But surely President Bush ought to have known in advance that the media would use a poor response to the hurricane against him and that his reputation was on the line.
Was there any excuse for not knowing that he was going to be judged by a tougher standard because he was a Republican or knowing it and not putting in the extra effort?
Just on the basis of what I actually saw and heard at the time, voters were willing to give Bush the benefit of the doubt up until Katrina, and not afterwards.
That may have been wrong or unfair, but that's the way it was, and the public's reaction could have been predicted beforehand.
A poor response? I saw him on TV begging LA to move their people out. He sent letters and forms telling them to 'just do this so we can help'. The state failed and President Bush was blamed.
Was there any excuse for not knowing that he was going to be judged by a tougher standard because he was a Republican or knowing it and not putting in the extra effort?
Yes...an honest man doesn't see the small evils, just the large ones.