George W. Bush calls Katrina photo a ‘huge mistake’

Yahoo ^ | 11-5-10 | Michael Calderone

[Carley]

Sadly he continues to allow the msm to define him.

[PLD]

Well I don’t think it was a mistake..He at least cared to go..Obama is never around for any of the disasters including the one that happened the other day when his clown congress got the pants beat off them..He took a trip a few days later so he can get a vacation in before he is replaced..I am sure his trips will get more and more since he now his filthy butt will be gone in two years..

No matter what our president Bush did it was never right according to the filthy democrats and the filthy media..

[ArtDodger]

No! His big mistake was abandoning conservative principles, and that happened long before this photo was taken.

[Polybius]

Bush reflected on the iconic photograph during an interview with NBC's Matt Lauer to promote his forthcoming memoir, "Decision Points." The photo was published widely and only reinforced the view that the Bush administration didn't act quickly enough or fully grasp the severity of the problems on the ground in New Orleans

Bush's "huge mistake" was not explaining the consequences of THIS photo to the American public.

Bush's problem was that Bush simply refused to defend himself.

[Future Snake Eater]

Man Of The People.

[HereInTheHeartland]

“George W. Bush says it was a “huge mistake” to let himself be photographed looking from Air Force One down at the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.”

Why??
My remembrance of Bush and Katrina; was Bush taking the unusual step of getting on national television telling people to get the heck out of the way before it hit.
This was after local officials didn't seem to recognize the danger and were slow to act.

[bigbob]

I think this picture was responsible for creating the impression that Bush wasn’t doing anything about Katrina. It wasn’t the picture per se, but the spin that accompanied it.

[DTogo]

Well said!

[Uri’el-2012]

George W. Bush says it was a "huge mistake" to let himself be photographed looking from Air Force One down at the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

You still don't understand do you, George.

Your huge mistake in Katrina was to appoint
a incompetent political HACK as head of FEMA.

[whitedog57]

Why is this a bad photo? Would the left rather he had the shades closed and be watching “Three Stooges” on the inflight video?

Obama goes on a USELESS trip to India (and a Muslim convention!) at a cost of over $200 million while we have 17% unemployment, and Bush gets crucified for a simple shot of him looking out the window?

This is so stupid I can’t believe it.

[BelegStrongbow]

Could you tell us what jobs they now have? As I understand it, the Governor of Lousiana and the Mayor of New Orleans are not Blanco and Nagin.

[Free in Texas]

The lefties would hate Bush no matter what he did or didn’t do. They always will hate him. They still hate Reagan.

[rellimpank]

—rational people would prefer that presidents, etc., keep their distance from disasters, along with the entourage that has to accompany them, letting the rescue effort take place , then at some future date have a memorial ceremony for the victims and a rewards ceremony for the rescuers-—although some of the press and the other types of simpleton seem to think that the President should be there filling sandbags-—

[altura]

I swear I’m gonna stop reading these so-called ‘leaks’ from President Bush’s book.

The media is scouring the book for anything they can take out of context to make him look bad.

Most of us here on Free Republic aren’t falling for it, but, alas, too many are.

[crazyhorse691]

I vaguely remember the photo, but, I never attached anything negative to it as it looks like a generic picture of a POTUS looking out an airplane window at the ground. Now I know it shows aloofness if not not downright dislike of Afro-Americans.

[bandleader]

I don’t remember that picture either.The”Biggest Mistake”was not repealing the 22nd Amendment so we(The American People)could have had a REAL choice in 2008!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Darkwolf377]

“Let’s get to the picture that we may have seen more of you in the last couple years of your presidency than any other picture,” Lauer said This is my first time seeing it since Katrina, and I vaguely remember seeing it then...

I had the same reaction. What the hell is Lauer talking about?

I have no problem with W expressing regrets about things he's done. THIS is the time to do it, not while in office. I just wish he weren't apologizing for things because the MSM are trying to reinforce their ongoing campaign against him.

At the same time, people have to realize the bubble he and all presidents and all D.C. sorts live in. As far as Bush knows, Lauer is correct, and how would it be if he reacted properly? "Bush Denies Presidency Mistakes" would be the most gentle headline.

[healy61]

Bush has always connected with men. I still am in awe for the Thanksgiving when he flew to Iraq to see the men. He didn’t even tell his wife. The press could make Mother Teresa look like a hooker if they wanted to. And you can bleieve they want to.

[FreeAtlanta]

I remember it, but I didn't see it as a mistake. His mistake was not verbally and continually bashing Nagin and the democrat governor for their incompetence and in allowing anyone to blame him and the Federal response.

The next mistake was pouring billions down that rat hole of corruption.

[Polybius]

Why?? My remembrance of Bush and Katrina; was Bush taking the unusual step of getting on national television telling people to get the heck out of the way before it hit. This was after local officials didn't seem to recognize the danger and were slow to act.

Yep. That is exactly what I remember too.

I also remember the main highway into New Orleans being bumper to bumper in the outbound lanes and being totally empty on the inbound lanes that could have been used to evacuate tens of thousands of residents.

BUT ......

After Katrina hit and after the liberal news media was piling on Bush and while we, on Free Republic, were extensively documenting the utter incompetence of the Democrat Mayor ad the Democrat Governor ......

How many times did George W. Bush hold those Democrats accountable?

I do not recall one single time. George W. Bush allowed the liberal news media to use him as a punching bag. He is still doing it.

The man simply refused to defend himself and you cannot be an effective leader if you always allow the opposition to define you.

See Post 24.