Gustav could not have come at a better time for the GOP

The president's hurricane dodge has a downside. If the federal government’s response to hurricane Gustav is less than stellar, Mr. Bush has set himself up for yet another ignominy.

As a powerful hurricane once again threatens devastation to a fragile region of the U.S. coast, many at the Republican convention are grateful. The reason? President Bush will be “focusing on the planning for hurricane Gustav” and unable to attend the convention. Vice President Dick Cheney is also embroiled in these “high-level plans” and will skip his planned convention appearance as well.

Of course, everyone within the GOP knows this is simply a convenient excuse. Republican politicians have been moving away from President Bush like someone with B.O. on a bus. The hurricane ruse helps take some of the sting out of the humiliation.

What an incredible collapse for a president who once held record approval ratings. The high-water mark of the Bush presidency came in 2003 when he strutted on the deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln in a flight suit and declared the war in Iraq as a “mission accomplished.” Five years later, Bush is a pariah within his own party.

Is George W. Bush the worst president ever? You’d have to be a die-hard Bush supporter if you didn’t at least admit he’s in contention.

This hurricane dodge has a downside, however. If the federal government’s response to hurricane Gustav is less than stellar, Mr. Bush has set himself up for yet another ignominy.

Raul Ramos y Sanchez