I'm grateful, and touched.

As an American, I'm very pleased to see that the Republican party has undergone northing short of a miraculous transformation and change of attitude.

Their new-found deep concern for hurricane victims along the coast is truly touching, don't you think? Why, if the Dems had done the same, some would inevitably sneer and mock it as a "Kumbaya moment", no doubt.

Heck, they've turned their convention, or at least the first couple days, into a big display of their incredible newly-minted sensitivity towards those affected by the storms.

But don't worry too much that the Republicans have somehow grown a heart. This, like so much of what they do, was just for show, for public consumption. It didn't slow down their luxurious corporate parties one bit.

Sure, what the public saw was Republicans raising money for Gustav victims, and telling cameras that it would be inappropriate to celebrate at a time like this.

Except in the clubs and other venues, the lavish parties were going full swing at the very same time.

That's not to say that many, doubtless most, Republicans aren't compassionate for their fellow man and more than ready and willing to lend a hand to those in need. But it does help if those in need aren't black and very poor.

Three years ago, the Bush administration and their mouthpieces didn't quite give the impression it was that important to them. They, how would you say... just weren't that "in touch" with the situation. Clueless might be a better term.

When confronted with their near criminal neglect, they resorted to blaming the victims, which of course, is so impressive.

Hell, Bushie was strumming his guitar on his ranch and celebrating John McCain's birthday there with a nice big cake while Katrina made landfall and people began to drown.

Perhaps Bushie's mom Babs crystalized the Republican attitude when she famously quipped upon surveying all the "darkies" left huddled in an arena in Texas,

"What I'm hearing, which is sort of scary, is they all want to stay in Texas. Everyone is so overwhelmed by the hospitality. And so many of the people in the arena here, you know, were underprivileged anyway, so this is working very well for them."

So hurray for change.

And speaking of change, When Katrina struck New Orleans right between the eyes, Bush had simply ignored the warnings or his people didn't want to bother him. Not only did he not feel it was necessary to stay in D.C., he was partying with McCain on his ranch right when the storm hit. Clearly it was of no serious importance to him whatsoever.

Cut to this week. For the first time in several decades, a sitting president had not attended his party's convention. That's some pretty big time stuff. It almost NEVER happens.

And what kept him away? Why, he's now such a "hurricane preznit" that he stayed put in the White House just for show. Missed his own party's convention in order to become a prop in their "compassion" charade.

Clearly, the government had thrown everything but the kitchen sink at things this time around. There was NO WAY that the same mistakes were going to be repeated. (and that's GREAT!) But everyone knows that Bush wasn't required. Everyone knows for certain that he didn't need to be at the White House, as if he was directing the entire effort from there. It was a charade like the rest.

Let's see if he rushes to the White House for every one of the dozens of hurricanes sure to follow this season.

Just hope this concern for humanity, even if they have to swallow hard and admit that black poor people are part of humanity, isn't limited to once every four years. (like some folks morality seem limited to a few hours on Sunday.)

And while we're on the subject of miracles, isn't it a miracle, despite hurricane Gustaf causing refineries representing nearly 20% of U.S. refining capacity to shut down, and even more to operate at far below capacity, and with several vital oil pipelines shut down or operating at reduced levels, that, just as the Republican Convention gets under way, oil prices have started to drop significantly?

It's a miracle!

Especially if you recall that three years ago when oil prices began soaring, the reason given was that Katrina had forced the closing of several refineries and reduced output.

Strange. Odd that the same thing that made oil prices skyrocket also happened this time around, but this time, in the last few months before the election, oil prices drop. Weird, ain't it? Just sayin'.

Beats the heck out of me. It must be a miracle.