The Political Chase

Bush on Sinking Ship

Bush continues to drop in poles.

• Job approval - 40%
• Handling Iraq - 37% approve; 58% disapprove
• Troops in Iraq - 55% want reduction of troops; 36% want to maintain the current level.

Maybe Karl Rove will begin to think about it a week from now, only after Andy Card gives him a week-old newspaper.

Cheney Delays Electricity to Hospitals for Oil Company

It’s no secret that oil is a priority for VP Dick Cheney. 

Talking Points Memo has a post about a local Mississippi electric company receiving a call from the White House  changing the electric company’s  power restoration priorities .  The time frame is important - the power company received a call the night of August 30 and again on the morning of August 31. Implying a matter of  national emergency, Dick Cheney’s office ordered the power company restore service to Colonial Pipeline Co., stopping their efforts to  restore power to hospitals.  Read it all.

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9/11 Commission Evaluation of Bush’s Performance

The 9/11 Public Disclosure Project, which reports on the progress of implementing the 9/11 Committee’s recommendations, released a report this morning which doesn’t bode well for the President.

Briefly, the Administration received unsatisfactory ratings in 4 out of 10 areas.  At the top of the list is "Emergency Preparedness and Response."  The administration’s rating was unsatisfactory in this category.

Now that’s a surprise.

More later.

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FEMA vs. Governor Blanco

Let the games begin…

I previously discussed here and here, the contract negotiations between Kenyon Worldwide Disaster Management and FEMA, which ultimately broke down.  In order to get the necessary body recovery underway, Gov. Blanco intervened and executed a contract with Kenyon.

In a press conference yesterday Gov. Blanco said, 

"In recent days, I have spoken with FEMA officials and administration officials to convey my absolute frustration regarding the lack of urgency and the lack of respect involving the recovery of our people whose lives were lost as a result of Hurricane Katrina. We have pleaded for contract resolution. In death, as in life, our people deserve more respect than they have received."

Vice Adm. Thad W. Allen’s (directing FEMA efforts in the region) response to Gov. Blanco was:

"The state has always maintained direct control over the mortuary process following this tragedy…We will work with state officials on what they believe to be the best solution for their constituents."

First, it appears FEMA has done an about-face.  Adm. Allen’s comments are contradictory.  Initially, FEMA was negotiating the contract and now Allen says the state has always maintained control.

Second, and maybe the most important item, it appears the Admiral is doing exactly what the Administration has accused the media, the public, and the Democrats of doing - playing the blame game. As if to say, not our job man, you (state gov’t.) have been driving the bus - we just take orders from you, therefore you are responsible for the delayed recovery.

The Admiral must have received an email from Karl Rove.

In my opinion, this is the administration’s effort to reduce the scope of Bush’s acceptance of responsibility, which I began discussing here. 

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Bush’s Days are Over

The Washington Post says it is the end of the Bush era.

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Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil….

Talking about denial…Limbaugh still has this image on his site.

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Comic Relief Tomorrow

Comic relief is good medicine at times like this.  I think carving out some time to listen to Rush "Talent on Loan from God" Limbaugh’s show is spot on.  I can’t wait to hear his response to Bush’s announcement today and possible double whammy tomorrow.  The EIB Network is here.

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Irresponsibility on Top of Irresponsibility

Was Bush’s announcement of irresponsibility ominous and calculated damage control for more than just Katrina?  The 9/11 Public Disclosure Project will be released tomorrow.  The report is an assessment of the Bush administration’s implementation of the 9/11 Commission’s recommendations on homeland security and emergency preparedness and response.

If the President remained in denial of the current situation and the Disclosure report reflects negatively on the administration, it would be a tremendous blow with significant consequences.  As discussed before, I firmly believe there is more than just a sudden realization of guilt about Katrina.

Let’s get real here.  Yesterday Bush defends or refuses to acknowledge his personal malpractice and today there is an epiphany of failure?  

Albeit miniscule, owning up to the problems of the current matter would be a safety valve release to mitigate an explosion of immense proportions - maybe more than the President could survive.  There is no way the President could allow denial to continue and a damaging report related to the core issue, be released at the same time.

Whatever happens tomorrow, the Democrats have more ammunition than they could ever wish for.  Bush’s primary campaign stance in 2004 was his ability to protect the American people.  He has failed to do that.  Add Iraq, a deficit beyond comprehension, middle to upper managers forced to work in places like the Gap, failure of "No Child Left Behind," and our poor international relations - the political arsenal is packed full.

How is Karl Rove going to dig the President out of this hole? 

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