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WaPost:: White House Shifts Blame (3.00 / 0)

So, "the Department of Homeland Security will assume primary responsibility ... for ensuring that emergency response professionals are prepared for any situation" and that "[i]n some cases, a disaster is beyond the capabilities of the State and local government to respond." They say it's their responsibility? Let's hold them to it.

I agree, but the WH spin machine has been turned on:

Sunday morning's WaPost:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/03/AR2005090301680.html

Between Ben's Diary and this one, I feel frustrated and angry.  Sure, elected and appointed leaders with principle should accept fault for inaction.  However, this Administration has a stellar record for redirecting accountability and assigning blame to others.

by Bill Felmlee on Sat Sep 03, 2005 at 11:14:38 PM EST

Re: WaPost:: White House Shifts Blame (none / 0)

That article was particularly depressing.  We'll see if they get away with it this time.  The Washington Post and New York Times both have front page articles on their web sites entitled, respectively, "White House Shifts Blame" (the one you cite above) and "As White House Anxiety Grows, Bush Tries to Quell Political Crisis."  The press has not been impressed with Bush's response, as far as I can see, and I don't think they're going to roll over and accept the official talking points quite as easily this time.

I suppose there are only so many times you can lie to these reporters before they start noticing there's something fishy.

You know, I have been perfectly happy to wait to assign blame until the dust has settled and a thorough investigation completed.  I suspect there's some blame to be shared by quite a number of people and government entities.

But if the White House is treating this like a political operation and sending in their pit bulls to deflect accountability, as the WaPo article seems to imply, then they've crossed the line yet again.  That alone disgusts me, regardless of what the true magnitude of their errors proves to be.

by arenwin on Sun Sep 04, 2005 at 12:20:41 AM EST
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