Posted on 09/02/2005 1:46:49 AM PDT by West Coast Conservative
Hurricane Katrina may give President Bush the opportunity to increase his low approval ratings. In fact, his overall rating did rise on the last day of the poll, after he returned to the White House from his ranch in Crawford, Texas, and addressed the nation on the crisis in the Gulf Coast.
But in the early days of this crisis, many Americans are withholding judgment about his handling of it. Fifty-four percent approve of the way the President is handling Hurricane Katrina, and only 12 percent disapprove -- but one-third can't say yet. This question was added to the poll on Tuesday, the day after Hurricane Katrina hit the U.S. Gulf coast.
Bushs current rating for his handling of Hurricane Katrina is actually lower than what his father, former president George H.W. Bush received for his handling of Hurricane Andrew. In September 1992, nearly two-thirds approved of then-President Bushs handling of Hurricane Andrew, while three in 10 disapproved -- but that poll was conducted nearly three weeks after Hurricane Andrew hit Florida.
(Excerpt) Read more at cbsnews.com ...
I fear you are right.
Nagin was the knucklehead here. He got on TV BEFORE Katrina hit and told everyone to get out of town and that "this was the big one" and he repeatedly reminded everyone that NO was "below sea level" and that there could be flooding.
The he tells everyone to come on over to the Superdome. Did he have any cots set up there? No!
Did he make sure there was enough National Guard and police there? No!
Enough food and water? No!
It was HIS JOB as mayor to coordinate these things. You can't just tell a whole city of people to come to the Superdome and then not prepare for them!
Where was the city's plan for housing people after a major flood.
I said this before by Nagin makes Philadelphia's Mayor John Street look like Copernicus!!! And that I thought was impossible to do!
If Mayor Nagin had a plan "A" for a disaster.....he didn't use it. I'm witnessing the worst crisis management I have ever seen!
How long has he been the mayor? Did he ever consider a need for plan "B", plan "C"?
How many "what if" strategies did he have in place with his police & fire chief, relief agencies, other community leaders? What were they to do in a "worst case scenario"?
Remember all the planning sessions held in anticipation of a millenium crisis for loss of utilities, computers, etc.....was Mayor Nagin around then? Did he learn anything about how to have fall back plans? To put safety nets in place? To prepare call back lists & meeting places? We did those first steps in planning just to keep a lousy corporate branch offic up and running. The mayor had far greater responsibilities and comes up woefully short. The governor too.
CBS- damning with faint praise.
put me in the 12%
I'm in the 12% and I like W.
It was CBS.
I made her change the channel.
There is a concerted attempt by the MSM to blame Bush. Last night Ted Koppel bushwacked (no pun intended) and browbeat FEMA Director Brown in an interview essentially blaming the federal government for what happened in NO. The MSM never explains the federal disaster relief system and the role of the states and local government. Basically, FEMA provides the State the resources they require and request. LA dropped the ball and now FEMA is playing catch-up.
"Do not fear the enemy, for your enemy can only take your life. It is far better that you fear the media, for they will steal your HONOR. That awful power, the public opinion of a nation, is created in America by a horde of ignorant, self-complacent simpletons who failed at ditching and shoemaking and fetched up in journalism on their way to the poorhouse." --Mark Twain.
Indeed, you are exactly right. However, it's the "elephant in the corner" and will not get any press....too hot to touch with a 10 foot pole.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.