Many people with much more experience in politics than either of us have written extensively on how Bush is loyal to a fault with his inner circle, and how this loyalty damages his credibility.

See, for example, "you're doing a heckuva job, Brownie," the delayed firing of Rumsfeld, the continued support of Gonzales and his foolish attempt to elevate Harriet Miers to the SCotUS.

Each demonstrate that Bush has a great capacity to damage his reputation out of loyalty, not "saving his own skin."