Two LSU/VA points

1) I would have just posted this on Greg's blog but I don't feel like going through the rigamaroll of registering. His post is about the revelation that the expected synergistic sharing of facilities resources between the two hospitals, which was a major selling point of the project, has been scrapped due to the now out-of-sync timing and funding for each hospital. I've noticed that opponents of the new hospital, who have worked diligently to delay or obstruct the project, are now claiming that the success of their efforts proves the dishonesty of the plan in the first place. I find this less than persuasive.

2) This is an interesting turnaround about which I was previously unaware.

Meanwhile, Retired Lt. Gen. Russel Honore added his voice to those calling for the federal government to help pay for a new hospital to replace Charity, a shift in position for the man who commanded Joint Task Force-Katrina in the wake of the 2005 storm. In May, Honore told The Times-Picayune that Charity should have been reopened after the storm and that "the state of Louisiana needs to pay for its own damn medical center."

"Contrary to what I may have said in the past, the federal government needs to step up and provide a decent grant (to replace Charity) because the storm did destroy the hospital, " Honore said last week.

"I think a medical center or teaching hospital is something the city needs and I don't think it can fit in Old Charity, " Honore said. "I do think it's time for FEMA and Health and Human Services to step up and help the city replace what was Charity with what could be the beginning of a world-class medical center."

"We need one in New Orleans and it needs to be able to withstand a flood, " he said. "This time the first floor needs to be a parking lot."