Having recently published a lickspittle book about the suberfantabulous job being done by George W. Bush, Fred Barnes may feel that he has no choice but to double down on his bet. In this morning's Wall Street Journal, he finds a way to fluff the President while acknowledging that things aren't going so well at the White House.

Barnes suggests that Bush begin a "third term," a "rejuvenation of his presidency by shocking the media and political community with a sweeping overhaul of his administration."

In this do-over fantasy, Condi Rice replaces Cheney as VP, Cheney replaces Rummy at the Pentagon, and Rove becomes head of the RNC.

Apparently Bush's only flaw is "his admirable but unrealistic sense of loyalty." Rearranging the deck chairs will solve the captain's problems.

Nothing terribly new about the idea of an extreme administration makeover, and nothing terribly compelling about a plan to reshuffle the same old names, but it is interesting to see this coded distress signal on the conservative media's flagship editorial page, written by one of Bush's most ardent cheerleaders.

Comments

[Ed Drone]

Any move to do something like Mr. Barnes suggests will indeed bring to the public mind the "deck chairs on the Titanic" image, leading to even more "common wisdom" that the madministration is screwed (along with us). In fact, any reorganization at this stage, especially if it includes "top" people like Rumsfailed, Rice, or Rove, sends that message like a laser beam, right into the hearts and minds of the American voter.

Do it! Do it! Do it!

Ed

[Fecund Stench]

Those of us down here in steerage have seen the terrible gash in the hull, have donned our lifejackets and are hurriedly making our way upward. And yet, the violins continue to play.

[Ken Houghton]

Making Rove the head of the RNC might almost balance out the substantial effort the DSCC has made to support the Republican Party.

But what would Mehlman do? Appear on the cover of OUT with some Log Cabin Republicans?

[tomboy]

YES YES YES.

I would love those senate confirmation hearings.

[Punchy]

Why not just go full bore? Put Cheney at President, where he already resides, Rove at VP, Bolton at SecState, Bill O'Liely as the press secretary, leaving Rice and Bush to either go play doctor in a sandbox or go fishing with their Snoopy rods and orange bobbers.

Then, close the borders to Canada and watch real panic set in...