In politics, especially national politics, perceptions are paramount and facts are secondary in moving public opinion on large issues. While there is enough blame to go around, regarding official responses to Katrina, the images of what actually took place on the ground to thousands of people, while the National Guard had not yet arrived in force, is simply overwhelming, staggering, horrendous. It would be impossible for it to not to have adverse political repercussions to the national leadership, no matter - NO MATTER - what the facts are. When failures of this magnitude occur, the nation has failed and people...