Political Cortex: Ode to "Bush, Chertoff Being Warned About Levee Failure From Katrina"

Ode to "Bush, Chertoff Being Warned About Levee Failure From Katrina"

By Tom Ball
03/02/2006 02:10:11 PM EST

The AP yesterday released a videotape,
Disallowing Chertoff and Bush to escape...

...the castigation deserved for the Katrina disaster,
For being forewarned but not acting faster.

NOLA Mayor Nagin said of the tape, he was "shocked",
Where was Bush when the Bayou was rocked?

Well, the August 28 conference showed many officials warn,
Of things such as 'levee failure' from the Hurricane's scorn.

But Bush sat silent at the briefing 'fore Katrina struck,
Perhaps he was considering how to best pass the buck.

Nevertheless, before disaster hit, Bush assured us,
'we're fully prepared' - into oblivion he lured us.

Since Bush Ignores warnings of all that matters,
New Orleans was left alone and in tatters.

So further evidence this is of an administration aloof
Led by a smirking, self-righteous, goof.

(fin)

Watch the Video

Media Response:

ABC World News Tonight: noted Bush "assured officials on the video conference tape that the government was fully prepared,"

CBS Evening News: reported the tapes "clearly show that top officials of the Bush Administration and the President himself were fully briefed about the devastating potential of Katrina and the dire possibility that the levees may fail."

NBC Nightly News: reported, "Critics charge the tape shows the Bush Administration was warned how deadly the storm would be but wasn't ready. They also note the President didn't ask any questions that day. But a transcript obtained by NBC News of a teleconference the next day paints a very different portrait of the President. In it, FEMA Director Michael Brown says he has already talked to the President twice and its only noon. Brown says the President is very engaged and asking a lot of really good questions."

Points and People:

Max Mayfield of the National Hurricane Center

President George W. Bush

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff

A transcript of an Aug. 29 briefing was also released Wednesday, though it received far less prominent coverage than the Aug. 28 video.