A story:

When Jane was in the hospital a couple of years ago now, I mentioned on the blog that my mother lived near the hospital and she was going to bring some candy from a fancy chocolate shop to Jane in the hospital. Marie contacted me to contribute another box for the nursing staff so that Jane would get extra good care. Marie lived near the same area. We corresponded back and forth several times after that and tried to get together when I came out west as my mother was then dealing with knee surgery. Our paths were destined not to cross as she had to be out of town when I was there. But she was really kind in asking what she could do for my mother—a stranger to her. And the candy for the nurses!

Very late and very sincere condolences and blessings to her memory and her loved ones.

RevDeb

Katrina
President Obama will keep the broken promises made by President Bush to rebuild New Orleans and the Gulf Coast. He and Vice President Biden will take steps to ensure that the federal government will never again allow such catastrophic failures in emergency planning and response to occur.

President Obama swiftly responded to Hurricane Katrina. Citing the Bush Administration’s “unconscionable ineptitude” in responding to Hurricane Katrina, then-Senator Obama introduced legislation requiring disaster planners to take into account the specific needs of low-income hurricane victims. Obama visited thousands of Hurricane survivors in the Houston Convention Center and later took three more trips to the region. He worked with members of the Congressional Black Caucus to introduce legislation to address the immediate income, employment, business, and housing needs of Gulf Coast communities.

President Barack Obama will partner with the people of the Gulf Coast to rebuild now, stronger than ever
* * *
Sportsmen
President Obama did not grow up hunting and fishing, but he recognizes the great conservation legacy of America’s hunters and anglers and has great respect for the passion that hunters and anglers have for their sports. Were it not for America’s hunters and anglers, including the great icons like Theodore Roosevelt and Aldo Leopold, our nation would not have the tradition of sound game management, a system of ethical, science-based game laws and an extensive public lands estate on which to pursue the sport. The President and Vice President recognize that we must forge a broad coalition if we are to address the great conservation challenges we face. America’s hunters and anglers are a key constituency that must take an active role and have a powerful voice in this coalition.

I can like this, speaking as a hunter and angler.

On Katrina – Wow. Talk about smacking someone across the face with a 2×4.