The terrible disaster caused by Hurricane Katrina has been politicized far too early and far too much. Whether it will have an effect on the President's popularity or not is still an open question. However, his public pronouncements haven't exactly been his most uplifting and inspiring speeches, and that's coming from a dyed-in-the-wool Republican. While the gulf coastal area was declared a federal disaster area two days before Katrina reached land, and certain resources were pre-positioned, it is clear that inadequate attention was paid to the details. It almost seems as though local officials and much of the affected populace hoped for the best rather than planned for the worst.

It would seem that the overall execution of the rescue, relocation, and care giving aspects of the operation are starting to turn around and provide necessary relief and stability. There is plenty of time in coming months and weeks to assess the timeline of the disaster in terms of successes and failures. Still, Louisiana's state and local governments seem to be guilty of gross incompetence, as detailed here.