25 Mind-Numbingly Stupid Quotes About Hurricane Katrina And Its Aftermath

1) "I don't think anybody anticipated the breach of the levees." –President Bush, on "Good Morning America," Sept. 1, 2005, six days after repeated warnings from experts about the scope of damage expected from Hurricane Katrina

2) "What I'm hearing which is sort of scary is that they all want to stay in Texas. Everybody is so overwhelmed by the hospitality. And so many of the people in the arena here, you know, were underprivileged anyway so this (chuckle) – this is working very well for them." –Former First Lady Barbara Bush, on the Hurricane flood evacuees in the Houston Astrodome, Sept. 5, 2005

3) "It makes no sense to spend billions of dollars to rebuild a city that's seven feet under sea level....It looks like a lot of that place could be bulldozed." –House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.), Aug.

4) "We've got a lot of rebuilding to do ... The good news is — and it's hard for some to see it now — that out of this chaos is going to come a fantastic Gulf Coast, like it was before. Out of the rubbles of Trent Lott's house — he's lost his entire house — there's going to be a fantastic house. And I'm looking forward to sitting on the porch." (Laughter) —President Bush, touring hurricane damage, Mobile, Ala., Sept. 2, 2005

5) "Considering the dire circumstances that we have in New Orleans, virtually a city that has been destroyed, things are going relatively well." —FEMA Director Michael Brown, Sept. 1, 2005
(My Personal Favorite -L2)

6) "Brownie, you're doing a heck of a job." –President Bush, to FEMA director Michael Brown, while touring Hurricane-ravaged Mississippi, Sept. 2, 2005 (Source (http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/XJ&sdn=politicalhumor&zu=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.editorandpublisher.com%2Feandp %2Fcolumns%2Fpressingissues_display.jsp%3Fvnu_cont ent_id%3D1001054581))

7) "I have not heard a report of thousands of people in the convention center who don't have food and water." –Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, on NPR's "All Things Considered," Sept. 1, 2005 (Source (http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/XJ&sdn=politicalhumor&zu=http%3A%2F%2Fthinkprogress.org%2F2005%2F09%2F01 %2Fchertoff-reality%2F))

8) "Well, I think if you look at what actually happened, I remember on Tuesday morning picking up newspapers and I saw headlines, 'New Orleans Dodged the Bullet.' Because if you recall, the storm moved to the east and then continued on and appeared to pass with considerable damage but nothing worse." –Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, blaming media coverage (http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/XJ&sdn=politicalhumor&zu=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wonkette.com%2Fpolitics%2Fmich ael-chertoff%2Findex.php%23chertoffs-reading-habits-123841) for his failings, "Meet the Press," Sept. 4, 2005

9) "I mean, you have people who don't heed those warnings and then put people at risk as a result of not heeding those warnings. There may be a need to look at tougher penalties on those who decide to ride it out and understand that there are consequences to not leaving.” –Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA), Sept. 6, 2005 (Source (http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/XJ&sdn=politicalhumor&zu=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.timesleader.com%2Fmld%2Ftimesl eader%2Fnews%2Fbreaking_news%2F12574597.htm))

10) "You simply get chills every time you see these poor individuals...many of these people, almost all of them that we see are so poor and they are so black, and this is going to raise lots of questions for people who are watching this story unfold." —CNN's Wolf Blitzer, on New Orleans' hurricane evacuees, Sept. 1, 2005

11) "What didn't go right?'" --President George W. Bush, as quoted by House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), after she urged him to fire FEMA Director Michael Brown "because of all that went wrong, of all that didn't go right" in the Hurricane Katrina relief effort (Source (http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2005-09-07-congress-bush-katrina_x.htm))

12) "We finally cleaned up public housing in New Orleans. We couldn't do it, but God did." --Rep. Richard Baker (R-LA) to lobbyists, as quoted in the Wall Street Journal (Source (http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/XJ&sdn=politicalhumor&zu=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.dccc.org%2Fmt%2Farchives%2F00 3475.html))

13) "Louisiana is a city that is largely under water." —Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, news conference, Sept.

