[mhking]

What percentage are Democrats vs Republicans?

That is immaterial.

[ncpatriot]

May be, but I want to know.

[Will_Zurmacht]

the financial numbers are shocking to me...

even before all of this... those folks down there weren't doing too well.
Here in Kansas we tend to think of ourselves as poor.
But those numbers are very, very poor.

I hope the reconstruction looks long term to creating decent conditions/jobs in this community. I know that's the least of folks problems right now, they need food and water and shelter...but maybe we could plan ahead to start taking care of our own.

[GAB-1955]

Actually, the political breakdown of Democrats versus Republicans is material in the long run. Consider what will happen if New Orleans is not rebuilt by 2006, which is what the civil engineers say, so I hear. New Orleans is the demographic tail that wags the Louisiana dog. If its citizens are evacuated to other states, and stay there, then the center of gravity in Louisiana politics shifts north and west. Baton Rouge becomes a city as important as New Orleans, and Shreveport gains importance. A Nawlins cabal is less likely to control statewide offices.