But the poor do, in effect, have a standing in the House and the Senate, where lots of Republicans are eager to get re-elected in 2006.  If things got bad and Bush sat on his hands, the Legislative branch would take action and, if needed, pass something over a Bush veto.  It would be political suicide not to.  (Although in the interest of fairness, I have to point out that the $50B appropriation for New Orleans passed with 11 Republican House members voting against it.)

There are already Republicans who are distancing themselves from the Iraq war, including the guy who started the "Freedom Fries" idiocy.  A domestic heating emergency would have Republicans jumping ship in droves.

Now, whether the Congresscritters would actually do the right thing is another, and legitimate, question entirely.