Assigning Blame

Y'know what? I disagree with those on both sides (left and right) who think the various politicians involved here should be assigning blame at this point.

The liberals are incensed that the Administration talking points of the moment include words like “There is plenty of time for recriminations later, right now we have a job to do.”

And you know what else? That only applies to relief workers. I think it’s perfectly fine for the rest of us to be watching this and taking notes and trying to figure out who is to blame for the failures in relief and rescue. And I do think there should eventually be an independent (truly independent, not a stacked deck like sometimes happens) inquiry into how, after four years of supposedly beefing up our response capabilities to just this sort of disaster, things went SO very poorly.

But for those who are actually working (or supposed to be) on the problem right now, they SHOULDN’T be answering questions. Yet. They SHOULD be given a pass when, like Michael Chertoff on Meet the Press, they keep saying words like “What would you have me do now, keep rescuing people and getting food and water to the sick and starving or stop and figure out who is to blame?”

There is plenty of time for both the Bush Administration and local officials like Blanco and Nagin to answer questions and hold inquiries. Later.

For now, let’s let them do their jobs, at least as much as they are doing them. If there are things which should be done differently RIGHT NOW, those are worth discussing RIGHT NOW. Anything past can wait a week or two.

(And again, this pass is directed only at those directly involved in or responsible for the relief effort. The rest of us can continue our petty political bickering.)

Liam.