Bush Returns to the Gulf Coast

Trent Lott's house in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina

President Bush returns to the Gulf Coast today to survey the progress made thus far on recovery efforts in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. His primary destination will be Pascagoula, Mississippi, where Senator Trent Lott's house was one of thousands destroyed by the raging storm.

Bush's trip today is in part a fulfillment of a pledge that he made after returning to Washington following his month long vacation. After being briefed by his cabinet as to the full extent of the crisis, he told reporters that "The good news is... that out of this chaos is going to come a fantastic Gulf Coast, like it was before. Out of the rubbles of Trent Lott's house -- he's lost his entire house -- there's going to be a fantastic house. And I'm looking forward to sitting on the porch."

After days and days of intense effort from the Army Corp of Engineers, Lott's house is now as good as new. In fact, it is new.


"I'm pleased to say that the president is a man of his word," said a grateful Lott. "The African Blackwood floors are just beautiful. I'm a little disappointed that the deck hasn't been finished, but they haven't been able to get in the Brazilian Walnut yet. Oh well, I guess that there are shortages throughout the area. The important thing is that we've got that porch ready for the president. He needs a little down time after the week he's put in."