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The President and Lame Ducks (NY Times, November 8, 2002)

President Bush's measured tone and modest demeanor at his post-election news conference yesterday provided a timely reminder of why he has the support of so many voters who appear to disagree with so many of his policies. Tuesday's results had obviously put him in a good frame of mind. But he did not gloat, and indeed seemed at pains to avoid the triumphalism that some Republican leaders couldn't resist expressing when the election returns showed that their party had captured the Senate and enlarged its majority in the House. The image he projected was one of inclusive leadership rather than narrow partisanship, and while the country is clearly in for some bruising ideological battles come the next Congress, the president's manner - at turns affable and somber, and wholly disarming - seemed well suited to the needs of the moment.

This is a very nearly gracious editorial from the Times, though note that they can't resist the urge to say that voters disagree with the President on the issues. Of course, on Tuesday those same voters said they agreed with an entire raft of pro-tax cut, pro-war, pro-life, pro-privatization Senate candidates, so we're not sure which policies the Times means. Posted by Orrin Judd at November 8, 2002 9:01 PM