The presidency of George W. Bush was a catastrophic failure with lethal consequences. Invaded the wrong country, over 5,000 dead, over 20,000 wounded and over $3Trillion squandered.
Not to mention, he collapsed our domestic economy, destroyed jobs and was a laughingstock on the international stage.
#Embarrased #Buffoon
Not to mention, he collapsed our domestic economy, destroyed jobs and was a laughingstock on the international stage.
#Embarrased #Buffoon
21
The gall of this man is stunning.
But since he must like returning to the scene of his crimes, I would pay for his one-way ticket to Iraq. He could tour and congratulate the people on their progress.
But since he must like returning to the scene of his crimes, I would pay for his one-way ticket to Iraq. He could tour and congratulate the people on their progress.
25
One can criticize the initial slow response, but the follow-on response was quite robust. Naturally those who dislike Bush will pile on here in the comments.
1
I give him credit for nerve. We all continue to realize he has little sense. I could not believe he was there.
13
"Brownie, you're doing a heck-of-a-job."
I am so sick of seeing GWB's What, me worry? guilt-free, vacuous smile.
At least I don't have to see it as often these days. Please, just go away.
I am so sick of seeing GWB's What, me worry? guilt-free, vacuous smile.
At least I don't have to see it as often these days. Please, just go away.
19
It should not surprise me that our politicians constantly try to turn a pig's ear into a silk purse. W seemed to emasculate FEMA and also put the wrong person in charge of it. He reinforced the stereotype of republicans as a party which ignores the poor in favor of the rich.
11
The tragedy shocked the whole world! I hope that the politician sincerely says and does it. However, I find it hard to believe in it. Because American politics and sincerity have different ways. Unfortunately, we get only empty words and empty promises from politicians!
2
He (and Laura) collected speaking fees when they spoke on behalf of disabled Vets (guess who sent them into harm's way). Who paid for his trip to NOLA?
14
I gasped when i saw this piece of propaganda. I guess the time of rewriting history starts NOW! Whew! just in the nick of time before the election. ----
GWB, his cronies, and the politicians that marched lock-step to destroy our country's honor, integrity and wealth, causing untold needless deaths - arrogant, ideologically driven and narcissistic they are an anathema to me. The only possible sequel to this article would be a picture of GWB and his cohorts in orange jump suits behind bars.
Jerry NYC
GWB, his cronies, and the politicians that marched lock-step to destroy our country's honor, integrity and wealth, causing untold needless deaths - arrogant, ideologically driven and narcissistic they are an anathema to me. The only possible sequel to this article would be a picture of GWB and his cohorts in orange jump suits behind bars.
Jerry NYC
12
"You're doing a heck of a job there Brownie." That, to me was the most memorable line in that whole catastrophy. To this day it reminds me of the ineptness and the lack of caring of the the people of New Orleans by the Bush Administration. Seeing him here in this picture suggests to me that he's actively in the process of assisting in the rewriting of American History. He'll have lots of chapters to collaborate on as his administration was one debacle after another. We've barely recovered from that Bush administration and now the country is "seriously" considering a 3rd Bush Administration? What's wrong here?
6
Well they do say that a criminal always returns to the scene of the crime.
8
Ugh-h-h. Pre-election politics as usual, coinciding with Obama's visit to New Orleans. Immediately after Katrina, "W" had his attorneys draw up a dense legal document, in which he requested then Gov. Blanco, a Democrat, to turn over complete control of the state to the federal government, as a pre-qualification to sending in any help (Cheney's influence re the President having complete/ultimate power?). She appeared on television, with Sen. Mary Landrieu at her side, as the water covered the city and people were suffering and dying, to say that she would not read or sign the document and to please send help. Why should she have had to beg for help, already delayed, under the circumstances? Buses loaded with people bringing supplies and wanting to help were turned way from the city. The Times Picayune reported a story, noting that ONE man from FEMA was on the ground in New Orleans. He put in a call to "Brownie", wanting to convey the urgency of the situation in the city, but "Brownie" could not be reached because he was getting "made-up" for a TV broadcast. And on and on... How dare this man set foot in our city. Life, death, suffering, compassion - these were all secondary to the political atmosphere of the time. The politicians can kiss and make-up for past mistakes, but did so many people have to suffer and die...
27
Thanks to Biden we may have GWB third term in office as Jeb brings us back to the good old days.
1
I'm surprised George Bush showed up in New Orleans on the anniversary of Katrina. He seems to have found much to applaud. He should go to Baghdad and celebrate his successes there, too. Mission accomplished, as always.
8
He still doesn't GET IT, does he.
The man is simply ............ obtuse - the perfect adjective to apply to this dim-witted simpleton.
"Not quick or alert in perception, feeling, or intellect; not sensitive or observant; dull."
Get lost George - and soon and for good.
The man is simply ............ obtuse - the perfect adjective to apply to this dim-witted simpleton.
"Not quick or alert in perception, feeling, or intellect; not sensitive or observant; dull."
Get lost George - and soon and for good.
9
I think this timely article is a most excellent reminder and example about what can happen to our country when we elect an incompetent moron to take the presidency.
My point being that it is within the realm of possibilities the our next president could be Trump.
Please, do not think for a minute, that that could not happen.
My point being that it is within the realm of possibilities the our next president could be Trump.
Please, do not think for a minute, that that could not happen.
8
Well I guess it's nice George visited. But he really must have no shame. Four days to get there after a flood of biblical proportions. A totally inept response from his administration. That was when he passed out and they said he chocked on a pretzel. But he passed out cause he was overwhelmed and didn't know what to do. And the next day, I believe was Monday and he went to a fundraiser. And remember the National Guard and all their equipment were tied up in Iraq, they barely could get anybody down there. So there was complete lawlessness for awhile. Yes sir The Boy King, who screwed this country up so bad we still haven't got over it.
7
George W. Bush completely fell down on the job in preparing New Orleans for Katrina and in responding to the aftermath of the hurricane. It's really great that he can come to the Crescent City and recite an apology that someone else wrote for him, but that's the story of Dubya's life: he screws up, someone else fixes it, and he skates away.
The press should stop running stories like this and the ones about his painting hobby. If we're trying to make ourselves feel better about the present by depicting George as a good guy, we're letting ourselves down and letting Bush off the hook. The man was a disaster as a leader. We failed as a nation by electing him twice. We are still paying a heavy economic, political and military price for being hoodwinked, cowed and bullied into following this man. Whatever good has come after the devastation in New Orleans, Baghdad and to the American middle class, it's not because of anything George did.
The press should stop running stories like this and the ones about his painting hobby. If we're trying to make ourselves feel better about the present by depicting George as a good guy, we're letting ourselves down and letting Bush off the hook. The man was a disaster as a leader. We failed as a nation by electing him twice. We are still paying a heavy economic, political and military price for being hoodwinked, cowed and bullied into following this man. Whatever good has come after the devastation in New Orleans, Baghdad and to the American middle class, it's not because of anything George did.
5
Did Bush ever answer the question: What was your rationale for selecting a head of FEMA who had no disaster relief experience? Even if he delegated the selection process, he bears culpability.
The Bush administration did not create the storm, but the administration as well as the state and local governments are accountable for the inept response. With the benefit of some time and distance, I can even understand why it might be necessary for someone like Bush to psychologically distance himself his administration's failures given the enormous costs of those failures. The same is true with the Iraq War. But I also hope that memories are long enough to ensure that it is a very long time before an administration like Bush's is elected again.
The Bush administration did not create the storm, but the administration as well as the state and local governments are accountable for the inept response. With the benefit of some time and distance, I can even understand why it might be necessary for someone like Bush to psychologically distance himself his administration's failures given the enormous costs of those failures. The same is true with the Iraq War. But I also hope that memories are long enough to ensure that it is a very long time before an administration like Bush's is elected again.
20
I can't read an article about George W. Bush. I'd like him to go away, and stay away.
8
Just goes to show, a good politician has no shame, no self respect, what a lamentable spectacle.
5
No conscience. No shame. If only he, Cheney, and Rumsfeld could spend some time in The Hague. Two bogus wars, untold thousands of deaths, and a collapsed economy. Katrina was just a fly-over kiss off. Let him go back to Crawford and paint by numbers.
7
I'm Speechless.
3
They say, "Criminals always return to the scene of the crime." Well, there you have it. Despicable.
4
Bush has nothing to smile about.
2
God, in His mercy, renders the clueless incapable of reflection or remorse...
2
Hubris Accomplished
1,800 Americans died during Katrina, many times Mother Nature was not the problem
1,800 Americans died during Katrina, many times Mother Nature was not the problem
4
How about going back to doing those bathroom paintings or drawings or whatever? Soothing for you and keeps us from revisiting those years.
3
George Bush's visit to New Orleans is as offensive as it it disingenuous. He doesn't care for NO and never did. When I say his picture I wondered if his trip was being paid for by the for profit charter lobby.
6
OK Now-Enough. someone needs to do their homework on the Republican goal of drowning Public Education in a tub to 1) Destroy Unions who traditionally vote Democratic,2) Turn education into an " expense" rather than an investment in a States future in order to give tax breaks 3) turn education into a for profit business 3) Seperate a population into interest groups for votes 4) Solidify "home school evangelicals " as voters with vouchers 5) Use testing as the mechanism for destruction. No Child Left Behind was always a political Strategy based on a competition between Jebby and GW as Govs., trying to turn Ed. Into private enterprise system. Are their successes, yes. Is it proven that charters created better results? Not really, after all the chaos for our children, distruction of world class public Ed in many States, we have succeeded in producing low expectations,segregation, curriculums that deny science, critical thinking skills, high cost college education and politicians who have no clue about what Democracy is and their role in it. Thank you, Ronald Regan, Jeb and GW for you fine example of a political system that divides and conquers, declares speech is money and corporations are people and is not sustainable. A former President who spends his time painting portraits of himself in a bathtub after drowning Ed. In a bathtub ought to be a clue. How obscene.
