The story of two headlines

My local paper, The Oregonian, had double bold headlines this morning.
Rehnquist, anchor of the high court, dies
and
Homeland Security fails first test
The online edition of The New York Times had these headlines.
Chief Justice Rehnquist Dies at 80,
Bush Pledges More Troops as Evacuation Grows
and
As White House Anxiety Grows, Bush Tries to Quell Political Crisis
Over at The Left Coaster pessimist lived up to his name:

This is ALL We Need Now
Chief Justice Rehnquist Dies at His Home

Bush was notified of Rehnquist's death shortly before 11 p.m. EDT. And you can bet he's already called the replacement.

As this is likely to pull off some of the heat over New Orleans, can we doubt that something evil this way comes?

Rehnquist's death will be a second headline for a day or two. He was going to die or step down before year's end anyway. Sooner or later and it turned out to be sooner. New Orleans will be in the news for months to come. Questions about the response of George W. Bush, FEMA and the Department of Homeland Security will be asked for months. With mid midterm elections a little over a year away the investigation will be driven by politics, individual politics not the Bush and Rove. Katrina could have been a boost for Bush's sinking poll numbers. He blew it big time. The direction the debate takes will be determined by the poll numbers next week. Continued pictures of misery combined with skyrocketing gasoline prices will quickly take Rehnquist of the front page.