" Says Democratic state representative Frederica Wilson, who is pressing Bush to open a grand jury investigation into the DCF's disasters: "If he doesn't stop and get a handle on this, he's going to look clueless and heartless come fall.

CNN: Is Florida bad for kids?

Winning popularity in California is less pressing for Mr Bush than for Mr Davis (although some of California's beleaguered congressional Republicans, facing elections next year, hope he will give way on price caps before the summer power cuts are over).

ECONOMIST: Politicians beware: Californians are cross

The rapprochement partly reflects Mr Bush's pressing need for allies in Europe.

ECONOMIST: German-American relations: Ready for a Bush hug? | The

"In the short run, the American economy will continue to rely largely on oil, and that means we need to increase supply here at home, " Bush said, adding that there is no more pressing issue for many Americans than gas prices.

CNN: Bush lifts executive ban on offshore oil drilling

Mr Bush's apparent change of mind in favour of pressing Mr Aristide to quit may have been influenced by fears of a refugee crisis in the middle of his campaign for re-election.

ECONOMIST: After Aristide, what? | The

President Bush said Friday that he would return to the Mideast in May to continue pressing for a peace agreement, saying Israel and the Palestinians need to "make difficult choices" if a deal is to be reached before he leaves office.

NPR: Bush Wraps Up Mideast Trip With Promise to Return