The Unnatural Disaster That Is Our Federal Government

Is there anyone in Congress who doesn't have his head up his ass? Talking Points Memo provides the full text of a statement by House Minority Leader John Boehner (OH-08), Minority Whip Eric Cantor (VA-07), and Rep. Mike Pence (IN-06) on the apology that fellow Republican Joe Barton (TX-06) made, then unmade yesterday:

The oil spill in the Gulf is this nation's largest natural disaster and stopping the leak and cleaning up the region is our top priority. Congressman Barton's statements this morning were wrong. BP itself has acknowledged that responsibility for the economic damages lies with them and has offered an initial pledge of $20 billion dollars for that purpose.

The families and businesspeople in the Gulf region want leadership, accountability and action from BP and the Administration. It is unacceptable that, 59 days after this crisis began, no solution is forthcoming. Simply put, the American people want all of our resources, time and focus to be directed toward stopping the spill and cleaning up the mess.

House GOP Leadership: Barton Was 'Wrong' On BP Apology -- And Spill Is A 'Natural Disaster'

The largest natural disaster? This oil spill is many things. It's a mess. It's just one more thing that's depressing the economy. It's an effective way to destroy the fishing in the region. It is a disaster. It is not, however, a natural disaster.

Hurricanes and tornados are natural disasters. Volcanoes and earthquakes are, too. That's because they weren't caused by people. This disaster was due to the failure of a man-made device, an oil well. It was caused by the stupidity of a great many people, including our governments at both the federal and state level, and, not incidentally, BP. An oil well failing is the fault of the people who designed or built it. The failure to have in place the equipment and people to contain the oil is a failure of the management of BP and its subcontractors.

I've been rough on the Democrats recently, because the stupid things they're doing right now actually matter. That's what it means to be in power. There's a reason they're in power, though, which I explained not all that long ago. It's because next to the Republicans, they look good.

Of course, that's the only circumstance where they look good these days. When these are our choices for governance, I fear for the future of my species.