Notes From the Knoll

Ray Nagin's tiresome blame game

NEW ORLEANS Mayor Ray Nagin is at it again. The glib crusader who said Hurricane Katrina was God's wrath being visited upon the Crescent City (and later apologized for it) and who said God wanted it to be a "chocolate city" again (and later apologized for it) took a stroll on the grassy knoll of conspiracy theories when he suggested there was a plot to alter the racial makeup and politics of New Orleans and other cities.

Here's what Mr. Nagin told an association of black newspaper editors and publishers on Thursday: "Ladies and gentlemen, what happened in New Orleans could happen anywhere. They are studying this model of natural disasters, dispersing the community and changing the electoral process in that community." Just who are "they"? And where are "they" studying this model? We can't tell you because neither Mr. Nagin nor his spokesman returned our calls.

As if that wasn't bad enough, Mr. Nagin slipped on the mantle of political martyr to explain the reaction to his "chocolate city" comment in January 2006. "Everybody in America started to wake up and say: 'Wait a minute. What's he doing? What is he saying? We have to make sure that this man doesn't go any further.' " Well, he went further. He won reelection last May against Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu.

Maybe Mr. Nagin lashed out in frustration. No question, there's plenty of blame to go around as city, state and federal officials continue to bicker and point fingers over decisions large and small. But his latest racial ramble distracts from the real issues facing his hobbled city. The slow pace of recovery, the fleeing professional class and crime are a few of them. Mr. Nagin's considered opinion on those weighty matters would be most welcome.