13th
mills had some interesting comments in response to the bobby jindal rumor:
However, McArdle is absolutely right: while Bush, FEMA, and the unfortunate Michael Brown were less than respectable, there is no question that the state and local governments of the area were pitiful, disgraceful, contemptible in their incompetence and eventual venality. One need only look to Mississippi (Mississippi!) to see what able local governments were able to accomplish…..
I would note only that New Orleans had as daunting a task before its sorry government and impoverished and indolent citizenry as any in American urban history, and in this crisis I had expected that the federal government would do whatever it had to, would take command and lead, rather than shrugging and saying, “Damn, everyone there is corrupt and crazy!”
agreed on all points. mississippi was able to get their act together amazingly fast. louisiana, as usual, does things at its own pace. a century could pass and louisiana would only be evolved by about five minutes.
i’d add that my initial reaction in re-posting the article was from a political point of view: it’s still pretty shocking to think that the repubs would choose anyone other than a lily white male for VP. perhaps it shows that they’re starting to come around, or maybe it’s just a nice rumor. -M