[politics] The 4th Estate reclaims its voice

The BBC has an excellent article on the effects of Katrina on the too-long-cowed American media. There's something in the air... or is it in the water? Could it be that in amongst the shit and sputum in the waters covering NOLA, the press is beginning to catch the faintest whiff of blood? David Brooks:

"Leaving the poor in New Orleans was the moral equivalent of leaving the injured on the battlefield."

George Will:

Thoughtful conservatives—meaning those whose conservatism arises from reflections deeper than an aversion to high marginal tax rates—are conservative because they understand how thin and perishable is the crust of civilization, and hence how always near society's surface are the molten passions that must be checked by force when they cannot be tamed by socialization. [...] So Katrina has provided a teaching moment. This is a liberal hour in that it illustrates the indispensability, and dignity, of the public sector. It also is a conservative hour, dramatizing the prudence of pessimism, and the fact that the first business of government, on which everything depends, is security.

Michelle Malkin:

This is not the time to give a weak performer the benefit of the doubt. The FEMA director's role in the ongoing recovery effort is too important to be entrusted to a clueless political hack with such poor judgment. Rather than praise Michael Brown, Bush should fire him.

And today, a fired-up White House Press Corps, here:

White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan had not had a full-length press briefing in Washington, D.C. for weeks, and after today, may have wished he had postponed this one. With almost unprecedented vigor, the press corps attacked and probe the federal response to the hurricane disaster, the president's personal responsibility and failure to fire anyone who failed in his or her mission.

Not even Poppy is willing to cover for Augustus Bush I:

Appearing on the Larry King show on CNN Monday night, former President George H.W. Bush defended his son against criticism for his response to the hurricane disaster, suggesting it was mainly media-generated. Goaded on by King, he eventually backed off [emphasis mine], saying if he kept talking he would be hearing from "Mr. Sulzberger," apparently referring to Arthur Sulzberger, Jr., publisher of The New York Times.

Read my lips: What the fuck took y'all so long? And now that the right-wing pundits are sharpening their own knives, don't just stand there! Do something!