[brat]

"The next question, then, is whether Bush will emulate Nixon in his own way (by governing well to the left of his own party)."

I think the next question should be whether W wants re-election. He is rapidly losing conservatives and hopefully he's not so stupid as to believe he can win without them.

[EternalLife]

He is rapidly losing conservatives and hopefully he's not so stupid as to believe he can win without them.

No, he knows he can't win without conservatives. That's why he will throw them a bone just before the election, to give them a reason to get out and vote for him.