Good insight in this piece: "Seeking the best interpretation for the president's predicament, [some advisers] argue that Bush can do what he thinks is right without regard to political cost." It also points out the polarizing influence of narrow-audience media. Things are put into historical context.

Bush has become captain of the Titanic. He's now the sole owner of the Iraq war. No Child Left Behind is a disaster. And if he's brainless enough to veto the bill about healthcare for children--history says he will--and if Republican senators don't overide that veto, he'll take a lot of them with him to the bottom.

Well written piece, and the first time I've seen White House "gallows humor" referred to in print. Unfortunately for the country, Bush still has time to break that record.

It seems White House aides are as baffled as anyone else over why Bush would alienate his strongest backers with his insane amnesty offer, a decision that could cost him support for the war effort. The only answer appears to be appalling incompetence. But at least he remains loyal to Alberto.

Rather odd to report surveys of presidential approval, and be silent when the approval rates of Congress are half that of the President. Ooops, not odd at all for a partisan hack.

This is a very informative story. We learn that Pres. Truman, now well regarded, had slightly worse poll numbers for a longer period of time than G.W.B. It would have been nice to see a reference to the much worse approval rating the U.S. Congress has now. Confidence in the U.S. government is low across the board these days.