The Plame Game

So now that the Blame Game is finally under way, when do we get to start playing the Plame Blame Game? Is that too many syllables for an effective sound bite? How 'bout The Plame Blame? The Blame Plame? No no, The Plame Game. Does the fact that Karl is "coordinating" the Katrina recovery effort mean that Pat Fitzgerald has to hold off on indicting him?

Probably what we're dealing with here is an attempt at image enhancement, which probably means appointing Rove to coordinate the reconstruction was Rove's idea. Now, the thinking appears to go, the public will associate Rove with something noble, with something other than the weasely, illegal outing of a CIA operative to punish a political opponent. As Fitzgerald closes in (which could happen if he moves to keep Judy Miller in jail beyond Oct. 28), expect to see a Presidential Medal of Freedom on Karl.

The fact that Rove is coordinating Katrina reconstruction means Bush believes the piss poor federal response to Katrina has nothing to do with the fact that he appointed woefully unqualified people to key positions. Either that or, and this is most troubling, Bush doesn't care if New Orleans ever gets rebuilt. I've said before that Bush doesn't care what shape he leaves this country in, and all I see here is proof.

The fact that Rove is coordinating Katrina reconstruction also means that the Bush image-reconstruction effort will get more attention than the New Orleans reconstruction effort. Don't expect a single $500 nail to be hammered without a camera nearby and an American flag in the background. Maybe we'll even see W., our rugged, open-collared, sleeves-rolled-up leader, hammer a nail. Ad nauseum. The same nail, over and over. On ABC, CBS, CNN, MSNBC, and Fox. Especially Fox.

The fact that Rove is coordinating Katrina reconstruction also also means another raid on the federal treasury in the form of no-bid contracts awarded to Bush cronies, cost-plus deals that all but guarantee stratospheric spending by contractors, and outright thefts as billions of dollars just get up and walk away. You know, just like in Iraq.

Boy, nothing makes you miss the days of "tax and spend" like "no-tax and spend," huh?