5
"George Bush doesn't care about black people."
-Kanye West, September 2, 2005
"I was disgusted when I watched the president of the United States fly over the disaster that was happening in New Orleans rather than come there. In 1965 during Hurricane Betsy, when I was a little boy, LBJ came down to the Lower Ninth Ward with a flashlight, wading through the water saying 'I am your president, I am here, come out, we're here to do something for you.' And it was just this stark contrast of a president who just showed neglect. "
-Wendell Pierce, PBS, August 28, 2015
"Mr. Bush's visit contrasted with the sight of President Obama walking through some of the hardest-it neighborhoods
(the Lower Ninth Ward) on Thursday - 'What the storm laid bare was another tragedy that had been brewing for decades.'"
- NYT, today
George W. Bush - no shame. And his brother trashes President Obama as he runs for president. Unconscionable.
-Kanye West, September 2, 2005
"I was disgusted when I watched the president of the United States fly over the disaster that was happening in New Orleans rather than come there. In 1965 during Hurricane Betsy, when I was a little boy, LBJ came down to the Lower Ninth Ward with a flashlight, wading through the water saying 'I am your president, I am here, come out, we're here to do something for you.' And it was just this stark contrast of a president who just showed neglect. "
-Wendell Pierce, PBS, August 28, 2015
"Mr. Bush's visit contrasted with the sight of President Obama walking through some of the hardest-it neighborhoods
(the Lower Ninth Ward) on Thursday - 'What the storm laid bare was another tragedy that had been brewing for decades.'"
- NYT, today
George W. Bush - no shame. And his brother trashes President Obama as he runs for president. Unconscionable.
34
If the man feels any shame at all, he should go crawl under a rock and stay there.
4
Let's face it Katrina was used, very effectively, to advance the gentrification of New Orleans. Say what you will about the agenda, the implementation was brilliant.
9
I feel cursed every time I see George Bush's vapid expressions and stupid, self-centered remarks, because I know the callousness and sociopathic emptiness that live within, and for which he will never be held responsible. Dear Media, Please rid us of this has-been criminal who has blighted our country. If you must cover his pointless actions and bizarre statements, at least don't show us his picture. I swear it's like PTSD to open the NY Times page and see that face. I just about scream whenever i see a photo of him on tv and hurriedly changed the channel. I feel assaulted by his image, as I do by knowing that he exists in blissful cluelessness and privilege.
5
I think" W" should go back to his " no minorities" allowed neighborhood in Dallas where he bought his house and have the decency to stay there and keep his mouth shut. Maybe do some more bad painting?
4
A little like Douglas McArthur returning to Nagasaki 10 years later, to proclaim that the iron will of the Japanese, along with their unfortunate nuclear devastation, was what was needed for their new and better nation.
2
The mendacity of this man is disgusting. Send him to the Hague. Along with his second in command.
4
Well, with 50% unemployment among blacks in New Orleans, Obama has less to be proud of than Dubya. That the schools in poor neighborhood are getting better is nothing to sneeze at, liberal commenters!
2
Kanye West was right George Bush doesn't care about black people.
3
NYT commenters: These comments show how out of touch readers of the NYT really are. Try expanding your sources of information. You might learn that the Bush administration response to Katrina was not that bad; and that many of the problems arose from incompetent Democrats including two named Moon and Nagin (hint: who's the only one who went to jail?)
1
There is praise for New Orleans but none for Bush. He was the second disaster in New Orleans and brought added suffering to those needing help. Of course he was also a disaster for America and brought suffering to millions.
He should stay in his hidey hole. Does he think we've forgotten?
He should stay in his hidey hole. Does he think we've forgotten?
4
The decider has decided to return to the scene of his crime. It's what is called a guilt trip.
2
George W. Bush should have commemorated the anniversary by repeating his flyover of New Orleans.
3
There you go folks! Enjoy it while you can! This is the extent of President Bush's post presidency public service. So, don't blink too much or you might miss the entirety of W's public service to the country. After this airing of the last president he can go back to his relative anonymity. And sit home painting pictures. He's happy being left alone with his easel. We're happy that we don't see him too much. He's happy, we're happy. Let's just leave things this way and not get all crazy that we need to see W more than we need to. Okay?
3
Still photo opping. Mission accomplished.
4
Jimmy Carter is using his post-presidency years to build houses for poor people with his own hands.
(Habitat for Humanity ... for the tea party members who don't read.)
(Habitat for Humanity ... for the tea party members who don't read.)
8
I'm surprised Georgie Bush would show his face in NOLA ever again. Guess he decided to waste his beautiful mind on a brief visit.
1
Glad he remembers Katrina now. Too bad he forgot when it was actually happening. Rewrite history much?
4
Mission Accomplished.
1
Good 'ole GW just doesn't get it. One would think he would have the sense to stay away from more publicity related to his failures! Here in Dallas it is my understanding that the GW Bush library has audios that tell patrons why GW believes that going to Iraq was the right thing to do.
3
Who invited this idiot in the first place. He is a disgrace to New Orleans and the United States. He should hang his head in shame for all that he has done to this country.
4
Despite the glaring mistakes that were made by those advising and informing Mr. Bush, he was and is an honorable man. Thank you, Mr. Bush for your service to our country! Hitory will vindicate your record.
1
George Bush showed us his singular lack of "nerve" immediately after 9/11 and then during the famous flyover of New Orleans after hurricane Katrina. Now by visiting New Orleans and making "rosy " speeches he shows us that in fact he has plenty of "nerve" - just not the right kind.
3
Good timing. Revisiting that perfect Storm of Heckuva job Brownie & Bush's tragic botch remains but one of Dubbya's indelible lessons in why voters can never again allow ignorant, arrogant, incompetent Yahoos anywhere near the Whitehouse.
4
“We came to realize that what started out as a natural disaster became a man-made disaster, a failure of government to look after its own citizens,” Mr. Obama said.
It was indeed a failure of proportions and a bi-partisan one at that.
Gov. Kathleen Blanco's initial response was completely inadequate. She did not seek re-election in '08.
And who does not remember Mayor Ray Nagin. A colorful, but shady personality, who recognized Katrina as one more opportunity to fill his pockets. He is presently serving a ten year sentence in federal prison.
It was indeed a failure of proportions and a bi-partisan one at that.
Gov. Kathleen Blanco's initial response was completely inadequate. She did not seek re-election in '08.
And who does not remember Mayor Ray Nagin. A colorful, but shady personality, who recognized Katrina as one more opportunity to fill his pockets. He is presently serving a ten year sentence in federal prison.
12
Today's performance by war criminal G.W.Bush in New Orleans is right up ther with his foolish and premature "Mission Accomplished" photo-op indicating U.S. victory in Iraq. His self-deception is unparalleled, as revealed by his unwillingness to accept responsibility not only for the debacle in Iraq, but for the utter lack of leadership in the aftermath of Katrina where close to 2000 residents lost their lives. For Bush to show up in New Orleans today, without even so much as a half hearted apology to its citizens for his administration's ineptitude bordering on criminality, confirms what millions of people both here and abroad believe which is he and his gang should be locked up in a correctional center as war criminals where they can do no further harm.
26
He looks as stupid as ever, and, based on his praise of a hostile takeover of public by private, continues to be disingenuous. Of course, he has not a shred of a concept of what education means. Pathetic.
36
This proves that politicians have absolutely no shame. Its shocking each and every time.
27
Georgie's handling was inept and incompetent; His republican congress was even worse - blocking any action to help the people of new Orleans. And so called Christians in the red states keep voting for these unchristian representatives
28
Was he actually greeted with the uniform politeness this article suggests? If so, he's a lucky man to have been among people far more forgiving than I would have been if I'd lived through that.
28
I remember flying back home to Detroit from St. Petersburg Russia in the summer of 2001. I was sitting next to a couple of cheery, hard drinking Brits who were returning from a consulting assignment there. The subject of politics came up, and they asked me "What were you Yanks thinking when you elected that idiot?" That they could so clearly see what so many Americans could not shamed me, and all I could reply was, "Don't look at me, I didn't vote for him!" Now, with millions of Americans clamoring for Trump, all I can deduce is that we've become stupider yet, and that the Democrats have managed to hold onto the White House while losing the Senate and House, and that apathy in voter turnout could hand yet another victory to the pandering GOP with the possibility of even Trump taking the prize. All I can say is, God forbid.
37
Donald Trump will never be president. Ever.
Our hearts sank when we saw George W. Bush's appearance in New Orleans. It failed on so many levels. He still owes the people of New Orleans a deep, sincere apology for the pain and suffering he caused them. And he still owes America a sincere apology for the embarrassment he caused the nation. We have yet to see or hear either. While its not too late for Bush to dedicate his life to helping others in need, like Jimmy Carter has done, the difference in what those two men have done post-presidency for America so far is like day and night. Carter exudes class, grace, humility, and sincerity in helping others much less fortunate than himself. Bush doesn't.
44
I hope all those who are disgusted at the sight of gwb will turn their anger into action and make sure neither his brother or any of the other Republican crazies make it to the white house.
32
You had your chance, George. No do-overs.
15
In new editions of any dictionary, if you look up the word "chutzbah," you will see this picture of George Bush at a New Orleans school.
13
If he is looking to help Jeb, why not endorse Trump.
7
The perverse irony of this man's visit is palpable.
33
I might have felt a shred of respect if he'd taken the opportunity to not only apologise, but to also express support for the recent studies detailing the relationship between climate change and superstorms, and regret for his presidency's absolute defiance of the Montreal Protocol. It would appear he's staying true to form instead.
While the Bush Administration's resistance to scientific fact and progressive reform might not have caused Katrina—indeed, the city was woefully underprepared for a storm of this magnitude—the CO2 pollution that was caused as a result will help contribute to more Katrinas in the years to come. It's not as if W. discovering the power of hindsight or 'evolving' on the subject would directly harm Jeb's campaign either, given that Jeb has been 'evolving' on the issue himself.
