Changing The Battlefield

by pessimist

In all fairness to Hiz Hindne$$, he hasn't just been sitting on his horse hanger doing absolutely nothing! In fact, he's taken these vital steps to aid the victims of Hurricane Katrina:

Bush orders flags at half-staff because of Hurricane Katrina

September 4, 2005 - Flags on all public buildings, military facilities, and embassies will be flown at half-staff until September 20th. President Bush gave the order, calling it "a mark of respect" for the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Pssssst! Don't tell anyone, but the half-staff flags are really for Rehnquist. The 'Katrina' reference is just to deflect any criticism. And, in order to prevent any further trauma to the victims being caused in the future:

KATRINA is to be dropped from the official US list of names for storms.

5 September 2005 - Normally the list of storm names gets rotated, meaning Katrina would be used again if a storm hits in 2011. The widespread destruction and estimated 10,000 deaths caused by Hurricane Katrina means it is unlikely to be used again. But America's National Weather Service says names are usually dropped if a storm is "so deadly or costly that future use of the name would be inappropriate". The widespread destruction and estimated 10,000 deaths caused by Hurricane Katrina means it is unlikely to be used again.

Trauma can be a powerful thing. Imagine being the leader of the Free Market World and being blasted on all sides for not doing your public job because you are too busy doing your covert job. What's an Illegal pRetzeldunce to do? I can't say what a real president would do, but Bush panics and sends in the marines!

And since even The Corps wasn't able to distact the world from discussing the incompetence of Bu$hCo's 'rescue' of New Orleans, he had to take the drastic step of saving the 'conservative' Supreme Court:

Bush Nominates Roberts for Chief Justice

The selection of Roberts — Rehnquist's former Supreme Court clerk — helps Bush avoid new political problems when he already is under fire for the government's sluggish response to Hurricane Katrina and his approval ratings in the polls are at the lowest point of his presidency. The swift move would promote to the Supreme Court's top job a newcomer who currently is being considered as one of eight associate justices. It would also ensure a full 9-member court, because retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor has said she will remain on the job until her replacement is confirmed.

At which point, the pressure is off of Bu$hCo and on to Sandra Day O'Connor to remain on the job despite her own personal preferences.

Semator Harry Reid issues the obligatory bluster:

Democrats said Roberts will now be held to a higher standard, although they had found little in his record to suggest they would thwart his nomination as associate justice. "Now that the president has said he will nominate Judge Roberts as chief justice, the stakes are higher and the Senate's advice and consent responsibility is even more important," Democratic leader Harry Reid said Monday in a statement. "The Senate must be vigilant."

Would that we could count on that! If the Senate Democrats could perform as presented, then there could be some hope:

Getting a new chief justice of Bush's choosing in place quickly also avoids the scenario of having liberal Justice John Paul Stevens making the decisions about whom to assign cases to and making other decisions that could influence court deliberations. As the court's senior justice, Stevens would take over Rehnquist's administrative duties until a new chief is confirmed.

But I'm not holding my breath that this will come about:

It does not appear that his opponents have enough votes to block Roberts' confirmation. That alone might have been impetus for Bush to rename Roberts for chief justice. Bush, with low standing in the polls, might not have the political capital he would need to win a Senate battle over a conservative ideologue who would draw intense opposition.

That should take away all the hostile media attention to Bu$hCo's incompetent disaster relief!

Over to you, Howard.

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