“Katrina exposed serious problems in our response capability at all levels of government, and to the extent that the federal government didn’t fully do its job right, I take responsibility…” – King George
So much for the ‘100% of the blame belongs on the state’ theory. Righties take note, the man himself said it.
Source
“to the extent that the federal government didn’t do its job right, I take responsibility” isn’t exactly taking responsibility, its more like “if anyone on my staff is convicted” of outing a CIA agent’s name they will be fired.
Some people are going so far as to imply that Bush apologized. He didn’t, and he didn’t accept responsibility for his administration’s failure to respond to the catastrophe in the Gulf Coast and he didn’t apologize.
Oh – I agree with you. His writers crafted these words very carefully.
I guess you got my message that he didn’t apologize. I sure wish there was a preview mode here…:)
I see every move from the Bush team as I do a statement from a CEO. The corporate lawyers approve the language, testing it on monkeys first to ensure the response won’t be rotten vegetibles being thrown at the President. The bad news is tempered by a mention of the amount of cash on hand, upcoming product releases, promising upcoming collaborations with other companies, an extra cent added to the dividend…
The problem Bush has is there’s no cash, no good plans, nobody in the world will work with us and the extra dividend thing…well most of that is already distributed to folks like Shaq and Bill Gates, but if all goes as the Republicans plan it, Paris Hilton and her future HIV infected illegitimate children will be spared an estate tax.
The concession he made was veiled on purpose to work a spike in the stock price without actually having to sacrifice much. The only people parsing his statement are political junkies like you and I, along with every right-wing talker in the country…currently convincing their listeners that what Bush ‘actually’ meant was that the Mayor of New Orleans, Governor of Louisianna and Ted Kennedy should be tared and feathered in a Graceland back alley this Saturday night.
Or…they ignored what he said altogether and instead got the pot boiling with that pledge of allegience story. A guy named Howie Carr is on the radio here in Boston, and he can stretch the ‘removing God from the town square’ subject out from November to January, complete with 200 straight callers saying the same exact thing.
Karl Rove is probably convinced he’s smart enough to fix all of this…heh, every dog has his day! The poll numbers now are karma for what he did to McCain in South Carolina.
Chris Lefties should take note-plenty of blame on both sides !
I still say that the reason the Fed’s response lookedso bad was the local situation colapsed. Had the locals done their jobs then the whole thing would have turned out like Florida.
If people want to blame Bush because it’s fun or convenient then so be it but as time goes on the Left is going to have a lot to answer for about this disaster.
Right:
The argument that Bush did not want to trounce state rights does not hold water after the Schiavo case. Where were the late night flights to save thousands of people in New Orleans, oh wait Bush only cares about the brain dead.
I agree that their is plenty of blame to go around but don’t try to minimize Bush’s culpability.
I give Bush some credit for admitting mistakes, I wish his supporters would do the same.
The argument that Bush did not want to trounce state rights does not hold water after the Schiavo case.
Both cases show that Bush cares for the people who can’t otherwise defend themselves. In the Shaivo case the State asked the Fed for help. And, btw, we didn’t know until the autopsy that her condition was that bad so go easy with the hindsight.
I am amazed that any of you admit that the Democratically elected Democrat from Louisianna was soo incompetant that Bush should have had her removed from office by force and that the resulting constitutional crisis would be worth it.
I know you guys call Bush King George but he sure doesn’t act like a King would. It’s a joke that your criticizing Bush for not overthrowing the Louisianna state government BEFORE anything was known to be wrong. It’s just amazing.
I agree that their is plenty of blame to go around but don’t try to minimize Bush’s culpability.
Bush is the only one getting blame right now, listen to your fellow democrats, even after what we know now they are still blaming Bush first.
I give Bush some credit for admitting mistakes, I wish his supporters would do the same.
And where is the liberal admitions of guilt? They are still running phony interviews on shows like Meet the Press. The Governor and Mayor are still in damage control mode and the Racism angle is STILL getting played all over even though we know it’s not true. I think you need to take a look in the mirror.
