For although the sludge ran amuck on December 22, Bredesen took nine days to go and see the yuck for himself.
The timing was wrong, you know: right before Christmas and all. Bredesen managed to squeeze in a visit between Santa Claus and New Year’s.
Could there be not enough voters in the area for the governor to care about it too much? Could it be his second term ending in 2010 and who gives a damn? Could be he hoped the whole muckety-muck would disappear, no appearance by His Holiness would be necessary and he could avoid getting mucked-up.
On December 31 the day of Bredesen’s visit the Huffington Post reported:
Bredesen said he chose to wait more than a week before touring the area because there was no loss of life and he's found in past disasters politicians sometimes hindered the clean-up process.
Now, isn’t that sweet? Prithee, Governor Bredesen, of which disasters do you speak? Hurricane Andrew when George Bush I couldn’t get away from his golf game to go and tour the disaster? Hurricane Katrina when George Bush II could not interrupt his monthlong vacation to see the destruction for himself? Hmmm, this all sounds so familiar.
Do you not realize, Governor, after all your years in office that a sitting governor attracts enormous press and attention when he speaks, tours, visits an area, especially, an incredibly damaged area sadly in need of some devotion from government folks, like, like…maybe you?
Did you honestly believe the people would accept your spin for a reason to skip a trip to the destructed Harriman so you could continue your Christmas vacation in, was it, Jackson Hole? It’s a wonder you could even venture over on New Year’s Eve, and interrupt your party plans, however, I imagine you got back in time to celebrate the beginning of another fabulous year.
Thanks, Governor, for all your time! And while you are here, please have some water and show the kind folks that you government people mean business: The water is safe to drink! TVA says it is so.
From the Huffington Post:
Though authorities have said municipal water sources are safe, school cafeteria workers will use bottled water to prepare meals and bottled water will be offered for sale at schools, according to a news release on the school system's web site.
(This editor's note: So generous of TVA to tell students, almost a third of whom live below the poverty level where the per capita income is 75% of the state's average per capita income which is $2,000 less than the U.S. per capita income, where Harriman ranks 264 in per capita income in the state of Tennessee which is the 35th richest state, to buy bottled water.)
On Monday, federal officials cautioned residents who use private wells or springs to stop drinking the water because some tests in the area had found elevated levels of arsenic, which can be toxic.
The AP reported Jan. 2 that although the poisonous level in tested water was 149 times the maximum level permitted, drinking water was still "safe." Yikes! Bring me a cup!
The toxic mess is so mysterious that the TVA cannot even name its components so how can it reveal them?
Of course, the entire mess is not the Great Agency's fault. Heaven forbid! TVA blames “rainfall” which did not fall according to historic patterns. Well, goodness gracious sakes, TVA, aren’t you the expert?
Here's a toast of the Harriman sludge water to the likes of you, Governor, and all your pals at the TVA! Please, have one on the residents of the community. They have plenty of muck to go around.
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