Full speed ahead

Scott Ostler has an interesting contrast:

Instead of blame, what’s being handed out is kudos. One C[olorado] U[niversity] regent said that Barnett and top school officials “all deserve the opportunity to lead this university and right this ship.”

Excuse me while I push my eyeballs back into their sockets.

If the CU regents ran Exxon, they would’ve had captain Joe Hazelwood back his tanker off the reef in 1989 in Prince William Sound and resume his cruise.

“Take another shot at it, Captain! Anyone can make a mistake!”

Similar deal. Hazelwood and Barnett both claim they gave proper orders that were not followed.

OK, it’s not a fair comparison. The mess in Alaska was easier to clean up.