AnyLetter

Is there anyone to blame for the dead in New Orleans? Probably not, yet public perception is reality, so let's take a look at who's going to suffer politically. First, Mayor C. Ray Nagin of New Orleans will more than likely remain unscathed, perhaps even lionized, because he's done all that he could. Nagin was left out of the loop, and it shows. Governor Kathleen Blanco, however, probably won't escape blame. Recent reports state that the President asked that the city of New Orleans be evacuated on Saturday, when it was obvious that the city would sustain substantial damage. For whatever reasons, she waited a day to order the evacuation, indirectly contributing to the thousands of lives lost. It will be interesting to see if Blanco is re-elected in 2007, though I doubt she will be. It's too soon to say if the President will see any political fallout. His fate depends upon how well the numerous bureaucracies involved in the relief effort work quickly and efficiently. Though I suspect that during the midterm elections in 2006, both houses of congress will turn over to the Democrats, especially if the hurricane issue comes into play.