Way Back On His Heels
Why Katrina's aftermath threatens to undo President Bush's agenda
Republican strategists realize they are in trouble, which partially explains why Bush and Congress have been pouring so much money into the Gulf region even though it's not clear how it will all be spent. GOP leaders know that unless they show more leadership than they did during the first days after Katrina struck, Bush's entire second-term agenda could be history, including his already-languishing plans for Social Security overhaul, changes in immigration laws, and tax cuts--and even his policies in Iraq (box below).
Bush planned a third visit to the hurricane zone and called for nearly $52 billion in aid on top of the $10.5 billion already approved by Congress. The total was quickly endorsed by the lawmakers. Bush also promised homeless evacuees a payment of $2,000immediately (although problems were reported in actually getting that money to destitute victims). More broadly, the administration was trying to develop a comprehensive plan to rebuild the Gulf Coast, with some White House insiders favoring a massive Marshall Plan approach. U.S. News has learned that Bush is also considering a 21st-century version of the GI Bill, in which hurricane victims would be entitled to large-scale government help for healthcare, housing, transportation, and education. On a personal level, Bush advisers let it be known that the president has extended his office hours. Now he gets to the office before 7 a.m. and often works until 9 p.m.--about three hours more than usual.
To many, it wasn't enough. There were rising calls for Bush to name a disaster-relief "czar" to cut through red tape. U.S. News has learned that Bush is leaning toward doing just that, perhaps enlisting Rudolph Giuliani or Colin Powell.
By week's end, Bush had settled on a new theme. "He wants to give people a sense of hope," said a senior adviser. "He wants them to know things are going to get better and that they'll get back on their feet." He might have said the same thing about the Bush presidency.
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