Here We Go Again......
Yesterday in the New York Times an article appeared labeled “White House Was Told Hurricane Posed Danger” and this followed:
“Homeland Security Department report submitted to the White House at 1:47 a.m. on Aug. 29, hours before the storm hit, said, "Any storm rated Category 4 or greater will likely lead to severe flooding and/or levee breaching." The internal department documents, which were forwarded to the White House, contradict statements by President Bush and the homeland security secretary, Michael Chertoff, that no one expected the storm protection system in New Orleans to be breached. "I don't think anyone anticipated the breach of the levees," Mr. Bush said in a television interview on Sept. 1. "Now we're having to deal with it, and will."
Other documents to be released Tuesday show that the weekend before Hurricane Katrina made landfall, Homeland Security Department officials predicted that its impact would be worse than a doomsday-like emergency planning exercise conducted in Louisiana in July 2004.”

Today, not only is the administration refusing to turn over documents about Katrina or to make senior white house officials available for sworn testimony before two congressional committees investigating the storm response but this administration is also citing “confidentiality of executive branch communications”.

What does this say to you? Well, it does surprise me that the term “national security” wasn’t used, but regardless of the stonewalling, this speaks volumes. He knows for all his bravado, grunting and threatening Neanderthal posturing, he is a tried and true ineffectual leader. I found it difficult to believe that he wasn’t aware of the nightmare that was unfolding at the time in Katrina’s wake. He might be on vaca, but he is briefed, supposedly, on a regular basis. I know that while he is clearing brush from the vast amounts of family property in Crawford, he has some minion trailing him with the goings-on in the country.
The response, when all eyes turned to him and said “lead us”, was to refuse to make eye contact and continue with his agenda.
As arms reached out to him saying “save us”, he plucked a guitar.
And when fingers pointed saying “you deserted us”, he pointed back and said “it was your fault”.
When does teflon w start getting held accountable? How many times does this sort of thing – the refusal to submit documentation, to aid in an investigation, to be truthful – have to happen before we say, you cannot be trusted. You and yours cannot be trusted. He wouldn’t allow an independent committee for the investigation into what went wrong with Katrina, went that route with the 9/11 committee and not exactly the results for which he had hoped. Instead he gets right-leaning demos and republicans to man investigation stations, and guess what? They don’t like it. They don’t like finding something out, and asking for corroborating evidence and being denied. They are going to subpoena not only the documents but also the people involved. You cannot flippantly disregard your responsibilities to the people you are representing. You cannot toss out the term "executive privilege" whenever it suits you. You cannot fail to lead and remain the leader. When does that ever happen? Ever? You cannot break a crystal clear law and say “doesn’t apply to me”.
Supposedly the increase amongst teens engaging in oral sex is attributed to Clinton’s refusal to classify oral sex as sex. What precedent does this set? School zone? Doesn’t apply to me. No stealing? No cheating? Doesn’t apply to me. Leaders lead by example whether they like it or not. Cody is a leader in his grade. When he gets up in class and visits his buddies across the room, everyone else sees it as a cue to do the same. Although everyone is now milling around the room, who is held responsible? That’s right. Because he’s the leader. You get the leader to do the right thing, other people who look to the leader for guidance will follow. Presumably. Scary thought, right now, though.
Can we accumulate a list of what this guy has refused to do, erroneously done, lied about, covered up, done without authority, appointed to key positions, sliced and diced critical programs all the while saying he’s for us? Once that lengthy document is done, being what appears to be a visual nation, will it finally make people realize that this guy is over his head? He is taking advice from the absolute worse possible people with only self-absorbed interests in mind? What will be the straw? What will it take to make good people say (sigh) geez, I was hoping I wouldn’t have to do it, but let’s go giterdone. There are so many people that want to believe that he is just misunderstood. They buy into the fear and threat and they want someone who will go and protect them. Fox News reinforces the continuous message by spouting a constant dirge of border threats, predators, molesters, terrorists, shocking this, horrifying that!
Do we really want this kind of leader? Have you ever been so confused about who the heck is leading the country? Why do all those on the right seem so brightened by rove opening his mouth and commenting on domestic spying? Why is what he says so important? Who is he? Was his name on the ticket with bush and mr. Burns? Oops. Sorry. Chaney. No. Yet, he puffs up like those black birds on the side of the road, sticking out his chest, opening his beak in a mock call, wiggling his tail for all the underlings to croon over. Yet, if you notice, the wise birds just make a cursory glance and (was that an eye roll??) go about their business. Time to stop eyerolling. Time to take action. This has got to stop.
Resident in the White House: a note: You said you didn’t know the levees would break. You are quoted. Now there is documentation claiming otherwise. One would think that you would rush to produce the documentation that proves your claim. What’s that expression? Ah! Put up or shut up. Actually, Mr. Resident, put up or get out.

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