Bush expected to visit hurricane sites (AF1 flies over for Bush to see)

[sabra]

http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/08/31/bush.katrina.ap/index.html

Bush expected to visit hurricane sites
The president flies over disaster area en route to Washington

WACO, Texas (AP) -- President Bush held a video conference about Hurricane Katrina with his top advisers from his Texas ranch Wednesday and then flew over the disaster area en route back to the White House to oversee federal relief efforts.

Bush, who may visit the area later in the week, cut short his working vacation in Texas by two days -- even though aides have long contended that his duties are uninterrupted when he spends time at his ranch in nearby Crawford, which has White House-level communications capability.

Vice President Dick Cheney participated in the video conference from Wyoming, and White House chief of staff Andy Card was on line from Maine. Other top officials participated from Washington.


On his way back to Washington, the president's plane, Air Force One, descended to an altitude of about 5,000 feet to allow Bush to view some of the worst hurricane damage. White House spokesman Scott McClellan told reporters that Bush was examining the destruction below from the front left side windows of the plane.






President Bush looks out the window of Air Force One inspecting damage from Hurricane Katrina while flying over New Orleans en route back to the White House, Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2005. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

[saigon68]

1. HE SURE THE FUCK ISN'T GOING TO VISIT HUNGRY MINORITY PEOPLE

The ones in filthy sewage soaked clothes. Who haven't had a hot meal in 4 days.

After all they have a habit of speaking their minds.

Maybe he can jet over to Keesler AFB where the commissary took a hit and talk to the troops.

[ThoughtCriminal]

3. This means "He met with them already" - nt

[leftchick]

6. hey he was in LA airspace

his job is done. The fucking freak.

[rodeodance]

18. and they had to clear the space for him to come swooping in!!

[leftchick]

22. I wonder how many helicopter doing rescue had to get out of his way?

have I said fuck bush today?

[MidwestTransplant]

2. This guy is a joke!

He should get down there with his chainsaw. Doesn't he love cutting wood. I am sure they could use his help....unless that's all just photo op.

[saracat]

4. I have no words vicious enough to describe my feelings about him.

[FightingIrish]

5. Impeachment is not an option. It is imperative.

When this country desperately needs a real leader, we have the master of photo opportunities and fake discourse. This idiot is so far out of touch with the American peoplke and with reality that getting him out of power is our only hope. We don't have time to wait out his disastrous prfesidency. He is crippling America.

[enough]

7. He needs a couple of days to figure out

what costume to wear for the occasion.

[peaches2003]

31. Costume-

Bright blue sport shirt with the sleeves rolled up- that is almost his uniform now. The color is bright enough that no matter where he goes, even in a crowd, you can spot him. And he will be the center of attention in the pictures.

Probably also will have his I'm The President insignia jacket nearby in case anyone forgets who he is. A little hot in NOLA to have it on all day, though.

[Borgnine]

40. He heard there was flooding...

...so we wants to don the Aquaman costume he was saving for Halloween.

[TheCowsCameHome]

8. Too bad he didn't get out on the wing for a closer look

[ticapnews]

9. He's not going to see jack from 5000 feet in AF1...

I laughed when I heard that he was flying over in AF1. I wonder if he even looked out the window. He was probably too busy eating cake.

[Gormy Cuss]

24. Oh, I 'm sure he saw all that he could handle.

It's nicely sanitized at that altitude.

A true leader would have at least made a pass in a helicopter and then landed at the closest operable military base (say, Keesler in Biloxi) and given a solid reassuring speech. Apparently it was more important to scurry back to Washington.

[gratuitous]

10. Whoa, he got within a mile of the devastation?

Whatta manly man he is! I'll bet Tweety, Timmy and the rest of the "librul" media amen corner will just be creaming themselves while recounting the swaggering deeds of the Commander in Thief.

[underpants]

11. I thought I heard that HE flew it..... in a Coast Guard uniform

The fact that Scottie was so precise about where W was tells me this is a lie.

[davidinalameda]

12. what the hell can someone see from 5000 feet

get the hell on the ground George and tour the damage at least

[Buns_of_Fire]

27. What, and get his little feetsies wet?

Besides, there's no accommodating mound of rubble for him to climb up on with a bullhorn and give some "inspiring" comments.

Speaking to an adoring crowd doesn't have the same impact when (1) there's no adoring crowd and (2) when you're standing in chest-deep water.

What a MANLY-MAN Our Glorious Leader is. "Inspecting" the devastation from 5,000 feet. I know I'M impressed... :eyes:

[KansDem]

45. The few times I've flown, I remember not seeing much detail from 5,000 ft

As I recall, there wasn't much to see at that altitude. Just some tiny, little ants moving slowly on the highways..

[against all enemies]

13. The hurricane forced him to cut his vacation short, probably

rained in Texas, couldn't play golf. got a tee time in DC. He's cool.

[Patchuli]

15. Yeah, he cut it short two days!

BFD! I'm more interested in what he's planning to do to rescue the people stranded on rooftops without food or water. I'd like to know why they're more concerned with looters than rescue?!

[LiberalEsto]

16. Cut short, my foot!

I thought Aug. 31 was going to be his last day of vacation anyway. This is just more fake PR to make it look as though he's actually doing something about it.

[Hardrada]

39. They would be concerned about the NO people

if they were still considered property.

[sabra]

14. photo added

[goclark]

17. In the ghetto we would call it a "drive by"

Shoot and drive away fast before you are held responsible.

He is worse than any thug in the hood.

[rodeodance]

19. a msnbc reporter just said-The President just flew over"--dah. so what.

