A CONVENTIONAL STRATEGY. Last Saturday, National Review called for New Orleans to be the site of the 2008 Republican Convention.

"Critics will call it a transparent attempt to burnish the party's image after the Bush administration 'failed' with the initial relief effort. The gesture would, however, reflect the genuine sentiment of Republicans who, like all Americans, want to help a city facing such a bleak future. We heard similar complaints — easily brushed off — about the Republicans' coming to New York for last year's convention."

But the Republicans shouldn't rush into any commitments just yet — not when there's still time for another city to be wrecked and thereby qualify for GOP exploitation! I hope that doesn't happen, of course. I'm just unnerved by the thought that the Republicans might make a habit out of staging its media events in scarred cities such as post-9/11 New York and post-Katrina New Orleans. We already have too many.