October Surprise

All sources point to a devastating landfall for Hurricane Sandy this weekend along the Atlantic coast of the United States. That's where many if not most of my fellow Americans live, and I wish them all well, even the Republicans.

I hope all levels of government respond to the thrashing Sandy is about to deliver in a timely and effective way, too. A litmus test doesn't usually require this much water, but it would be good to confirm that America as a nation can at least still handle some things that need massive coordinated government effort, like a big, big storm and its wake.