IT'S GOOD TO BE THE FUHRER!:

It was a grand night for celebrating (Stephanie Mansfield, February 1, 2006, THE WASHINGTON TIMES)

A jaunty and ebullient President Bush, buoyed by the confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr., arrived at the Capitol last night to deliver his fifth State of the Union address, beaming to the Republican faithful and savoring the day's decisive victory.

A robed Justice Alito had a front-row seat for the speech, 53 minutes of presidential proposals interrupted 58 times by hearty congressional applause. Earlier in the day, Justice Alito had watched the Senate confirmation vote at the White House with the president by his side.

After months of disappointments and embarrassments -- ranging from Hurricane Katrina to the Jack Abramoff scandal to the Palestinian elections -- the confirmation of Justice Alito made it an evening of triumph for the Bush administration.

Mr. Bush and first lady Laura Bush -- looking trim in a pink suit -- basked in the evening's often theatrical aura, with detractors like Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry -- his face showing a heavy 5 o'clock shadow -- looking as if they had been forced to swallow prunes.