Clearly I hit some nerves with the “Continuing Crisis” post below. Lots of “Amens” and “Boos.” Obviously, I agree more with the amens than the boos. But let me just clarify something. I am not endorsing wholesale the blame game stuff from Bush’s critics. I think the Blumenthal-levees stuff is mostly nonsense. In fact, I didn’t mention Bush at all in that post. However, I have to agree with Andrew that the silence of Bush’s veto pen (do veto pens make noice?) has been deafening.

As for the first responder things, I stand by everything I wrote. However, I do agree with many readers that the real first responders in New Orleans failed. Some no doubt tried their best, others were too busy looting. I can understand the frustration of the Mayor, but this guy is pretty clearly not up to the job. Maybe no mayor would be given the nature of the calamity and the resources available. But this guy’s complaints ring just a bit too self-serving for me. New Orleans has had rotten political leadership for decades and they simply cannot be allowed to point to Washington and say “it’s all their fault!”

There’s lots of blame to go around. But that doesn’t change the fact that this disaster highlights the irresponsibility of a Republican controlled congress’ spending patterns over the last few years.