LAURA BUSH told Popular Mechanics today that she supports rebuilding New Orleans, though PM readers oppose it by a rather hefty margin, according to their online poll. It’s unscientific, of course, but this real poll isn’t very supportive. Are there any scientific polls that suggest widespread support for rebuilding?

Ian Schwartz, meanwhile, has video of Bush’s speech, here’s a CNN transcript, and Lorie Byrd notes that ABC was unprepared for the reaction of evacuees. More on that here (and here, and here) — but he’s no relation.

Matt Welch liked Bush’s speech, which is surely news, though I would have preferred the Welch-edited version myself. Michelle Malkin didn’t like it as much as Matt did.

UPDATE: Ian Schwartz has the priceless ABC interview video online now. Don’t miss it.

ANOTHER UPDATE: More video, and a transcript, here. Don’t miss it — though in fairness I don’t think that Dean Reynolds’ (no relation) tone is as anti-Bush as some people in the ABC discussion forums thought. There’s no question, though, that the interviewees shot down the standard Big Media line on Katrina relief.

Matt Duffy, meanwhile, compares ABC’s live coverage with NPR’s edited product.