one more thing about the US attorney scandal: i keep wondering whether this will be the thing that finally gets the republican party's 2008 presidential hopefuls to finally make their break from bush.
it's only a matter of time. bush's approval ratings are in the toilet and are likely to stay there. it's inevitable that any serious candidate will need to distinguish himself from the president if he wants to remain viable. a couple of days ago, i wonder if chuck hegal's announcement might open the floodgates of candidates trying to distinguish themselves from bush on iraq. the problem is that the leading republican candidates are too committed to bush's basic iraq strategy to go that route. this current scandal presents an opportunity for a republican to distance himself from the president on principle using something other than the war.
whatever event it centers on, the break is inevitable and it will be fascinating to watch when it finally comes. the break will considerably change the dynamic of the republican party. for the past 6 years the party has centered on loyalty to the president and his agenda. when that finally goes out the window it will make bush's lame duckiness even lamer. and where that will leave the republican agenda is really hard to predict.
