No joking matter

I've commented many times before that George Bush just doesn't have the requisite statesman-like qualities. Think what you will about Tony Blair, but it's embarrassing to see them on the same stage.

Nevertheless, I was genuinely shocked by the crass levity of his speech in New Orleans this week. The President has been quick to stress that the midst of a national humanitarian disaster is not the time for fingerpointing. Well guess what, it's not the time to be cracking jokes about a misspent youth or sipping cocktails at Trent Lott's soon-to-be-rebuilt mansion either.

This weekend will be the fourth anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attack. Rudy Giuliani is of course no saint either, but on that and subsequent days, he displayed the courage, compassion and leadership that our current president can only dream of. George Bush would do well to take a leaf out of his book right now.