14) "I also want to encourage anybody who was affected by Hurricane Corina to make sure their children are in school." –First Lady Laura Bush, twice referring to a "Hurricane Corina" while speaking to children and parents in South Haven, Mississippi, Sept. 8, 2005 (Source (http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/XJ&sdn=politicalhumor&zu=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailykos.com%2Fstory%2F2005%2F 9%2F8%2F141844%2F9473))

15) "It's totally wiped out. ... It's devastating, it's got to be doubly devastating on the ground." –President George W. Bush, turning to his aides while surveying Hurricane Katrina flood damage from Air Force One, Aug. 31, 2005 (Source (http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/XJ&sdn=politicalhumor&zu=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2005%2FPOLITICS%2F08 %2F31%2Fbush.katrina.ap%2F))

16) "I believe the town where I used to come – from Houston, Texas, to enjoy myself, occasionally too much – will be that very same town, that it will be a better place to come to." –President George W. Bush, on the tarmac at the New Orleans airport, Sept. 2, 2005 (Source (http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/XJ&sdn=politicalhumor&zu=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2005%2F09%2F02%2 Fnational%2Fnationalspecial%2F02BUSH-NOTEXT.html))

17) "Last night, we showed you the full force of a superpower government going to the rescue." –MSNBC's Chris Matthews, Sept. 1, 2005 (Source (http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/XJ&sdn=politicalhumor&zu=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailyhowler.com%2Fdh090205.sht ml))

18) "You know I talked to Haley Barbour, the governor of Mississippi yesterday because some people were saying, 'Well, if you hadn't sent your National Guard to Iraq, we here in Mississippi would be better off.' He told me 'I've been out in the field every single day, hour, for four days and no one, not one single mention of the word Iraq.' Now where does that come from? Where does that story come from if the governor is not picking up one word about it? I don't know. I can use my imagination.” –Former President George Bush, who can give his imagination a rest (http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/XJ&sdn=politicalhumor&zu=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fwp-dyn%2Fcontent%2Farticle%2F2005%2F08%2F30%2FAR20050 83002162.html), interview with CNN’s Larry King, Sept. 5, 2005 (Source (http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/XJ&sdn=politicalhumor&zu=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.editorandpublisher.com%2Feandp %2Fnews%2Farticle_display.jsp%3Fvnu_content_id%3D1 001054805))

19) "We just learned of the convention center – we being the federal government – today." –FEMA Director Michael Brown, to ABC's Ted Koppel, Sept. 1, 2005, to which Koppel responded " Don't you guys watch television? Don't you guys listen to the radio? Our reporters have been reporting on it for more than just today." (Source (http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/XJ&sdn=politicalhumor&zu=http%3A%2F%2Famericablog.blogspot.com%2F2005%2F 09%2Fted-koppel-rips-rips-rips-michael.html))

20) "I don't make judgments about why people chose not to leave but, you know, there was a mandatory evacuation of New Orleans." –FEMA Director Michael Brown, arguing that the victims bear some responsibility, CNN interview, Sept. 1, 2005

21) "I don't want to alarm everybody that, you know, New Orleans is filling up like a bowl. That's just not happening." -Bill Lokey, FEMA's New Orleans coordinator, in a press briefing from Baton Rouge, Aug. 30, 2005 (Source (http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/XJ&sdn=politicalhumor&zu=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nola.com%2Fnewslogs%2Fbreaking tp%2Findex.ssf%3F%2Fmtlogs%2Fnola_Times-Picayune%2Farchives%2F2005_09.html%23077935))

22) "FEMA is not going to hesitate at all in this storm. We are not going to sit back and make this a bureaucratic process. We are going to move fast, we are going to move quick, and we are going to do whatever it takes to help disaster victims." --FEMA Director Michael Brown, Aug. 28, 2005 (Source (http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/XJ&sdn=politicalhumor&zu=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.crooksandliars.com%2F2005%2F09 %2F07.html%23a4845))

23) "...those who are stranded, who chose not to evacuate, who chose not to leave the city..." –FEMA Director Michael Brown, on New Orleans residents who could not evacuate because they were too poor and lacked the means to leave, CNN interview, Sept. 1, 2005 (Source (http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/XJ&sdn=politicalhumor&zu=http%3A%2F%2Famericablog.blogspot.com%2F2005%2F 09%2Fnew-bush-admin-talking-point-new.html))

