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George W. Bush's Very Awkward Trip To New Orleans

by Lauren Barbato

This week marks the 10th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, one of the deadliest hurricanes to ever strike the United States. When Katrina made landfall in Louisiana, just outside of New Orleans, the storm clocked winds up to 125 miles per hour — a category three hurricane with a devastating range. More than 50 levees in and surrounding New Orleans crumbled, leaving 80 percent of the vibrant Louisiana city underwater. A decade later, former President George W. Bush visited New Orleans to commemorate Katrina, but his presence is not necessarily a welcomed one. Bush was, after all, widely blamed for Katrina's deadly and chaotic aftermath, and the disaster soured his already less-than-favorable legacy.

When Bush returned to New Orleans on Friday with his wife, former first lady Laura Bush, there were a few... inelegant moments, to say the least. The former president, who acknowledged in his 2010 memoir that it's easy "to blame" the president following a national disaster, was greeted Friday by high school students, brass bands, and overly-eager local officials. But many New Orleans residents don't forget those Bush effigies so easily — in fact, some residents are still carrying them around.

Here are the three most awkward scenes from Bush's trip back to New Orleans. It wasn't exactly Kanye West's infamous "Bush doesn't care about black people" line, but it does come close.

Selfies With His "Success" Stories

According to the Associated Press, Bush chose to deliver his 10th anniversary remarks at Warren Easton Charter High School, which the former president also visited in 2006. The school was one of Bush's only "success" stories to come out of Hurricane Katrina; the school was severely impacted by flood waters and almost didn't reopen. School administrators, however, credit Bush for keeping the school going. Yet when Warren Easton reopened in 2006, most of its students were still homeless, their families having lost their permanent shelter in the devastating storm.

But, look! Bush cares about these kids, and they actually like him! (Or selfies. Most likely, they just like selfies.)

Joe Raedle/Getty Images News/Getty Images

Breaking Out Into Dance

Joe Raedle/Getty Images News/Getty Images

Always known to bust out a move or two, Bush took some time out to get down outside Warren Easton Charter High School as the school marching band played some celebratory music. It's been 10 years — New Orleans is happy and lively now, right, guys?

Joe Raedle/Getty Images News/Getty Images

Reliving His "Fond" Memories Of Katrina

Joe Raedle/Getty Images News/Getty Images

During his remarks Friday, Bush said Katrina wasn't all that bad. "In spite of the devastation, we have many fond memories," the former president said, speaking to one of the local officials in the audience. "I remember sitting...on top of one of those big ships, strategizing. I think you were drinking. I wasn't, of course."

Yes, just kicking back while over 1,800 lost their lives and more than 20,000 people remained stranded with meager supplies in the Superdome. Super fond memories, Dubya.