Taking Responsibility?

by Scott Shields, Thu Sep 15, 2005 at 05:29:11 PM EDT

One of the GOP talking points leaked tonight before the President's speech reads as follows:

Bottom line now is all levels of government must take responsibility. This President is taking responsibility and what we have to do now is look forward.

But do the Republicans understand what it means to "take responsibility?" Taking responsibility isn't just a talking point. It's an action. Taking responsibility means that George W. Bush is admitting that the poor response to what happened in New Orleans is, at least in part, his fault. But that doesn't really seem to be what's happening. He certainly didn't take responsibility in this speech.

Taking responsibility does not mean ordering "a comprehensive review" that is unlikely to cite the fact that Bush stayed on vacation, initially unwilling to change his plans. Taking responsibility does not mean putting together a partisan "investigation" with the primary goal of blaming Democrats at the state and local level. Taking responsibility does not mean using this tragedy as an excuse to experiment with right-wing pet projects. Taking responsibility does not mean putting more energy into coordinating a PR campaign than an actual relief effort. And most importantly, saying that you're taking responsibility does not mean that the federal government is now above criticism.

The good news stories that the President told in this address are great. There are obviously great people across the country doing great things for their fellow suffering Americans. It's great that supplies are moving into New Orleans and that the region will be rebuilt. But none of that changes or hides the fact that the federal government massively botched the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

No "we underestimated the problem." No "we made a mistake." Not even a "hey, I'm sorry." In other words, no actual acceptance of responsibility. This President and his allies in Congress are incapable of taking any responsibility for the federal response. It's up to us to hold them responsible.

Tags: Republicans (all tags)

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Taking responsibility

means resigning.

by Abby 2005-09-15 05:40PM | 0 recs

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Contrition

The state of being contrite; Syn. repentance, sorrow for sins or faults. This was the talking point from NBC, Bryan Williams used contrition several times in the after speech analysis. I have to agree with you Scott that there was NO contrition in this speech. I kept waiting for any true acceptance of responsibility and there was none. Mr. Bush owed the American people and especially the people of the disaster area an explanation and an apology. They received neither in this speech.

by Demo Dan in Dayton 2005-09-15 05:49PM | 0 recs

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Re: Contrition

Anyone else think he just seemed way too cheery? Going into this speech, knowing Bush, I expected a tear or two. But he seemed downright optimistic. There will certainly be a place in all of this for optimism about the future of the region, but this speech wasn't supposed to be it.

by Scott Shields 2005-09-15 05:53PM | 0 recs

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This is practically

a Godsend for the administration.

Iraq was a black hole through which they could funnel tax dollars to their political allies, but just a few weeks ago things were looking grim for the future of that campaign.

Now, not only is nobody talking about who lied to whom about Iraq, but the administration has a whole new cover story for feeding money to those same contractors. They get to rebuild a major urban center in their own image. They get to start suspending labor and environmental laws. They get to start parcelling out government-owned lands to private interests for development.

Katrina uncovered a gold mine.

by catastrophile 2005-09-15 05:58PM | 0 recs

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Re: This is practically

No kidding. This is like the best thing that ever happened to them in a sick sort of way. They can now legally receive all the funds they want. Who needs small government when you can just have it all for yourself.

By the way, I had no idea that Karl Rove was in charge of the reconstruction effort until 10 minutes ago. Will any freaking large television news organization talk about this!!

by Eric11 2005-09-15 08:32PM | 0 recs

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Kerry reponds to Bush speech

John Kerry Responds to President Bush's Speech to the Nation: "Leadership isn't a speech or a toll-free number"

http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=574

by Pamela 2005-09-15 07:51PM | 0 recs

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Watch out.. Phony doesn't say it. Don't trust them

With narcissists like the GOP, watch what they do, not what they say. Their words are almost always less than meaningless. (they typically say the exact opposite of what they do)

** THE TIME TO REALLY BE CAREFUL IS WHEN THEY ARE 'NICE' *

This is from personal experience, proven right many times..

*When they are 'nice' to you, watch out, they are trying to put you off the track BECAUSE they typically have something really EVIL in store..

