NY Times: Bush Gave "Worst Speech of His Life"

The New York Times is denouncing President Bush's speech about Hurricane Katrina as "one of the worst speeches of his life."

The editorial begins:

George W. Bush gave one of the worst speeches of his life yesterday, especially given the level of national distress and the need for words of consolation and wisdom. In what seems to be a ritual in this administration, the president appeared a day later than he was needed. He then read an address of a quality more appropriate for an Arbor Day celebration: a long laundry list of pounds of ice, generators and blankets delivered to the stricken Gulf Coast. He advised the public that anybody who wanted to help should send cash, grinned, and promised that everything would work out in the end ...

The editorial continues ...

It would be some comfort to think that, as Mr. Bush cheerily announced, America "will be a stronger place" for enduring this crisis. Complacency will no longer suffice, especially if experts are right in warning that global warming may increase the intensity of future hurricanes. But since this administration won't acknowledge that global warming exists, the chances of leadership seem minimal.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/01/opinion/01thu1.html

You can see a replay of the entire speech at:

http://movies.crooksandliars.com/pbushkatrina.wmv

Question the whole world is asking: How did this little man get elected president of the United States?

Boy, do I hate this administration.

who talks, walks, acts the same way? Most would be going HELL NO....

that if Bush hadn't been the scion of a wealthy family, he'd be a used car salesman, and not a very good one either.

That used car salesman always reminded me of Bush.

I had not had the guts to watch this speech until now. I heard even Mike Savage was dissing him and thought, this I gotta see.

It was like someone handed him a laundry list and said "Read this off. People will be impressed by the numbers you spew".

The last bit about "Y'all will get back on your feet sooner or later" was the most patronizing, pathetic, and inappropriate BS I think I have ever heard come out of his mouth. What a complete jerk!

Where were the 11K NG before they were hit? I honestly think this maniac wanted all these people to die since they are probably less likely to vote RNC. He is a coward, a sociopath, and a puppet.

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

that if Bush had a car, and the oil light came on, he would drive that mofo until the engine siezed up solid in the middle of traffic. Then get out and shrug to the angry line of backed-up cars, "Who'd have thought the car would just quit? No one could have predicted catastrophic engine failure!"

are supposed to be significant ones. I have as hard a time stomaching the obnoxious, clueless little jerk as anyone -- and you can read into my non-swearing labels of him all the most vile names I've heard him called here at DU.

BUT I feel I need to know, not only what he is telling the people but how he *appears* when he does it, what his *condition* is, how much -- or how little -- he is holding it together at any point. We've had several threads here on the subject of W's visible dis-integration, his "decompensation under stress," as I put it because I remember the term from psych classes. That is literally what has been happening to him, IMO. He is an addict/alcoholic supposedly "in recovery" but who it seems to me has been on a "dry drunk" for many years thanks to Laura. He is a pathetic and unstable little man who has been white-knuckling it for longer than he cares to think about -- that's my assessment of his "condition."

I could see it in him when he first ran for elected office in Texas in the '90's. Even then he was clearly in over his head; but his secure place as scion of the crime family Bush, that "House of Bush" thing, and in his home state where Bush wealth and power are legend, he managed to keep up an appearance of sanity and stability. So many people around him to cover for him, keep his dirty laundry out of sight, and clean up his messes.

But he was nervous even then about how on earth he was going to run a state, IMO. He handled it mostly by LAUGHING OFF serious problems and turning them over to others. He joked about things that were not funny -- something he still does, and a clear sign of someone whose response to people and the world around him is "inappropriate" to say the least.

But he got by.

THEN the GOP handpicked him to be their candidate for President at the significant time the page was turning on a new century, and I saw his unease increase manyfold. In early interviews and especially impromptu "chats" with the press that had begun fawning around him already as the campaign kicked off, he said things like this -- with a shrug that spoke worlds and one of those bizarre, contorted facial expressions he makes so often:

"If the people don't like me and don't elect me, (shrug), that's how it'll be." Or somesuch words. He honestly seemed either not to care one way or the other or (in my opinion) actually HOPED HE WOULD NOT WIN! Why? Because he KNEW he would have a very difficult time indeed of handling the JOB of President of the United States of America!

And certainly he has had just that. He has grown worse with every year, every event, every problem, every decision. He tried to really "take the reins" and BE a President after 9/11, but I recall what his tenure in the White House was like BEFORE that fateful day, and he was pathetic and much disdained by many. He fell back on childish behavior after 9/11, and he has maintained that ever since. Immature is what he is ... downright undeveloped in "normal" adult ways that most of us HAVE to gain and maintain in order to live.

