Video shows Bush knew Katrina was going to be bad.

Even the local talking heads - real self proclaimed experts - on the weather stations weren't sure what would happen! Not even the wizards at the major news networks got every aspect correct. There were all sorts of varying predictions of what could happen where and when.

One could make a case that the dire warnings of disaster that caused the mass evacuation of the Houston area for Rita and consequential loss of life in the process was a "lie" since they "knew" it wouldn't be as bad as they'd heard it could be. Not anticipating the extent of a natural disaster hardly constitutes a lie any more so that overstating the possibilities in good faith. Both may include errors but don't immediately imply lying because things turn out differently.

The President was correct that we did not anticipate the failure of the levee system in New Orleans and resulting flooding after the storm had passed. Many were relieved that the eye of the storm and the storm surge passed further east although not wishing harm upon the residents of those areas. The failure was not anticipated. The response to it was rapid and decisive considering the great difficulty involved.

New Orleans, while harmed, is still fortunate that the storm winds were not stronger, did not directly push a storm surge into their city, and that the levee system of the river has not yet failed. Many others along the Gulf Coast have suffered far worse over the years and even today receive much less attention for the misery they've endured and recovered from.

We need to stop trying to put blame upon the government for what did or didn't happen. People need to start asking themselves if living along the Gulf Coast and on land below sea and river level is worth the risk.

 

#1. There is no "good way" to gloss over the details already pointed out to the contrary.

#2. To change the sequence and the words of what was said - and then label it "lie" is to engage in revisionist history. We don't need that kind of "solution".

If the details are of no concern to those who want to make charges like the one above - then fine - but the rest of us should care.

In Christ,

Bob

 

In the August 28 video - released to the press August 28 -- we see no prophets!! We see the federal government focused on the problem but we do not see them changing our nations Laws such or removing the local and state governments from their mandated role as first responders.

We also do see them using a crystal ball to say exactly what WILL happen. They seem to be fully aware that this is a hurrican Andrew level event just around the corner. And that is why they release it to the press August 28!!

Get it?

We should be asking ourselves "WHY" didn't the press feel it was "convenient" to air that record of the Federal government being so focused "Ahead of time" on the upcoming event? Why did they wait 6 months to show it??

In Christ,

Bob

 

There you have it.

Those trying to manufacture a way to crucify President Bush need to quit with the vitriolic attack dog tactics and lighten up.

Mike

 

Those that are pointing fingers at our President need to look at their hands when they are pointing. Three of your own fingers are pointing back at you. Jesus said, 'Remove the beam from thine own eye and then thou shalt see clearly to remove the mote from thy brothers eye.'

With the same manner you are judging the President, you yourselves will be judged. Will you be weighed in the balance and found wanting as you are accusing the President?

 

It bears repeating...

There were questions about the levee being "topped," NOT "breached." Those are two different things. The discussion in question centered around the "topping" of levees (overflow) rather than breeching (the undercutting of support structures).

I've had my disagreements with the Bush administration, but I believe in an honest discussion of facts. And from what we see and hear in the video, Bush did not lie about this.

 

Amen, rbell. I do not believe he lied either.

 

Only simple-minded Bush Haters would continue to say that he lied in the subject video when it has been shown time and again that the discussion was related to possible overflow of the levee's not breach. Sadly these people have the same mentality that coined the phrase: "It depends on what the meaning of is is."

 

There comes a point when the one who improperly accuses someone of lying becomes the liar when they're clearly shown they are in error.

 

Interesting idea. Does that work both ways or only when someone is trying to get at the truth about a favored leader?

 

It certainly does appear that having the near full record of all that was said before, during, and after still isn't enough to quell the false claims of lying. Read through the small extract I provided!

It seems the real motive of those accusing the President of lying about this is not to seek out the truth but to find fault by the twisting of that truth. There's nothing constructive about this!

Correction, the President was given a briefing on the current - at that time - status of the storm, the predicted path it might take, and a wide range of possible consequences. It was made clear it was expected to be the "big one" - hardly a surprise to anyone remotely familiar with these things - but no one could say exactly what would happen. Who did not know the risk but who knew for certain - knew with the certain foreknowledge of God not just guessed correctly? It was clear loss of life and property damage were expected. But exactly where, when, and to whom would this fall was not fully known.

It's a funny thing about the weather isn't it? All those smart people - even those in the news media who seemingly know all after the fact - still can't tell us exactly what's going to happen when, where, or to what extent. That's why the tornadoes, volcanoes, earthquakes, mud slides, floods, lightning, etc. still kill people and destroy our little creations.

The President, in this quoted words, expressed his surprise and frustration of having the massive flooding occur in New Orleans just at the time everyone was giving - or hoping to give - the "all clear". No one - not necessarily a literal term but a general one - really anticipated what "happened next" after the storm had passed and everyone thought we'd been spared the problem of flooding? Then things went from better to bad to worse.

Have you ever stepped into a ring, fought a fire, checked a suspect for weapons, cleared a village of enemy, etc.? If you have then you know how unpredictable things can be despite all the training, warnings, advise, care you take, or knowledge or skill you have.

So now, having realized the accusation of lying is without basis, do you now desire move to the accusation of stupidity?

That's a good idea! While we're at it, we should give thanks in our prayers that we were spared far worse than was experienced and that we have the means to recover and repair from the damage incurred. We should give thanks that we had the means and skill to plug the breach and pump out the water. We should pray from guidance as we attempt to design our future plans for the best defense against such natural disasters. We should pray that our propensity for blame be tempered by the knowledge of our own fallibility. We should pray that God continue to bless our great nation despite our evil behavior and the possibility - not a certainty but a possibility - that some things may, in fact, be warnings it's time to change our course now.

 

Government has a proven track record of gaining power control and funding from incompetence but this administration has made a scientific work of art out of feigning it. And great has been their rewards.

 

Yes. Wrestled in HS.

Yes, volunteer firefighter when I was younger.

Only in training in the military.

Nope. Medic. Didn't shoot anyone.

Yep.

Doesn't excuse lying or incompetence. It was his job to know, and he clearly misreprensented what he was told. I'll grant you that he's no genius, and it might be that he didn't know that topping was the first part of breaching.

If you feel better about him being incompetent than dishonest, I can't share your feeling. </font>[/QUOTE]Then, you should know better and you shouldn't be making false accusations that the President lied or is incompetent.

 

Only a single minded Bush Hater would think that the President would have time to read Corps of Engineering reports.

 

And its all because Al Gore was not allowed to underhandedly steal an election.

Amazing.

Mike