The Hiller Instinct: Hiller Instinct: Bush on trial

At the White House today, the President was still playing catch-up:

"A lot of people are doing good work and we've got a heck of a lot more work to do," President Bush said.

Katrina has put the President on trial. The President's initial response to the hurricane has generated wide disapproval, making his supporter’s wonder what happened to the inspirational leader he became just days after the attack on America.

September 14, 2001: "The people who knocked down these buildings will hear all of us soon," Bush said.

Today the war in Iraq continues nearly four years after 9/11 with the President's battle plan on trial: critics charging he's made us less safe and that we're no closer to capturing Osama bin Laden.

The President himself says Iraq and Katrina are connected:

"We still live in an unsettled world. We want to make sure that we can respond properly if there's a WMD attack or another major storm," Bush said.

And speaking of storms, don't forget the one over the Supreme Court. After Bush's re-election last year conservatives cheered, believing the President would move the court to the right if he got the chance.

"I earned capital in the campaign, political capital, and now I intend to spend it," Bush said.

But today the President may have much less to spend; one reason why he's making a supreme switch: nominating conservative John Roberts to replace conservative William Rehnquist keeping moderate Sandra day O’Connor on the court and putting the President on trial with his political base.

Now promising a probe of government's performance during Katrina, Bush may be calling for a commission that ultimately indicts him.

Take it from another President who knows something about trials: there will be a judgment day:

"I have my own ideas about what caused it, but I don't think we should do it now," President Bill Clinton said.

We shouldn't do it now, because we don't have enough evidence. But, over time, information will replace speculation.

Until then, the President will remain on trial in the court of public opinion, and your verdict will be his legacy.

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