Compromising principles never a good idea
<WSJ on Bush's loss of credibility.
I'm afraid I have to largely agree with this. I think the most successful politicians are those who have a set of principles and are consistent about them. Bush is beginning to develop a large streak of pragmatism, and I don't think it's doing the good things he hopes it will.
Compromising your principles in the face of your opponents never makes your opponents like you better or stop trying to destroy you, and it alienates those who agree with your principles in the first place.
Read my lips.