Has Frank Rich's Katrina moment arrived?

[JamesA1102]

Like most of our millionaire press corps and pundit class Rich jumps on the bash Obama bandwagon this morning. Guess he's not happy about his taxes going up by 3%.

[mix]

1. I had a really bad cold this week.

As I was attempting to describe its effects to a friend, the line "Katrina-like" flashed across my mind but I suppressed it. Now after reading Rich's headline, I realize that such comparisons are inappropriate since the human suffering of Katrina is so recent, present, and unresolved.

Rich's point though that the banking crisis could be a turning point for Obama is well taken.

[Hansel]

7. and unbelievably premature.

Why does everyone continue to underestimate Obama? He may weaken in time, but he is no where near that point in any way, shape or manner.

This is a pattern. Obama does things deliberately and in his own time. The media criticizes him and predicts his demise. The public reacts to what he does at the polar opposite of what the media predicts and rallies behind him. He succeeds at what he intended to do in the first place. The media is proven totally wrong and act dismayed.

He is not Bush. They need to adjust the intelligence factor back up exponentially so they can do more realistic reporting on him.

Obama is somewhat of a passive-aggressive personality and I think he gets a kick out of toying with the media. I don't mean this in a negative way, I like it because they need it.

[Loge23]

2. One of things I hated most about the last administration was...

..how it's supporters would never question anything they did.

[tekisui]

4. Questioning and criticism is one thing.

To liken policy actions to the horrendous event that was Katrina, with all the death and suffering is inappropriate hyperbole.

[TayTay]

12. He likened it to the Katrina Moment

which was a widely used phrase that indicates when Americans lost faith, irretrievably, with the Bush Administration.

But, some people seem to feel that this is an excuse to pretend that Frank Rich was some how making a comparison to the actual event of Hurricane Katrina and it's horrific after effects. Some people, in an effort to show how sensitive they are to suffering, have even posted pictures of the dead from the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. I think this is because they have a fake argument and can't seem to write without the fake crutch of pretended outrage.

That is very sad. It is exploitative and is a false equivalent argument. I expected better of people here on DU.

[beachmom]

15. There is no way this is a "Katrina moment". It is highly offensive to me.

Not for the reasons the Kos diarist alluded to re: Katrina (a diary I did recommend just to throw it in that sniveling Rich's face). But how it is describing the Obama Administration. I see no comparison whatsoever. I am sorry, but the bonus issue = having a Horse expert running FEMA while people died is preposterous.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/22/opinion/22rich.html?_r=2

I don't think Rich gets it. If we have a "Katrina moment", that means the President loses all his political capital and becomes powerless. If so, then we are ALL screwed.

It is a bunch of Lefty B.S.

[TayTay]

18. The Katrina moment came after the Schiavo moment

which was concurrent with the Social Security Privitization Moment which came after the Iraq War is Failing Moment, after the Abu Ghraib Moment and so forth. The Katrina Moment was the complete loss of faith in the Bush Administration to solve anything or do anything positive at all for the good of the country. Bush became a an irredeemable failure after that and his contract with the people was broken beyond repair.

I don't think we are anywhere near that with Obama. Yet. There is good news and bad news here. The good news is that people are very willing to give the new President time to deal with this crisis. And people overwhelmingly believe that this is a problem that the President inherited from his predecessor. However, that moment will not last.

This crisis is about the people who are losing their jobs, losing their homes and their faith in America. That is what this is about. Right now Obama retains the good will of those people. But if things don't start moving soon -- or are perceived as moving soon -- then the goodwill runs out and we may well look back on this as a moment when it started to go bad.

And I don't think that saying that someone had a Katrina Moment means they are equating one event to another. This was a political reference, but we may just see it differently.

[Jennicut]

3. I don't think anyone should ever be talked about as having a Katrina moment

I think we need to leave that whole incident untouched. People died, it should not be used as hyperbole.

[Dr.Phool]

9. I think people are misunderstanding what Rich is saying.

I think he means "Katrina Moment", as a defining moment. Just as much as the Katrina response defined the Chimp Maladministration, the response to this crisis will probably define the Obama Administration, for good or for bad.

[PopSixSquish]

10. Then Why Not Just Say "Defining Moment"

or any other of several phrases which would say the same thing? Should he have used "9/11 Moment"? Should he have used "Oklahoma City Moment"?

Over the top hyperbole usually distracts from the point one is trying to make...

[Jennicut]

13. Really. I don't care what kind of moment he meant, its just wrong.

[BlooInBloo]

11. (shrug) They were his words to freely choose.

[Cha]

5. Here's Frank Rich email addy

if you want to let him know what you think of comparing our current situation to the pain and suffering of what happened because of negligance concerning bush's handling or non handling of Katrina.

http://www.nytimes.com/gst/emailus.html

[marshall]

6. Insofar as the NYT is in full blown crisis mode, yes, this is its moment

WRiters at the big newspapers are writing like their hair is on fire now, desperate to remain relevant in this ever evolving world.

[BlooInBloo]

8. Normally I love Rich - and have no problem with him jumping on the Krugman bandwagon...

(which I'm also on.)

But that characterization was just really shitty.

And it's really shitty for DUers to gleefully use it like they have been.

[rvablue]

14. Show me one piece of proof, just one, that shows Rich is paid more than 1/4 mill. a year by the NYT.

But you won't be able too, because he doesn't make that much a year.

And from your bullshit, flamebait post, it is quite obvious that you didn't read the article...or do you mischaracterize it on purpose in order to disrupt the conversation here?

[JamesA1102]

16. Of course your forgeting book deals...

speaking engagements and fees he's paid to be a talking head on cable.

[TexasObserver]

17. YES!!

Two months into the term and these idiots are saying things like "Obama's Katrina" or "Obama's Rumsfeld."

These are comments of people void of original thoughts.