Political Jackass

“Leadership isn’t a speech or a toll-free number. Leadership is getting the job done. No American doubts that New Orleans will rise again, they doubt the competence and commitment of this Administration. Weeks after Katrina, Americans want an end to politics-as-usual that leaves them dangerously and unforgivably unprepared. Americans want to know that their government will be there when it counts with leadership that keeps them safe, not speeches in the aftermath to explain away the inexcusable.”
- John F. Kerry

Bush won in 2004 on the promise that he could do a better job than John Kerry at keeping Americans safe in the wake of disaster. Last night, he admitted that he is an empty suit wearing and empty cowboy hat. Once again, George W. Bush is trying to mask his incompotence by spewing out empty rhetoric on national television. As the Post puts it, it’s his bid to repair a presidency. “New Orleans will rise again!” As if he’s doing something productive. Who the fuck wouldn’t rebuild New Orleans? That doesn’t make him special! Any decent president would rebuild after a disaster. It’s the response that Bush should be held accountable for. Plus, the no bid contracts that are being handed out to all his friends to rebuild New Orleans.

If Dan Balz is right, at least Republicans will no longer be able to invoke 9/11 and exploit that tragic event for political gain, “Never again will the White House be able to point to his often-praised performance after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, without skeptics recalling the fumbling and slow-off-the-mark response of his administration after the hurricane and the flooding in New Orleans.”

Via signal to noise