While the Bush Administration's resistance to scientific fact and progressive reform might not have caused Katrina—indeed, the city was woefully underprepared for a storm of this magnitude—the CO2 pollution that was caused as a result will help contribute to more Katrinas in the years to come. It's not as if W. discovering the power of hindsight or 'evolving' on the subject would directly harm Jeb's campaign either, given that Jeb has been 'evolving' on the issue himself.
60
I agree with you completely. But we're talking about a man here who let Dick Cheney run most of his presidency and who has never exhibited any intellectual capacity, preferring instead to trust his gut.
Let's see: we got rid of the public schools, fired 8000 qualified teachers, privatized education in a wonderfully separate but equal manner...I'd call that something like "Mission accomplished." Today education, tomorrow Social Security, Medicare, and the world.
23
They say criminals like to revisit the scene of the crime. I guess it's true.
Why else would the fellow responsible so much pain and suffering show his face there? The place where he congratulated the the political hack he put in charge of recovery at the very moment that political hack was turning New Orleans into a third world joke.
Shame on Mr. Bush and shame on any Americans that voted for the worst president in history.
Why else would the fellow responsible so much pain and suffering show his face there? The place where he congratulated the the political hack he put in charge of recovery at the very moment that political hack was turning New Orleans into a third world joke.
Shame on Mr. Bush and shame on any Americans that voted for the worst president in history.
28
Many argue the demise of the Soviet empire was not result of Reagan, but hastened by government's inability to respond, e.g. Chernobyl, glasnost and perestroika.
In-turn, many also conclude U.S. government's ill response to Katrina, gun control, illegal immigration, infrastructure repairs, tax reform, ISIS, are all tied to Washington's inability to respond.
In-turn, many also conclude U.S. government's ill response to Katrina, gun control, illegal immigration, infrastructure repairs, tax reform, ISIS, are all tied to Washington's inability to respond.
8
"Washington's inability to respond". Easy answer,
A) Electoral College, not Nationwide popular vote.
B) Gerrymandering, unfortunately also the voters fault.
C) Citizen's United.
As much as I hate to admit it, I do think Ronnie's 'Star Wars' helped drive the Soviets to heel (economically). Of course, as St. Ronald, he was the very model of modern fiscal conservative, who abhorred government deficits.
LOL
A) Electoral College, not Nationwide popular vote.
B) Gerrymandering, unfortunately also the voters fault.
C) Citizen's United.
As much as I hate to admit it, I do think Ronnie's 'Star Wars' helped drive the Soviets to heel (economically). Of course, as St. Ronald, he was the very model of modern fiscal conservative, who abhorred government deficits.
LOL
6
I'm sorry, but when I see GW Bush talking about Katrina, all I can think of is, "Chump". The image which perpetually sticks in my mind is seeing the photograph of him overflying the devastated city, contemplating the destruction with a sad expression. And hearing and seeing images of so many people stuck in the floodwaters and in the Superbowl asking for help. Stuck, crying, and dying. And not getting assistance in time because the authorities just couldn't handle the situation on the ground. Our fellow citizens... caught in despair. Very sad indeed.
22
I'm surprised Bush had the gall/hubris/cluelessness to visit N.O.. He's pretty much stayed out of the spotlight since leaving office. Why return to what was not one of his administration's finer moments (did they actually have any finer moments?).
It will never cease to amaze me that he was ever "elected" president.
If he had had any class, he would have stepped aside during the Florida vote count. He lost the popular vote by over 500,000 votes. (Would have been a couple million of Nader hadn't run.) For all the talk about Obama's birth certificate, GWB was the truly illegitimate president.
It will never cease to amaze me that he was ever "elected" president.
If he had had any class, he would have stepped aside during the Florida vote count. He lost the popular vote by over 500,000 votes. (Would have been a couple million of Nader hadn't run.) For all the talk about Obama's birth certificate, GWB was the truly illegitimate president.
41
I thought they built enormous barriers designed to keep massive forces of ruinous destruction from ever returning to New Orleans.
39
I had to blink when I saw the headline. I double-checked to make sure I wasn't reading the Onion.
42
Oh, God. You're right! It's a headline out of the Onion.
10
Isn't it so telling at the bottom of the article when Bush's smiley-faced, thumbs up, PR-glossed, pedestrian words are juxtaposed with President Barack Obama's comments, whose speech was nuanced, truthful and articulate. The Bush administration lied to the American people over and over again, spewing public relations spin and business-speak upbeat tone to all manner of public policy-gone-wrong scenarios. Obama gives us clarity while talking about the good the government is trying to do. He explains, rather than trying to sell us all the time like Bush et al did. Obama will go down as one of the best presidents ever - primarily because of the economic-domestic-foreign policy nightmare he was handed by George W. Bush and his team. Bush has learned nothing and is incapable of true self-reflection. Who we vote for matters in this country - to us, to the world. Please, please, please choose wisely in 2016.
44
As I understand it from my Republican friends, Benghazi was a failure of leadership that led to the death of 4 Americans. Clinton failed to obtain adequate funds for security and she failed to respond quickly to the emergency. On the other hand, the 1,800 lives lost in New Orleans show the failure of "government". "Government" failed to prepare, and state and local officials failed. It was in no way a failure of the Bush administration to see and respond to the emergency situation that developed.
29
I believe your logic and facts on Katrina are completely flawed. Benghazi resulted in the death of 4 Americans, each death a tragic loss. But Iraq resulted in the death of just under 5,000 Americans and the wounding and maiming of tens of thousands more. No connection with 9/11. No WMDs. Iraqi oil did not pay for the war. No mission accomplished. etc. etc. etc. George Bush (the proud warrior who never served himself), to be blunt, has a heavy debt to pay for his incompetence and disregard for American lives.
1
All I can say is that when GWB was "elected", is that I thought our country would enter into a deep, dark tunnel, the end of which would be longer to emerge from than the time for which he "served" in office.
Seeing his face now is a stark reminder of how wrong we will be to "elect" another Bush.
Seeing his face now is a stark reminder of how wrong we will be to "elect" another Bush.
49
Out of a crisis exacerbated by negligence and incompetence, a golden opportunity to channel public funds to the private sector. Ten years later, these events are twisted to bolster the narrative that public education is a failure, but education as a business is here to save the day. Well, everyone already knew the man was shameless.
As other commenters have noted, there are many neighborhoods in New Orleans that still haven't recovered from Hurricane Katrina's property and infrastructure damage. If politicians were as enthusiastic about actually fixing these problems as they are about imposing charter schools, the residents of New Orleans would be much better off.
The neglect of New Orleans and the neglect of this country's public schools stem from the same root: the withering of responsible government, driven by the insatiable greed of a tiny fraction of the population.
As other commenters have noted, there are many neighborhoods in New Orleans that still haven't recovered from Hurricane Katrina's property and infrastructure damage. If politicians were as enthusiastic about actually fixing these problems as they are about imposing charter schools, the residents of New Orleans would be much better off.
The neglect of New Orleans and the neglect of this country's public schools stem from the same root: the withering of responsible government, driven by the insatiable greed of a tiny fraction of the population.
65
George Bush, returning to New Orleans for the anniversary of Katrina, reminds me of the sitcom "My Name Is Earl", where the title character had this list of people that he had wronged in his rough and rowdy past, and now he went to each person, one by one, trying to make amends. I wonder if Mr. Bush has a list? Maybe next he will visit the families of dead servicemen, wounded service men, 9/11 victims' families, Afghan and Iraqi families, and such? Better late than never. I guess.
12
I heard him speaking on the news there & he got it wrong, but that's to be the expected... he's returned to the scene of the crime. Lucky for him people in New Orleans are generous, wonderful people.
10
Is there any word other than "grotesque?"
25
According to the Wikipedia entry about NO public schools, all formerly public schools are, as of the Fall of 2014, called "independent charter schools." Though the Orleans Parish School Board owns the assets, it appears that the charter school management is using the public-owned facilities of the schools in which to operate their businesses. The Republican-dominated Louisiana state legislature used the destruction of the NO public school system as an emergency to justify converting the public system into a 100-percent charter school system.
Charter schools operate in pursuit of profit as their main objective, of course; education is only a secondary goal. Without the emergency caused by Katrina, the pre-determined goal of converting the system into for-profit schools would've been politically unacceptable.
Charter schools operate in pursuit of profit as their main objective, of course; education is only a secondary goal. Without the emergency caused by Katrina, the pre-determined goal of converting the system into for-profit schools would've been politically unacceptable.
21
the deliberate mishandling of the rebuilding effort was a critical piece of the plan, since if the original residents came back they would not elect republicans, and none of this ongoing disaster would be happening.
1
Please remove that face from the front page.
I never want to see that face again.
The face of Bush triggers a visceral feeling of disgust....
I never want to see that face again.
The face of Bush triggers a visceral feeling of disgust....
62
This man has no shame. He should be on trial for war crimes and ruining our country, not running around the country promoting his "legacy" of shame. Disgusting.
92
One of these days for his ego, he may go for a short trip somewhere in Europe, and that is the last we would hear about him until they drag him in the World Court for the crimes he has committed. He is WANTED, period. And the fool goes to New Orleans, for photo-op and sits there smiling like a jackass.
21
Apropos of Ms. Blanco, some day we'd like to talk with Mr. Bush at length about Iraq. I had a house in Katrina.
A story about Katrina that had not been reported is that in the Summer before Katrina there was a U.S. CERT conference in New Orleans. CERT is the Computer Emergency Response Team. There was a big emphasis in terrorism, so the conference addressed that.
There was an exercise with a scenario. The scenario was that a category 5 storm was approaching New Orleans and at the same time, terrorists had disabled communications. Participants were to discuss their defensive measures. The conclusion was that all organizations had effective responses to the event. Keep in mind that the Gulf Coast is a major port in the U.S.
We know the history. Katrina far and away exceeded any damage that terrorists could have accomplished, and this nation far and away caused more damage than a terrorist could. But we slowly clawed our way back.
