I’m sorry. I know we’re supposed to be observing an accountability free moment for the president. But there are just too many examples out there of the ways in which his policies have contributed to and accentuated this crisis: systematic cuts in levee and pump construction around New Orleans (second article here), phasing out FEMA and the apparently the whole concept of national coordination of the response to natural disasters. That’s a great idea, isn’t it? Similar failings are discussed by Bruce W. Jentleson and Juliette Kayyem at TPMCafe. And, of course, example after example of cronies running critical agencies. Anyone want to give a buzz to Joe Allbaugh over at New Bridge Strategies?
The scene of any natural disaster, especially one of such grave magnitude, will invariably be chaotic. Much won’t go according to plan. But a lot of people seem to have been caught unprepared in this mess, a lot of preparedness agencies appear to have missed a few beats in getting on top of it.
Yes, let’s save everyone and everything we can. People on the scene and in the surrounding region are pulling together in amazing ways. But no more letting this man’s failures become his own argument against accountability. It’s always been a live-for-today presidency.
