Two Views of Hurricane Gustav and the Republicans

Deadline Poet

By Calvin Trillin

This article appeared in the September 22, 2008 edition of The Nation.

September 3, 2008

1. Disturbing Thought

Coordination happened in advance.
Bush skipped St. Paul, was near the storm's huge eye.
Katrina showed the White House crowd as clowns.
With Gustav they were given one more try.

We're all relieved that they've improved their act
(And Gustav weakened as it came onshore.)
The implication, though, is rather fraught:
Will they now try to start a better war?

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About Calvin Trillin

Calvin Trillin is The Nation's "deadline poet." He has been a staff writer for The New Yorker since 1963 and has written the syndicated weekly column "Uncivil Liberties" since 1986. He has authored many, many books, including Tepper's Not Going Out and Deadline Poet: My Life as a Doggerelist. more...
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