David Brooks has made the point a second time now: 8/29 is a political fault line. It will mark a shift in American political life. He's cautious about predicting how it will shift, but shift it will. As President Bush struggled to get on top of the crisis (see also: Kevin Drum at Political Animal), it was still business as usual: Halliburton gets the early contracts for cleaning up storm damage on the Gulf. Thanks to William Marina at Liberty & Power for the tip.

Christopher Morris,"In New Orleans, Once Again, The Irony of Southern History," History News Network, 3 September, is an excellent brief on the interplay of environment and race in the lower Mississippi's capitol.

... to my country I want to say this: During this crisis you failed us. You looked down on us; you dismissed our victims; you dismissed us. You want our Jazz Fest, you want our Mardi Gras, you want our cooking and our music. Then when you saw us in real trouble, when you saw a tiny minority preying on the weak among us, you called us"Sin City," and turned your backs.
Anne Rice,"Do You Know What It Means to Lose New Orleans?" New York Times, 4 September.

Finally, compare and contrast two moral reflections: Niall Ferguson,"Katrina Rains Down Calamity ... So We, Of Course, Look for a Scapegoat," Sunday Telegraph, 4 September; and Naomi Chana,"On Believing," Baraita, 2 September. Chana's best line:"Also, it lacks okra." Thanks to Nathanael Robinson and Ahistoricality for the tip.

Greg James Robinson - 9/4/2005

Ferguson's interesting article compares the current events in New Orleans with the 1755 Lisbon earthquake, and comes to the reluctant conclusion that such natural events, far from shaking people's faith in religion, seem to strengthen it. (He might have added that, as Voltaire shows in CANDIDE, the result of the earthquake was an auto da fé). However, he then switches gears and asserts that those who blame the government are seeking a scapegoat. Beyond the fact that considerable evidence has been presented of government negligence, Ferguson ignores an even more funamental truth of political life, and one that is especially apposite here: the party that takes credit for the sunshine must be prepared to take blame for the rain.

John H. Lederer - 9/4/2005

I gather the Navy should not use competitive bidding for its procurement of services. Competitive bidding might indicate that some of the companies that often get contracts are actually more efficient than others. In the long run this might reduce the force of accusations of favoritism which are so darn much fun.


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A passing shot like that ought be beneath you.

Ralph E. Luker - 9/4/2005

Thanks, David, for the correction. I've fixed it now.

David J Merkowitz - 9/4/2005

Ralph, the Ferguson piece in the Sunday Telegraph not the Independent. Otherwise great job locating some of the more interesting reflections on the situation in New Orleans.