McClatchy: When pressing a tough sale, Bush is a lousy salesman

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/homepage/story/18252.html

When pressing a tough sale, Bush is a lousy salesman
By Steven Thomma | McClatchy Newspapers

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He did convince both the country and the Congress to approve an invasion of Iraq. But that was at a time in 2003 when the country was still in a mood for war in the wake of the 2001 terrorist attacks. And the pitch was based on the false claim that Saddam Hussein posed a threat to the United States with weapons of mass destruction.

For a time early on, Bush did have the country's ear, even if his mangled syntax seldom won him many converts. And for six years he had the luxury of a Republican majority in Congress that could be browbeaten by boss Tom DeLay into doing his bidding.

But now his credibility is shot, thanks to his success at misleading the country into war. His political capital is exhausted. His dismally low approval rating has many Republicans more scared of standing with Bush than of standing against him. And he still lacks the oratorical skill of a Ronald Reagan or John F. Kennedy to rally the nation to any cause it doesn't already embrace.

Thus he's waging a defensive campaign just to hold onto what support he has.

He recently invited a slew of conservative media pundits to a White House session, met with congressional communications aides long ignored by the White House, and had his generals brief lawmakers of both parties about why Bush's surge strategy in Iraq needs more time.

Come September, he'll learn whether he made or lost that sale.