Air America's Randi Rhodes: Bush "Takes A Lot Of Joy About Losing People"

        There's been a lot of doozies from liberal voices this past week in the wake of hurricane Katrina, but as Brian Maloney at The Radio Equalizer noted, a recognition must be made to Air America's Randi Rhodes. The anti-Bush vitriol from the left continues to reach new lows. From her show this past Wednesday (August 31, 2005):

RHODES: "This President is never gonna do the right thing. I think somewhere deep down inside him he takes a lot of joy about losing people, if he thinks that they vote Democrat or if he thinks they're poor, or if he thinks they're in a blue state, whatever his reasons are not to rescue those people who are (planning?) for their safety."

        Shawn Wasson at Bare Knuckle Politics has the audio.

        "Takes a lot of joy about losing people"?? Pathetic.

        Rhodes also advances the story that President Bush's response to Katrina was to "play golf." However, this writer has yet to find even one reputable news item that confirms that this was the case. On Monday morning (August 29, 2005), the President appeared at a "round-table-type" event about Medicare at the Pueblo El Mirage RV and Golf Resort in El Mirage, Arizona, but there is no report of the President actually playing golf there (link).

        In addition ... There has obviously been a lot of criticism that the Bush administration did not have their eye on Katrina and that they did not take proper precautions. However, the press gaggle on Friday, August 25, 2005, well before the storm hit, reveals that the administration was well aware of the potential dangers of Katrina (link to Crawford press briefing).

TRENT DUFFY: "Let me say a quick note about Tropical Storm Katrina. The President has been informed regularly about the tropical storm ... The government is ready, we're watching, and we're taking steps to make sure that people get to safe areas or take the proper precautions from the storm. We're also moving to ensure that all relief and recovery resources are in place so that these efforts can take place real time following any storm event." (emphasis mine)