US lawmakers are changing the subject

At the White House, that means appointing the new chairman of the Federal Reserve three months before the current one departs. It means opening the Capitol Rotunda for the casket of civil rights pioneer Rosa Parks, the first woman so honoured.

"I’ve got a job to do," Bush said ten days ago after he was asked about the difficulties confronting him. "Part of my job is to work with others to fashion a world that’ll be peaceful for future generations. And I’ve got a job to do to make sure this economy continues to grow."

As the White House anticipated, his problems soon multiplied amid the worst polls of his tenure in office.

Harriet Miers, battered by criticism from conservatives, withdrew as a Supreme Court nominee. Vice President Dick Cheney’s top aide was indicted for perjury and obstruction of justice in the CIA leak investigation; top presidential aide Karl Rove remained in legal limbo; the same probe shone an unwelcome spotlight on the vice president and his role in the push to war in Iraq.

Bush adhered to a schedule that scarcely took notice of the unfolding events.

Instead, he stood in the White House and named Ben S Bernanke to succeed Alan Greenspan as the head of the FBI; travelled to Florida to review relief efforts after Hurricane Wilma; flew to Virginia to rally support for a war that has claimed the lives of more than 2,000 US troops; and looked ahead to a speech today detailing his plans for countering the threat of worldwide pandemics.

The president’s message as he boarded his helicopter Friday afternoon for a trip to Camp David was remarkably similar to the words uttered more than a week ago. "I’ve got a job to do, and so do the people who work in the White House," he said. "We got a job to protect the American people, and that’s what we’ll continue working hard to do."

Sixteen blocks away, congressional Republicans bob in the wake of Bush’s problems. To which they add their own.

Republican Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist faces an insider trading investigation. Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay of Texas is under state indictment for violating campaign finance laws. Both men deny any wrongdoing.

But DeLay’s case in particular is spreading concern among the rank and file, as evidenced by the open talk of early leadership elections next January and the decision of a few Republicans to return campaign donations they received from the Texan.

"In principle, we are all in this together," Sen Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania wrote fellow Republican senators recently, referring to the White House and party majorities in the House and Senate. "We are the party in governance." But, citing the latest survey by Republican pollster David Winston, Santorum wrote that Democrats hold a nine-point advantage over Republicans on government spending, "one of our historic advantages."

"I encourage Congress to push the envelope when it comes to cutting spending," Bush said as Republican leaders in Congress sought support for fresh restraints on programmes such as Medicaid and student loan subsidies.

Ironically, it was the death of Rosa Parks that offered Republicans a respite of sorts. Congress swiftly passed legislation allowing the use of the Capitol for a public viewing of her casket, an honour historically reserved for presidents, senators or war heroes, and only for men.

Bush arranged to fly back from the Camp David presidential retreat to join congressional leaders at a wreath-laying ceremony.