Dog Wagging The Tail

AP:

Normally, President Bush and the Republican majority in Congress set the agenda. Lately, they're spending a lot of time trying to change the subject.

At the White House, that means appointing the new chairman of the Federal Reserve three months before the current one departs. It means opening the Capitol Rotunda for the casket of civil rights pioneer Rosa Parks, the first woman so honored.

"I've got a job to do," Bush said 10 days ago after he was asked about the difficulties confronting him. "Part of my job is to work with others to fashion a world that'll be peaceful for future generations. And I've got a job to do to make sure this economy continues to grow."

As the White House anticipated, his problems soon multiplied amid the worst polls of his tenure in office.

Harriet Miers, battered by criticism from conservatives, withdrew as a Supreme Court nominee. Vice President Dick Cheney's top aide was indicted for perjury and obstruction of justice in the CIA leak investigation; top presidential aide Karl Rove remained in legal limbo; the same probe shone an unwelcome spotlight on the vice president and his role in the push to war in Iraq.
...
Sixteen blocks away, congressional Republicans bob in the wake of Bush's problems. To which they add their own.

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., faces an insider trading investigation. Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay of Texas is under state indictment for violating campaign finance laws. Both men deny any wrongdoing.
...
"In principle, we are all in this together," Sen. Rick Santorum (news, bio, voting record), R-Pa., wrote fellow GOP senators recently, referring to the White House and GOP majorities in the House and Senate. "We are the party in governance."

But, citing the latest survey by GOP pollster David Winston, Santorum wrote that Democrats hold a nine-point advantage over Republicans on government spending, "one of our historic advantages."
...
On another topic, Santorum said the public "believes overwhelmingly" that the recent large run-up in energy costs is the result of oil company price gouging, rather than rising demand and hurricane damage.

Concerned that the big oil companies were about to announce eye-catching profit increases, congressional Republican tried to blunt any political damage pre-emptively.

Yup, that about sums it up.  Oh, and add to that list a new SCOTUS nominee today.  Events and the Democrats have conspired to stop Bush's OODA loop, and he's flailing.

ntodd