Nagin looks for help outside U.S., and Blanco sticks to her guns

New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin is considering seeking foreign assistance for the city since the government of the United States appears unwilling to rebuild it. Both France and Jordan have expressed an interest in helping. There is, by the way, no new Katrina aid in Bush's new budget.

And Governor Kathleen Blanco has not backed down from her stand on oil leases. The governor declared again, in the opening speech of the current special legislative session, that Louisiana would block future exploration in the Gulf of Mexico unless Louisiana finally received its fair share of oil and gas royalties. "It's time to play hardball," Blanco said, "because I believe that's the only game Washington understands."