McCain slams his Katrina partner-in-cake: "I would've landed my airplane and come over personally"

[Amerigo Vespucci]

McCain sharply critical of Bush response to Katrina

Steve Holland
Reuters US Online Report Top News

Apr 24, 2008 21:38 EST

NEW ORLEANS (Reuters) - Republican U.S. presidential candidate John McCain on Thursday sharply criticized the Bush administration's handling of Hurricane Katrina and vowed, "Never again."

McCain, putting some distance between himself and fellow Republican President George W. Bush, said if he had been president during the 2005 catastrophe he would have immediately visited New Orleans during the initial shock aftermath of the killer storm.

"I'm just saying I would've landed my airplane at the nearest Air Force base and come over personally," he said.

Two days after the hurricane made landfall in August 2005, when immediate recovery efforts were chaotic, Bush surveyed the damage during a fly-over in Air Force One while returning from a trip to the West Coast.

On Thursday, McCain went on a tour of the lower Ninth Ward, a New Orleans neighborhood still struggling to recover from Katrina 2 1/2 years after the storm struck.

"I want to assure the people of the Ninth Ward, the people of New Orleans, the people of this country: Never again, never again will a disaster of this nature be handled in the terrible and disgraceful way it was handled," McCain said.

Later, talking to reporters on his campaign bus, McCain said "all levels of government are to blame for the catastrophe that took place."

"I'm not specifically singling the president out ... but he shares the blame, obviously," he said.

In Washington, White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said Bush "absolutely took responsibility for any failing on the part of the federal government."

"But at the same time there were problems at the state and local levels, as well, which they have admitted to," she said.

http://www.rawstory.com/news/mochila/McCain_sharply_critical_of_Bush_res_04242008.html

[Atman]

1. "And...and...and...I would have personally drained the floods by sucking up all the water!"

Woulda shoulda coulda.

"NOW YOU DAMNED KIDS GET OFF MY LAWN!"

.

[boobooday]

10. I would have been swimming through the floodwaters, with babies

and grannies on my back, and people's beloved pets in my teeth, fighting off stray sharks with a barbecue fork!

[rpannier]

2. Talk is cheap

He held his b-day celebration with scrub and never once thought about it.

Hey, mcbush, you're three years too late

[Solly Mack]

3. Oh yeah. That picture clearly demonstrates how McCain would have handled it differently

fart noises

[napi21]

4. And what EXACTLY have you been doing to fix the problems

NOW Sir? As a senior Senator, you certainly have the power to have done something to get the promised projects done! Why haven't YOU pressured the idiots that ShrubCo hired as contractors to get off their asses and get it done? Actions Sir speak much louder than words and tell the real truth!

[GaYellowDawg]

5. The obvious question in reply:

What kept you from going to help in 2005?

[malaise]

6. Would have, could have, should have

Gore got it done. Fuck you McSameasBush!
sp.

[annabanana]

9. While McCain ate cake with the killer...

Gore got to work

[Ganja Ninja]

7. Talk is cheap and in this case almost 3 years late.

Heckofa job Johnny!

[SammyWinstonJack]

8. This is the ultimate example of "say anything to get elected"!

:puke: Bet he regrets saying that or soon will. Thanks to the internets. :evilgrin:

[islandmkl]

11. where do you find the Dana Perino's of this world?

Do you run an ad saying, "Wanted. Flat-eyed zealot to lie and obfuscate to the American public. Must be able to ignore truth and reality. Photogenic qualities a must. Lack of conscience helpful. No knowledge of history, civics, or law necessary. Must be willing to work in a potentially hostile environment. All white applicants considered. Call 1-800-TEL-ALIE to apply. EOE...sure, whatever that means."

[TheCowsCameHome]

12. "...........as long as it didn't interfere with my birthday party"

[Brewman_Jax]

13. Mmmm, this is good cake!

Now, what was I supposed to do...? :silly:

[LynnTheDem]

14. So why didn't you, McCake?

Al Gore did. And he wasn't the president.

[Amerigo Vespucci]

16. Junior leaps into action, August 31, 2005:

President George W. Bush looks out over the devastation in New Orleans from Hurricane Katrina as he heads back to Washington D.C. Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2005, aboard Air Force One. White House photo by Paul Morse



President George W. Bush waves upon arriving at the South Lawn of the White House Wednesday, August 31, 2005. This afternoon President Bush meets with his task force regarding Hurricane Katrina. White House photo by Krisanne Johnson



President George W. Bush stands with Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld; Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao and Mike Leavitt, Secretary of Health and Human Services, as he speaks to the media from the Rose Garden of the White House regarding the devastation along the Gulf Coast caused by Hurricane Katrina. White House photo by Paul Morse



President George W. Bush speaks to members of the White House Task Force on Hurricane Katrina Recovery Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2005, shortly after returning to the White House from Crawford, Texas. The President took the opportunity aboard Air Force One to survey first-hand the devastation of the Gulf Coast. White House photo by Krisanne Johnson

[BlueIris]

15. Hmmmm. Somebody remind me what McCain actually did in '05 again?

Besides eat cake.

The cited article makes it sound as if he went to NO days after Katrina hit:

"Two days after the hurricane made landfall in August 2005, when immediate recovery efforts were chaotic, Bush surveyed the damage during a fly-over in Air Force One while returning from a trip to the West Coast.

On Thursday, McCain went on a tour of the lower Ninth Ward, a New Orleans neighborhood still struggling to recover from Katrina 2 1/2 years after the storm struck."

Do we know what else he actually did to help/pretend to help?

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

17. Believe it or not, Meredith Viera on the Today Show, exposed McCain for being a fraud

in regard to Katrina. She interviewed him and brought up his voting against giving Katrina victims and New Orleans aid.

He also made himself look like an ass on other things she brought up. I hope that it gets posted somewhere.