This is the way environmental policy should work. Hughes and other Bush aides insist Bush didn't change his course on any decisions in order to blunt criticism of his environmental rollbacks. Second, it is run by a cohesive, experienced cadre of political managers, many of whom worked for Bush when he was governor of Texas, piloted his successful presidential campaign, moved with him to Washington - and knew how to act quickly when a course correction was called for. In his first term in Texas, Bush focused on education, welfare reform, crime and tort reform. Most other issues are kept off the agenda, lest they detract from the main goals.
Some outside events are too big to duck, especially in international affairs.
But Bush won generally high marks in the first test of his ability to manage a crisis, the forced landing of a Navy P3E surveillance plane after a collision with a Chinese jet fighter. Public approval of Bush's leadership in foreign policy is as high as or higher than for his stewardship of the economy or the environment.