June 30

It's easy to joke that Bush is just Cheney's sock puppet and that for the most part he isn't really in charge. I think that's true to a great degree in that as with all presidents most things get delegated, though unlike most presidents Bush ignores most of the stuff once it's been delegated.

However, I think every now and then he comes up with a magical idea all on his own. We saw this last night when he started recounting the anecdote about his discussion with the Japanese PM about the post-WWII occupation. It didn't make much sense and wasn't particularly intelligent, but you could tell he was sure proud of it. And, when he comes up with an idea or a plan it's impossible to get him to deviate from it. A stubborn child.

I'm pretty sure the rather pointlessly arbitrary June 30 deadline isn't just some Rove-inspired pre-election theatrics, though of course it is that too. It's Bush's little baby. And, no matter what, no one's going to change it.

Looks like the UN has a different vision than he does about how to do it, however...

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- Iraq should dissolve the U.S.-picked Governing Council and set up a caretaker government of respected Iraqis to lead the country from the U.S. handover of power on June 30 until elections set for Jan. 31, U.N. envoy Lakhdar Brahimi said Wednesday.

The caretaker government would be led by a prime minister and include a president and two vice presidents. It must include ``Iraqi men and women known for their honesty, integrity and competence,'' Brahimi said.

I believe that's code for "Chalabi need not apply."