Bush's bye week

Harriet Miers is a footnote. Scotter Libby is gone. Speaker of the House Denny Hassert (R-IL) is calling out gas companies for price gouging. It seems that just about nothing has gone right for the Bush camp in recent days. This is exactly why the President needed a few days vacation at Camp David.

Now, don't get me wrong, this article isn't about what's going wrong with the President. While I'm always en vogue, I'm not jumping on the Bush bashing bandwagon. To the contrary, I think we're going to see a totally revamped administration in the weeks to come. An administration that looks more like Bush 2002 and less like 2005 is in our future. After all, with Afros and bellbottom jeans making a comeback (everywhere except the NBA), retro is in and that is just what the President needs to do … go retro.

With Scooter Libby gone and the investigations basically over (Rove is being looked at further), the President's team can get back to doing what they've always been good at - campaigning. No really, anyone that thinks "policy" is these guys strong point only need to revisit Social Security, No Child Left Behind and let us not forget the much touted energy bill.

No, campaigning has always been Rove and Company's forte. We're just 12 months out from the mid-terms. There are at least five Republican Senators in danger of losing their seats and I think that ultimately the White House is going to weigh in heavily on those races.

Not to say that the last two years of the "Bush Presidency Part II" is gone from forceful to lame duck overnight. A Supreme Court nomination is still upcoming as I write this and you won't see the nominee left to fend for themselves this time around. While Bush and Rove brought in outsiders to support Miers, you better believe the next person up for the job will not only be qualified, but surrounded from day one by the Republican old guard providing stump style speeches and soundbites daily. In fact, don't be surprised if Frist and the gang over on Capital Hill aren't already in the loop on who'll be next up.

Speaker Hassert has already started campaign plan number two for the Bush team … bash Big Oil. While quiet winks and nods are probably being passed around in smoking backrooms throughout D.C. to show nothing will really change, that won't keep the GOP from publicly chastising the energy community for charging too much for gasoline. Hell, at this point they could cut a deal to drop the price of gas by $0.15 nation-wide and Republicans could head into the elections as the party that cares about the American working family.

The one unknown in this whole thing is, as always, Iraq. While the U.S. death toll has reached 2000, there is real progress being made in the war-torn region. Voters will go to polls for the third time in a year to elect a four-year government that might finally provide at least a little stability. Not much, but at this point, a little might be all they need. As long as the process continues to move forward, then the President is in good shape when it comes to his most complicated issue.

So sleep well, Mr. President, just like a football team that blows a big game in the fourth quarter, you've got a bye week. Rest up and get ready … with Rove back from his political suspension, you've got your starting QB ready to play. The schedule from here on out is going to be tough … but at least you don't have to face the '72 Dolphins.

Brock Tanner does his research for this column in his underwear. He can be found throwing half-full beer cans at the television every time a Fox News Alert plays and its Greta Van Susteren talking about someone "missing." Contact him at brocktanner@hobotrashcan.com.