Rudder Needed: Apply Immediately

Have you watched the president's speeches during the past few days? Today, he went into great detail on the detainee issue, linking the controversial treatment of prisoners to the prevention of terrorist attacks in the past. So yes, today there was substance to go with the empty bromides.

But the transcript doesn't begin to reflect the delivery, which bordered on the bizarre. Bush -- as in other speeches during the past few days -- was alternately petulant, glowering, and shrill. At times he came close to shouting. It was as if he was angry that, at long last, he (or more likely an underling) felt it necessary to be substantive. If you missed it, try to watch a tape.

This is quite new for Americans. Before this, the most unstatesmanlike presidential behavior in modern times was that of Clinton during the darkest moments of the Lewinsky scandal. For all his immorality and duplicity and aside from a few notable lapses (one of which involved Ron Ziegler), even Nixon generally maintained a veneer of calm statesmanship in public.

Look, we know Bush has a tough job -- made tougher in large measure by his own actions -- but I don't see how any clear-thinking person could watch these speeches and not be extremely concerned. Past presidents who have been under extreme pressure (Nixon) had adults around (Kissinger) to steady the ship. We know what this president's top aides are made of. Reassured?