The Cal governor proves he’s got a finger on the public pulse, unlike the political players in the nation’s last major natural disaster: New Orleans’s Mayor Nagin, George W. Bush, and Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco. Despite the guv’s party affiliation, his response has been swift, sensitive, and decisive. In this AP photo, he is seen looking Biblical during a press conference against a background of flames. As of this writing, almost 1 million people have had to evacuate their homes.

This AP photo (click “more”) shows him talking to fire evacuees at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego.

Read about the daily life of a firefighter in Zac Unger’s excellent memoir, Working Fire. Wishing my best to our Bay Area firefighters who have gone down South to fight the firestorm.