An Out of Touch White House

The New York Daily News reports on the atmosphere at the White house. $Q: A card-carrying member of the Washington GOP establishment with close ties to the White House recently encountered several senior presidential aides at a dinner and came away shaking his head at their "no problems here" mentality. The portrait of a leadership completely insulated and out of touch rings true on a number of fronts. A few examples, though there are many more: Seymour Hersh has written a devastating piece for the Dec. 5 New Yorker asserting the President "doesn't feel any pain" over Iraq; his religious conviction blinds him to the reality of both the political and military situation The sharp personal attack on Rep. Murtha was a business as usual approach to what was clearly a seminal moment in the war debate; the inability of the White House to grasp the importance immediately is worrisome: if they can't understand the dynamics of the argument here how well are they assessing the political situation thousands of miles away in Iraq? The military assessments are clearly suspect as well. What other conclusion can be drawn when respected GOP Sen. Warner finds it necessary to do an end run around official Pentagon channels and seek the "ground truth" elsewhere? Add Cheney's preposterous contention that any questions about the scores of misleading statements used to sell the war are "reprehensible" and the picture of an ivory tower mentality emerges. The administration is reeling on a number of fronts —the leaders are now following, reacting to and not setting the agenda, and there's precious little sign the President is even aware that any of it is his responsibility. From Time, a good illustration of how things are working in Washington right now: After months of denying that it was even considering plans to withdraw some troops, the Bush Administration last week shed first light on a possible timetable for trimming America's presence in Iraq. Pushed by newly assertive politicians at home as well as an eyebrow-raising statement from Iraq's leaders, and with a view toward congressional elections next fall, senior Bush officials began openly debating just how fast a withdrawal might proceed.