"In a reflection of what has long been a hallmark of Mr. Rove's tough political style, the administration is also working to shift the blame away from the White House and toward officials of New Orleans and Louisiana who, as it happens, are Democrats." The New York Times, September 5, 2005
So it's official. Karl Rove has a plan: deflect blame onto everyone else except for the leader of the free world and the government department which has unprecedented funding and years of planning in its arsenal to swiftly react to these types of disasters -- and worse.
By the same twisted Rove logic, Rudy Giuliani should've been blamed for not evacuating 100 percent of the people from the World Trade Centers. Rudy Giuliani should've scrambled jets to intercept the planes. Rudy Giuliani should've moved emergency responders out of the buildings before they collapsed. Rudy Giuliani should've been blamed for ignoring a Presidential Daily Briefing which was titled -- you know what it was titled.
Ridiculous assumptions for anyone with common sense.
Rove and Bush apologists who pride themselves on America being a stronger, safer place due to their policies now expect our preparedness, our responsiveness, and ultimately our nation's reputation to rest on the shoulders of local politicians?
Fine then. The White House and its departmental leaders are no longer needed for any critical tasks, least of all accepting responsibility when something goes awry. If that's the precedent from this day forward -- the Rove Doctrine, if you will -- then we really don't need a chief executive. We can disband the DHS. We can disband the cabinet-level departments. Replace all of it with a big pile of mayors.
If the Limerick Powerplant, down the highway from my house, is hit by terrorists someday, I'll look to the mayors of Pottstown and Reading instead of that, what's it called? The Department of Homeland Security and The President of the United States?
Here's an insane idea. How about responsibility and accountability for this disaster being proportional to the level of power, not proportional according to lack of power.
I think it was Lewis Black who made the analogy that when a professional sports team has a losing season, the coach of the team is the one who is fired.
Since when, after a big loss, does a coach stand before the team and its fans and blame, say, the Gatorade guy?
"Our nation's leaders are responsible ... to confront problems, not pass them on to others. And to lead this nation to a responsibility era, a president himself must be responsible."
George W. Bush's 2000 nomination acceptance speech. Courtesy of commenter "ptrdo".