President Bush, still unable to recognize the impact of a natural disaster immediately after it happens, waited until Thursday - a full six days after the Hudson Valley ice storm - to issue a federal disaster declaration for the region.

The White House said in a statement faxed to local newspapers that the declaration authorizes the Federal Emergency Management Agency to “identify, mobilize and provide, at its discretion, equipment and resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the emergency."

All well and good, except that the equipment and resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the emergency - primarily power outages endured by tens of thousands of people - were mobilized and provided by local utility companies starting a week ago, and the last of the problems were fixed on Wednesday, the day before Bush issued the disaster declaration.

Put another way:
Dear George: Thanks for the offer, but we managed just fine on our own. Love, Katrina.