The Speech
Bush's speech is being carried on all the major networks tonight at 9 ET.
Nedra Pickler writes for the Associated Press: "It is Bush's first formal prime-time speech during more than two weeks of suffering along the Gulf, with most of the victims chased out by floodwaters in New Orleans. Bush planned to speak from the heart of the French Quarter, while across the city officials were still working to pump out waters and collect bodies left behind.
"Bush planned to show sympathy for the misery brought on by the killer storm while charting a hopeful vision for the future. Many people, including members of the president's party, have said he should have given that kind of speech soon after the hurricane made landfall along the coast on Aug. 29. . . .
"Rather than speak before a live audience, Bush planned to stand alone and broadcast his message directly into the camera from the evacuated city's historic Jackson Square, according to a White House official speaking on condition of anonymity since the site had not been announced.
"The square and its most famed landmark, the St. Louis Cathedral, were on high enough ground to avoid flooding but did not escape damage from Katrina's 145-mph winds. Two massive oak trees outside the 278-year-old cathedral came out by the roots, ripping out a 30-foot section of ornamental iron fence and snapping off the thumb and forefinger of the outstretched hand on a marble statue of Jesus."
Jonathan Weisman and Jim VandeHei write in The Washington Post: "President Bush will call tonight for an unprecedented federal commitment to rebuild New Orleans and other areas obliterated by Hurricane Katrina, putting the United States on pace to spend more in the next year on the storm's aftermath than it has over three years on the Iraq war, according to White House and congressional officials.
"With the federal tab for Katrina already nearly quadruple the cost of the country's previous most expensive natural disaster cleanup, Bush plans to offer federal assistance to help flood victims find jobs, get housing and health care, and attend school, according to White House aides. . . .
"Bush and Republican congressional leaders . . . are calculating that the U.S. economy can safely absorb a sharp spike in spending and budget deficits, and that the only way to regain public confidence after the stumbling early response to the disaster is to spend whatever it takes to rebuild the region and help Katrina's victims get back on their feet."
Judy Keen writes in USA Today: "Dan Bartlett, Bush's counselor, said the president will reflect on 'the horrific suffering' in the region and 'outline the beginnings of a vision of the future.' . . .
"Two Bush advisers with direct knowledge of the speech said the president is considering the appointment of a high-profile 'czar' to oversee recovery efforts. But one said the White House is checking whether that would be allowed under federal law."
Kirsten Scharnberg and Jeff Zeleny write in the Chicago Tribune: "The White House is hopeful the address will stem the criticism of the administration's response to the relief effort. A senior administration official said Bush's approval rating, which is hovering at the lowest point of his presidency, also is tied to questions about the war in Iraq. A draft of the speech Wednesday had the president repeating his claim of full responsibility for the government's response, a point of contrition that advisers hope turns the tide of ill will against Bush."
The Not-So-Hidden Agenda
John R. Wilkie and Brody Mullins write in the Wall Street Journal: "Congressional Republicans, backed by the White House, say they are using relief measures for the hurricane-ravaged Gulf coast to achieve a broad range of conservative economic and social policies, both in the storm zone and beyond.
