Aye-Yi-Yi

When one is young, foolish, and male the quintessential yahoo!-you-can't-miss-this party seems to be Mardi Gras in N'Awlins. At least when I was y&f (still male, despite the spaghetti-o surgery). Last night we walked Bourbon Street, ate etoufee at a sidewalk cafe' with the doors open in January, and it was very pleasant and uncrowded. Yah, there were NOPD and MPs every block with "barricades" on the streets, but the crowd was cheerful instead of combative/rowdy and a good time was had by all of us. Yah, the souvenir t-shirts are over-priced, but the city has lived on it's tourista trade since King Cotton crapped out. Bless 'em. Despite the recall effort on the governor (which I support, but have no voice in) the locals are upbeat and planning on driving on. I definitely hope they succeed in squaring away the local government.
BTW - before anyone whines that the Federal gov't failed the city - read the pocking Constitution. There is no provision in it that permits FEMA or HUD or EPA or BLM or FWS to be established without a severe stretch of the "common welfare" clause. Which has been stretched... Bat crap. Congress found a chance to enhance the reach of the Federal Gov and did it. Severely - starting with FDR. My opinion- YMMV.
Also read the rules of the Federal ICS (Incident Command System). It requires that the local and state authorities respond first - and if in their opinion federal help is needed, it MUST BE SPECIFICALLY REQUESTED. We settled that during the Rebellion of 1860.... State's Rights have precedence in this case. All y'all apologists for Nagin and Blanco had best remove your ocular equipment from your 4th point of contact. Or get a plexiglass navel so y'all can see the real world.... The "People's Democratic Party" has controlled N'Awlins and Louisiana since the Kingfisher. According to their press releases, they know best how we should be governed and live. Sure, look up "corruption" in your Funk and Wagnall's and you'll find a map of Louisiana and a picture of Sheriff Buford T. Justice - but stereotypes become stereotypes because they reflect a commonly held perception or provable facts that are such common knowledge that "are held to be self-evident".
Crap. Ranting again. My tour here as part of the Katrina Response from the Federal Government is almost over- seems like it has hardly begun except for the weariness in my body. Homey is getting old - which beats the alternative....
Don't think I'll volunteer for another tour here (yeah, right...). I seem ti function best in a fluid situation; i.e.; before the bureaucrats stop you from doing useful work....

BTW - the 7 P's? Here's what I heered about 'em.... (NB - spelling deliberate....)

"Proper Prior Planning Prevents Piss-Poor Performance.
(You may substitute "pretty" for "piss". That is all...) But the kernal of truth is in there - ask any E-5 to E-9....

Now you know. "And Knowing is half the battle...."

We now return you to your own version of reality.....