Response to Katrina may impact President Bush's legacy

The Dallas Morning News ^ | ROBERT HILLMAN

[jmc1969]

Blistered by stinging criticism that his administration has failed in its hurricane relief efforts, President Bush faces a new political threat that could further erode his leadership and tarnish his legacy.

His job approval ratings are at record lows for his presidency. And analysts said they will surely dip deeper because of the administration's public struggle to deal with the chaos after Hurricane Katrina.

Democratic critics have charged that Bush's determination to curb spending and implement sweeping tax cuts siphoned funds for levee improvements in New Orleans, among other projects.

For instance, in this fiscal year, the administration cut a $27 million request for hurricane-protection projects around Lake Pontchartrain to just under $4 million

"The president is destroying the fabric of America with a combined policy of war, tax cuts for the wealthy and reductions in spending for domestic needs," said Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y.

"He doesn't instinctively know what he should do in these circumstances," Sabato said, noting that it took Bush a day or so to mount a full-blown public response to the 9-11 terrorism attacks four years ago.

Democratic critics had launched a pre-emptive strike, led by the Congressional Black Caucus, which charged Bush with neglect.

"To the president of the United States, I simply say that God cannot be pleased with our response," said Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md.

Responding to earlier suggestions that the administration's efforts lagged in New Orleans because many of the residents are black and poor, White House press secretary Scott McClellan said "such allegations are baseless and absurd."

Nonetheless, such assertions already have triggered a national debate that at the very least could crimp the Republican Party's outreach to minorities.

..the Bush administration's response already could be an impediment on the president's "ability to govern" and a lasting blemish on his legacy.

[carlr]

Oh yes,and if Bush had taken over the whole situation Monday night he would be accused of being a cowboy,not respecting the state leaders and trying to score political points by going over the heads of the governor and mayor.
Sheesh.

[upchuck]

Isn't the Governor of Lousiana, and the Mayor of New Orleans..both Democrats?

Yeppers! In fact, as near as I can tell, apparently nearly every elected official in the entire state is a RAT. Why do think they've done such a lousy job? They've been sucking at the g'vt teat so long they've forgotten how to think independently.

And yet the LSM can blame only President Bush for this.

[al baby]

Maybe Bush will impact Katrinas Legacy Go Bush Go

[recoveringlurker]

I was thinking the very same thing.

[RobRoy]

I am not much of a fan of Bush, but he gets a pass from me on this one. This was not a federal issue until the inteptitude of the local and state authorities required it to be.

Even the governor admitted that when they called for mandatory evacuation it was at Bush's insistance.

When this all blows over, Bush will probably have very little of this stuck on him. Remember, these are the post Dan Rather days. The MSM cannot control the public mind any more...

[MNJohnnie]

And of course Mr Hillman is one of the few gutless wonders who does NOT have an email address at his paper so the utter baseless stupidity of his remarks can Not be pointed out to him. Just another Dinosaur lurching towards the tar pit of irrelevancy

[Mensius]

Hurricane relief efforts went well in Florida last year, and I don't hear complaints out of Alabama and Mississippi. What is different about New Orleans? That should be the story. Won't be, but it should be.

M

[FlingWingFlyer]

Only someone doing a lot of recreational drugs would try to blame President Bush for this while completely ignoring the incompetence demonstrated by a DemocRAT Governor and mayor. What a moron. Don't worry 'bout it Bobby. President Bush's legacy will be just fine.

[roses of sharon]

Of course the media are the ones who write the script for the country for 40 years.

Even overseas you hear this crap, about Bush going to Iraq faster than to NO, LOL.

Bush did not rebuild the levies ect.,

Bastards.


We have work to do.

[GW and Twins Pawpaw]

Now you know facts don't mean squat to a lefty...:-)

[tobyhill]

What a crock of crap. What American President has ever been remembered for a natural disaster that happened on their watch?

