Cross-posted from The Wayward Episcopalian.

Attending school in the northeast, as I do, limits one's ability to fight for Katrina recovery issues. Fortunately for me, the northeast means New Hampshire, giving me the rare opportunity to talk to presidential candidates about New Orleans and the pace of recovery there. To take advantage of this opportunity, I have spent the last several months grading the top candidates on their hurricane recovery proposals, and revising those grades when necessary. Today, it is necessary to revisit and revise the grades I originally gave Barack Obama, John Edwards, and Chris Dodd.

This post contains original analysis, as well as accounts of personal conversations with several candidates, and original audio of my conversation with Dodd.

I. An Explanation
II. John Edwards
III. Barack Obama
IV. Chris Dodd
V. Summary of Previously Reviewed Candidates (Biden, Clinton, Richardson)

There's more...

Sometimes, in politics, a rose really is a rose - not to mention a rose...

Naturally, I'm surveying yesterday's Daily Digest in search of next week's business - nothing happens on Fridays in Nancy's five day work week paradise, natch: they're all too busy grubbing for moolah!

And see that the Senate will be processing HR 1495, the Water Resources Development Act.

The bill authorizes various water projects to be done by the Army Corps of Engineers. The CBO estimate (see THOMAS page for HR 1495) puts the 15 year cost at $15bn.

(Around the Pentagon budget for paperclips over the period.)

There's more...