WHY DOESN'T GEORGE BUSH INTERRUPT HIS VACATION TO DEAL WITH KATRINA? >

[Stephanie]

He has not been seen since WEDNESDAY. Unbelievable.

Katrina Packing Wind of Nearly 175 Mph
AP - 2 minutes ago

NEW ORLEANS - Mayor Ray Nagin ordered an immediate evacuation Sunday for all of New Orleans, a city of 485,000 people, as Hurricane Katrina bore down with wind revved up to nearly 175 mph and a threat of a massive storm surge.

Acknowledging that large numbers of people, many of them stranded tourists, would be unable to leave, the city set up 10 places of last resort including the Superdome arena.

"There doesn't seem to be any relief in sight," Gov. Kathleen Blanco said, joining the mayor at a news conference.

The mayor called the order unprecedented, but said Katrina's storm surge would likely top the levees that protect the city from the surrounding water of Lake Pontchartrain, the Mississippi River and marshes. The bowl-shaped city must pump water out even during normal times, and the hurricane threatened pump power.

"We are facing a storm that most of us have long feared," Nagin said.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050828/ap_on_re_us/hurricane_katrina;_ylt=Ao2pv.WsGmKeTqhpjzlLZ06s0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA2Z2szazkxBHNlYwN0bQ--

[babylonsister]

1. Absolutely! Can't pass up a photo op; too bad

Jebbie won't be involved this time. :eyes:

[ohio_liberal]

2. Oh please

Nothing is going to end that vacation. He might take a one day helicopter ride but I wouldn't expect more than that.

[tjdee]

3. Not until it's over, as usual. Then he'll 'survey the damage' and make

lots of empty promises.

As fucking usual, what a jerk.

[Stephanie]

4. 100,000 unable to leave the city?!!!

Where's GEORGE? Why isn't the government evacuating them? It's just unbelievable.

[tjdee]

6. Well, so many National Guard people are in Iraq.

I wish someone would make a huge stink over that.

Our National Guard is supposed to be *here*, guarding us for such an occasion.

[Stephanie]

13. They should be there evacuating those who are TOO POOR to rent a car

That is the unbelievable thing to me - they are leaving THE POOR behind??? If they can't afford a car or a ticket then they are stuck? WHERE IS THE PRESIDENT?

[tjdee]

17. I think they're opening the Superdome...

But I don't know how many that can hold.

The pRes is where he always is.... AWOL. :grr:

[ohio_liberal]

26. CNN says 70,000

They're supposed to bring their own food.

[MzShellG]

33. Yeah...

If this thing turns out as catastrophic as expected, this Superdome could become a dome of death. I heard on storm2k.com that a reporter asked a NO official what is the alternative if the Dome's roof collapses? He didnt want to discuss that. I also heard that Nat'l Guard from outside of NO are in or going to the city to assist them.

[Imagevision]

49. Well, we now know what Bush's priorities will be for the next month

Him and his brother photo-oped the heck out of Hurricane damage here in Fla. then quietly kicked the people out of the temp trailors provided for those who lost their homes.

Of course the msm never reported that.

http://downingstreetmemo.com/

[Jeanette in FL]

20. Doesn't * still owe the National Guard 1 year duty

Maybe he should "Report for Duty". ASAP

[Joy Anne]

24. where's the National Guard when you need them?

The senator from Louisiana made that point on TV when she was reviewing the large numbers of New Orleans residents who don't have cars, are elderly, etc., and can't evacuate on their own.

[Stephanie]

54. they're in Iraq

and no chance they're coming home early to help their neighbors either

[Horse with no Name]

42. I am beyond outrage

I just can't believe the army isn't down there evacuating people in place of the National Guard who are fighting in Iraq.
I said it last night and I will say it again...Katrina is as much of a terrorist right now as Osama is and he needs to crawl out of hidey hole and do SOMETHING. IF 100,000 people are lost in this...it is just another failure of George Bush.

[Historic NY]

5. I thought I already heard he declared it a.......

disaster area. Hey its gives him more time to cut brush, if he gets those annoying little things out of the way first. :yoiks:

I correct myself:

"President Bush had already declared a state of emergency in Louisiana."

[Stephanie]

7. McClellan spoke for him - Bush hasn't left his LAZY BOY

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2005/08/27/bush_urges_residents_to_flee_hurricane

Bush urges residents to flee hurricane

August 27, 2005

CRAWFORD, Texas --The White House on Saturday asked residents along Louisiana's southeastern coast to heed authorities' advice to evacuate as Hurricane Katrina headed for landfall.

President Bush, vacationing at his ranch, was being regularly updated about the storm, which is expected to hit land early Monday, White House spokesman Scott McClellan said. Officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency continue to coordinate with state authorities in Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama, and have prepositioned supplies in areas expected to be affected, he said.

Authorities told residents of low-lying coastal communities to head for higher ground. The storm was expected to strengthen as it crosses the Gulf of Mexico and could become a Category 4 hurricane with wind of at least 131 mph.

"We urge residents in the areas that could be impacted to follow the recommendations of local authorities," McClellan said.....

[Thtwudbeme]

8. Why? He would just make things worse.

Personally, I hope he just keeps his lazy ass on the ranch for another week or two.

[MoonRiver]

9. Surely you jest!

Presidentin' is such hard work. A slacker needs his rest after all.

[i miss america]

12. Now watch this drive

:eyes:

[MoonRiver]

15. All I can say is,

*, you may run, but you cannot hide (anymore).

