Political Capital, Mr. President

President George W. Bush speaking about the failure of the intelligence reform bill to pass after Republican leaders blocked it:

"I was disappointed the bill didn't pass," Bush said. "I thought it was going to pass up to the last minute."

He added that both he and Vice President Dick Cheney talked with key members of the House and "it was clear I wanted the bill passed."

Sorry, I am finding it hard to believe you when the people who kept it from passing were members of your party. Where were the cabinet members running around the House floor, as with the Medicare bill?

We can tell the difference between being in favor of something rhetorically and the White House putting real effort into getting it done.

Perhaps the president should consider spending some of his vaunted political capital to make this happen?