By choosing not to publicly address widespread problems within the state's emergency communications system, Gov. Carper played smack into the hands of Republicans itching for an issue to use against him. It was difficult to expect otherwise from GOP leaders who keep hearing that the governor is going to challenge their standard bearer, U.S. Sen. William Roth, in next year's campaign. Of course it is. It probably didn't help that as political heat began to rise around this issue, Mr. Carper let it be known he inherited this fumbled project from former governor Michael Castle, now Delaware's Republican congressman.
Republicans deny that politics played any role in their decision to organize an inquiry.
Of course they would say that too. While these partisan games are temporary diversion from the task at hand, they shouldn't get in the way of finding out exactly what went wrong. And that likely means posing direct questions to legislators of both parties in both houses of the General Assembly. There's already been sufficient high dudgeon and sudden amnesia over who expected what and for how much money. After those answers are answered and legislation is in effect to prevent future lapses, probably in January, let the political repercussions begin.