New Orleans is represented by its Mayor, the Governor of Louisiana, and six members of Congress. If these voices could get behind a rational plan and sell it effectively we might see a new New Orleans emerging from the muck.

However the congressional delegation seems to be engaged in yet another chapter of the same old story. Senators Landrieu (Dem-La) and Vitter (Rep-La) have their own visions and agenda to pursue. Within the first few weeks they "collaborated" to submit Landrieu's Plan a $250 billion recovery bill that all but assured resistance from Congress.  Local Congressmen at the time of the storm include Jefferson (Orleans), Jindal (Metairie, Kenner, Northshore), Melancon(St. Bernard, Plaquimines, Thibodeaux, Houma), and Baker (Baton Rouge). The press has reported unity and feuding in almost the same breath.

Overall this Congressional delegation seems as powerless to lead reconstruction as they were to obtain the funds that might have avoided the flooding in the first place. The federal government seems content to watch placidly as city government shuts down from lack of funds.

Why is the national media so anti-pork while the local media continues to extol the ability to bring home the bacon?