It took almost no time for President Bush to put his stamp on the national response to the tragedy that has befallen New Orleans and the Gulf Coast, a reminder that modern communications have reshaped the constitutional division of powers in our government in ways that the Founding Fathers never could have imagined.
I will agree that he put his stamp on it. It was a giggling smirking stamp. A stamp of incompetence. But in no way did he sound Presidential. Those who watched his address at the White House said that he was less articulate than usual. And that is saying something.
Because the commander in chief is also the communicator in chief, when a crisis emerges the nation's eyes turn to him as to no other official. We cannot yet calculate the political fallout from Hurricane Katrina and its devastating human and economic consequences, but one thing seems certain: It makes the previous signs of political weakness for Bush, measured in record-low job approval ratings, instantly irrelevant and opens new opportunities for him to regain his standing with the public.
Seriously? Blaming others? Saying stupid things like "no one ever thought the levees would break." Right. Only everyone thought that, you jerk.
We have seen this before. Bill Clinton was foundering in his third year in office when the destruction of the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City shocked the nation and set the stage for his flawless performance of the symbolic rites of healing and comfort for the victims.
And of course we saw how Bush's response to the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon revived a presidency that looked to have lost its direction and purpose after eight months in office in 2001.
Right, the blank look when someone told him what happened. Geesh. What fucking leadership?
The challenges posed by this natural disaster are in some ways even more difficult than those of the terrorist attack, with anger and frustration now being expressed about the response of governments at all levels. But for a president who believes that actions speak louder than words, this is an advantageous setting.
Too bad he is bad at actions too.
By coincidence, the same day that the president flew back from vacation to take command of the hurricane response. . .
Right, flew back from vacation on the Wednesday after the disaster! UB will probably jump in here and talk about my Bush hating.
But Brody has it completely wrong. Bush had a chance to step out there and act presidential. He didn't. Those who think he did are still wearing the Bush goggles. You know, the ones where an arrogant ass appears to be a man of character. Where a person who laughs about war and treats his enemies with disdain and disrespect looks like a good Christian.
1 comment:
I am appalled that they are even considering, at this early stage, when so many people are still waiting to be rescued, the political advantages this may have for Bush. Sickening.
I guess, when you're this bad at being President, the spin has to start as early as possible.
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