All Intensive Purposes

Richard W. Stevenson in tomorrow's New York Times:

Among more moderate Republicans there is some concern that Mr. Bush has so harnessed his presidency to ideological issues that he has lost touch with the issues of most concern to Americans right now, like high gasoline prices.

"The only reason he's still up there in the 40's is that the Democrats are really brain dead and have nothing positive to put on the table," said one veteran Republican who has close ties to the White House, referring to approval ratings in polls that are at or near Mr. Bush's low points.

"What you see is that he's increasingly turning overseas to demonstrate leadership because he's having so much trouble in the molasses of the Beltway," said the Republican, who insisted on anonymity because he did not want to be quoted criticizing the president.

You'll know the President is really having trouble when that last quote is sourced.