George Stephanopoulos: Is Bush bluffing or wielding weapon?

Here are my big questions on the port story:  Is the President’s veto threat a big bluff — or another weapon he’s determined to wield in the war on terror? Is there a face-saving way out? The threat was a shocker (which may explain why White House aides were trying to soften it a touch last night by saying it only came "in response to a question.") Hard to imagine that the President would choose an issue where 80% of the country and 80% of his party is against him for his first veto. His hope had to be that putting out the threat would put out the fire — and earn him points in the Muslim world. Then at his morning gaggle this morning, Scott McClellan undercut the WH position by saying that the President didn’t even know about this issue until a few days ago. Seemed like the first step toward suing for peace. But that zag apparently has not been followed by any substantive talks with the Congress on a possible compromise, and the only prominent allies the President has picked up in the last 24 hours are John McCain and John Warner. On the other hand, he’s irritated Speaker Hastert, who still hasn’t gotten a call from the WH. So if there is a way out, Congress isn’t in on it yet. This makes me think that the President might be hoping that P&O takes the matter into its own hands and either asks for a delay or pulls out of the deal on its own. No sign of that yet, but may be the best hope for the White House.