Hit and Run:

I would just add that there is nothing inherent in the nature of government that makes it fuck up big emergencies. The U.S. government much of the time is damn good about handling big emergencies. (You could argue about day to day things, long term thinking, and individual cases - but giant huge disasters? Usually our government is right on top of doing stuff.)

The problem is not the U.S. government in general, but this administration. Most major natural disasters have gotten quick (if imperfect) responses I don't remember anything this big being this under-responded to in my lifetime (which started in December of 1959). And if you go back before my lifetime, Eisenhower, Truman and Roosevelt could have all handled this kind of thing in their sleep. Hell your average eleven year old could have handled it better than the bastard currently in charge.

And Bush's staff did not inform him, because he tends to fire people who bring him bad news, unless Rove decides to ruin their lives instead.

A lot of people are nostalgic for Clinton. Hell at this point, compared to Bush, I'll take Zombie!Nixon. Plei's love for the old war criminal Kissinger is hereby forgiven. Fire Bush and put Kissinger in charge. We've tried stupid evil. Give us an evil genius or at least an evil non-dumbshit instead.

So - Rant n' Run done. I'm off. (Someone is shaking their head and saying "aren't you, though?")

I want President Bartlett.

We've tried stupid evil. Give us an evil genius or at least an evil non-dumbshit instead.

Typo, me lad, if you had a lead ... it got buried.

I skimmed.

We've tried stupid evil. Give us an evil genius or at least an evil non-dumbshit instead.

I'd be far more accepting of evil if it was forthright about it. "We're doing all this to benefit ourselves and the small group of people we like!" All this claiming-to-be-good? Too confusing.

Yes, I'm kidding.

Sigh.

"We're doing all this to benefit ourselves and the small group of people we like!"

Oddly enough, I could do this. Don't yank my lib-creds!

Check it. A year ago, New Orleans was only on our radar to the extent of an F2F.

Ahem. Possibly not on your radar.

Hi people.

HEATHER!

I skipped, since I spent the day driving first along the coast and then through the hills just next to the coast. It was hella beautiful, and there was pie.

How were people's days?

Heather! How are you? How are your people? How are things in your neck of the woods? You have been in my thoughts.

HI!

My day was long. I had to work at the store and there were no customers. I tried on hats instead.

I took Oz outside and he found a stick. This means he can happily chew on his stick instead of my knitting or my shoes. It's a magical stick.