Time for Nagin to prove himself, or step aside

His name is on everyone's lips. I've been talking about my hope that Mitch Landrieu would run, and so have others I've talked to. Now the talk is reaching a fever pitch.

He's a genuine person with heart and a gentle nature. He works hard, and he definitely knows his way around Louisiana politics.

Ray Nagin has done a pretty average job as mayor. He got a few nice services up on the city web site, but that's about it. Challenging corruption in city government, as Nagin promised, was more being done by the U.S. Attorney, although Nagin could get points for running a cleaner administration than his predecessors.

Even before Katrina, Nagin was silent on the two most important issues in New Orleans: the alarming murder rate, and failing schools. Katrina exposed him to be an indecisive leader who didn't take initiative, and who failed to listen to other people for good advice.

Now, New Orleans residents need to know what the future has in store for them. We need to know, as the number one priority, that a storm protection system will be built - that a category 5 levee system will be built, and Louisiana's coasts restored. Ray Nagin (and Governor Blanco as well) needs to be making this point constantly, visibly, loudly, and if the Bush administration still doesn't get it, he needs to blow his lid like he did on radio in response to the abysmal federal response to Hurricane Katrina. What's the plan Ray?

Come on Mitch - give us some hope!