Bush and Cheney gave $700 billion to the Sunni and Shia to address the destruction that the Iraq war caused. The war cost a couple of trillion dollars, maybe more. That administration fumbled in Katrina. Somehow that is all acceptable to Republicans. It's a very bad memory.
A story about Katrina that had not been reported is that in the Summer before Katrina there was a U.S. CERT conference in New Orleans. CERT is the Computer Emergency Response Team. There was a big emphasis in terrorism, so the conference addressed that.
There was an exercise with a scenario. The scenario was that a category 5 storm was approaching New Orleans and at the same time, terrorists had disabled communications. Participants were to discuss their defensive measures. The conclusion was that all organizations had effective responses to the event. Keep in mind that the Gulf Coast is a major port in the U.S.
We know the history. Katrina far and away exceeded any damage that terrorists could have accomplished, and this nation far and away caused more damage than a terrorist could. But we slowly clawed our way back.
Bush and Cheney gave $700 billion to the Sunni and Shia to address the destruction that the Iraq war caused. The war cost a couple of trillion dollars, maybe more. That administration fumbled in Katrina. Somehow that is all acceptable to Republicans. It's a very bad memory.
79
GWB: Please leave. Go home and stay there.
99
“In spite of the devastation, we have many fond memories,” Bush added. There are no words to describe my renewed disgust at this man's obliviousness and lack of both empathy and articulate speech.
175
It's hard not to see this as a campaign stop for his brother, who is making education one of the centerpieces of his run. GWB needs to re-write quite a bit of history so his brother will have glib answers for all of the questions arising on the campaign trail. Otherwise, how can GWB justify showing his face in a city nearly destroyed by the incompetence of his administration?
156
Bush talking about public school reform is like Trump talking about women - neither of knows a darn thing that they are talking about.
57
Bush should be in the Hague with his buddy Cheney.
Not at some school in New Orleans.
Not at some school in New Orleans.
76
Nothing but a carefully-orchestrated photo op; I can only hope his next triumphant return will be to Iraq. I understand the shoe-throwing journalist has been working on his aim. The defining moment of a failed policy, failed presidency, failed man.
59
It is beyond understanding that George W. Bush would ever again show his face in New Orleans, not to mention praising the changes wrought by his own pathetic incompetence.
60
How this man could ever show his face in New Orleans ever again? Shameful! Just shameful!
And how there were not huge protests to his presence, I will not understand.
And how there were not huge protests to his presence, I will not understand.
85
It's a measure of the graciousness and restraint of Americans that Bush feels like he doesn't have to flee the country to escape prosecution for war crimes. A bit of grace on his part, as far as keeping his face out of the media, would be much appreciated.
65
"Graciousness and restraint?" I think you are being overly gracious yourself to our fellow citizens. Remember Gore Vidal's characterization: "the United States of Amnesia."
Charter schools are public schools, with fewer regulations. They enable a form of competition or at least choice within the public schools.
People shouldn't be forced to send their children to a specific school, nor should they be forced to send their child into a classroom with teachers and or students that are not appropriate for their children to be around. And, children should not be forced to learn a specific curriculum.
Unfortunately, our traditional public schools follow a centralized, government run, compulsory model such that parents have no choice regarding any of those questions.
People shouldn't be forced to send their children to a specific school, nor should they be forced to send their child into a classroom with teachers and or students that are not appropriate for their children to be around. And, children should not be forced to learn a specific curriculum.
Unfortunately, our traditional public schools follow a centralized, government run, compulsory model such that parents have no choice regarding any of those questions.
8
Your points have no basis in truth.
That's just what the segregationists said in the 1950s! Why should we have to send our kids to a school with teachers or other children who are not appropriate for our children to be around? And why shouldn't the taxpayers support us going to school with just the kind of children we WANT in our school? And by the way, why can't we teach the Christianity is the only religion and Jews and other non-believers are going to hell? (And by the way, we welcome any child who wants to be taught those things and we are happy to counsel out any child we don't feel is "right" to be sitting next to our own children).
And now they can! Thanks, charter schools!
And now they can! Thanks, charter schools!
Whenever I find that Bush is going to be on TV I change the channel or turn it off. He's a war criminal and an incompetent that was foisted on us by a Supreme Court of partisan hacks and a brother, who as governor used every bit of his influence to put him in offiice, legal and otherwise.
105
I agree. Whenever his voice came on the radio I turned it off and waited a minute, then cautiously turned it on to see if he was still talking. If he was, I turned it off again. This man was an utter catastrophe as President and we will be paying for his stupidity -- and that of the people who voted for him -- for generations. I can't look at him, can't listen to him. The only context in which I wish to hear his name again is if he is wearing an orange jumpsuit and handcuffs.
3
Did gwb check the weather forecast before he ventured forth? The chutzpah is unbelievable...as is the lack of memory of so many Americans. That individual is no more caring, no more aware of the world than when he was a drunked-out privileged child. What does he offer the nation, the world, or any neighborhood in the years since he's had all the opportunities to learn from his misguided, foolish and self-centered failures? Nothing that I can see.
On the other hand, we are national/global witness to the elegant demeanor and graciousness of former president Jimmy Carter, who shows more class in his last moments than gwb could ever hope to attain. I will refrain from further comparisons of great stature vs petty sophomoric grandstanding. History will not forget either person, one favorably and the other with disdain.
On the other hand, we are national/global witness to the elegant demeanor and graciousness of former president Jimmy Carter, who shows more class in his last moments than gwb could ever hope to attain. I will refrain from further comparisons of great stature vs petty sophomoric grandstanding. History will not forget either person, one favorably and the other with disdain.
69
The Democratic mayor at the time ignored federal and state help, and ignored a call to evacuate, and then went to prison.
17
That is a revisionist lie, except the went to prison-----YEARS later for things 100% unrelated to Katrina.
5
There's no such thing as a "Democratic mayor." Does the man have a name? That person, with that name, was responsible.
And if Ray Nagin were on the front page of the Times glossing over his incompetence, that would be another story. But this one belongs to Bush.
It's hard to imagine a tragedy worse for our nation than the Challenger Shuttle disaster of 1986 but the George W. Bush presidency and his failure in the aftermath of Katrina ranks worse, by far, in terms of sheer negligence and incompetence.
70
I don't think even the most corrupt, venal leaders in miserable developing countries would have the nerve to show up someplace 10 years after so utterly botching a response to a natural disaster there.
Lyndon Johnson was a Texan who knew what to do after his own disastrous presidency (on the foreign policy front; in domestic politics he achieved a great deal that was good). He left the White House in 1969, began smoking like a chimney and engaging in other bad habits, and died just 4 years later. He effectively killed himself, so awful did he feel about what he had brought about in Vietnam.
Johnson's father and grandfather were nobodies who came from nothing. LBJ never had the nerve to think that his popping up in public would somehow help his younger brother become president. Remember, Jeb is the one and ONLY reason George W. Bush showed up in New Orleans today. If Jeb wasn't running for president, George W. would be sitting comfortably in the wealthy suburbs of Dallas rather than bothering to travel to New Orleans.
With the Bushes, it's ALWAYS about them. Nobody else.
Lyndon Johnson was a Texan who knew what to do after his own disastrous presidency (on the foreign policy front; in domestic politics he achieved a great deal that was good). He left the White House in 1969, began smoking like a chimney and engaging in other bad habits, and died just 4 years later. He effectively killed himself, so awful did he feel about what he had brought about in Vietnam.
Johnson's father and grandfather were nobodies who came from nothing. LBJ never had the nerve to think that his popping up in public would somehow help his younger brother become president. Remember, Jeb is the one and ONLY reason George W. Bush showed up in New Orleans today. If Jeb wasn't running for president, George W. would be sitting comfortably in the wealthy suburbs of Dallas rather than bothering to travel to New Orleans.
With the Bushes, it's ALWAYS about them. Nobody else.
70
Let us not forget that Jeb was one of the reasons Bush ever became president in the first place.
That alone earns our unending scorn.
That alone earns our unending scorn.
4
George W. has some nerve showing up for this 10th "anniversary" of Hurricane Katrina considering the lack of any effective response under HIS administration. You know, the man who FLEW over New Orleans to survey the WRECKAGE?
81
Where is Michael Brown? As head of the relief effort, should he not be part of the festivities? After all, he was publicly commended by President Bush for doing a terrific job...
63
I think he's a Trump backer now, or even part of his team. He was in a recent picture with The Donald.
12
Of course, the American public will forget Michael Brown's disastrous failings in the Katrina aftermath and Bush's infamous ""Brownie, you're doing a heck of a job" statement. Bush can remember the work of authorities and volunteers, but seems mute about his self-appointed Undersecretary of Emergency Preparedness and Response (EP&R) Michael D. Brown's performance. But then again, Bush has amnesia about so many things, as does the American public.
56
Brown penned a long article on Politico yesterday. Take a read on it. It was at its least interesting.
Seeing him on that news clip makes my blood boil. Sir, have you no shame?
69
Thank you for opening this up for comments. The amount of the re-writing of history republicans are doing is sickening. Trump tears the country down holding Laguardia as an example of our airports instead of many hubs here that are state of the art. Jeb! blaming Iraq on the Clintons. Jeb! ignoring the fact George Jr. set up and agreed to the 2014 date to pull out. Jeb! rewriting history claiming Mission Accomplished, a surge of troops on the verge of victory. Bah-loney like George Jr. here acting as if Katrina was not his mess or chatter picked up by U.S. Intelligence reported directly to George Jr. that an attack was imminent around 9/11. Republican politicians think we are as stupid as they are.
94
I just heard NOLA Mayor Landieu say he invited him. I'm thinking this has something to do with promoting charter schools since that's where he spoke. And NPR gave him a lot of air time. Like Trump, the less attention paid, the better. And a lot of people in NO seem to agree.
24
Talk about returning to the scene of the crime...
81
“I hope you remember what I remember”
I can't even begin to fathom the mind of George W Bush; his idea of reality, and therefore his memory, seems deeply rooted in the absurd.
