Spinner in Chief

"So what's the White House plan? There really isn't much of one. If anything, there's a certain sense of fatalism among Bush staffers, a belief that the difficult moments in Iraq just have to be toughed out and that there is no ready cure at hand other than to make the case to stay the course as he did last week when he addressed National Guard troops in Idaho. As for the president himself, Bush is hyperresolute about the situation in Iraq according to advisers. 'One of the things that's real consistent about this President is that he doesn't spook,' says Bush's media advisor Mark McKinnon.

"When it comes to Iraq, White House officials recognize that there are not a lot of options other than to keep training Iraqi troops and hope that they can assume more of the responsibility for defending their own country. Increasingly though that seems like a pipe dream even to conservatives who have supported the war. Last week no fewer than three conservative columnists expressed disappointment with the president."

Today's Calendar

Richard Benedetto writes for USA Today: "After a weekend in which the countryside near his ranch was dominated by demonstrations both in favor of the Iraq war and against it, President Bush travels to Arizona and California today on domestic business: promoting the new Medicare prescription-drug benefit for seniors."

Jennifer Loven writes for the Associated Press: "Leaving his Texas ranch for two days, Bush attends 'conversations' with experts and the elderly in El Mirage, Ariz., and Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.

"After spending the night in San Diego, he speaks on Tuesday at the Naval Air Station North Island there to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II. His remarks focus on fighting terrorists and the ongoing campaign in Iraq. They recall the Aug. 14, 1945, Japanese surrender that came just days after the United States incinerated the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki with atomic bombs."

C.J. Karamargin writes in the Arizona Daily Star: "El Mirage?

"Given that little flap about weapons of mass destruction that didn't exist, you'd think President Bush might be a bit more picky about the towns he visits.

"El Presidente is to host a quick chat about Medicare this morning at a seniors-only RV resort in the tiny Phoenix-area town of El Mirage. Top adviser Karl Rove must be distracted. He could have sent Bush to Goodyear."

Hurricane Watch

Bush spoke briefly about the hurricane in his remarks yesterday: "I urge all citizens to put their own safety and the safety of their families first by moving to safe ground. Please listen carefully to instructions provided by state and local officials," he said.

How Bush conducts himself in the hurricane's aftermath may have big political ramifications. If he were to remain cloistered on his Crawford estate, that might not look good. So you can safely expect a very presidential-looking tour of the damage as soon as practically possible.

Right now, Bush's public schedule after tomorrow's events in California is very light.

He returns to Crawford Tuesday night, makes a statement Thursday morning about identity theft, then returns to the White House Friday, where he has no public events until Monday.