Dark Bilious Vapors

Len had posted just a tid-bit from the transcript of Keith Olbermann’s editorial (MSNBC's Coundown) [Video link at http://media.putfile.com/OlbermannSwings]. But Len forgot to include a few of the best parts.

For this, and my own updated comments from yesterday’s Haloscan points, click on the “more” button.

Olbermann:

“… The incompetence and the ludicrous prioritization will forever be symbolized by one gaffe by of the head of what is ironically called “The Department of Homeland Security”: “Louisiana is a city…”
…
No one is suggesting that mayors or governors in the afflicted areas, nor the federal government, should be able to stop hurricanes. Lord knows, no one is suggesting that we should ever prioritize levee improvement for a below-sea-level city, ahead of $454 million worth of trophy bridges for the politicians of Alaska.

But, nationally, these are leaders who won re-election last year largely by portraying their opponents as incapable of keeping the country safe. These are leaders who regularly pressure the news media in this country to report the reopening of a school or a power station in Iraq, and defies its citizens not to stand up and cheer. Yet they couldn't even keep one school or power station from being devastated by infrastructure collapse in New Orleans — even though the government had heard all the "chatter" from the scientists and city planners and hurricane centers and some group whose purposes the government couldn't quite discern... a group called The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

And most chillingly of all, this is the Law and Order and Terror government. It promised protection — or at least amelioration — against all threats: conventional, radiological, or biological.

It has just proved that it cannot save its citizens from a biological weapon called standing water.

Mr. Bush has now twice insisted that, "we are not satisfied," with the response to the manifold tragedies along the Gulf Coast. I wonder which "we" he thinks he's speaking for on this point. Perhaps it's the administration, although we still don't know where some of them are. Anybody seen the Vice President lately? The man whose message this time last year was, 'I'll Protect You, The Other Guy Will Let You Die'?

I don't know which 'we' Mr. Bush meant.

For many of this country's citizens, the mantra has been — as we were taught in Social Studies it should always be — whether or not I voted for this President — he is still my President. I suspect anybody who had to give him that benefit of the doubt stopped doing so last week. I suspect a lot of his supporters, looking ahead to '08, are wondering how they can distance themselves from the two words which will define his government — our government — "New Orleans."

For him, it is a shame — in all senses of the word. A few changes of pronouns in there, and he might not have looked so much like a 21st Century Marie Antoinette. All that was needed was just a quick "I'm not satisfied with my government's response." Instead of hiding behind phrases like "no one could have forseen," had he only remembered Winston Churchill's quote from the 1930's. "The responsibility," of government, Churchill told the British Parliament "for the public safety is absolute and requires no mandate. It is in fact, the prime object for which governments come into existence."

In forgetting that, the current administration did not merely damage itself — it damaged our confidence in our ability to rely on whoever is in the White House.

My issues are with GW and his personal Flaws. Whether it's a character flaws, charming flaws, aristocratic flaws, or of flaws of no consequence. every one has Flaws. And on this issue, on a personal level (for most people) in choosing companions or leaders is - are they Flaws you can Live With?

With GW is that that these Flaws are not just a "veneer" that occasionally make him look bad on camera. but exactly the type to get people Killed. To be an endangerment to our Nation. That his actions/inactions that I find reprehensible in manner and attitude about this New Orleans situation and the death of our citizens.

That this is a Serious and Permanent Character Flaw of his entire approach to things.

No one can dispute that Clinton had flaws, and womanizing counts as one. But as the kind of Flaw that can get you , me or anyone KILLED or endanger anyone life - it's of little consequence to ME (however much hurtful it is for Hillary, Chelsea or Monica).

Therein lies the difference and why I despise and detest GW.

Nothing I have seen, read, or heard leads me to believe GW has ever sought to further his knowledge in tandem and commensurate with the JOB of the Presidency. In fact his intellectual laziness on any given issue - even of taking the time to even read "memo's" (condensed to a single page) sent to him --he doesn't read them!! -- is virtually "legendary" and unprecedented in the office of the Presidency, until good ole GW. That he may not in fact be a dummy...but he behaves like one. Refuses to countenance negative information, and learns like one-- makes no difference since the outcomes are the same.

There is another entire description by Paul O'Neill: "The Price of Loyalty" (who worked for Nixon, Ford, Bush 41 and Clinton) describing this *penchant* for Bush 43 to not read information or memos, ask no
questions, refuse to hear outside opinions on any topic. As does former Sen. Bob Graham: "Intelligence matters" write in his book too...about types of analysis documents prepared, and never asked for by the
bAdmin.

GW is a woefully ignorant man, by Choice!! And I believe his policy choices and governance reflect that ignorance and endanger the Nation as a WHOLE and it Citizenry. That somehow these photo-ops of him
cutting wood in Crawford as supposed to be indicative of a "hard-working man" as proved by being a guy who can tackle dead brush on his *vacation time* - and of what VALUE is that to be to the JOB he
was chosen for (by some folks, cause it sure wasn't me)!!!! Who gives a good rats-ass that he's good at weed-whacking?!?

Sorry, I can't be as generous in my evaluation as some of the wing-nuts who maintaining the party loyalty. The Guy is a Fucking Menace and needs to be impeached to prevent any further harm to our country. Graham called for his impeachment long before he got his four-more-years. But the rest of that term is TOO long to wait to change our Government and provide the kind of people Necessary for the
JOB of Governing.

Karen on 09.07.05 @ 09:05 AM CST