To point out some things that seem sort of tangential to the thread but are, or might be, germane:

In 2008, the Bushites are out. Cheney has stated that he won't run and he has too many enemies to do so. Whatever they want to accomplish they must accomplish before the next election.

Problem is, the amount of political capital Bush has is rather irrelevant -- witness the recent defeat of the Intelligence Reform bill. Everyone wanted it, but for several reasons it didn't get passed. Why?

Okay. Otis Bowen, a former governor of Indiana and a politician par excellence, once said to the Indiana Library Association, "I don't understand you librarians. You neither reward your friends nor punish your enemies."

And that's the key to it: reward your friends, punish your enemies. That, and Tip O'Neil's dictum that "All politics is local."

Since Bush & Co. will not be in power after 2008, it's a lame duck presidency and the politicos already sniff lame duck blood. As for his vaunted "morality" edge -- forget it, politicians will use who they can for their own advantage and when the election is over throw a few crusts to the dogs who put them in office.

Bush continues to use the 9-11 card, but I think that it's starting to lose its edge. Thompson's recent resignation and statement about the vulerablity of the US food supply is disingenuous, as the food supply is not concentrated in a small area, as was the WTC -- you need too many people to attack it and the more people involved the more likely a crack (yeah, I'm quite aware of ways the food supply could be attacked in one city, but I'm speaking of the nation as a whole).

There are other signs that 9/11 is losing its edge. The replacement of TSA personnel in some airports (e.g., O'Hare) with contract employees, as pre-9/11. The failure of the Administration to fund and staff such efforts as port and rail security.

Bush and his bunch seem not to be able to do the multi-tasking that the job requires. Because the next election will be between "brand new" candidates there is little reward for the faithful and little punishment to fear after the elections in 2006. Those whose terms end after 2006 (and that's most of the Senate, I think) have nothing to expect from the White House.

Just some thoughts at an ungodly hour.