CNN's Anderson Cooper: Bush's Katrina Defense ' Boggles The Mind' - Video »
Posted By TimALoftis 10 months, 2 weeks ago in Political NewsGeorge Bush still seems to have no clue as to how seriously he failed the nation after Huricane Katrina hit New Orleans in 2005, even though two of his aides have called it a "tipping point" in his presidency and "the final nail in the coffin" that broke his bond with the American public.
CNN's Anderson Cooper -- who reported memorably on Katrina's devastation as it was happening -- also was astonished by Bush's response.
"It's sort of a red herring to talk about the flyover," Cooper suggested. "To talk about what the Coast Guard did, which was valiant and courageous and brilliant, and totally forget about ... on Friday, days after the storm had passed, not even remembering people in the convention center -- it just boggles the mind."
Analyst David Gergen agreed with Cooper, calling Bush's response on Katrina "the most stunning thing, I think, that happened in the press conference."
"I thought maybe that people would have some sense of warmth about George Bush as he leaves office," Gergen continued. "I think I was wrong. ... I don't think we've had a time since Richard Nixon left office ... when people were so relieved to see the end of a presidency."
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TimALoftis10 months, 2 weeks ago
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On Monday morning, only hours after Katrina hit, Bush flew from his vacation ranch to meet John McCain for Birthday cake and a fund raising event. On Tuesday while thousands in New Orleans were in attics and roof tops trying to escape the drowning waters, our President George W. Bush was in California playing the guitar - this even after CNN reported on Monday Night that people was heard crying out for help in the darken city. On Friday of that week, Bush congratulates FEMA director Michael Brown. 'Heck Of A Job, Brownie' Bush said.
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Make no mistake about it, all levels of government failed the citizens of New Orleans during Katrina - local, State, and yes Mr. President...the Federal Government as well. -
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Endoscopy10 months, 2 weeks ago
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The problem really is Bush bashers. They can not admit they might be wrong about anything concerning Bush.
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The places that Katrina damaged horrendously was a line east of New Orleans ripping NNE several hundred miles creating a wide area of devastation and impassible roads. The wind damage to New Orleans was very minimal.
1. Prior to landfall the Governor of Louisiana declared a state of emergency that would let the Federal agencies spring into action.
2. After landfall New Orleans gave a sigh of relief and the Governor rescinded that state of emergency.
3. Order of first responders is local, state, and federal. Those are in the order of speed to be able to respond because of distances involved.
4. Rain swelled Lake Pontchartrain and other lakes and streams in the area. After days the improperly cared for levies started to give way.
5. The Mayor of New Orleans and the Governor of Louisiana commanded the earliest responders. They were very disorganized. The Governor delayed issuing an state of emergency and Bush had to plead with her for a day before she issued one.
6. Only after the Governor issued that could FEMA begin to respond. Keep in mind that Katrina sliced a line blocking anything coming from the southeast. Only from the north and west could FEMA responders come.
7. As they started to enter many were turned back by the Louisiana state police. Even the general Bush sent as requested had problems creating order out of chaos. Nobody knew what their job was.
Of course all of the above was Bush's fault. At least according to liberals. What angers me living just north of port Charlotte that was devastated a couple of years before is that FEMA got to New Orleans quicker than they were able to get to Florida areas but that was lost on liberal Bush bashers who only want to make anything Bush does horrid. They never live in the real world only their little world of hate.
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alakazam10 months, 2 weeks ago
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I remember it like it happened yesterday...I saw Bush on the Television touting himself for his prompt "Emergency Response".
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He was sending 11,000 blankets to New Orleans and damned proud of himself over it.
It was at that moment that I became certain beyond any doubt that the man was living in a fantasy world.
He had not the faintest foggiest clue what had happened or how to respond.
I lost all faith in Georgie Boy Bush's ability to lead us anywhere but down in that hour.-
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Endoscopy10 months, 2 weeks ago
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If you remember it like it was yesterday:
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do you remember how many days that were between Katrina making landfall and the levies flooding?
do you remember the devastation ripping hundreds of miles into the US from just east of NO? FEMA was already responding there and that was taking up a lot of resources.
do you remember that New Orleans and Louisiana had a sigh of relief that the worst of the storm went east of it?
do you remember how long it took him to get the Governor of Louisiana to reinstate the declaration of emergench that was required before FEMA could respond?
Lets see how good your memory is or is it just selective and hateful.
