A Tale of Two Felonies

He talked about the recent election, the violence after a Shia shrine got blown up last month, the importance of a unity government, the universality of freedom, Iran, the empowerment of women and -- yes -- even his friendship with the Japanese prime minister.

But not a word on his plans if civil war breaks out.

What Next for Bush Foreign Policy?

Much more tomorrow on Peter Baker and Glenn Kessler 's Washington Post story about the White House's newly intensified focus on Iran and the possible use of military force. Plus lots of other interesting stuff from over the weekend on Bush's foreign policy mechanism. No room today.

House of Cards

Peter Baker writes in The Washington Post: "Of all the reasons that President Bush is in trouble these days, not to be overlooked are inadequate REM cycles. Like chief of staff [Andrew H.] Card [Jr.], many of the president's top aides have been by his side nonstop for more than five years, not including the first campaign, recount and transition. This is a White House, according to insiders, that is physically and emotionally exhausted, battered by scandal and drained by political setbacks. . . .

" 'We're all burned out,' said one White House official who did not want to be named for fear of angering superiors. 'People are just tired.' "

Elisabeth Bumiller and David E. Sanger write in the New York Times: "Inside the White House, the staff is exhausted and the mood is defiant. Republicans are clamoring for a new chief of staff, the West Wing just cut its losses on a deal that would have given a Dubai company control of some terminal operations at six American ports, and President Bush's approval rating is at a record low.

"But senior staff members insist that Mr. Bush is in good spirits, that calls from his party to inject new blood into the White House make him ever more stubborn to keep the old, and that he has become so inured to outside criticism that he increasingly tunes it out. There is no sense of crisis, they say, even over rebellious Republicans in Congress, because the White House has been in almost constant crisis since Sept. 11, 2001, and Mr. Bush has never had much regard for Congress anyway."

William Douglas profiles Card.

On the need for a staff shakeup? "Card bristles at such criticism. He notes that there've been several key shifts of personnel: Claude Allen stepped down as domestic policy adviser; Margaret Spellings, Allen's predecessor, became education secretary; and Condoleezza Rice moved from national security adviser to secretary of state.

" 'There's been quite a bit of change, but the change has not been disruptive,' Card said. 'One objective I have is to make sure that the gears of the administration are always efficient. And I think they have been efficient.' "

A Hitler Question

Also at Bush's Q and A on Friday:

"Q I'm from Aurora, Colorado. In our town a teacher was suspended for remarks critical of your State of the Union message, made the talk shows, et cetera -- compared you to Hitler and -- actually, I've heard the tape and he didn't, he said, 'Hitler-esque,' but it's not --

"THE PRESIDENT: He's not the only one. (Laughter.)

"Q And it's not the content that my question is about. My question is about your sense of the free speech right in the classroom or in public to criticize you without being considered unpatriotic."

Bush answered that one directly: "Yes, I think people should be allowed to criticize me all they want, and they do. (Laughter.) Now what are you all laughing at over there? (Laughter.) Don't cheer him on. (Laughter.)"

Don't Ask Me

More from Friday:

"Q Who do you think the biggest threat is: Iran, North Korea, or China?

"THE PRESIDENT: Interesting question. The biggest threat to American security, Iran, North Korea, or China. Why did I call on you? (Laughter.)"

Gridiron Humor

Linton Weeks writes in The Washington Post about the annual Gridiron Dinner, where journalists and politicians roast each other.

"In the spirit of the evening, Bush said he told Cheney:

" 'Dick, I've got an approval rating of 38 percent and you shoot the only trial lawyer in the country who likes me.

" 'You know there are all these conspiracy theories that Dick runs the country . . . or Karl [Rove] runs the country. Why aren't there any conspiracy theories that I run the country? Really ticks me off. The truth is that I do run the country . . . but Dick runs me and Lynne runs Dick. So actually Lynne runs the country. And Lynne, I think you're doin' a heckuva job. Although I have to say you dropped the ball big time on that Dubai deal.'

"And: 'By the way, when Dick first heard my approval rating was 38 percent, he said, "What's your secret?" ' "

Darlene Superville has more for the Associated Press: "Bush pointed out that the vice president's full name is Richard B. Cheney.

" 'B. stands for bulls eye,' Bush said to laughter from the hundreds of reporters and officials from the administration and Congress. The press, Bush joked, blew the matter way out of proportion: 'Good Lord, you'd thought he shot somebody or something.' "

And Mark Silva writes in the Chicago Tribune's blog all about the speech by Democratic Sen. Barack Obama.

" Truth is, this domestic spying has all kinds of useful applications for homeland security,' he said. 'And I have a suggestion in this regard, Mr. President: you can spy on the Weather Channel, and find out when big storms are coming.' . . .

" 'And how about that ports deal?' he added, with a reference to the attempted takeover of several U.S. port operations by an Arab firm and a shot at Bush's experience with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. 'I feel for you, sir. It's tough getting trapped in a storm, when no one comes to help.' "