People like to talk about the convergence of events creating the kind of atmosphere that can transform the political landscape in the same terms as really bad weather. Not sure after Katrina and Rita that is necessary, but …

Katrina and Rita, combined with the political hatchet job Texas legal beagle Ronnie Earle is doing on Rep. Tom DeLay, may do the GOP more good than anyone realizes right now. Last night we spoke with a couple of members of the Republican Study Committee who helped shape “Operation Offset,” the group’s recommedations to trim more than $900 billion in excess spending from the books.

They were happy with the elevation of Rep. Roy Blunt to leader, as temporary as that may be. They felt that Blunt had been far more receptive to cutting back than DeLay, and that under the circumstances, Blunt would feel the political heat was on to give the base what it needed right now: a strong victory in an area where conservative Republicans usually reign: budget and tax cuts.

The trimming of billions from those bloated transportation and energy bills, combined with a strong Supreme Court nomination, would again place momentum back with the Republicans.