Bush is the only getting blamed? I am pretty sure I heard complaints about the mayor and governor all over the internet.
I am waiting for the right wing to start blaming Cindy Sheehan, somethng like if Bush had not been busy hiding from her, he would have known the hurricane.
Right, did you just admit that the right decision was made regarding Terri Schiavo? Maybe the presidents admission is having a positive effect on his followers.
Maybe Bush is going to do for taking responsibility what Clinton did for oral sex.
The reason the fed’s response looked so bad was because it was so bad.
Had this catastrophe happened in Florida, Bush wouldn’t have been out in CA and AZ fundraising and campaigning-he would have been there on Tuesday evening.
A true leader doesn’t only lead when its convenient and politically beneficial.
DHS and FEMA should have been there and assisted immediately after the president issued his disaster order, and the survivors stranded and imprisoned at the Superdome should have been evacuated by Wednesday following the levy breaks, not on Friday in order to coincide with Bush’s arrival.
I am waiting for the right wing to start blaming Cindy Sheehan, somethng like if Bush had not been busy hiding from her, he would have known the hurricane.
Bush new about the hurricane, he was working on it days before it hit. It’s the Mayor and Governor who sat on their asses and did nothing, which brings me to the point. Everything you write drips with blame Bush. I am glad that the Shee-ham fiasco went away.
Right, did you just admit that the right decision was made regarding Terri Schiavo? Maybe the presidents admission is having a positive effect on his followers.
The “guess” diagnosis by the husband ended up being correct, but we had to kill her first to find out. My problem is that we shouldn’t be killing people to diagnose their illness and determine if it is treatable.
Maybe Bush is going to do for taking responsibility what Clinton did for oral sex.
Don’t forget Whitewater, WW2, Small Pox, dinosaur extinction and the mysterious missing sock in the dryer. Maybe Bush should take responsibility for Clinton getting oral sex.
The reason the fed’s response looked so bad was because it was so bad.
It was also the only response. You expected them to do things they were not supposed to do. You keep blaming the Fed for the local’s failures and for some reason you can’t see it. The Fed wasn’t supposed to get involved until 48 to 96 hours after the hurricane. The response was great considering the circumstances.
Had this catastrophe happened in Florida, Bush wouldn’t have been out in CA and AZ fundraising and campaigning-he would have been there on Tuesday evening.
What would he do, go stand on the shore and will the storm back??? It did happen in Florida and the state followed the plan and everything went fine, except liberals said Bush acted too fast and gave too much attention to the hurricane victims. You just can’t win with liberals.
A true leader doesn’t only lead when its convenient and politically beneficial.
What’s your point? Are we talking about Clinton or Carter? Please clarify.
DHS and FEMA should have been there and assisted immediately after the president issued his disaster order,
Absolutely, 100% wrong. You need to learn what these agencies roles and responsibilities are but it isn’t to teleport into a disaster area and the disaster is happening. You have no concept of what FEMA is for.
and the survivors stranded and imprisoned at the Superdome should have been evacuated by Wednesday following the levy breaks, not on Friday in order to coincide with Bush’s arrival.
I’m sorry, you’ll have to talk to the Mayor and Governor about that. The governor continues to refuse mandatory evacuations and even Karl thinks it is wrong.
Blanco and Nagin need to do some prison time!!!
The Mayor and the Governor each made mistakes, the biggest one was believing that the federal government would do its job.
The entire world got to see how well our DHS will react in the next terrorist attack.
When has this president stepped forward and led this country when it wouldn’t be a political benefit for him or the republican party? Was it in September of 2001, when he sat in that school room , or was it when he had a megaphone? Was it when the tsunami hit? Was it when there was a shooting spree in Minnesota?
He was on the ground handing out ice in Florida 2 days after the hurricane there.
I forgot about Bush dropping the ball after the school shooting. I really think after the election Bush has lost interest in the presidency. Which is why most of his agenda seems to be stuck in nuetral, personally I think the more George Bush ignores his agenda and base the better off the country is.
