I remember in a book I was reading someone related to a politician went down to get a first hand look at the mess. They replied something like,
While you're at a 5-star restaurant with your wife, I'm hear sleeping outside of the Superdome on the ground. It was pretty sad.
The general rule of thumb is don't be like Dubya and sit at your ranch an extra 1.5 days later. Don't fly over NO and head back to Washington. Don't be like Condi and get caught shopping for shoes at Ferragamo's. And don't eat at a 5-star restaurant while your assistant is sleeping on gravel. It isn't a good PR look.