(no subject)

[proximoception]

Bush's "taking of responsibility" for the criminally inept Katrina response reminded me of a bitter aside by my favorite teacher at High School, Doc (who left the priesthood to marry a nun). He mentioned how widely praised Reagan had been after saying he took responsibility for the deaths of 300 Marines and French soldiers in the Beirut bombings twenty-odd years ago; and how taking responsibility didn't mean just saying you took responsibility, but, for something like that, minimally, resigning. He was mad about the misuse of the word, I think, rather than whatever Reagan may have done or not done to make the deaths happen. I've never fully understood what the word means, responsibility, but whatever it is it's clear Bush is dodging it by "taking" it. Taking it implies you don't already have it, for one thing. Makes him sound like Jesus, taking our sins onto him. Whatta guy. Also how snarkily he did it! "To the extent the federal government was responsible..." Double distancing, there: if it was really my guys' fault which is it really, then I guess it's my fault too because I stand up for my guys and what's their fault I'll make it my fault and take one for the team Amen Go America.