Is Bush Moving to the Center?

Posted on January 27, 2005

Conservative commentator Bob Novak asks that very question in an interesting column. Novak, like Peggy Noonan, wasn't thrilled about the Bush inaugural speech. But what he finds more disturbing is Bush's reluctance to push forward with the gay marriage ban and the departure of some hardliners from the administration. Condoleeza Rice won the battle against John Bolton and picked her own second and third in command at the State Department, who are both career diplomats -- not neocons. But the real irritant is the selection of pro-choice Republican Jo Ann Davidson as the new co-chairman of the Republican National Committee. Of course, all of these comments relate to domestic issues. Seymour Hersh, appearing on The Daily Show last night, told Jon Stewart that his CIA sources tell him that it's full speed head with attacking Iran this summer and reforming the Middle East in the neocon image. And privatizing social security is certainly not moderate. So, I think that the signals are not as clear as Mr. Novak seems to think. But we'll see.