Slate
by John Dickerson

09/13/05

Democrats were furious that President Bush didn't take responsibility for the Katrina relief catastrophe. Now they're furious that he did. President Bush's careful admission that he is responsible for the botched federal response to Hurricane Katrina 'to the extent that the federal government didn't do its job right' is a familiar Washington gambit: 'turning the page.' Bush's acceptance of responsibility answers cable news' echo-room charge that someone needs to be held accountable. Now the president -- having embraced his inner Truman -- can move on and change the message. ... Pretty soon, the media and the country might start letting Bush off the hook. Now any Democrat who carps on those federal failures can be brushed off as a hack merely playing politics. ... Still, Democrats have been given their best chance in five years to win back the country. Are they going to blow it?

http://www.slate.com/id/2126244/?nav=tap3


Informant: Thomas L. Knapp