How Dubya lost his swagger
http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/360664p-307263c.html
How Dubya lost his swagger
BY THOMAS M. DEFRANK
DAILY NEWS WASHINGTON BUREAU CHIEF
President Bush
WASHINGTON - Before President Bush was reelected last November, a historical analysis commissioned by senior aide Karl Rove found a common thread among troubled second terms: scandal.
"That's one thing that will never happen to us," a top White House aide chirped at the time, confident in the Bush family's reputation for high ethical standards.
Now, what the President's father might call the "ugly S-word" has descended on his son's administration - further damaging a presidency that was already crippled and on the verge of unraveling.
"We used to have a problem with hubris," one senior Bush adviser said glumly. "Well, there ain't much swagger right now."
A career federal prosecutor with a reputation for nonpartisanship has embarrassed the White House, left Bush's indispensable chief lieutenant under a cloud, tainted Vice President Cheney and lengthened the litany of woes Bush's damage-control team must now confront.
Patrick Fitzgerald's indictments are especially jarring because they also raise the dangerous specter of political hypocrisy: In the 2000 campaign, Bush ended every stump speech by placing his hand on an imaginary Bible and swearing to restore the honor and dignity of the Oval Office, "so help me God."
"There is still time to recover, but we are in a terrible mess," a senior GOP strategist closely allied with the White House admitted.
The damage to Bush could have been far worse, however, and he and his aides breathed massive sighs of relief when Fitzgerald did not announce an indictment against Karl Rove.
The effect of the loss of Rove to the weakened President could not be overstated. The 54-year-old strategist is the central nervous system of the Bush White House, as well as the driving force of the national Republican movement.
It's no coincidence that such political fiascoes as the sluggish federal response to Hurricane Katrina and the bungled Supreme Court nomination of Harriet Miers occurred while Rove was distracted by his own legal difficulties.
"The truth is, Karl is irreplaceable," a senior Bush adviser said. "We have seen what this administration looks like absent Karl these last weeks. The rest of the group is simply not up to the task."
Now Rove will lead a battered White House's attempt to rebuild from the carnage, but that's a daunting mission.
Only nine months into a second term, Bush's presidency stands at its lowest point. His reputation as a take-charge, in-charge leader was breached by Katrina, his moral authority punctured by Fitzgerald's findings.
Bush has told aides better days lie ahead and exhorted them to "get back on offense," in the words of a top adviser.
For a President who reads the Bible regularly, however, the Book of Job would seem a particularly appropriate text in these trying days.
Originally published on October 30, 2005
How Dubya lost his swagger
BY THOMAS M. DEFRANK
DAILY NEWS WASHINGTON BUREAU CHIEF
President Bush
WASHINGTON - Before President Bush was reelected last November, a historical analysis commissioned by senior aide Karl Rove found a common thread among troubled second terms: scandal.
"That's one thing that will never happen to us," a top White House aide chirped at the time, confident in the Bush family's reputation for high ethical standards.
Now, what the President's father might call the "ugly S-word" has descended on his son's administration - further damaging a presidency that was already crippled and on the verge of unraveling.
"We used to have a problem with hubris," one senior Bush adviser said glumly. "Well, there ain't much swagger right now."
A career federal prosecutor with a reputation for nonpartisanship has embarrassed the White House, left Bush's indispensable chief lieutenant under a cloud, tainted Vice President Cheney and lengthened the litany of woes Bush's damage-control team must now confront.
Patrick Fitzgerald's indictments are especially jarring because they also raise the dangerous specter of political hypocrisy: In the 2000 campaign, Bush ended every stump speech by placing his hand on an imaginary Bible and swearing to restore the honor and dignity of the Oval Office, "so help me God."
"There is still time to recover, but we are in a terrible mess," a senior GOP strategist closely allied with the White House admitted.
The damage to Bush could have been far worse, however, and he and his aides breathed massive sighs of relief when Fitzgerald did not announce an indictment against Karl Rove.
The effect of the loss of Rove to the weakened President could not be overstated. The 54-year-old strategist is the central nervous system of the Bush White House, as well as the driving force of the national Republican movement.
It's no coincidence that such political fiascoes as the sluggish federal response to Hurricane Katrina and the bungled Supreme Court nomination of Harriet Miers occurred while Rove was distracted by his own legal difficulties.
"The truth is, Karl is irreplaceable," a senior Bush adviser said. "We have seen what this administration looks like absent Karl these last weeks. The rest of the group is simply not up to the task."
Now Rove will lead a battered White House's attempt to rebuild from the carnage, but that's a daunting mission.
Only nine months into a second term, Bush's presidency stands at its lowest point. His reputation as a take-charge, in-charge leader was breached by Katrina, his moral authority punctured by Fitzgerald's findings.
Bush has told aides better days lie ahead and exhorted them to "get back on offense," in the words of a top adviser.
For a President who reads the Bible regularly, however, the Book of Job would seem a particularly appropriate text in these trying days.
Originally published on October 30, 2005
posted by impresario | 12:26 PM
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