TRULY OCEANIC

Josh Marshall on FEMA's censoring of the media:

Take a moment to note what's happening here: these are the marks of repressive government, which mixes inefficiency with authoritarianism. The crew that couldn't get key aid on the scene in time last week is coming in in force now. And one of the key missions appears to be cutting off public information about what's happening in the city.

This is a domestic, natural disaster. Absent specific cases where members of the press would interfere or get in the way of some particular clean up operation, or perhaps demolition work, there is simply no reason why credentialed members of the press should not be able to cover everything that is happening in that city.

Think about it.

Bush and his political crony appointee friends at FEMA are going to find this new policy of theirs a rather uncomfortable one, as they don't have the option of smearing those who criticize it as "unpatriotic".

Above all else, the American media operates on access. They simply will not stand for this policy, especially since, as Josh mentions, it pertains to a natural disaster. They're hinting at their anger at this point, but it will boil over soon. What the situation reveals is an administration desperate to serve the only cause they competently fight for: the political status of its head.