Compassionate Conservatism at its Best - Who put the ASS in Compassion?

Who put the ASS in Compassion?
Well . . . You Be The Judge Of That.

Disclaimer: To be fair, it should be noted that, between them the President and Vice President lost 6 days of vacation time due to the horrendous consequences of Hurricane Katrina. It should also be noted that former FEMA Director, Michel Brown, is now unemployed as a direct consequence of Katrina. So rest assured America, the burden is being shared.

Compassionate Conservatism in the News

Urban Renewal, Republican Style. . .

Congressman Richard Baker, Republican - Louisiana, was quick to see the positive side of Katrina and to give credit for it as well. Quote:

"We finally cleaned up public housing in New Orleans. We couldn't do it, but God did."

Source:
Charles Babington, "Some GOP Legislators Hit Jarring Notes in Addressing Katrina," THE WASHINGTON POST, September 10, 2005. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/09/AR2005090901930.html
Richard Roeper, "Say that again? 'Things are going relatively well'," CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, September 12, 2005. http://www.suntimes.com/output/roeper/cst-nws-roep12.html

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Even though it can be scary, there's a silver lining to every hurricane. . .

Former first lady Barbara Bush in a radio interview on September 5, 2005, while speaking of the Katrina evacuees at the Astrodome found something to be alarmed about and yet saw a bright side to the disaster. Quote:

"Almost everyone I've talked to says, 'We're going to move to Houston.' What I'm hearing, which is sort of scary, is they all want to stay in Texas. . . .

And so many of the people in the arena here, you know, were underprivileged anyway, so this, this is working very well for them."

Source:
"National: The Former First Lady - Barbara Bush Calls Evacuees Better Off," THE NEW YORK TIMES, September 7, 2005. http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/07/national/nationalspecial/07barbara.html
Urban Legends Reference Pages. http://www.snopes.com/politics/quotes/barbara2.asp

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More silver linings. . .

"Now tell me the truth boys, is this kind of fun?" –House Majority Leader Tom Delay (R-TX), to three young hurricane evacuees from New Orleans at the Astrodome in Houston. as he compared their experience during the worst natural disaster ever to hit the nation to summer camp.

Source:
Charles Babington, "Some GOP Legislators Hit Jarring Notes in Addressing Katrina," THE WASHINGTON POST, September 10, 2005. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/09/AR2005090901930.html
Eric Naing, "Column: Let Them Eat Cake," DAILY ILLINI, September 12, 2005. http://www.dailyillini.com/media/paper736/news/2005/09/12/Opinions/Column.Let.Them.Eat.Cake-981704.shtml

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Perhaps George & Trent will play "Dueling Banjos" while a-sittin' on that porch. . .

President George W. Bush while speaking at Mobile Regional Airport, Mobile, Alabama, on September 2, 2005, addressed the good news surrounding the Katrina disaster. Quote:

"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."

Source:
The White House, Office of the Press Secretary, "President Arrives in Alabama, Briefed on Hurricane Katrina, Mobile Regional Airport, Mobile, Alabama," September 2, 2005. http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/09/20050902-2.html

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More Republican Urban Renewal. . .

House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) speaking of New Orleans in an interview on August 31, 2005, observed that, quote: "It looks like a lot of that place could be bulldozed."

Source:
The Associated Press, "Hastert Questions Rebuilding New Orleans," THE WASHINGTON POST, September 1, 2005. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/01/AR2005090101482.html
"Hastert Questions Rebuilding Of N.O.," JACKSON CLARION LEDGER (Mississippi), September 2, 2005. http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050902/NEWS0110/509020358/1260

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FEMA chief Michael Brown - need we say more?. . .

Speaking to CNN on September 1, 2005, the then Director of FEMA, Michael Brown, demonstrated just exactly why he would join the ranks of the unemployed ten days later. Quote:

"Considering the dire circumstances that we have in New Orleans -- virtually a city that has been destroyed -- that things are going relatively well."

Source:
"FEMA Chief: Victims Bear Some Responsibility - Brown Pleased With Effort: 'Things Are Going Relatively Well'," CNN, September 1, 2005. http://www.cnn.com/2005/WEATHER/09/01/katrina.fema.brown/

A follow up to the Michael Brown item. "Brownie, you're doing a heck of a job." –President Bush, to then FEMA director Michael Brown, while touring Hurricane-ravaged Mississippi on September 2, 2005.

Source:
John Mercurio, "Bush Works To Find Footing - Poll: Most Disapprove Of Bush's Handling Of Hurricane Katrina," CNN, September 12, 2005. http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/09/12/bush.footing/
Greg Mitchell, "'My Pet Goat' -- The Sequel," EDITOR & PUBLISHER, September 3, 2005. http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/columns/pressingissues_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001054581

Brown is consistent, if little else. Then FEMA Director Michael Brown described his upcoming agenda on the day he was relieved from his responsibility to manage Hurricane Katrina relief efforts, September 9, 2005. Quote:

"I'm going to go home and walk my dog and hug my wife, and maybe get a good Mexican meal and a stiff margarita and a full night's sleep."

Source:
Peter Baker, "Relief Chief Sent Back Home - Shakeup - Embattled Official Stripped Of Duties In Katrina Response," Washington Post byline, SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE, September 10, 2005. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2005/09/10/MNGK9ELNJO1.DTL

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We're all in this together. . .

After sacrificing two days of his vacation time because of Katrina, President Bush returned to D.C. on August 31 - Katrina hit on the 29th of course. The President observed while flying several thousand feet over the stricken region. Quote:

"It's totally wiped out. . . . It's devastating, it's got to be doubly devastating on the ground."

Source:
"Bush Flies Over Disaster Area - The President Is Expected To Visit Hurricane Sites Later This Week," CNN, August 31, 2005. http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/08/31/bush.katrina.ap/

Speaking of lost vacation days. . .

When asked by a reporter why he did not return from his vacation until three days after the Katrina hit, Vice President Dick Cheney was quick to point out that he had cut his vacation short. Quote: "I came back four days early."

Source:
Roger Simon, "A Heck Of A Job," U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT, September 12, 2005. http://www.usnews.com/usnews/opinion/articles/050912/12simon.htm

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Where does the buck stop? Halliburton's coffers?. . .

Reporter to White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan, September 6, 2005. Quote:

Q). Just to get you on the record, where does the buck stop in this administration?

A). The President.

Q). All right. So he will be held accountable as the head of the government for the federal response that he's already acknowledged was inadequate and unacceptable?

Source:
The White House, Office of the Press Secretary, "Press Briefing by Scott McClellan - James S. Brady Briefing Room," September 6, 2005. http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/09/20050906-5.html