Seriously, I don't necessarily think W's up to the task anyhow, but since when does any President need to be "Research Boy"? People ought to be reporting to him every 15 minutes when there's a big ass disaster in the making.
But when the Boss isn't interested in being bothered with the information, it doesn't get to him. When the Boss has replaced anyone who had both experience and authority so that the power structure of the various agencies is such that people have one or the other but not both, then the people who understand the importance don't have the authority to make waves and make sure the urgency of the situation get communicated at the top levels. The fact that the current president both mistrusts and disparages the idea of receiving anything through channels other than these just compounds the problem.
Hell, I'm just an editor, and I can't go on vacation for two days without having somebody backing me up who knows my job. Top people in government going to Greece shouldn't cause the world to end. Or even a city.
Exactly, because otherwise, the next time some foreign Head of State (or really popular guy, or whatever) dies, gets married, or what have you would make an ideal time for terrorists to strike us.
But when the Boss isn't interested in being bothered with the information, it doesn't get to him. When the Boss has replaced anyone who had both experience and authority so that the power structure of the various agencies is such that people have one or the other but not both, then the people who understand the importance don't have the authority to make waves and make sure the urgency of the situation get communicated at the top levels. The fact that the current president both mistrusts and disparages the idea of receiving anything through channels other than these just compounds the problem.
I find this more likely and more damning than Koppel's "Don't you watch the news" chiding. I wish he'd asked, "Where are your advisors? Why weren't you kept abreast of the urgency earlier on?"
I want a commission er...commissioned, like the 9/11 commission.
You know, there was an article somewhere on the net a while back to the effect that everyone who ignored authority during the 9/11 thing did better. They like, survived and stuff.
Never mind, for a sec, who is in office. I am starting to think that government is just too far away from events as they occur, that government is all wrapped up in whatever crap is occupying its mind at the moment to be of use.
Yep. Get in your car and drive away from the major cities (and north, if you ask me, when possible) is the safest response to disaster in my book.
I want a commission er...commissioned, like the 9/11 commission.
I've had it with fucking commissions. By the time it's done Bush will be out of office.
The second Reagan term was killed off by Iran Contra. This will effectively scuttle any Bush agenda for the next 2 years. I hope it makes a difference in the next congressional election.
I've had it with fucking commissions. By the time it's done Bush will be out of office.
Right, but the agencies that we fund to protect and serve us will still be in place, and in horrible, horrible shape. This isn't only a matter of incompetents at the top. I think it's more pervasive than that, although that's probably the root cause.
Most companies and agencies can run with their chief incapacitated, provided the worker bees have what they need to do their jobs.
I'm glad I deleted what I started because brenda said it better.
Most companies and agencies can run with their chief incapacitated, provided the worker bees have what they need to do their jobs.
Hey, no kidding. I feel like I am paying premium taxes, and getting less-than-premium services.
Speaking of premium... Most of the people I've talk to seem to be most angry about the rise in gasoline prices. Hello? 20 oil rigs in the Gulf disappeared, and the two major pipelines that supply the eastern seaboard were damaged. Of course that's going to affect supply, and thus prices. I wouldn't be surprised if the oil companies took advantage of it, but most local station owners have taken profits of only pennies to keep from driving their customers away. Sheesh. The gas prices are the least of our worries.
