Rove in charge of Katrina reconstruction...why am I not surprised?

[Whoa_Nelly]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/linkset/2005/04/11/LI2005041100879.html

<snip>
All you really need to know about the White House's post-Katrina strategy -- and Bush's carefully choreographed address on national television tonight -- is this little tidbit from the ninth paragraph of Elisabeth Bumiller and Richard W. Stevenson 's story in the New York Times this morning:

"Republicans said Karl Rove, the White House deputy chief of staff and Mr. Bush's chief political adviser, was in charge of the reconstruction effort."

Rove's leadership role suggests quite strikingly that any and all White House decisions and pronouncements regarding the recovery from the storm are being made with their political consequences as the primary consideration. More specifically: With an eye toward increasing the likelihood of Republican political victories in the future, pursuing long-cherished conservative goals, and bolstering Bush's image.

That is Rove's hallmark.

more at link

[ck4829]

1. What does Rove know about this?

What experience does he have?

What can he bring to the table?

How can he help New Orleans?

WHY?!

[Whoa_Nelly]

3. It's All Republican All the Time

Simple as that

[enid602]

5. Hoover

Herbert Hoover was catapulted into power after his successful management of a hurricane releif effort in the '20's.

[pinto]

2. Interesting quote, good catch. It's always political with these folks.

[Kazak]

4. They wouldn't indict him, would they?

While in the middle of such important work?

Is that what this is all about? :puke:

[Jersey Devil]

8. Had the same sickening thought

Rove is going to use New Orleans like a giant condom against indictment.

[gkhouston]

9. he's not being indicted by politicians

the grand jury is composed of ordinary citizens. I doubt they'd give a rat's ass about this latest little promotion. It's got nothing to do with the testimony they've heard. Myself, if I were a juror and already inclined to vote for an indictment, I wouldn't shrink away from doing that simply because the person named had just been given some new important job. A crime's a crime. Cooper's article about his experience in front of the grand jury gave the impression that that jury was neither half-asleep nor brain-dead. If they choose not to indict, this would not be the reason, IMHO.

on edit: this may be an attempt to "help" Rove because they think the indictments are about to come down, but I don't think this will help with that, either. Lord help, why name such an obvious Bush crony with no clear experience in city planning, construction, etc.?

[jody]

6. Thanks. n/t

[nonconformist]

7. Unfuckingbelievable!

Well, this should make it abundantly clear that the only concerns the White House have are IMAGE and PR. Response and recovery will be gauged by popularity numbers and the metrics that Bush is so fond of, not actual meaningful progress.