And the band plays on...

 
With apologies to Randy Shilts, but it seems appropriate to use this meme when talking about the disaster in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast more generally. Plenty of other folks have documented how the budgetary neglect by various government agencies has compounded the crisis given to us by hurricane Katrina. As kos points out, an investigation into exactly what happened (er, didn't happen) at the federal level might actually shine some light onto just how misplaced the priorities are at the federal level.

I hope so. And I think that an investigation--particularly given the level of frustration that seems to be felt nation-wide--may actually have some teeth. But I'm not persuaded that it will (there's too much history of malfeasance being ignored for me to blithely accept that any investigation will yield a real "accountability moment"--are you listening, Senator Roberts?).

But if you need further evidence that the administration and its cronies really don't give a damn, here's what's happening:

- Ken Mehlman tells us that the most pressing issue facing the nation right now is...eliminating the death tax.

- George Bush thinks that one of the most pressing issues facing the nation right now is...getting Alice Fisher into the Justice Department. That's why he used another recess appointment to do it. It's kind of him to realize that the Senate probably had too many other things to worry about right now, and I'm sure that all those troubling questions about the tactics she promoted at Guantanamo Bay will be resolved to everyone's satisfaction. Oddly, the appointment isn't mentioned at the White House news site, unlike the list of appointments from late August.

- Dennis Hastert thinks that we really, seriously need to think about whether we want to rebuild New Orleans. Leave aside the fact that it's probably not the best time to discuss that question right now, not to mention the fact that the city is a port and it's not easy, to, y'know, move the port TOO FAR inland, and all--I'm sure that Mr. Hastert just thinks the policy options need to be explored from the outset. (Maybe if we move it to California, we can improve Republican chances in the Electoral College.)

- Michael Chertoff, Head of Homeland Security, is claiming that the Feds were caught unprepared because there were TWO disasters: first, there was a hurricane, and then the levees breached. Of course, the two were connected in some marginal way, and it was true that FEMA had set up a practice exercise for precisely this scenario in 2004, but I'm sure Mr. Chertoff will figure that out in time for the next round.

And, top contender for the Idiocy of the Day" award: the Red Cross is being prevented from doing any work inside the city of New Orleans because, y'know, if we gave aid to the thousands of people who are stuck there, they might, y'know, want to stay. And we're trying to get them out. And we already know that many of them CHOSE to be there (after all, who wouldn't?)....

Sigh.

Edit: fixed some stylistic errors.