Bush Lied, People Died
Katrina edition

A horrifying video released by the Associated Press proves Dubya was given a clear urgent early warning about the size and scope of Katrina and the likely breach of the levees:

On the eve of Hurricane Katrina's fateful landfall, President Bush was confident. His homeland security chief appeared relaxed. And warnings of the coming destruction — breached or overrun levees, deaths at the New Orleans Superdome and overwhelming needs for post-storm rescues — were delivered in dramatic terms to all involved. All of it was captured on videotape.

and

The president didn't ask a single question during the briefing but assured soon-to-be-battered state officials: "We are fully prepared."

and of course

The White House and Homeland Security Department urged the public Wednesday not to read too much into the footage.

"I hope people don't draw conclusions from the president getting a single briefing," Bush spokesman Trent Duffy said, citing a variety of orders and disaster declarations Bush signed before the storm made landfall. "He received multiple briefings from multiple officials, and he was completely engaged at all times."

...And he didn't do jack about it for days, just kept on eating cake and playing guitar. The media is dancing around this ("this APPEARS to contradict statements made by the president a few days later"), but as August explains, this is called LYING.

Pandagon has quotes from disgusting conservative attempts to explain this away. And Greg Saunders at This Modern World has some damning photo comparisons.

See also my previous Katrina cartoons:
• "Questions"
• "The Brighter Side of Hurricane Katrina"
• "Let Them Eat Toxic Sludge!"