Jan 17, 2010 9:00am
Bush On Lessons from Previous Disasters: Don’t Set Expectations Too High
EmailIn my This Week interview with the ex-Presidents, I asked President Bush about what lessons from past disaster relief efforts can be applied to Haiti. Mr. Bush said managing expectations is key. He told me, “expectations are never met,” and added “the president is going to have to do his very best to set proper expectations”. “I thought he did so today,” Mr. Bush said of the current President.
President Bush of course was widely criticized for the government's handling of rescue and relief in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, though he also received many high marks for his emergency relief fund for AIDS.
Watch Video HERE:
- jpt
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All right President Bush!! Very good response to Jake Tapper’s question.
Posted by: Sharonkathleen | January 17, 2010, 11:41 am 11:41 am
Of course we need Bush helping with this disaster, he had such a great record with the disasters during his terms! In fact, he was a disaster, right?
Posted by: expatriate | January 17, 2010, 11:52 am 11:52 am
ASKING BUSH FOR ADVICE IA A DISASTER. ALL HE DID WAS TAKE AIR FORCE ONE FOR A SCENIC VIEW OF NEW ORLEANS AND WASTE FUEL LIKE OBAMA WASTES FUEL FLYING TO BOSTON TO KEEP “CROAKLEY” FROM BEING A DISASSTER.
Posted by: COLUMBO | January 17, 2010, 12:06 pm 12:06 pm
There isn’t anyone in the US that knows more about low expectations than Bush. He is the expert.
Posted by: imkayos | January 17, 2010, 12:14 pm 12:14 pm
He’s no longer the president so we should leave him alone. Iran is developing a bomb. Talk about scary.
Posted by: statusquo | January 17, 2010, 12:38 pm 12:38 pm
There is a saying, “I complained I have no shoes until I saw a man who has no feet”. I complained about Mr. Bush until I saw Mr. Obama. Mr. Obama is ruining our our country from within.
Posted by: young_voter | January 17, 2010, 12:41 pm 12:41 pm
Of course we need Bush helping with this disaster, he had such a great record with the disasters during his terms!
expatriate | Jan 17, 2010 11:52:20 AM
Bush’s finest hour was the response to the tsunami disaster. Bush had an initial PR fumble, but the actions on the ground were excellent, saved lives, and gave America a much needed image boost. I am partisan and a big Obama supporter, but I am proud as an American to give credit where it is due.
Posted by: jhw539 | January 17, 2010, 1:47 pm 1:47 pm
Some of you need to get over it, leave President Bush, alone, as a Demo, I have moved on, He and President Clinton, can make a difference,lets say a prayer for them and the people of Haiti…
Posted by: ArtfromCali | January 17, 2010, 2:28 pm 2:28 pm
Mr Bush was the president of America. Have some respect for the man. He has a great role to play in this disaster.
Posted by: David | January 17, 2010, 2:53 pm 2:53 pm
During the Fort Hood shootings I read where Bush and his wife very quietly went to the aid of the families of the victims. I think he is being very polite and diplomatic in this situation and stated he wants to work out of the spotlight and do whatever he can to help the President and the people of Haiti.
He knows as does most of us that you can never do enough in terrible situations but you’ll never be able to do everything you want and need to do.
And to those who are critical of anyone in an effort like this….Karma.
Posted by: david | January 17, 2010, 3:17 pm 3:17 pm
all you people who critize Bush for Katrina are a bunch of idiots. Bush spent more money on Africa than anyone in the history of the world and thats a fact. And he did alot more for the victims of Katrina than most of you realize. He has a solid record when it comes to disaster relief and Obama knows it. Too bad there are so many people out there who love to hate our presidents.
Posted by: guice99 | January 17, 2010, 4:44 pm 4:44 pm
When the people realize that politicians are merely mouthpieces sucking of the teats of the taxpayer, the better off they will be. Most of them couldn’t change a flat tire, but will tell you how your money should be spent to fix a tire after the flat tire committee spends months figuring out flat tires. Technicians are required for global survival, not the bums who want your money for great and cushy lives.
Posted by: ronnierayjenkins | January 17, 2010, 5:06 pm 5:06 pm
You have to remember one thing-this is NOT our country-anything we do there is a plus. We don’t measure this against Katrina or Andrew!
Posted by: navyborn | January 17, 2010, 5:37 pm 5:37 pm
In this day in age it is sad to say that the poorest nation in the western hemisphere is going to get the foreign aid it so desperately needed. With the majority of the population being people of color (black) the world stood by while famine and disease rocked this nation and stereo-typed it to the point where it was considered deplorable.Lets hope that we can make a difference for the children and the future of Haiti.
Posted by: Robert Evans | January 17, 2010, 7:00 pm 7:00 pm
There were three great disasters during Mr. Bush’s term. 9-11, Katrina, the Tsunami. He did pretty well in the two where the Dems were not involved in trying to shift the blame.
