Douglas Brinkley on Louisiana’s ‘state of distress’

Two disasters, two presidents, one city. Even though the Gulf oil spill hasn’t directly hit New Orleans, it’s hard not to think of the disaster in the context of the Hurricane that hit the same region five years ago. Historian Douglas Brinkley says its residents are in a state of “permanent stress.” But, he says, he’s more angry now because this disaster was man made. New Orleans is Brinkley’s adopted home town and he assesses President Obama’s response so far.

Brinkley is a Professor of History at Rice University and is also author of “The Wilderness Warrior” and ?The Great Deluge.?