Here’s what’s caught my eye this morning:
- Armchair Generalist has a good assessment of the response to the Katrina disaster to date. I’ve put my comments in his comments section.
- Boing Boing has a post on the effect of Katrina on the Internet backbone. The diagram attached to this post and the accompanying explanation will tell you more about what the Internet actually is than you probably know right now. Essential info for any Internet user if only for background.
- I’d meant to comment on this yesterday. Embedded within Glenn’s enormous Katrina coverage yesterday was this observation:
Meanwhile, Eric Muller thinks it was a mistake to name prosecutor Mike Chertoff as head of Homeland Security, even though he knows and likes Chertoff: “You can’t cross-examine a hurricane.”
We lawyers have many virtues, but management skills aren’t high on the list. For that you want an MBA, usually. I’ve long been deeply unimpressed with the whole Homeland Security approach, but again, it’s too early to say just how much difference it’s made here.
Glenn has conflated credentials with qualifications. Sure an MBA would be helpful. But if you really want a FEMA that actually responds decisively to emergencies (I’m far from convinced that’s either possible or desireable) you need former military. A high-ranking general. Only the military has the culture and attitude to do the job. And that’s been our historical experience as well.
- Phil Carter of Intel Dump echoes my thoughts with his post All Disasters Are Local
- SCOTUSBlog is, of course, your best resource for thoughtful commentary and coverage of the death of Chief Justice Rehnquist, reflections on his accomplishments and legacy, and the nomination of John Roberts to the Chief Justice position.
- David Yeagley of BadEagle has some rather disquieting reflections on evacuation, deportation, and relocation in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
- The Becker-Posner Blog is discussing disaster response and whether New Orleans should be rebuilt. Becker here. Posner here.
- What with the Katrina disaster, the death of Chief Justice Rehnquist, and the nomination of John Roberts to replace him there hasn’t been a great deal of Labor Day reflection in the blogosphere. Here’s some from PoliPundit where I don’t think I would have expected it.
- The Daily Demarche is back hopefully on something more like a daily basis.
That’s the lot.
