Some Tips (The Hidden Kristof)

In which Nicholas Kristof offers some advice to President Bush in how to bale water in this sinking ship of an administration (full access to Time for an Extreme Makeover at the White House available to Times Select subscribers):

The obvious model for Mr. Bush is Ronald Reagan's presidency when it was in a similar tailspin in 1987. The Iran-contra scandal, the failure of the Bork nomination and the stock market plunge left the Reagan administration "paralyzed" and "dead in the water," pundits wrote. A National Journal headline said, "Reagan Now Viewed as an Irrelevant President."

So Mr. Reagan systematically overhauled his presidency. He reached out to Congressional Democrats and appointed a bipartisan commission of three respected statesmen — John Tower, Ed Muskie and Brent Scowcroft — to investigate Iran-contra. He fired or accepted resignations from two national security aides, John Poindexter and Oliver North. He also fired his chief of staff, Donald Regan, and replaced him with Howard Baker, who was respected by both parties.

[...]

But Mr. Bush today is not retooling; he's hunkering down in the bunker. Instead of the Reagan approach of 1987, it's the Nixon approach of 1973. It just increases the national polarization and doesn't help Mr. Bush.

So he should start over. For starters, here are four suggestions:

• It's time for Dick Cheney to announce that he must resign because of poor health. His approval rating is only 29 percent, and his replacement could presumably be somebody far more popular, like Condoleezza Rice.

• Don Rumsfeld should also step down. And just as President Clinton appointed a Republican as secretary of defense, Mr. Bush should appoint a Democrat, like Sam Nunn.

• Mr. Bush should publicly admit mistakes and reach out more to Democrats, and even his critics. Mr. Bush has taken a few steps in this direction in his second term, but not enough.

• Mr. Bush should emphasize policy goals that can generate bipartisan support. Mr. Bush's recent push for alternative energy sources was a fine example of that, as are his efforts to organize a U.N. peacekeeping force to stop genocide in Darfur. A trip to Africa to meet Darfur refugees and see how U.S. programs are fighting AIDS and poverty would help build bridges to critics at home and abroad.

These kinds of moves would completely change the tone of the Bush administration. The obvious question, given my values and positions, is whether it is in the public interest for Mr. Bush to become more effective. But I think it's good for the nation, not just for Republicans, to have a president who can actually govern. If Mr. Bush simply punches the clock aimlessly in his bunker for the next three years — longer than the entire Kennedy presidency — that paralysis will damage America and the world.

Speaking of declining popularity for President Bush and his administration, the latest Survey USA poll was taken on February 16, and there are only 9 states that have a net approval rating for the President. Also, the Left Coaster notes the latest Zogby poll, which puts the President's approval rating at 40 percent--consistent with other recent polls.

...his overall approval/disapproval rating is 40%-60%, but he has his lowest support yet from those groups who make up his political base. Among both conservatives and those who consider themselves very conservative, 61% approve of the job he is doing. He gets only 32% of independents, and only 73% among Republicans -- his lowest rating yet. Even rural voters give him just 50% approval, and 59% among those who say they are born again spiritually -- marking the lowest ratings from both of these demographic groups.

The Left Coaster further notes:

Only 68% of Republicans support his handling of the war, and only 73% job approval from Republicans, with only 61% of conservatives and strong conservatives supporting him? That doesn’t bode well for the midterms.