I read this Washington Post front page story this morning, An Exit Toward Soul-Searching, As Bush Staffers Leave, Questions About Legacy Abound, and I have to say, I couldn't find an ounce of sympathy for any of the ex-staffers interviewed in the article. Not. an. ounce.
In fact, I was downright irritated by those who seemed to be feeling sorry for the predicament they now find themselves in, having left the administration from h*ll:
"They tell themselves that they have acted on principle, that the decisions they helped make will be vindicated. But they cannot be sure."
I actually laughed at the ex-staffer, Wehner, who "rues lost friendships with those estranged by the war". Yes, laughed. Because he obviously just doesn't get it, get what a horrendous legacy he has helped this administration create, and the mess that future administrations are going to be forced to try and clean up, if that's even possible.
I'm here to tell you that there will be no vindication, ex-staffers, and your so-called principles sucked. Yes, sucked. And history will not treat your or your President kindly. I will be livid if historians even try to find something nice to say about this administration --except perhaps to note how 'loyal' his staffers were to him; I'm a big advocate of remaining loyal to your friends, but not to this extreme-- or sweep any of his 'legacy' under the rug.
Maybe I'm just cold and mean, but the people written about in the article stayed in that man's administration for years --not months, years!-- and actively contributed to the mess that is Iraq; the poor treatment of those who served at our nation's military hospitals; the Valerie Plame affair; the further enrichment of the very wealthy at the expense of everybody else; the gutting of environmental regulations and oversight of same; the refusal to acknowledge our country's poor environmental practices; our disaster of a disaster agency, FEMA; the killing of healthcare proposals for poor children; the further deterioration of the nation's public schools on account of an absurd law that leaves actual education behind in exchange for teaching to standardized make-or-break tests...
I'm sure I could go on and on, but maybe I'll let any members of the flock who are reading this weekend --here's the link to the story again-- contribute their primary gripes about the Bush administration's legacy in the comment section.
Bleat away.
Maybe I'll try to get cheerier and see if there are any Sunday Funnies worth posting about later today. But for now, I'm going to shake off the doom and gloom and head out with my boys to check out the autumn leaves.
***Edited to add...
The autumn leaves were stunning; they're just starting to go here. I'm sure I'll be posting some pictures later this week.
In the meantime, ever-on-the-ball Painted Maypole reminded me that today's Doonesbury absolutely nailed the sentiments of this post. Nailed it. So I'm linking to it here in case you missed it.
9 comments:
They can spin it however they want, but they're just rats leaving a sinking ship and I, too, have no sympathy for them.
mental note - I must remember to write my congressperson about overturning that SCHIP veto. I admit that my vote helped create this mess, but my tolerance ended with that veto.
Dante said it best: The hottest places in hell are reserved for those who in times of great moral crisis, did nothing.
good post, K.
That damn SCHIP veto has me reeling. Both my kids would have been eligible for insurance if he had passed that. I shouldn't have to CHOOSE which of my kids has insurance. Ridiculous.
had you not read Doonesbury yet? because your post encapsalated it's rant on history and loyalty.
all i can say to your post is: yes.
PM - Yes! I did see Doonesbury, and even considered putting in a link to it in this post.
I should do some catching up on current events. I have a serious case of Head in the Sand.
I read that this morning too. My reaction was pretty much the same as yours.
I glanced at it but I knew if I read it, it would just piss me off. I have no sympathy. I have the least sympathy for Snow. He quit so he could make more money. I find that an appalling excuse when he's raking in $160k per year or something - four or more times the average salary for folks in this country.
Post a Comment