In the latest AP, Newsweek, Gallup, etc polls, conducted in the past week:

-By more than 2 to 1, Americans say the federal government should have been better prepared for a disaster the magnitude of Katrina. Minorities, 83 percent, were more likely than whites, 64 percent, to feel that the federal government should have been better prepared.

-Just over half, 54 percent, said they blame President Bush for the slow response to the storm.

-Two-thirds of respondents said they had a deep feeling of anger that relief for the victims came so slowly. Women, 72 percent, were more likely to feel this way than men, 62 percent. Blacks, 93 percent, and those who live in cities, 75 percent, also had strong feelings of anger.

-More than half, 55 percent, said they had a deep feeling of shame about the way the hurricane response was handled.

-Just over a third said they felt deeply that the government would have responded faster if the victims weren't mostly black and poor. Almost two-thirds of minorities said they deeply felt that way, while a fourth of whites said they felt deeply that this was the case.

-Almost two-thirds say the country is headed down the wrong track. Those who are the gloomiest include people from 18-29, 77 percent wrong direction; nonwhites, 79 percent; those with a high school education or less, 73 percent; those with low incomes, under $25,000, 69 percent; $25,000 to $50,000, 72 percent; Democrats, 86 percent; non-investors, 72 percent.

-Just over half disapprove of how Bush is handling the hurricane response.

-Seven in 10 disapprove of how the president is handling gas prices.

But! They weren't able to include Floridians or other states impacted by the hurricane and it's aftermath in the poll, so we have no sense of how the locals feel (though I think it is safe to say we can make a pretty good educated guess at this point).

Overall, Bush's approval rating had slipped to it's lowest level ever, and into Gingrich resignation territory: only 39% approve of the way Bush is handling the job. When asked the question "And when it comes to domestic issues like health care, education and the environment, do you approve or disapprove or have mixed feelings about the way George W. Bush is handling that issue? The number sinks one more point to 38%.