[jwalsh07]

Baker is the Consigliere of our party. No ifs, ands or buts about it. One tough SOB. And I say that with a large dose of admiration.

[woodyinscc]

I breathed a great sigh of relief in the Fla. fiasco, when I read that GWB was sending Baker down to Fla. to handle the situation for him. What a job he did, tough as nails is right.

[Torie]

Putting aside the substance of Bush's comments with O'Reilly, Bush is a very different man than he was 4 years ago on the tube. He is much more articulate, relaxed, and has mastered the key facts. I particularly liked the wasy Bush interplayed with O'Reilly on illegal immigration, a Bush weak spot. He was willing to return to the issue, after O'Reilly said many would not like Bush's answer. (Granted, O'Reilly did not press, particularly on Bush's fatally flawed guest worker program; probably O'Reilly doesn't know enough about the details.)

Bush is one man who has grown in office (unlike Carter who withered for example). Kerry needs to get Bush flustered and off his game in the debates. That I suspect will be no easy task.

That is how I call it.