He has continued to get away with it because of the system of backers and advisors (more restrained words and I know you all can guess the ones I'd like to employ instead) that has propped him up. He's had such people propping him up since he was a little boy and he automatically DEPENDS on them. He knows he CAN depend on them, but he still gets very scared because in his heart of hearts he knows he is not very bright and quite incompetent at even the normal little activities of daily living.

So now I watch GWB as he continues with the blessing and support of those same "backers and advisors" to bring our country to ruination at home and disgrace in the world. I want to see him "devolve," as it has been called. It's a good word for what I see. "Nervous breakdown" works for me as well. "Babbling idiot in a straight jacket" sounds even better! (And I do believe he is being medicated as someone pointed out; I see all the subtle signs.)

It's very troubling, though, to have our PRESIDENT going through this crackup as he continues at the helm of our country, making important decisions -- *critically* important decisions! -- affecting so many people. I'm VERY uneasy whenever I watch him speaking or mingling among world leaders or regular folks because I wonder what on earth he might be saying or doing to shame all Americans, to put our lives and wellbeing at even more risk than they are already. I notice he doesn't mingle with "regular folks" anymore, however. Anyone care to speculate on WHY?.... Hah, not hard to figure out, is it?

Soooo ... that brings us to yesterday, when his speech to Americans (and it was heard around the world I'm sure) was indeed a lowpoint -- a colossal, monumental, heinous JOKE of a speech. I'd call it "the worst ever" except for the fact some here pointed out -- he has seldom made a speech that was worth a damn. And you remember when he DID make a pretty good one, I think it was the SOTU speech after 9/11? Remember how we read reports that he had practiced and drilled, repeatedly and for days if not weeks, before that speech?

Talking to Americans comfortably does NOT COME NATURALLY TO HIM.

Well, of COURSE not! He's a PRINCE!!

And he behaves like one: spoiled, so rich he cannot imagine what it's like NOT to be rich, and childishly selfish about everything he does.

However I still want to see and hear what he is doing as President because he determines the direction my beloved country goes. I feel I NEED to know, I guess as a sort of protective measure, so I will at least be forewarned when he's pointing us toward disaster yet again, or embarrassing us all in front of the entire world.

I agree with those who have said George W. Bush IS a disaster of immense proportions for the USA!!

Sorry, pathetic *excuse* for a President, for a MAN, for a HUMAN BEING!, that's what he is. And I'll bet one day he'll go down in history that way, exposed in all his disgusting nakedness as a wicked "emperor" should be.

One day I hope to watch him discombobulate completely to pieces right before the cameras...... But meanwhile I worry constantly about what he is doing to our country, to US.

(Sorry for the rant.)

~VV

____________________________________________

That post articulated everything I think about the man-boy perfectly.

the country so that everyone could experience it for themselves.

Great job!!:toast:

a member of this DU community!!! :applause: :toast: :yourock: :patriot:

CHEATING

the newest third world country. We had a great infrastructure. Now look. This country has been sacrificed for tax cuts for the rich and wild no bid boondoggles for his cronies.
What other infrastructure weaknesses caused by Bushco's intentional raiding of funds are disasters waiting to happen? It could be a bridge near you!
If this country is sever ly weakened, the only strong power on earth will be the multinational corporations who have NO loyalty to America.

I hope Justice O'Connor enjoys her retirement! :grr:

n/t

That laundry list of items being sent was disturbing to me too--they're sending a "100,000" this and "350,000" that...but millions are affected. Yet, his disciples believe he's actually doing something.

You can tell there's no sincerity--a real person would simply step up to the plate without written speeches and give heartfelt comments and pledge to do all they could. He shallowly thanked the people who left early for doing so. I thought that was really idiotic. He's hedging because he doesn't want to spend the money for rebuilding. He actually gave out the Red Cross's phone number. What a crock.

I hope he's not bullshitting this time.

Spewing out numbers is not impressing people who need help. They want to see action.

This guy sucks.

"He shallowly thanked the people who left early for doing so. I thought that was really idiotic."

I couldn't tell if he was thanking those who left or those who took them in...but either way, it was just a plain stupid thing to say. It's like he was glad because those were a few more people he won't have to pretend he cares about.

he always hit the right note because he KNEW what the crisis was.

Little Lord Pissypants (man I love that) doesn't really know. He was trying to act again. He was useless.

There was a small town(50,000) called Grand Forks in ND that totally flooded out in 1997 and Clinton was there on the seen pronto, talking to the people who had lost everything...

He pulled the country together and led with his heart and we responded in kind.

and he had been in AUSTRALIA at the time of 9/11.

