What Happens When a President Finally Gets Bushed

READ MORE: Iraq, Bob Woodward, Karl Rove, George W. Bush

An election observation. The more he appears on television, the more it looks like George Bush is going to implode before our eyes with a public hissy fit.

Now, admittedly, much of this is wishful thinking. Or it comes from watching Yosemite Sam cartoons as a child. But far more is based on experiencing reality.

After all, from six years of seeing "Yo, Blair's," locker-room bravado, smirks and massaging the shoulders of female foreign leaders, it would take a blind ostrich to miss the trademarks of a childish fratboy punk who is so insecure and wrapped up in being a bully and burying his daddy issues and born-again issues and alcohol/cocaine/AWOL issues that he can't stand disagreement and must absolutely have his own way. But, of course, I mean that in a nice way. Is the description actually true? Oh, who knows? Fake pop-psychology doesn't require a degree. But what is true is that we all know people like this from growing up. We can deny what we see before our eyes, but the body knows. And shivers in remembrance.

Just look at the quote from the new Bob Woodward book, "State of Denial," that if his wife and dog are the only two left who support him, the President will not withdraw from Iraq. How can that not conjure up the image of a spoiled, little brat standing in the corner holding his breath until he gets his way? (Of course, what the President overlooks is that if they were the only two left, no one would care what he thinks or wants.)

Teddy Roosevelt referred to the Presidency as the Bully Pulpit. George W. Bush has simply given new meaning to "bully."

Anyway, back to the observation.

Just at the moment when Republicans want to ratchet up whatever Karl Rove scheme they've got, the playbook is ripped from their hands with the damning NIE report and tsunami of blistering scrutiny. Further, more generals are rising to assert that they did request additional troops. And George Allen is going into racist-hell freefall, while Tennessee Senate candidate Bob Corker just did the unthinkable, replacing his campaign manager. And the spectacularly disastrous Rep. Mark Foley (R-FL) and Republican House leadership situation is crashing down - not just that the Republicans will likely lose a guaranteed seat, but that the Party of Morality ™ covered up this reprehensible affair. And to add the topping, Bob Woodward appeared on "60 Minutes" as his devastating book hit the stores.

And worse. Add to the morass the serious possibility that the Democrats can win at least one house of Congress, and with it comes the two most terrifying words in the English language to George Bush: subpoena power.

When you watch George Bush struggle with all this, it's like seeing a ticking bomb of utter nerves. Calling "naïve" and "mistaken" the 16 intelligence organizations who put together the very NIE report that advises him. Giving a speech last Thursday in essence comparing himself to FDR and Harry Truman. Presumably, Jesus on the Mount will be next.

It just appears that George Bush is becoming a tightly-wound ball of piano wire all ready to go "Ploing!!!" In all likelihood, of course, he will be able to control it. (Besides, if he did start to go off, you know Karl Rove would race over to tackle him.) But it's a too-real possibility that if a pressured George Bush who can't stand criticism, who can't admit a mistake holds a press conference and gets too many pointed, critical questions in a row, he could snap. No, not a Wizard of Oz "I'm melting!!!!" moment, God forbid, but a rant that shows the kind of pampered petulant snobbery we all recognize.

Who knows? Certainly the President wouldn't normally be caught dead at press conferences any more. But with all the mounting dreadful news, he seems compelled to confront it. Indeed, Mr. Bush has done more press conferences in the last month than seemingly his first six years. Because the very point of needing these press conferences is specifically the bad news, it's fair to assume there'll be confronting questions. When sharks smell blood in the water, after all, they go for the chum.

It's not something to expect. But it's something to watch closely, because with all the horrific news, the growing pressure, and the looming specter of subpoena power, any rubber band can snapped when stretched too thin.

Or maybe he'll just take out "My Pet Goat" to read again.

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