I did not see this addressed in other diaries; my apologies if it has been.

My letter to Mr. Okrent follows; please write one yourself--feel free to borrow what you like:

His capitulation on Iraq may have secured his footing in the administration, but to keep that footing he must not overstep. He holds his dissent close to the vest, careful to appear loyal before the public while working his channels of dissent in private. His position in the cabinet, then, is more tenuous and less tenable than ever. In order to keep his power, he cannot seem to have it. This became apparent from the moment I hit my seat.