THOSE ARE THE RULES, RABBI

This is strange:

Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, a former chief rabbi and the spiritual leader of the ultra-Orthodox Shas movement, said on Wednesday that Hurricane Katrina was God's punishment for U.S. President George W. Bush's support for Israel's Gaza pullout.

"It was God's retribution. God does not shortchange anyone," Yosef said during his weekly sermon on Tuesday. His comments were broadcast on Channel 10 TV on Wednesday.

Huh? God destroyed New Orleans to punish George W. Bush? Isn't that a little like slapping your barber because your bartender made you the wrong drink? And if God were going to punish Bush, somehow I doubt his support for the Gaza withdrawal would be at or near the top of the list of offenses.

Also, this nutjob has already declared, like, a week ago, that the hurricane was God's retribution against New Orleans for being too gay-friendly. Sorry Rabbi, according to the rules of religious demagoguery the hurricane has already been called for the gays, so no fair calling it for Gaza.

Yes, I only joke to remain sane.