:kick:

I was living in Dallas, actually home from work, sick in bed, and watching CNN at the moment when the first news of the OKC bombing broke. My daughter lived in OKC, but I didn't know exactly where because relatives adopted her back in 1969 when she was an infant. I learned later that she was okay, but she could easily have been in the Murrah Federal Building conducting personal business.

My sister-in-law works for OG&E, the power company, and was knocked from her chair in her office building just a few blocks from the Murrah Building. She developed PTSD and still has nightmares about that day.

I went into shock as the bloody scenes of tragedy unfolded on the news channels, and the sense of frustration I felt at being in Texas when my home state was "under attack" was maddening. Hundreds of people from Texas streamed in to Red Cross centers to donate blood and money.

It was horrible, just horrible. But through it all I really felt the support and comfort of the entire country as citizens everywhere made their concern for us Okies very plain. And even though I hadn't necessarily been a *strong* Clinton supporter before then, I really felt he did a commendable job of showing his genuine compassion for us. No, it was more than just a "job" he did. Bill Clinton was obviously quite moved -- PERSONALLY -- by the tragedy and the effect it was having on ALL Oklahomans!

And he didn't just talk, he made things happen to aid and assist us. We could tell he wasn't just trying to offer up good sound bytes because the help he extended was real. It happened, it arrived, it materialized -- so UNlike what's going on in the Gulf Coast regions devastated by the hurricane. Yes, that's an event of far larger proportions, but still....

And on the five-year anniversary (and seems like other anniversaries, too) of the bombing WJC came to Oklahoma and spoke at memorial services that were held at the scene of the bombing. I listened to all of that one as it aired live on TV, and his speech honestly brought tears to my eyes several times. You could tell he had bothered to GET TO KNOW some of the people actually hurt on that day or who lost someone they loved then! He KNEW their names, he knew their stories, and he by god CARED!

The contrast with what we're seeing in this "fake President" right now is stark and striking. Even on 9/11, he looked stunned and taken aback, but NOT involved personally in the slightest with the PEOPLE. I felt he only cared about how he would look, how he could manage to cover his incompetence in such a huge tragedy, especially since it was a terrorist attack and demanded so much of him as President.

Heaven help us, I can hardly stand to THINK about how he behaves! But I sure do hope all those Republican assholes who have continued to defend everything he does are observing him NOW. I keep wondering what they are going to say about him as he once again demonstrates his complete cluelessness and utter lack of genuine CARING about AMERICANS! He always speaks of "Americans" in generalities and broad terms -- speech-making balderdash, easily recognizable for exactly what it is: political bullshit, taylored by speechwriters to make him SOUND grand. He NEVER sounds grand!

Oh, but I ranted about him already this morning, didn't I? Sorry, I guess I'm just wound up and frustrated beyond the point of self-restraint today. My rage at what is happening right now in New Orleans in particular is just too much, because I blame so much of the sorrow and suffering DUE TO THE DELAY IN SENDING HELP on George ... W. ... Bush!!! And all his companions and cohorts in crime!

If I could spell out the disgusted SOUNDS I'm making, I would. How about "ptui!!" As in that spitting sound....

But YES, Bill Clinton would be such a welcome sight back in the White House about now.........

~VV

__________________________________________

He's had some many bad ones, I'm not sure anyone could declare this the worst.

He actually gave one or two decent speeches during his first year and just after 9/11. It's vanished... what little leadership he was once able to display is totally gone. Today's speech, and the fact he gave it from the white house and not NO/Miss, was a complete embarrasement.

He flew over the devastation in A.F. One ... 1,700 feet overhead!
How much did he see? Was he eating a pretzel at the time or looking out the window? WTF can you see from 1,700 feet. Clouds.

Bozo. Do the 'have mores' even still like him? I don't know any to ask.

His ass was on the run and MIA (as usual) after WTCs were destroyed. He still runs. Can he hide?

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-bush1sep01,0,4023333.story?coll=la-home-headlines

This is sick-o ~ snip ~

On the flight from Texas, Air Force One detoured from its conventional route from Waco to Andrews Air Force Base, flying over the stricken region for about 35 minutes. The last-minute change in the flight path did not disrupt rescue or recovery efforts, the White House said.

The president moved from his cabin on the aircraft's right side to peer out windows on the left, where Secret Service agents generally sit.

As related by Peter Baker of the Washington Post, the newspaper pool reporter on the flight, Air Force Col. Mark Tillman, chief pilot, brought the plane down from its cruising altitude of 29,000 feet to 2,500 feet. At one point, the plane was 1,700 feet above the ground, swooping over New Orleans' skyscrapers.

