Politics and show versus results

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The focus is still on the wrong thing. As President Bush scrambles to change his schedule for September his focus seems to be on avoiding more political fallout rather than worrying about relief for the victims of Katrina. Most Republicans have the focus on the wrong place. For example, Newt Gingrich is quoted by the NY Times yesterday as saying "he urged Bush to quickly propose a rebuilding plan for New Orleans and the rest of the Gulf, arguing that an ambitious gesture could restore his power in Congress." Another example quoted was Tom Rath, a New Hampshire Republican with ties to the White House, saying, "This is very much going to divert the agenda. Some of this is momentary. I think Bush capital will be rapidly replenished if they begin to respond here."

Republicans, you have got to be kidding. It is what I have feared for years with this Administration and hoped it wasn't true. The current brand of the Republican party seems more interested in political show than true compassion and doing what's right in a crisis of this magnitude. Reagan is turning in his grave watching this right now. And anyone of conscience and compassion is seeing red. As Broder has suggested in his NY Times piece, this will create a sea change but not the type he describes, where we look for another Republican like Giuliani to solve our problems, but instead WeThe People will turn to a social Democrat or Independent with heart, to get this country back from the one liners meant for affect rather than for results. Mark me down for looking for that emerging new leader too. I have tried to be supportive of this President, but he doesn't deserve it any longer, nor does this Awol VP Cheney. By the way, I saw VP Cheney yesterday standing on the sidelines, in the Rose Garden, while the President spoke. He has been useless in the crisis.