It's definitely a demotion, you know, but -- nobody ever surrenders power in the West Wing voluntarily, nobody, ever, and Karl especially.

He has never been a man accused of heretical thinking or challenging basic assumptions. the president likes a tight circle. And, frankly, he likes a lot of yes men and women.

it is, frankly, in the Democrats' political interest for Bush to continue the status quo, because that's what they want.

if the president fails to let off some of that steam, bleed off some of that energy for change, it's actually very good for the Democrats.

I would start with Dick Cheney and finish with Barney the dog, and fire the lot of them.

Most presidents, and, frankly, the successful ones, have had a lot of strong people around them.

What Governor Kaine did that the Democrats did not do in 2002 in the last midterms is Governor Kaine went right at Iraq and he said, basically, the president misled you.

The president's problems are twofold. The huge majority of the country has turned against the war; 60 percent of Americans think the president is not doing a good job in prosecution the war effort in Iraq.

An enormous amount of time, absolutely. He's got to fix Iraq.

He has more time left in his presidency I believe than President Kennedy had in the entire time in the White House.

But Iraq makes everything worse because Iraq goes at the central pillars of his presidency, that he is competent and strong in defending America, that he is trustworthy and honest.