It's started already. The finger-pointing, the spin, the blame. Jack Grant has it right when he says that a disaster should not be used to score political points.
EU Rota fairly points out that if one wants to assess blame, there's plenty of evidence to go around to find someone to accuse (which he doesn't by the way).
Why this compulsion to find someone responsible and hang them? Why can't we all see that there are sometimes too many things in this world that are beyond our control? Had Clinton and Bush both slathered billions on New Orleans, there still might have been devastation. There are disasters waiting to happen all over this great country. More will happen. Maybe we should just find a scapegoat now and beat the rush.
It is a childish attitude to want the government to fix everything, especially before it happens. I think that a certain type of person wants government to control things just so that there is someone to blame.
The New York Times editorial, while mostly vile in a sneering sort of way, does make one true point. We are sorely lacking in leadership. This dearth didn't start with Bush. Clinton and Bush 41 weren't such great leaders, either. True, he has had his share of problems (some self-imposed) to deal with, but he really needs to stop the hollow speechifying and get down to action. At least Bush is now calling for gasoline conservation as a half-hearted plea for sacrifice.
We have wasted enough time and effort and now lives. We are a nation of bickering guttersnipes. We were supposed to have changed on September 11, we were going to be called to greatness.
I have no doubt that the services that are now arriving in New Orleans will do an unbelievable job in rescue and revitalization (if that is what's to happen) but they will do it not because there is inspiration from above. They will do their best because that's the American creed.
None in leadership seems to get that.
And one of the squabbling partisans get it either.
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