Saving the Presidency

Over at TNR online, Ryan Lizza has a piece, "Problem Solved," which is subtitled "How Bush can save himself." Lizza is well aware that Bush would never implement his suggestions, but they certainly provide food for thought. In a nutshell, he advocates firing Cheney and replacing him with McCain; pushing reform; a too amorphous call for the President to "get [his] hands dirty on Iraq; Pursuing a bipartisan Iran policy.

Acknowledging that his vision is a pipe dream, Lizza concludes his piece:

There you have it, my five-point plan for Bush renewal. Next week I'll be explaining how unicorns can solve the energy crisis.

I'd add in firing Rumsfeld who has been an utter disaster. I also think that at this point, championing reform would be revealed for what it is: a craven ass-saving measure. Lizza also does not carry his advocacy of firing Cheney and replacing him with McCain to its logical conclusion -- suddenly McCain becomes the logical, even anointed, successor, something the GOP has lacked. Of course in light of the course of this administration, I would assume that most Republicans are relieved that there is no one ordained to carry on conducting the train wreck.