One thing that Dem opposition does is throw up a roadblock to the triumphalism.
link
But Bush's full-speed-ahead approach, despite his strong victory last Tuesday, has yet to take into account serious hurdles that may be beyond his control. The deficit is soaring. Some congressional Republicans are less eager to reorganize Social Security.
The continuing combat in Iraq, not to mention the ongoing threat of terrorist attacks, threatens to consume much of the political oxygen he might need to push a bold agenda across Capitol Hill.
"The number one danger, of course, is that Iraq will implode," University of Virginia political science professor Larry Sabato said. "If it ever really became critical, it could just take over his agenda. And if the inevitable Supreme Court appointment comes early in the term, that could also be the jolly green giant that ate his agenda, because it will unleash so many emotions on the right and the left."
At the same time, Bush has to contend with a daunting historical precedent: From Nixon to Reagan to Clinton, two-term presidents have often endured their darkest hours in the latter half of their tenure. Even before the election, the White House faced ongoing investigations into the energy firm Halliburton and the leaked name of undercover CIA operative Valerie Plame, and critics see an opportunity for more. "Their essentially turning the keys over to the special interests is almost certainly going to result in investigations and scandals," said John Podesta, who was chief of staff in the second Clinton administration.
Iraq, along with skittish Republicans may be his concrete problem, but as James Carville is fond of saying (and think media stories like this... every major paper has had one) "if your opponent is drowning, throw the son-of-a-bitch an anvil". Okay, so he's not drowning yet. But an anvil around the ankle will prevent him from walking on water, at least in the media's eyes.