[rodeodance]

20. can you blieve this--they just showed shots of him arriving at Andrews

Air Force Base. like it is a big deal. maybe it is. but i do not see it as such!

[yellowcanine]

21. Rove allowed these pics to be released?! He is losing his touch. If you

were anywhere near New Orleans and saw these pictures would you be anything but pissed? Viewing the damage from AF1? How disconnected can you get? People are dying down there.

[yellowcanine]

23. Clinton (pauses as eyes tear up) would be down there in a boat helping

people off of rooftops,

[Guitarman]

25. What an arrogant dick!

WTF. Too busy to actually spend some time there and REALLY look at things. Must be because his brother is not the governor.

[Moloch]

41. I think the real reason he's going to do nothing...

Is that this is not an election year..

[ronnykmarshall]

26. Oh goody another fund raiser photo.

How many times did they have to take this photo?

Now, uh Mr. President try and LOOK like you give a shit.

[darkism]

28. ** being a coward, as usual.

He doesn't DARE land because he knows that the people of NOLA know that much of this is his fault.

Oh, and he obviously doesn't care, either.


What a dickweed.

[peaches2003]

29. Jacket?

Why does he ALWAYS have to have a jacket on with his name or Pres. insignia embroidered on it? On AFI? By himself? Does he forget who the hell he is?

[DrZeeLit]

30. WTF! What's with AP????? "Working Vacation" -- hellloooooooooo

I realize the WH goons are using that term, but for AP to buy into that b.s. is beyond words. I'm sputtering here.... a spit take on my coffee.

--->Bush, who may visit the area later in the week, cut short his working vacation in Texas by two days -- even though aides have long contended that his duties are uninterrupted when he spends time at his ranch in nearby Crawford, which has White House-level communications capability. <----

HUH????? "Duties uninterrupted" ---- wait! wait! Bike rides, bbq's, parties, brush clearing, naps, books, more brush clearing, more bike riding, more four wheelin' truck trips, more parties.....

WHO THE HELL DO THEY THINK THEY ARE FOOLING?

It's FOUR YEARS later and EVERYONE HAS CAUGHT ON.....

shit I so hate these idiots..... AND... it's not like we can bouycott AP... everyone just uses their feed and doesn't even check it or change the words.

I'm gonna barf.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

32. Think he'll hand out jugs of water like he did after Ivan?

Oh silly me...of course not! The campaign's over!

[MasonJar]

33. That article is so slanted...returning early and working vacation..

and that stupid picture. Are we supposed to grateful? I say put him on one of the roofs.

[truthisfreedom]

34. the only good thing about Katrina is that it is keeping bushco busy

so they don't have much time for thievery.

[BenDavid]

35. I posted Sunday evening

and told everyone Sunday exactly what would happen in regards to Bush this week. All is playing true to form. Yes the media is trying to play this all up like it is some big damn deal that he cut his vacation short.

Just once I wish one of these so called liberal media persons would ask this sorry excuse for a human the following, " Mr president, in August 2001 when you were getting heat about taking a vacation, you were quoted as saying, " you do not need to be in Washington to do work. You know you can conference call and do all sorts of things".

This would kind of make this big play of flying back to Washington 2 days earlier look exactly for what it is. Bush needs the exposure. He has got to show that compassionate side to his sorry self....

I would not be surprised if he got on a heap of house ruins with a megaphone....and procliamed to the world that whomever is responsible for this will be dealt with fast and furious. I will hunt em down "dead or alive"..... and if they want to do try this again, "then bring em on".....

Quoting now, " Personally, I think you're a fucking idiot."

[Gregorian]

36. At least he didn't cause this one.

By the way, George, why don't you ask your Father for guidance. Come on, he can surely find the cure.

[saracat]

52. but he enabled the flooding by abandoning the levee repair!

[defiant1]

37. That picture makes me sick....

Like he really cares...

[antonialee839]

38. Watching that jackass deplane with his dog this

afternoon was just an absolute joke. Now CNN is touting his five O'Clock speech from the White House like it's some important event.
These people don't need speeches from this idiot. They needed help days ago. What a joke. I am so damn angry. I hope the rest of America does not give this heartless, carefree, gadfly, a pass this time. They should splice his speech with Bush holding a cake and strumming his guitar. Hope you had a great vacation you rat bastard.

[TheCowsCameHome]

42. He's looking for an aircraft carrier deck to land on this baby on.

Mission Squandered!

[Charles]

43. THIS IS GREAT NEWS!

With Bush making time for a 'fly-by'...

...this means that Georgie-boy has finally finished reading 'My Pet Goat'!



.

[NYC]

44. He looked out the window.

Hard work?

(I've looked out the window on a plane, didn't consider it much of an effort. Never expected accolades for it.)

[Roy]

46. Didn't that look like the 911 photo....

CNN only showed it once. I haven't seen it on any other channel.

You don't think they recycled that photo so he wou;dn't have to go?

[Ilsa]

47. Too bad they can't roll down the windows and let him smell it.

Maybe give him a drink of that bacteria and virus infested water.

[llmart]

48. Wow! How brave of him!

Hope he didn't get a neck strain looking out that window.

He is such a fearless leader.

What a fucking asswipe.

Sorry, my language when it comes to him is atrocious. I can't help myself.

[howmad1]

49. Yup, sure could not see all those African Americans in trouble.

But what the hell, they probably vote democrat -- so who gives a crap.

[Miss Chybil]

50. Not enough white people left in New Orleans for him to stop and

hand out some water, I guess. Now, if this had happened BEFORE the election, it might have been a different story.

[VegasWolf]

51. Bush orders diner and a cocktail as he stares out the window. nt

[arwalden]

53. Here's Your Hot Towel Sir.