MODERN DAY MCCARTHYISM: When the preternaturally reasonable Joe Gandelman starts using that kind of language to describe the White House communications strategy, it's a safe bet that The Gang That Couldn't Talk Straight is in even deeper political trouble than we knew.

Hopefully, President Bush will realize this in time to salvage his last three years in office. As I said the other day, we just can't afford a failed presidency at this difficult -- and dangerous -- moment in our national history.

MORE: "[I]t is critical that bi-partisan alliances emerge to address the current leadership dysfunction. There is too much time before the next election to allow a leadership vacuum - America cannot wait two to three years to confront both national security threats and serious domestic concerns."