The Bully Pulpit is useful when a debate can be enjoined, if it is seen or reputed as reducing yourself to your adversary's level then you fall into justifying their claim no matter how detailed your rebuff. GWB is no moron irregardless of how much the other side wishes it's mantra would stick. This monumental task of confronting terrorism is a 24/7 concentration, he surrounded himself with good people and he's relying on their sound strategies to allow him to devote his concerns where they need focused. These assaults by his political opponents are a dangerous distraction, of that I have little doubt.
The idea that the President is just speaking out about Terrorism is just plain silly. He is speaking out, all the time, about a great many other issues--some current and some historic. The fact that when he does speak on issues, his words are less and less often promoting the Conservative view on those issues, but confirms the points that some of us have made here.
It is all very sad, to be sure. Hopefully, discussions such as this will wake someone up inside the Beltway. Otherwise, the immediate future is less than merely grim.
William Flax Return Of The Gods Web Site