Michele Bachmann and the Providence of God

"I don't know how much God has to do to get the attention of the politicians. We've had an earthquake; we've had a hurricane. He said, 'Are you going to start listening to me here?'" said Michele Bachmann yesterday. As Stephen Prothero notes, providential readings of storms, earthquakes, and other disasters truly have been marginalized due to the rise of the scientific, secular mentality. Evangelical politicians and pundits should stop offering such providential interpretations unless they take time for theological reflection on God's role in the fallen natural world. I know this is asking a lot, but there are intelligent ways to talk about God's providence beyond saying that disasters reveal God's anger toward our policies and politicians. Crass providentialism feeds the worst stereotypes of evangelical thoughtlessness.   
UPDATE: Bachmann says she was just joking to make a point. Video of the speech here.