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7mosaic710 months, 2 weeks ago
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He is not stupid! He just has different agenda then we do. Time will show what it is. Friends prepare to what is coming at home! Here is one site i use to get my emergency stuff: emergency preparedness supplies
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In Christ. -
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Newperson10 months, 2 weeks ago
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On Monday morning, only hours after Katrina hit, Bush flew from his vacation ranch to meet John McCain for Birthday cake
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Yeah while he was having his cake I was setting in a rest area my wife to old sick dogs little did we know all we had left in the world was eachother and the pickup truck we was setting in.
When we returned home tuesday there was nothing and I mean nothing house gone everything.
Thank god I took some water and food with us it was 7 DAYS! before we got any help and that my friends is the truth.
I don't like to talk about it because it makes me mad to this day.
WE WERE OWN OUR OWN!
Unless you were here I don't thank people would belive what it was like. Kids wondering around looking for water food dry anything.
I'M 53 years old and I hope and prey I or any other person has to go through what we went through ever!
That is the day I lost any Respect for bush.-
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Will131310 months, 2 weeks ago
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You learned a valueable lesson... take a few items...for survival....
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I live in south Florida.. very near the Atlantic Ocean... I have a small bag in each car with a couple changes of clothes for both wife and I ...small first aid kit, with some anti-biotics and a 10 day supply of my and my wifes meds... (we change those once a month)... a case of bottled water... and 7 days worth of MREs.... and a 4 lb bag of dog food... a couple of blankets... and 2 boxes of ammunition....I have one in the wife's car and one in my pick-up truck..
In the house we both have a smaller bug out bag... grab and go... with other meds.. a radio... a couple of flash lights... a couple of knives.. and a gun.. ... or two...
you just never know....
so glad things turned out OK for you... -
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Endoscopy10 months, 2 weeks ago
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The fact that there was seven days without help is not Bush's fault. The federal government is NOT the first line of people who are supposed to respond to disasters. First the local responders are supposed to go in first and assess and tell the next line what to bring etc. The next line of responders are from the state and sometimes a neighboring state when it is close to a state line. Local should be there soon after the weather clears and the state will take a day or two depending on distance. Federal help is ALWAYS the last because of distances to travel. On all levels after the very first responders tell what is going on there is a sequence of events. Trucks are first sent to load up on supplies needed, people get into the vehicles they will respond in, and then they drive there. Distances and starting time are crucial. With Katrina Bush had to talk the governor into declaring a state of emergency all over again and she dawdled for a day after Bush pressed her because she had to sleep on it.
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How many of you remember that it was chaos for the people there supposedly responding to the disaster of the flood. Nobody knew what to do. Bush asked them what he could do to help. They asked for someone help organize the effort of the local and state people. Bush sent a General who landed issuing orders and brought organization out of chaos. I guess that the lack of leadership in the local and state responders was Bush's fault also.
If the federal people were first to get to you then you need to ask the local and state people WHY. They should have been there a long time before federal people. FEMA is a backup to the local and state responders. They supply the people and supplies when the massive effort is required and after the local and state people and supplies have been sent and are there. It takes longer to drive from Chicago, Dallas, etc than from across the county or state. -
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simonsez10 months, 2 weeks ago
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Maybe that's the day you should have realized that government cannot save you from catastrophe. You live in a dangerous bathtub that is and has been susceptible to disaster your entire life.
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The levees were built in 1965 and the powers that be knew they could fail in a storm. Your city allowed politicians to make decisions on maintenance of those levees for years and years and years. There should have been continuous efforts made to upgrade them over 30 years.
Your local government failed you first; then your state government: then the federal government had to come and remove people on their roofs.
I am sypathetic to your losses, but you knew the conditions you were living under.
When southern California falls off, those in danger will have to admit they took the risk to live there. Government can't save them.
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Charlson10 months, 2 weeks ago
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The Bush administration has been unprepared, incompetent and neligent when emergencies arose. 9/11, Katrina, and the economy are a few examples of his inadequate response to emergency situations.
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The attacks on the Twin Towers could have bee thwarted if Bush and Co. had heeded warnings and breifings from the Clinton administration. Reponse to the terrorist attack on the second tower and the Pentagon could have been adverted if our military had fighters on ready alert or even had a prepared plan.
Emergency readiness and preparation from FEMA could have mitigated much of the pain and suffering the citizens of New Orleans had to deal with.
And look at the response to the economic meltdown we endured while being assured that our economy was in great shape until it crashed.
Only one word comes to mind when describing Bush, INCOMPETENT. He may be personable, down to earth and a man of the people but was not qualified to be president of the United States of America. Looking back at the last eight years have proven to me that this is the case and this will be his true legacy. -
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