The Gulf Coast is bracing for the arrival of Hurricane Isaac, almost 7 years to the day after Hurricane Katrina caused massive destruction across a wide swath of coastline.  While Isaac is projected to be Category 2 when it makes landfall, while Katrina was a Category 5 storm, there’s no such thing as a mild hurricane.  Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi as they either hunker down or head inland.

But let me say this to our friends in New Orleans:

Y’all better be prepared for this.  Last time, we watched as a major American city turned into a third world disaster zone because of decades of incompetence and corruption.  Our president was skewered because he chose to follow the law and didn’t immediately rush in federal aid and troops because the governor of Louisiana had better things to do than to request them like she was supposed to.  We all gave of our time, treasure, and prayers for the rescue and recovery of New Orleans, while a large number of her residents found a semi-dry place to sit and complain to NBC that no-one was helping them.  We then watched as the regime that not only messed up New Orleans before the storm, but also abandoned it so that they could get a shower before holding news conferences to whine that the rest of us weren’t doing enough, was re-elected by the people they betrayed.

This time, you’ve had 7 years to get your act together.  If y’all haven’t improved the pumping stations, levies, shelters, and evacuation systems, it’s on you.  We will provide help to the truly helpless, but the rest of you are on your own.

Take care, stay dry, and pray that you’re ready for this, because for some of you, this may be the first time in your life you’ve been forced to stand on your own two feet.