The Wisconsin experience is not unique. Republican members of Congress report that their constituents complain about $87 billion going to Iraq when they cannot get anything for their own states and districts. These lawmakers wonder why the White House was not skillful enough to divide the package between $67 billion for the military and $20 billion for nation building. The latter category amounts to foreign aid, and conservative economist/political activist Steve Moore says it contains "pork."
While a skillful sales job for aid to Iraq would not guarantee success, it has been anything but skillful. In his Sept. 7 speech to the nation, Bush looked uncomfortable standing in the Cabinet Room instead of seated in the Oval Office. The Sept. 22 U.N. speech convinced soft-liners that the president was defiant and convinced hard-liners that he was cringing.
Republican political pros have expected that Bush would pivot and turn the nation's attention to a domestic issue. He did finally pivot last Thursday, but in the wrong direction by demanding action from Senate-House conferees. Such action would mean a new entitlement and more federal spending, undermining support from the conservative base.
Another domestic issue is continuing loss of industrial jobs, and that does not ease Republican anxiety. It causes hard analysis of electoral maps that poses difficult questions. Is it realistic to think about Bush winning big industrial belt states won by Al Gore in 2000 -- Michigan, Illinois and Pennsylvania? How good are chances for Bush to win West Virginia for a second straight time? Would Missouri slip to the Democrats if Richard Gephardt is on the ticket?
No wonder the arrogance quotient at the White House is diminishing. Reporters regularly on that beat say they have been getting their telephone calls returned the last two weeks.