Seriously..

by ultraworld 2005-09-15 08:12PM | 0 recs

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Molly Ivins:

Some of you may have heard me observe a time or two - going back to when George W. was still governor of Texas - that the trouble with the guy is that while he is good at politics, he stinks at governance. It bores him, he's not interested, he thinks government is bad to begin with and everything would be done better if it were contracted out to corporations.

We can now safely assert that W. has stacked much of the federal government with people like himself. And what you get when you put people in charge of government who don't believe in government and who are not interested in running it well is ... what happened after Hurricane Katrina.

Many a time in the past six years I have bit my tongue so I wouldn't annoy people with the always obnoxious observation, "I told you so." But I did.

Next time I tell you someone from Texas should not be president of the United States, please pay attention.

by catastrophile 2005-09-15 08:34PM | 0 recs

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I'ld love...

to watch the faces of citizens of New Orleans as they sit in their shelters and sponsor homes watching that speech. Recogizing that they are in a world of hurt right now but still, the anger has got to be palpable.

by jrflorida 2005-09-15 08:35PM | 0 recs

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What It Really Means

I would hope that readers of this web site know that the idiot's speech had more to do with trying to improve his falling approval numbers than anything else. But he'll get away with it unless this community doesn't let the voters forget. Except for the morons at Fox, who wouldn't know the truth if bitten on their collective asses by it, we must force all other media outlets to push the real story of the utter failure of this administration.

by blogus 2005-09-16 02:53AM | 0 recs

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"Not a Normal Hurricane"

Bush is still trying to dodge responsibility. He said it was "not a normal hurricane, and the normal disaster relief system was not equal to it."

Oh gee, Mr. President, that sure is understandable. It was a really, really big hurricane. I can see how the government would be prepared for big hurricane. But this was a really, really big one. No one prepares for a really, really big one.

He has learned the lesson of Katrina, which is that the most important thing is still to have pictures that look good with the sound turned off.

How much did it cost to fly him down to New Orleans, have all those soldiers on post there protecting him, just so he could give a speech in front of St. Louis Cathedral with Andrew Jackson positioned "just so"?

by Mister Go 2005-09-16 07:13AM | 0 recs

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Bush's Katrina Cop Out

Bush's prime-time "Katrina Comeback" address was designed to help him, and not the Gulf States, recover from his administration's disastrous bungling of the Katrina response. He turned to the same old page in his political playbook: offer to shower money on the devastated South, but hold no one accountable for the past and shun independent oversight of the rebuilding. Truest to form, the Free Lunch President refused to ask the American people to pay for it.

For the full story, see:

"Bush's Katrina Cop Out"

by AvengingAngel 2005-09-16 07:30AM | 0 recs

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Re: Bush's Katrina Cop Out

And in not asking the American people to pay for it today, he is ensuring that the American people, as well as our children and grandchildren, will pay HUGE debt service. The huge addition to deficit spending ensures that the American people will pay for this fical nightmare "on easy terms," many times over. The president and his pals are taking a great economy and leaving the Unnited States with a debt-loaded balance sheet worthy of a third-world country. Frankly, while there is a need for very serious money to repair the damage, we need a fiscal plan that also shows how we will pay for it!

I have issues with both parties in terms of managing the country in a fiscally responsible manner, but these neo-con Republicans have repeatedly proved that they are considerably more irresponsible than the so-called "tax and spend" Democrats.

by BillCat 2005-09-16 08:09AM | 0 recs

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Taking Responsibility

"What we have to do is look forward." How about taking a little time to look backward. I worked in Baton Rouge, Louisiana for LBJ's anti-poverty program in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Three decades later a larger percentage of Americans are below the poverty level.
Fortunately, the progressive blogosphere is helping focus the nation on issues of class, race and poverty. I've added my small voice as I advocate a New Deal that includes ALL Americans.(www.KatrinaMemo.blogspot.com)

by deevy 2005-09-16 09:20AM | 0 recs

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No, Passing the Buck (literally)

Taking responsibility would include seeing that the massive federal expenditures that will be required to restore New Orleans (clearly intended to restore HIS OWN political standing) is paid for in HIS OWN budget.

Instead he is asking POSTERITY to assume financial responsibility for his own fuck-ups.

by paul minot 2005-09-16 10:12AM | 0 recs