Every time Bush has reached out to the other side he has been mauled. He had been earning style points for staying above the fray.
But it appears that it is now necessary to wage a running battle with the democrats, the entrenched bureaucrats, the MSM, the special interests and then if you have anything left, try to run the country.
You have to go on the offensive with these lowlifes -- playing nice doesn't cut it IMO.