People on either extreme would not be thrilled. But the vast majority would be extremely pleased if the president could find another Judge Roberts out there. Somebody of superb and unquestioned legal qualifications, devoted more to the law than promoting a particular agenda.

Always underestimate George Bush, and they are still doing it.

Bad news tends to move in bunches, and this White House has had more than its share. When you are in one of these periods, the best thing is to keep your head down, stay focused on the job and wait for your luck to change.

Public opinion on Iraq is overwhelmingly driven by events on the ground.

It's a combination of weariness over Iraq, concern about gas prices, worry about jobs being sent overseas and other factors that lead people to be in a funk. When people are in a funk, they take it out on the guy in charge, regardless of whether he's responsible or not.

The most challenging of his presidency, but not that unusual from a historical perspective.

To elevate Roberts, Ayres said. ''It makes a whole lot of sense to switch Judge Roberts over to the chief justice position.

It's hard to spin this as anything other than another problem dropped on the pile of troubles our side faces now. Bad news tends to come in bunches, and we've had a bunch lately.

Not only is it not unusual for a president to have an approval rating at 38 percent, it's almost predictable. Every president has rough patches, it says nothing about the ultimate historical judgment.