archy

Leadership
By the leader of the free world:

"I don't think anyone anticipated the breach of the levees."
--George Bush

By the man whose agency includes FEMA:

"The critical thing was to get people out of there before the disaster," he said on NBC's Today program. "Some people chose not to obey that order. That was a mistake on their part."
--Michael Chertoff, Secretary of Homeland Defense

By the number three person in the executive branch:

According to Drudge, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has recently enjoyed a little Broadway entertainment. And Page Six reports that she’s also working on her backhand with Monica Seles. So the Gulf Coast has gone all Mad Max, women are being raped in the Superdome, and Rice is enjoying a brief vacation in New York. We wish we were surprised.

What does surprise us: Just moments ago at the Ferragamo on 5th Avenue, Condoleeza Rice was seen spending several thousands of dollars on some nice, new shoes (we’ve confirmed this, so her new heels will surely get coverage from the WaPo’s Robin Givhan). A fellow shopper, unable to fathom the absurdity of Rice’s timing, went up to the Secretary and reportedly shouted, “How dare you shop for shoes while thousands are dying and homeless!” Never one to have her fashion choices questioned, Rice had security PHYSICALLY REMOVE the woman.

The spokesman for the leader ofthe free world:

As I have indicated, this is not a time for politics. This is a time for the nation to come together for those in the Gulf Coast region and that's where our focus is. This is not a time for finger-pointing or politics.

That's the word from the administration that has shamelessly whored the greatest terrorist attack in our history for maximum partisan advantage for four years without break. That's the word from the administration that invariably treats truces and calls to set aside politics as signs of weakness and invitations to attack. That's the word from the administration that will be on the receiving end of many of those pointing fingers.

At a time like this, our first priority must be to aleviate pain and suffering. Our second priority, however, must be to determine how much humans are to blame for that pain and suffering, to find them and to make them pay. Bush did not cause the hurricane (unless you believe the HAARP theory). Nature caused the hurricane. But nature isn't the only source of pain and suffering in a disaster like this. People bear a lot of responsibility. Bush is not the only person responsible. Certainly some state and local officials will bear some responsibility for the failures of preparation and response. Human predators who try to profit from pain and misery will bear total responsibility for their actions. I think when everything is added up and sorted out, the Bush administration will have a lot to answer for.

No amnesty for Bush.