It may seem perverse to suggest that, at the very moment the House of Representatives is repudiating his policy in Iraq, President Bush is poised for a political comeback. But don't be astonished if that is the case.

Like President Bill Clinton after the Democrats lost control of Congress in 1994, Bush has gone through a period of wrenching adjustment to his reduced status. But just as Clinton did in the winter of 1995, Bush now shows signs of renewed energy and is regaining the initiative on several fronts.

David Broder is never happier than when a President is forced to triangulate. It makes him all warm and squishy inside. But he hasn't been getting his fix. For six years the President has been doing it his way or no way. And he has shown virtually no signs of changing, even after the crushing midterm elections. But don't tell that to David Broder. He is searching for any morsel that he can seize upon to satisfy his need for bipartisanship.

When Bush faced reporters on Wednesday morning, he knew that virtually all those in the Democratic majority would be joined by a significant minority of Republicans in voting today to decry the "surge" strategy.

He did three things to diminish the impact of that impending defeat.

First, he argued that the House was at odds with the Senate, which had within the past month unanimously confirmed Gen. David H. Petraeus as the new commander in Iraq -- the man Bush said was the author of the surge strategy and the man who could make it work. Bush has made Petraeus his blocking back in this debate -- replacing Vice President Cheney, whose credibility is much lower.

It doesn't look like making this argument is helping the President at all. He is going to lose the vote in the House and at least 30 Republicans are going to vote against the war (and if you insist, Gen. Petraeus). Meanwhile, Senator Reid is going to take up the House bill on Saturday, and it appears he may prevail and invite debate throughout the next week. Rather than going on a twelve day recess, the Senate may be stuck debating how stupid it was to invade Iraq and how stupid it is to stay there. Brilliant plan, Mr. President.

Second, he minimized the stakes in the House debate by endorsing the good motives of his critics, rejecting the notion that their actions would damage U.S. troops' morale or embolden the enemy -- all by way of saying that the House vote was no big deal.

Mr. Broder, put down the Cheetos and turn on C-SPAN. For three days straight, Republicans have been arguing that Democrats are damaging the troops' morale and emboldening the enemy. These are the President's talking points. It is the height of Higher Broderism to take the President at his word while his minions are passing out talking points that directly contradict him. Oh yeah...and to praise the President for being strong...that's why we make fun of you.

And third, by contrasting today's vote on a nonbinding resolution with the pending vote on funding the war in Iraq, he shifted the battleground to a fight he is likely to win -- and put the Democrats on the defensive. Much of their own core constituency wants them to go beyond nonbinding resolutions and use the power of the purse to force Bush to reduce the American commitment in Iraq.

Actually, if you were paying any attention, rather than trying to buff the President's jock, you'd realize that Jack Murtha is going to kick the President's ass by having the Republicans vote on sending troops into battle without adequate training, equipment, or unit strength. He'll also have them vote to send troops on more deployments. If the Republicans want to keep this war going they are going to have to vote for that. Otherwise there won't be any units to send to Iraq.

Broder should join Richard Cohen in retirement. Neither of them make any sense anymore. The President is showing strength? Why? Because of this?

In other respects, too, Bush has been impressive in recent days.

He has been far more accessible -- and responsive -- to the media and public, holding any number of one-on-one interviews, both on and off the record, leading up to Wednesday's televised news conference. And he has been more candid in his responses than in the past.

Is the root of your praise, David? That the President has done a couple of interviews? Showed a little candor for a change? Do you know what a joke you are?

While forcefully making his points, he has depersonalized the differences with his critics and opponents. He has not only vouched for the good intentions of congressional Democrats, he has visited them on their home ground, given them opportunities to question him face to face, and repeatedly outlined areas -- aside from Iraq -- where he says they could work together on legislation: immigration, energy, education, health care, the budget.

With the public eager for some bipartisan progress on all these fronts, Bush is signaling that he, at least, is ready to try.

Hey Broder!! The public is not eager for bipartisanship. They want this tyrant carried out of town in a burlap sack. They want an end to the war. Check the effing polls, David. The President isn't personalizing his differences with his critics? Have you been taking stupid pills? You can't insult your opponents for six years, and question their patriotism, and then be nice for a day and get credit for it. Retire dammit.