Furious. That’s how I feel about the federal government’s lack of response to the continuing horror in Louisiana and Mississippi. While federal officials are strutting around patting themselves on the back, talking about how “magnificent” a job they’re doing, people on the ground are suffering and dying. President Bush has already started in with the “hard work” platitudes. Yes, “hard work”: the presidential code phrase for, “I’m out of my fucking league here.”

For now, of course, the most important thing is to get assistance to those who need it most. But, when New Orleans is finally empty, the country should no doubt turn its attention to Washington D.C… and prepare the guillotines.