Case in point: "More than 1,000 people died because of the flooding, hundreds of thousands were displaced and 80 percent of the city was left underwater for days."
Yet, Bush has the nerve to say, “In spite of the devastation, we have many fond memories.”
Absurd!
I can't even begin to fathom the mind of George W Bush; his idea of reality, and therefore his memory, seems deeply rooted in the absurd.
Case in point: "More than 1,000 people died because of the flooding, hundreds of thousands were displaced and 80 percent of the city was left underwater for days."
Yet, Bush has the nerve to say, “In spite of the devastation, we have many fond memories.”
Absurd!
78
The next thing you know he'll return to Iraq and try to paint a rosey picture there! Good luck with that 43.
33
There is another interpretation of former President Bush’s visit to New Orleans: “Well, you did good after my administration left many of you to drown. It is just great to see that so many of you survived and are thriving. America is great, and your spirit shows what you can do when you pull yourselves up by your bootstraps and take accountability for your lives.”
10
Progress, perhaps, but unfortunately not much in the way of combating the global warming that gives rise to these monstrous storms, and certainly much less on his watch.
10
Have we had a large hurricane since that one? Maybe Sandy, a minor storm by Southern standards. But here in Georgia, I can't remember a big storm since 2005 to 2007.
1
I wish my memories of how the Bush administration handled Katrina were less clear. Then I could appreciate this visit and all the smiling faces. As it is, I think Bush should be apologizing to the people of New Orleans for how they were treated. Let's see him go volunteer in the schools or cut some brush back around the dilapidated homes still standing. Then I could smile.
19
It takes a lot of chutzpah and GWBush has plenty of that, to show up in a city that he literally abandoned as it was being swamped by Katrina. Maybe it's just stupidity or an essential lack of grace but he made the wrong decision to go there. Every time I see his face I think of the thousands of people who have died because of his administration's sorry decisions both to invade Iraq and to ignore dying people in a drowning city. The less we see of him the better for the country.
30
Spare me the rhetoric. New Orleans weathered the storm. The problem was the failure of long ignored levies. What nearly killed it was an incompetent and lackadaisical response from the Bush administration. Their response was flawed from top to bottom. Heck of a job, Brownie, indeed. And what were "Brownie's" qualifications to run FEMA again? Former horse show judge and roommate of a major Bush donor I think it was. Well, it's not like he was any more qualified that Bush was to be President. And so it goes.
If the response had been competent and organized none of this would have happened. I don't know how he can show his face in that state. And yet he does because I am sure he thinks he did a great job. Every time Bush has dug himself in a hole, someone came and filled it with money for him.
And a charter school, no less. Because of course. Lets not work with the public school system already in place. No, lets build another entire bureaucracy from the ground up. Let's staff a second charter school district with public money along side the public one only with no rules and run by people who are friends with the donors of the political class. I am sure it is at least as well run as Bush's FEMA.
If the response had been competent and organized none of this would have happened. I don't know how he can show his face in that state. And yet he does because I am sure he thinks he did a great job. Every time Bush has dug himself in a hole, someone came and filled it with money for him.
And a charter school, no less. Because of course. Lets not work with the public school system already in place. No, lets build another entire bureaucracy from the ground up. Let's staff a second charter school district with public money along side the public one only with no rules and run by people who are friends with the donors of the political class. I am sure it is at least as well run as Bush's FEMA.
28
Jeb's run for The Office, if elected, from Day 1 will involve the rewriting of history of his brother's tenure. This part (of him running) scares me the most. And as President, it will be effective.
11
Philip Roth said it best when he characterized George W. Bush as a man incapable of running a hardware store, let alone a country.
51
The optics are awful. Why on earth did he feel compelled to make n appearance? He always was tone deaf, and that hasn't changed in retirement.
30
What seems to escape many of those who have commented on this article is that President Bush at that time was essentially accused of purposefully ignoring New Orleans as some racist plot to drown it's black citizens. This newspaper as well as other media outlets did little to contradict this view. The blame should have been place squarely at the feet of the dysfunctional state and local government officials who are primarily responsible for the safety of their citizens. Blaming the Bush Administration for years of dysfunctional Democratic rule in New Orleans is absurd. I'm glad that Louisiana is finally moving to the Republican party and more conservative political views.
9
Then by that reasoning, Obama can't be held responsible for the current situation in Iraq because of years of dysfunction in the Bush administration.
Jindal is not popular in Louisiana.
Jindal is not popular in Louisiana.
4
A catastrophe on the scale of Katrina requires a response from FEMA, not some underfunded state agency. FEMA failed by design, sabotaged by Republicans who made "bad government" a self-fulfilling prophecy by installing corrupt, incompetent functionaries like Michael Brown (and Bush). Now that Louisiana has been run by the genius Bobby Jindal for quite some time, we are really seeing what Republican policies produce. Deficits, dysfunction, corruption on a grand scale, and stupidity beyond belief. Congratulations on your "victory".
9
There is NO state or local government that could deal with the destruction of New Orleans during Katrina.
That is what the Federal Government is for.
And don't count on being Red for too much longer, given the rubes you've recently elected.
That is what the Federal Government is for.
And don't count on being Red for too much longer, given the rubes you've recently elected.
4
The tragedy of the people stuck in the Super Dome, should be taken up by the UN and Bush and Brownie should be held on criminal charges for the deathes of 1800 and destruction of a city of 700,000 people!
22
Well, if we add Iraq to the mix he will be responsible for the deaths of tens of thousands and the destruction of an entire country.
While I'd like to say 'better 10 years late than never', I have to say seeing that fake and dishonest face on the front page of the Times made me want to throw up.
32
Not even Trump disgusts me as much. Trump is just a clown, a buffoon. Bush is pure evil.
He should be on trial for war crimes.
He should be on trial for war crimes.
57
The man has no shame. But then, we knew that well by the end of term in office.
32
Are we living in a Bush bubble? And what was he doing there? Stockholm syndrome by the residents of NOLA?
Bush abandonned the city at its hour of greatest need. May he live with that in his soul. Evil. Useless. Braindead.
Npt quite worst president...Reagan deserves that accolade.
Bush abandonned the city at its hour of greatest need. May he live with that in his soul. Evil. Useless. Braindead.
Npt quite worst president...Reagan deserves that accolade.
40
Nixon probably had a higher body count, keeping he Vietnam conflict going for 7 unnecessary years.
1
Reagan only set the stage - W just continued his legacy with help from JEB!
3
I can only disagree with out a detailed resume. George W. Bush was the worst president in American history. A totally incompetent puppet of Cheney, illiterate, incompetent, not fit to be dog catcher.
16
sick, satire. the onion. privatization. america now... just what comes to mind
14
The only thing that could make this story more ridiculous would have been had he returned with Brownie.
44
I don't think W Bush fully comprehends what terrible things he has done. He is utterly naive for that.
61
His entire family doesnt comprehend that.
2
Naive? I think he knows, he just doesn't care.
3
it is absolutely shameful that the man whose personal incompetence and his penchant for cronyism turned a natural disaster into a years long human disaster dares to show his face in New Orleans. It is even more disgusting that he is there trying to use it as an example of a failed educational policy of conservatism. For a while everyone was talking about the "charter miracle" in New Orleans. Now that closer scrutiny is being applied it turns out that the "miracle" is as bogus as the "Houston Miracle" that bush fashioned his nefarious No Child Left Behind disaster on. bush should thank God above every day that he is not standing trial in the Hague or in US court for authorizing torture, and just go away.
89
Bush showed his face in context of privatization of a public school. Same reason why he abandoned New Orleans to the storm: New Orleans wasn't in the Republican Party's ideological camp.
This man will never learn anything, never did learn anything--except partisan politics of religious conservatism.
Knows and cares nothing about honesty and decency.
As many people have noted: the worst president--the worst man-- in the whole history of the United States.
This man will never learn anything, never did learn anything--except partisan politics of religious conservatism.
Knows and cares nothing about honesty and decency.
As many people have noted: the worst president--the worst man-- in the whole history of the United States.
112
I agree 100%
4
There is no New Orleans school miracle. It is a figment of the imagination of all those who support privatization. It's up there with Irsn's mass weapons of destruction. It's up there with him telling Bob Costas we were not having an economic crisis.
The real miracle was allowing Bush to set foot in that city. Today BBC America showed the lack of improvement made after a decade. There is still devastation 10 years later in many communities. The reporter said it looked liked Katrina just hit the area. It truly did.
The real miracle was allowing Bush to set foot in that city. Today BBC America showed the lack of improvement made after a decade. There is still devastation 10 years later in many communities. The reporter said it looked liked Katrina just hit the area. It truly did.
43
It takes decades to clean up after a hurricane, as Florida knows well.
Or, you can follow the money and see where it leads.
1
There was also no Florida Miracle in Jeb's dealing with education. People need to realize that he is an integral part of the over testing, privatization emphasis which is ruining public education Nor should anyone forget how much money is being made at the expense of our nation's future.
1
how many of the readers here actually believe that ANY federal agency would have done better than Bush's FEMA? our federal govt is so utterly bloated that it cannot take care of itself, how do you expect it to take care of others?
4
Nearly everyone with any knowledge of FEMA's long-term record believes it could and should have performed better under Bush. It did so before and it has done so since. What drags down the performance of a government agency or any other organization, including private businesses, is low expectations, from top management and, from the outside, from "customers." It's not inevitable; neither is it a mystery what happened under Bush. Bush staffed the top political appointee level of government agencies to which he and the GOP were ideologically hostile, including FEMA, with incompetent cronies and political hacks, whose most important task was to do as little as possible (coke and sex parties aside) and, not coincidentally, thereby, increase public dissatisfaction with government to the benefit of GOP electioneering. It's not so much "Government is the problem," as Reagan pontificated, as it is ideologues who find their low expectations triumphantly justified in every failure those ideological low expectations help bring about. How do we make government better? A good start would be for the political right to stop cheering for government of the people, by the people, and for the people to fail the people.
