I suppose apolgies and acceptance of full responsibility...

...is not in order?

"We're in a set of crises the mix of which I haven't seen," said Charles O. Jones, professor emeritus of political science at the University of Wisconsin, "and it involves all three branches of government as well as people at the federal, state and local level."

None of the usual political remedies - visits to the afflicted areas, pledges of more aid - are likely to give Bush a boost anytime soon, warned Republican pollster Frank Luntz. Bush, he said, needs political help before he can take any bold Supreme Court action.

"We saw the hurricane disaster. We understand it," he said, "and we still want it explained to us. People are angry that the government didn't seem to care."

Added Luntz, who helped craft the 1994 GOP takeover of Congress: "My job is to get people out of situations like this. But I wouldn't know what to advise him."