The Moose observes that W. is resembling H.W.
Laura Bush's superb performance at the White House's Correspondence Dinner was the most effective political moment of the Bush Administration since her husband's inaugural address. Perhaps, there was a strategic plan in having the First Lady substitute for the First Man. As W.'s popularity wanes, Laura will have more exposure - Barbara played that role in Bush I. Expect to see more of Laura as the President struggles with his approval ratings.
Otherwise, the Bush Agenda is quickly losing traction. Last Thursday's press conference was a feeble attempt to resurrect the agenda. It failed. If anything, it exacerbated divisions within Republican ranks. That was noted in today's Washington Post,
"One important split has emerged on Social Security. Bush was forced last week to insert himself into one of the most contentious fights: between those who think large private investment accounts alone can save Social Security and those who argue that benefits must be trimmed in tandem with creating smaller accounts. With his statement that future benefits must be reduced for middle- and upper-income beneficiaries, Bush weighed in against the private-accounts-only purists. This group includes conservative lawmakers such as Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) and activists such as Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform."
And business groups are getting antsy about nuclear war preventing their godies being passed by a Republican Congress,
"If Republicans force a confrontation on Senate rules, and Democrats respond by effectively shutting down the chamber, "then you get to stalling the movement of any and all legislation," said R. Bruce Josten, the top lobbyist for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Josten said the business community is sitting out the fight over filibusters because it has no role in internal Senate matters. "We are not social groups, we are business groups," he said."
Like his father, W. desperately needs the national security issue to predominate. Unlike his father's war, the outcome of his Iraq war is uncertain. What is the same, however, is that the son's domestic program is no more popular than his dad's.
That is why it is Laura time. -- | 
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