From the Time article about the cock-up at in the 1600 Crew on their handling of Katrina. Can you smell the flopsweat?

Bush has governed largely from the right after winning the election decisively with his people on his issues, with few concessions to the center. Bush said at his re-election victory celebration that the new term would be "a new opportunity to reach out to the whole nation"--a pledge that now carries fresh urgency.

By late last week, Administration aides were describing a three-part comeback plan. The first: Spend freely, and worry about the tab and the consequences later. "Nothing can salve the wounds like money," said an official who helped develop the strategy.

The second tactic could be summed up as, Don't look back. The White House has sent delegates to meetings in Washington of outside Republican groups who have plans to blame the Democrats and state and local officials.

The third move: Develop a new set of goals to announce after Katrina fades. Advisers are proceeding with plans to gin up base-conservative voters for next year's congressional midterm elections with a platform that probably will be focused around tax reform.

Preznit Bubble Boy has never been in a weaker state than he his right now, politically. Performance means taking every opportunity to point out where he's wrong (tax cuts, too much deficit spending) and propose viable sensible alternatives and find republicans who agree. We don't abandon our principles to engage allies from across the aisle, but we do abandon them when we do nothing at all to oppose this idiot ruining our country.