Friday, September 09, 2005
'In descending order of culpability': Agree with most of Charles Krauthammer's Katrina responsibility assessment, especially the role of God. His list of humanoid culprits: 1.) The mayor of New Orleans 2.) The governor of Louisiana. 3.) Mike Brown 4.) The president 5.) Congress 6.) The American people. ...
So I'm not accused of pulling a snide-from-the-sidelines punch, here's my own descending list of culpable humanoids: 1.) Governor of Louisiana 2.) Mayor of New Orleans. 3.) The president (and he's a very close third) 4.) Mike Brown and Homeland Security chief 5.) Congress. ... No 'American people' relativist copout from me. ... The reason for 1.) and 2.) is that it was the responsibility of the locals to get those people out in the hours before the storm hit and secure the area in the immediate aftermath, while awaiting the fed cavalry. The reason for the president being so high (and arguably as bad) is he allowed FEMA to be gutted, appointed cronies to head the agency and failed to take charge in the aftermath. Worse: He doesn't know what 'the buck stops here' means. ... The performance of all three was abysmal.
'Below is a photo FEMA doesn’t want you to see': Joe Dwinell is posting photos of Hurricane Katrina victims. ... FEMA has apparently dropped its shameful anti-photo crusade. I happen to be one of those who favors some restrictions on the showing of dead GIs and their coffins during times of war. There's an enemy counting on propaganda wins and demoralizing the homefront. It's a weapon we shouldn't hand lightly to those trying to kill us or our troops. But who's the enemy in Katrina? Where's the national security argument? Some say a photo ban is appropriate to protect the sensitivities of victims' families. Baloney. The censorship is about protecting the administration's domestic political butt. ... P.S.: Joe's photos show only tarp-covered victims.
Here's another link in case the first doesn't work. Scroll to 'hallowed ground.'
So I'm not accused of pulling a snide-from-the-sidelines punch, here's my own descending list of culpable humanoids: 1.) Governor of Louisiana 2.) Mayor of New Orleans. 3.) The president (and he's a very close third) 4.) Mike Brown and Homeland Security chief 5.) Congress. ... No 'American people' relativist copout from me. ... The reason for 1.) and 2.) is that it was the responsibility of the locals to get those people out in the hours before the storm hit and secure the area in the immediate aftermath, while awaiting the fed cavalry. The reason for the president being so high (and arguably as bad) is he allowed FEMA to be gutted, appointed cronies to head the agency and failed to take charge in the aftermath. Worse: He doesn't know what 'the buck stops here' means. ... The performance of all three was abysmal.
'Below is a photo FEMA doesn’t want you to see': Joe Dwinell is posting photos of Hurricane Katrina victims. ... FEMA has apparently dropped its shameful anti-photo crusade. I happen to be one of those who favors some restrictions on the showing of dead GIs and their coffins during times of war. There's an enemy counting on propaganda wins and demoralizing the homefront. It's a weapon we shouldn't hand lightly to those trying to kill us or our troops. But who's the enemy in Katrina? Where's the national security argument? Some say a photo ban is appropriate to protect the sensitivities of victims' families. Baloney. The censorship is about protecting the administration's domestic political butt. ... P.S.: Joe's photos show only tarp-covered victims.
Here's another link in case the first doesn't work. Scroll to 'hallowed ground.'
