Did You Know...

**Written by Doug Powers

The hurricane is making its first landfall as I write this, and hopefully those of you in the affected areas have either evacuated or taken the proper precautions.

I would have posted this earlier but I didn’t want anybody to confuse it with good advice: MSNBC was discussing Hurricane Irene yesterday, and for pointers on preparedness they turned to… Ray Nagin?

Newsbusters:

Teasing his Friday 3 p.m. ET hour show on MSNBC, anchor Martin Bashir proclaimed that he would have a special guest on to discuss incoming Hurricane Irene: “Former New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin joins us to explain what leaders must do to avoid the mistakes that were made six years ago.”

Bashir was “delighted” to have Nagin on the program and began by asking about the response of political leaders to the storm: “Is it your view, sir, that they are handling preparations for this hurricane in the best way possible?” Bashir followed up by wondering: “…with the benefit of your experience, what are the critical actions that you think need to be taken to ensure that Hurricane Irene, or any other act of mother nature, does not become Katrina, Part II?”

As part of MSNBC’s “what not to do” series, next week they’ll have on the former Captain of the Exxon Valdez to offer pointers every tanker driver should be aware of, and Anthony Weiner will discuss tips for safe Tweeting. Check local listings:

Effects of Hurricane Irene are expected to be felt as far inland as western Pennsylvania, but sources who should never be taken seriously tell me, should that happen, Nagin has graciously offered to help make the city of Hershey chocolate again.

Update: If you’re wondering, this hurricane was caused by Republicans. Wait, which party is “anti-science”?

**Written by Doug Powers

Twitter @ThePowersThatBe