And do you have the same opinion about President Bush?

Scrooge: What, you'd prefer Cheney?

He he Actually, neither of them.

And please don't think I'm picking on you, because that's not my intent. I've just noticed a trend among a few that will state the inadequacies go right on up the line, will bash Blanco and Nagin to high heaven, but are curiously silent when it comes to the fed's role in all this.

I hope you don't mean me, my dearest Scrooge. I have plainly said that the deficiencies of the feds are apparent and appalling, and urged the resignation of Brown as an unqualified boob. I bash Blanco and Nagin because I still - and always will - view this as primarily and issue of ineptiutude of local government making things so much worse than they need to have been.

No, Leo. Your castigation of Blanco and Nagin has been harsh and a bit overplayed in my opinion, but you've made it clear you're not pleased with the fed response either.

I think I've made it clear that I am most certainly NOT satisfied with Bush's performance. He nearly didn't get my vote this last go-round except that I hated both candidates and chose the devil I knew over the devil I didn't.

One of my co-workers has a husband who is a firefighter. He volunteered to go down to the South with a contingent of Spokane area firefighters, and his reports from the field are pretty unpleasant. First, they had to fly into Atlanta and get shots like the ones you get if you are going into Africa or any of the tsunami areas. He is near Biloxi, an area he was very familiar with, and he said it's just pure destruction- pictures cannnot begin to convey the devastation. We also have a nephew who is in NO with the military, and he has contracted some funky skin rash and is sick, although they don't know with what yet.

I'd heard on the day before the hurricane struck that the airport had closed and public transport was not running. It sounds like the locals cut and run, although time will tell if it's a case of them running or being ordered, but what a shame. So many more people could have and should have been able to get out.

Well, this little article gives a bit of insight into why the levees may have not been up to snuff:Levee Board corruption charges

You didn't answer my question. ;)

Do you think Bush should be removed from office?

I think that makes my answer perfectly clear. If Bush were removed, we'd have Cheney, which would most likely be worse. Do I think Bush ought to be in office? No, but neither did I think the jokers he was running against ought to either. Would it be appropriate to remove Bush? Possibly, debateable, but possibly. Would it be wise to remove him? Um... no, not given the alternative.

Am I likely to be satisfied with any of the candidates in the next election? I'm not holding my breath, let's put it that way.