[silverleaf]

Bush can federalize Guard units for domestic insurrections "against the state" and few other selected reasons subject to the Militia clause of the Constitution...as he ahs done for overseas deployment. But domestically, to federalize the Guard troops is a bit tricky and there has been great resistance from the Guard and others to being federalized and removed from control of the Governor. The US Constitution clearly intended to give the States the power to manage their own disasters.. assumed the people would best trust and be served by their local and State govt, and assumed we would have competent Governors.

I am wondering if Bush did indeed work out a new plan for the defense and assistance to New Orleans very quickly, in the past 72 hours, and did federalize the Guard that arrived in force today. It seems so. All the Command now seems to be in the hands of federal and military commanders.

This would be a sign of complete failure of leadership and planning on the part of State and local authorities, and a reason for kudos to Chertoff, the President and others who have stepped in and taken charge under withering fire from liberals, the ignorant media, and the very State and local govt incompetents the Feds were forced to push aside...

[upchuck]

Oh, I forgot something...

For a better example of properly handling this situation, look no further than Haley Barbour (R), Governor of Mississippi.

[sgtbono2002]

Hillman looks like a peter-puffer to me.

[ShihanRob]

Fortunately for us in this moment of history, our president bases his actions on his own personal convictions, not the miscellaneous feedback of John Q. Public.

Whether I agree or disagree with him, at least I know who I'm dealing with!

[bubman]

You just summarized the entire liberal movement in a nutshell. Why does the left attack Bush? Because they know he is the least one to do them harm. Pathetic excuse for people if you ask me. If black americans don't smell something here with the CBC then they deserve the crap that falls on them. Forty years of Liberalism have gotten them what? Ghettos, illiteracy, welfare moms and the list goes on and on and on...

[sgtbono2002]

Wasnt the Bay of Pigs a natural disaster?

How about the Gulf of Tonkin incident?

[pepperhead]

Hurricane relief efforts went well in Florida last year, and I don't hear complaints out of Alabama and Mississippi. What is different about New Orleans? That should be the story. Won't be, but it should be.

Right, I am going to remember all those disasters. And when some leftist pillow muncher tries and bring up New Orleans I am going to mention them.

[HawaiianGecko]

	"Yep, but they have their campaign issue for 06 and 08. It's going to be a very brutal election season." What's their issue? Disasters that have been handled well happened in states with strong city Mayors and Governors that just happened to be Republicans. 9/11: Rudi & Pataki Andrew: Jeb Bush 4 'canes in Fl last year: Jeb Katrina: Mississippi/Barbour, Alabama/Riley Louisiana: Nagel (D) ... Blanco (D) New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin certainly inspires confidence doesn't he?  He's one of those people that are cool under pressure. Demonstrated by his pathetic rant this morning on CNN.  If I was a New Orleans citizen I'd certainly be proud that my Mayor went o

!

 

"Yep, but they have their campaign issue for 06 and 08. It's going to be a very brutal election season."

What's their issue? Disasters that have been handled well happened in states with strong city Mayors and Governors that just happened to be Republicans.

• 9/11: Rudi & Pataki
• Andrew: Jeb Bush
• 4 'canes in Fl last year: Jeb
• Katrina: Mississippi/Barbour, Alabama/Riley
• Louisiana: Nagel (D) ... Blanco (D)

New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin certainly inspires confidence doesn't he?  He's one of those people that are cool under pressure. Demonstrated by his pathetic rant this morning on CNN.  If I was a New Orleans citizen I'd certainly be proud that my Mayor went o
 

[eeriegeno]

It is pathetic that this natural disaster has become so political! A lot of people, mostly local, dropped the ball here and for anyone to suggest that GW is to blame for the loss of life is just a pathetic outreach. Why are there 200+ school busses in a flooded parking lot? Could they not have been used to transport people out of New Orleans BEFORE the hurricane hit? Did GW have to order that to be done? Who is locking New Orleans people in the Civic Center, as was just reported on FOX news? If these people can escape to higher ground, why are they not allowed to do that? Is GW telling them that they can't leave?

With the spin meisters, the media, and the good old black caucass, I am glad that I am not president at this moment........