Timeline of a Catastrophe

A year ago today, President Bush was playing a guitar (see it, here) while the Gulf Coast lay in ruins and the City of New Orleans drowned...

President Bush:

• Bush Continued PR Tour To Turn Around Lagging Support For Iraq At 12pm ET In Coronado, CA. "Concluding a monthlong vacation marked by antiwar protests outside his Texas home and a rising death toll in Iraq, President Bush on Tuesday invoked the anniversary of the Japanese surrender in World War II and the postwar rebirth of that country as a parallel to present-day U.S. efforts in the Middle East. Bush spoke against the dramatic backdrop of the Ronald Reagan, a 1,092-foot, nuclear-powered aircraft carrier docked at North Island Naval Air Station. The picturesque setting, enthusiastic crowd and historical references contrasted sharply with the political realities facing Bush as he returns today to Washington, where some lawmakers have begun comparing Iraq to Vietnam, a war with far more negative connotations than the Allied victory over Japan and Nazi Germany. Bush's speech Tuesday marked the latest of his several recent efforts to turn around public opinion on the war" [Los Angeles Times, 8/31/05; MSNBC, 8/30/05]

• Bush Played Guitar With Country Singer After His Remarks In Coronado, 3pm ET. "President Bush plays a guitar presented to him by Country Singer Mark Wills, right, backstage following his visit to Naval Base Coronado, Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2005." [AP Photo/ABC News]

The Gulf Coast:

• Looting And Chaos Take Over In New Orleans. "Law enforcement efforts to contain the emergency left by Katrina slipped into chaos in parts of New Orleans Tuesday -- with some police officers and firefighters even joining looters in picking stores clean.At the Wal-Mart on Tchoupitoulas Street, an initial effort to hand out provisions to stranded citizens quickly disintegrated into mass looting. Authorities at the scene said bedlam erupted after the giveaway was announced over the radio. 'We don't have enough cops to stop it,' an officer said. 'A mass riot would break out if you tried.'" [New Orleans Times Picayune, 8/31/05]

• Mayor Of New Orleans Warned Flood Waters Will Continue To Rise Rapidly. The catastrophic flooding that filled the bowl that is New Orleans on Monday and Tuesday will only get worse over the next few days because rainfall from Hurricane Katrina continues to flow into Lake Pontchartrain from north shore rivers and streams, and east winds and a 17.5-foot storm crest on the Pearl River block the outflow water through the Rigolets and Chef Menteur Pass..New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin warned Tuesday evening that an attempt to plug the holes in the 17th Street Canal had failed, and the floodwaters were expected to continue to rise rapidly throughout the night. Eventually, Nagin said, the water could reach as high as 3 feet above sea level, meaning it could rise to 12 to 15 feet high in some parts of the city." [New Orleans Times Picayune, 8/31/05]
  

For a full comparision, see the research document, "Timeline of a Catastrophe".

Comments (1) «

Honestly, when I saw the coverage of Katrina, I couldn't believe it was happening. The city of New Orleans was in chaos. I had to rub my eyes to truly realize that this was happening in the U.S., not that we are immune from things going from bad to worse. The elderly were literally dieing in the wheel chairs. It appeared to be lawless in the streets. People looked to be stretched thin, beyond normalcy. But, the shock of all was the slow response of our government, as Bush patted Brownie's back. At the same time, people were figurtively scratching their eyes out. This whole debacle was appalling at best.

1

jriddler on August 31, 2006 at 12:36 AM

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