A Scumbag Brand of Politics

There was quite a few comparisons last week between the response to the Southern California wildfires and the response to Katrina. The media and Democrats made quite sure to remind people that Katrina was a bungled affair yet failed to mention that it was screwed up more by NOLA Mayor Ray Nagin and Kathleen Blanco than the Bush administration.

Hidden in the response were a few interesting things that showed just how effective a GOP governor was when juxtaposed with a Democrat. Governor Terminator asked for, and quickly received, federal assistance. Unlike the horrible leadership skills shown by Blanco who seemed more intent on making the Katrina disaster a GOP nightmare than actually caring for her constituents, Ahnuld took charge and ensured that everyone was taken care of and refused to play politics.

Unfortunately, Lieutenant Governor Garamendi couldn't help himself and admitted that the Dems aimed to make this as political as possible:

And that's just what Garamendi did upon learning that President Bush was winging it out to San Diego to tour the fire damage Thursday.

"It's public relations," Garamendi said on MSNBC's "Hardball with Chris Matthews." "We'll be polite. But frankly that's not the solution. How about sending our National Guard back from Iraq so that we have those people here to help us?"

On another show, Garamendi opined, "The record of this administration on dealing with disasters is disastrous. So we hope that they have improved. ... How many times did he go to New Orleans and still made promises, but hasn't delivered?"

It was a message the lieutenant governor repeated for the rest of the week.

"If I were to say exactly what was on my mind, I'd be deemed impolite," Garamendi told us Friday.

"He came out and had his photo op - fine. Promises to help - good. We want to make him accountable."

So, instead of caring what was best for the people who were suffering in the Golden State, Garamendi was more focused on hurting a lame-duck President. Nice priorities, let's call it Kathleen Blanco redux.

But there's more; why Garamendi was scoring political points and acting like a scumbag, Iraqi's were doing more for the displaced in his state than he was:

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Members of the Iraqi Army in Besmaya collected a donation for the San Diego, Calif., fire victims Thursday night at the Besmaya Range Complex in a moving ceremony to support Besmaya's San Diego residents.

Iraqi Army Col. Abbass, the commander of the complex, presented a gift of $1,000 to U.S. Army Col. Darel Maxfield, Besmaya Range Complex officer in charge, Multi-National Security Transition Command Iraq, to send to the fire victims in California.

The money was collected from Iraqi officers and enlisted soldiers in Besmaya. In a speech given during the presentation, Col. Abbass stated that he and the Iraqi soldiers were connected with the American people in many ways, and they will not forget the help that the American government has given the Iraqi people. Abbass was honored to participate by sending a simple fund of $1,000 to the American people in San Diego, to lower the suffering felt by the tragedy.

Yes, that's right, the poorest members of the Iraqi Army gave what they could to help those who were suffering while the Lt. Gov. had his mind only on how the tragedy would help him and his party. The good people of California will act accordingly and vote this idiot out at the first available opportunity one would hope.

Hat tip: The excellent Terri.