Bush's Exhibit A for Torture

"To keep an authentic setting without upstaging the locals, Bush's team put up no banners or backdrop this time. Gone was the usual announcement of the president's presence over the public address system. He just seemed to show up, prompting some surprised applause.

"After the meeting began with the normal business routine of the Pledge of Allegiance and a prayer, Bush was introduced as the guest speaker. Yet even that was a bit hard to hear, because someone forgot to turn off the Christmas music for a couple minutes."

Ken Herman of the Austin American-Statesman marvels at how far Bush has fallen -- to "the matinee headliner in the dining room next to the Yak-A-Doo's restaurant in a small-town Holiday Inn where kids eat free, pets are allowed and the marquee promises Wednesday night karaoke."

Here's the transcript of Bush' hour-long talk: "People say, they're probably wondering why would -- old George W. has got something important to say, why would he bother to come to a place out in the country? And the answer is because this is where jobs are created; this is where dreams are lived; this is where values are upheld. And so I'm proud to be with you."

Bush's message, in a nutshell: "I hope you can tell I'm an optimistic fellow."

Wrong on Both Counts

From the question-and-answer session after Bush's speech:

Q: "My question is, I have three children in the school system here, and I'm very concerned about their well-being, living in this country -- and you've done a wonderful job of protecting our nation. But I'm concerned about the nations like Iraq, who now have nuclear weapons --"

Bush: "Iran."

Q: "Iran and Iraq both."

Bush: "Not Iraq."

Not Iran, either.

Judge Declares White House Logs Public

Michael Abramowitz writes in The Washington Post: "A federal judge ruled yesterday that White House visitor logs created by the Secret Service are public records, and he ordered information involving the visits of nine religious figures with Bush administration officials to be released to an advocacy group.

"The dispute involved an effort by the administration to keep secret records that have traditionally allowed the news media or Congress to keep tabs on who has visited the White House or vice president's residence. Administration lawyers have taken the position that the logs are presidential records, outside the scope of the Freedom of Information Act. . . .

"In 2006, The Washington Post won a court order requiring Vice President Cheney's office to turn over visitor logs, but the order was blocked by an appellate court. During that litigation, it was revealed that the White House and the Secret Service had agreed to declare that such logs are not public records subject to disclosure.

"The Post subsequently dropped the case, but CREW, interested in similar information, pursued its own lawsuit. Among the visitors whose names [U.S. District Judge Royce C.] Lamberth ordered released yesterday were James Dobson, Jerry Falwell and Gary Bauer."

Why did The Post drop the case? I have no idea.

Philip Shenon writes in the New York Times, however, that the blow to the administration "could, however, be largely symbolic; the White House seemed likely to appeal the decision, which could hold up the release of any documents until after President Bush leaves office in 13 months."

Here is Lamberth's 40-page opinion.

Budget Watch

Jonathan Weisman writes in The Washington Post: "The House last night approved a $515.7 billion domestic spending measure that shaves billions from spending levels desired by Democrats and uses emergency spending and other tactics to challenge President Bush on his budget demands."

Carl Hulse writes in the New York Times: "Despite complaints from conservative Republicans that the measure was bloated and unacceptable, Mr. Bush offered guarded praise for the legislation and Democrats said they expected he would sign a final version. . . .

"Mr. Bush's positive reaction to the measure after months of disagreement with Democrats was complicating the maneuvering of leading Republicans who, had hoped to use the issue to showcase a philosophical divide with Democrats over spending. . . .

"Unable to lure Mr. Bush to the negotiating table over possible spending increases, Democrats rewrote the spending measure, largely meeting the president's overall demands while shifting money within accounts to increase investment in health care, education and other domestic programs.

"Democrats also eliminated some policy provisions opposed by the White House, like a measure that would have overturned a ban on federal aid to overseas family planning clinics that provide abortions or help women obtain one.

"Authors of the spending bill also eliminated or diluted provisions on prevailing construction wages, federal benefits for domestic partners and sanctions on Cuba in order to avoid a veto while building Republican support.

"In a move that drew attacks from environmental groups, the budget agreement would provide substantial new loan guarantees for low-carbon energy sources or projects that make wider uses of coal."

Small-Ball Watch

Last month, to great fanfare, Bush announced measures intended to curb airline delays during the Thanksgiving travel frenzy, including freeing up military airspace for commercial use. But when push came to shove, all that meant was adding two north-south routes to the hundreds that already existed. And Thanksgiving air traffic delays ended up being worse than the year before no one reported it.

So what's next? Christopher Conkey writes for the Wall Street Journal: "The Bush administration this week is expected to announce its strategy for reducing air-travel delays next summer, including capping the number of flights at New York's Kennedy airport. Consumers may see higher fares as a result, and opposition from lawmakers and aviation groups may prevent some aspects of the plan from being implemented.

"Details of the administration's proposals remain in flux, but a general outline has emerged, according to government and industry officials familiar with the matter. They say the plan will contain a mix of tried and untested ideas, some intended to stem congestion before the summer travel season and others designed to tap market-based mechanisms to relieve congestion longer term."

Poll Watch

So it was a blip after all.

A Gallup Poll conduted Dec. 6 to 9 had Bush's approval rating up substantially, to (a still-dismal) 37. The increase sparked all sorts of conversation about whether Bush's fortunes were improving.

But the latest Gallup poll, taken Dec. 14 to 16, shows Bush's approval rating back at 32.

Rove's Advance Retreats

Matthew Flamm writes for Crain's New York: "The auction for Karl Rove's memoir drags on a month after the Republican strategist made the rounds of publishers with Washington power lawyer Robert Barnett at his side.

"'It's very, very slow,' says an executive at one of the few houses left in the bidding. Early reports had predicted a $3 million sale, but some insiders are wondering if Mr. Barnett has had trouble getting to that number. He declined to comment."

The Ghost Following Bush

H.D.S. Greenway starts his Boston Globe op-ed about Bush's foreign policy with this story: "On an Autumn night 300 years ago, Admiral Sir Clowdisley Shovell, hero of the British Navy, was approached on his quarterdeck by a sailor with a warning. According to the sailor's calculations, the fleet was headed straight for disaster. But Sir Clowdisley was a bold leader unburdened by doubt. He was dead certain he was headed in the right direction.

"'Such subversive navigation by an inferior was forbidden in the Royal Navy,' according to Dava Sobel in her brilliant book 'Longitude,' and so 'Admiral Shovell had the man hanged for mutiny on the spot.'

"The 57-year-old Sir Clowdisley stayed the course, oblivious in his ignorance and upright in his optimism, until, one by one, his ships wrecked in the Scilly Isles with great loss of life, including his own."

Will 41 Mop Up After 43?

Peter Hamby writes for CNN: "Former President Bill Clinton said Monday that the first thing his wife Hillary will do when she reaches the White House is dispatch him and his predecessor, President George H.W. Bush, on an around-the-world mission to repair the damage done to America's reputation by the current president -- Bush's son, George W. Bush.

"'Well, the first thing she intends to do, because you can do this without passing a bill, the first thing she intends to do is to send me and former President Bush and a number of other people around the world to tell them that America is open for business and cooperation again,' Clinton said in response to a question from a supporter about what his wife's 'number one priority' would be as president."

Cartoon Watch

Tom Toles on Bush's aim; Jim Morin on Bush's pet Democrats; Dwane Powell on the mad hatter and the Cheney cat; John Sherffius on Bush's carbon footprints.