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Politics Should Stop at the Fire’s Edge
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10/24/07 07:44 AM ET
You would think that with the terrible wildfires still burning in Southern California, officials would put aside partisan differences, work for the common good, and do everything possible to protect the homeowners at risk. You would be wrong.
For the most part, state and federal officials are working effectively to bring these terrible fires under control. Gov. Schwarzenegger is handling the crisis masterfully. State and local fire officials are performing heroically. The much-criticized FEMA has provided fast and effective help to keep the fires in check.
And then there is somebody named John Garamendi. Actually, he is a career politician and currently the lieutenant governor of California. In a remarkable interview with Chris Matthews on “Hardball” yesterday, Garamendi used his time, when he was supposed to be providing an update on the current crisis, to — drum roll please — criticize President Bush.
Garamendi was asked what he hoped President Bush could accomplish during his visit to California later this week. “Of course,” he said, “it’s all public relations. Frankly, that’s not the solution.” Matthews then asked if the president would “get in the way of what you’re doing.” Answer: “Absolutely. There is lots of chaos wherever a president goes.”
Of “what you’re doing”? How many shovels has he turned over in the last few days? If anyone is probably getting “in the way,” it’s the lieutentant governor, not the president, who can contribute tangible resources to the firefighting effort. Of course, if the president hadn’t come to California, people like Garamendi would be the first to criticize him for being “out of touch.”
Then the kicker. “Of course,” he opined, “the best thing he could do would be to bring the National Guard home from Iraq.” He said this twice in the course of a three-minute interview. For the record, the responsible officials who are actually in charge of fighting the fires have disputed the notion that the U.S. effort in Iraq has in any way diminished the state’s ability to handle this situation.
But no matter. Garamendi apparently sees even this occasion as an opportunity to play base politics. To some people, it’s all politics all the time.
For the most part, state and federal officials are working effectively to bring these terrible fires under control. Gov. Schwarzenegger is handling the crisis masterfully. State and local fire officials are performing heroically. The much-criticized FEMA has provided fast and effective help to keep the fires in check.
And then there is somebody named John Garamendi. Actually, he is a career politician and currently the lieutenant governor of California. In a remarkable interview with Chris Matthews on “Hardball” yesterday, Garamendi used his time, when he was supposed to be providing an update on the current crisis, to — drum roll please — criticize President Bush.
Garamendi was asked what he hoped President Bush could accomplish during his visit to California later this week. “Of course,” he said, “it’s all public relations. Frankly, that’s not the solution.” Matthews then asked if the president would “get in the way of what you’re doing.” Answer: “Absolutely. There is lots of chaos wherever a president goes.”
Of “what you’re doing”? How many shovels has he turned over in the last few days? If anyone is probably getting “in the way,” it’s the lieutentant governor, not the president, who can contribute tangible resources to the firefighting effort. Of course, if the president hadn’t come to California, people like Garamendi would be the first to criticize him for being “out of touch.”
Then the kicker. “Of course,” he opined, “the best thing he could do would be to bring the National Guard home from Iraq.” He said this twice in the course of a three-minute interview. For the record, the responsible officials who are actually in charge of fighting the fires have disputed the notion that the U.S. effort in Iraq has in any way diminished the state’s ability to handle this situation.
But no matter. Garamendi apparently sees even this occasion as an opportunity to play base politics. To some people, it’s all politics all the time.
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