To the rescue

In case there's any doubt about what the administration's priorities are.

Under the command of President Bush's two senior political advisers, the White House rolled out a plan this weekend to contain the political damage from the administration's response to Hurricane Katrina.

It orchestrated visits by cabinet members to the region, leading up to an extraordinary return visit by Mr. Bush planned for Monday, directed administration officials not to respond to attacks from Democrats on the relief efforts, and sought to move the blame for the slow response to Louisiana state officials, according to Republicans familiar with the White House plan.
...
In interviews, Republicans reflecting the White House line said that the normally nimble White House political operation had fallen short in part because the president and his aides were scattered outside Washington on vacation, leaving no one obviously in charge at a time of great disruption. Mr. Rove and Mr. Bush were in Texas, while Vice President Dick Cheney was at his Wyoming ranch.

It's nice to know that while people are starving and dying, so much effort is being directed toward making sure people don't think badly of the president. But it's gotta be a tough job, making gross incompetence and indifference to human suffering look good.

By the way, how many tragedies have to befall this nation before these people decide that a month away from their jobs is too long?