Bush: Clueless and Happy

Rick Pearson and Mike Dorning write in the Chicago Tribune that McCain said yesterday that "if he can't convince Americans that the U.S. policy in Iraq is succeeding, 'then I lose. I lose.' Speaking to reporters in Ohio, the Arizona senator quickly sought to backtrack and said, 'I'd like to retract "I'll lose,"' though he acknowledged he is closely tied to the U.S. military 'surge' and support for the American presence in Iraq."

John Podesta, Ray Takeyh and Lawrence J. Korb write in a Washington Post op-ed: "The plight of the Bush presidency should be a lesson on what not to do. An administration without any consequential domestic achievements and a divisive foreign policy, hostage to an endless conflict, is what awaits anyone seeking to perpetuate the war. Remarkably, Sen. John McCain stakes his claim to the presidency on continuing down this path. This is a legacy that Democratic presidential aspirants would be wise to avoid."

Bush to Governors: Drop Dead

Robert Pear writes in the New York Times: "President Bush rebuffed appeals from the nation's governors on Monday to increase spending on roads, bridges and other public works as a way to revive the economy.

"Governors said Mr. Bush had told them at a White House meeting that he wanted to see the effects of his economic stimulus package before supporting new measures.

"A bipartisan group of governors is pushing for major road and bridge projects as a way to create jobs and foster economic development. But the White House says the money could not be spent fast enough to be of much immediate help. . . .

"Gov. Edward G. Rendell of Pennsylvania, a Democrat who is vice chairman of the National Governors Association, described the response as 'a fairly significant no.'

"'There are tens of billions of dollars of infrastructure projects ready to go,' Mr. Rendell said. 'I asked the president if he would support spending on those projects as part of a second stimulus package, and he said no.'

"Other governors pushing for spending on transportation projects include Jon Corzine of New Jersey, a Democrat; Charlie Crist of Florida, a Republican; Arnold Schwarzenegger of California, a Republican; and Eliot Spitzer of New York, a Democrat.

"After the cool reception at the White House, governors said they would take their proposals to Congress."

Lisa Lambert and Jeremy Pelofsky write for Reuters that the governors argued that such a program would address unemployment and put the economy on a more sustainable path of growth.

"'We suggested a $12 billion infusion into the states, for water projects, for roads, for bridges; again, to build our economy for the future but to put people to work today,' Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire, a Democrat, told a news conference.

"'I think I can summarize his remarks best by saying he didn't think he would be interested,' she said.