Liberals are often accused of doing nothing but Bush-bashing, but it is becoming increasingly clear to all that there has been good reason for this. Weve never had a President who was so incompetent, and who has done so much harm to this country. David Ignatus reports that even Republicans are beginning to understand this, with todays best Bush-bashing line (emphasis mine) coming from a Republican:

If you want to hear despair in Washington these days, talk to Republicans. The Democrats are exulting in their newfound political power and are eager to profit from Bushs difficulties. But Republicans voice the bitterness and frustration of people chained to the hull of a sinking ship.

I spoke with a half-dozen prominent GOP operatives this past week, most of them high-level officials in the Reagan and Bush I and Bush II administrations, and I heard the same devastating critique: This White House is isolated and ineffective; the country has stopped listening to President Bush, just as it once tuned out the hapless Jimmy Carter; the presidents misplaced sense of personal loyalty is hurting his party and the nation.

"This is the most incompetent White House Ive seen since I came to Washington," said one GOP senator. "The White House legislative liaison team is incompetent, pitiful, embarrassing. My colleagues cant even tell you who the White House Senate liaison is. There is rank incompetence throughout the government. Its the weakest Cabinet Ive seen." And remember, this is a Republican talking.

A prominent conservative complains: "With this White House, there is loyalty not to an idea, but to a person. When Republicans talked about someone in the Reagan administration being "˜loyal, they didnt mean to Ronald Reagan but to the conservative movement." Bushs stubborn defense of Gonzales offends these Republicans, who see the president defiantly clinging to an official who has lost public confidence, just as he did for too long with former defense secretary Donald Rumsfeld. It reminds me of the old Mission Impossible series, so easy to make a parody of..."Mr Bush should you are any member of your administration get caught subverting the constitution or people's constitutional rights, you or any member of your administration or party abusing your authority the secretary will disavow any knowledge of your actions". "This message will self destruct in ten seconds"