E Pluribus Unum

As you know, I am a resident of Louisiana -- and you are too, because (four years after 9/11) Bush's response to Katrina shows that the entire country is STILL not prepared for a major disaster emergency.

Now, Louisiana's senior senator, Mary Landrieu, has had enough:

Frustrated by a lack of progress in rebuilding the state's levees, a Louisiana Democrat threatened Wednesday to block President Bush's appointments requiring Senate confirmation until "significant progress" is made toward restoring the flood protection damaged by Hurricane Katrina in August.

[...]

"For me, this used to be a major policy issue," she said. "Now, it's an issue of life and death."

The senator said she sent a letter to Bush on Tuesday and "urged him specifically to request of Congress $6 billion that his administration says that we need in order for our region to be safe."

If the White House fails to meet her demands, "I will be compelled to use the power of my office as a senator to hold all executive nominations until we can get a response from the administration."

There was no immediate response from the White House.

Blocking or failing to act on executive appointments may not be the only pressure she applies, she warned. "I have other leverage, and I'm prepared to use it if I have to."

I haven't always been pleased with Landrieu's actions recently (her vote for cloture on the Alito nomination was a major disappointment) but this is the right move for her state.