"The desire is to make sure the borders are secure first," Republican Senator Arlen Specter said.
It has been the same on other issues. Bush has come under fire for supporting the now-scuppered ports deal with a firm from the United Arab Emirates, for being too soft on China economically and for not doing enough to protect jobs. And Republican fiscal conservatives have been appalled at the spiralling spending that has created record deficits.
All this has ensured there is no "Bush candidate" emerging in the next race for the White House. The obvious heirs, Vice President Dick Cheney and Florida Governor Jeb Bush, the President's brother, have ruled themselves out. Every other main candidate, from Senator John McCain to right-wing Senator George Allen, is running as a critic of much of that legacy.
The only bright spot in Bush's fortunes has been the continued infighting in the Democratic party, which is still failing to present a unified front to the public. Last week Democrat Senator Russ Feingold moved a motion to "censure" Bush over a secret service wire-tapping scandal. He wanted to raise the possibility of impeachment and the specter of a Watergate-style investigation.
But instead of gaining Democrat support, figures such as Senators John Kerry and Hillary Clinton refused to say if they backed the move.
Feingold lambasted his party for "cowering," as Republicans were provoked into a rare moment of unified support for Bush.
But it did not last. Bush's misfortunes had returned by the end of last week in the sort of spectacular snub late-night comics dream of.
The villain was not a rogue Republican but Jessica Simpson, a reality TV star. She declined to appear next to the president at a charity event for fear of "politicizing" the cause of the disabled. It dismayed Republicans.
"It's never been a problem for Bono," said Republican spokesman Carl Forti.
But the message was clear: when even Jessica Simpson does not want to be seen with you, you know you are in trouble.
RSS