[Paul Atreides]

That's why I say that, to a certain extent, Bush needs to get off this "new tone" business and realize with whom he is dealing. This is not a governor's race in Texas. He is dealing with slimy, corrupt, ruthless criminals.

[RichInOC]

I think he does realize they're a bunch of scumbags--the House Harkonnen of American politics, you might say--and figures the point is to beat them, not try to out-scumbag them (is that even possible, anyway?).