The checklist so far shows major progress on some of Bush's top priorities while others are heating up on a back burner. Bush and Democratic leaders have reached some preliminary agreements on his education plan, though he is getting nowhere with his call for vouchers, the public money parents of children in chronically failing schools could use to send their kids to private and parochial schools. Social Security and Medicare reform have yet to get going in earnest. Also at square one is Bush's faith-based initiative, which would give federal money to churches and other religious groups that deliver social services. They have gotten off to a smooth start,'' she said of Bush and the band of Texans, family friends and hired hands running the show.
Polls indicate the public agrees.
Questions on individual domestic policy areas produced less satisfaction among respondents. On the domestic front, Bush aides believe he scored a major, early win with a similar cool approach during the white-hot battle over the confirmation of Ashcroft. I think it was the dog that didn't bark that was important during the John Ashcroft hearings,'' said Karl Rove, Bush's top strategist. It's a style Bush is looking to trademark. But it's a style that can leave a president looking detached and disinterested.