HURRICANE KATRINA
``Brownie, you're doing a heck of a job.'' September 2, 2005

In late August 2005, while Bush was in the midst of a month-long vacation, Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast, breaking the levees protecting New Orleans. Terrified residents clung to their rooftops; more than 1,000 people died.

Many people believed the federal government should have moved more quickly and felt that Bush should have shown greater personal concern. His defenders blamed local officials while others accused him and his administration of being incompetent.