[mod mom]

10. Hasn't the poor Commander in Thief seen enough disruption from those pesky

peace activists? (sarcasm)

[Pithy Cherub]

11. In an hour, bush will be emerging from under his mushroom

to talk about the Iraqi constitution!

Bush may Honor the Gulf Coast with a few words at that time...:eyes:

Peace unto everyone in the path os this historic meta-storm, Katrina!:grouphug:

[Generic Other]

14. ZAP!

That driver needs to get a clue!! Ha Ha.

[BillZBubb]

16. He'll be out handing out a few cases of bottled water afterwards.

The "compassionate conservative" photo-op will not be missed. He'll probably go up a few percentage points in the polls.

[wndycty]

18. Because he thinks Katrina is the mother of a fallen soldier. . .

:kick:

[Stephanie]

19. WHERE'S GEORGE?

This vacation is going to look indefensible by tomorrow night.

Bush himself described a typical day at his Crawford ranch to reporters recently, as reported by The New York Times: "I'm going to have lunch with Secretary of State Rice, talk a little business; Mrs. Bush, talk a little business ... take a little nap. I'm reading an Elmore Leonard book right now, knock off a little Elmore Leonard this afternoon; go fishing with my man, Barney; a light dinner and head to the ballgame. I get to bed about 9:30 p.m., wake up at 5 a.m. So it's a perfect day."

Seattle Times - Wednesday, August 24, 2005

Sunday 8/28 - AWOL

Saturday 8/27 - AWOL

Friday 8/26 - AWOL

Thursday 8/25 - AWOL

Wednesday 8/24 - Gave one speech>



Tuesday 8/23 - AWOL>



Monday 8/22 - gave one speech>



Sunday 8/21 - AWOL

Saturday 8/20 - AWOL

Friday 8/19 - AWOL

Thursday 8/18 - AWOL

Wednesday 8/17 - AWOL

Tuesday 8/16 - AWOL

Monday 8/15 - AWOL

Sunday 8/14 - AWOL

Saturday 8/13 - threw the first pitch in a Little League game>



Friday 8/12 - went to a fundraiser>

[RobertSeattle]

21. Why doesn't PAT ROBERTSON go down and divert it?

[President Kerry]

25. perhaps too many gays for Pat's liking? He's the justifier of tragic

events.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

22. Like father (Andrew), like son (Katrina).

[President Kerry]

23. eh, 'cause Katrina ain't heading toward Crawford?

some leader we've got.

[fortyfeetunder]

27. No surprise

This is a direct parallel to what happened December 26, after the tsunami.

[Stephanie]

32. Exactly - George was on Christmas vacation and did not comment

He issued a pre-taped statement three days later. DU was asking the same question then:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=2884086

[indepat]

28. Interrupt vacation! You are kidding, right?

[Stephanie]

50. He's going to pay for it this time

He will not survive this blunder.

[moondust]

29. Is Katrina in a persistent vegetative state?

There ya go...

[achtung_circus]

30. Naw.

He might do a fly-by for the cameras
.

He'll say "I have directed all federal agencies, etc"

That'll be it.

[Generic Other]

31. I think he heard you, Steph!!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4482417

[Stephanie]

45. It's not on broadcast TV or on radio!

Weird. And they only released audio, no video? THAT is too weird for words. WTF?

[AllyCat]

34. He's making a media appearance at 12:30 today to talk about it

I'm sure he will offer words of wisdom and consolation, while they try to make sure all the riff-raff doesn't escape and gets washed to sea.

[Generic Other]

36. He's on now!! Talking about Iraq! Not Katrina

Asshole. Asshole. Asshole.

[Stephanie]

38. No cable here - NBC, ABC, CBS are not showing it.

[AllyCat]

39. Nice. What a freakin' LIAR!!!

Politicize everything and use tragedy for personal and political gain. That's the Bush*/Rove way!

[Stephanie]

43. Is it video or just audio?

Is it live or pre-taped?

[AllyCat]

57. I just heard audio (CNN Radio News)

Maybe some others saw live footage, but I doubt it. He is on vacation, you know.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

35. On now! But now he's talking about IRAQ!

Paraphrasing...

"Katrina very, very bad. get out now." And now he's off on the Iraq contstitution.. WTF

[in_cog_ni_to]

37. "So why should I waste my beautiful mind on something like that?"

It's just a category 5 hurricane. Don't be silly. :sarcasm:

The BFEE doesn't waste their minuscule minds on such matters. Like mother, like son. :grr:

[earth mom]

47. Yeah, he's "got to get on with his life."

:puke:

[Lorien]

40. He should mobilize the National guard to help with the evacuation

oops! They're all in IRAQ!

:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

[Generic Other]

41. Now he's saying not everyone voted to ratify the US Constitution!

WTF? Well, yes, none of his supporters would do it today.

[insane_cratic_gal]

44. Botox injections again?

[Carni]

46. Because NO is full of DEMOCRATS

Why would the ahole bother? Those people aren't "his base"

[Stephanie]

48. Just like New York

I'm convinced that's why they didn't help us. Fuck 'em, they don't vote for us anyway, to quote James Baker re: Jewish voters.

[Carni]

53. Funny how that keeps happening isn't it? EOM

[MiniMe]

51. Because he needs to get on with his life

/sarcasm off

[shance]

52. Because of Cheney and Bush Sr.

are running things.

[hyphenate]

55. Because he's an asshole? eom

[Chovexani]

56. If you or I were took this much vacation from our jobs

We'd have been fired a long time ago.

Clinton would have been meeting with FEMA or something like days ago.