In the all the hoo-rah about the President (sorta kinda) "taking responsibility" for the poor response to Katrina, most folks are missing the classic Rovian strawman tucked into the statement:
Bush praised the first responders and the U.S. Coast Guard, who risked their lives to rescue New Orleans residents stranded on their rooftops.
"I'm not going to defend the process going in, but I will defend the people on the front line of saving lives," Bush said.
Defending the people on the front line ... from what? Who's criticizing them? Nobody!
Does this sound familiar? It should. On of the classic Bush League responses to criticism on their bungling of Iraq is to pretend that it's the troops being criticized.
Gods, how I would love to see anyone call Bush out on this. All it would take is one reporter. "But Mr. President, nobody's criticizing the people on the front line. They're criticizing you. Stop trying to hide behind the people on the front line."