Bob Taft = Jackass

Bob Taft is a fucking idiot. There is no getting around it. The guy is as incompetent as politicians come.

In August, Taft became the first Ohio Governor to be found guilty of a crime while in office, after he pleaded no contest to charges that he violated state ethics laws by failing to report golf outings and other gifts. Fifty-three to be exact. And people complain about Pres. Bush mending his fences at the ranch in Texas. I think Gov. Taft is a little worse. Franklin County Judge Mark Froehlich fined Taft the maximum $1,000 for each of the four misdemeanor counts but imposed no jail time. However, he did require Taft to issue apologies to Ohio’s citizens and state government employees. Taft, in a press conference held after the hearing, said, “I accept full responsibility for this mistake. I am very sorry.” Nevertheless, Taft did not resign. He vowed to serve the 16 months left of his second term, even though he has insisted on the resignation of department heads and other government employees for similar or lesser offenses. Not to mention, his approval ratings are sky high at 16%. So, now Taft also plays the role of hypocrit. Now, even some Ohio Republicans have called for him to resign. Not surprisingly, the three leading GOP candidates for governor are keeping their distance from him and his ethics problems.

As governor, Taft has earned an “F” in the Cato Institute’s report card on the nation’s governors. Some of his administration's failure's: massive spending increases, minor tax reform that fails to relieve Ohio’s most serious economic problem, the tax burden on businesses; and Taft’s so-called “Third Frontier” proposal for state-subsidized high tech research and development. The proposal was rejected by Ohio voters a couple years ago, but will be offered to Ohio voters again in November.

Taft has embarrassed himself, the state of Ohio, and he has put a black-eye on the family name. Too bad considering the Taft family is one of the most known names in all of American politics.

Simply put, Bob Taft is a piece of shit.

For the CBS Evening News, Kyle Rowland reporting.

Hurricane Katrina Worse Than 9/11

Bob, In the wee hours on Monday morning, Hurricane Katrina plowed into the U.S. Gulf Coast with shrieking 160 MPH winds and blinding rain. The force of the two elements submerged entire neighborhoods. In New Orleans, homes were completely under water. In Biloxi, boats were hurled onto land, and water poured into the town's strip of beachfront casinos. In Mobile, just like Louisiana and Mississippi, the town was under water and I-10 was destroyed.

Katrina created a storm surge of more than 20 feet. An estimated 40,000 homes flooded in St. Bernard Parish just east of New Orleans. Windows in downtown New Orleans and other cities were blown out, utility poles dangled in the wind, and billboards were ripped to shreds. In some areas, people were stranded on their roof tops and in their attics.

On Monday night and Tuesday morning, I experienced Hurricane Katrina when she arrived in Tuscaloosa. Albeit, we only had 60 MPH winds, it was still a night to remember. The wind howled all night and the rain pelted windows. Classes were cancelled for two days and the city received considerable damage. There are now an estimated 1,000 refugess residing at the University's recreation center and hotels throughout town.

Katrina will end up being worse than the terrorist attacks of 9/11. More people will die and the economic effects will be far greater. Gas prices have already soared out of control. The amount of jobs that have been lost is unfathomable. The entire Gulf Coast from New Orleans to Pensacola has simply been devastated in every possible way by this storm. Some cities may never be re-built and if they are, they will never be the same. New Orleans and Biloxi being the obvious ones. It will take years to re-build New Orleans. Even if it is, the French Quarter may not exist. if that is the case the city will never be able to thrive again. Also, how many people will want to live there knowing all of this could happen again? My guess is not very many. The gambling industry is how the city of Biloxi thrives. All of the casnios there have been totally destroyed by Katrina. Without gambling, people are not going to go to Biloxi. Also, the shrimping industry in Bayou Le Batre, Ala. looks to be non-existent now.

You get the point now of the magnitude that this one storm has on the Gulf Coast, the South, and the country as a whole.

For the CBS Evening News, I'm Kyle Rowland.