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Shoulda, coulda, woulda. One speech, not given, does not make or break a legacy. Actions do. The vast majority of people are not sufficiently stirred by a speech, but a lot more are motivated by looking at the pictures of the devastation left in the wake of this disaster. At any given time, there is rarely a majority that DO something, but by that minority who feel compelled to alleviate the burden of their fellow man, great things are accomplished.

President Bush is being modest in extolling his own efforts toward the relief of the hurricane victims, and there are those who mistake this reticence to toot his own horn as being somehow "uncaring". They should do so much for the constituency they claim to represent.

One speech, not given, does not make or break a legacy. Actions do.

The use of the Presidential "bully pulpit" to help shape the direction of political debate is an important part of leadership. Reagan did this well, even when he compromised with the Dems on the amount of spending. In repeating the race baiting mantra and turning this disaster into an excuse to engage the federal government in yet another messianic crusade to eliminate poverty, President Bush has failed big in this respect.