Staying—and Overstaying—the Course

"My strategy is pretty simple," President George W. Bush said last week, of his continuing determination to pass Social Security reform. "Explain the problem to the American people, and keep explaining it and explaining it." There was defiance but also a certain frustration in his voice as he said this. The Gods of Wisdom in Washington have determined that Bush is in a trough. His poll numbers are declining. His approval rating is back where it was—in the mid-40s—before it was artificially inflated during the 2004 campaign by the dread...