[colorado tanker]

Why does Bush keep apologizing for an incompetent state and local response???

[dfwgator]

Why does Bush keep apologizing for an incompetent state and local response???

It has something to do with a sign that sat on Harry Truman's desk.

[pollyannaish]

Because he is a man of character and realizes when you hold the highest office in the land, the buck stops on your desk.

Rather than blaming...he will get the job done and then lead an effort to see what went wrong. The facts will speak for themselves. Even if they blow back on his administration. (But for the most part, they won't.)

If the state and local officials had acted with character first, rather than blaming everyone but themselves, and taken responsibility...this would be a different issue.

I personally believe that Blanco and Co. were more concerned about the politics and wanted this to be a big win for team. Therefore, decisions were made to shore up her own "heroic" status, rather than a "whatever it takes" kind of approach. What we have now, is the predictable fallout from that.

As frustrating as it is to us the President is "a patient man." He will take the heat, to do the right thing. In the end, the President will not lose this. He never does.

[Asfarastheeastisfromthewest...]

Why does Bush keep apologizing for an incompetent state and local response???

I didn't hear an apology there. What I did hear was that he thinks the response efforts should be investigated. Sounds like a good idea to me. Darn right, everything needs to be investigated - from stem to stern. Leave no rock unturned. Bring it on.