What the hell is the president doing remaining on vacation while a major disaster is imminent?

[kpete]

47 years ago, Martin Luther King gave his iconic "I have a Dream" speech from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. Today, Glenn Beck will be there to spew his message about dividing America.

Five years ago, Katrina was bearing down on New Orleans. What was George Bush doing? He was on vacation. John kept tabs on Bush on August 28, 2005. There was this post:

Chickenhawk Watch: Bush still on vacation while deadly hurricane approaches New Orleans, and this one, Bush Vacation Watch Update: Thank God Katrina STILL hasn't ruined Bush's summer vacation.

Of course, John was right. Bush wasn't paying attention. The traditional media is starting to rewrite history and soft pedal the catastrophic failures of the Bush administration over this hurricane. (Heckuva job, NBC.) The media never challenged Bush back then. Never. That's how we ended up in Iraq, for example. In fact, on August 28, 2005, John wrote, "It remains to be seen if the media is going to ask what the hell the president is doing remaining on vacation while a major disaster is imminent."

http://www.americablog.com/2010/08/saturday-morning-open-thread.html

[NNadir]

1. The entire Bush Presidency was a major disaster. Why pick out one two week period? n/t

[Proud Liberal Dem]

2. It's disgusting, isn't it?

I think that somebody released a poll saying that Louisiana residents preferred Bush's "leadership" on Katrina over Obama's handling of the BP gulf oil leak. As somebody else here on DU observed, polling is beginning to resemble "push polls" seemingly designed to only discredit President Obama and/or Democratic Party. :puke:

[Davis_X_Machina]

6. A white man ignoring a disaster....

...is infinitely preferable to a black man responding.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

8. Blows the mind

I don't think that this country has progressed as far as some *conservatives* think it has in terms of race relations. Obama's presidency is living proof of it!

[babylonsister]

3. Clearing brush? Again?? nt

[Pirate Smile]

4. Tomorrow he is going to NOLA to commemorate the 5 year anniversary of Katrina.

On Tuesday night, he is giving an Oval Office statement to the nation regarding the end of the Iraq War.

He'll be back tomorrow and he'd be ignoring the Beck crap today even if he was in DC.

[LibDemAlways]

5. Bush wasn't just "on vacation." He was famously photographed

sharing birthday cake with John McCain and being entertained at a San Diego fundraiser while the residents of New Orleans lost everything. Of course the media downplayed his callous disregard, but it was evident to anyone who was paying attention. I'll never forget old lady Bush's comment about the "underprivileged" people relocated to the Astrodome in Houston. "This is working well for them," she said with a chuckle. The entire Bush clan are a bunch of insensitive, spoiled, smug assholes. It's unfortunate that the press consistently ignored the truth about them or buried it in the back pages.

[seafan]

7. To the victims and displaced families of Katrina; a healing of mind, body and spirit. And peace.

Hurricane Katrina, August 29, 2005


We will never forget. (pix heavy)


The Perils of George (pix heavy)




This photo is burned into my soul. The simple act of love, grief and survival.



A lesson for us to carry with us forever: If we do not banish the evil that lurks around us, the pain will outlive our children.