Let’s face it, Katrina did not even hit New Orleans directly, it hit Mississippi. The problem in New Orleans was mainly due to years of corruption and mis-appropriation of the funds intended to maintain the levies, and years of Democrat control in both City and State which failed to plan for just such an eventuality, and extremely poor Democrat decisions during the actual problem.
Realizing this, the Dems in Congress went back to the old playbook, demonize Mr. Bush.
Fortunately the people of the state saw the truth and threw the Dems out of office in the State. There is probably no hope for the corrupt morass of New Orleans.
Posted by: csbd | January 17, 2010, 9:03 pm 9:03 pm
Bush is certainly the poster boy for expectations not being met. Finally a topic he can speak with authority on.
Posted by: hopesprings52 | January 17, 2010, 11:22 pm 11:22 pm
Bush himself is the greatest disaster ever hit the Americas, perhaps the world!
Posted by: Rafael_49 | January 17, 2010, 11:52 pm 11:52 pm
I am a West Indian and I am appalled at the way Mr Bush has been treated by so many Americans. In my opinion he is one of one the most decent honest, God fearing Presidents ever in the history of the United States of America. He should not be blamed for the Katrina fiasco and he in my opinion did well in the way he responded to the 911 attack on the USA. Terrorists should not be treated with “kids Gloves”. Enough said.
Posted by: David | January 18, 2010, 12:34 am 12:34 am
David | Jan 18, 2010 12:34:07 AM -> “In my opinion he is one of one the most decent honest, God fearing Presidents ever in the history of the United States of America.” <- ROFL!!!
Posted by: ringo3 | January 18, 2010, 1:01 am 1:01 am
I commend Mr Bush and Mr Clinton for working together to help the people of Haiti. I’ve always felt that both of these men had a good heart and as president cared to work in a bipartisan way. It’s so different now with Obama – he breeds so much contempt.
Posted by: TM | January 18, 2010, 2:19 am 2:19 am
It’s not over till it’s over and considering Mr Bush’s past I think its a very noble thing he is trying to do now.He may yet still prove us all wrong.Along with his admittance that the Iraq invasion was badly handled and mistakes were made I think we are finally starting to see a side to him we never knew existed.
Posted by: Laurence | January 18, 2010, 5:40 am 5:40 am
Clearly Bush and Cheney are still at the helm of the secret Haliburton disasterizer machine and are at fault for all these disasters.
Posted by: Sigmonde | January 18, 2010, 6:25 am 6:25 am
I’ll NEVER cease to be amazed at the whipping GWB took and continues to take over the debacle of Katrina which was the biggest example of fraud and corruption I’ve seen in my lifetime. BILLIONS of US taxdollars were thrown down a black hole down there but who got blamed for the waste, fraud and corruption from one of the most crooked states in the country? George Bush, whose only mistake was expecting the cash to eventually help.
Private charities alone gave $4.25 billion to Katrina relief…the largest one-time response in the history of American philanthropy or the world for that matter.
Does anyone even have a total of the tens of billions of tax dollars that were spent? The stories of FEMA credit cards being used to buy Louis Vuitton handbags and spent at strip clubs should tell us a lot about how little billions spent can help.
And now we have a president upping the ante into the trillions.
Posted by: sallyfarrar | January 18, 2010, 7:49 am 7:49 am
George Bush was a complete and utter disaster as a president but that administration is over and it is time for us to move beyond the past. He is trying to do the right thing here and it is time for people to back off and let him contribute what he can. He can get support and contributions from people who would never offer it to dems. This is about Haiti and innocent people are suffering. Helping them is what America is all about. Peace All
Posted by: Robert | January 18, 2010, 8:47 am 8:47 am
Smart of Obama to bring in the experienced guys to help in Haiti.
GWB is right…you cannot get things fixed overnight in a natural disaster like this.
Posted by: S,Morgan | January 18, 2010, 9:33 am 9:33 am
Funny how the left keeps carping on W about Katrina but yet votes back in the clown Naggin who was mainly responsibile for the mess and continued mess.
Posted by: Kabookey | January 18, 2010, 9:39 am 9:39 am
BOy I am so glad he is the “X” President…not a bad man but for sure an idiot!
Posted by: Michael R | January 18, 2010, 2:59 pm 2:59 pm
Notice that President Bush was gracious in complimenting and supporting President Obama’s efforts in response to the Haiti earthquake… no political cheap shots, no snide remarks, but a little open advice from someone who’s been in the hotseat himself. President Bush showed class in this interview and for those of you who use this opportunity to demean him further, shame on you. Put your energies into helping Haiti.
Posted by: Steve Brown | January 18, 2010, 5:10 pm 5:10 pm
Why are we exporting our two biggest disasters (except maybe for Ronnie Raygun)to Haiti? Don’t those people have enough problems?
