It begins with an idealised colonial-era oil portrait, of Moctezuma as the epitome of the noble savage, with feathered shield and spear.

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The Bush administration now faces greater hurdles in selling controversial initiatives, such as its new energy plan, which in part calls for increased oil drilling and greater use of nuclear power, and the president's dream of a national missile defense shield.

CNN: Jeffords switch seen as no shock to tech policy