I found a faster way to get a passport for those still in need of one: go
directly to a State Department Password Agency. As luck would have it,
there's one right across the street from where I work.
First, get the passport form from http://travel.state.gov/
They said I have to have an appointment to get a passport, and I can only
make one within 14 days of leaving for a foreign country. The cost is
$65.00 for a new password, $55.00 for a renewal, and an additional $30.00
for a 3 day turn around. My guess would be that there is one of these
offices in most major cities.
Henry