Saturday, September 03, 2005
Rehnquist is dead
The news just broke that Chief Justice Rehnquist has died.
So much for a slow news Labor Day weekend. This is going to throw BushCo into a goddamn tailspin. After completely botching the Hurricane Katrina recovery effort, on the heels of increasingly bad news in Iraq, BushCo doesn't have a sou in political capital.
With conservatives attacking Bush on his response to Katrina just as a few were trickling away from support from his adventure in Iraq, this does not bode well at all for Bush's desire to pack the court with conservative activists. Furthermore, it doesn't do anything for Roberts pending nomination. Some may argue that Rehnquist's death would expedite a Robert's nomination (in order to get seats filled on the court) but I doubt that will be the case.
If anything, Rehnquist's passing should give Dems pause to consider the ramifications of bending over and playing nice. Indeed, Dems and liberals have complete momentum to force moderate nominations. All they need is a little spine; the muscle is already there - the opinion of the US public. Bush has no capital to spend (less than 40% of which most are fanatical fundamentalists) and as the titular head of the Republican party, he's got a lot of asses to cover.
In the midst of the tragedy down in the Gulf, I don't think anyone considered what Rehnquist's death would mean. Obviously, our thoughts were occupied with so many other deaths. I hate to be ghoulish about this but Rehnquist's death is the last thing conservatives needed at this point. There's too much egg on too many faces (and remember the Plame investigation? That's just a few weeks away from getting really hot) and trying to play hardball with a broken back is foolhardy. Pardon the analogy but it would be the same as, after botching the occupation of Iraq, having the hubris to rush into Iran.
Hmmmmm... come to think of it, Bush may be that fucking stupid. God help us all.
RIP, William Rehnquist.
So much for a slow news Labor Day weekend. This is going to throw BushCo into a goddamn tailspin. After completely botching the Hurricane Katrina recovery effort, on the heels of increasingly bad news in Iraq, BushCo doesn't have a sou in political capital.
With conservatives attacking Bush on his response to Katrina just as a few were trickling away from support from his adventure in Iraq, this does not bode well at all for Bush's desire to pack the court with conservative activists. Furthermore, it doesn't do anything for Roberts pending nomination. Some may argue that Rehnquist's death would expedite a Robert's nomination (in order to get seats filled on the court) but I doubt that will be the case.
If anything, Rehnquist's passing should give Dems pause to consider the ramifications of bending over and playing nice. Indeed, Dems and liberals have complete momentum to force moderate nominations. All they need is a little spine; the muscle is already there - the opinion of the US public. Bush has no capital to spend (less than 40% of which most are fanatical fundamentalists) and as the titular head of the Republican party, he's got a lot of asses to cover.
In the midst of the tragedy down in the Gulf, I don't think anyone considered what Rehnquist's death would mean. Obviously, our thoughts were occupied with so many other deaths. I hate to be ghoulish about this but Rehnquist's death is the last thing conservatives needed at this point. There's too much egg on too many faces (and remember the Plame investigation? That's just a few weeks away from getting really hot) and trying to play hardball with a broken back is foolhardy. Pardon the analogy but it would be the same as, after botching the occupation of Iraq, having the hubris to rush into Iran.
Hmmmmm... come to think of it, Bush may be that fucking stupid. God help us all.
RIP, William Rehnquist.
