Katrina and the Bat-Signal

I find it interesting, in a sad and resigned way, how W and Rove have responded to the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. After a few days of acting like this was a flooded basement rather than a city, Republicans got their marching orders from W's Special Assistant for Propaganda Karl Rove. Say we shouldn't play the "blame game" right now and not try to make political points with hurricane victims then go out and blame Louisiana Governor Blanco and New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin. It's their fault they say. Nagin should resign they whisper. Lie about when Gov. Blanco declared a state of emergency. Probably Clinton's fault they say as everything before and after Clinton is his fault. And the sheer force of Hurricane Rove fighting the headwinds of Katrina is having some success.

All the talking heads, who would defend W even if there was videotape of him ordering the destruction of the levees and floodwalls in NO, now sound like a chorus in perfect harmony. State and local government is to blame, they are the front line and first responders, they should have prepared better, blah, blah blah. Trouble is that under a heading of "Strategic Goals" on its website, the Department of Homeland Security brags:

"Protection -- Safeguard our people and their freedoms, critical infrastructure, property and the economy of our Nation from acts of terrorism, natural disasters, or other emergencies.

Response -- Lead, manage and coordinate the national response to acts of terrorism, natural disasters, or other emergencies.

Recovery -- Lead national, state, local and private sector efforts to restore services and rebuild communities after acts of terrorism, natural disasters, or other emergencies."

Oops. Who gets fired or promoted for that one? Maybe the same lackey who boldly stated in the DHS Strategic Goals section, "Organizational Excellence -- Value our most important resource, our people. Create a culture that promotes a common identity, innovation, mutual respect, accountability and teamwork to achieve efficiencies, effectiveness, and operational synergies."

I guess it reads better on paper than in practice. Sort of like my blog.

For its part FEMA's website says, "as it has for more than 20 years, FEMA's mission remains: to lead America to prepare for, prevent, respond to and recover from disasters..." What part of lead don't you understand?

If a major terrorist attack struck Washington D.C. would the same talking heads argue that Mayor Anthony Williams is in charge and FEMA, DHS and the 82nd Airborne should just wait for his Bat Signal? Rove and his band of propagandists are truly earning their paychecks, payoffs and government contracts this week. Before you know it there will be investigations and prosecutions of the construction workers who built the Superdome and the floodwalls. Hey, it worked for Abu Ghraib. As for me I'm going out and buying bottled water, Captain Crunch with crunch berries, duct tape, plastic sheets, a gun and a Bat-Signal. You never know when it may come in handy.

BONUS POSTING: From the adding salt to their wounds department, the LA Times raises the point that the new bankruptcy bill will keep the Katrina victims drowning in debt long after the water recedes. Guess all those reckless borrowers brought this on themselves. Another compassionate day in Bush world.

BONUS UPDATE: From the I told you so department, Sen. Rick (man on dog sex) Santorum wants to prosecute the Katrina victims who didn't evacuate. (Nod to Andrew Sullivan.com)