15
FEMA seems to be doing a much better job now that it is run by a competent professional instead of a horse judge crony.
5
Actually, Steve, under President Obama, FEMA did a quite nice job after Hurricane Sandy. How convenient of you to have forgotten.
5
This effort to create a national amnesia is no doubt for JEB!'s sake.
39
Repulsive. Unconscionable. What's wrong with the man? No conscience??
I still remember the cries of 'HELP US! HELP US! PLEASE HELP US!" coming from the rooftops of so many flooded houses with black people clinging to them Not to mention those trapped in the horrific conditions for New Orleans Superdome, packed like animals with little water and food. No electricity for days.
And W. helicopter flying over the devastation, not even bothering to go down. His main response was to send the National Guard instead of opting for federal initiatives to aid the victims. No, let's just wait for the American people to make charitable contributions to various organizations. Also let's not forget FEMA was blocked from coordinating relief efforts till the military was set up as a combat operation around the city. So many crimes this man and his lackey have committed....
Also, who could forget, "Heckuva job, Brownie!". Or hiding behind the skirts of an African-American Bishop when he belatedly paid that visit to New Orleans.
I still remember the cries of 'HELP US! HELP US! PLEASE HELP US!" coming from the rooftops of so many flooded houses with black people clinging to them Not to mention those trapped in the horrific conditions for New Orleans Superdome, packed like animals with little water and food. No electricity for days.
And W. helicopter flying over the devastation, not even bothering to go down. His main response was to send the National Guard instead of opting for federal initiatives to aid the victims. No, let's just wait for the American people to make charitable contributions to various organizations. Also let's not forget FEMA was blocked from coordinating relief efforts till the military was set up as a combat operation around the city. So many crimes this man and his lackey have committed....
Also, who could forget, "Heckuva job, Brownie!". Or hiding behind the skirts of an African-American Bishop when he belatedly paid that visit to New Orleans.
93
Heckuva job rewriting history, Dubya.
72
Brownie points for use of the adjective Heckuva!
Is this the same president that flew over New Orleans right after Katrina damaged the city as the residents waved for help???????
32
Last night I saw a clip on tv of Jeb Bush on the campaign trail. Michael Brown was standing next to him. Maybe he wants a rerun at FEMA.
38
Poor Jeb! It seems he can only recruit his brother's loser gang of advisors - Brown, Wolfowitz, etc.
Do any of them ever think of the elderly patients who drowned in the hospital? Or of the war victims in Iraq who had no painkillers, no medical care during the invasion? and the thousands killed since then?
I recall W having a press conference I think late in his administration, where someone asked if he could name a mistake he made as President. He said he couldn't think of one. The book by Jacob Weisberg, "The Bush Tragedy, delves into how a person with every advantage in life could grow up to be so ignorant and incompetent. As Weisberg says, GWB chose stupidity.
Do any of them ever think of the elderly patients who drowned in the hospital? Or of the war victims in Iraq who had no painkillers, no medical care during the invasion? and the thousands killed since then?
I recall W having a press conference I think late in his administration, where someone asked if he could name a mistake he made as President. He said he couldn't think of one. The book by Jacob Weisberg, "The Bush Tragedy, delves into how a person with every advantage in life could grow up to be so ignorant and incompetent. As Weisberg says, GWB chose stupidity.
4
How DARE he show up there. It's a bit like his hanging around the veterans his stupidity maimed in Iraq. At least it reminds everyone who the worst president of this century (and probably in our lifetimes) REALLY was.
73
It is politic but disgusting that the ex-president be honored for doing little to ease the situation in New Orleans when he had the authority to act and did nothing. A mediocre president and a member of a political party without honor.
31
Mediocre president? His father was mediocre, dubya was a full blown disaster. He was to our nation what Katrina was to New Orleans.
30
He was much worse than mediocre.
4
To think that anyone from New Orleans would let that man and his smug face take one step into the city he helped destroy....
I'm not even a resident, and there are parts of me that wishes Bush weren't allowed to leave.
I'm not even a resident, and there are parts of me that wishes Bush weren't allowed to leave.
31
For a public school to become a charter school is downright depressing. For Bush to revisit a so-called "successful"charter school doesn't jive with the news reports I've read about the quality and state of New Orleans charter schools. Instead of investing in our nation's public schools, Bush supports the privatization of schooling itself. And he has the nerve to show up and claim victory.
152
So taking the best and brightest out of the public schools and spending taxpayer money to educate them in private schools is a major reform in education?
Sounds to me like cannibalizing the public school system and leaving it to decline further, thereby helping "prove" that more private charter schools need to be created.
Hence the privatization of education in America, spearheaded by fuzzy-headed Republicans who believe that government anything is bad, while the unregulated "free" market is good. Just as we've seen with the disaster of private prisons and as they've threatened with destroying Social Security by giving it to Wall Street to run.
Sorry, I don't buy it. If there are problems with public education, the solution should be found within public education. And having a smiley photo op with a few kids in charter schools doesn't mean "Mission Accomplished". Bush was a disaster for New Orleans and no amount of spin will change that.
Sounds to me like cannibalizing the public school system and leaving it to decline further, thereby helping "prove" that more private charter schools need to be created.
Hence the privatization of education in America, spearheaded by fuzzy-headed Republicans who believe that government anything is bad, while the unregulated "free" market is good. Just as we've seen with the disaster of private prisons and as they've threatened with destroying Social Security by giving it to Wall Street to run.
Sorry, I don't buy it. If there are problems with public education, the solution should be found within public education. And having a smiley photo op with a few kids in charter schools doesn't mean "Mission Accomplished". Bush was a disaster for New Orleans and no amount of spin will change that.
48
Why?
But then, in this age of Trump, anything is possible.
But then, in this age of Trump, anything is possible.
16
The American people have short memories. How else could such a man have a higher favorability than Obama. In a few years he'll be regarded as saintly. We never learn.
18
Only very young people or those with memory loss can believe this. I look forward to his visit to Baghdad.
26
A failure of Liberal Progressive policies and not of this President. A city of dependents on Govt. instead of Independents and self preservationists. If they would have prepared, saved, organized, and evacuated with a plan they would not be standing around saying, save me.
6
Nice thought (not) for those without transportation or money.
7
Miguel, in a functioning, equitable society, no one has to go it alone. In fact, the fact that success is a result of everyone's labor and striving means that in times of trouble everyone must pull together.
8
Hate to burst your bubble, but preparing, organizing plans to deal with evacuations and all the other things that go along with a massive storm TAKE MONEY that Conservatives are not willing to donate to the cause, so don't got crying foul now.
9
This man belongs in The Hague in an orange jumpsuit.
79
This is Bush's Reaganesque "Morning in America" face.
The face is an actor's face and reflects pure fiction (lies).
The face is an actor's face and reflects pure fiction (lies).
22
Bush always had chutzpah, as this stunt proves. Common sense or common decency as the leader of our country? Not so much. He touts layoffs and privatization as progress. Mission Accomplished.
15
Way to go, Bushie. What a short memory he has; mine is much better.
20
I'm surprised he didn't appear in a flight suit on the deck of some oil tanker, hands raised in victory, crying "Mission Accomplished!".
30
I'm surprised that he didn't appear like he did 10 years ago - at 10,000 feet in Air Force One.
20
He does not get to ride AIrforce 1 any more, and since ken lay went to prison then died he cannot use the Enron jet like he did while campaigning in 2000.
10
His New Orleans visit does recall the pathetic, unforgivable prancing about on the aircraft carrier to celebrate Mission Accomplished in Iraq.
3
I didn't care for President Bush, and the response to Katrina was terrible right after the storm. However, it was known for years before that given the right circumstances - which existed when Katrina hit - that New Orleans was unprepared for what was bound to happen some day. It was only a question of when, not "if". The simple fact is, no one was willing to spend the necessary money to protect the sections of the city that would be impacted the most.
33
I saw bush on television actually say...."we had no idea this was going to be such a big storm or that it could breach the levees." I knew that much from watching local weather forecasts in Philadelphia, (ironically it was in a Cajun restaurant)The levees were not up to it, everyone understood that, but bush and brownie waited until well AFTER the storm hit to do ANYTHING. That is why he is blamed, because the human disaster was his fault.
4
Agreed; The recipe was there. I am sure there was a lack of state action but there was (and is) a lack of federal funding for levee improvements, not to mention protection of the wetlands to absorb much of the water. There is plenty of blame to go around. George W and his "rodeo" pal "Brownie" are of course #1 and #2 on the list. Not far back is the cheap American voter, who remains mute on ANY tax increase: Related question on ignoring roads bridges structures and other infrastructure woes, do ya think we should raise the federal gas tax? It is stuck at 18 cents per gallon since 1993 when it was last raised? Nope, "not gonna happen "then you are labeled as "tax and spend Democratic" or RINO . In America we never raise taxes on anyone ever.
2
It was clearly laid out in the pages of the Times-Picayune.
Katrina was George W. Bush's Nero moment.
In this video Tim Russert interviews Michael Chertoff and leaves the viewers with no doubts about the administration's deplorable handling of the disaster.
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/russert-grills-chertoff-on-katr...
In this video Tim Russert interviews Michael Chertoff and leaves the viewers with no doubts about the administration's deplorable handling of the disaster.
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/russert-grills-chertoff-on-katr...
24
Tim Russert was a great journalist and an honorable man. If only he had run our country instead of G.W. Bush.
2
10 years late, and millions of dollars short.
Mr Bush, you need to go and personally apologize to the families of each of the people who died when the levees broke. You need to spend your time doing what so many in and out of New Orleans have done, working to rebuild that city one nail at a time. And then you need to beg forgiveness for what you have done.
Do that, and the people of New Orleans might be willing to let bygones be bygones. But until then, history will judge you as an irresponsible and cowardly menace to the world.
Mr Bush, you need to go and personally apologize to the families of each of the people who died when the levees broke. You need to spend your time doing what so many in and out of New Orleans have done, working to rebuild that city one nail at a time. And then you need to beg forgiveness for what you have done.
