[Dr. Eckleburg]

Hi, GWB. I'm missed seeing your posts. How've you been?

While I hope and pray your estimates are reality, I fear the loss of life from this flooding looks to be much worse than 1,500 casualties.

The despair in Haley Barbour's voice was haunting.

[George W. Bush]

Hi, GWB. I'm missed seeing your posts. How've you been?

Fine. Still agitating the anthills, as is my habit.

The despair in Haley Barbour's voice was haunting.

Well, there are the federal handouts he'll be lobbying for so generating public sympathy is in his own interest. Also, there's a question of whether local officials did enough to force evacuation, whether their warnings were strong enough, whether they prepared adequately, etc. So Barbour's despair might be over his own political future as much as anything else. He is a politician after all and has always been ambitious. Of course, pointing this out will win me many new friends. I have such a knack for it as you well know.