This Abramoff stuff is spreading like plague. Ohio local politics in particular seems to be taking a hit. What is remarkable about the scams Abramoff was engaging in are that they were remarkably unsophisticated. Basic kickbacks, harebrained schemes etc. we're the rule. I don't understand how he thought he was going to get away with this stuff, and the dupes that fell for it were either obviously in cahoots or helplessly naive.

In other good Give Up news, Roe is about to get a spanking from the Supreme Court. Really any restriction put on abortion is likely to galvanize women for the next election. If we're lucky the Supreme Court will uphold New Hampshire's notification law, but the more likely result will be that O'Connor will leave the court after Scalito is confirmed (which will happen) forcing the case to be re-heard next year.

Then there is this gem from the Katrina disaster. Jim Amoss writes fro the WP

President Bush flew into New Orleans shortly after Hurricane Katrina devastated the city. His staff had to fire up giant generators to bathe St. Louis Cathedral and Jackson Square in floodlights, as a backdrop for his promise that he would "do what it takes" to rebuild New Orleans.

"There is no way to imagine America without New Orleans," he said, "and this great city will rise again."

Then the lights went out, and the president left. Vast swaths of the city have been in darkness ever since.
...
What is lacking is political will in Washington and the determination to bring our engineering know-how to bear upon the problem. Without a substantial levee system, homeowners won't muster the confidence to rebuild, and businesses will not see fit to invest.

President Bush was still smarting from the embarrassing federal response to Katrina when he stood in the heart of our city and made his promise to rebuild. It would be a greater embarrassment to an entire nation if that promise went unfulfilled.

To which I say, what makes you think anything you say or do will make this administration do anything to help you? The inability of Americans to learn from experience is pathetic. Wake up. Bush will not help you, congress is building bridges to nowhere and Americans can not gather the sustained political will to help poor black people. This is irrational optimism. If you want New Orleans to be rebuilt try electing a Democrat next time Louisiana.