Do that, and the people of New Orleans might be willing to let bygones be bygones. But until then, history will judge you as an irresponsible and cowardly menace to the world.
43
Add to that early in in his tenure as President, a presentation to his administration from scientists who pleaded that unless the flood prevention infrastructure around New Orleans was substantially upgraded and a strong effort to resurrect the wetlands off the coast of Louisiana, the next major hurricaine would be a monumental disaster for the area. Well? What about it George and you are worrying about charter schools?
3
But before that, I would to hope Bush goes to the Hague to stand before the World Court so that finally justice can be done. Just because we got out of Iraq without the rest of the world piling on us doesn't mean that he is not a war criminal.
4
If George W. Bush buys a one-way ticket to Baghdad and walks around that city without Secret Service protection, then maybe I'll respect him. But I doubt he will ever do that...in 1968 he chose to join the National Guard and remain stateside rather than go to Vietnam. War zones are not for this self styled ex-"war president."
56
"The armchair warrior does not fear death, especially the death of other people."
From the New Yorker article on Bushido, the Way of the Armchair Warrior.
From the New Yorker article on Bushido, the Way of the Armchair Warrior.
3
We are losing President Jimmy Carter who spent all the years of his post-presidency helping the people of the world, from building houses for the poor to eradicating disease to having watchers at polls during elections in unstable countries. Mr. Bush has spent his post-presidency painting self-portraits of himself in the bathtub.
141
And collecting six-figure speaking fees, like his father.
A useless and impotent has-been comes to New Orleans to do what exactly? After this he should go on the "Stuff I Broke" tour celebrating his incompetence in every area of his presidency and the legacy of shame he has created on the bodies of American soldiers, Middle Eastern civilians, and the working classes of his own country. His final gift: a dysfunctional Republican party poised to make the age of McCarthy look like the Age of Reason.
141
Like a glimpse into a small bubble where the super wealthy and the super powerful get to write their own script and live in a parallel universe. Having gotten away with fooling the people so many times they have no trouble making it look easy. And it's always possible to find people to go along with it just to be around the rich and powerful.
Not a lot of support for our former president among the commenters here however. Maybe the spell is starting to wear off.
Not a lot of support for our former president among the commenters here however. Maybe the spell is starting to wear off.
31
It is our duty to remember.
The national amnesia is enabling the just as horrible JEB!.
The national amnesia is enabling the just as horrible JEB!.
4
What would have been the result of pumping the same resources in to any urban public school system? The "reform" was funding with external monitors.
14
How this man (George W. Bush) can show his face in public is incomprehensible.
145
Not surprising when you have the worst president responding to one of the worst natural disasters.
46
George W. Bush's comments remind me of Arne Duncan's insensitive remark that Hurricane Katrina was the best thing to happen to New Orleans' schools. And in both cases, it is wrong to use the aftermath of the devastation as political talking points. Improvements in education should be evaluated in their own right, but not with the spin to turn the destruction and tragedy into so e sort of redemption story.
95
Katrina exposed the incompetence of the federal government to
respond to enormous catastrophe. Bush, who was President at
the time rightly deserves blame for slothful leadership and
insensitive commentary. But the government'a ability to respond
was well determined before his "reign" as well as below standard
construction of levees by the Army Corp of Engineers. Do not expect
the government to do any better today should an event displace
several hundred thousand people again.
respond to enormous catastrophe. Bush, who was President at
the time rightly deserves blame for slothful leadership and
insensitive commentary. But the government'a ability to respond
was well determined before his "reign" as well as below standard
construction of levees by the Army Corp of Engineers. Do not expect
the government to do any better today should an event displace
several hundred thousand people again.
What about the fact that the charter schools started in Louisiana winnowed out poorly perfroming students to boost the charter schools performance appearance?
20
Boy, if my daughter's school was honoring a man who started one of the most destabilizing wars in modern history, I would be furious.
119
I sense an attempt on the part of George W.'s handlers to rewrite history. His handling of Katrina's destruction in New Orleans and subsequent suffering of the city's people was reprehensible.
I'll remember what happened rather than what the worst president in modern history wants me to remember.
I'll remember what happened rather than what the worst president in modern history wants me to remember.
42
George Bush was wrong about Katrina, he is equally wrong about education and the selling out of public schools to charter interests. His efforts on behalf of corporations who wanted to take public funding for classrooms and turn them into profits for boardrooms has done as much damage to this country as the two phony wars he started to help his oil buddies. Shame on him and his supporters.
64
Bush built a career on lying and even in retirement he cannot quit. I think he should be name "The Greatest Used Car Salesman in History."
37
That's incredibly disrespectful to used car salsemen, don't you think?!?!?
7
You're absolutely right....how thoughtless of me. My apologies to all used car salesmen and saleswomen.
1
The Public Schools have been replaced with Charter Schools in upper class neighborhoods, oh yeah the school system is sooo improved. what a joke
35
Heck of a job, W! Years of portrait painting and mountain biking have been relatively good to former President Bush. I admire he and his wife for personally visiting New Orleans many times since Katrina and work side-by-side with other volunteers to help rebuild it. Now, it's on to Iraq to get it back in shape!
22
Who are these fools who show up to see and listen to the most disastrous President this country has ever had. He makes Herbert Hoover look good.
I'm amazed that a man who has been responsible for so much death and destruction can show up smiling. Well that's the arrogance of the Bush clan for you.
I'm amazed that a man who has been responsible for so much death and destruction can show up smiling. Well that's the arrogance of the Bush clan for you.
50
Hoover was good!! compared to W he was a bleepin' genius!!
4
Say what you want about Bush and the federal response, the local response was horrendous. How is it that a city so vulnerable could be so unprepared? I lived through Sandy in an area that became poster child for its devastation. Initial response, greatly needed, was local - volunteer groups and the city. FEMA didn't show up for a few days and it took the Red Cross at least a week. The groundwork of support and order was established in those first few days. In NO, with its local response, FEMA walked into utter chaos.
6
If I recall correctly, we can thank Occupy Wall Street for galvanizing support on the ground so quickly and efficiently.
1
Reagan was not the only Teflon president. George W Bush = Teflon II. This war criminal (Iraq) is also responsible for negligent homicide in the case of Katrina, yet he gets to spend his post presidential years painting awful paintings as well as painting over the disasters, economic and otherwise, for which he is culpable. Let him smirk and smile all he wants. Those of us who are not low information citizens know what he did and how he managed to turn virtually everything he touched into a major mess.
113
He really is just as clueless as he ever was. "For those of us old enough to remember"? Wow, what a dummy. Talk about someone that should have had his New Orleans pass revoked for eternity.
46
When Bush was running for reelection in 2004, I was the only person to express doubts about him in my immediate family. Haltingly, I brought up all kinds of objections to my loved ones, hunches at that time, but hunches that would all end up proving to be true.
A year later, I remember standing in my kitchen, open mouthed, watching Anderson Cooper reporting on Katrina....flabbergasted at the complete dearth of vision, caution of leadership displayed from the mayor of NO all the way to POTUS. I was still a young mother, adverse to political clashes or talk.....but that day I realized politics mattered. Not all "leaders" were equally equipped.
....and that's why I now scream bloody murder about Donald Trump, and indeed at just about most of the crop,of Republicsn candidates. Their patrician beliefs, their lack of empathy, inability to play fair etc are no longer abstract ideas.... I now know those things matter beyond Meet The Press. When the next Katrina comes, in whatever form it comes, I want to know my leaders anticipate, plan, care and empathisize.
A year later, I remember standing in my kitchen, open mouthed, watching Anderson Cooper reporting on Katrina....flabbergasted at the complete dearth of vision, caution of leadership displayed from the mayor of NO all the way to POTUS. I was still a young mother, adverse to political clashes or talk.....but that day I realized politics mattered. Not all "leaders" were equally equipped.
....and that's why I now scream bloody murder about Donald Trump, and indeed at just about most of the crop,of Republicsn candidates. Their patrician beliefs, their lack of empathy, inability to play fair etc are no longer abstract ideas.... I now know those things matter beyond Meet The Press. When the next Katrina comes, in whatever form it comes, I want to know my leaders anticipate, plan, care and empathisize.
40
Bush's celebration of the neoliberal corporatization of an entire city's school system, an abomination built on a tragedy born of gross negligence and abetted by his own administration's incompetence, is disgusting. As a 12-year-veteran unionized public school teacher, I'm sick to death of my profession and my professional qualifications being under constant attack. Men like Bush are the problem, period.
What is this nation going to do when charters are the dominant mode of education? When oligarchs like Bill Gates and the Walton family control the education agenda completely? When we have gone back fully to Separate but Equal, rolled back civil rights, and trampled upon the last vestiges of democracy? What recourse will there be when the 1st Amendment can be circumvented by simply saying, "We won't fund that,"?
History will be fully sanitized, individual expression will be gone, and the ability to even question authority will be removed from the public forum altogether.
That is not the nation I want.
So remember that while Bush is on the front page of the NYTimes, I'll be in the classroom fighting against this very kind of tyranny. I'll be teaching the kids that this nation forgot to read, write, think, speak and ACT. I'll be fighting on, as will many others like me. We might not win, but we'll go down swinging.
Charters are anti-democratic. Period. Fix what we have, don't abandon it. Address poverty. Work towards equality. Be a nation, together. It's not yet too late.
What is this nation going to do when charters are the dominant mode of education? When oligarchs like Bill Gates and the Walton family control the education agenda completely? When we have gone back fully to Separate but Equal, rolled back civil rights, and trampled upon the last vestiges of democracy? What recourse will there be when the 1st Amendment can be circumvented by simply saying, "We won't fund that,"?
History will be fully sanitized, individual expression will be gone, and the ability to even question authority will be removed from the public forum altogether.
That is not the nation I want.
