Louisiana 2005

Louisiana 1927 - Randy Newman What has happened down here is the winds have changed Clouds roll in from the north and it started to rain Rained real hard and it rained for a real long time Six feet of water in the streets of Evangeline The river rose all day The river rose all night Some people got lost in the flood Some people got away alright The river have busted through clear down to Plaquemines Six feet of water in the streets of Evangelne Louisiana, Louisiana They're tyrin' to wash us away They're tryin' to wash us away Louisiana, Louisiana They're tryin' to wash us away They're tryin' to wash us away President Coolidge came down in a railroad train With a little fat man with a note-pad in his hand The President say, "Little fat man isn't it a shame what the river has done To this poor cracker's land." Louisiana, Louisiana They're tryin' to wash us away They're tryin' to wash us away Louisiana, Louisiana They're tryin' to wash us away They're tryin' to wash us away They're tryin' to wash us away They're tryin' to wash us away Just right now, between the sorrow, rage, frustration, disgust, anguish, pity, horror, and mourning, I don't know what I can add. Follow the news, learning everything you can, and don't let the bastids off the hook. Oh, and send something to the Red Cross.

The Emperor Has No Brain (Day 1688)...

...and continuing:

"...as scenes of horror that seemed to be coming from some Third World country flashed before us, official Washington was like a dog watching television. It saw the lights and images, but did not seem to comprehend their meaning or see any link to reality."

-- Bob Schieffer's closing comments, Face the Nation, Sep 4, 2005

Yes, well, apparently that's what you get when you let the boss's feeble-minded son take over the family business.

I usually think of Schieffer as a calm, genial guy, really kind of a throwback to the days when CBS took its news department seriously. I don't know how he looked or sounded when he said that quote, but those are some *angry* words. Just righteously furious.

I take that as a good sign. And it's spreading. Advanced stem-cell research has apparently allowed widespread spine-replacement operations among our nation's journalists.

"It can all turn on a dime."