While the blame lies with the local Government in Louisiana, this White House 's Communications Dept. has been utterly incompetent for 5 years. Why this is, I don't know. but it has cost Bush and the Republicans in their attempts at winning the Public Relations battle against the 'Rats. A competent Communications professional is highly necessary to advance the Bush agenda, and to rebut Demorat rhetoric. It's high time for a change.
I agree with you, although a part of me admires the Bush WH for NOT making PR "job one", as it's predecessors did. Having said that, their lack of coherent message, let alone response to outright slander, is now bordering on incompetence.