Rayne Today

The blowback

President Bush tours the storm-ravaged Gulf Coast today.

He shouldn't expect a hero's welcome.

The Republican Party's priority? The estate tax

On the day that Scott McClellan says it's not the time for politics, Ken Mehlman urges supporters to call their senators about a tax cut.

Bush: Relief results are "not acceptable"

The president admits what his administration has been denying.

"With each day I feel less and less lucky"

Waiting for help along Mississippi's Gulf Coast, the poor bear the brunt of the misery.

But where do we send money to off Hugo Chavez?

Want to donate money to help victims of Katrina? FEMA has an idea for you.

Dennis Hastert on what makes sense

The Republican speaker of the House backtracks after saying that it doesn't make sense to spend money rebuilding New Orleans.

What about Iraq?

Is it time to raise taxes?

Hurricane Katrina will send the federal budget deeper into the red.

Is it finally time for a sane fiscal policy?

Just be careful around the Turd Blossoms

All across the country, ordinary Americans are offering to take in Katrina's refugees.

Is there room at the inn in Crawford?

King Kaufman's Sports Daily

Aaron Brooks and I were wrong: Hurricane Katrina is "a 9/11 deal".

So why hasn't anyone suggested that sports take a break?

The first lady: That's just the way it is

Laura Bush says poor people always suffer the most when natural disasters strike.

"They're feeding the public a line of bull and people are dying here"

In a desperate and enraged interview, New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin blasts the federal and state response to Katrina.

Out of the nightmare, into the Astrodome

Safely in Houston, Louisiana evacuees tell nightmarish tales of the Superdome and blast the relief effort.

Where's Denny?

As New Orleans begs for help, the Republican speaker of the House is in Illinois, passing out pork from the transportation bill.

Some "looting" vs. "finding" answers found

A photographer clears up how he came up with a controversial photo caption.

The president's Gulf Coast road show

Bush praises his FEMA director, jokes about his partying past and looks forward to sitting on Trent Lott's new porch.

A dry plan

Louisiana's official hurricane plan says absolutely zero about how to handle an evacuation once New Orleans is flooded.

Ask the pilot

Not even a trip to El Salvador could break the spell of crashes.

Meanwhile, can a flight attendant land a 737, and why can't I hold my breath at 37,000 feet?

Daily Download: "Bad Feelings," The Robot Ate Me

The Robot Ate Me turns to love with heartbreaking effect.

The Fix

Stars align for Katrina relief.

Brooke prepares to counter Cruise.

Plus: A creepy Lohan family singalong.

Around the Web

Around the Web: Katrina's devastation extends to the New Orleans music scene.

The inimitable Chris Ware

The author of "Jimmy Corrigan" explores a fallen world in this new installment of breathtakingly intricate comic strips.

I'm dating in recovery -- how much do I tell?

Should I mention in my personal ad that I'm bipolar and have three ex-wives?

Remain silent!

As they've done after every crisis, right-wingers are insisting that to question the Bush administration is unpatriotic.

But no one should be afraid to hold our incompetent leaders to account.