I very rarely get political. I generally leave that kind of thing up to the other parent of my child, who happens to have his own White House correspondent. But, like so many of my fellow Americans, I am beyond frustration and am plumbing the depths of a national despair that is far, far greater than that which followed 9/11.

We saw the storm coming. We (or at least CNN) believed it would be a direct hit. So what did the feds, the local counties, the neighboring counties, and the adjacent states, do to prepare for the toxic aftermath of what we knew would be one of the greatest natural disasters in our country’s history? Damned near nothing. And people are dying — needlessly — because of it.

Bush cut his vacation short to tour the ravaged area four days after it was clear that New Orleans and its surrounding areas had been decimated. His wife spoke of the wonderful support folks were receiving in the midst of all the senselessness but was then whisked off-camera when the questions got tough. How curious is it that the National Guard and much-needed food and water arrived in the city on the very day that Bush paid his visit (and not a moment sooner)?

Fats Domino got fifteen more minutes of fame for having been plucked from the mirk while an inestimable number of his neighbors were drifting down the canal, flotsamlike, waiting to snag on an embankment.

How about the ironic twist that has the French Quarter, New Orleans’ (and perhaps the south’s) most heavily promoted den of iniquity, surviving the worst of the storm and the flooding while sleepy little 9th Ward disappears off the face of the earth?

I can’t believe the most powerful country in the world couldn’t get their shit together, especially when compared to Shanghai’s preparations for Typhoon Talim.

Perhaps I’m moved to make a comment because I am ashamed of what has happened. Perhaps I’m overwhelmed by what it will take to rebuild that broken chain of counties along the Gulf Coast. Like many others I feel wholly inadequate in the face of this disaster, sitting on my sofa and watching 24-hour news coverage while eating dinner, when children have lost their parents, parents have lost their children, and everyone has lost their homes.

I am grateful for everything I have. But suddenly none of it seems worth much. So while I am happy to give what I can to help those who have lost it all, I’m filled with sadness and remorse that I cannot do more. Prayer appears to be the strongest option at this point, for a Being greater than humanity is about what it will take to recover from this morass.

Prayer, and several impeachments.