Cold comfort

I read yesterday that the White House has informed our worshipful multitudes that President Bush will visit Tennessee on Friday to comfort victims of the devastating string of storms and tornadoes that ripped through several states over the last few days. Decoded, that means Bush, surrounded by armed bodyguards, will pose for some pictures, be escorted back to his armored limo and go home. That's what he did on Florida's Treasure Coast after Hurricane Frances tore several counties to bits. He and Jeb handed out a couple of bags of ice for the photographers in the blazing heat and before he had a chance to break a sweat, got into the air conditioned limo that took them to the helicopter which took them down to party in Miami. What a guy. So much comfort.

Forgive an old cynic for suspecting that we will get the same heck of a job from the same hack of a president.

"Loss of life, loss of property — prayers can help and so can the government,"

he said and while I am sure the government will help about as much as appeals for mercy to the deity who may or may not have been in the whirlwind, we do not pay taxes to heaven, but to the Federal Government Bush's party has been insisting is not the answer to our needs. Far better than the idiot Reagan did, Bush has made that so.

More than ever it behooves the citizen to do what Bush cannot and will not do. Why not take some of those tax rebates we'll surely receive and give a donation to the American Red Cross and know that it will go to help Americans in dire need? The Government is only there to help if you have oil.