Credit where credit is due.

One of the things that can be infuriating to a sane person watching the political process in this country is the way that partisans - of both sides - refuse to deal with any actions from the other party in a rational manner, refuse to evaluate the actions for what they are. There was virtually nothing that President Clinton could have done that would have gotten praise from Republicans, and there's nothing at all that George W. Bush can do that won't get criticized in the sharpest possible terms by the left. Even his physical, for crying out loud, was an excuse for a ridiculously negative press release from the DNC.

Well, giving credit where it's due, there's a refreshing piece from former Al Gore campaign manager Donna Brazile in today's Washington Post. She's risking excommunication from the left, but obviously feels strongly about what she's got to say.

On Thursday night President Bush spoke to the nation from my city. I am not a Republican. I did not vote for George W. Bush -- in fact, I worked pretty hard against him in 2000 and 2004. But on Thursday night, after watching him speak from the heart, I could not have been prouder of the president and the plan he outlined to empower those who lost everything and to rebuild the Gulf Coast.

Bush called on every American to stand up and support the rebuilding of the region. He told us that New Orleans and the entire Gulf Coast would rise from the ruins stronger than before. He enunciated something that we all need to remember: This is America. We are not immune to tragedy here, but we are strong because of our industriousness, our ingenuity and, most important, because of our compassion for one another. We are a nation of rebuilders and a nation of givers. We do not give up in the face of tragedy, we stand up, and we reach out to help those who cannot stand up on their own.

Good for her.