Tour of destruction: Passengers on a Gray Line tour in New Orleans take in some of the damage caused by Hurricane Katrina. The company defends its tours, saying it donates some proceeds from each ticket as aid.

The Associated Press

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A THORN to Gray Line New Orleans for behavior that reeks of opportunism. The bus line is offering tours of the Hurricane Katrina devastation — $35 per person for a 3-hour tour of collapsed houses, mountains of trash and a damaged stadium. The company guessed there was a good market in pathetic voyeurism, and it was correct. It donates $3 of every ticket to a Katrina-related charity, which presumably is designed to justify a parasitic business practice.

A FLOWER to President Bush for seeking opinions on the Iraq war from a bipartisan group of former secretaries of defense. The president invited more than a dozen foreign-policy officials from previous administrations to a White House give-and-take briefing on what the administration calls its "clear plan" for victory in Iraq.

The meeting with the former defense secretaries, some of whom have been critical of the current Iraq policy, may be primarily an attempt by the president to boost his sagging approval ratings in the polls, but it could also be useful if the exchange provides new perspectives that may hasten the peace.

A THORN to the scurrilous person who used a 2-year-old dog for target practice. Sheriff's deputies said someone with a handgun used the black and white dog for target practice. It was found bleeding and limping along the road near Redington Pass on Dec. 26. The dog is receiving medical care at the Humane Society. Its owner, 19-year-old Justin Daniel Curren, was initially booked into the Pima County jail on a charge of felony animal cruelty but released for lack of evidence. He denies being involved in the shooting.

A THORN to the army of congressmen, not to mention the president, scrambling to return roughly a half million dollars in campaign donations they received from the disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff. On Wednesday, Abramoff pleaded guilty to a second case of conspiring to defraud lenders in the purchase of a fleet of Florida casino boats five years ago. A ubiquitous Washington lobbyist, Abramoff made generous contributions to many congressmen in his efforts to influence legislative action. Many are now returning the money, claiming to have no knowledge of Abramoff's criminal behavior. Not surprisingly, no member of Congress has admitted doing a favor for Abramoff in exchange for his generosity.

— S.N.