Michael Chertoff Blames The Victims

This morning on Good Morning America, in an interview with Charlie Gibson, Michael Chertoff, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, spoke about how prepared DHS and FEMA were for the upcoming hurricane season. While deftly avoiding the straight-forward questions about being better prepared for another Katrina-type storm in the Gulf or along the Southeastern Shorelines, Chertoff stated that IF the people in these hurricane regions are better prepared, follow directions given by emergency personnel, evacuate when told to leave the region, and get themselves prepared for the hurricane season, then FEMA and DHS can do their jobs better. Then, when questioned about plans for those that cannot prepare themselves, like the people living in nursing homes, are poverty stricken (remembering that some of the regions hit by Katrina and Rita are among the lowest income households in America), or incapable of evacuating, Chertoff did not answer the question about the existence of an effective plan, but redirected the issue to "talks we are having around the globe" with those that deal with such populations.

Is it just my perception, or did the Secretary of Homeland Security just blame the victims of Katrina for not being better prepared and admit--in the most round-about manner--that once again FEMA and DHS are not prepared for what is described by weather experts as a potentially more dangerous hurricane season?

Folks, get out the KY jelly, our government is busy screwing us again.