The effects of Hurricane Katrina may represent a turning point in U.S. political ideology and political culture, but only if we aren't betrayed by stalking horses in our own camp who let the Bushies and their ilk off the hook for us. This could happen, either because they're really on the other side, or because some Democratic politicians may be too stupid to realize that the current situation represents an inflection point where real change could be made -- and the dice must be cast -- and instead want to butter up the righties for the crumbs of power they receive in return, the sort of risk adverse politics that has damned us since Reagan.
While I'm normally of the "big tent" school, and have weighed in against the purity brigade elements of the left, this is one instance where there is no space for people in the Democratic Party, and we have to be prepared to attack people at least nominally on our side who are clearly acting as stalking horses. I don't know what it takes to get people from the Democratic caucus, but this is the time for it, if needed.
The stalking horses will function basically like this:
1) Going along with the Bushies when they attempt to float a revisionist version of the federal government's response to the crisis.
2.) Saying the Bushies were slow to react -- not entirely their fault really -- but it's okay now because the government's swung into action. People FUCKING died because the delay, and it's bloody-will NOT okay. Day late and a dollar short, folks.
3.) Go along with the argument that now's not the time for partisanship and that later we should stir the ashes. This has been discussed at greater length elsewhere.
The politically -- and humanly -- correct emotion in response to what happened in the U.S. south is anger. Anyone helping to diffuse that anger is doing a disservice not only to their cause, but also to the memory of the people who died. They are betraying the main potential good that could come out of this crisis, which is the reentry of the federal government into essential public services.
If the vox populi is in fact the vox dei, now is the time for us to sort the political sheep from goats, and if I may mix metaphors, it's time to send the stalking horses off to graze in ultima thule.