Wily political gunslinger Dick Morris has a warning for President Bush and Capitol Hill Republicans about the so-called "nuclear option."
Now that Iraq seems to be more pacified and the war on terror is receding as the key national issue, Bush can no longer count on his success in protecting America to anchor his popularity. His inept handling of the Social Security reform issue further drains his approval ratings.But an attempt to switch the rules in the middle of the game on judicial filibusters will really make his alliance with the Christian right the main issue in his second-term presidency, with disastrous results.
Americans are simply not on board with his Moral Majority agenda. They voted for Bush twice — or once — despite his advocacy of a pro-life position, and his Schiavo posturing alienated moderate voters even more. His attempt to bar a filibuster will be seen as an effort to steamroll America into accepting the radical-right agenda on moral issues and will cost Bush the ballast he needs to appeal to the center of American politics.
Likewise, the so-far inept handling of the John Bolton nomination is another warning sign that Bush and his less-than-stellar allies in Congress are struggling to cope with electoral success.
Posted by Alan at April 20, 2005 10:14 PM