Politically speaking, is Rita blessing or curse for Bush?

[expatriot]

At the risk of politicizing an impending epic human tragedy, I have a question that has been plagueing me ever since the thought of a major hurricane bearing down on country.


It seems to me that Bush and his White House are in a bit of a Catch-22 here. If they go all out and prepared and handle this impending storm properly, people will rightfully ask, "Why the hell didn't you do it like this for Katrina?" and it will prove that the errors were mainly breakdowns in leadership rather than systemic. BUt of course if they do not properly prepared for a major disaster and one occurs, obviously Bush will look like even more of an ineffective leader.

[KingFlorez]

1. It won't be good

If he handles it like he did Katrina then he'll be in big trouble

[jobycom]

2. Ask again after we finish counting the dead. I've got other concerns

than political until it is over.

[expatriot]

3. the body count is always political, you can't seperate the two

We'd be counting a lot fewer dead in Louisiana if Bush hadn't had his way with national politics for the last four and a half years. The sooner we start rebuilding FEMA or get enough House Democrats in there to resist Bush's continued war on the public sector the fewer bodies we will have to count in the future when the tragedies are not excerbated by our federal government's incompetent relief efforts.

We owe it to the dead to be ever vigilant for the living.

[Systematic Chaos]

4. #6: "A blessing for curse"??

Freudian slip, methinks. :)

[opihimoimoi]

5. Its another HINT from Mother Nature.....Bush has to go.....

[ladylibertee]

9. There ya go....I like that theory.

[Hardrada]

6. A curse because the National Guard is still in Iraq

and he has thrown all the money away on his useless war and this will be proven again. And maybe we should have kept those British provisions, eh?

[izzie]

7. It was bad but some how he will be the one who saves every one

Some how he does that. For his base any how which I think is getting smaller.

[radfringe]

8. going to depend on how bad Rita hits and where

Rita could turn out to be a "shining moment" if FEMA responds quickly and efficiently -- Think of it as a "do-over" opportunity for bush*

Yeah I agree it could be a catch-22 - but if FEMA responds quickly then the lap-dogs will be standing around in awe and kissing butt about how fast FEMA got it's act together. Some may question the difference in response between Katrina and Rita - but they will be quickly silenced by calling them unpatriotic, pessimists, or partisans

If FEMA falls on it's face again -- the spin will be: Most or all of the resources are tied up with the Katrina clean-up, and this is why we need to fund faith-based organizations....

The big question is looming out there -- Are they ready for Rita?
toon -- http://radfringe.tripod.com/

[win_in_06]

10. Unfortunately the American people have short memories.