove's awesomely efficient disinformation apparatus isn't going to be able to shift the blame to the local (Democratic) officials in New Orleans. (I mean, how clumsy is it to claim that Louisiana didn't claim a state of emergency in time when 5 seconds on Google shows they did, and it's a matter of public record"? These guys must be badly rattled.)
So, now the blame is being shifted again—to that old Republican standby, "red tape." You see, government is still the enemy!
Well, sure. But it's hard to hold "bureauracy" and "red tape" accountable, isb't it? Isn't Lott being just a little vague on that good old Republican standby, personal accountability? Or doesn't Lott believe that anyone is really in charge?
UPDATE Actually, the responsibility issue could even get worse. MyDD astutely points out:
Kinda makes you wonder about all those stories about FEMA actually turning away help. It's not just isolated incidents, but a pattern. Why would they do that?
So, now the blame is being shifted again—to that old Republican standby, "red tape." You see, government is still the enemy!
Sen. Trent Lott berated both the Federal Emergency Management Agency and his own state's emergency management, MEMA, for being mired in red tape at a time of urgent need given the devastation left by Hurricane Katrina.
Lott said he has been trying to get FEMA to send 20,000 trailers "sitting in Atlanta" to the Mississippi coast, and he urged President Bush during a meeting Monday to intervene. He said FEMA has refused to ship the trailers until contracts are secured.
Lott said he appreciated Bush's visit, but stressed to the president the need to cut through the bureaucracy.
(via CNN)
Well, sure. But it's hard to hold "bureauracy" and "red tape" accountable, isb't it? Isn't Lott being just a little vague on that good old Republican standby, personal accountability? Or doesn't Lott believe that anyone is really in charge?
UPDATE Actually, the responsibility issue could even get worse. MyDD astutely points out:
Bush/Rove waited until five days after the disaster to authorize the dispatch of troops. What were they doing for the previous five days? The US had troops and food into Bande Ache, Sumatra within two days of the Tsunami. Are we to believe that for the first five days, Bush/Rove were just out of commission? Or that after 5 days, they finally got smoked out themselves?
I would say that regardless, the federal takeover of New Orleans is just beginning to play out...
Kinda makes you wonder about all those stories about FEMA actually turning away help. It's not just isolated incidents, but a pattern. Why would they do that?
