Honesty is a huge issue because even people who disagreed with his policies respected his integrity. |
I do see this as a response to a weakened political situation, a willingness to do what it takes to maximize his influence. |
I really didn't expect him to come off sounding like FDR, even though he mixed in some standard Republican proposals like enterprise zones and school vouchers. |
If majority control of either chamber is lost, it makes him a lame duck overnight. He loses control over, potentially, funding for the war effort, control over ethics investigations, and over the ability to move any of his agenda items. |
Instead he remains in the same loop. It takes a certain kind of self-confidence to shake up your comfort level and bring in new people who might challenge you. Bush has his inner compass and doesn't want to disturb it. That's what denial can do to a man. |
It does supplant the memories (of Katrina), assuming he does well. |
It does supplant the memories (of Katrina), assuming he does well. But it might be a little hyperbolic to call it a second chance. |
It is quite revealing of things that had been suspected about which there had been little clear evidence, about his clout inside the White House. |
It kind of lances the boil. |
It seems what McCain is doing is the classic move that Richard Nixon patented - run right during the primaries, then run center for the general. He's doing what he has to do. To a purist it doesn't smell right, but find me someone who hasn't done that who won. |
It's an opportunity to claim these guys don't have a case, and it allows the defense to allege that it's purely political. |
It's hard for me to see how he gets back up into a positive rating in the opinion polls. Congress has got no stomach for much of the agenda that he has. |
It's Libby now, pretty soon it could be Rove, and eventually there will be a danger for the White House that people are going to start asking if it is conceivable that they were acting without the approval of their bosses. |
It's not inevitable that he will stand in gloom forever. |
My guess is they (the president and first lady) are discussing tradeoffs between SMU and Baylor but that they remain open, officially and personally, if there's something striking enough to catch their fancy. |