"Hey, boy, you not from around here, are ya?"

One of the reasons we think Mississippi's Haley Barbour is one of the best governors in the nation...this exchange:

Question: “Some people have said that both the supplies and manpower that are in Iraq could be used here in the homeland to help aid Mississippi—what do you say to that?”

Answer: “Where are you from?”

Response: “I’m from the National Public Radio.”

Answer: “I figured that. You know what? A reporter asked President Bush today, and said ‘there’s a lot of talk down here about Iraq, with resources going to Iraq.’ Whereas, there’s no talk about it with anyone I talk to—except reporters. I haven’t heard the word Iraq mentioned one time—in Hattiesburg, Meridian, Laurel, Gulfport, Biloxi—not one time. But when I’m asked, I’ll give you what the President, who was nicer about the question than I am, and who’s nicer than I would have been to that guy. There’s probably a lot of talk about it at the hotel where the press is staying. But, we can do more than one thing at once. We are a large country with tremendous capacity and amazing willingness to use that capacity when it needs to be used. I have not heard or seen anybody other than a reporter that has used the word ‘Iraq’ in the same sentence with the word ‘hurricane.’”

Haley is showing his mettle during this hurricane crisis. Good - we need a strong leader ... now more than ever!