Mikaela says:
Now that polls are down (read on to Maggie's post below), there's a plan to rescue Bush's presidency.
Sean Wilentz writes in Rolling Stone: "George W. Bush's presidency appears headed for colossal historical disgrace. Barring a cataclysmic event on the order of the terrorist attacks of September 11th, after which the public might rally around the White House once again, there seems to be little the administration can do to avoid being ranked on the lowest tier of U.S. presidents. And that may be the best-case scenario. Many historians are now wondering whether Bush, in fact, will be remembered as the very worst president in all of American history."
Former Nixon White House counsel John W. Dean writes on Findlaw.com:
If anyone doubts that Bush, Cheney, Rove and their confidants are planning an 'October Surprise' to prevent the Republicans from losing control of Congress, then he or she has not been observing this presidency very closely. . . .
Dan Froomkin (thank god for White House Briefing, which contrary to the real one, is still a source for information) reports on scuttlebutt that Cheney's next on the sacrificial block.
One possibility is that Dick Cheney will resign as Vice President for 'health reasons,' and become a senior counselor to the president. And Bush will name a new vice president - a choice geared to increase his popularity, as well as someone electable in 2008. It would give his sinking administration a new face, and new life.
Then there's the war against Iran...
Another possibility, Dean writes: "Bush may mount a unilateral attack on Iran's nuclear facilities - hoping to rev up his popularity."Lest you think these are idle speculations by a "liberal media," here's evidence of the Administration's own plan:
Mike Allen writes in Time: "The marker that is uppermost in the minds of Bush's inner circle is Nov. 7, when Republicans could lose control of the House and even the Senate. 'If we don't keep Congress, there won't be a legacy,' said a presidential adviser. 'Yeah, good luck with that one, Mr. President."Friends and colleagues of Bolten told Time about an informal, five-point 'recovery plan' for Bush. ... The Bolten plan includes
- tough talk on Iran,
- visibly beefing up law enforcement at the Mexican border,
- an extension of rate cuts for stock dividends and capital gains,
- continued courting of the press and -- get this --
- bragging more.
White House officials who track coverage of Bush in media markets around the country said he garnered his best publicity in months from a tour to promote enrollment in Medicare's new prescription-drug plan. So they are planning more ... talk about the program's successes after months of press reports on start-up difficulties. Bolten's plan also calls for more happy talk about the economy. With gas prices a heavy drain on Bush's popularity, his aides want to trumpet the lofty stock market and stable inflation and interest rates. They also plan to highlight any glimmer of success in Iraq, especially the formation of a new government, in an effort to balance the negative impression voters get from continued signs of an incubating civil war.
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