But the poor leaving N.O. and the rebuilding perhaps means a Republican Louisiana

Typically Post-ean slant, but the bottom line is that when all those poor (who were voting Democratic) are now finding nothing to go back to and the offer of jobs and plentiful housing other places in America - such that they are not wanting to return to their plantation - the voting base of N.O. and Louisiana will shift to the incoming entrepreneurs, who generally vote Republican so they can keep more of their money after taxes (and don't have to pay so many bribes to get something done).

The Dems are shooting themselves in the foot by still being rabidly anti-Bush. Bush is at least right out in front seeing what is going on and sorting out what can be done about things. Pelosi and Reid have hardly left Washington.

The public is indeed tired of politicians, the MSM and worthless non-working elistists. They see through the "celebrities" who only appear for the photo-op. They eschew the Jesse Jacksons and Oprahs who are trying to get a racist slant going. People want to help other Americans get back on their feet. Those who say that we need to get the situation handled first and then sort out how come it happened will be the ones who the bulk of the public support. Frist, who worked as a doctor for some time helping out from the outset, scored points. That he was the first one to ask for an investigation, quietly, got more points. Al Gore, who refused to talk about the 170 people he evacuated, scored points. Sean Penn lost points, as did Jackson and Winfrey and the Democratic leadership (like Dean).

So what the Post doesn't say (they have been steadily losing points as well) speaks more than their usual slanted-pitch bloviating.

The mainstream/centrist public are the ones keeping score. The politico's need to pay attention to this.

Katrina Darkens the Outlook for Incumbents:
"Katrina 'changed the future,' said Senate Minority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.). 'Enough is enough: No more Bush-business-as-usual.'

The emerging Democratic plan calls for a shift of resources away from Bush priorities, including lower taxes, to disaster preparedness, an approach that might gain traction with images of Katrina fresh in the minds of voters.

Although Democrats see opportunity, some of them acknowledge that Katrina's initial impact did not show anyone in Washington in the best light.

'When you get down to it, [voters] hate everyone right now,' said Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.), chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. 'Do you blame them? They feel let down.'"