Just heard on an AP Radio report that President Bush “suffered a stinging defeat” today as the Senate blocked
renewal of the USA Patriot Act.  Why is it always a “stinging
defeat” for Bush? Why is there never a “ringing victory,” as any number
of Bush’s congressionally approved policy initiatives could be
characterized? If we get hit by another 9/11-styled terrorist attack as
a result of the watering down of the act, the “stinging defeat” may be
the re-election chances of everyone who had a hand in blocking renewal.