Last Wednesday in the White House residence, George Bush was trying to rally the troops. “I'm a pretty driven guy,” he told a group of 15 GOP lawmakers about his determination to reform Social Security. “When I get my mind focused I mean it.” It was a timely pep talk, coming after hollow-eyed Republicans had returned from town halls and covered dish dinners where angry constituents were opposed to Bush's initiative. The man in charge of shepherding the President's plan through the Senate, Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa, hinted last week it might make sense to scrap Bush's key proposal,...