Washington diary: Farewell cowboy?

By Matt Frei
BBC News, Washington

Imagine an administration that has persuaded one of the world's most opaque and troublesome regimes to negotiate the dismantling of its nukes.

President Bush has had to engage in the art of compromise

Imagine an administration has given more than $15bn towards treating HIV/Aids, mainly in Africa; that has hinted it might boycott the Beijing Olympics if China doesn't intervene to stop Burmese monks from getting slaughtered; that has tried - and failed - to force immigration reform down the throats of its own party; that obsesses about alternative fuels and talks climate change.

Imagine an administration that prefers a diplomatic to a military option in Iran, is in bed with the French, on the sofa with the Germans and in the cooler with the Brits.

Stop imagining. What I have described is the White House of George W Bush in October 2007.

Remember him? The cowboy of the Western World, who declared that you were either with us or with the terrorists, the man who wanted Osama Bin Laden dead or alive and told Iraqi insurgents to bring it on.

Even the most ardent Bush-basher has to admit that W has evolved Send us your comments

Of course President Bush still wants Osama dead, alive or in chains, and yes, he is still stuck in Iraq, bleeding lives and money.

Many of you will argue that he isn't nearly as green as he likes to claim. Otherwise, why hasn't he called for mandatory caps on carbon emissions?

It's true, his instincts may still hail from Texas. But his actions have been moulded by Washington's Beltway. Even the most ardent Bush-basher has to admit that W has evolved.

His language has been tempered. His approach to world affairs is more multilateral. He has lost old friends and made a few new ones. The conviction politician has had to engage in the prosaic art of compromise.

Mars and Venus

Much of his conversion is the result of failure. In Iraq. On immigration reform. On social security. The Democrats in the majority are forcing his hand, for sure.

First Lady Laura: the fragrant steel by George W's side?

But there is another influence in his life.

I see George Bush as a man caught between Mars and Venus, between Cheney and Condi, between Rummy and Laura.

After seven years in the White House, the swaggering rancher is getting in touch with his feminine side and with the women by his side.

For instance, I saw evidence of this when I interviewed the First Lady the other day.

Make no mistake Laura Bush is fragrant steel. When she doesn't like a question, her eyes narrow, her look darts.

But on the subject of Burma and the crushing of pro-democracy demonstrators she set the tone.

Chief-of-staff Joshua Bolten has shaken up the White House

Laura Bush condemned the generals and encouraged the protesters at least a week before her husband did the same at the UN General Assembly.

She is fascinated by the heroism of Aung San Suu Kyi and she thumbed her nose, very delicately, at China, a country which the Republican business community is loath to offend for fear of losing a contract or two.

The other key influence in the White House has been exerted behind the scenes by Josh Bolten, the chief of staff.

As a veteran biker he hardly displays a feminine side. But he has cleaned house more than anyone had predicted.

Glorious stalemate

Much of the credit also goes to the Democrats on Capitol Hill.

The Democrats have imposed greater oversight on Capitol Hill

They may be incapable of imposing their Iraq strategy on the White House, whatever that may be.

They don't know whether to be shocked or delighted that the president has used his veto for a fourth time in just over a year to block a child healthcare bill that enjoys support on both sides of the aisle.

But they have exercised their right and duty to provide oversight. They have made it more difficult for the administration to mount adventures.

And so America's balance of power - messy, tedious and frequently unproductive - has been restored: a glorious stalemate at the heart of the world's most powerful nation.

Isn't that the way it's supposed to be?

Democrats, looking forward to a man or woman in the White House and a whopping majority on Capitol Hill, take heed. In America, history doesn't smile on one-party rule.

---

Send us your comments in reaction to Matt Frei's Washington diary using the link below:

Click here to send us your comments