Bush's bitter harvest
http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2003/10/01/bushs_bitter_harvest/
By Derrick Z. Jackson, 10/1/2003
IT IS OCTOBER, and the harvest from the spring's planting of troops
remains a grapeless vine, withering into winter compost. Without
weapons of mass destruction, Tikrit has given way to Texas, Fallujah
is fading into Florida, and the idiocy of another $87 billion for Iraq
is rapidly becoming apparent in the latest news from Illinois,
Indiana, and Iowa. In the season of pumpkins, Bush is turning into
one, with millions of Americans feeling like Cinderella after the
ballyhoo of violent, vengeful patriotism. Bush hoped he could sneak
back into the White House in 2004 before the clock struck midnight. It
is too late. The original support for the war is waning as Americans
realize that they have also waged war against themselves.
White House facing revolt within GOP
http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2003/10/01/white_house_facing_revolt_within_gop/
By Robert Kuttner, 10/1/2003
IN JUST A FEW weeks the political tide has turned dramatically against
President Bush. His popularity ratings have dipped below 50 percent.
His policies are under fire on the Iraq war, the economy, and the
budget mess. Moreover, Bush is facing an escalating revolt from within
his own party. A little-noted indicator is that Republican senators
and House members are no longer willing to take unpopular votes merely
because the White House demands them. Lately the administration has
lost several key votes that were billed as Republican tests of
loyalty: * Moderate GOP legislators defected on administration plans
to privatize air traffic controllers and make special security
training for flight attendants optional. This week, embarrassed
Republican floor leaders in the House will send the bill back to
committee rather than lose a floor vote.
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