A Polarizing Bush Despite a New Cast

By ROBIN TONER
New York Times

Alberto R. Gonzales, the polarizing attorney general, is going, and Karl Rove, the polarizing political adviser, is on the way out.

Now, supposedly, the political temperature can finally cool in Washington. The two parties can settle into a more productive relationship, and President Bush can manage a few more accomplishments in his final 16 months in office.

After all, Ronald Reagan, buffeted in his second term by the Iran-contra scandal, managed to shore up his administration, make major progress in arms control and serve out his final months as a popular president.

Bill Clinton bounced back after impeachment in his second term.

Both of those presidents rebounded despite the partisan passions they stirred in many of their opponents.

But historical parallels, and conventional wisdom, have their limits. Mr. Bush, by temperament, governing style and political design, is a polarizing president like no other, pollsters say. And no reshuffling of administration staff members or an incremental wave of good news is likely to change that.

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