I hate to sound the least bit cynical, but the talk of bringing troops home seems political. Is it spring, summer or just before the fall election? Do they have a plan, or is this obfuscation? Democratic candidates have to chose a theme that won’t collapse if things get better – or stay the same. [...]

The Transportation Bill was signed today after a long delay. We’ll get roads, bridges, and bicycle paths. A college will get a building. A warehouse will be renovated. Each project sprang from a congressperson’s special effort and years’ of service, or perhaps support for CAFTA or the Energy Bill. Someday we may get lucky, and [...]

Administration talking points say strong markets for cars and houses belie polls showing dissatisfaction with Bush’s handling of the economy. The Treasury Secretary admitted under pressure everyone hasn’t benefited equally. Since all the President’s friends did, Snow is obviously wrong. He will be next to go.

We have an energy bill! Bush signed it in New Mexico, a tiny state to match the achievement. It won’t reduce demand for oil or the price of gasoline, but energy company stocks should rise. The public gets an extra month of daylight savings. With Republicans in charge of everything, the law took just four [...]

Ten hard-working citizens offered unanimous recommendations for making the country safer. Now they want to give Bush a “report card.â€? The administration won’t supply documents or submit to interviews because: “There is ample public information available for them to review about all of the actions we continue to take to better protect the American people.” [...]

Senators and Representatives traipse through Guantánamo, led by generals, sans leashes, along a well-marked trail. They see labeled “tour cells,â€? hear interrogations, watch prisoners in orange jumpsuits at a distance. One lawmaker said, many “are happy to be there.” Another suggested, this close scrutiny is essential to the U.S. “winning the hearts and minds of [...]

When Bush brags about the highway bill being just $2 billion more that his limit he neglects to mention that’s “after rebate.� The bill authorizes $295 billion in spending, not the $286.4 billion they talk about, but says $8.5 billion must be returned – sure. The repayment is due September 30, 2009, but the Highway [...]

Rumsfeld calls it a “struggle,â€? but Bush insists it’s a “war.â€? He knows what he wants to call it, but not who we’re fighting: “We’re at war with an enemy that attacked us on September the 11th, 2001,” he said again, though Iraq was not involved. The press noted the inconsistency in language, but not [...]

Bush calls evolution a theory, lets stem cell research languish, sets a record for vacations. August is already august.

As reported here June 21st, when Bolton left his old post major progress was made on projects he had blocked. Now, as he assumes a new one, we learn most of the reforms he was supposed to implement are already well underway. Someone should tell the President John is at his best when absent.

Aside from considering the UN worthless, abusing employees, and lying to the Senate, Bush says “He is the right man for the job.� A disappointed Senator George Voinovich will try to help by sending Bolton a book: The Heart and Soul of Effective Management. We all hope John reads it before he throws it.

Bush may send Bolton to the UN while Congress takes its regular rest. He will get what he wants, but so will we. If he thumbs his nose at the world, everyone will know the thumb does not represent the Congress or the country. Perhaps, as a bonus, the voting public will get the message [...]