posted
Actually, the Churchill quote is, "The responsibility of ministers for the public safety isabsolute and requires no mandate. It is in fact the prime object for which governments come intoexistence."
quote: During the course of a defense debate on the rapid growth of Germany’s air force, he turned to the government’s excuses for delays over the previous three years in embarking upon a rearmament program. “I have heard it said,” he declared, “that the Government had no [political] mandate for rearmament until the General Election. Such a doctrine is wholly inadmissible. The responsibility of Ministers for the public safety is absolute and requires no mandate. It is in fact the prime object for which Governments come into existence.”
posted
In the beginning, he reminded me of Aaron Sorkin. Or, Dan and Casey from Sports Night. Just me?
Posts: 9871 | Registered: Aug 2001
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posted
Wow! When did that air? It must've been earlier this week because Cheney was in NO or the Gulf area somewhere today.
Posts: 22497 | Registered: Sep 2000
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While I agree with many of the things he said, the "city" quote is a pretty dumb thing to hang that much criticism on. It was an obvious slip of the tongue.
Posts: 9866 | Registered: Apr 2002
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Dana, I think that was just his 'hook'. The rest of the clip was the real meat.
I found it jarring, too, but mostly because it was so obviously a hook (journalism class sucked the life out of me, but I do remember some things!). A bit hacky, that. The rest of it, though, was good.
Ugh, up too late. I can't think of a better description than 'good'. Hehe.
posted
I liked the part where he talked about stagnant water being a biological weapon. That really got to me.
Posts: 4816 | Registered: Apr 2003
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What struck me most was his indictment of all politicians - no matter what party - and their inevitable "I/me" comments. Because no matter how much I believe that the final responsibility for the federal effort lies with the president, and I do believe that, it has always been pretty clear to me that most politicians, no matter what part of the ideological spectrum they call their own and no matter what jurisdiction they represent - be it local, state, or federal - seem to think the world revolves around them and their reactions to whatever the topic of the day happens to be. Witness the reaction in the immediate aftermath of 9/11. The White House was convinced the fourth hijacked plane was coming for it, while congress was equally convinced that they had to have been the target.
The "stagnant water as a biological weapon" comment really struck me, as well. Because if the reaction of the feds to Katrina is a typical example of their readiness, we are doomed if the terrorists ever do decide to get chemical or biological with us, or do set off a dirty bomb. I'm not saying that it is, necessarily...just, What If?
Posts: 2454 | Registered: Jan 2003
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posted
He made it quite clear that that was an opinion peice, and said near the opening that it was one of the few times that an opinion peice had been done on that show..but that they felt it was necessary.
He was faily impartial about it, slammimng most of teh politicians for their diconnet with reality about this event.
One of the emost pwerful op/ed peices I have ever heard, to be honest.
Posts: 15082 | Registered: Jul 2001
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posted
Of course, if politicians DIDN'T make all those self-serving statements about their reactions to disasters, the media and their opponents would blast them for "not caring" or "not showing remorse" or "not making a statement" or whatever ...
We get the politicians we train.
Posts: 1539 | Registered: Jul 2004
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