Good broadcast, Campbell.

Let's talk about gas prices: several times in several years they've made a large jump, then fallen back about 50% of the increase to about 20% more than before the jump, then they edge up 10 - 15%, then stay within 5% of that price until they make their next leap. And who's consuming all this gas they say $78 billion in profits came from? Could it be, hmmmmmm, the U.S. Army?

P.S.

Every time you suggest the magnificent leadership of El Presidente Jorge does not daily bring us closer to glorious victory* in Iraqistan Nam, Hilter wins from the grave. Probably Stalin, too.

* To be dtermined.

Thanks so much for Lester Holt's compelling yet sad "Long Road Back" report on evacuees who won't be returning to Louisiana.

He said this was partly due to some's having put down roots in their new homes or being afraid of new storms hitting New Orleans. But the really distressing reason I heard was the fact that New Orleans' recovery has not been proceeding quickly for many evacuees. And Holt added that another mass migration out of New Orleans could be in the offing.

It is high time President Bush, instead of throwing $230 million at Lebanon like so many Mardi Gras beads, came up with a Marshall Plan for New Orleans, the rest of Louisiana's storm-ravaged parishes, the Mississippi Gulf Coast where so many once-charming towns were obliterated or nearly obliterated, and the rest of the storm zone.

As part of this Marshall Plan, Bush could grease the skids of bureaucracy so much-needed money from Louisiana's "Road Home" program could quickly get into the hands of her homeowners--who've waited so long, no wonder so many are deciding to leave. (And would you believe, as Louisiana homeowners wait and wait and wait for their relief, Bush's $230 million for Lebanon includes housing funds?)

Above all, such a Marshall Plan would help New Orleans become a livable city by helping her restore her water, power, and sewerage systems. So they'll be neither like those in a war zone nor like those in the Third World, but like those in a fully functioning American city.

The way New Orleans' infrastructure is now is hampering recovery by making it difficult if not impossible to rebuild or repair your home--you can't do much with the power and/or water off. You can't even get a FEMA trailer on your property if you don't have power and water.

These hardships are only the tip of the iceberg regarding what Louisiana needs help with. New Orleans' fire department, justice system, schools, day care, hospitals, not to mention those in other devastated parishes...and then there are bringing New Orlean's levees up to Cat 5 and restoring Louisiana's lush coastal wetlands so they'll absorb the blows of future storms--both of which will make New Orleanians feel more secure. Because without these things and the city services and other things mentioned, many will either decide not to return, or to leave.

And regarding the $110 billion Bush thinks should be enough for Louisiana, Mississippi, and the rest of the storm zone--part is tied up in red tape like Louisiana's "Road Home" funds. The rest went to things intended to be temporary, such as FEMA trailers. So, for example, there's nothing for such permanent items as helping New Orleans repair her infrastructure or to aid schools, hospitals, etc.

With apologies to Mayor Nagin, Bush should get off his you-know-what and do something. For if something is not done--and soon--Louisiana will lose for good her historic, one-of-a-kind city of New Orleans, and the rest of south Louisiana will fade away--or be washed away as she loses more of her precious wetlands at a rate of a football field per half hour.

We need a Marshall Plan to make New Orleans a city and Louisiana a state evacuees will want to return to and other Americans will want to relocate to and call home.

We all know that the press has the responsibility to tell us what's happening in the world, but last evening, NBC did something very strange. At the beginning of the broadcast, the first story blurb was about Hurricane John and Tropical Storm Ernesto. After that was a blurb about the current situation in Iraq. I was expecting that the weather reports would be first, but ironically, Iraq was the first report, even though its blurb was second in the headlines. And furthermore, while the Iraq report was being aired, I checked the ABC and CBS national news casts, and I found that the first reports on those news casts were about the storms. What's up with this NBC?

Just because you are filming your report standing in knee-deep water to rain, floods etc., doesn't mean I am suffering under the same weather conditions.

While I am writing this the sun is setting, the temperature is around 88 degrees, no clouds in the sky and no wind blowing (that may change next week).

Your Ernesto reports makes it sound like the entire nation is under severe weather.

Please don't generalize just because all you see around you are rain, flooding streams or rivers and high winds.

Nice of the oil company to lower the price for Labor Day but Tuesday it'll go back up so the shareholders get those big checks. Notice how no one used the excuse of the storm, oil leak, to mush oil being used and other lies. Yes it's all about corruption.
I hope Bush try to use the same trick to invade Iran as he did to invade Iraq. There might not be a collision of the willing this time. No country believes a liar. Powell not there is put his reputation on the line again. Now the GOP is going crazy first their clueless as to what to say. Bush/Cheney/Rummy say things are going well in Iraq as Americans watch the Iraq civil war. I wonder if the Republican voters will continue to vote for liars. Now Bush is lying about Iran and no body believes him. It's like the boy who cried wolf. I hope over the holiday people remember America belongs to Americans not a dictator. Bush does work for Americans and he can and will be IMPEACHED because of the 751 laws he's broke and sending out kids to die based on lies and greed for oil.

The gas prices are going down in prep for the elections so we will believe the administration is doing something and cause us to vote republican. Watch them go up right after the election.

Amazingly, gas prices took the same leap upward last year at the beginning of the 2005 summer season. I would safely say in June 2007 they will rise once again. Isn't this suspiously convenient?

Thank you Brian Williams for keeping Katrina before our faces. We are too quick to forget the things we do wrong. We must never allow any one in this country to suffer like that again. We should be ashamed that we get help to other countries faster than we did to our own people.

Campbell, Your never supposed to mention Iraq. If you tell the truth about the civil war, it means that you love Hitler.