Wow, I am kind of speechless that the words 'I take responsibility' came out of Bush's mouth, I didn't think I would see the day...
Anyone else a bit suprised?
Video-http://www.cnn.com/video/player/player.html?url=/video/politics/2005/09/13/bush.katrina.take.responsibility.cnn&wm=9

'Katrina: Bush takes responsibility (:47 video)
The president accepts responsibility 'to the extent the federal government didn't fully do its job right.' (September 13)'

I can take responsiblity for Katrina's aftermath, too. How is Bush saying it anymore helpful....unless he does something about it :)

Now...if he's putting energy into changing processes and using this event as a learning opportunity, then great.

I think if this happened in my country, people might resign...

He said "Katrina exposed serious problems in our response capability at all levels of government, and to the extent that the federal government didn't fully do its job right, I take responsibility."

IMO that's saying something without really saying anything, in a way that only a politician could do. However, at least it was a reasonably coherent sentence, a rarity for him.

I think if this happened in my country, people might resign...

Michael Brown, the head of FEMA, DID resign.

I think that there is plenty of blame to go around. However I did almost fall off my chair at work when I read this.

He's only doing this because there has been so much commentary on how if he would only take some responsibility, he would gain back some credibility. It's just a political ploy to make him seem honorable. Ha! Puh--leezz.

I tend to believe that anything that comes out of the mouth of a politician to be a political ploy but I'm a bit of a cynic. The handling of Katrina was screwed up all around. Of all the parties involved Bush may have been one of the least responsible. Not that he is lily white or anything. I think the mayor of New Orleans also ought to be taking some responsiblity.

Hey, I never said it was genuine.
Just suprising.
During the pres debates he was asked a question like 'have you ever made any mistakes?'
and he stammered and wouldn't mention one thing, total denial.
I mean, it looks retarded when you can't thing of one misjudgement ever that you have made.

I'm sure the people that died waiting on food, water, and medical attention....left out in the elements for days on end will be ever so grateful of Bush's declaration of responsiblility. Can we all say "little to little a lot to late"? Good. I knew you could.

Sorry just doesn't cut it for me. He's like the abusive boyfriend that thinks kissing the boo boo makes it all better. What an effin jerk.

I was really impressed with his statement, which is so rare. Of course I start wondering who advised him to say it and why bla

He's trying to save face. I'm not impressed with it...he's all about himself.

So, people complain that he needs to admit responsibility, so he does, and then you still have fault with it??? Just can't win, huh?

Nope. He was a looser from the get go..admitting responsibility doesn't do diddly-squat..and probably won't stop the independent investigation that is inevidible.

I'm not saying that his administration is at no fault, but anyone who thinks this, or any other disaster, should have/could have been prevented by one person alone needs to get real.

Not prevented, anyone with half a brain knows that you can't prevent a hurricane. But prevent the levees from breaking? Maybe, if they hadn't cut funding. Be prepared to take care of people herded into two different areas? Definitely.

Yes, thank you, I know you can't prevent a hurricane.

And cutting funding that could have prevented the levees from breaking is to what I was referring when I said that his admin wasn't at "no fault".

But there's a lot of other people that could be blamed for this as well, and I really don't see what the point of pointing fingers is now.

His administration is at fault. And 'pointing fingers' holds them accountable to the citizens. We must find where it all went wrong. In order to do that we must find out where the breakdown was..who dropped the ball or never picked it up for that matter. Hopefully there will be something to be learned from this for everyone in hopes we can avoid suffering and unnecessary deaths in the event of future disasters.

Hopefully something can. I really believe that given the opportunity to do this over again that even had those in power would do better. It's sort of like the terrorist attack thing, if it happened again now would the US be better prepared to deal with it? I think so.

I agree with you on the "learn from your mistakes" part, and I think an investigation will be/should be held, so that the next time something like this happens, maybe we can handle it better. I just think, really, that you can find everyone at fault if you want to- the President and his admin, the local LA gov't, FEMA, etc, etc,. . . I don't think it is fair to constantly blame one person, and I'm just tired of hearing it...

:yes: I'm with you on that. If we really want to point fingers we could start at the top and work all the way down to the people who didn't leave and could have.

Thank you, arilark. Exactly my point. . .

That's sweet of him to say that. This way, no-one's heads need to roll. Because they can say: "It's not my responsibility - didn't you hear what our Prezzie said????" Everyone's butt is nicely covered now. Cool.

I agree with you on the "learn from your mistakes" part, and I think an investigation will be/should be held, so that the next time something like this happens, maybe we can handle it better. I just think, really, that you can find everyone at fault if you want to- the President and his admin, the local LA gov't, FEMA, etc, etc,. . . I don't think it is fair to constantly blame one person, and I'm just tired of hearing it...

Reread post #18. I clearly state that I blame his administration, not just him (unless your use of the word 'you' is being used in general terms and not specifically me).

As far as blaming the President - I believe people are more apt to do that because he is the Commander in Chief...the highest level possible in the chain of command.

:yes: I'm with you on that. If we really want to point fingers we could start at the top and work all the way down to the people who didn't leave and could have.


Oh brother..not this one again. :wall: :wall:

It's so frustrating for people not be grasping the reason why the majority that didn't leave didn't. And so exhausting at this point I'm not going to even get into that here.

The American way..every man for himself. If for whatever reason you can't evacuate and have not means to get food and water to sustain yourself you are pretty much s.o.l...it's their own damn fault, every man for him/herself. Gotcha! :rolleyes: