Washington Monthly on photo op in NO

["David Farber" <dave () farber net>]

-----Original Message-----
From: "Steven M. Bellovin"<smb () cs columbia edu>
Sent: 05/09/05 10:55:48 AM
To: "dave () farber net"<dave () farber net>
Cc: "Ip Ip"<ip () v2 listbox com>
Subject: Re: [IP] Washington Monthly on photo op in NO

I wouldn't be surprised if it turns out that the recovery work seen on 
Bush's visit was staged for the cameras.  But I don't think that's the 
real point.  My gripe is why any politicians at all are there.

*Any* visit by a political leader to the scene of a disaster is 
disruptive.  Resources that might go towards recovery are diverted to 
handling visiting VIPs -- fuel, space, transportation slots, and (most 
importantly) the time of the people who are actually doing the work.  
Rubbernecking at traffic accidents causes congestion and sometimes more 
accidents; this is done for crass political motives.  (There's an 
article in today's NY Times on how the current visits are part of a 
deliberate White House strategy orchestrated by Karl Rove -- don't 
respond to attacks from Democrats, blame (Democratic) state and local 
officials, and sends lots of administration bigwigs to New Orleans.  See
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/05/national/nationalspecial/05bush.html
for details.)

Yes, in any such situation there is a need for leadership.  I'd rather 
this were done by our leaders staying home making speeches, and 
stressing how they prefer not to get in the way of the people who are 
doing the real work.

                --Steven M. Bellovin, http://www.cs.columbia.edu/~smb




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