Anniversary of Bush's Katrina response, illustrated (appropriately)

[ProSense]

Article in today's NYT:

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/28/us/nationalspecial/28bush.html">Year After Katrina, Bush Still Fights for 9/11 Image

President Bush surveying hurricane damage last August from aboard Air Force One, an image a Republican senator called “regrettable.”

Looking back:

President Bush holds up a birthday cake for Sen. John McCain , R-Ariz., upon his arrival at Luke Air Force Base in Glendale, Az., Monday, Aug. 29, 2005. McCain turned 69 Monday. Bush is traveling and will attend 'conversations' with experts and the elderly in El Mirage, Ariz., and Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., in an effort to sell older Americans on the value of a prescription drug benefit that begins next year for Medicare patients. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

President Bush plays a guitar presented to him by Country Singer Mark Wills, right, backstage following his visit to Naval Base Coronado, Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2005. Bush visited the base to deliver remarks on V-J Commemoration Day. (AP Photo/ABC News, Martha Raddatz)

U.S. President George W. Bush smiles during a town hall-style meeting at a retirement community where he talked about Medicare prescription-drug benefits for senior citizens in El Mirage, Arizona August 29, 2005. Bush on Monday urged skeptical senior citizens to sign up for a new Medicare prescription drug benefit program, touting a choice of plans with monthly premiums as low as $20. REUTERS/Jeff Mitchell

Source


Blog post on the NYT's article:

A Year Later: An Image Destroyed

by BooMan
Mon Aug 28th, 2006 at 10:05:48 AM EST

One year after Hurricane Katrina, http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/28/us/nationalspecial/28bush.html">the people have not forgotten:

“Bush did nothing for the people,” said one Republican, Joseph Ippolito, 75, a retired highway superintendent from Bayville, N.J. “Bush didn’t have the proper people in office to take care of Katrina. The whole administration is wacky — and I voted twice for him.”

Snip...

“This is a real black mark on his administration, and it’s going to stay with him for a long time,” said James A. Thurber, director of the Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies at American University. “It will be in every textbook.”

Snip...

Yes, if we can forget all of that, then maybe we can see him again standing on the rubble with his bullhorn, talking tough and making us feel better for a half a moment. Never in history has a politician attempted to get more mileage out of a single photo op. For me, Bush will always be reading My Pet Goat.

“I couldn’t stop watching the president sitting there, listening to second-graders, while my husband was burning in a building.” -Lorie van Auken.

That is my image. I even wrote an article (.pdf) about it. For many others, the image is of Bush peering out Air Force One as New Orleans drowned. Here's Senator Susan Collins (R-ME):

“Unfortunately, it may be hard to erase the regrettable photo of him on Air Force One looking down at the destruction and devastation below,” she said. “That’s a searing and very unfortunate image that doesn’t reflect the president’s compassion.”

Anyone that expects compassion from George W. Bush has paid no attention to his curriculum vitae. He started out blowing up frogs with firecrackers and he hasn't let up or changed his ways for anyone. With over 40,000 innocent lives already on his hands, he has nothing left to lose. If there is a hell, his place in it is secured.

[Ian David]

1. Emperor Bush Fiddled while America Drowned

[joneschick]

2. GWBush to the Hague. eom

[BOSSHOG]

3. Senator Collins is dead wrong

She said the picture of dickhead looking out the plane does not reflect his "compassion." Sorry Senator, you are very kind to say that but bush knows nothing of compassion. He is an embarrasment to his pathetic family, he is an embarrasment to his pathetic political party and he is an embarrasment to those who continue to embarras themselves by continuing to support him.

[TomInTib]

4. Until just now, I never realized he was wearing his Prezzydenshul

windbreaker in that pic.

What a bunch of effing clowns.

[ProSense]

5. More images of Bush's McCain Medicare misadventure in Katrina aftermath

President George W. Bush and Laura Bush are greeted by Arizona Senator John McCain after arriving Monday, Aug. 29, 2005, at Luke Air Force Base near Phoenix. The President later addressed 400 guests at the Pueblo El Mirage RV Resort and Country Club, highlighting benefits of the new Medicare Prescription Drug coverage. White House photo by Paul Morse

[ProSense]

6. A timeline

Katrina : A Timeline

[GOTV]

7. One of my faves....

[Richard Steele]

8. Yummy frosting is a higher priority to him than pretending to care.

Not ACTUALLY caring, mind you; this arrogant asshat couldn't even
be bothered to PRETEND he gave a damn.