Coping with Katrina, Amongst Other Things

I've been gone for a little over a week, which should explain the severe lack of updates on this blog. In that time, major events have occurred which ultimately will change the course of American history.

Firstly, Hurricane Katrina has done massive damage to Gulf ports in Louisiana and Mississippi, eliciting comparisons to Third World countries like Mozambique. Two friends of mine, Jon Webb and Lisa Rusen, are serving as teachers for Teach for America in LA and MS respectively, and my heart and concerns go out to them and their families. Hopefully all is well.

Already, the response to Katrina has been politicized, with New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin blaming Louisiana Governor Blanco and President Bush for the lack of relief and preparedness in the city; Gov. Blanco blaming Nagin; and the White House blaming any and everybody not associated with the federal government. From a progressive perspective, Kevin Drum has really good coverage of the disaster over at the Washington Monthly.

Secondly, Chief Justice William Rehnquist has passed away, reigniting debate over the President's potential Supreme Court nominees. Apparently, the President has re-nominated Roberts for Chief Justice. While a Roberts judgeship was predicted to have little consequence for decisions like Roe v. Wade, certainly a second Bush appointment is enough to change the tide of not only the debate on abortion, but other issues such as affirmative action, or pretty much any issue that constitutional interpretation is also linked with political ideology.

Despite what one thinks about the Bush Administration, I believe it will demarcate the future of American history, not unlike the Lincoln and Roosevelt/Truman Administrations.

Times are changing, and I certainly don't want to be anywhere but at the forefront.