PR and communications failures by this White House are legendary, and pretty well documented on FR.
Having said that, I don't blame President Bush for the Katrina problems. Old Media does, but old media blames President Bush for everything else anyway. It snowed, Bush's fault. The sun is out, Bush's fault. Your toilet's backed up, Bush's fault.
Watch the elction to replace Cunningham, who was corrupt. Chances are, that another republican will comfortably elected because he was punished by his party in power for what he did. People understand the difference of person & party.
Same thing with Bob Ney of Ohio. Media projected him as the fraudster with Abramoff. No prominent dem. came forward to oppose him. Republicans' GWOT is a powerful org. built by our President. Only republicans chose to distance from the President will face problems than the other way.
You are right, the Old MSM has been in this blame Bush mode for so long they cannot help themselves. They are like Alcoholics that just need another drink. In this case they need another blame Bush moment. They are so over the top and ludicrous in their accusations and blame, you wonder when they are going to blame their "septic tank problem,their dog peed on the carpet, or their wife/husband cheating on them on Bush. They make the very extreme,loony tune, really radical Conservatives that blamed Clinton for everything look really normal. AGHHHH! Clinton certainly did enough bad things,more than 5 other Presidents,but not the level that was pushed by the radicals. After a while the Public realized it was overkill and unfair even to a sleazeball like him and they began feeling sorry for him and his ratings improved and I think that is what the Juan (crash Dummie) Williams point really is. That is Juan's fear because his Mom even likes GWB. George Bush is a very decent,nice, like-able Guy and all this piling on will come back to haunt all that have done it, including those ^%$%#@$$((*&^% Pubbies that will be begging him for his support down the Road.