Katrina and the blame game
There doesn't seem to be a lot of new news out this morning, and Katrina coverage is everywhere-- there isn't much I can add to the hell-on-earth scenario.
However, I can point out what I'm getting from the right-wing sites today. A fair number are just ignoring the disaster. Others are giving "news reports" that are nothing more than recaps from the mainstream press. The real goofballs are, naturally, using it to defend Bush and attack Democrats. This can't be done by citing Bush's tardy and half-hearted response to the damage, or by citing successful Bush environmental policy, or the ability of the National Guard to maintain order, or the slashed funding of Louisiana's preparedness funding. Nothin' left but that good ol' reliable straw man.
1) "Democrats are blaming Bush for the hurricane. That shows how crazy they are." I'm not sure who started this meme, but it's spread like wildfire on the right. Its idiocy is self-evident, since the only group to blame humans for this natural disaster has been the religious right. It also ignores the fact that Katrina didn't flood New Orleans-- the ensuing deluge caused by failed levees flooded New Orleans.
2) "Democrats need ideas, and not just accusations." The odd thing about this is that it always begs the question-- why is a party with no federal power responsible for policy-making? This is another recycled classic that seems to pop up whenever something goes wrong in this country. Iraq not going well? It's because Dems haven't come up with a plan. National Guard not equipped to deal with Katrina? Dems haven't come up with a plan. It's the ultimate in responsibility-avoidance.
3) "How dare you politicize this!" Classic stuff, that one. But isn't federal response to a humanitarian crisis a matter of political (in)action? Of course it is. Next lame-brained excuse, please.
4) "It's their own fault for living there." Probably the most pernicious argument that's appeared from the right is this one, all too typical of reactionary fend-for-yourself-onomics. Just try to imagine one of these self-satisfied righties losing everything and stoically saying "No, I won't accept any assistance. I chose to live here, and only I am to blame." Unlikely, to say the least.
The thing is, people on both sides should be responding as citizens to the disaster itself, not trying to rationalize it, take attention away from it, or downplay it.
However, I can point out what I'm getting from the right-wing sites today. A fair number are just ignoring the disaster. Others are giving "news reports" that are nothing more than recaps from the mainstream press. The real goofballs are, naturally, using it to defend Bush and attack Democrats. This can't be done by citing Bush's tardy and half-hearted response to the damage, or by citing successful Bush environmental policy, or the ability of the National Guard to maintain order, or the slashed funding of Louisiana's preparedness funding. Nothin' left but that good ol' reliable straw man.
1) "Democrats are blaming Bush for the hurricane. That shows how crazy they are." I'm not sure who started this meme, but it's spread like wildfire on the right. Its idiocy is self-evident, since the only group to blame humans for this natural disaster has been the religious right. It also ignores the fact that Katrina didn't flood New Orleans-- the ensuing deluge caused by failed levees flooded New Orleans.
2) "Democrats need ideas, and not just accusations." The odd thing about this is that it always begs the question-- why is a party with no federal power responsible for policy-making? This is another recycled classic that seems to pop up whenever something goes wrong in this country. Iraq not going well? It's because Dems haven't come up with a plan. National Guard not equipped to deal with Katrina? Dems haven't come up with a plan. It's the ultimate in responsibility-avoidance.
3) "How dare you politicize this!" Classic stuff, that one. But isn't federal response to a humanitarian crisis a matter of political (in)action? Of course it is. Next lame-brained excuse, please.
4) "It's their own fault for living there." Probably the most pernicious argument that's appeared from the right is this one, all too typical of reactionary fend-for-yourself-onomics. Just try to imagine one of these self-satisfied righties losing everything and stoically saying "No, I won't accept any assistance. I chose to live here, and only I am to blame." Unlikely, to say the least.
The thing is, people on both sides should be responding as citizens to the disaster itself, not trying to rationalize it, take attention away from it, or downplay it.
posted by Matt Sandwich | 9:48 AM
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