Professor Newt Misses Republican's Systemic Mistakes

For a scholarly figure, Newt Gingrich failed in his study of the Bush Presidency to date. He blames all government missteps on the bumbling Chief Executive while ignoring widespread Republican practices that ensure poor performance.

Appointing people based on loyalty vs. competence has proven to be disastrous, even life ending for some Americans after Hurricane Katrina. While Newt pointed out the Bush error of Katrina he never mentions the follow up Lessons Learned report. Did Newt read it? That alone gives clues to Republican management methods.

Rather than investigate who was responsible for what and how they performed, the Bush tome had a few hero stories and we need to do better next time. It failed to mention the trade group that coordinated evacuations from dead hospitals. Patients suffered in hellish conditions for as long as 5 days.

The Bush post mortem also omitted the hospital with the largest number of patient deaths post landfall. LifeCare's corporate parents share a Pennsylvania Avenue address with the President. The Carlyle Group purchased LifeCare just weeks before Katrina struck. I've written numerous Republicans with questions about this matter and none have replied as in zero non Presidential Republicans. So the problem appears much wider than a lone bumbling George Bush.

Republican "bleeders" have a long history of appointing political hacks to important government positions, influence selling, covering for rich friends and burying the truth of the matter when the public gets but a whiff of their malfeasance. Unfortunately Democrats have been playing a mean game of catch up. My guess is Newtie tried on Fox News Sunday to scoop up the bowel movement that is the current Bush Presidency and put it in a paper bag, hoping to contain the smell.

However, Bush the practical joker has a year and half left to torment Americans and the world. Will he send the CIA to steal Newt's bag? If so, upon who's porch will he toss the lit bag of poo? Some things cannot be contained, Mr. Gingrich, no matter how hard one tries...