Will Hutton (London Observer): Expect a new, cannier Bush

[Jack Rabbit]

From the London Observer (Sunday supplement of the Guardian Unlimited)
Dated Sunday Juanuary 16

Expect a new, cannier Bush
But don't be fooled by the softer, more accommodating second-term President. There's still steel in the soul
By Will Hutton

George Bush's extravagant inauguration this week - in his own mind nearer to an annunciation - is not what most British and Europeans wanted. This is a second-term President with the lowest approval ratings ever at home; they are even lower abroad.
Yet despite everything, from the debacle in Iraq to the tax cuts directed at the rich, it is Bush, not Kerry, presiding over no less than 10 inauguration balls and talking reverentially of his mandate, unsurprisingly, having increased his share of the vote compared to 2000 among almost every category of voter. This is one election he didn't steal.

But given the record, it is an unconvinced majority and it will be this lack of conviction, on top of the increasing lame duckness of a second-term President that promises to constrain some of the wilder instincts of both the man and his supporters.

Already, there are signs of a new emollience: the last British detainees at Guantanamo Bay have been released; the bitter trade row with the EU over the respective subsidies to Airbus and Boeing has been kicked into touch; and the core group of the US, Australia, India and Japan that was to subvert the United Nations by co-ordinating aid to the tsunami victims has been quietly disbanded.

Read more.

I'm not sure that I agree with Mr. Hutton. I am expecting a more arrognat Bush who will not want anybody to tell him that he's wrong. I think we're in for a tyrant unchained.

[Vincardog]

1. This is one election he didn't steal. MY A$$ He stole it BIGGER

[Skittles]

3. yup, they screwed up the popular vote last time

not that it ever stopped the thieving asshole from doing anything

[pretzel4gore]

2. the whole piece hinges on bush having won legitimately

and he didn't. win that is.
fukking mediawhoring goofball...too stupid to shut up, to take his stinking dope and smoke it in private

[jjtss]

4. I don't think he's changed at all................

He has already started the SS "CRISIS" and will lie and cheat to get what he wants (like Iraq) which is Wall Street control over the SS funds so that the rich can rob the fund like they did the Iraqi National Bank. I just wonder who they will blame this time????

"there's still STEAL in his HEART" (the spelling was incorrect and he doesn't have a soul or conscience, he's a sociopath)

[susu369]

6. Welcome, jjtss

"there' still STEAL in his HEART" - perfect.

Look forward to your future posts.

[bemildred]

5. Grudging concessions to reality don't amount to "canny" IMHO. nt

[SharonAnn]

7. Yep, they think it's the "apotheosis" of *, when he becomes a God

Sheesh.