Oh, those joking divinities!

I always err on the side of caution when it comes to signs, omens and portents. Like when our president revealed to Palestinian ministers that God speaks to him and had told him to invade Iraq, I remained cautiously skeptical.

See, living in Texas, I'd had the opportunity to observe Bush a number of years before he was enthroned (as is the president's implication, "by God") as the leader of the nation. (Of course, the fact that to get him on the high throne, God had to steal the election has all kinds of implications for the supreme being's omnipotence, but that's a topic for another blog, not today's.)

But Bush hearing God may not be the blessing he thinks it is. According to Dr. Justin Frank in his book, "Bush on the Couch," there are a number of competing pathologies that may be at work on Bush, any one of which could open up his direct line to the Almighty.

It's far more likely what God may have bestowed upon Bush could be some kind of cognitive reality disconnect instead of some blessing. During his years as Texas governor, one was far more likely to hear, "That God-damned Bush" this, "That God-damned Bush" that instead of how blessed Bush was.

That's why--if I'm inclined to give any creedence to signs or omens--I'm far more inclined to consider that block of marble that fell off the Supreme Court yesterday than the claims of a dry drunk delusionary.

Consider just some of the facts from yesterday's "event":

The marble that tumbled from the west pediment lost its grip from the building housing the nation's highest symbol of justice behind its crumbling facade. The very court that installed Bush on his throne.

As one onlooker remarked, "Notice how it happened on the right side. Not the left. The right."*

Others couldn't help but note that the tumbling piece chipped at a carved marble figure that represents "Authority."*

On its way to the unoccupied steps below, it then proceeded to ding the inscription "Equal Justice Under the Law."

Whew, Dada's very tempted to consider something far more than coincidence is at work here!

Some visitors scrambled for pieces of the shattered marble. One was heard to say something about how much he'll get for his souvenir on e-bay, leaving Dada to muse at the symbolism of the state of justice in America today, i.e., "Sold to the highest bidder."

*Petula DvorakWashington Post Staff WriterTuesday, November 29, 2005