24) "I understand there are 10,000 people dead. It's terrible. It's tragic. But in a democracy of 300 million people, over years and years and years, these things happen." --GOP strategist Jack Burkman, on MSNBC's "Connected," Sept. 7, 2005 (Source (http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/XJ&sdn=politicalhumor&zu=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.crooksandliars.com%2F2005%2F09 %2F06.html%23a4820))

25) "Thank President Clinton and former President Bush for their strong statements of support and comfort today. I thank all the leaders that are coming to Louisiana, and Mississippi and Alabama to our help and rescue. We are grateful for the military assets that are being brought to bear. I want to thank Senator Frist and Senator Reid for their extraordinary efforts. Anderson, tonight, I don't know if you've heard – maybe you all have announced it -- but Congress is going to an unprecedented session to pass a $10 billion supplemental bill tonight to keep FEMA and the Red Cross up and operating." –Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA), to CNN's Anderson Cooper, Aug. 31, 2005, to which Cooper responded:

"I haven't heard that, because, for the last four days, I've been seeing dead bodies in the streets here in Mississippi. And to listen to politicians thanking each other and complimenting each other, you know, I got to tell you, there are a lot of people here who are very upset, and very angry, and very frustrated. And when they hear politicians slap – you know, thanking one another, it just, you know, it kind of cuts them the wrong way right now, because literally there was a body on the streets of this town yesterday being eaten by rats because this woman had been laying in the street for 48 hours. And there's not enough facilities to take her up. Do you get the anger that is out here?" (Source (http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/XJ&sdn=politicalhumor&zu=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.crooksandliars.com%2F2005%2F09 %2F01.html%23a4740))

I've heard quite a few people saying some of those same/similar things.

"I don't think anybody anticipated the breach of the levees." –President Bush

Well obviously some didn't or they would have evacuated hospitals by helicopter, etc. and those able to go who didn't would have high-tailed it out of there. I suppose the state or city should have done something about it before it broke.. not necessarily President Bush.

i h8 teh republikans11!!!!

For me its a tie between "George Bush hates black people" or Celine Dion's emotional breakdown on Larry King Live.

How many peoples lives were Celine Dion and Kwane West responsible for?

Im much more willing to forgive stupidity on those who so many dont count on for survival. Far too much of the stupidity of above quotes directly translated to loss of life..

But ya.. hollywood is evil.. fucking whatever

I didn't realize this was a humor-free zone, thanks for clearing that up. And yes, my post clearly outs me as a Laura Ingram-shut up and sing-hollywood establishment hating-jackbooted-conservative.

<note sarcasm>

fucking whatever...

It'd be an okay list if it wasn't nearly entirely conservative.

I'm sure some of us could come up with some pretty stupid liberal comments too but it just gets old after the 400th time... :rolleyes:

Yea, you're prolly right. I dont mean to lash out at Thoss. And I understand what you're saying, but I still dont understand why people ever give 2 shits about what actors or singers say 99% of the time.
I guess im hopeful for the public to for once be filled with the will to hold people accountable for shit like this. What I sincerly hope is that there is enema like probe of this thing from top to bottom and the people who didnt perform in a manner befitting the United States of America be run the fuck out of town. This doesnt mean "Get Bush", it means whoever. And make such an example out of these people that the message is loud and clear. YOU DO NOT FUCK THIS UP.

"It makes no sense to spend billions of dollars to rebuild a city that's seven feet under sea level....It looks like a lot of that place could be bulldozed." –House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.), Aug.
I'm not entirely sure this is so mindnumbingly stupid.

Yea how did that make the list? Sounds logical to me. N.O. should have never been and sure as hell shouldn't be rebuilt.

What a shocker....

Not one single quote from Blanco or the NO mayor....

No , wait it's all the evil republicans that are on trial atm.

Fandros

Im not voting for Bush a third time.

Fandros, no one's stoppin' ya from compiling your own list. Hell, you might even demonstrate a mote of outrage or displeasure at the quotes above.

The only solace to come out of all of this is that 49% of the country didn't vote for this asshole and his "lets-disband-FEMA-and-forget-domestic-politics" attitude.

