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I think Bush is taking a bigger hit than he deserves over Katrina.   

An AP video showed Incurious George being warned that the levees could overflow.  The Chicago Tribune says, "That yielded a gotcha! moment for Bush bashers. They trotted out his later remark–"I don't think anybody anticipated the breach of the levees"–to argue that, indeed, he'd been warned."  The Tribune goes on to say, "But not so fast. Late last week, the AP, which obtained the video and described the Aug. 28 briefing, issued a clarification. It said a federal disaster official had warned Bush of an overrunning of the levees, not a breach. The difference is not mere semantics. A breach, as the AP noted, is a hole. It's not the same as water overrunning the levees. "

Maybe he was surprised by the breach.  Anyway, his response to the criticism was pedestrian.  He took another walk on the Gulf Coast.  His 10th since Katrina hit, according to U.S. News.com.   And for good measure he asked congress for $4.2 billion to rebuild and relocate New Orleans.

I hope he's curious about breaches caused by the great federal spending flood.  According to Bloomberg.com, it's up 33% since Bush took office. Twice as much as under Clinton.  He's asked for a line item veto as a finger in the dike.  So far Bush is behind 133-0 at backing up his regular veto threats. On March 20 he'll move into second place behind Jefferson as the president going the longest without using a veto.  Son of a Breach.

The next seven cartoons and two columns on Bokbluster are from the week I spent with the Biloxi Sun Herald shortly after Katrina hit. This week marked 100 days since the hurricane's arrival. I still think about the place and the people often.

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Editor’s note:  Stan Tiner, the executive editor of the Biloxi Sun Herald invited Chip Bok to view firsthand the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and add his perspective the Sun Herald.  We will also publish his work from South Mississippi. Above is the first cartoon.  Below, Chip introduces himself to Sun Herald readers.

My name is chip Bok. I’m the editorial cartoonist for the Akron Beacon Journal, one of the Sun Herald’s Knight Ridder-owned sister newspapers. My cartoons also appear in other publications  around the country through syndication. I sit in my office, read the paper and draw pictures making fun of politicians. It’s a great job.

While kicking big shots in the shins is rewarding work, there have been rare times when it seemed a little beside the point. The 9-11 attacks were one of those times. Katrina is another.

In response to the outpouring of feeling for the people of New York after 9-11, the Beacon Journal led a drive to buy a fire truck to replace one that had been destroyed in the collapse of the Twin Towers. The drive was successful and a shiny new fire truck was shipped to the Big Apple. Due to bureaucratic regulations, of course, it didn’t replace the exact same vehicle we intended it to, but it was the thought that counted.

Katrina has sparked that feeling again and then some. My community  has responded by raising more than $375,000 to help South Mississippi. There are, however, strings attached to this kind of largess: You get me with it.

When I arrived, like most normal people, I was overwhelmed by the devastation. The calm determination and general good humor of people who have lost just about everything helped return me to my senses. Rather than draw and quarter politician for the next week or so, I hope to reflect some of my impressions of you clawing your way back to normal.

If you see something you recognize I hope you like it, and maybe even get a laugh.

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The tsunami quality of the storm surge meant that even though the property may be yours the debris on it probably wasn't.

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A greater premium was placed on friendliness than appearance.

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Meals Ready to Eat, or MRE's, were a mainstay for those who were displaced and unprepared to forage for food in their new environment.

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People saw things differently after the water rose faster than expected.

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Camille was the gold standard for hurricanes in Mississippi.