Maybe I’m falling into Bush defensiveness again, but I think the record should show that, according to Kathleen Blanco this weekend, she made the mandatory evacuation order only after the president, AP wrote, “called and personally appealed for a mandatory evacuation.” There are awful images and realities and this in no way excuses (or is meant to) any shortcomings in post-storm federal relief or coordination. But I think that it’s worth noting.