Connect the Dots

It seems to be a chronic pattern with the Bush administration, doesn't it? The president is warned in quite specific terms of a pending disaster, and he ignores the warning—in fact, he cuts funding meant to address the threat. Then, when the disaster actually occurs, the president makes a speech or something.

Here's the thing: As Sidney Blumenthal writes in Salon, the Federal Emergency Management Agency offered a list of the most likely disasters the United States faced. The top three were: Earthquake in San Francisco, terrorist attack in New York City, and hurricane and floods in New Orleans.

Dr. Maddow, guest-hosting for Al and Katherine, broke it down excellently yesterday, if you can, I heartily recommend getting over to Air America Place and downloading it. What happened in New Orleans was two disasters, not one. The first, the hurricane, was unavoidable. The second, the flooding, did not have to be nearly as devastating as it was.

But to help fund the Iraq war and his tax cuts, the president cut a federal program that was helping to fortify the levees. Further, this administration started reversing efforts to protect wetlands, turning them over for development.

See the pattern? President gets memo titled "Bin Laden Determined To Attack," does nothing, cuts counterterrorism money. Planes run into buildings.

President is warned that the nation's power grid is antiquated and that we're probably going to have rolling blackouts, does nothing—in fact, president supports deregulation, which allows power companies to export power, which causes grids to be overtaxed. By the way, Southern California just had a blackout THIS WEEK.

I hope beyond all hope that the right Democrat stands up to lead in 2008. I still have my fingers crossed for Mrs. Clinton, but whomever it is, I hope they're a leader and not a reactive wussbag like the cowboy who's in there now. We need a leader.

And now, enjoy Imagine.