I think Harry Shearer got it wrong. While you may or may not have reported on the Corps to the satisfaction of everyone, you have done a stellar job of keeping us in the national eye. Words fail me to thank you properly.

Don't listen to the MaryLou's of the world. They all hope for us to fail, for whatever reason of their own. (I wonder if she opposes the war in Iraq, and hopes for failure there?).

Keep up the good work.

Thank you so much for continuing to support New Orleans. My mother was one patient in LifeCare at Memorial Baptist Hospital and was rescued "commando style" by my brother and sister-in-law. Unfortunately, she never stabilized from the dehydration and we lost her Sept. 8. But it has not daunted my brother and I. We continue to live in the city, laughing anxiously at the traffic problems, lower police numbers, jokes about the levees, and "post-Katrina menus" at favorite restaurants.

Those from outside the city who focus on our politics and our attempts to constantly and consistently see our progress reported need to live through this and see if nine months gets them past it. We need Congress, meaning from all states, to put ourselves back together. The mayor is just a guide. We need ourselves strong, not feeling belittled and laughed at, to pull ourselves up.

We will. We will have our city back. Maybe not the same; maybe not even better. But we are the ones prepared to bring it back, and we don't mind sharing it with the nation. So maybe the nation needs to stop whining about the attention we are getting.

thanks, Brian, for your broadcast from my hometown last night. one thing...I wish Martin Savidge's report had included WHY the city is sinking...disappearing marshland. truly, tho, we are all so appreciative of you keeping the focus on our beloved city.

p.s. Hope MaryLou doesn't get any hurricane-force winds and rain any time soon.

Didn't the U.N. back out of talks with Iran (after failed attempts to make any headway) and say that the U.S. would have to have direct talks with Iran? Is anyone really surprised that Iran will not agree to anything?

Bush should be concerned about the Haditha massacre as it relates to Vietnam. It wasn't long after the Mei Lai massacre that things really went done hill in Vietnam. Considering the pyschology of warfare, it would be troubling as to how long Bush can slug it out with staying the course when domestic questions are raised which ponder what is truly going on in Iraq and is it ethical to stay any longer? But I am sure W. will try to bleed a dead turnip of all its blood before turning tail out of Iraq, trying to hold onto any salient reason, no matter what. It is all about money!

David Gregory -

Did you write your own interview questions for Sec. of State Rice? Because I want to know who to sneer at. You asked if holding talks with the Iranians wasn't just offering concessions? Wow - hard hitting.

The reason for the talks is over Iran enriching uranium. The U.S. offers to talk, IF the Iranians FIRST stop enriching uranium, and you wonder if that's offering "concessions"?

I dislike the Iranian government - the Iranian people are saddled with religous zealots and dangerous ideologues for leaders - I can understand and sympathize with that. But they ain't stupid! "If you stop doing what we don't like, we'll talk to you about the issue we don't like." If that isn't a propaganda move WHAT IS? What sort of a MORON would take that deal?

It amazes me what utter BS came out of Rice's mouth, and you didn't even seem to notice. She offers to let them pay full cost up front for a chance to dicker over the price. "Concession." Uh huh. At whom do I sneer?

Thank you and God bless you for keeping New Orleans in the news. Your broadcast on May 31st was near where I lived pre-Katrina. Unless you come to New Orleans and see for yourself, you do not understand extent of this tragedy.

Capt. Sims: Brian correctly reported his live location as Orleans Parish during the broadcast -- I screwed it up here in the blog.

And Lisa from Metarie: Thanks for the correct spelling of Mr. Cowen's last name.

Your edits are now reflected in the post.

Brian, happy birthday to your blog! I was struck by the way you said “we are here BECAUSE” last night in New Orleans, as if a justification was in any way required. What happened in that city nine months ago, and what continues to happen to the displaced and otherwise traumatized people from that part of our country, continues to be newsworthy, and I thank you for continuing to follow the story.

Like you, Harry Shearer has been a tireless advocate for New Orleanians that are voiceless due to lack of local leadership and lack of political power. He has locked onto that the big story in all of this. That story is that this was a man-made disaster. The levees failed due to design errors and Congressional political cheapness and short sightedness. I am really looking forward to the interview tonight. And again (because it cannot be said too many times), thank you Brian for being one of the few that have not forgotten us.

Thanks for last night's coverage! As always when NBC Nightly has been anchored from Louisiana, it was engrossing.

Regarding New Orleans levees--I was intrigued by Walter Isaacson's confidence in their strength enough to have his family live there. It would be great if it turns out that he's right.

However, I'm not reassured by the Corps' saying in Savidge's report that New Orleans will have the same protection she had pre-Katrina. How well did that work? Category 5 protection would have been much better. Between the fact that levees which had held during the storm are falling apart, the new report that parts of New Orleans are sinking at a rate of more than an inch per year, and the fact that transportation issues involving evacuation still have not been resolved, and you have the recipe for another disaster. I'm more than a little worried.

The piece on "Hollywood's hottest new chef" was wonderful--extremely thought-provoking. I imagine an evacuee's experiencing such a happy ending would be like winning the Lotto. I wonder--for each evacuee who found a good job and a comfortable place to live, how many are still unemployed or are working for the minimum wage and can barely make ends meet? What about the thousands who, after FEMA had promised housing aid for a year, had theirs run out yesterday?

Now for Lance Armstrong--I'm no fan of his, but when they were made I still found charges that he was blood-doping or otherwise using performance-enhancing drugs ridiculous. I think, based on his break-up with Sheryl Crow, that he's just a natural jerk.

The President of Tulane University is Scott CoWen not Cohen

If I were King of your network for a Day, and could assemble the agenda for your investigative work, my first proclamation would be this:
1. An apples to apples comparison between the evacuation plans pre-Katrina and those in effect now.
2. A CGI generated report on the levies,.. how they were built, why they fail, and where did the money earmarked for such repairs during the past decades go...

3. How has the Police department's culture changes since Katrina?

Brian, On the eve of the next hurricane season....Thank You for not forgetting about our beloved City of New Orleans & the Parishes surrounding the city. We appreciate you, very much.
Lost Cajuns of East Tennessee
http://cajun.meetup.com/13/
Founded, November 16, 2004 (prekatrina) with 10 members in attendance, since the storm ,we are well over 400+.

Mr. Williams, you were broadcasting from the western edge of Orleans Parish, near Jefferson Parish. St. Bernard Parish is on the opposite side of Orleans Parish. Believe me, I'm a retired Navy Officer and a sailor, and have sailed in and out of Municipal Harbor many times!

Please don't start with New Orleans again. let the chocolate City take care of itself or let the place sink.

Harry Shearer? I always like hearing from the "preserved moose," himself.