Bush: I TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS FAILURES
HERE IS THE LINK TO THE WHITE HOUSE
UPDATE From FOX NEWS
“I take full responsibility for the federal government’s response. And a year ago, I made a pledge that we will learn the lessons of Katrina and that we will do what it takes to help you recover,” the president told Crescent City residents at a high school gymnasium.
Many of the first responders who came to help the trapped residents of New Orleans performed heroic feats of rescue, Bush said, but the death and despair left behind when the floodwaters receded demonstrated it was not enough.
“Unfortunately, the hurricane also brought terrible scenes we never thought we’d see in America,” Bush said. “Citizens drowned in their attics. Desperate mothers crying out on national TV for food and water. A breakdown of law and order and a government, at all levels, that fell short of its responsibilities.
“When the rain stopped, this wounded city was laid bare and our television screens showed faces worn down by poverty and despair. And for most of you, the storms were only the beginning of our difficulties.”
To help people still suffering from Katrina, Bush said the government is working to get federal money quickly to the people. He was applauded loudly when he promised to ask Congress for legislation giving Louisiana a bigger share of royalties from offshore oil and gas drilling. The state now receives less than 2 percent of the royalties, and Gov. Kathleen Blanco and Louisiana’s congressional delegation are demanding more.
Bush also tried to enlist companies to return to the city, telling them that they will be rewarded with loyal customers if they start investing now, when New Orleans most needs the infusion of business and cash.
The president said any rebirth of the city must include improvements to the poor-performing school system. In remarks introducing the president, Laura Bush urged teachers nationwide to come to the region to teach.
“We know that families can’t move back unless there’s schools for the kids and so education is one of the most important parts of the recovery,” she said.
“This city occupies a unique place in America’s cultural landscape and the recovery won’t be complete until New Orleanians return home and their culture is restored,” she said.
I will update this when the transcript becomes available, but during his televised speech marking the 1 year anniversary of Hurricaine Katrina, he admitted mistakes on all levels of government, but he takes full responsibility for the federal governments failures….
August 29, 2006 - 01:20 PM on August 29th, 2006
I’m really looking forward to the transcript. I hope he allocutes his own specific failures rather than wasting my time with obscure references to stuff he didn’t have any control over.
..Chuck..
August 29, 2006 - 01:47 PM on August 29th, 2006
Chuck, I just did the update!
August 30, 2006 - 12:48 PM on August 30th, 2006
I was hoping for something along the lines of, “I’m sorry for appointing someone who was dangerously unqualified to run FEMA.”
..Chuck..
August 30, 2006 - 02:02 PM on August 30th, 2006
I believe that came out last year when Brownie resigned. GWB took responsibility for the feds, but as he said, there was failure at all levels and the beginning of the downfall started at the local level.
August 30, 2006 - 02:42 PM on August 30th, 2006
Saying “I take full responsibility” means that he takes full responsibility. That means he doesn’t pass the blame in the next breath.
If I’d done such a thing as a child, I’d have been grounded until I forgot what the sun looked like.
..Chuck..
August 30, 2006 - 03:29 PM on August 30th, 2006
Where did he pass the blame? He took full responsibility for the feds. That is his area, not the local and state failures. He did try to take control of the state, but Blanco wouldn’t cede the power to him…so that falls on Blanco.
August 30, 2006 - 03:36 PM on August 30th, 2006
No offense folks, but politicians pass blame all the time. It is a prerequisite for the job. look at Nagin, Blanco, Bush, Tricky Dick, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter…..
“The buck stops here”. Not any more. The buck is now a hot potato.
August 30, 2006 - 04:04 PM on August 30th, 2006
On that we can agree.