(12 Sep 2005)
1. Pan from rolling shot of flooded homes to wide of Bush in truck
2. Closeup of Bush with Mayor Ray Nagin and Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco
3. Bush ducking under downed wires
4. Blanco pointing out damage
5. Rolling shots of damaged areas of New Orleans French Quarter
6. White House Chief of Staff Andy Card speaking with Coast Guard Vice Adm. Thad Allen
7. Bush walking to reporters
8. SOUNDBITE (English) George W. Bush, US President:
"You know, my attitude is this: The storm didn't discriminate and neither will the recovery effort. When those Coast Guard choppers, many of whom were first on the scene, were pulling people off roofs, they didn't check the colour of a person's skin. They wanted to save lives.
I can assure people -- and I know from the statements at the local level as well -- that this recovery is going to be comprehensive. The rescue efforts were comprehensive and the recovery
will be comprehensive."
9. Midshot Bush
10. SOUNDBITE (English) George W. Bush, US President:
"Look, there will be plenty of time to play the blame game, That's what you're trying to do. You're trying to say somebody is at fault. And, look, I want to know. I want to know exactly what went on and how it went on."
11. Wideshot Bush
12. SOUNDBITE (English) George W. Bush, US President:
"It is preposterous to claim that the engagement in Iraq meant there wasn't enough troops here. It's pure and simple."
13. Reporters
14. Bush walking to helicopter with Mayor Ray Nagin and Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco
STORYLINE:
President Bush denied on Monday there was any racial component to people being left behind after Hurricane Katrina, despite suggestions from some critics that the response would have been quicker if so many of the victims hadn't been poor and black.
Bush made the remarks to reporters beneath a highway overpass at the end of a tour that took him through several flooded New Orleans neighbourhoods. Occasionally, Bush had to duck to avoid low-hanging electrical wires and branches.
It was Bush's first exposure to the on-the-ground leadership of his new hurricane relief chief. The federal response to the disaster has been roundly criticised as sluggish and inept.
In a sign that Bush is growing weary of the accusations, he testily replied to a reporter who asked whether he felt let down by federal officials on the ground.
He also sharply rejected suggestions that the nation's military was stretched too thinly with the war in Iraq to deal with the Gulf Coast devastation.
Bush said Congress should consider whether the federal government should have more authority to step into disaster areas without a request from the states.
He said lawmakers should examine what happened and make recommendations for change so the government can prepare for future disasters, including the possibility of a biological attack.
Later, he was to tour hard-hit surrounding parishes by helicopter, touching down to meet with local leaders, and then was travelling to Gulfport, Miss.
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