That may well be, but sometimes the masquerade is a bit too obvious. I haven't heard his radio show, and have only heard him on radio as a sub for Rush. I've seen the same brash ideologue on occasion there, and even though I agree with most of his views, it's an irritant. He's not offensive to me all (or even most) of the time, but it's often enough to keep me from being a regular viewer of his show.
Agree with you about Sammon.
I could always tell when W wasn't behind a policy or program. See: Campaign Finance Reform. He couldn't be bothered, and I agree with him. He was setting up his domestic security agency, he was dealing with anthrax ... and he figured that since he raised over $150 million in hard money from over 40,000 individual GOP donors, a ban on soft money would not be a strategic defeat for his party.
He wasn't thrilled about the Farm Bill either. That was a calculated move to give tribute to the right of Senators to be soulless, shameless pigs. (Pigs got some big cash, too bad the pigs, not Harkin, are fated for that short walk and long ride to the truck of eternity. I also have a problem with slaughtering pigs, that's for another day. They're smarter and more aware than the average Golden Retriever) Bush wrote it off, there was no passion or joy, that was ugly bidness.
But, the Education Bill ... he was stoked. His outreach to Hispanics and his assurances to Muslim and Arab Americans ... that is a soul deep goal. His acknowledgement of the Kennedy's was sincere and a tribute to occupying their weird, weird place in our history and culture. He's not an operator like Clinton and Gingrich.
So, when he furrows that brow and focuses those eyes and says ... "Regime change is this nation's policy" or when asked what the goal of his War and Terror was ... he said "Victory." Yeah, that's having the mental toughness of Tiger Woods, AND the game of Tiger Woods. That's the mojo I saw when he talked about the Saudis, it was like "Back off, stop the smear campaign". Because, there was a concerted anti-Saudi thing going on. Bush sent a signal loud and clear. He's in a surly mood right now.
Hey Freepers, heu Daschele, hey world, hey Saddam: Don't go out of your way to tease a bear! ;^)