Words to Live By -- Worst Lines From Hurricane Katrina Response

Politicians have got to be singing the blues over some of the words that slipped out of their mouths over the course of Katrina and it's aftermath.

Steve Martin once said, "Some people have a way with words. ... And some people... not...have...way, I guess."

Here are some of the examples of "not...have...way" from politicians, bureaucrats, and others in the wake of Katrina.

"We finally cleaned up public housing in New Orleans. We couldn't do it, but God did." -- Rep. Richard Baker (R-LA), quoted by the Wall Street Journal (Thanks to PoliticalWire.com)

"Brownie, you're doing a heck of a job." -- President Bush to FEMA Director Mike Brown, September 2, 2005

"He’s done a hell of a job, because I’m not aware of any Arabian horses being killed in this storm.” — Kate Hale, former Miami-Dade emergency management chief, on Mike Brown, who was fired from his last civilian job -- organizing horse shows

"The good news is -- and it's hard for some to see it now -- that out of this chaos is going to come a fantastic Gulf Coast, like it was before. Out of the rubbles of Trent Lott's house -- he's lost his entire house -- there's going to be a fantastic house. And I'm looking forward to sitting on the porch." -- President Bush, September 2, 2005

"I don't think anybody anticipated the breach of the levees." -- President Bush on Good Morning America, September 1, 2005. The Army Corps of Engineers had known for years the levees could easily breach in a Category 4 or 5 hurricane like Katrina. The New Orleans Times-Picayune ran a five part series in 2002 exposing the risk.

"The point is if you look at the big picture, it’s [the hurricane response is] a phenomenal accomplishment by everybody involved. It’s unbelievable." -- House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-TX), in a speech on the House Floor, September 8, 2005

"I've got this down." -- Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, Sunday, September 4 on an open mike commenting about his performance on television interviews. He self-distructed moments later in a live interview with NBC's Tim Russert, contradicting what video showed, what the Times-Picayune had predicted three years ago, and even denying what he'd said in answers to previous questions.

"Every person in that convention center, we just learned about them today." -- FEMA Director Mike Brown on "Today," Thursday, September 1 -- three days after newspapers and all TV news networks had been reporting on the thousands of people trapped at the center.

"And so many of the people in the arena here, you know, were underprivileged anyway, so this…this [Chuckles slightly] is working very well for them.” — former first lady Barbara Bush, on NPR

"George Bush doesn't care about black people!" -- Rapper Kayne West on NBC's Concert for the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, September 2, 2005

"George Bush hates midgets!" -- Comedian Chris Rock's subtle commentary on Kayne West's speech, Shelter from the Storm benefit concert, September 9, 2002

"Judge Roberts can be thankful that a tragedy has brought him some good.” — TV Preacher Pat Robertson on how Katrina coverage would take media attention off John Roberts' confirmation hearings

"All of my family members there are safe, and thank you to all my fans for your concern.” —Britney Spears, on her website, "Katrina" likely scratched off the list of potential baby names -- we can only hope

On the "Blame Game":

"Some just want us to engage in the blame game" -- White House Spokesman, Scott McClellan

"One of the things people want us to do is play the blame game." -- President Bush

"The media has a fascination with the blame game." -- Former President George H.W. Bush

"You're not going to suck me into that blame game." -- FEMA Director Mike Brown

"When people do not want to play the blame game, they're to blame." -- Jon Stewart, Comedy Central's "The Daily Show," Meet the F**ckers.

About.com has a list of the 25 Dumbest Statements in Katrina's aftermath -- plus some that didn't make the cut.

(Various sources, but special thanks to RadarOnline for not letting some of the best, worst, and dumbest one-liners slip by under the radar)