So remember that while Bush is on the front page of the NYTimes, I'll be in the classroom fighting against this very kind of tyranny. I'll be teaching the kids that this nation forgot to read, write, think, speak and ACT. I'll be fighting on, as will many others like me. We might not win, but we'll go down swinging.
Charters are anti-democratic. Period. Fix what we have, don't abandon it. Address poverty. Work towards equality. Be a nation, together. It's not yet too late.
158
Charter schools are the first domino in the great brainwashing of America. The 1% wants to create a desperate, uneducated, unthinking working class so they won't have to bother to get their goods made in China....they'll have all the underpaid labor they'll need right here in the USA.
3
Public sector unions are the problem. Even FDR and George Mooney had the sense to be against them. For unions, it's actually for them and never "for the children."
Thank you for fighting the good fight. I hope there are many like you out there.
As a retired public school teacher, I know the tremendous forces committed teachers like you labor against. You are the hope of our nation.
As a retired public school teacher, I know the tremendous forces committed teachers like you labor against. You are the hope of our nation.
2
What is W. doing there? Does he think the visit will help his brother's election campaign?
I don't think this visit is going wipe the slate clean as far as what his reaction to Katrina was.
He has also become strangely active lately; the paintings, the book about his father. Maybe there is no brush to clear at his ranch anymore.
I don't think this visit is going wipe the slate clean as far as what his reaction to Katrina was.
He has also become strangely active lately; the paintings, the book about his father. Maybe there is no brush to clear at his ranch anymore.
41
Ranch was sold right after his term was over - he didn't need the image it created any more. It was all an image thing from the start.
2
Here's the man who recently charged $100,000 to speak to Iraq War Veterans, now having the nerve to show up in New Orleans and pretend how hunky dory things are.
Worst president. Ever.
Worst president. Ever.
208
And top contender for Worst Human Being Ever. In our lifetime.
11
What I remember is a superdome filled to over capacity with miserable, displaced people in desperate need of help, who received none - for days. What I remember is the image of one citizen who had died at the superdome - left beside a wall in her wheelchair, a plaid blanket draped over her head. What I remember of the tear stained faces of desperate people receiving little help. What I remember was George Bush flying over the disaster in a plane, and George Bush Proclaiming to his FEMA Chief Michael Brown, "Brownie, you're doing a heck of a job." What I don't remember is what is still needed: a heartfelt apology to the people of New Orleans and the Country from former President Bush.
(*And no, Bush's statement of political speak when he said "to the extent that the federal government didn't fully do it's job right, I take responsibility." is not even close to offering a heartfelt apology, and certainly not even close to actually taking responsibility. Taking responsibility requires making amens, and trying to make whole those you have harmed.)
(*And no, Bush's statement of political speak when he said "to the extent that the federal government didn't fully do it's job right, I take responsibility." is not even close to offering a heartfelt apology, and certainly not even close to actually taking responsibility. Taking responsibility requires making amens, and trying to make whole those you have harmed.)
259
If you Google "Hurricane Katrina" among Images, you will be offered a wide array of photos that mostly weren't shown at the time by the mainstream media: photos of dead people -- drowned -- floating in floodwaters, draped over fences where the tide left them hanging, tangled in underbrush, lying on streets and sidewalks. It is still a national disgrace that this was allowed to happen in the United States. That George W. Bush has the gall to appear and claim that he has better "memories" is the latest egregious example of how the GOP and their spinsters distort history. Just like The Big Lie. Shameless propaganda at its worst.
1
W may be offering a "heartfelt apology," but he really was NOT the head of his administration: Cheney and Rumsfeld were. They should not only apologize, but should be dragged before into the defendants' dock at The Hague. (At least Himmler had the relative grace to take cyanide; Cheney just mouths off.)
1
W is working hard to revise his history. I wondered today how he even had the nerve to return to New Orleans. My guess is he is trying to rewrite history for Jebs campaign. I don't think many people will buy it. I know the people of New Orleans won't buy it. They lived a horror that they won't forget.
1
If there was ever a case where G.W. Bush failed to lead, Katrina was it.
52
For a very long time, we watched as Washington did nothing for New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. Bush named Michael Brown head of FEMA, and he seemed clueless about how to help people, or more likely he was told not to do anything. Bush and people like him really have to be delusional. I suppose if your part of the American privileged-class, you think that you can do anything you want. Just look at those poor African-American children suffering through his photo-opt. So, you need another reason to never vote for conservative Republicans.
66
A recent photo of Jeb! shows none other than "Heck of a job" Brown in the background. Looks like Jeb! has welcomed another one of W's key advisers (he is already taking advice from Wolfowitz). God help us from yet another dunce.
4
The worst US President in modern America is the only claim that Mr. Bush is entitled to. His failures are numerous but the war in Iraq, Katrina, and the 2008 economic collapse stand out. But what does it matter to a man with no conscience.
246
I wonder whether he actually has no conscience, or is simply too dim to get anything. After all, he actually he thought he was President during Mr. Cheney's regency.
4
Conscience requires the intelligence to understand his failure, his responsibility for the ruin and end of so many lives in the US, in Iraq etc. he doesn't appear to understand his failure. But you guys elected him twice...unbelievable...
7
In all fairness, zort, he was not elected twice. He was installed like monarchy by SCOTUS for his first term and then rigged Florida (thank you, Bro Jeb) and Ohio for his second term. In truth, he was never truly elected. Both stolen elections, just a pretender to the throne he imagined he held. Nothing's changed, even today, with the entire Bush Dynasty's conviction that they are American royalty and, as Bar said of George, "He deserves to be president." Deserves. Strange word to use in a democracy. Of course he flew over Katrina. Why would he dirty himself with the plight of the serfs?
2
If we ever wondered if George was actually stupid, there can be no doubt, now. What nerve. What hubris. What a jerk.
304
We never wondered. It was for sure.
2
Perhaps he will visit Mosul or Falujah next and reiterate "IRAQ is back, and better than ever"?
324
yes. please.
2
Has this man NO shame?
What an utter disgrace that he shows up for some (obviously posed and thoroughly fake) photo-op with everyone smiling, just as if NOTHING happened! (And HE and his "administrators" weren't to blame for the scope of the suffering!)
All that's missing is the "Mission Accomplished" sign!
What an utter disgrace that he shows up for some (obviously posed and thoroughly fake) photo-op with everyone smiling, just as if NOTHING happened! (And HE and his "administrators" weren't to blame for the scope of the suffering!)
All that's missing is the "Mission Accomplished" sign!
270
Has the man no shame whatsoever ?
154
This is as sickening as Donald Trump.
136
Donald Trump is hundred times better then clinton and bush
2
And we elected him for two terms. Trump is running for election....be afraid, be very afraid.
2
It is the "I hope you remember what I remember" comments that make the reminiscences of former President Bush sound less like memories than an attempt to recast history in a light more favorable to himself.
112
George Bush was not only an abject failure and not up to the job but he (and his mother) showed a callousness to the devastation of Katrina which is usually the preserve of tyrants.
212
Was "heckuva job Brownie" there for this delightful occasion? Or has he gone on to a lucrative career as a Republican lobbyist and influence peddler somewhere? Oh, what wonderful memories we all have of George Bush and his brilliant leadership under the careful direction of Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld!
172
brownie is actually campaigning with jebbie.
1
What a despicable person Mr. Bush is. Nothing positive whatsoever about this self-promotion and in effect the promotion of the vast damage that Mr. Bush did as USA president in this photo-opportunity gambit to New Orleans.
Part of a family that collectively has done great damage to the interests of average USA citizens and residents of other countries on earth. Interested readers of the NYTimes should read Kevin Phillips', a one-time Republican Party "theorist", book about the Bush family for some startlingly unsavory facts about its members over several generations.
Part of a family that collectively has done great damage to the interests of average USA citizens and residents of other countries on earth. Interested readers of the NYTimes should read Kevin Phillips', a one-time Republican Party "theorist", book about the Bush family for some startlingly unsavory facts about its members over several generations.
186
The book is "American dynasty" and it is excellent and very scary.
3
It takes a lot of nerve for him to show his face in that city. The Bush Administration's response to aftermath of Katrina and the flooding of New Orleans was nothing short of catastrophically inept. Also, let us not forget his mother's condescending remarks about the victims of Katrina being better off because of it.
347
Bush-league. Katrina destroyed the lives of many black folks. 100,000 fled. The public school system with its mainly black Union teachers was tossed out; white staffed charters replaced them. The city is majority white now and the white population is wealthier. The blacks suffer from high poverty rates and broken neighborhoods. Same old story : whites doing well , blacks suffering . Certainly a jobs problem would help, raising minimum wage and rebuilding the black neighborhoods. Perhaps Bush can use the family fortune to help with these issues.
6
In response to a question during a debate Mr Bush indicated that he could not recall doing anything that he regretted. So,are we surprised by his lack of shame or remorse and his failure to accept any blame?
2
Not inept from the point of view of disaster capitalism, Bookpuppy. The 1% jumped at the chance to push black folks out and they had Bush to thank.
1
Bush's presidency was a victim of Katrina and rightfully so. It provided a great example that those who have contempt for government and what it can do to help people, shouldn't be in office. Bush's response to Katrina was a disgrace and should never be forgotten. He has a lot of nerve to show up in New Orleans. That or complete cluelessness. Heck of a job, Bushie, heck of a job...
275
New Orleans should have been left to sink into the sea.
1
Did Bush Bring his friend Michael DeWayne Brown who he thought was doing a great job?
97
I didn't see the Mission Accomplished Banner
2
But the Times ran an article a week or so ago showing (as most people interested in education already knew) that the "success" of New Orleans's schools post-Katrina is all smoke and mirrors. Charters and "school reform" are Bush's legacy (and, sadly, Obama's), and they've been a failure.
Bush is continuing the smoke and mirrors, trying to maintain the fiction that what was imposed on New Orleans's schools, in the name of "reform," made things better instead of worse. Sadly, he'll fool some people. It's easy to mislead the public when you've got Republicans AND Democrats parroting the same lies. But they ARE lies.