W Wants His Mojo Back

Even as Rita was deciding whether to hit Texas or Louisiana, a part of this story was how the Bush Administration would react. Would they be on top of every little detail, or could they possibly repeat their dismal performance from Katrina? That second option was pretty much out the window, because everybody knew that everybody else was watching, and whatever they did it wouldn't be nothing. So Bush wanted to make sure it was crystal clear that he was involved and concerned. Unfortunately, there wasn't much he could do to demonstrate that. Emergency preparation is mostly about what you can't see and what you hope you won't need. Nothing really becomes clear until after the event. If the government was prepared, well, things went like they were supposed to, but if the government wasn't, then it was clear for the world to see.

The Prez was under a microscope this time around, and there's plenty of news stories and commentary about what he was up to. He'd planned to go to San Antonio to look like he was in charge, but that plan went awry. The official reason was because the search-and-rescue team he'd planned his photo op around was getting ready to move closer to the potential hurricane, but The New York Times reported the real reason was that San Antonio was too sunny (Hat tip: AMERICAblog). Here's the Times:

Another White House official involved in preparing Mr. Bush's way noted that with the sun shining so brightly in San Antonio, the images of Mr. Bush from here might not have made it clear to viewers that he was dealing with an approaching storm.

So instead, he went to U.S. Northern Command headquarters in Colorado because . . . well . . . I guess that's where they decided he'd look best watching the weather. And looks is what it's all about, no one has any doubt of that. In the NBC News blog yesterday, White House correspondent David Gregory wrote:

Bottom line is, these are photo ops. White House aides admit they want Mr. Bush to be seen in briefings and personally tending to the government's response. Mr. Bush has no choice but to be in the middle of the action. Disaster relief and rebuilding are now the canvas of his second term. Between storms and war, the President's vision may face less scrutiny than his administration's basic competence.

This morning's Washington Post had a "news analysis" making the argument that Bush was desperately trying to get his mojo back (although they referred to it as his "swagger").

A president who normally thrives on tough talk and self-assurance finds himself at what aides privately describe as a low point in office, one that is changing the psychic and political aura of the White House, as well as its distinctive political approach.

In small, sometimes subtle but unmistakable ways, the president and top aides sound less certain, more conciliatory and willing to do something they avoided in the first term: admit mistakes. After bulling through crisis after crisis with a "bring 'em on" brashness, a more solemn Bush now has twice taken responsibility for the much-criticized response to Hurricane Katrina.

Aides who never betrayed self-doubt now talk in private of failures selling the American people on the Iraq war, the president's Social Security plan and his response to Hurricane Katrina.

And why is this happening? One brave (though somehow still anonymous) top Republican blames it on the lack of an election to run for and on Laura. That's right, blame a woman.

Is there any dismay at the White House that Rita weakened and veered away from Houston, depriving Bush of an opportunity he so desperately craves to show off his presidential mojo? Was this another woman leading him astray? Maybe a new crisis will be along soon to give him another chance. We can only hope.