MSNBC: Bush "more confident," has shed some of his "frat-boy style"

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6846109/

President Bush is a politician with large ambitions and few doubts, someone not easily given to mea culpas. But in the run-up to today's inauguration, he has at least hinted at some of the lessons learned in office. From his relations with Democrats in Congress to his approach to the rest of the world, Bush has suggested he will try to strike a different tone -- without abandoning principles or policies.

Balancing those objectives could be one of the biggest challenges in a second term already facing difficult problems. His agenda includes turning Iraq into a success story, repairing relations with other nations, tackling the restructuring of Social Security and the tax code, and revising immigration policy. The question is whether he can aggressively pursue that agenda and still achieve a more accommodating climate here and abroad.

Presidential historian Fred I. Greenstein of Princeton University said that Bush appears to have a greater capacity for self-correction than he likes to advertise and that he has gradually grown more confident in exercising the powers of the presidency while shedding some of what Greenstein called a frat-boy style before the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. "I was struck on the campaign with his whole persona and his capacity to project a personality and a style," he said. "I just think he has come to fill that space."

White House senior adviser Karl Rove said of Bush: "The clearest and biggest way is he's grown to have a comfort with exercising the levers available to him. He understands the office better, he's comfortable with it. Second, he now has a series of relationships, internationally with (foreign leaders). He knows them, understands them, he has taken the measure of them in a way you can only do if you're up close. Third, he is more acutely aware that while a president can set an agenda -- and it's vital you do so -- that history has a way of intruding on you. Things happen."

[ewagner]

1. Saw about 30 seconds

of his arrival at St Johns Church...heard the "more confident" meme...want to puke!!!!!! :puke:

Today is going to be rough...the media ass-kissing festival is in full glory....TV off today.

[roenyc]

3. comedy central all day and air america!!

well except for al franken - dont think i can go there today. have howard stern on now. colin quin just walked in.

[ewagner]

5. What's Franken up to? n/t

[roenyc]

2. Seams to be getting that

salute down too. just dont ask him to talk to anyone.

[Guaranteed]

4. A lot of puff pieces going around today...

There's one at the top of Yahoo that's unbelievable.

[johnnyrocket]

6. But he's still a punk.

And an idiot.

[robbedvoter]

7. Awww...he's grown - return to the post 911 memes

I never met an ault in my life who did so much "growing up"
I'd be humiliated by this kind of kiss ass....

[CWebster]

8. Relationships with foreign leaders...

Who would that be? Berlusconi?

Wall St has a lot to gain by privitizing Social Security, be prepared to witness them adorn shimmering gossamer of invisible finery on the drunken frat boy.

[atommom]

9. He may have hinted that he learned a few lessons. Just to endear

himself further to his base. But he's far too bull-headed to change course now. (Prove me wrong, GW, and I'll be grateful.) :eyes:

[pdxmom]

10. They say confidence, I say

arrogance. I have seen a change in him since the election, but it isn't a good one. He's gotten even more arrogant than before, and I really didn't think that was possible.

[NVMojo]

11. now it's just redneck old fratboy style

[Magleetis]

12. He will always be

evil and stupid. We were correct about the Iraq war and time will reveal that we are right about the way Pres. asshole is destroying the US. Not my Pres. and never will be. A sad day for America indeed.

[Lucille]

13. Suellentop at Slate has practically the identical article

Uses the same adjectives. Isn't that interesting. How is it, I wonder, that various news outlets all simultaneously use the same adjectives to describe *? It seems "bold" has been replaced with "confident," "accommodating," "conciliatory." Suellentop mainly comments on Bush's Wed. speech and Bush's 1st inaugural speech, which he calls one of the best, ever. Somehow, he also manages to get in a gratuitous swipe at Clinton--about his sense of timing, no less.

I'd provide the link, but I really hate the thought of that digitalized trash getting any more hits.