Speaking of Republican strategists, another one spoke to me the other day. I asked him what Republicans could do to bounce back, and he had three suggestions.

The first was for the president to “stop going to New Orleans.” It just reminds people, and gives the press an excuse to remind people, about what they didn’t like about his response to Katrina in the first 48 hours. ‘The president traveled to New Orleans today, in an attempt to compensate for his disastrous performance etc.’ I’m finding this sentiment a lot on the Hill. This strategist added that he thought that Bush should pick a fight with Louisiana over its $250 billion spending request, or at least the state’s handling of the money, since everyone knows what’s going on.

The second was that Republicans needed to find a way to go on offense on taxes–and what he’s heard from the tax-reform commission does not suggest that it’s going to be helpful. He thinks the flat tax would be a losing issue. But at least it would generate enthusiasm among conservatives. Based on the early leaks about the commission, “what [conservatives] understand, they dislike.”

The third was that Miers withdraw her nomination.