The Trouble with Mr. Bush

I have been far from a fan of W.'s jockish, arrogant tone all these five years now. I've always found it offensive. Next comes his policies that have either been fiscally irresponsible or diplomatically and militarily unsound, as well as the initiatives undertaken in his name by the Pentagon, the Justice Dept. and the CIA, most of which has harmed American interests at every turn.

This week, after nearly three years of failure in Iraq, a new, improved W. steps to the fore. It's almost an Ophrah-Show-style makeover. A new, humbler, more thoughtful, almost contrite, as he might put it, "taker of responsibility."

This is highly offensive, that a sitting president might try to solve his political predicament by radically changing his tone and style. Who are you, Mr. Bush, the swaggering warrior-emperor, hell-er-highwater, gonna-be-victor president, or are you the new taker-of-responsibility, could-take-a-few-days-mistakes-were-made, trust-me-victory's-still-comin' president?

W. had the temerity to tar John Kerry with the flip-flop moniker. Now, how's it feel?

It's still highly offensive, Mr. Bush. We feel you're playing us. It's not right, and I hope it doesn't work in the polls. Because if it does, it means you've suckered us again.

A long-overdue change in tone is not a change in policy. It's just more spin, and from a deadly spin shop. Real people really die. Your talk ain't cheap, it's really expensive.