• Administration, citing “reasons of practicality and politics,” decided not to intervene early on with federal response to Katrina. Senior administration official: “Can you imagine how it would have been perceived if a president of the United States of one party had pre-emptively taken from the female governor of another party the command and control of her forces, unless the security situation made it completely clear that she was unable to effectively execute her command authority and that lawlessness was the inevitable result?” [NYT]
• Congress readily approves spending for Katrina relief efforts including $51.8b package; deficit likely to hit new record. [WP, WSJ, NYT, USAT]
• Democratic senators and strategists “are weighing whether to save their ammunition for the next nominee, who would succeed retiring Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, often the swing vote on social issues.” [NYT]
• Top FEMA officials lack experience; many were patronage appointments. [WP, LAT]
• Leadership and compassion from Bush is less visible now than after 9/11; approval rating is down to 40% in Pew poll and 42% in Gallup poll think Bush’s response to Katrina was bad or terrible. [NYT, USAT]
• Democrats do not approve of Katrina inquiry proposed by Republicans. [WP, NYT]
• Cheney tours Gulf Coast: “There’s no question there were problems with respect to the evacuation in New Orleans. We’ve gotten around that problem now, and I think everyone’s focused on the future.” [NYT]

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• Katrina relief costs estimated between $100b and $200b; Bush could be forced to trim his economic agenda. [NYT, WSJ, USAT, USAT]
• Bush promises to carefully study “wide open” list of potential justices. Senior administration official: “People are in no mood for a circus. The country is dealing with a terrible tragedy. The American people want a dignified process.” [WP, NYT, LAT]
• Emotions run as Rehnquist’s flag-draped coffin lies in Supreme Court building. [WP, NYT, USAT]
• Bush will order internal investigation to “find out what went right and what went wrong” with hurricane planning. Lott: “Nothing will be the same again.” [WP, NYT, WT, USAT]
• Katrina crisis has increased polarization of the country, unlike period after 9/11. Professor: “Bush is the most partisan president in modern American history. As a result, voters in both parties are focusing on him, rather than on the specifics of the policies.” [WP]

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