The president had a wide-angle view of the devastation: a city nearly entirely underwater, the rotors of a Coast Guard helicopter whipping up waves, other choppers on apparent rescue missions, suburbs obliterated.

.. oh and this bit of chump change ..

"It's devastating," Bush said as he viewed the damage, according to White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan. "It's got to be doubly devastating on the ground."


...
This reminds me of a good old Texas saying, and maybe they have it in Tennessee too. "Dazzle them with bullshit".

The freepers could have *, and we could have Big Dog back? I mean, * isn't the least bit interested in us, and it wouldn't be such hard work if he could just look after his own.

Let's just split the darn country into Red and Blue and get it over with. Let the neocon/fundie wingnuts have their beloved Chimpy and live in the hell their little world will devolve into. We can have Big Dog (or whomever we choose to elect) and live in freedom, peace and prosperity once again. Oh, to imagine it.

The brains and non-brains. Count me in.

:hi: I really like imagining that - especially now.

We all know he does not give a darn, but common sense would have dictated a better attempt at showing he cares.

Even people here were amazed at his sense of detachment.

Then again, that's SOP for him.

I was just thinking of this comment the other day.

and as for "representation", I would look at his brothers ~

at DU I know we had avowed athiests lighting candles and such, a lot of mysticism and dare I say PRAYER. Well the little weasle never said it, not once, never, the little piece of shit, oh I just can't believe the little Bible thumpin dirtbag. :grr:

<edit>

I've added a link to the front page of the Godless DNC:
http://www.democrats.org/
Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco Calls for Day of Prayer

I sincerely hope people are beginng to see what we here at DU saw in the VERY beginning. Chimpyboy is the worst we've ever had. He doesn't care about the citizens in this country and every time I see his fugly face on TV I change the channel. As far as I'M concerned, EVERY speech he's ever GIVEN is the worst speech I'VE ever heard in MY life!

There is nothing presidential about him. Not his demeanor, not his actions, not his ability to show compassion to the least among us, NOTHING. If it weren't for the MEDIAWHORES propping him up since before he was sElected, he'd have been history! I blame them almost completely for the mess we are in. They know the truth and they are letting this Country sink anyway, just so the Matt Lauers and the Katie "Navy Seals rock" Courics and the Diane Sawyers et al can line their pockets and pad their bank accounts! They are the real monsters in this! How do they sleep at night?

look really bad," was insane. Was he sight seeing? He really is the worst president ever. I just wish he'd go away and get impeached, watching him wave goodbye for the last time would be a 'sight.'

(excerpt)

"Why was Congress, before it wandered off to vacation, engaged in slashing the budget for correcting some of the gaping holes in the area's flood protection?"

Why didn't they tell us the truth before? Instead they've propped this idiot up since the first selection. Then they let their star Judith Miller publish her lies that gave Bush his war on a silver platter. Since 2001 Bush has performed dismally on a number of occasions but if you read the NYT you would have thought he was the next best thing after FDR.

Sorry NYT. This asshole is in power and you did everything you could to put him there. Now you've got buyer's remorse? A little late, isn't it?

unsympathetic.

Bill Clinton would have been in tears.

I heard snippets of the speech and literally had to stuff a washcloth in my mouth to keep from screaming. I'm not kidding. I don't think I could have survived the full speech live.

.. he gives is the worst speech of his life.

Basically, he's the idiot puppetboy of vicious social darwinism.. every person or locality for itself.

BigBrother is watching.. but he doesn't give a damm about anyone who isn't rich.

Sue

> Question the whole world is asking: How did this little man
> get elected president of the United States?

ANSWER: The "Times" helped it happen, by not providing actual,
insightful, complete, factual coverage of the "Election" of 2000,
both the run-up and the aftermath.

Tesha

bush* is a fu*king eejit.

about it.

Fat Head Jeb also told Floridians that there would be gas shortages in major urban areas so deal with it.

Pissy, petty, small men these Bu$hies.

As one commentator wrote, George W. would have made a fantastic Commissioner of Baseball. It is the one job he was well-qualified for.

President!

:hi:

Diebold and idiots!

That's Porgie for ya--a day late and a dollar short!

This is a tipping point, the question is, does the putz realize it yet, what with Karl and Scooter busy with their defense teams, Cheney AWOL, Cindy dogging him, and the rumbling and grumbling rising, slowly, to the level of a roar?

Meanwhile he was a day behind everyone listening to his speech.

as if telling people that "ice is coming" will be so reassuring. This is the "leader" you selected America. He thinks this whole thing is a joke. I'm sure he's still bitter about giving up two days of his 5 week long vacation.

and a dollar short.

What an idiot.

:puke: