Chris,

>I have a very healthy fear of a "laisez faire" management sytle, as evidenced by the Iran-Contra scandal. Presidents tend to get very isolated, and a hands-off management style puts too much power in the hands of people who were not elected to office.
>
>In other words, who is running the country?

That's the kind of misunderstanding of style that I think many in the press will perpetuate, as they try to stereotype W. as "out-of-touch" or somehow overwhelmed by matters that are "over his head" intellectually.

I'm not suggesting that he won't keep up with what's going on -- just that he won't be calling the shots in as much intricate detail as some would.