Its heartbreaking to think of the thousands of impoverished people who simply couldn't get out of the city and the horrible tragedy that happened to them. The scope of Katrina is leagues greater than any terrorism activity, but because it only effected the poor I'm sure it'll sadly be forgotten.

Its not like 9/11 where things couldn't have been done right after the fact to change the outcome, but its fairly obvious that the government simply dropped the ball and let their own citizens die. The mayor of New Orleans should have used their school buses and rounded up everyone that couldn't afford to leave town on their own, and the govenor should have known the possible problems with the levee and had their own investigations in place years before this ever happened but the real tragedy is that there were days and days of suffering before anything was done by our government.

We can put a military team on the ground in any city in the world in a matter of hours -- except for our own.

http://pollingreport.com/BushJob.htm <-- too many people waking up far too late.

Heres the Bush family on vacation last week!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v206/cbuckett/BushFishing.jpg

edit.. I deleted post

haha Ibudin I saw that on the news this morning and nearly spit my coffee out.

LL...


Yea, you're prolly right. I dont mean to lash out at Thoss. And I understand what you're saying, but I still dont understand why people ever give 2 shits about what actors or singers say 99% of the time.




I can tell you why people care. The people in Hollywood and music have access to the media that the average shmoo like you and me do not. They are able to influence the votes of people, and can fool people who "worship" them into believing that they are experts in the political arena.

Indeed. We must all beware of political hacks that have access to the media. Who knows who might next be influenced by fools and those who "worship" them, especially with so many crackpot (http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=46178) theories out there regarding Katrina. But who would take the Worldnutdaily as a reliable source on anything, eh shanno? =)

Good Lord, stuff like that amazes me. But what scares me more is that I know there are people out there who honestly "believe" bull like that.

Good Lord, stuff like that amazes me. But what scares me more is that I know there are people out there who honestly "believe" bull like that.

Come on, it is not that far-fetched, when ya consider people are watching in large enough numbers to give Paris Hilton a third season of a "REALITY" show. Seriously, she didn't even show much talent on the hotel room video tape, for crying out loud.:eek:

There are plenty of gullible people out there.

There should be...not criminal punishments, because I support free speech, but maybe liberal beatings of people who, after a disaster, pop up and say, "It was God's will!" to further their own agenda. It's damned insensitive to the people who just lost everything, and someone ought to follow it up with a punch to the jaw. Completely tactless and worthless comment.

Wasn't it our friend Pat Robinson (or one of his clutch) who claimed 9/11 was punishment by God, something like the day after it happened? Nice timing jerk.

I was impressed with our pastor Sunday. He said straight up that such statements were nonsense, and went on to point out that the area most associated with sin was high and dry (French Quarter). Not to mention, a good percentage of that population would be classified as believers themselves (I'd be curious to see if that's true?).

Now, if an earthquake swallowed Hollywood and DC a week after the Gaza withdrawl, I might just listen...

Oh - the website claiming Katrina looked like an unborn fetus and was punishment for abortion laws had a user with a good comment on it - wasn't that area heavy Bush supporters in the last election? Maybe that's what God is punishing us for. :)

Good things come from God,

Bad things come from Allah, thats why the believers were struck.

Thor,


You of all people (who is a self proclaimed avid reader) should know that nobody can put any credability in the world Net daily news because it is the written opinion of a writer who has a agenda. But then again, I guess ANYTHING you read can have a slanted view. But as you once said, all your information comes from your great ability to read, I should listen to what you say. But, there are alot of people that do not have the time or the ability to read, but they sure as hell have enough time to sit and watch movies, tv, or listen to music, so they relate to these actors, singers and political experts called Kayne. 99.9% of the population has never heard of the World Net daily, but 99% know who the Rolling Stones are.


When it comes to your knowledge of Iraq, or any war, I scoff and really do not take what you say with a grain of salt. Unlike you, I did not get my information from a slanted opinion, I experienced it first hand. But then I guess what I am typing here is my opinion and is slanted.

Well, you almost had a good point there. Given the complete ignorance you've previously exhibited regarding torture of prisoners, I wouldn't get too cocky about what first hand knowledge you do possess. The man inside the big picture cannot see the big picture, if you will.