Photo Op Bites Back

Did Bush at least make news when he said he was looking to local governments to make the key decisions about rebuilding? Not likely. It sounded to me more like an unresponsive answer to the pleas by those government officials for more and better-managed federal aid.

As Peter Whoriskey writes in today's Washington Post: "At a meeting Monday afternoon, the group of civic leaders chosen to lead rebuilding efforts after Hurricane Katrina discussed shortfalls in the federal government's relief program.

"Some said the Federal Emergency Management Agency was not acting efficiently enough to provide temporary housing for workers.

"Some seemed exasperated that too few federal contracts were being won by local companies.

"And some complained that the Army Corps of Engineers is not building the levees to withstand the worst of hurricanes, and that that might be keeping people out of the city, too."

It was precisely those officials who met with Bush last night, over a dinner of gumbo, grilled red fish, rib eye steak, herb roasted chicken and barbecue shrimp, behind the closed doors of a fancy New Orleans restaurant.

Agence France Presse reports: "White House spokesman Trent Duffy said it was an 'open exchange' with the local officials that covered problems associated with housing, insurance and repairing the city's system of ruptured levees.

'The American people have their arms out. We want you to know that a lot of people care,' Bush told the officials, according to his spokesman."

Also in Today's Interview

After several questions about hurricane relief, Lauer turned to some of the other issues bedeviling the president.

"Q While I have you here and while you don't have a hammer in your hand, can I ask you - well, you have it in your belt - (laughter) - about some things going on in Washington?

"THE PRESIDENT: Sure.

"Q A lot of criticism coming for your nominee to the Supreme Court, Harriet Miers, from conservatives - people like Trent Lott and Pat Buchanan and George Will and Bill Kristol. Were you taken off-guard a little bit, caught by surprise by the amount of criticism you're getting for Judge Miers?