The Mayor and the Governor each made mistakes, the biggest one was believing that the federal government would do its job.
No, the biggest one was believing that the federal government would do THEIR job.
Come on, they sat on their asses and then cried when everything fell apart and Bush is a convenient scape goat. Blame Bush, that’s all I hear.
The entire world got to see how well our DHS will react in the next terrorist attack.
I didn’t know a hurricane was considered a terrorist attack. At least we know how Democrats will handle the next terrorist attack, and I’m frightened.
When has this president stepped forward and led this country when it wouldn’t be a political benefit for him or the republican party?
I agree he has in each of the situations you listed.
He was on the ground handing out ice in Florida 2 days after the hurricane there.
Now there is a governor and mayors who know how to respond to a disaster. Thanks to the local governments, Bush was able to be there. You didn’t see the Florida governor crying about late response.
I forgot about Bush dropping the ball after the school shooting.
What are you yahoos talking about?
I really think after the election Bush has lost interest in the presidency.
How the heck do you figure that? Remember what I said about the crack pipe….???
Which is why most of his agenda seems to be stuck in nuetral, personally I think the more George Bush ignores his agenda and base the better off the country is.
Two words — Obstructionist Democrats.
Right, here’s some documentation. On the White House’s website:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/08/20050827-1.html
This i from fox:
Today, 41 percent of voters approve and 51 percent disapprove of President Bush’s performance, which is the lowest job rating he has received in a FOX News poll. The president’s approval rating is down 4 percentage points from two weeks ago (45 percent, August 30-31), around the time the magnitude of Katrina’s damage was becoming clear. Before the hurricane, 47 percent approved and 44 percent disapproved (July 26-27).
If his approval is this low in a fox poll I wonder what the real number is.
Just when you think the guy is going to show some leadership he does something like this:
MSNBC News Services
Updated: 4:34 p.m. ET Sept. 16, 2005
WASHINGTON – President Bush said Friday the federal government must slash unnecessary spending to pay for Gulf Coast reconstruction, but he ruled out raising taxes. “You bet it will cost money, but I’m confident we can handle it,” Bush said.
“It’s going to cost whatever it’s going to cost, and we’re going to be wise about the money we spend,” Bush said a day after laying out an expensive plan for rebuilding New Orleans and the Gulf Coast without spelling out how he would pay for it.
The spend and borrow republican strikes again.
The spend and borrow republican strikes again.
A tax increase now would cripple the economy and then everyone will be worse off. I wonder if it would be a good idea to move the city inland and just flood the low lying areas, at least the environmentalists would be happy.
They could dredge a huge channel for the marine traffic and install the piers and docks now on dry land so the costs would be less and then flood the whole place. Just a thought.
Right:
I half agree with you about leaving part of the city flooded, it might provide a buffer for future storms. Maybe I should get counseling.
As for taxes someone has to pay for this.
Andrew Sullivan has a good point on this:
BIG GOVERNMENT REDUX: So the president spells out his post-Katrina policy: borrowing $200 billion to “clear away the legacy of inequality.” He gives no accounting of how the money will be found. His governing philosophy is: “It’s going to cost whatever it’s going to cost.” So we have the federal government engaging in a massive program of social engineering to reverse racial inequality in one state. But if we can do it in one state, why not all of them? Did we elect Ted Kennedy? I have just one simple question: When do we hold a formal wake for the end of conservatism?
The choice in 2006 is between competent liberals and incompetent liberals.
Right I lnow you are going to say “all liberals are incompetent” but I would sure rather have Clinton managing this situation.
Maybe I should get counseling.
I’m very flattered, when should we start? I am confident I can have you all fixed up in no time.
As for taxes someone has to pay for this.
My vote is for the State of Louisianna.
Right I lnow you are going to say “all liberals are incompetent” but I would sure rather have Clinton managing this situation.
Not all, just the ones in charge, the ones in the middle and most of the little fish. Clinton would be a great person to head the relief effort, he could start his U.N. themed Oral for Food program.
Right:
I almost thought you had made progress, and maybe the oral comment was just a typo.
