Quote Originally Posted by mike jones
I would not consider myself a Bush supporter, but I definitely DO NOT think you can place any blame on him for this disaster. When a Cat. 5 hurricane alters its course and destroys an entire city in a matter of hours, I don't think anybody can be blamed for that.

However, I think this would be a wonderful opportunity for the government to look like heroes by stepping up in a time of extreme crisis and HELP THESE PEOPLE. I believe Bush was on vacation when the hurricane hit the US, and I have not heard much from him or about him during this disaster. In the upcoming weeks and months, I think Bush could come out of this as a real hero if the US government can find a way to help these survivors.

We can't change Bush's foreign policy, and we can't change what has already happened. But what we can try and change now is that there are now a few million more homeless people in this country. It doesn't look good for the gov't at all when troops aren't being brought into the South right now because the gov't is worried about people sitting on the roofs of their flooded houses firing at national guard troops and helicopters with handguns.

Bush is the face of the government and the face of the nation. If we can find a way as a country to get food, water, and shelter to these people, Bush is gonna look good. And if we can find a way to restore these peoples' lives (they have no money, homes, or jobs now,) well Bush is going to look really good. But if we start seeing corpses floating through flood water, Bush is going to look reeeeaaally bad.
I was just going to say something like this when I read your post. Regardless of the fact that Bush can't be blamed for the tradedy, my guess is that this is really going to hurt Bush. This will show his true nature-that he really is a weak leader.

After 9/11 everyone loved Bush. Why? Because he went after the Taliban and Al Queada, those who were guilty. But really, what esle was he supposed to do? I can't believe Clinton, Bush 1, Reagan or any other President wouldn't have done the same. Well, maybe not Carter but that's a different story. Everyone, inclduing foriegn governments, supported it. Even China, who is very critical of our foriegn policy, and shares a border with Afghanistan, had little or no problem with the US taking them out. Why, because what Al Quaeda did was an act of war and our response was not only appropriate but obvious.

But this tragedy is different. While it may not have the psychological impact for all Americans that 9/11 had it is, in all actuality, far worse. It is not 2700+ people dead (although it may end up being more). But it is the hundreds of of those that are still alive whose lives have been destoyed. There is no clear enemy to point the finger at. No obvious response to this tragedy. This is where we need a real leader. And, this is where Bush will fail.