Accidental Blogger

Unnerved by sinking poll numbers, Republicans in congress pushed the isolated and imperious president George W. Bush to launch a media blitz to "explain" his side of the story on Iraq and national security to the American public – this time with a bit more humility and truthfulness. Bush has obliged with several public appearances before journalists, think tanks and from the Oval Office. The strategy is one of good cop, bad cop – good on admitting mistakes on Iraq and bad on domestic spying and snooping.  A recent up tick in presidential poll numbers after the Iraqi elections, indicate that the carefully choreographed charm offensive may be working.  But Cragg Hines, op-ed columnist for the Houston Chronicle isn’t buying into the "change of heart in the White House" theory. What he sees is an attempt at rewriting the Iraq debacle and ensuring a presidential legacy of national security and mature foreign policy. Hines writes:

"In much of the civilized, democratized world, Bush would be a goner or at least facing a new election. He can thank the Founding Fathers for the constitutional insulation. With a bifurcated executive and legislature, we have a less instantly accountable, more forgiving system. And with the recent exception of self-righteous Republicans hounding Bill Clinton on the perjurious fallout from his serial randiness, the nation has little stomach for the rarely used impeachment mechanism."

That George Bush still believes he is King George is apparent from the condescending attitude that shines through his attempts at humility. A few examples:

After repeated questions on the legality of his order for warrantless eavesdropping at least partially within the United States, Bush finally grew a touch testy: "To suggest there’s unchecked power is not listening to what I’m telling you," Bush said, his noblesse oblige showing a bit more than perhaps he intended.

Bush was most forthcoming in his news conference on a point that he had already finally acknowledged. Asked about the intelligence failure before Iraq, Bush said: "I hate to admit it, but that’s an excellent question."

Bush was least convincing when he ventured into revisionism. "I hope I have been candid all along," he said.