Gingrich critical of the WH

Mr. Bush still so dominates politics in Washington that there is little open criticism of him, and few Republicans are willing to challenge the strategy of Mr. Rove and other top aides. But behind the scenes there is increasing grumbling about the White House's political style.

[...]

Even as they expressed continued support for Mr. Bush and his goals, influential Republicans said Karl Rove and the White House political operation have been slow to shift from campaign mode, with its base-energizing positions, to an approach that allows for more compromise and increases the probability of Mr. Bush signing legislation that directly addresses the everyday concerns of voters.

"The tone has been too much of a permanent campaign," said Newt Gingrich, the former Republican House speaker. "When you're the minority, you need to fight. When you're the governing majority, you need to produce."

[...]

In discussing the White House's problems, Republicans cited a variety of assumptions and decisions that have not worked out as Mr. Bush and his team had planned. They said the administration may have overestimated how much of a mandate Mr. Bush had coming out of last year's campaign.

[...]

[T]hey said, Mr. Bush and his team are struggling with a problem they never had during the campaign: with no high-profile political opponent as a foil, and with Democrats refusing to put forward competing proposals on issues like Social Security, the president and his policies stand on their own.

  NY Times article

D'oh!

The White House dismissed suggestions that Mr. Bush and his team had lost their touch and were struggling. Nicolle Devenish, the White House communications director, said Mr. Bush and his aides had done "an amazing amount of outreach" to Capitol Hill; were sharpening his message on Iraq and the economy; and were making steady progress on Social Security, energy and trade legislation, and other issues.

"We're on the verge of getting a lot of stuff done," Ms. Devenish said.

Hysterical. On the verge of getting a lot of stuff done.

Scottie Boy was having a similar problem in the press gaggle on Friday:

MR. McCLELLAN: This is a critical period. The transitional government is moving forward on drafting a constitution. They are moving forward to prepare for an election for the Iraqi people to adopt that constitution. They are moving forward to hold elections for a permanent representative government.

They are moving forward. On the verge of getting a lot of stuff done.