Is Mr. Bushie gonna help bury bodies? Claw through the wreckage and uncover still alive people? Pass out food and water and move around pallets of supplies? What can that utter moron possibly do but get in the way with his Secret Service contingencies and his limosines and press corps, all fawning over his every word again, like anything he ever said was worth listening to!
Posted by: signalfire | January 18, 2010, 9:01 pm 9:01 pm
Excellent statement. I hope Obama learns from Bush. One year later, he is still campaigning and blaming his predecessor. It is getting old.
————————————–
Notice that President Bush was gracious in complimenting and supporting President Obama’s efforts in response to the Haiti earthquake… no political cheap shots, no snide remarks, but a little open advice from someone who’s been in the hotseat himself. President Bush showed class in this interview and for those of you who use this opportunity to demean him further, shame on you. Put your energies into helping Haiti. – Steve Brown
Posted by: June | January 19, 2010, 4:21 am 4:21 am
I want to fully support the comments made by Steve Brown. Mr Bush will be able to make a worthwhile contribution to the efforts of the US government to bring much needed relief to the people of Haiti. He was a TWO time president of the United States of America, and has much experience to make a great difference in the relief efforts and the efforts towards reconstruction and economic stabilty in this disaster-ridden country.
Posted by: David | January 19, 2010, 11:23 am 11:23 am
There is only so much that can be done, to mobilize and provide relief, at the drop of a hat.
Especially when most of the world, expects the US to do it all, while they stand idly by.
One only has to look at the global map, to see that Haiti’s nearest neighbor is the Dominican Republic. So far, no mention of assistance. For all intent and purposes, Venzuela, Colombia, and most of Central America, and Mexico, are all just as close to Haiti, as the US. So far, absolutely no mention of any aid from any of those countries.
So far, other than the UN people already in the country, Only the US, and the UK, have been mentioned at all, in the relief effort, and the UK, only in a minimal way.
Sure is nice to see, how many countries are willing to help another.
Now we know why the US is always expected to save the world. No one else gives a hoot.
Posted by: Rick McDaniel | January 19, 2010, 12:23 pm 12:23 pm
Thank you President Bush for being a true American. Not only were you correct in saying “don’t expect too much with Haiti” you also said “let’s not politicalize it.” First republican I agreed with all year. At least you are honest and realize it is better to be truthful than to be polarizing.
Posted by: talmag | January 19, 2010, 3:24 pm 3:24 pm
I still have a hard time believing this man was twice elected, even if he didn’t win the popular vote in 2000. When the going gets tough, lower your expectations is the message I receive from his statements. The man really never succeeded at anything with respect to his professional endeavors in the private sector. I am embarrassed as an American.
Posted by: ryan | January 19, 2010, 4:56 pm 4:56 pm
Your a good man President Bush
Posted by: Michael McMahon | January 19, 2010, 5:08 pm 5:08 pm
Bush left this Country in a Super Big Hole and President Obama can’t make miracles to fix it! :(
Posted by: Maria | January 19, 2010, 10:39 pm 10:39 pm
You cant blame President Bush for the financial situation in the country, including the terrible housing crisis. Blame should be put squarely on the shoulders of the Executives, CEOs of Companies and Banking officials who through inefficiency, greed and corruption dragged the country into this terrible mess. It is now the duty to Mr Obama to find ways to repair the damage and move on. If he is unable to do that, then it is the choice of the voters to choose, in the next presidential election someone more competent to do the job. Like Mitt Romney for instance.
Posted by: David | January 20, 2010, 4:28 am 4:28 am
The “duty of Mr Obama” I meant to write.
Posted by: David | January 20, 2010, 4:29 am 4:29 am
Oh Mr Bush you make it sound all better when you speak so softly, yet your consciousness is so crorrupted and full of lies. Is not to late for you to discover the goblet of truth.
Posted by: usaupinsmoke | January 20, 2010, 2:05 pm 2:05 pm
Sigmonde | Jan 18, 2010 6:25:13 AM,
Sounds like a joke about the ‘secret Haliburton disasterizer machine’– it certainly made me laugh.
Some people seem to think that Bush is a maniacal, evil, genius, while being the most bumbling, funmbling, idiot.. all at the same time!
Posted by: kevin | January 21, 2010, 9:54 am 9:54 am
Lessons on bush:
Don’t set your expectations too high-it’ll mean disaster!
Posted by: Nunya Bidniss | January 22, 2010, 8:50 am 8:50 am
Bush giving advise………..now that funny!!!!
Posted by: antonio | January 23, 2010, 9:42 am 9:42 am
GOD FORBIDE BUSH/CLINTON? the usa a tragedy, happening as I type
Posted by: ark54 | January 24, 2010, 2:31 am 2:31 am
who cares about bush/clinton? why should any taxpaying American care? What have they done, what are they going to do? You reckon give me a 50,000 check to deposit in my bank account?
Posted by: ark54 | January 24, 2010, 2:36 am 2:36 am