No, they are not idiots. What they are is angry, very angry and need someone or something to blame for the levee failures. I was absolutely amazed at their reactions and actions. Remember it is a common belief that the levee failures were a result of federal policies and with very little if any blame toward the local levee boards. I am not endorsing their positions I am just telling you what I heard. And as far as elected officials (Republican ones) affected by the storm, maybe you could ask Jindal or Vitter.
If Jindal or Vitter are in trouble it is because they caved and went along with the liberals as they blamed Bush instead of fighting back against the incompetence of MeeMaw and Nagin.
You can lead a horse to water... and Louisianna Republicans to power, but you can not give them a brain. They should have directed Republican blame to the Democrats in power where it belonged. What did Jindal and Vitter think they would gain by reverting into whining liberals blaming Republicans (themselves) when the going got rough? Jindal should have been yapping on what a real governor would have done faced with the oncoming hurricane. There is nothing National Republicans can do about this degree of political stupidity.