Re: Rumsfeld visits NOLA



Josh Hill wrote: 

Well, you know, I think there's always a certain amount of political
sentimentality-mongering and grandstanding -- look how mean/good he is
to children and puppies, that sort of thing -- so I tend to view these
episodes with a jaundiced eye.

I will absolutely agree that this administration, and this president in particular, does not seem to give a damned for the grand gesture. He has consistently refused to emote on command. It would have been politically expedient for him to usher Cindy Sheehan into the ranch, give her 30 minutes and a glass of sweet tea, hold her hand, look deeply in her eyes, shake his head like he agreed, and then go on and do what he's gonna do anyway.

It would have been politically smart to be in New Orleans the day after. Hey, he's president. He can do any damned thing he wants. He could have been in and out in 6 hours. Then, of course, every damned person who was trying to save a life would have been commandeered to keep his ass alive during his photo op. 

That being said, I have two criticisms here. One is a matter of
sensitivity, of good leadership. People /want/ to think that their
leaders are concerned and on the job at a moment of crisis. It just
isn't good for morale for a cabinet member to go shoe shopping when
people are dying.

First you say you view these episodes with a jaundiced eye. then you say that it's bad for morale if they don't produce these episodes.

Tell me -- don't you think that the average citizen has eyes as jaundiced as you?


Most politicians understand that in their bones, but 
the members of the Bush Administration -- taking, I suspect, their cue
from their leader -- do not.

The other criticism I have is that I do think we're seeing genuine
callousness, genuine lack of concern here.
Would you, barring some 
kind of urgent necessity, have done as Rumsfeld did? Would you have
had no interest in their suffering, shown no signs of empathy?

Of course not! Because, #1 -- emotionally, I couldn't handle it. The first dead body, the first old lady weeping because she couldn't find her 87 year old husband? I'd sit there with them and cry. Don't know how additive to the process I'd be, but damned, I'd empathize with them.

#2, I'd know that every tv camera in North America was looking, and I would be a textbook case of a concerned, competent, loving, emotive Secretary of Defense.


If this had been an isolated incident, I might have shrugged it off as
having been due to one of any number of possible factors. But Rumsfeld
has displayed similar behavior on a number of occasions, most notably
with the signature machine incident and his armor comment. 

Rumsfield is a mean son-of-a-bitch.

And his 
behavior seems to be characteristic of an Administration and President
that have consistently come across as aloof, callous, tone deaf and
out of touch.

They no longer have to run for election. They do not have to pretend. They can simply do what they'd planned to do all along. Tell me -- would this be easier to swallow if they were better actors? If they were smoother?


And I think that does matter. Caring may not be useful in and of
itself, but concern leads to action, and action saves lives.

I absolutely agree. My point is caring on cue (Oh, see me care! I'm ready for my closeup. Watch close, 'cause damned, I'm gonna care!) is less than worthless.

Donna



.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Asslifters getting desperate
    ... edie has both eyes almost shut. ... maybe she'll see the freedom in Iraq. ... Politicians always try to make ... That's what one does in war. ...
    (soc.culture.iraq)
  • Re: OFF TOPIC - Take the sex test
    ... Empathy 6/20 (whoops) ... Systemising 10/20 ... Eyes 8/10 ...
    (rec.sport.rowing)
  • Re: OT Crazy Goin Nuts
    ... Never shake a politicians hand,Never let a politician kiss or hold your ... babies.Always stare all politicians in their eyes and watch them glance ... clothespin on your nose when they show up.Get some BullS..t Protectors ...
    (rec.radio.shortwave)
  • Re: Can someone from CodeGear explain please...
    ... the consequences of this law in my eyes. ... that is normal and expected of U.S. politicians. ... It's either this kind of knee-jerk reaction to "prove" that they are doing something or they're catering to one of the well-funded special interest groups. ...
    (borland.public.delphi.non-technical)
  • Re: OFF TOPIC - Take the sex test
    ... Spot the difference 79% ... Empathy 6/20 ... Systemising 12/20 ... Eyes 7/10 ...
    (rec.sport.rowing)