1. The Democratic leaders hate the President and don't trust him. 2. Despite their lipservice to working together on other things, as long as Iraq dominates our politics (and fuels more hatred and distrust) NAFTA-like bipartisan deals (on tough stuff like entitlements, health care, and immigration) will be impossible. 3. The Democrats (openly) and the Republicans (increasingly openly) consider the Iraq war to be over politically. 4. As the fair-minded and non-hyperbolic Dan Balz of the Washington Post writes this morning, George W. Bush is tyring "to revive his presidency against what may be the greatest odds any chief executive has faced in a generation." 5. Republicans and Democrats in Congress would vote by secret ballot to end the Bush presidency today if they could by a margin of, oh, 500-35. 6. Under the American system, the President has about two more years to serve.