Aftermath and Rhetoric

I’ve marveled a couple of times at how the rhetoric of emergency response has descended to the hideously banal. Why, for just one instance, didn’t Michael Brown say, “Maybe I screwed things up at first; someone’ll track that down in an investigation a few weeks from now. But the very highest priority at this point must involve rescuing and caring for the vulnerable, stabilizing the community and turning the corner from catastrophe to healing. Therefore, I ask that you give my record a righteous grilling — four weeks from now. At that point, you can have my head on a platter if you want, but I will have been able to do all in my power to save lives and rebuild New Orleans, Biloxi, and the hundreds of thousands of lives affected by this terrible storm.” That’s not exactly Jeffersonian, but it beats whimpering about being criticized and mistreated.

Ron Jeffries wondered bigger; he went right to the top and wrote a speech for President Bush.

4 thoughts on “Aftermath and Rhetoric

  1. Nagin did what I thought any smart person implicated would have leapt at — offered to fall on his own sword, as long as swordblades were whetted for others too.

    I’m afraid his will be the only sword, though. Sad.

  2. They don’t say that because people in this regime aren’t responsible and don’t believe the “lower class simpletons” understand the complexities of how hard it is to govern.

  3. By the time all is said and done, there will be so much blame, and not one person willing to take any responsibility. Look at how Brown left today, and no comment from the president. The way I see it, the GOP has a lot of control, and power means never having to say you’re sorry. The lies that are swirling is as disturbing as the harm to the populace – and all in the name of power. Other than some pointed criticism by Nany Pelosi, I don’t see the damning comments from the Dems (and I am not trying to cover for them – just don’t see too much nastiness or an effort to exploit this, they seem content to cower and hope the blame doesn’t fall on them). Isn’t it time that those in charge admit that they are in office to look out for the people, not for the money and sweetheart deals, and take the Jeffries approach? Despite the politicization, I still have not lost sight of the loss of life, and pray for each of those in need.

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