Katrina's Damage Lingers For Bush:Many See Storm as President's Undoing

[cal04]

For Rep. Patrick T. McHenry (R-N.C.), three images define George W. Bush's presidency: Bush throwing out the first pitch of the 2001 World Series at Yankee Stadium, Bush with a megaphone atop the rubble of the World Trade Center -- and Bush staring out the window as Air Force One traversed the Gulf Coast thousands of feet above the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.

The first two images epitomize strength and resolution, the image the Bush White House likes to cultivate. But in one year's time, the last one -- of the president as aloof, out of touch, even befuddled -- all but erased the memory of the others, according to pollsters, pundits and Republican politicians who say they have suffered in the wake of the president's decline.

From the demise of his Social Security overhaul to the war in Iraq, many factors have contributed to Bush's slide in popularity in the past year. But the winds of Katrina may have been the force that finally wrenched the Bush presidency off its moorings, these observers said.

"That has always been the driving of Bush -- his ability to lead -- and Katrina undermined it badly," McHenry said. "He has rebounded in one year's time from what he lost in one week's time." But, he added, "it was a long and arduous climb" -- and it is not complete.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/25/AR2006082501481.html

[xxqqqzme]

1. Are these people delusional ?- chuckle nuts

on the rubble was just another photo op - he has no leadership abilities - good god, the man hid all over the country on Sept. 11. Scared and AWOL yet again! He slithered back into DC under cover of night FCS! I kept remembering November 22, 1963, and how LBJ made a point of getting back to DC and addressing the country from there. THAT'S the difference between a leader and a coward.

[saltpoint]

2. The Decider and his team tap phones to catch terrorists but can't be

bothered to respond to a Category 3 hurricane slamming into and bringing to its knees a major American city.

If the little puke can't respond swiftly and responsibly to a tropical storm I'm not seeing him as a patriot/savior from terrorism.

This is an administration that tortures detainees abroad and abandons its own citizens in New Orleans.

I hope U.S. voters register their discontent at the polls on Nov. 7th.

[uppityperson]

3. Hearing what he said, watching images on tv, seeing the disconnect...

that did it for many people. "I supported him through many things, but he lies so much, we can't believe anything he says." is what 1 set of "independent" repub voters told me.

[RamboLiberal]

4. Image I remember of Bush on 9-11

Was sitting in that classroom for at least 7 minutes with that deer in the headlights scared look on his face while people were jumping from the WTC towers. And how he never really took command that day! Then we had that nervous phone call with Rudy after. Only when the WH handlers could script things for him could he look "heroic".

[Imagevision]

8. We should be talking about Bush & Katrina failure thru the elections

Iraq, Katrina and the long list of bullsh*t this so-called prsident has been guilty of.

[texpatriot2004]

5. Colossal FAILURE on the part of the FED GOV and * specifically

he's pathetic! His fly-over was just horrid and his many photo ops were even worse.

[misanthrope]

6. Say what?!...

...The administration called off the attack dogs going after Nagin and Blanco? Since when?

[Imagevision]

7. Bush hasn't received his share of the blame for the poor response

to Katrina, coincidently, the calvary arrives when Bush show's his mug? -- nah, not even from this corrupt bunch, just not acceptable watching americans die on a highway in public in plain view...

[Imagevision]

9. Bush played guitar- Cheney went estate shopping - Condi, shoe shops

While people were dying in New Orleans... this from the leaders of the best country on the... planet?? (not when one looks at last years Katrina footage)

[w4rma]

10. This year's Katrina footage isn't much different. (nt)

[Festivito]

11. Naw, it was SS, people understand SS. Katrina offered example.

People realize how SS works. They'll get money, as long as they live, they know it, they paid it, concrete.

Bush took away the "as long as they live" and "they know it" parts with privatization. Easy. Clear.

Why Katrina failed could be clouded with rhetoric and long news release times. That it failed is clear. Why, not so clear. Personal affect, hmmm, not a high percent that I'd be in a disaster.

Katrina-nope. SS-yup.