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Not Going Anywhere
"McCain has reversed the political gravity. When Bush's approval ratings go down, other politicians fear being dragged down with him. For McCain, the worse things get for Bush, the nobler his helping hand appears."
Duke Who?
John M. Broder and Carl Hulse write in the New York Times: "Concerned that the stain of former Representative Randy Cunningham's admission that he took bribes and evaded taxes could damage the party's prospects, President Bush and other Republican leaders issued strong denunciations of Mr. Cunningham's actions on Tuesday. . . .
"Mr. Bush, answering a question about Mr. Cunningham's resignation from a reporter in El Paso, said members of Congress must take their legal and ethical obligations seriously.
" 'The idea of a congressman taking money is outrageous,' the president said. 'And Congressman Cunningham is going to realize that he has broken the law and is going to pay a serious price, which he should.' "
Bush on the Border
Richard W. Stevenson writes in the New York Times: "President Bush traveled on Tuesday to El Paso, at the front lines of the fight to deter illegal immigration, where he took a tour along the Rio Grande to emphasize his message that he intends to strengthen the border.
"His remarks continued a pronounced shift from his early emphasis on ensuring a way for businesses to employ illegal immigrants temporarily, to a focus on keeping illegal immigrants out."
Cheney's Airspace
The Associated Press reports: "The Federal Aviation Administration has imposed flight restrictions over Dick Cheney's new Maryland home, angering private pilots who say they can't fly overhead even when the vice president isn't around.
"Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association spokesman Chris Dancy said Tuesday the FAA only imposes restrictions at Cheney's Jackson Hole, Wyo., home when he's there. He questioned the need to have the restrictions in place at all times over a home in Maryland, which has much more air traffic.
"Cheney's new home is on the Chesapeake Bay in St. Michaels, Md., about 30 miles east of Washington. The restricted airspace has a radius of one nautical mile and was established Nov. 22. . . .
"FAA spokeswoman Laura Brown said the St. Michaels' restriction is classified as temporary, though she acknowledged there is no date for it to be lifted."
The Cheneys bought their new waterfront home this fall for $2.67 million. It's not far from Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld's weekend getaway.
Here is the text of the FAA order, and a map.
Denver Visit
Mark P. Couch writes in the Denver Post: "President Bush hailed U.S. Rep. Marilyn Musgrave as a defender of family values and praised her support of the Iraq war during a fundraiser at a downtown Denver hotel Tuesday."
Bush spoke to 340 Musgrave supporters for 17 minutes, raising $450,000 for her 2006 re-election campaign.
Jim Hughes writes in the Denver Post: "George W. Bush took less than 20 minutes Tuesday to encourage donations to Congresswoman Marilyn Musgrave.
"But outside the Brown Palace Hotel, hundreds of protesters spent nearly four hours banging on pots, pans and drums; blowing on horns, flutes, kazoos and recorders; and breaking into 'peace now' chants."
Here is the text of Bush's remarks.
Hubbard Watch
The Wall Street Journal reports: "R. Glenn Hubbard, former chairman of President Bush's Council of Economic Advisers, says the Bush-backed expansion of Medicare to include prescription drugs was 'unwise.'
" 'The Medicare expansion without substantial reform of the system was unwise fiscal policy,' Mr. Hubbard, now dean of Columbia University's business school, said in an online exchange sponsored by The Wall Street Journal."
Movie Humor
Jeannette Walls writes for MSNBC.com: "Is Dennis Quaid spoofing George Bush?
"The actor is denying that he's playing the 43rd president in an upcoming political spoof, but insiders who've seen an early screening of 'Dreamz' say it sure looks like the film is taking potshots at the current administration.
"The film stars 'Dennis Quaid as the President of the United States, doing his best George W. impersonation, Willem Dafoe as a Dick Cheney clone, complete with bald head and lumpy gut, and Marcia Gay Harden as the first lady,' according to a review posted on AintItCool.com . 'The Prez wakes up one day and decides to read the newspaper, which sets Dafoe into damage control mode, as he usually not only keeps track of what the Prez reads, but literally tells him what to say to everyone via an earpiece.'"
