The Hurricane Katrina Hall of Shame...

Prologue:

"We’ve already done a lot. Take a good look at what has taken place since 9/11, and I think you’ll be---as a citizen, concerned about your own safety, I think you’ll be pleased."
(8/2/04)

"Of course, we’re doing everything we can to protect America. I wake up every day thinking about how best to protect America. That’s my job."
(10/1/04)

"I’ll continue to act to keep our people safe from harm and our future bright."
(6/18/05)

--President Bush (via Think Progress)

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"Our Nation is prepared, as never before, to deal quickly and capably with the consequences of disasters and other domestic incidents."
--FEMA chief Michael D. Brown (3/9/05)

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Epilogue:

"President George W. Bush joins Arizona Senator John McCain in a small celebration of McCain's 69th birthday Monday, Aug. 29, 2005, after the President's arrival at Luke Air Force Base near Phoenix."
--Photo caption at the White House web site. (8/29/05)

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"We anticipate needing at least 1,000 additional DHS employees within 48 hours and 2,000 within 7 days. ... Thank you for your consideration in helping us meet our responsibilities in this near catastrophic event."
--Memo from FEMA chief Michael Brown to Homeland Security head Michael Chertoff, written after the hurricane had already struck the Gulf Coast.
(8/29/05)

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Michael Brown "If you look at my lovely FEMA attire you’ll really vomit. I am a fashion god."
Cindy Taylor "My eyes must certainly be deceiving me. You look fabulous---and I’m not talking the makeup."
Brown "I got it at Nordstroms. Email McBride and make sure she knows. Are you proud of me? Can I quit now? Can I go home?"
--email exchange (8/29/06)

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"Hurricane Katrina vanden Heuvel!"
--Rush Limbaugh, referring to the editor of The Nation magazine (Late August)

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"The destruction from Katrina vanden Heuvel is expected to be massive.... The poor and disabled are particularly likely to suffer from the effects of Katrina vanden Heuvel... Coming up: How to explain Katrina vanden Heuvel to your children..."
--National Review Editor Jonah Goldberg (8/30/05)

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A young [black] man walks through chest deep floodwater after looting a grocery store in New Orleans...

Two [white] residents wade through chest-deep water after finding bread and soda from a local grocery store after Hurricane Katrina came through the area in New Orleans...
Captions at Yahoo News (8/30/05)

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Baseball Hall of Famer Dave Winfield wasn't the only VIP who joined Padres President John Moores in the owner's box last night at Petco Park. Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld, here to join President Bush at the North Island Naval Air Station today, took in the game, too.
--Copy in the San Diego Union-Tribune (8/30/05)

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"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 (8/31/05)

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"I don't think anybody anticipated the breach of the levees."
--President Bush (9/1/05)

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Just moments ago at the Ferragamo on 5th Avenue, Condoleezza Rice was seen spending several thousands of dollars on some nice, new shoes. A fellow shopper, unable to fathom the absurdity of Rice’s timing, went up to the Secretary and reportedly shouted, "How dare you shop for shoes while thousands are dying and homeless!" Never one to have her fashion choices questioned, Rice had security PHYSICALLY REMOVE the woman. (9/1/05)

[In addition to shoe shopping, Rice also went to see Spamalot on Broadway, and played tennis with Monica Seles.]

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"The federal government did not even know about the convention center people until today."
--FEMA director Michael Brown (9/1/05)

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"I have not heard a report of thousands of people in the convention center who don't have food and water."
--Homeland Security chief Michael Chertoff (9/1/05)

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HALLIBURTON GETS KATRINA CONTRACT
--Headline (9/1/05)

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"Last night, we showed you the full force of a superpower government going to the rescue."
--Chris Matthews on MSNBC (9/1/05)

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"Elimination of the death tax would be a victory for fairness and job creation. Working together, we can help eliminate the burden of the death tax once and for all."
--Mass email from RNC Chair Ken Mehlman (9/1/05)

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"Brownie, you're doing a heck of a job."
--President Bush (9/2/05)

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Out of the rubbles (sic) of [Senator] 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."
--George W. Bush (9/2/05)

https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2008/8/30/579656/-