Saying It Doesn't Make It So

The Dunce in Chief visited New Orleans yesterday and pronounced it on the way to recovery. He said this like he'd tried to get a reservation at Galatoires and gone on to have a few Hurricanes at a karaoke bar. He said this like he'd been to some of the devestated neighborhoods and seen people coming and going about their usual daily business amid the bustle of a vibrant community. Bush's visit to New Orleans involved driving along I10 to a meeting at a hotel on Canal Street and then leaving for Mississippi along the same route. In other words he saw nothing of what is actually going on in New Orleans.

I heartily support the idea of giving moral support to the area and encouraging tourists to come back. But to blatantly misrepresent the situation for what is presumably political gain is inexcusable. I can only assume this was to justify the announcement that the federal deficit has ballooned to $400 billion. Much of this was blamed on Katrina. The populace is supposed to believe that this is acceptable because he has rebuilt New Orleans. The truth is less palatable! Little money has reached the Gulf Coast and progress has been limited.

Perhaps the Dunce in Chief is about to sign off on a major rebuilding package. He predicted a massive building boom in the South. This will only happen with his considerable help. I suspect this is just another reminder that our President remains completely out of touch with the South.