Bush FIFTH to repeat bogus bullet-dodging headline

Just seconds ago, as it happens, speaking from New Orleans. Only this time, it wasn't all those phantom newspapers. He heard it "probably over the airwaves." I suppose that's harder to disprove, although it's still a total lie.

"We anticipated a serious storm coming." But then "people" were saying "the bullet has been dodged," so apparently they continued to do the nothing that they had done after declaring a federal emergency two days before Katrina hit.

Bush was also denying accusations that race played any role in this. But if you listen to right-wing pundits (e.g., George Will yesterday on 'This Weak'), they're already using classic GOP code words like "dependency" and "birth out of wedlock."

They're on the ropes, and they keep saying "finger-pointing," "we aren't looking back," and trying to deflect all responsibility to Louisiana officials-- who had, of course, turned the situation over to the feds several days in advance.

I'm no longer one to underestimate the ability of these guys to weasel out of responsibility for anything, but with Bush seemingly unable to do anything but repeat catchphrases, his now historically-low approval ratings don't stand much chance of recovery.

UPDATE: As even the Wall Street Journal points out today: No major newspaper printed a headline that literally said New Orleans "dodged a bullet," as Mr. Chertoff claimed. But some did say the city had escaped a direct hit -- which was true, but misleading -- while others focused on the levees along the Mississippi River. Meanwhile, it was the levees along canals extending south from Lake Pontchartrain that gave way.

Of course, I shouldn't fault the Wall Street Journal across the board-- it's an excellent paper that just happens to have an opinion page run by extremists.