There's been much said about Gov. Jindal's Katrina story, and about it's being real or a lie. If it's a lie, it was political posturing. If it were true, Gov. Jindal only succeeded in implicating himself in an unthinkable bureaucratic failing.
Governor Jindal put forward a story about government bureaucracy. About lives being put in jeapordy by a heartless bureaucrat, only to be saved by a brave Democatic sherriff, and a Republican Congressman. Yet how that story begins, develops and ends, would really make one question it's veracity.
A 'Reader's Digest' version of the story - A Republican Congressman goes out to help save lives during a horrific storm. He comes up to a Democratic Sherriff, who's arguing with an unnamed bureaucrat on the phone, who insist's that the Sherriff not send out boats to save lives, without proof of registration, and insurance. The Congressman say's "that's rediculous," and the Sherriff tells the unnamed, generic bureaucrat that he can arrest both him, and the congressman. The Sherriff tells the questionably legal flotilla to save those people.
While this would be great in a made for T.V. movie, in the real world, it's a horrendous indictment of the character of both the Sherriff, and the Congressman.
What would REAL public servant's have done in such a situation? They'd have gone out and saved those lives. But, wouldn't have just dropped it at that. Any congressman with his constituents in mind, would have gone after said bureaucrat with a vengeance, and rightfully so.
A Congressional investigation would have been launched, getting phone records of the phone the Sherriff was on. A Congressman, hearing such an outrageous order would have noted the exact time, for his future destruction of the order giving individual. So, our hero would have a name to stick on this inhuman bureaucrat. Our villain would vehemently defend his position, or resign, apologizing for his insistance on rule following during a dangerous situation. Then, Mr. Jindal's story would have some actual use, and point.
But that's not how the story goes. It ends with a congressman saying "that's rediculous," and the boats go out. What happens the next time his State is hit by a storm? His inaction allowed this heartless government worker to continue endangering lives. His "that's the way the system works, what can you do about it" ending isn't consistent with a person in his position at the time.
If Governor Jindal want's to stick with this story, his political future is in doubt. We have a public servant who is totally reactionary, and didn't think about the future endangerment of his constituents. A politician who 'saved' a story of bureaucratic excess, without acting on it for future gain. We have a State Governor, who didn't do his job as a Congressman, who is aspiring to a much higher office.
Considering the ramifications that his story REALLY gives you, he should admit he made it up, and save himself from accusations of his own malfeasance.