I do think Clinton would be a good guy to put in charge of the relief effort.
As for the state of LA paying for it, I think the precedent was set during the election with the hurricane in Florida, or maybe federal relief only applies to states with lots of electoral votes.
‘Cripple’ is not the right word to use here Right. Repealing the tax break to the top 1% would certainly not cripple the economy. Bush needs to act like an adult here and realize that we’re borrowing from economic rivals. Is he suggesting that if in power for life, he’d just keep on borrowing to no end?
These are the decisions where Bush shows his immaturiy and lack of connection with the average American. He see’s the issue of a tax increase on his ‘friends’ as too much to bear for a war or a natural disaster. That’s the line he’s drawn – and when the fact is, the rich have had it better than they deserve to for a few years now, his response is so political you wonder whether ANYTHING would convince him that borrowing for another three years is irresponsible.
He’d associate the argument with a lift of the tax cut for everyone, when that’s not what he’d have to do. The class of citizens he works hardest for never have to fight the wars or clean the office buildings.
So here he’s basically choosing rich over poor. He’s telling Americans that with the Iraq War already on the credit card – he’s just going to charge the recovery effort as well.
What year is this? 1825? Right, you’re saying that a tax hike would ‘cripple the economy’ – yet this area that requires breaks in order to survive should pay for it all on their own? Your logic is skewed with how we should fund it. I’m assuming that you’re fine with China paying for it now and our children paying for it down the road?
FEMA handed out money to people whose homes were never destroyed in Florida. They were loose with the money prior to the election…now they’re so stingy work on the ground is constantly held up for ‘approval’ issues. I read something today where FEMA suits prevented helicopters transport injured people out and in like a nightclub bouncer.
Basically now FEMA has become the DMV.
RT: U.N. themed Oral for Food program.
Nice, very funny, ROFL, LMAO, LOL, and all that stupid internet lingo.
Two things have come to me in these comments….
“Ideas” of Liberals…
Check Polls to see if it ok to pee yet, daily..
More Taxes especially especially especially the rich, daily…
Great idea guys, I know I’d be alright with more taxes on the rich, but i don’t think thats gonna help the unemployed. Oh and the poll says…
Can liberals wipe their butts now?
75% Yes
25% No
So go ahead and wipe the stink off of yourself…
What? Who has controled the Senate, House and Executive and run the country into record debt? Get ready for this Right and Michael – it’s clear these people are incompetent. All the photo ops in the world won’t fix it. Bush disloges his head from his ass immediately and works hard for the first time in his life, or his legacy will haunt Republicans for years to come.
I’m glad you think that a lack of confidence in George means a gain in confidence in Dems…sorry but that is a false sense of security you are working yourself into. The Dems and Reps are equally loathed by a population that see’s the privileged silver spoon crowd trying to act like either has an idea of life on the opposite side. That leave’s everything down to ideas, and in a battle of ideas, you come up lacking.
Actually, they’re watching Meet the Press with Bill Clinton and thinking to themselves…’those were good days’
Returning dignity and honor to the whitehouse:
By R. Jeffrey Smith and Susan Schmidt
Washington Post Staff Writers
Tuesday, September 20, 2005; A01
The Bush administration’s top federal procurement official resigned Friday and was arrested yesterday, accused of lying and obstructing a criminal investigation into Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff’s dealings with the federal government. It was the first criminal complaint filed against a government official in the ongoing corruption probe related to Abramoff’s activities in Washington.
The complaint, filed by the FBI, alleges that David H. Safavian, 38, a White House procurement official involved until last week in Hurricane Katrina relief efforts, made repeated false statements to government officials and investigators about a golf trip with Abramoff to Scotland in 2002.
Tom Delay is the Majority Leader to this day. They scrambled to demote Trent Lott for a slip of the tongue, yet Delay’s cohorts get indicted by the day. The standard when it comes to Republicans is only political. If actual crimes were committed, the court will have to convict before they hold themselves accountable.
They would probably pass a special law so that Delay can continue as the majority leader from prison. The current leadership is shameless.